Christmas Wedding Part 6- A Piper Comes A Callin' free porn video

Late August, first day of school for Winnisimmet Public Schools Ethan Smith, Junior Kelly, Neil Jones, and Logan Finn were now fifth graders, the unofficial rulers of their elementary school. They weren't like the normal boys in their grade though. Logan and the trio were the boys who break the mold for 10 and 11-year-old boys just by acting like they had been taught by their fathers, mothers, and siblings- care, respect, and kindness. The boys had spent the past month getting to know the girls in their grade by encountering them at the beach and pool, leading to the girls warming up to them and seeing boys as friends and not normal jerks that most of the boys in their class were. Logan was the instigator of this, acting as the unofficial leader of the boys and bridging the gender gap due to his being the most empathetic to them. The girls appreciated that the was trying to be a good person which was echoed by the trio allowing for them to enjoy their time together even if there was the usual awkwardness of mixed-gender play at their age. As school approached, the girls and boys drifted apart due to other needs but they were still on good terms. As school arrived most of the girls separated from the boys but the boys but one, as she was new to the city and school making her have to endure most of the boys eyeing the fresh meat and needed the familiarity of the boys to help her cope. She talked with other girls in their class but for much of the time she either talked with the boys or kept to herself, keeping up that familiarity that she needed. Piper Hall had befriended the girls at the beach her first day in the city. It wasn't much of a choice, she was new and her parents dumped her at the beach so they could enjoy the day out with, "Friends" in Boston. She hated it but it was par the course for the couple, they moved from state to state to get away from the law and always had a plan to get away quickly- she was one of them, they could run off without her and let social services keep her. Piper was used to being alone while her parents were out making deals and trying to find someone to buy their latest drug investment. They made great money, but they kept it to themselves as they hid it from tax people in overseas accounts. Piper was not for want, but it stung that they couldn't just settle down and give her a normal life now that they had enough money to do so. Logan was one of the few people who was kind and didn't play with her because they felt bad for her. The girls were nice and all, but there was the underlying feeling of pity that they couldn't hide and after a while it got to be overwhelming to the point that Piper had to walk away after giving them a lame excuse for having to leave for the day. Logan and the boys were much better around her. Logan was a great boy who was concerned about her but acted like everything was normal. It was nice to have him doing that, he was genuinely concerned about her well-being but let her have her privacy and play with her as if nothing was off. In school, Logan and Piper worked together as their teacher, Mr. Snow, set the class up alphabetically with Logan and Piper had adjacent names on his list. The two were giggled at as the only boy/girl table but neither paid any attention to it. Piper was a great student and Logan was able to keep up with her making their time together productive and coupled with their friendliness they enjoyed school. Logan never saw Piper's parents. She would often walk home alone and arrived before everyone else so she was sitting in the cafeteria alone, reading a library book or listening to music, when he arrived. He was concerned about that but didn't say anything to anyone for fear of upsetting Piper but the suspicion that something may be wrong kept eating at him. The boys were jealous of his friendship with Piper and tried to keep him occupied. The trio were fine with Piper but didn't want Logan to get into any trouble with the boys or girls over someone thinking that he was trying to date Piper. Logan didn't care, if they had a problem with Piper it was because of their own inadequacies as males and females and not because of anything that he did. Business was swift for Piper's parents. The two had a lot of contacts and found a niche market for their "product," so were making money hand over fist. They even were able to start up a side business that was in-demand in the region, crystal meth, that brought in triple what they were earning already. Piper knew when to stay away from the house as her parents would cook on Monday and sell through the weekend. They were smart and traveled out of state to buy their supplies across multiple store chains so they had a nice steady supply of ingredients that wouldn't get the attention of stores or authorities. She was left to stay in the shed and basement as it wasn't safe inside the house due to the fumes and explosiveness of the ingredients. She kept herself clean and managed to get enough money for laundry and new clothes but her house was essentially a place to avoid at all costs. She was well fed, but she didn't really like that she was forced to buy pre-made meals from the supermarket then use the microwave in the shed to cook. She hated that she was all but cut off from her parents most of the time but they were focused on money and their products to provide the most basic care to her. By mid-November they started to see a decline in their sales of their normal drugs but steady sales of their meth. The couple expanded around the region and worked out agreements with local gangs and rival dealers to keep the meth business to themselves while they brokered great deals on drugs for the gangs. It was easier to take a brokerage fee than pay off or fight the gangs over territory. Piper went about her business as usual, only it was with a feeling that her parents would do something at some point to cause everything to come crashing down and force them to move yet again. It always happened, they'd do something that would upset someone powerful who would threaten them or get word to the police and force them to have to bug out for "easier pickings" elsewhere. She had been forced to attend a dozen schools in her short 11 years of life because her parents angered the locals, to her it was a matter of "when" not "if" regarding their fleeing. She was with Logan most days, talking with him as a friend and enjoying his ideas and sharing many of the same interests in TV, movies, and music as they killed time during lulls in classwork. He was the closest she had ever had to a friend, with him being what she hoped a boyfriend would be when she was old enough to actually date a boy. Logan simply told her that he learned how to act around girls from his sister Jaimie and 2nd- cousin Rosalind so he just did what he was told and it clicked in him. The two were often so ingrained in their talks that it was tough to separate them after school. Jaimie asked if she wanted a ride home one day, allowing her a chance to talk with Logan more and give her legs a rest as she lived on the other side of the city. Piper agreed, but ran inside as soon as she arrived causing Jaimie to think that the girl might be hiding a secret. After the second time being dropped off by Jaimie, Piper's parents complained about people poking their heads around there causing their business to get affected. They demanded to know who dropped her off and why, hoping that it wasn't someone connected to the cops or a rival supplier. Piper clammed up, not wanting to expose Logan just in case the wanted to use him to get money from his dad. Piper kept them at bay for two weeks but it got harder and harder to deflect their questions as Jaimie's presence in the neighborhood brought out questions that the Halls didn't want to answer. After she helped Piper inside one time her relationship to Piper caused a stir which led Piper to have to hide for a few days and refuse Jaimie's offers of a ride. She saw the pleading look in Piper's eyes and didn't look into things, letting her go but doubling back to ensure she actually went home and was alright. Jaimie was one of the people that the Halls were warned about avoiding when they moved in that summer. She wasn't known to them by face, only that she was transgender and whose family were rich and had complete control over the city. Piper's parents saw Jaimie as a money maker, and tried to use their daughter as a way of getting to Jaimie so they could get her hooked on their, "Product" making easy sales to an almost bottomless wallet. Piper stopped accepting rides from Jaimie completely after hearing that. It hurt Logan to not have Piper with him but he