etabacchi thanks for helping me with the plot for this chapter.

14th of November
Unknown PoV:

The paper in my hand had turned yellow, dozens of crinkles. I looked up at the house in front of me. The same address. The same red brick building. Behind this door she'd be waiting for me. I looked down at the letter again, realizing that right now would be the last time I could dream about meeting her and her reaction to seeing my face in real life. I walked up the small stone path leading to the suburban home and rang the doorbell.

A lady in her mid fifties opened the door, her hair tied up in a bun. She looked just like I remembered her. "Hey Sheila."

The woman stared at me. "What are you doing here?" I held up the letter. "Carolina wrote me a letter." She looked at me in disbelief. "My daughter died three years ago." Now I was shocked. "Can I come in?" The blonde sighed but she let me in.

"Want some coffee?" "No thanks." I looked around to see some childhood pictures of Carolina, but no toys, no pictures of another child. What happened? "How did Lina die?" I asked, looking around at the pictures of the tall blonde, with ocean blue eyes.

"Drug overdose. Ever since she met you and your friends she wasn't able to get off of those things." I had figured that she had died of drug use, but still wanted confirmation. "I'm sorry that I was such a bad influence. I really am. I regret I wasn't there for her when she was pregnant or for the baby later." "She never had a baby." She answered and I just looked up in disbelief. "But here in the letter she wrote that she was pregnant and gave birth to a healthy baby." I handed her the and she started to read through it.

"She wasn't living at home during that time, I don't know if she was pregnant at that time. After you went away she moved around and stayed in the city from what I know. We had to call the cops a few times to bring her back home. She was just seventeen back then." 

I could hear the regret and pain in her voice. "I didn't go away. I went to prison and that's where I've been for the last six years." I looked down. "I'm sorry I never knew that. She told us you moved away." "No I didn't and I definitely wouldn't have left if I knew that she was pregnant. I would have stayed and helped her get clean. I should've been here. I should've been there for the baby."

I regretted so much but for the past five years I had always wanted to be in my child's life and now I didn't even know where the baby had gone. The door opened. "Sheila. I'm home." Caroline's dad came in. "What are you doing here? Sheila, why is he here?"

I got up from the couch and walked towards the door. "I'm sorry, Sir. I'll leave now." "You killed my daughter and you think you can just turn up here." "David. He was here to see her and look at how she wrote him a letter before she died. She had a baby." Sheila showed him the letter and he looked back at me. "Is that true?"

"Yes. This letter is the only reason why I survived rehab and being in jail the past six years." He didn't seem fazed by that information, maybe he couldn't process it, as he was still staring at the letter. "We could've a grandchild."

"Sir. Could I have the letter back please? I'll try to track down the child with the help of Social services, but I need proof that I am their father." He looked reluctant. "Could we meet them, if you found them?" I nodded. "If it's possible for me and you to meet them. I'll tell you everything I find out. I promise."

I gave them a smile before walking towards the train station to head to New York City. 

20th of December 
Taylors PoV: 

"How am I supposed to tell her?" I asked Joe, looking over into the living room, where the five year old was playing with the cats and creating a mess.

"Just tell her. She'll understand she's smart and she knows she can trust us." The whole morning Joe had tried to calm me down, but nothing helped. Yesterday evening after bringing Emilie to bed, I got a call. It was a social worker, she explained that over the last few weeks a man had tried to track down his child, which he never got to meet and all evidence pointed to Emilie.

She basically told us that he wanted to meet her and after I tried to explain that I wasn't sure if it'd be good for Emilie, she explained that reunion with birth parents is what's best for the children and that the least we can do is let them meet up.

So now we were meeting her biological father in a small restaurant downtown for lunch, I had called ahead of time and asked for a secluded section, just in case. "But what if he wants to take her away?" I mumbled.

This was my biggest fear, someone taking my little girl away from me again. "Then we'll fight. We won't ever give her up. She's our daughter." Joe said and hugged me from behind, watching the little blonde and the cats with me.

