"Okay Peanut, last time." Lin kissed my head, and put his hands on my shoulders, shuffling me into the theater in front of him. He waved to the people crowding the stage door as we went in. There were tons of people here, and there were extra fences set up.

"Dad, I'm sad." I sighed, right as I stepped inside.

"I know, I am too." He admitted, sighed, then a soft smile spread over his face. "I love you, Kiddo."

"I love you too, Dad."

"Come here." He said, wrapping me in a hug, and kissing my forehead. "My little girl." He sighed. "Well, I have work to do, I'll see you in a few." He pulled away from the hug, and walked off towards his room, and I did too. I walked upstairs to my old bedroom, and sat down on the mattress.

I sat under the blanket, leaning up against the wall. I only lived in here for a couple months, but a lot of important things happened here. This was the first place I really felt safe. This was where Lin told me he was going to adopt me.

I didn't think he was going to adopt me. I had just told him that he should send me back into foster care, and I'll never forget the look on his face when I did.

"I thought I'd find you in here." I was called out of my reminiscing, by Chris standing in the room.

"Hi." I smiled.

"Hi darling. Are you excited for tonight?" He asked, sitting across from me.

"Yeah, but I'm gonna miss you guys." I sighed.

"Well, I'll still be there. Your dad's my best friend, I'm your godfather. Your dads just not gonna be here every day, but I'll be over at your house a lot. Don't worry Pumpkin." He gave me a hug, and I sighed, relaxing into it, he gently rubbed my back.

"Thanks Chris."

"You're welcome, I'm pretty sure someone brought cake." He added, and a smile spread over my face. "Cutie." He laughed a bit, then moved to sit by my side, and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. I let my head rest on his shoulder, and he took a picture. Chris stood up from the mattress, and took my hand, pulling me up as well. "Let's go find you cake." He whispered, and I giggled, following his downstairs, still holding his hand.

"Ah! My daughter and my brother!" Lin smiled, seeing the two of us come into the room. "A, I saved you a slice of cake." My dad handed me a corner slice of a Costco sheet cake, on a paper plate, along with a fork.

"Oh! Thanks, you didn't have to do that." I told him.

"Actually I did." He laughed a bit, and pointed to the table, where Thayne sat with three pieces of cake.

"Oh, well, thanks." I shrugged, and took a bite.

"How're you holding up man?" Chris asked Lin.

"Good. I'm good. How are you?"

"I'll miss you." He shrugged, "but other than that, good."

"I know it's a little pre-mature, but, would you like to come over for dinner tomorrow night?" Lin asked, and Chris laughed. "I know I haven't left yet, but that day apart's gonna be rough."

"I'd love to," Chris gave Lin a smile, "see Pumpkin," he turned to me, "we won't be apart for very long." He tousled my very lightly curled hair.

"That's true." Lin laughed, "Chris'll always be somewhere nearby, Peanut."

"Mmhm, I hope you know that Abigail. I'll always be a phone call away." He smiled at me, and I returned the smile, feeling loved.

•••

I was sitting on the couch on Instagram, when I saw the picture of Chris and I, that he took.

@Cjack930 - Saying goodbye to SO many wonderful people today, but I'm really gonna miss this 'lil one. It's going to be weird not seeing my adorable God-Daughter everyday. @Abi_Miranda, a special happy trails to YOU. ❤️

I read through the comments and my heart felt really full.

@jullegryt232 - Lin made you her Godfather? That's so precious!

@GDubsss - It high-key just hit me that she's leaving too. Like. She won't be in any snapchat stories, or like, in any backstage pictures, or at the stage doors, or anywhere, and we're not going to have our little Hamilton mascot... I'm sad now. Thanks Chris.

I sighed a little. I was definitely sad to be leaving, and being here. It was the first place I really felt at home. The first place people truly cared about me, and the first place I felt safe. A text from my mom interrupted my train of thought.

Mom (to you and Dad):
I'm on my way. Lin, can you meet me outside please??

Dad (to you and Mom)
Of course V.

I smiled seeing those two texts flash up on my screen. They reminded me that even though the Richard Rodgers theater was the first place I felt safe, loved, and home in, in no way did this theater have to be the only place I felt safe, loved and at home. I feel safe at my apartment, my apartment is safe. I'm loved there as well, I have two parents and a brother, an actual family, and of course, I live there. My picture is on the wall, and my sweater is hanging by the door, my shoes scattered around in the living room. It was my home as much as it was Lin, Vanessa, and Sebastians.

"Hi Abigail." I felt the couch sink down a bit next to me, and Carleigh sat down, "so, did you get the job? At Sardi's? Or do you know yet?" She asked.

"Oh, I actually did!" I smiled.

"Really? When do you start?" She asked, smiling.

"Monday." I shrugged a little.

"Hey, one second." She pulled her phone out, "say it to the Hamilton Snapchat."

"Say what?" I asked, and she held her phone out, videoing the two of us.

"So, Abi got a job as a waitress at Sardi's," she said, to the camera.

"Mmhm, Monday's, Wednesday, and Friday's, from 11:30 to 5:30." I recollected, and she stopped videoing.

"So, I'll be there Monday." She told me.

"Oh! Really? Fun." I smiled. "I accept tips." I jokingly nudged her. "No, actually, don't tip me, they're starting me on more than minimum wage, I don't need too much money."

"I'll tip you if you deserve it." She smiled, and Andrew came over to the two of us.

"Wait, tip you? Does this mean you got the job? At Sardi's?" He asked.

"Mmhm." I nodded, happily.

"Okay, sweet, so, Carleigh, you're going on Monday, let's make it a group thing, put her through the ringer." He joked a bit, and I smiled.

"Sounds fun." Carleigh said.

"Sweet." He said, and ran off.

•••

"Mija?" I looked up to see my mom standing by the couch. 

"Hi." I smiled, sitting up straighter.

"Hi darling." She gave me a quick hug, and a kiss on the forehead. "C'mon sweetheart." She took my hand, and gently pulled me along to Lin's dressing room. He was sitting at his table getting his hair put into a ponytail.

"I'm so ready for this to be gone." He groaned.

"I think you should put it into two pigtails." Vanessa said to his hairdresser, and reached over, and split his hair a bit.

"Well, we put my mic in the ponytail." Lin pointed to the black cord in his hair.

"To clarify Vanessa," his hairdresser, Fred, said, "I'm with you on this."

"Yeah, honey," she smiled at Lin, "you could hide twice the mics, two mics! You could be louder." She added.

"Oh god." He sighed, shaking his head a bit.

"Don't shake your head." Fred said.

"Sorry." Lin said, and I giggled. "Shh," Lin started waving his hand around behind him, trying to find me, until he lightly smacked my face.

"Sorry." I laughed.

Lin finally finished with his hair and makeup, and was dressed and they called for places over the intercom.

"Okay. I'll see you two at intermission. I love you." He gave Vanessa a long kiss, and me a quick one on my hairline.

"Break a leg." Vanessa called, as he left for the show.

•••

Love y'all

Thanks for reading!

ONE MORE CHAPTER!

- Abi