understood why she was doing it. Piper never asked for anything from him, but her request to stop the offers was genuine and the pain in her eyes showed it wasn't her choice. The fall was lucrative and winter looked to be even bigger. Piper's parents pressured her to keep close to Logan and Jaimie to the point that she had to tune them out just to eat and sleep. They were looking at her as their retirement, if she could get hooked they'd never have to cook meth again. Jaimie sensed that something else was going on with Piper and asked her uncle, Mark Sylvester, to see if she was alright as she was acting extremely different recently. Mark knew not to argue with Jaimie, if she was asking for his help then Piper may be in real danger. Logan tried to tell her not to do it, he didn't want Piper to get into trouble because of him and didn't want her to think that he caused her life to become difficult or cause her embarrassment over being investigated wrongly. Mark discretely checked on Piper's parents and couldn't find anything on them. The names that they were using were bogus and even Piper's name wasn't real. The school was given fake transcripts, likely ones written up by her parents to cover their tracks but still good quality fakes. Mark got the image of people who were trying to hide something, and his hunch was proven right when he was visited by members of the State Police drug unit investigating Piper's parents and wanting to know why he was looking into them. What they told him was something of a horror story as she was essentially an orphan living on her own and only really getting attention from her parents when they needed to look like parents. Getting Piper away was now needed, her life was at stake. He asked if they had enough to take them down, getting a somber, "Tomorrow we are taking them out. We believe they are about to go after your niece, Jaimie, as she has been looked at by them based on their feelers to the community. She's their ticket to retirement, every dealer wants to get her hooked." Mark was disgusted but held his anger in check. He had the paperwork drawn up to place Piper in a group home pending placement with a proper family. It was going to hit Logan hard but it had to occur. Word got around to the Halls that they were about to get raided causing them to panic and get their cash and weapons out of the house. In their haste, they accidentally caused an explosion that rocked the house and neighborhood. Piper was safe due to sleeping in the shed yet again but both parents were knocked out cold and left with broken bones, nasty burns, and deep lacerations from the shattered glass, splattered chemicals, and debris. The police and fire department closed off the neighborhood to decontaminate the house and search for more money, weapons, and drugs while Mark took Piper away. It was too late for her to be placed in a group home so he had to temporarily house her with people that he could trust. She was lucky in that he found a couple willing to house her on such short notice, only asking that she be clean and not under the influence of any of the stuff her parents were dealing. Mark had her examined by a doctor just to make sure she wasn't hurt and that she came back clean as there were no visible signs of ever using drugs. Piper understood what was going on and why and confessed that she hated the stuff and what it did to people and would rather run away than take any of it. She was glad that her parents had been caught, even if it meant that she was going to be stuck with foster parents for seven years. Piper was shown to her temporary foster home, that of Savannah, Sydney, and Justin Stoner. Mark sat Piper down and asked her about her feelings regarding transgender people. Piper didn't know what to say and thought that this was some sort of trick as she didn't care about that stuff, she just wanted a home to stay in until she aged out of the system and had to find a job. She was ready to go to another place in case her answer was wrong in their eyes, but she confessed, "I know Jaimie and she's transgender. I know Ethan Smith's sister is transgender. Mom and dad kept telling me that they were weirdos and stay away from them but I don't care, they never hurt anyone." Mark knew this was the best that they were going to get from her as her look was one of fear and she was clutching her bag tightly showing that she was ready to run off if things went badly. Savannah sensed that she needed assurances so she confessed, "I'm transgender, as is Sydney. Mark asked you that because he didn't want you to feel like he was putting you in danger by putting you here. You are only here for the night but you can stay as long as you need to." She looked at Savannah and Sydney and didn't believe a word of what she said. Sydney took her up to her room and showed a picture of her from earlier in the year, when she was still, "En-homme" as a boy. She then told her, "These boobs are just breast forms that mom bought. Her breasts are real and mine are just starting to bud under my nipples. I only started transitioning two months ago, mom has been taking hormones for years and is going to have her final surgery in a couple of days." Piper asked if she was going to grow hers as big as her mom's, getting a snicker and warm, "I hope so. Mom is beautiful, I hope I look half as good as she does. It's getting hard for dad to not get frisky." Piper felt better now, Sydney was trying to show that she was going to be alright and wasn't offended by her not believing her. It wasn't surprising, people always said the same thing about her having a, "Birth defect" as she looked so naturally feminine. Piper was jealous of how she looked, but didn't let on that she was jealous and didn't want to offend Sydney if she told her the truth. Sydney helped Piper get settled into her room then helped her get dressed for bed. She sat with Piper until she fell asleep, hugging and kissing her when she was finally out. When she went back downstairs the adults gave her a funny look but Sydney only rolled her eyes and sat down with them as they finished the paperwork granting temporary custody to Savannah and Justin. Mark left to the couple making Sydney go to bed, letting them handle this first night on their own. Savannah was upset that someone would be so careless with children while Justin had to quell his rage at the Halls for trying to harm Jaimie through their daughter. Their thoughts then turned to Sydney and her own reaction to Piper, especially how she put the younger girl to bed without them asking her to. Savannah had to fight a smile as she realized that Sydney was acting like a big sister to Piper without knowing it. Justin had to fight back his shock as he hadn't thought that the girl may take to Piper, which would make her finding a new foster home tough on Sydney. He sighed and hoped that Sydney didn't react badly to the change of custody that would be coming, she was already fragile as it were. In the morning, Sydney helped Piper dress for the day. Sydney looked over her clothes and underwear and offered her appropriate clothes, getting a warm, "Thank you" from Piper as Sydney had shown more care in helping her dress than her own parents had shown in three years. Sydney didn't reply, she simply got up and got dressed herself with Piper following her into her room. Inside, she saw Sydney's bare chest and noticed that her breast forms were such a good match that only the lack of nipples made them look different. Sydney accidentally flashed Piper her, "Birth defect" as she changed, not noticing the younger girl in the room until she heard a small gasp. Piper blushed as it was smaller than she had thought and looked hairy in her mind, even if it wasn't much hair for a girl Sydney's age and the size was due to lack of development before she started hormones. Sydney just shrugged it off, she knew what she was doing in Sydney's room and it wasn't her fault that she saw everything. She tried to cover up as fast as possible but thankfully Piper didn't seem scared of her. It was sweet in Sydney's mind, the more she and Piper were around one another the more the girl seemed to take to Sydney and barely noticed that Sydney wasn't a, "Full girl" like her. When finished, the girls went downstairs for breakfast. Savannah had them eat everything then drove them to the school to make the notations that Piper was staying with the Stoners temporarily. It was quick and easy with Savannah asking Piper's principal, Yvette King, if she was still considering fostering children herself. Yvette looked at Sydney and how she was handling the scared Piper and had to hold off answering, it was on her mind and she discussed it with her husband Ivan but they hadn't