At that exact moment Emilie looked up, when she saw that we were both looking at her she smiled and started waving. "Emi, can you come here for a second?" I asked and she nodded, getting off the floor and running into my arms.

"Hey mommy." I smiled at her innocence and happiness. "Hey Emi." Joe picked her up and set her down on the counter so we were somewhat on eye level. "I have to tell you something. You know how every little boy and girl has a mommy and daddy?" She nodded.

"And that sometimes the mommies have babies inside their tummies that become new little boys and girls?" She nodded again. "You know that I didn't have you in my tummy right? So biologically speaking you have another mommy." She looked a little lost.

"But you're my mommy." "Yes I am and I always will be, but there was or is a woman, who had you in her tummy and she's kinda your mommy too." She nodded a little, but I could see the worry and anxiety.

"And there's also a man out there who helped her. He's basically your daddy." I noticed that her blues shifted to Joe for a second before nodding again. "Well this man never knew that he was a daddy and he asked the police to help him find you and he did. So yesterday I got a call from someone saying that we have to meet him today."

She didn't look very happy. Quite opposite, tears started gathering in her eyes and her lower lip quivered. "I don't wanna." She cried and stretched her arms out to Joe, as if he could protect her and make me change my mind.

He did pick her up and started to comfort her, but also told her that we didn't really have a choice. 

So now all three of us were sitting in a car in silence. Joe was trying to keep his composure, Emilie was silently crying and I was trying my best to calm her down by telling her that I love her and that she's my baby, even though I didn't have her in my tummy.

"We're almost at the restaurant. Do you want me to park here so we can walk a bit?" Joe asked and I looked at the girl next to me. "Emi, do you want to walk a little to the restaurant to calm down?" She nodded a little.

"Yeah Joe walking sounds good." He pulled up into a nearby parking spot and put the car into park. "Okay Emi can you calm down a little? We're gonna get out of the car in a few minutes. I know that you're scared and in all honesty I'm too, but we can't change that we have to meet him and I'll always, always be your mommy okay?"

Her big blue eyes looked at me, tears still in the corners and she nodded, taking a few deep breaths. "Okay I'm calmer now." I smiled at her and wiped some tears from her cheeks and her eyes. "Alright. Let's get going."

I said to Joe, who nodded, got out of the car before helping Emilie and me out of the car. She grabbed my hand, looking at Joe, before carefully taking his hand as well. We walked down the street, Emilie skipped a little in her steps before she jumped a little so we could swing her back and forth.

As nervous as all of us were, I still felt happy and calm at this moment. Both my people are with me and Emilie seemed happy. "There is the restaurant." I said, looking at the restaurant we were supposed to meet up in. Joe stopped and let go of Emilies hand, to open the door for us.

"Hey we reserved a table for Swift." Joe said and the sever looked a little in shock. "Of course this way. One person of your party is already here." I looked at Joe and he nodded a little, both of us knowing that we were about to meet Emilies biological dad.

"Emi. Are you ready?" She didn't seem very happy or sure of herself but nodded a little. We walked to the back of the restaurant, where the section was basically empty, except for one table. A man with dark blonde hair was sitting there looking over at us, before getting up.

"Hey I'm Jakob. It's so nice to meet you." He shook Joe's and my hand, before turning to Emilie. "Hey. I'm your daddy." She just nodded, leaning into me. "Why don't we sit down?" I said, when I realized she wasn't going to say anything.

He nodded and offered Emilie the seat next to him, which she of course didn't take. She basically climbed onto my lap, as soon as I sat down on the bench. Joe sat down next to me, leaving enough space for Emilie to sit on herself if she wanted. "So you two are her caretakers?" He asked and looked at Joe and me, and I quickly nodded my head.

"Yeah Emilie has been with me for a year now." He seemed surprised but nodded. I just gave him a little smile. "Mommy can I have the lasagna, please?" My little five year old asked me and I nodded. "Sure if you want that." The man opposite to us seemed to be uncomfortable. "You know there's a kids menu, there's no need to pay like 15$ for something she won't eat completely." I shrugged.

