Haxsel couldn't understand what his parents had come up with.

Why would they do this if they truly loved him? The betrayal he felt hurt him in ways he couldn't put into words. Angry tears filled his eyes, but he blinked them away. He hated crying. He pushed the door of his room open, only to pause in his tracks when out of the corner of his eyes, he saw that Avery's guest room was unlocked.

Haxsel slowly walked to her door and peeked inside through the gap. The fairy lights above the bed gave him enough light to see his little angel lying on the bed, curled up in a ball along the warm blanket over her. A small smile turned the corners of his lips upright and his tense shoulders relaxed at her sight.

Was this the innocent little girl his parents wanted to send to an orphanage? Haxsel shook his head in disbelief, his heart sinking. What was wrong with them? He'd thought they were godlier than he was.

He closed her door slowly and backed up to his room, falling to his knees before the Lord.

"My Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done in my life as it is in Heaven. Thank You for everything You did for me today, and thank You for Your will that You fulfilled in my life after all these years of my desperate prayers. But I don't understand why my parents are against this. A moment ago, I was inexplicably happy, but now all I feel is sadness and confusion. I certainly do not understand. Please, please let me know Your will. I know You didn't bring Avery into my life to take her away the next morning, but I want You to confirm for me what Your will is. And I'm so sorry I yelled at my parents, I know I shouldn't but... I was caught off guard. Please, please forgive me for all the wrong things I spoke to them and help me not to repeat it. I'm Your humble servant and son, praying in Your son Jesus' holy name, Amen."

Haxsel heaved a sigh, feeling a burden lift from his heart, and stood. He sat on his bed and fished his phone from his pocket, debating on whether he should tell his best friend Charlie about Avery. Half an hour passed as he struggled to decide until there was a knock on his door.

"Come in," Haxsel straightened.

The door opened to reveal his parents.

"May we talk to you?" Bill asked.

"Sure." Haxsel shrugged and gestured toward his bed, inviting them to sit. He didn't meet their eyes, feeling guilty for almost yelling at them earlier.

"How are you feeling?" Adela asked, sitting next to him.

"Spectacular?" Haxsel scratched the back of his neck, uncertain of how to answer.

Bill hummed and nodded. "So, your mom and I thought it over, about Avery... and we understand that we were wrong. We shouldn't have said that."

Haxsel stared at him in surprise and looked at his mom who spoke next.

"We are so sorry," Adela said, in a tone just above a whisper.

Haxsel sighed heavily, raking a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry too, guys, I shouldn't have yelled at you like that."

"No, it's not your fault. We should've listened to you express how you really felt about it." Adela reached for her son's hand.

"Does this mean—"

"Yes, we'll raise her," Bill cut him off.

"You're kidding me." Haxsel shook his head, suppressing a smile.

Adela chuckled softly. "No, honey. We've made our decision. She's a Houston now, your sister and our daughter. It's God who has sent her to us and I can't pretend I never wished for a baby girl."

"I can't believe this," Haxsel murmured and let out a small laugh before hugging his mom. "God is so beyond good."

"He is, but we were too blind to see His work. We are so sorry we hurt you, Hax," Bill apologized.

Haxsel pulled back from his mom and turned to his dad. "It's alright, Dad. I forgive you, both of you." He hugged him as well. "Can you forgive me?"

Bill patted his son on the back. "Of course, we can forgive you. We can't thank God enough for the godly young man you've become. But sometimes, mistakes happen to us because we are humans, and we learn from them, taking care in the future."

Haxsel closed his eyes in satisfaction and reached for his mom's hand. "I'm sorry what I blamed you for, I—"

Adela cut him off. "It's alright, honey, it's alright. I knew you weren't saying it on purpose. I know you wouldn't. But now, back to Avery. I think we should start with changing her name."

"Why?"

"She can't go by Avery anymore. It's not safe in my opinion—our opinion," Adela answered, glancing briefly at her husband, who nodded.

"You planned all this after I left?" Haxsel couldn't hold back the amused smirk that tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Adela just smiled in response.

"What about HaylineJenn Houston?"

Bill and Adela blinked at him.

Haxsel smiled coyly. "Did you think I prayed all these years for her without preparing to welcome her into my life?"

Adela smiled tearfully and stifled a chuckle at his words before hugging him. "It's perfect."