had the chance yet. She looked at Savannah and asked why, getting a timid, "You would have housed Piper if you had been on the list to house children. She was put with us because Mark couldn't place her yet." Yvette asked her meekly, "Are you going to foster her permanently? It looks like the girls are a bit too close now to not have a problem." Savannah just sighed and had to think about it, she didn't have a problem with fostering Piper but didn't want to get in the way of adoptive parents looking for a girl. Yvette took the silence to be a yes, teasing her, "You have seen the number of kids who were fostered in your large group, none of them were able to escape feeling love from their parents. She needs stability, she needs love. She will be heartbroken when she moves on to another home. She needs you." Savannah held her tongue as she left, watching as Yvette walked Piper to her classroom to speak with Mr. Snow. She drove on to her office where she had to take a meeting between her law partners, the state, and the federal government regarding the money owned by Piper's parents. She didn't say a word as she sat down, but the look on her face was one of care and content towards Piper. The meeting was just as she expected, with the state and federal government demanding the money that was stowed away by Piper's parents. Savannah was blunt, stating, "We are still trying to locate where the money went and just how much there is. If, and that is a big if, the money is in their daughter's name we will file to keep your hands off of it. If it is in their name we will work out an agreement that you are given whatever is owed in taxes with the rest going to their daughter. You will not go after her, we will fight you tooth and nail over every cent and you know damn well that you will lose." She laid down the gauntlet, daring them to act. She knew full well that they were about to lose the only access they have to the money as Piper may have known just where it went and how to access it. Savannah wasn't going to let them steal from her just to make themselves look good, what was hers was hers and staying hers so long as Savannah could help her. The meeting was tense as there was only the money inside the house that was able to be declared and that was seized as evidence. The two had accounts in foreign nations that had strict banking access laws that prevented the US law enforcement from accessing them. She hoped that Piper had the knowledge of the accounts and how to access them and maybe that it was in her name and all hers now. The news was grim for the Halls as their injuries were worse than initially thought once the initial swelling went down. They were given a large dose of toxic vapors causing their lungs to become burned inside making breathing impossible. They fought for hours but their bodies gave out midday, dying in agony from the pain. Piper wasn't told until that evening after Savannah confirmed with the hospital and police that they had actually died and it wasn't another escape attempt by them. Savannah wanted her to become settled before telling her the sad news. When told by Savannah Poppy didn't react, it was one of the possible outcomes she figured they'd have happen to them and she had mentally prepared herself for the news. When Sydney came up later to check on her, Piper broke down and cried into her shoulder. Somehow Sydney was able to bring out the best in Piper, making the girl feel comfortable enough to release her grief while keeping herself focused on moving on. Sydney hugged her tightly and kissed her cheek, telling her warmly, "You have us now, sis. Mom and dad will protect you from now on." Savannah was still struggling with the possibility of permanently housing Piper, with Justin telling her that if she wasn't comfortable with the idea he'd have Sydney placed with a good family who would love her as their own. Savannah had another reason on her mind for wavering, she didn't want Piper to feel bad about losing another parent if something should happen to her when she underwent her surgery that weekend. Sydney would feel a lot of grief but to the young Piper it would be even worse especially after just losing her parents and finding herself caring foster parents. Mark called them that evening after Piper's breakdown and gave them an update regarding her potential placement. He couldn't find a suitable family due to her former parents' "activities" scaring off potential foster parents even if she was never involved in any of that stuff. He hoped that they would be willing to house her permanently but wouldn't force Piper on them, but the alternatives weren't that good. Savannah shed a tear as she told him, "We will house her permanently. She needs our support and Sydney and she have gotten so close since you brought Piper here. I know we aren't ideal but I don't want her to get lost in the system, she is innocent and doesn't deserve this." Mark smiled at hearing that, it was the best possible outcome. The two signed paperwork for him a few minutes later then told the girls the good news. Piper was fast asleep in Sydney's arms, with the young girl curled up tightly with Sydney's favorite stuffed bear making them postpone the announcement. Savannah carried Piper to her room and put her under her covers, getting a happy, "Thanks mommy," from the sleepy girl. It was an unconscious response but it tugged at Savannah's heartstrings. Justin could only sigh and grumble about getting the paperwork together for her when she calmed down. In their room, Justin asked her if she was willing to adopt Piper as their own daughter. Savannah all but lost it as she tearfully said, "Yes!" and hugged him tightly. The two went to bed with Savannah continuing to hug him, showing him just how much Piper's unintentional response hit home with her. The next morning Piper was awake early, with Sydney grinning widely at her. Piper asked what was going on, getting a happy, "You said 'thanks mommy' to mom last night when she moved you to your room. She loved it, she went to bed in tears and has dad thinking that mom may be looking to adopt you. Do you want mom and dad to do that?" Piper started to cry at what happened. She didn't meant to say that but it came out as she had a memory of when she was three and her mom did the same thing for her. She mumbled a timid, "I just want a mom and dad who cares about me. I like living here, your mom is the best mom and your dad is the dad that I always hoped my dad would be. You don't know how lucky you are to have them as parents." She was crying heavily now, requiring Sydney to hug her to calm her down. The two embraced until Piper calmed herself. She was just happy to have people who wanted her there, she really did want Savannah to be her new mom if it meant that she could live with the Stoners forever. Sydney kissed her cheek and got her to eat her breakfast while she herself ate. The two didn't notice Savannah coming in and getting her breakfast then slip out to get dressed, but did notice the sleepy Justin coming inside to get his cup of coffee to fully awaken for the day. Sydney gave them a subtle, "Back off" look which both knew to be her trying to get Piper to calm down so she could get ready. When the girls finished and got dressed, Justin kissed them goodbye while telling them that he'd pick up Piper after school so Savannah could do some work at the office. Piper handed her something that she said was important and asked that she remove everything so they couldn't get anything from it. She didn't elaborate but looking down at the paper Savannah could see that it was what she was looking for. Piper went to school and got a lot of notice as word had gotten around that her parents had died thanks to the media. Piper ignored most of the talk, it was the usual gossipers and people who were jealous of her friendship with Logan and the boys. Most have no interest in her, just talking about her and didn't bother with any of the face only really caring about the juicy tidbits the tabloid news reported. Logan gave her a hug when she entered the cafeteria, with Piper hugging him back as she tried to hold off her tears. He sat her down and confessed, "My mom died because her ex-wife was doing dirty things for mobsters. Ethan's biological father ran a smuggling and drug business and tried to have his sister and dad killed. My biological dad tried to get my dad sent to prison because Jaimie was found to be transgender and dad wanted to adopt her. We know what you are going through. It sucks, but we are here if you want to talk about it." She kissed Logan's cheek, not realizing she had done it until she felt his skin on her lips. She blushed but he didn't react, only glaring at other boys and