"I really don't mind. I'd rather have her eat something that's a little healthier then pizza or fries. Also lasagna is one of her favorites." Emilie smiled as she leaned into me. He nodded and looked down again, clearly feeling bad for trying to tell me how to raise her. "Well I'm Aaron I'll be your server tonight. What can I get started for you today?"

A young man asked and after Joe and Jakob ordered, I looked at Emilie, since she took a lot of pride in ordering for herself. "I'd like a apple juice and the lasagna, please." She gave him a big toothy smile and he smiled back. "Alright and for you Miss Swift?" I quickly rattled down my order, before thanking him. Emilie didn't seem to know what to do now and just cuddled into my side.

"Uhm Jakob can I ask you how you just found out about her? And what happened to her biological mom?" He seemed sad but nodded. "Of course I figured you'd ask. I was in prison and rehab for the last six years, but shortly after going to prison, I received a letter from my girlfriend Carolina. She told me she gave birth to a healthy baby and that was basically it. No birthday, no name. Nothing. For years I tried to figure out what happened afterwards until two month ago I finally got out. I visited her parents to figure out that she died three years ago."

I felt sad for Emilie, as much as I didn't want her to meet he birthparents, because I was afraid they'd take her away. I also had hoped she'd have the chance to meet them when she was older and wondered where she came from. "I'm sorry for your loss." Joe said and gave the broken man in front of us a smile. "It's okay I have Emilie now. She looks so much like her mommy."

I felt Emilie tense up next to me and I got a little scared as well. "Emilie do you think you can tell me a little more about you?" He asked and after a little encouraging Emilie began. "Uhm I'm five years old. I love Christmas, because we can make gingerbread houses. Mommy said we can make some from scratch this year. And I like to read, we just started a really, really hard book. It has lots of new words. And I want to be in a band with my best friend Millie when I grow up." He nodded a little, but seemed to be taken aback from her calling me mommy.

"That's great. I'm sure learning to read is hard. What school are you going to?" Emilie furrowed her eyebrows. "I can read and mommy and Joe and sometimes Auntie selly teach me at home. It's really fun. One time we had nature study so we went out to the observatorium where you can see the stars. That was so amazing."

I smiled as I listened to her, her education was always something I feared might not be good enough but considering how much she grew the last year and how much she learned I felt like I was doing the right thing.

"Why don't you go to a normal school?" Jakob asked, as the server brought our food. Emilie thanked Aaron before she answered Jakobs question. "Mommy is famous and it could be dangerous if people would find out who I am." He seemed unhappy with that answer.

"What about friends?" Emilie smiled. "I have lots of friends. Gigi, Bella, Eddi and my best friend is Millie. She lives in London, but I can talk to her on mommy's phone." Emilie started eating her food, swinging her legs back and forth, humming to herself.

The rest of dinner was more small talk, until I finally asked the question that I really wanted to know. "If Carolina died three years ago. How come she didn't have Emi living with her after birth? She just left the baby at the hospital." Jakob looked uncomfortable. "I honestly don't know. I asked her parents but they don't know either. I guess those are things that only Carolina will ever know." I sighed and nodded.

At that moment I heard heels on the hardwood floor. "I'm sorry I'm late. I'm Miss Winters. The social worker, who called you yesterday. It's so nice to meet you." She shook all our hands before sitting down next to Jakob. I put my arm around Emilie and held her a little closer, before looking over at Joe.

He looked just as worried as I was. "Now since it looks like we're almost done I have an important question." Jakob turned to Emilie, giving her his full attention. "Emilie, would you like to come live with me? Your daddy?" She looked really scared and started to tear up.

"Mommy." Her little cry broke my heart and I picked her up, allowing her to cuddle into my chest. "It's okay my baby." Joe moved closer to us and wrapped his arm around us. "Hey darling. Everything is gonna be alright." Emilie was bawling her eyes out and I was super mad. How did this man, an ex prison inmate, who had been out for two months,  think he'd have the right to ask her this?

