Peter said, "Yeah, I think that is where we are going."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chrissa's mom said, "Hoey, the girl has been abused."

"I know dear and I don't want her to go back. But that's not the point" he sighed, seeing he was getting no where with his wife. "We have to be together on this. Adpoting is a big thing"

******

"Alright" Jen said, and settled back into her seat for the drive to her house

His wife looked at him sadly, "What do we do then? We need to find her a good home."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ONce they got to Jen's house, Peter said, "Let's get you something for your lip?"

"Now wait, I'm not saying I don't want to consider taking her in. She looks to be a very sweet, well-mannered child, and" He looked at her with his firm blue eyes. "Broken." Biting his lip he began to pace, thinking of an answer. It wasn't easy or simple to adopt. There were many complications that could arise, with the orphanage ect. Was he sure their house-hold was ready for something like this? Though his wife was correct; both Chriss and her brother were growing up and would soon by out of school in a few years, but that didn't matter. He stopped and looked at his wife again. "I'll think about it. Just please don't be upset."

******

"How about we get something for you first?" Jen said as she unbuckled and hopped out of the van.

THe wife bit her lip. "I will have to go tell Chrissa." She sadly left the room to break her daughter and the little girl's heart.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peter said, "Okay. As long as it doesnt involve scissors or razors." He stepped into Jen's house.

Jen laughed, but quickly became serious "I wouldn't cut your hair even if you paid me!"

*****

The next morning Peter awoke with a groan. Sitting up, he cracked his knuckles and stretched; weariness still evident on his face. He rose up and got dressed, pulling on a pair of normal jeans and a t-shirt. He looked at the mirror, and made a face seeing the bruise from the man punching him. Then remembering the other wound he had recieved in his leg, he pulled up his pant leg and looked at the bandage. It seemed to be pretty good, it had bled somewhat over night, but not too bad. With a sigh he left his room to go to breakfast down stairs.

*****

Chrissa got up very earlier that morning, dressed quickly, and stuffed a few things into a pack. Her teddy bear which she had, had since she was three, a book, and a candy cane. "I'm going to go see Natasha" she said. All night she had dreamed of the lonely girl in the orphanage. After her dad had refused to take her in, she was heartbroken. She had wanted so much for that little girl to be her sister. she snuck out of the house, and retrieved her bike from the lawn. Then mounting it she rode toward the orphanage.

Miley had just finished her breakfast, when her adorable younger cousin came down. She got a chair for him, as he limped towards it. "Anything i can get you? Are you okay?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Justin walked into the jail, to see IAn looking tired and sad. "How long oyu have to be here man? Hey your hair is starting to grow back?

Ian looked up, and felt his hair, there were still mear small strands on his head. Nothing like it used to be. Sighing, he stood and went to the bars. "Today's the last day of my trial. Today is the day the decide how long i'm going to be in here..." He played with his fingers.

*******

Peter sat gratefully, and looked at her. "Well, what's for breakfast? Anything special?" he said a mischevious twinkle in his eye.

*****

Chrissa arrived at the orphanage, a half an hour later at 7:40. The sun was just beginning to play down with it's full warmth, and she quickly left her bike at the walk up to the door. When she arrived she opened it quietly, and tip-toed to the desk. Due to the arrest of previous orphanage manager, the authorities had placed a temporary one in his stead. It was a girl, a little older than Justin who greeted her.

"Hello, My name is Tammy" she shook Chrissa's hand heartily "May I inquire of your buisness here?"

"Yes, I'm here to visit a little girl. Her name is Natasha. I'm sorry it's so early, but I've brought somethings for her" Chrissa said, hoping fervently that she would be allowed to visit her.

Tammy nodded. "Alright, it IS early but I think she should be awake. But before I show you where she is, what are th items you brought her?"

Chrissa placed the bag on the desk counter. "A teddy bear, a book to read, and a candy-cane." she stated, pulling the items out as she said there names.

"Those are fine presents. I'm afriad last night when she was returned, she was very upset" Tammy sadly said, leading Chrissa toward a room. "The couple that brought her in said, that at this time they just weren't ready to adopt her. It's too bad" the young women came to the door and opened it. "In here" she gestured.

Chrissa thanked her happily and rushed in, coming to Natasha's bed. But when she got there she was heartbroken to find the little girl sobbing into her pillow.

Chrissa felt anger at her dad for causing such hurt to the young girl. "Natasha? I am so sorry." The sobs haunted the depths of her heart, crushing every breath she took.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Justin said, "What they are doing to you is haunting the depths of my heart. Can't they see you were going to turn yourself in?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Miley, who's depths of her heart were not haunted but overjoyed answered, "Well, i could fix you pancakes and eggd."

Natasha didn't sit up to respond to the older girl, but she laid there and cried. Everything she had hoped for had been dashed yesterday. The hope for a loving family, something she had never had. The hope for a home she could call her own. "It's not your fault" she whispered after a long sorrowful minute. "They just don't want me...."

****

"Sure" Peter said patting his stomach. "I'm starving" he playfully pretended to foam at the mouth. Then stratening up he ran a hand through his hair "Heard from Justin Lately?"

*****

"No." Ian said leaning against the bars. "All they see is a juvenile kid who stole a ugly neckalce" he said, slightly angry and kicked one of the bars.

Chrissa put a comforting hand on Natasha's arm. "But I do... I don't care what they say." She didn't want to disobey ehr parents, but a child's happiness was at stake. Couldn't they see htat?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Miley laughed at her cousin, pretending to foam at hte mouth. She smiled, glad he had some hair to run his hand through now. Starting on his pancakes, she answered, "I know yesterdya he was at Ian's trial."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Justin took a breath. I tried telling them you were going to turn it in."

"But you said yourself your too young to adopt me.....they don't want me! I'm never going to get a home" she sobbed.

****

"Oh Yeah I forgot. I wonder how long he's in for?" Peter mused thinking of Ian

****

"I know....I heard you. They just don't care. I'm just some one they are going to throw in and forget about" he said returning to his bed.

Chrissa bit her lip. "I'll see what I can do." She walked over to the director, and asked, "Is there anyway you could have peopel come for teh older children, such as Natasha?"
~~~~~~~~~~~
Getting to her cousin's eggs, she said, "They shaved off his hair and he's pretty upset about that."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jusitn wasn't sure if this was the right time to bring up God or not. "When will the trial be over?"

"I'm sorry" Tammy said, kindly "We can only give the kids to people who want them" She said "I understand how you must feel but we do all we can. But, once the children get a certain age we have to let them go"

***

"Really? Wow, he had a lot of hair. I know what he's feeling like" Peter said with a shake of his head

****

"Six o'clock tonight....." Ian said quietly

Horrified, Chrissa asked, "Go where?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Miley handed Peter his pancakes and eggs, then softly brushed his eyebrow length bangs back, then stroked the mid-ear sides. "I'm glad your hair is growing back. I know you still miss the rest of it. I remeber when i had a bad haircut in fourth grade." She shuddered, at the thought of the chin length bob. "What would you like to drink?"