girls around them who were about to say something. The five walked to class, with Piper unintentionally holding Logan's hand until they reached the class. Class ran differently as Mr. Snow introduced three new girls to the class. The new girls made it an equal amount of boys and girls allowing for some shuffling of partners. Logan, Piper, and Ethan ended up with new partners as Logan and Ethan were teamed up while Piper was moved to one of the new girls in class, a group of girls from down on Cape Cod who just moved to the city two weeks before. The introductions caused the four boys to gasp as the girls told the class their names: Tabitha, Agatha, and Belinda Stoner. Mr. Snow finally asked what the big deal was, leading Ethan to proclaim, "Piper is staying with their aunt and uncle." The girls gave her an odd look as it was news to them but Mr. Snow started class so they had to let it go. Class went by slowly as the girls were behind in a few things despite their private school education. Piper had to help her partner, Belinda, get caught up and was getting annoyed by her attitude as she talked down about her cousin and her new city. Piper had only been there for a few months but she liked the city and she loved Sydney despite her being a "freak" as her cousin so eloquently stated. At lunch, the girls tried to direct her to a table with them but Piper went to sit with the boys with the girls gazing at her boldness in being close with the boys. Her subtle hand holding with Logan gave them another shock as she was clearly close with Logan even if they wouldn't admit that they were. The two were the only boy/girl couple in their grade so far with others seeing them as trendsetting. After lunch Piper was asked about Logan, giving a firm, "I like him as a friend and he is the only boy who tries to be a friend to me. We hold hands and I have kissed his cheek but I am not his girlfriend. I don't want to start dating until I'm in middle school so don't think because we hold hands that we are." She gave them a death glare as she sat down, almost daring them to say something further as she got more and more worked up at their attitude and actions towards their cousin. She had to fight hard to keep the secret that she wanted Justin and Savannah to adopt her as their own thus making her their cousin as well but it was a losing battle. She did manage to keep her mouth shut for the rest of the day, only really talking to the girls when they had to and even then it wasn't saying much. After school, the girls were met by Justin and Sydney as they waited for Piper. Justin didn't bother to say anything to his nieces as they snubbed him as they walked by but Sydney offered a cheerful, "Hello," to them as well as her aunts who came over to speak with Justin. Sydney didn't react to the girls' snubs, she was trying to be nice and if they weren't able to be nice back then it was on them. Sydney explained to Piper that Melissa Stoner was Moe Stoner's wife and the eldest of the ladies, as well as Melinda's mother. Beatrice Stoner was Larry Stoner's wife and Agatha's mother. Naomi Stoner was Joe Stoner's wife and Tabitha's mother. All three ladies were divorcing their husbands and had moved to Winnisimmet to be close to Justin and her as well as escape the chaos their husbands and fathers had caused down on Cape Cod. The Stoner ladies asked what was going on as they walked off to a private spot. Justin calmly told them, "Piper needed a place to stay and her social worker couldn't find any place to house her so he asked Savannah and I to house her until he could. She is with us until she asks to be moved but the way she is acting around Sydney and taking to Savannah I think she is going to want to be adopted by us." His sisters-in-law were surprised at the suddenness of the request. Justin just grinned and explained, "She is known to her social worker through his nephews and son playing with her over the summer. The boys kept her out of trouble when her parents dumped her at the beach and pool so she isn't a total stranger. As for it being sudden, it was going to happen this week because there was a concern from his niece about her safety and sudden change in personality. I had no problem taking in Sydney before and Savannah is a great mother so there isn't much to us taking in someone who needed a home. She needs parents and she has started to treat Sydney like a big sister so it's the best possible outcome for her." His voice was firm and authoritative, this wasn't something to question The ladies moved on and asked about Piper the girl, getting a happy, "She's the little girl that Savannah always wanted to be but wasn't able to be. She does what we ask and she doesn't complain about anything. She's already starting to make Sydney act more like a teenager and get over her little girl phase of her transition, she's starting to mature into the young lady she already is but haven't let herself embrace." Their brother-in-law was taking Piper seriously and acting like a father instead a foster parent. The three women had to hold off saying something about it as their daughters came over and demanded to go home, with each giving Justin a glare. He ignored it, instead telling his sisters-in-law that the boys would be around Piper so the girls needed to get used to boys being around and that the boys were the kind of boys that they wanted to be around their daughters- not the athletic meatheads like their sons. Over in Boston, Savannah was working with the Finn Family's resident accountant, Beverly Bollinger, to figure out the finances of the Hall family. The first thing they noticed was that the account was in the name of one, "Penelope Harrison" with the date of birth matching what they had as Piper's date of birth. Beverly grinned at reading that, telling Savannah, "Secure the account. It's all in her name- $20 million of it. I'll transfer it to a new one soon." Savannah now knew what Piper had meant, she wanted everything removed from the account so that it couldn't be used by anyone. Savannah handed off the money to the person who would be Piper's lawyer now that the money was found and she was on the radar of the IRS and state revenuers. Valerie Finn was more than happy to take on Piper as a client and had the money put in a secure trust fund for Piper so nobody could access it without authorization until she turned 21 and all but made it untouchable without a warrant from a judge. The money that was seized by the government during the investigation into the explosion was also being sought by Piper, only this time it was declared as found money inherited by her from her parents. The agencies would have to have a good reason for keeping it once she paid whatever taxes she had to, it was close to $1 million hidden throughout the house and as it was seized without a warrant it couldn't be kept any longer due to the couple being dead and it being properly declared by Piper. Valerie also handed Savannah adoption forms, with Savannah having to fight back tears as Valerie gave them to her. Valerie knew just what she was thinking and took the initiative, but she had her own reason for the adoption. Valerie knew that Piper and Logan shared a mutual affection and if she was to stay with the Stoners permanently they could see their romance blossom instead of fizzle out if she left for a new family via another placement or via adoption. Savannah signed the forms, crying as she finished signing her name. Valerie offered her a hug and gave her a reassuring, "It's for the best, she is your daughter in mind already. She needs you, both of you." The forms were signed and Valerie went off to the high school to get Justin's signature. Justin didn't make a big deal out of it, knowing that it was what needed to be done for Piper. He did give her an odd look when he read the name, but Valerie assured him she will want to change it officially soon. At the courthouse Valerie was met with yet another question about why she was there from the clerks, but a review of the paperwork only caused a whisper then request to meet with the judge for a quick and important session. It was as she had expected, the situation was a bit complicated and may get worse. Savannah being involved and securing the money on behalf of Piper was most important but this was second in her mind. Judge Martha Perez had Valerie sit and explain what was going on and why. Martha listened and gave her a smirk, confessing, "I do have a personal connection but my son's relationship to her has no baring on my ability to represent Penelope Harrison AKA Piper Hall's interests." Martha just nodded, it was expected of her. Martha reviewed the forms and then added her own, "The rumor mill is thick as there are