Avery rolled onto her side. The blanket she had covered herself with slid from her face and the light hit her face. As the warm morning glow touched her, her eyes fluttered open and she sat upward with a jerk.

She shuddered to find it was morning already, realizing she was late. Why didn't Emery call her like she usually did? Avery turned to her in fright, searching for her best friend Emery. She and her friends used to wake up before sunrise every day, in fear of the surprise punishments they got if they didn't. But surprisingly or shockingly, neither Emery nor her friend Betty were there.

Even more surprisingly, Avery found herself on a cozy bed. She and the other children were used to sleeping on the floor.

She looked around her, examining the room she was in. Memories from last night flooded into her mind and she remembered her Hax. A wave of relief washed over her immediately.

Although, the sudden thought of her nanny and friends made Avery frown. She wasn't going to see them again and it pained her heart. But that didn't mean she wasn't glad to be with Haxsel's family. If it wasn't for him, she would've never left hell. She sat there for a few minutes until her stomach growled and a terrible hunger overtook her.

Avery decided to get out of her bed. She folded her blanket and smoothed out the bed sheet in the tidy manner she was taught to. She wondered if she could go downstairs on her own when she remembered Haxsel's dog, Nicky. She immediately took a step back.

Oh no! What if Hax wasn't there to keep Nicky away from her?

Avery hesitated but tiptoed to the slightly ajar door and peered through the gap. And much to her relief, her eyes caught Haxsel walking in the direction of her room, a smile spreading across his face as he saw her through the crack in the door.

"Is my little Ava awake?" he asked, surprised, and Avery smiled shyly in response, her cheeks slightly pink. "Come on, little one. Mom just asked me to check if you're awake."

To her surprise, he lifted her into his arms, carrying her with one arm tucked under her legs and the other behind her neck.

She couldn't remember the last time she had been in anyone's arms or if she had been in anyone's arms before. Even Rosetta wasn't allowed to be affectionate to any of the kids. So this affection was pretty strange and surprising to her.

At least, Nicky can't reach me when I'm this high off the groun', she thought.

"How long have you been up?" Haxsel asked as he walked down to the kitchen.

"A bit ago," she answered shyly.

Haxsel raised an eyebrow at her shyness with a playful smirk. "And how did my smart little sister end up as a shy girl overnight? Did you forget to bring back my smart Avery from dreamland?"

He poked her belly with his index finger playfully.

"No." Avery giggled, shoving his tickling hand away. Haxsel chuckled and kissed her chubby cheek, and combed his fingers through her messy hair.

"Are you hungry?" he asked.

"Yeah."

"Why did you go to bed before dinner last night? I was waiting for you," Haxsel said.

He was waiting for her? Avery frowned and felt guilty for not thinking about it then. "I'm sorry! I didn' know you were waitin', I didn' feel hungry, I—"

"You don't have to apologize for it, sweetheart." Haxsel cut her off, smiling sweetly at her.

Avery blinked in disbelief. She didn't have to apologize for it? Haxsel—or Hax—was surprisingly sweet, while her masters in the mafia were so cruel that no apology was enough for them.

"I was just worried you would starve in your sleep, hun, that's all. I knew you were tired and needed a nice sleep. It's alright, you don't have to be sorry for it."

Avery smiled shyly. "You're so sweet and kin'."

A snort of surprise, that was supposed to be a chuckle, escaped Haxsel at her words. "You think so?"

Avery hummed in response.

"Aw, that's so sweet of you to say it." Haxsel couldn't help his smile.

Avery looked ahead when they entered the kitchen. Haxsel's parents stood by the island and she smiled shyly as both of them glanced at her with soft smiles.

"Hello there, little Avery. Good morning." Bill greeted her over his shoulder, chopping up a carrot.

"Gooddmornin'," she mumbled, her voice barely audible.

Haxsel placed her on a special chair that was taller and a pretty light green, unlike the others around the table. Then he sat down on the chair next to her. Avery's eyes found Nicky lying in a corner of the kitchen, wagging his tail at her. She prayed he wouldn't jump onto her chair.

"How did you sleep, honey? All good?" Adela asked Avery as she set the table.

"Yeah," Avery's cheeks were as red as tomatoes.

Within the next few moments, the table was set for breakfast, and everyone took their places. Bill announced it was time to pray and they all held hands over the table.