"Emilie, please think about it. Your grandma and grandpa and I really want you home with us, where you belong."  Emilie clung to my chest and I felt her fingernails against my skin. "Hey man. Look I know you just found her, but give her some time to breathe okay? She just met you, she doesn't know you." Joe said and glared at him.

"Miss Swift. I know you are legally her parent and adopted her, but this is an extraordinary case. Mister Meyers didn't know about his daughter and her fate until a few weeks ago. So I, and my colleagues, believe it'd be best for her to be reunited with her family."

I looked up glaring. "Her family? Her mother abandoned her right after birth. She never met any of these people. This isn't a reunion, and don't get me wrong. As long as Emilie wants to have Jakob and other members of her biological family in her life I'll never stop her from doing so. But giving her away? After I adopted her, I took care of her for a year? You want me to give away my child?"

I don't think I've ever been so mad, my voice was almost breaking. "Miss Swift. I know that we can't force you to give her away, but I think you should know that Mister Meyers has all the right to sue for parental rights and I think a lawsuit could be very traumatizing for a young child." I was in complete disbelief as Emilie sobbed into my chest.

"So you want me to just give her up? To just act like I've never been her mom? I can't do that. When I adopted her I promised her I'd be with her forever and I'll do everything to make sure that I can keep that promise." Miss Winters sighed and tried to open her mouth again, but Jakob decided to say something.

"I just want what's best for her and if she wants to stay with you, then that's okay. I really didn't know that she was adopted. I just want to hear it from her and if possible I want to be a part of her life, even if not as her dad." I nodded, grateful. "Mister Meyers, you have the right to try and get her back."

But he looked at Emilie, who was trying to calm down. "Emilie, what do you want to do?" She looked up. Tears all over her face, trying to catch her breath as hiccups and sobs cursed through her body. "Stay with mommy and daddy."

She cried out and for a second I was lost at who she meant with daddy, since she never had called anyone that title, but then she stretched her arms out to Joe. "Daddy." She continued as he picked her up from my lap.

"Can I stay with you and mommy? I don't wanna leave you, please?" I was still tearing up, since it was the first time she called him daddy and I could see Joe looking shocked. "Of course you can stay with us." He gently patted her back and stroked her hair. Jakob looked at me and nodded.

"I won't try to get her back, but do you think it'd be possible to stay in contact and that I and, maybe if you guys are okay with it, Carolinas parents could meet her?" I smiled. "We can stay in contact, I won't cut you out of her life. For meeting up, as long as Emilie wants to see you I'll be okay with it. I won't force her to meet you, especially not in public or alone. But maybe once she feels a little more comfortable you can come visit us at our place?"

He nodded agreeing. "Yeah I'd like that. I am very sorry that I made her uncomfortable." He looked deeply sorry and I gave him a smile. "We'll be okay. Emi has had a pretty hard day, but she'll be okay. We'll have a lot of cuddles and read a book when we're back home." I tried to comfort both him and myself, that we'd be alright.

Joe had managed to calm Emilie down and she sniffled into his chest. "Don't leave me daddy." He pressed a kiss on her hair. "I won't. I never will." The small blonde smiled a little as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Do you think I could have your phone number?" The dark blonde man across the table asked and I nodded.

He handed me his phone and I typed my number in. "Thank you so much." He said and a second later my phone pinged with a new message from the man across the table. "Thanks." I looked over to the sleepy child on Joe's lap. "As much as I'm happy that we are agreeing on what to do in the future and what's best for Emilie. I think we should go home now. It's been a pretty emotional day for all of us." He nodded and gave me a smile, while the social worker didn't seem pleased.

"Of course. I'll reach out to you and maybe we can set up another meeting after Christmas at your place." I nodded and Joe got up, Emilie in his arms. "It was nice meeting you." My boyfriend told the other man and the social worker, though I could see he didn't mean it towards the social worker.

The woman only grumbled a small goodbye, while Jakob gave both of us a happy goodbye and waved at Emilie. "It was nice to meet you Emilie. I hope you'll be okay with meeting me again." She just waved a little and we started to leave the restaurant. 

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