feelers out about your client. She is in very real danger of being harmed to obtain her parents' assets. What she had in her account is highly sought after by the usual crowd not including the government. I am inclined to grant her adoption but I want to give it two days so her feelings settle down and their true feelings emerge. This adoption could turn out to be her wanting family instead of her needing a home and it might not be in her heart but somehow I doubt that is the case." Valerie walked out with the order to return in two days, giving it to Savannah who was fighting tears again. The two went back to work, informing the IRS and state revenuers about the money again, this time speaking with supervisors and representatives from the legal departments ensuring that they were all on the same page regarding Piper's found money and that she got everything. It took several long, arduous hours but eventually the two had won the right to not pay a penny in taxes as it was money legally obtained through her parents passing away as well as declared in her name. When she got home, Savannah showed the declaration to Justin and Sydney. Both had to fight back tears as Piper screamed in joy and jumped into Savannah's arms, crying at getting what she wanted most in her life. She didn't care that her parents had just died, she had newer, better, caring parents who wanted to give her the life she deserved to live. Things were quiet the next two days as the police located several people who were seeking Piper for the money that they knew that she had access to. With some rapid fire questions it was easy to discredit their claims about familiarity as well as show that they were really only trying to get her money and had no interest in her. They were all known drug pushers and traffickers who had contact with the Halls but had not gotten picked up by the police during their normal drug sweeps thanks to the Halls keeping them out of harms way but who would turn on them to get what they wanted- their money. Piper kept the news about the adoption to herself as she didn't want her future cousins to start a war of words with her. They had gotten on her nerves all week and had been steadily upsetting others. Piper was slowly making inroads with the girls in her class but her cousins always derailed those inroads. After school she sought out Savannah who was reluctant to greet Justin's sisters-in-law. The ladies had to hold off trying to talk with her as well, their daughters were adamant that they keep their distance from her and ignored Piper when she was with Savannah. Savannah simply let it go, she wasn't going to say something about it and cause the girls to start in on Piper over her relationship with her. This day was different, as Savannah had to hide her excitement about their hearing in front of Martha. She didn't hide it well as her sisters- in-law asked what was going on. Savannah let out a big sigh and explained to the ladies and their daughters, "Justin and I are adopting Piper, we filed the paperwork yesterday and it will be finalized tomorrow. She is being given a quick adoption because of her former parents' 'activities' possibly hurting her. Piper's lawyer is known to the judge, the judge isn't about to beat around the bush regarding legal issues and kids' custody. She thought it best to forgo the waiting period for Piper's sake. You now have a new niece and cousin." The girls looked at Savannah like she was joking but she showed the decree to them with the date in large print. They were now cousins, Piper was a Stoner now. They were about to have a tough time in class as it would be tough to trash Sydney without Piper getting upset at them insulting her sister. Piper came out late with Logan, holding his hand and kissing his cheek goodbye. The girls were going to say something but Savannah had a look of pure love and affection at the little bit of womanhood that was seeping into Piper's life with that big gesture of affection towards Logan. The girls walked off with a mutual grumble escaping their lips while their mothers let out sighs of disappointment at them acting like children compared to their new cousin. Before she could leave, her future aunts asked Piper if the girls were acting up in class. Piper didn't hold back and went at them, explaining, "They talk all the time and act like they are better than everyone else. We know that you don't have that much money yet because of what your husbands did so they are talking out of their asses. The girls don't like them and the boys think they are bitches. The only boys who even try with them anymore are Logan and his friends, but they try with everyone. I think they have crushes on them but the girls don't notice it. Logan said they are used to girls like that so it's easy to let the attitudes go and focus on doing what they need to do. If they keep it up they are going to get everyone angry and cause fights with the other girls. They need to smarten up before it's too late." She didn't hold back and the ladies suspected that very situation. They hugged her goodbye, telling her that she was a good niece and she should act like her sister more often. Piper didn't know what they meant, she was only acting normal and trying to save them from themselves. At home, the Stoners sat their daughters down and laid down the law. They were acting like spoiled brats and it was not going to be allowed anymore. All of them had a simmering bitterness against their uncle that was not his doing, if they couldn't accept that their fathers were criminals and had gotten what that had coming to them then there was little they could do to help them anymore. The girls were flabbergasted that their mothers would dare speak to them like that. They stormed off to their bedrooms, leaving their mothers to have a meeting of the minds and discuss what to do with the girls. They would need to see for themselves just how bad their fathers' actions truly were and accept that not matter how hard they tried to believe otherwise, they were never going back to Cape Cod. The Stoners had a long, in depth talk with their daughters once they calmed down. Sydney and Justin were hotly debated but none of them could pinpoint exactly what they had done wrong to the girls to warrant their attitude towards them. When their fathers were brought up the girls finally broke down in tears at realizing they weren't leaving their new homes anytime soon and their fathers weren't coming home to them. With their tears brought the opening that their mothers needed, complete with the ladies asking what they really felt towards their new cousins. The girls saw no reason to lie and told how they were jealous of Sydney and how she had everything in the world but they had nobody but themselves. They thought that she was lucky to have the smarts and money as well as a mother and father and now a sister. The ladies let the girls talk themselves out then revealed the harsh truth: Justin didn't have any money and neither did Sydney. The money she had was tied up in trust funds while her father worked hard as a teacher to pay for his mortgage and taxes. Sydney had bought their home for her father but he still had to work hard just to pay the bills and buy food. The girls listened and didn't believe it, forcing their mothers to confess, "Your grandparents cut him off and since he left home he hasn't had a penny from the family. He worked through college and graduate school and earned a job teaching. He was only able to buy his home because the men who owned it are friends of his coworkers and who wanted to sell it to people who could use a home at a good price. His mortgage was paid off by Sydney, he tried to refuse to take the money but she insisted." The girls tried to ask about Sydney and their aunt Savannah and their gender change, thinking that it was wrong and they weren't real women. The ladies had to fight back anger but when they calmed, they explained, "They are women as much as you are. They are built differently, something went wrong in the womb to make them male but inside their heads and hearts they are women. They would give anything to have your wombs and periods but they can't yet, modern science isn't there yet. They have tried to be kind to you, neither of them has said a bad word towards you or acted unladylike. You three have all but acted like jerks and treated them like they were sick. It ends now. You are not your fathers, we won't let you act like rotten people anymore." The girls were sent off to think about their actions and what the were told. They never told the girls that their cousin had given them their cousin's inheritance as well as a bit of extra money so they were rich like other girls she knew. The girls