Strange, Avery thought but silenced her thought as she placed her hands on Haxsel's and Adela's offered ones. They all closed their eyes, and she did too, just before a foreign language fell out of Bill's mouth. Avery opened her eyes immediately and stared at him wildly, partially wondering what he was saying. But quickly enough, he was back to English.

"Blessed are You Lord, Our God, King of the universe, for everything was created through His words."

She realized he was praying, and when she thought he was finished, Bill continued.

"Lord, our Father, God Who performs amazing things and is the Sovereign of the universe, we thank You for Avery, for bringing her into our life. We thank You that You are always faithful even when we fail to be. Your loving kindness is everlasting, God. Time shall pass, hopes shall fade but Your will remains. Thank You for making us a family and please help us to be fruitful in You. We're giving our new daughter Avery into Your hands as she starts her new life with us. Be with her and keep her safe. We pray this in Your son and our Savior Jesus' name, Amen."

"Amen." Haxsel and Adela recited followed by a low bark from Nicky. Avery wondered if he was saying an Amen too.

But she was staring at Bill in front of her. The words he had said—or prayed—surprised her. She was their new daughter.

Adela served Avery some bread and a soup she didn't recognize, with a side salad. Her mouth began to water immediately, the aroma was deliciously tempting. She had never smelled any food as good as this, nor had her plate been full of food before. She tried to be patient until everyone was served, but as Haxsel told her to dig in, she waited no longer.

"Now Avery," Bill said after he finished eating. "Do you know our names?"

He motioned to himself and his wife.

"No," Avery smiled shyly.

"Do you know his name?"

Avery turned to Haxsel, who sipped his coffee and smiled at her. "Hax, right? I heard it."

Adela shook her head at him. "Well done, Hax."

Haxsel choked on his coffee and turned his head to his mom and then to his sister. "I didn't tell you my name?"

"No, you didn',"

Bill and Adela suppressed their laugh at their son's facial expression.

"Well then, why don't you do the honor now?" Adela asked him.

"Are you sure I didn't tell you my name?" Haxsel asked Avery in disbelief.

Avery nodded and he sighed.

"I can't believe it." He slapped his forehead and rubbed his temple. "Okay then little sis, my name is Haxsel; Haxsel John Houston. Hax is my nickname, so you can call me that—as you do already,"

"And I'm Billius," Bill said with a kind smile. "Billius Houston. And your mom is Adela Houston. But you may call us Dad and Mom since we are a family now."

Avery's eyes widened at that particular word. "Family? You're my family now?"

"Of course, sweetie, we are. And that makes you our daughter. Therefore, we are giving you a new name," Adela said.

Avery gasped. "A new name for me?"

"Of course," Haxsel laughed at her excitement. "And I'm the one who chose it, so I hope you'll like it."

"Really? What's my new name?" Her shyness disappeared into thin air.

"Hayline. HaylineJenn Houston. And your nickname will be Hailey and whatever I come up with later." Haxsel rolled his eyes at himself at his last words. "How is it?"

"That's beautiful!" Avery gushed. "So, am I Hayline now?"

"Yes, sweetheart, you're Hayline now." Adela chuckled at her enthusiasm.

"Then what about Avery?"

"Let's forget it once and for all. You're no longer Avery. You're HaylineJenn Houston now, got it?" Haxsel asked her with a smile.

Avery couldn't help the wide smile that made its way to her lips. She smiled a genuine smile, unlike any before. "Yes, big brother."

Bill laughed. "Now that's official by God's grace. We're a family of four now," he declared.

"But what about Nicklaus Houston?" Haxsel asked with a fake, dramatic pout, his head resting over the table on his propped-up arm.

"Who's that?" Avery asked.

Adela admonished him. "He's not Nicklaus, Hax!"

Haxsel laughed and winked at Avery. "I was just trying to annoy Mom, I actually meant Nicky and Mom doesn't like me calling him that."

"Oh goodness, I haven't forgotten him at all. I just counted wrong." Bill laughed.

"Some bank manager you are," Haxsel mumbled, amused.

"So we are a family of five, officially by God's amazing grace," Bill declared again.

Everyone cheered, including Nicky who wasn't sure what he was cheering for. It was a happy beginning for the Houstons.

The first page of the new life God gifted them.