would have to earn the right to know that they were millionaires. The four Stoners drove to Boston, being met by Savannah's law partners Cameron Byrne-Toro and Ricardo Vincent. The group were granted the last slot of the day as Martha wanted to talk with Piper so she could gauge her reactions and reasoning for wanting to be adopted. Piper didn't look concerned at being in court, she was firm in her beliefs and was adamant that this adoption occur. Piper was led into Martha's chambers and asked a series of questions. It was clear that they were meant to trip her up and try to make her admit what she didn't want to admit. She didn't fall for them, finally getting annoyed and complaining, "I know what is going on and I know what I want. I have wanted real parents for years, not a couple of people who treated me like a pet who kept the cops away from them. I know that my new mother is transgender as is my new sister. I don't care! I want them as my family!" She dared Martha to say something. Martha didn't say anything, letting it go and walking Piper out to the courtroom to make her ruling. With a deep sigh, she announced to those in the room, "Rarely have I encountered a child who knows what they want and is set on getting it. This young lady has shown that she knows that her mother and sister are different and still wants to be their daughter and sister. I am inclined to believe she has found her true home." She grinned and announced, "I hereby grant your application for adoption. As your birth name is listed as Penelope Harrison and you have not shown any inkling to want to keep that name I ask what your choice for name shall be." Piper all but shouted, "Piper Melissa Stoner" to which Martha gave her a grin and a nod, writing out her order and finalizing her adoption and name change. The family hugged and kissed, with Justin kissing Piper's cheek causing her to blush at her father's bold affection. She finally let out her built up anxiety as she cried into his shoulder, forcing him to carry the girl to his car while Savannah got copies of the adoption decree and name change. Piper sniffled a soft, "Thanks daddy" to him, causing his heart to melt more as the gravity of having a little girl as a daughter along with being the father of a teenager set in. The trio came out with Sydney grinning widely at her father. Savannah sighed and told him timidly, "There were challenges to the adoption by multiple people, those same people just happened to either be unrelated to Piper or were only seeking her money. All of them folded under State Police pressure as their reasons for wanting her were really related to the drugs that her parents had. She's our daughter officially and nobody can say otherwise." Savannah was kissed deeply by Justin causing both girls to giggle and smile. He finally broke the kiss and told his sisters-in-law that it was finalized, they had a new niece to go along with Sydney. He also told them that he needed a favor from them, Piper and Sydney needed to stay with someone for the weekend as Savannah was undergoing her final surgery and he didn't want them to be left alone. His eldest sister-in-law, Melissa, agreed to house the girls but told him that there could be trouble from her sons when they found out. Justin expected this, telling them firmly, "They don't have to like it but I don't want to leave the girls with strangers and the girls could use their cousins' influence. The boys will have to learn to deal with them being around, they want to be family to you." Melissa was the hardest on the girls and was the one who made the other two ladies accept Sydney and Savannah for what the were, family. It wasn't tough to see her telling her sons and nephews off for acting like jerks to their family. She was hit the hardest by their husbands' actions and took the truth to heart and vowed to turn her sons around and get them to act like decent human beings. An hour later, her sons arrived home from school. They were complaining about their uncle being unfair to them in making them work so hard, they were family so he had to give them good grades no matter how little they actually worked. Melissa saw the problem right away, they assumed that their uncle was like their father and uncles and didn't see that he was his own man despite their familiarity. She steeled herself then announced, "Your Aunt Savannah is having surgery tomorrow so your cousins are spending the weekend here. I don't want to hear your complaints, Justin asked me to watch them this weekend and I don't want them to go with friends. They are your family whether you like it or not." As expected the elder of the two, Jeremy, swore and threatened to throw them out a window. Her younger son, Jeffry, swore that he'd beat them to a bloody pulp if they set foot in the condo. Melissa smirked then boldly proclaimed, "Do either of those and you will end up with your father, grandfathers, and uncles. I am not letting you two run wild anymore. I am sick of your antics and am setting my foot down. If you can't act like decent, law abiding human beings then you won't live here anymore. You are not going to harm your cousins, you aren't going to poison your sister or cousins anymore. You are your own men, start acting like it before you do something to end up in prison like them." She hit them where it hurt- their egos. She dismissed them, letting them stew in their bedrooms while she got ready for her daughter's inquiry later. She would be easier to talk with, she was simply her father's daughter but hadn't fully take hold of his views like her brothers. When Melinda finally came home from being out with her cousins, she was told about her cousins staying only to see her grow scared over Sydney staying with her in her room. Melissa sat her down and asked what she knew about her cousins and how they felt about her. Melissa wasn't surprised to hear that her daughter had no actual clue about Sydney, only that she was transgender and that Piper was starting to get annoyed at her always talking about Sydney and her mom in class. Melissa smirked and offered a soft, "Sydney is like you, only she didn't have a chance to be a little girl like you. What she has down there is working but she doesn't like you that way so you don't have to fear it. She likes girls, but not every girl will make her want to have sex with them. You are her cousin, she doesn't see you or your cousins that way. She just wants to be normal and will leave you along if you are so adamant that she go nowhere near you. You are breaking her heart though." Melissa sent her daughter on her way, knowing that she was going to have a hard time sleeping as the thoughts went through her head. She fielded phone calls from Beatrice and Naomi about the girls coming over, she didn't hold back and told them that it had to be done and the girls were going to either be new women or see just how alone they really are when the weekend was over. The topic of their sons came up, with Melissa being adamant that they were either going to have to see that they were wrong in their beliefs or they would end up in prison alongside their fathers. Melissa being set in her ways like that meant that she was done acting like the loving wife and was starting to think for herself, making the two think that they should do the same. She drew the line in the sand, they would either change their ways or they would be cut off by them. Savannah had trouble sleeping and was up early the next morning, with Justin by her side keeping her from eating or drinking as per her surgeon's instructions. Piper struggled with what was going on, she tried to research the surgery and got sick at the graphic descriptions of what was being done. She slipped into Sydney's bed and cuddled with her sister, letting her warmth comfort her as she fell asleep. Sydney awoke to Piper in her arms and her stuffed bear in Piper's arms. She kissed Piper's head then had her get ready for the day, ensuring the sleepy girl showered and changed then ate breakfast. The two went with Justin to the hospital where Savannah would have her surgery, returning with their aunt Melissa after she arrived to pick up the girls. Sydney asked to be dropped off at her friend's house, with Piper going along so she wasn't at the mercy of the wolves as she thought of her cousins. Melissa tried to dissuade it but the girls were adamant, especially as Sydney had plans with the girls and Piper would be with some of the younger girls. She didn't mention that Logan would be there with the boys, but Piper didn't know that either. Melissa dropped off the girls and told them to call her if there was any trouble or if they wanted to leave. Sydney didn't expect either situation, especially as the girls were great with her. The boys would be too intimidated to do anything and they were under the scrutiny of the Finns anyway, plus it was doubtful Piper would notice anything anyway as she was too busy working with the boys. Piper saw Logan, hugged him, then kissed his cheek. He was too shocked to respond, instead letting her hold his hand as they walked inside under his mother's watchful eye. Sydney glared at her aunt to dare her to say something, Melissa didn't say anything but made note to ask about it later. At home, Melissa's sons asked where she had gone. She growled at them, "I picked up your cousins from the hospital and dropped them off with friends. They will be home late so don't bother sticking around to harass them." Melissa's daughter Melinda heard her and asked where they really had gone. Melissa asked her about Logan and his relationship to Piper, getting a shocked look as she mumbled a jealous, "He's her boyfriend. They were partners until we started. The girls think he is some super- rich boy but he can't be- not with how he acts. He's the most boring boy in our class. He's not even that cute, his cousin Ethan is much cuter." Melissa had what she needed, her daughter was jealous of her cousin. She had a boy that she liked but who didn't give her the attention she wanted and was jealous that Piper did. It was understandable, the way the girls were acting in school no boys would want to date them yet. Melissa gave her a knowing smirk and let her wiggle around until she had had enough, telling the girl, "You see how she acts in school? That's how you should act. She's not trying to act like she is better than everyone, she knows she isn't. She talks with the boys and gets to know them and treats them well but you act like the world revolves around you. I know you like Ethan, your voice and eyes say you do. If you want to be close to him like Piper is to that Logan boy you need to stop acting like a bitch to everyone and start acting like your cousin." Melinda broke down as her mother hugged her, giving her a kiss as the girl let the truth sink in. When she stopped sobbing she gave her mother a loving look, with her mother telling her warmly, "It's part of growing up. You like a boy, he may or may not like you back. You are starting to blossom into being a young lady, Piper just happened to start out earlier than you. She isn't physically maturing yet but she is mentally. You are almost 11, it's the age where changes start and the girl becomes a woman. You are a young lady now, perhaps if you acted like one you would get the attention you desire from Ethan." Mother and daughter let it go after they heard the boys snorting into laughter. Melissa growled for them to get out, if they were going to act like that they were going to do it elsewhere. It was another sign that mother and daughter were unlike father and sons, this was a special moment and they ruined it. Melissa took her daughter into her bedroom and sat her down, offering her a hug and warm, "Those two are on their last legs. I am sick of them acting like they run this family. If they act up again I'll send them to live with your great-grandparents in Maine, at their farm. I won't do that to you, you are starting to see that you are acting wrong. I love them but I can't let them harm you and your cousins." Over at the Finn home, Piper and Logan were put under watch by Valerie. The two sat down and just watched TV, leading Valerie to leave them alone so they could have some privacy. Logan's sisters Ella and Cat giggled at him having a girl over while his brother JD acted like it was no big deal, which it wasn't but the girls were trying their hardest to play up the boy/girl angle knowing their mom was acting oddly towards Logan and Piper. The two stayed close until dinner, with Piper joining the family for the meal. Cat and Ella were snickering at the two throughout the meal with neither noticing it and Valerie trying her hardest to not smile at the two being oblivious to the cuteness of the situation. It was touching, Logan was so used to being Piper's friend that he never noticed that they were more than friends to one another. Sydney came over after dinner and played with the girls while Piper and Logan watched TV until Melissa came to pick them up. She had Melinda in tow and seeing the two get up and walk outside hand in hand had to fight a smile as they looked so cute together. She was caught off guard as Ethan came by with his parents which caused her daughter to flinch and try to look away, blushing at Ethan being there and showing that she really did have a crush on the boy but couldn't admit it. Ethan went inside with Logan while their parents gave them weird looks. Ethan had deep red cheeks, a sign that he was hiding a blush and making his mother smile at his reaction to the girls. Valerie had to hide her own smirk as it was clear that it was a mutual crush between the two kids, like the one that Piper shared with Logan. Piper was silent as they drove to Melissa's condo. Sydney had a smirk as her cousin recovered from her encounter with Ethan. Piper sighed and whispered to her, "He likes you too. He didn't like how you and the others have acted though. He doesn't like girls like that, none of the boys do." It settled Melinda's nerves but it still was a shock to her that her mother set her up like that. She saw in Piper that she was trying to be a good cousin and wasn't making fun of her for liking a boy even if she herself liked Logan. It was a new experience, trying to be nice instead of trying to the be top cousin. At Melissa's condo her sons threatened to remove Sydney again, this time telling her they'd do it no matter what. Melissa sat down, grinned, then told them, "I talked with your great-grandparents and they have graciously offered to house you two for the next six months. You two will be staying with them until you graduate then you are on your own. You were warned to stop acting like your father, well I'm not going to let you hurt your family because you believe the actions of bully, liar, and cheat. Pack up your things, you are leaving in the morning. They will handle the transfer up there." They tried to make a move on her only to fall as she moved out of the way. She didn't hesitate, telling them to get out now, she was through with them. They yelled at her that she couldn't do that, but both were over 18 thus were no longer children and were no longer welcome there. The two grabbed a few things and walked out in anger, vowing to get her back. They made the mistake of doing it in front of their aunts who told them, "Don't bother coming back or trying to get your cousins to help, they are being warned to stay away from you. They don't have the luxury of living on their own and their step-grandfathers are military or work at strict private schools who won't accept their crap." The boys walked out, muttering to themselves about Sydney ruining their lives but nobody paid them any attention. The girls didn't say a word, Piper consoled Melinda while Sydney stared Tabitha and Agatha down, daring them to say something about them being there. Tabitha and Agatha looked at their mothers but neither said a word, only sat down with their sister-in-law and niece. Sydney didn't offer much beyond a soft, "They are giving their sister and cousin more money. Mom and dad won't let me give them any of their trust fund to them anymore, so it's an extra $333,333,333 for the others. They don't have to like it but it's free money for them when they come of age if they can stay out of trouble." The ladies were not happy that she was giving so much money to her cousins but had to respect that she was trying to offer them an olive branch to show she cared about them. It was a gesture of love and a bond between them, she barely knew them yet she provided them with their own jump in life that was going to ensure that they went to good colleges and had their own homes. They had to fight tears as the girl was trying to be family even with her cousins pushing back against her every movement. The ladies asked about the boys earlier, with Melissa teasing Sydney at setting her sister up on a date. She was all smiles as she added, "She needed him. He's good with her, dad wants her to go slow but mom said he's too nice to do anything and doesn't even notice that they are closer than friends." The girls looked at Piper who blushed deeply at the conversation. She turned it around on Melinda and her reaction to Ethan, getting a similar blush as the other two gasped in shock. It was all they needed to get them to start getting close and moving on to something else. In the bedroom, the two were grilled about Ethan and Logan. It was clear that Logan liked Piper but Ethan acting the same way towards Melinda was a shock. They loved needling her but it was clear that she had a crush on him and he had one on her as well. The girls asked about Neil and Junior, getting a sly grin and happy, "They are good friends who may be more than friends if you stop acting like spoiled brats and eyeing them as meat. They like you as people but don't like you as girlfriends,.yet. They may if you stop acting like your brothers." The girls started to get ready for bed, with Sydney and Piper moving to the bathroom to change so the girls didn't say or do anything if they saw Sydney's "birth defect." The girls were about to make mention of this but stopped as Melissa appeared and explained, "You are new to her and you have never seen what she has and it'll be weird for you. You don't like others seeing your lack of breasts, it's the same with her. Don't talk about it, it's inappropriate. She has one and it works but she doesn't want it." The girls blushed as Melissa walked on, allowing Sydney and Piper to enter. Sydney was wearing the cutest pajamas, making the girls jealous of them and feel weird at seeing her small breasts sticking out. Sydney blushed then removed them, telling them that it was the night she had to air her chest earning a weird look but a look at the redness showed why she did it. The girls watched a movie then fell asleep around the floor, with Piper cuddling in Sydney's arms as she fell asleep. In the morning their cousins asked about that, getting a blush form Piper but Melissa offered a happy, "It's just like you sleeping in my arms. It's instinct, she does it because she is anxious. Sydney is her big sister and is doing it because she needed her big sister to keep her safe." Sydney called her dad to ask about her mother, getting a tired, "She's doing better. I don't think it's wise to visit, give her another day before you come by. She is very tired but knows you care about her." She had a sad look but understood, with Piper hugging and kissing her to calm her down. The girls went out for a long walk with Sydney, with their mothers picking them up at Sydney's house after. They saw the boys at Ethan's house and watched him play with his brother and niece, with the girls swooning over the four. Sydney moved them on before they could say anything, but the boys just blushed as they heard the girls and saw Sydney wink at them. Ethan asked what that was about, his mother just smiled and offered a warm, "The girls are turning over a new leaf thanks to their cousins. They are going to be nicer to you in school and I suspect that what you boys feel about them is what they feel about you. It's a bit too sudden of a change not to be." The boys blushed and tried to hide their shame at Karen Smith figuring out their secret. Logan wasn't moved but he was the most mature of them. Karen felt great pride at the four seeing the girls differently and texted their mothers to inform them that their little boys were not so little anymore regarding girls and budding romances. At the Stoner home, the girls got some new clothes and ate a light snack while their moms waited for their call. The girls asked Sydney why she didn't have a boyfriend, getting a terse, "I like girls" from her. They didn't realize that it was possible to do so because of the stuff their brothers had said about her and transgender girls, but it made sense that she didn't have one yet and never made mention of dating anyone nor liking a boy. Melissa picked up the group and drove home, sadly explaining to Melinda, "Your brothers were here and were told to never contact us again. I'm sorry but they stepped over the line- they hit your aunt Beatrice. I gave them the rest of their clothes and some money to use to find a new place to live but they are on their own. If they come around or try to talk with you, call the police immediately." This came as a shock but it was what they had expected from the boys, if they couldn't get their way they'd hit someone until they got it. Their fathers were all like that, it was one of their worst traits. The only Stoner who never had any anger issues was Justin and that was mostly due to him being the target of the four older brothers. The other Stoner boys were given an ultimatum: straighten up and act like gentlemen or move in with their grandmothers and step-grandfathers. For the 15, 16, and 17-year old boys it was akin to being told to act normal or get sent to prison. They tried to heed their mothers' warnings but it was tough to do. The girls broke up for the night and let Melissa handle Piper and Sydney on her own. Piper joined Melinda in bed that night, with Sydney sleeping on the couch after ensuring that the girls were asleep. Melissa saw the embrace the girls were in and felt warmth at her daughter all but showing that she and her cousin were close and getting ready to be friends even if Melinda didn't realize it. School was a relief for the girls as their dramatic weekend gave rise to a boring week. Piper needed the distraction and her cousins gave her the boost she needed to not dwell on Savannah's recovery. She was active in class and Mr. Snow had to hold her off from doing everything, letting her cousins do more while she was kept at bay. The boys took notice of the girls' change in attitude and sat with them at lunch. They didn't make a fuss about it, but as soon as the girls started to talk with them and the boys listened they were like their older siblings' and cousins' relationships with the opposite sex- friendly, but with a hint of something more. They talked and at times held hands as they walked, not even noticing this among themselves. As they walked outside after school, their mothers were in shock as the boys and girls were together talking and holding hands with none of them saying anything about it. Karen had to fight a smile as Ethan was so engrossed in Melinda's talking that he didn't notice they were with their mothers. As soon as one of them said something all eight snapped out of it and moved apart, making for a funny moment but one all of them would remember their children doing forever. The kids separated with Melissa taking her two with her to visit Savannah in the hospital. The other girls wanted to go too but it wasn't exactly a good time to visit and Piper was only visiting because she needed to see Savannah for her own peace of mind. They understood, but didn't like being left out. At the hospital, Piper cried at seeing Savannah in bed with tubes and bandages. Savannah hugged her tightly as she tried to calm her, kissing her cheek and telling her affectionately, "I'm alright. It hurts but it's not as bad as it looks. I love you for feeling bad about this but it's what I dreamed about since I was four and it's what I needed to do for years but never had the courage to do." The three left when it was time for Savannah's dinner and bath, with the girls kissing her goodbye while Melissa had to hold off her own feelings of shock at what she had seen. In the car Piper asked about that, Melissa sighed and offered a solemn, "It's tough to see someone willing to do that to their body. I know it's a need but it still is hard to fathom wanting something so badly that you change how your body looks just to have your outside match your insides." Piper defended her mother, telling her angrily, "This isn't like a woman getting a boob job or injections to make your lips bigger or get rid of wrinkles. Mom was born with a birth defect and she needed to have it fixed but she didn't do it until Sydney made her. It hurts a lot but she knew it would hurt and did it anyway because she couldn't live with that reminder between her legs anymore. Sydney feels the same way but she can't get her problem fixed until she is 18. What we have to put up with with guys looking at our boobs is nothing like others looking at her defect whenever she changes clothes in front of others or bends over to pick something up. People would hurt her if they knew, they won't hurt us if the see our boobs and vagina. There are some people who kill girls like mom and Sydney if they see their birth defect- a lot have done that already! And gotten away with it!" She was panting while Melinda hugged her to calm her. She finally stopped and sat quietly, not wanting to do something that she might regret. Melissa didn't speak either, letting her calm while they drove on while the two in the back tried hard to find something else to think about. At home, Melissa told the girls to work on their homework before doing anything else. The girls did as told and finished their work withing an hour, watching TV until dinner. Sydney was dropped by Jaimie, with Jaimie giving Piper a smirk as she saw her causing Piper to blush and look away. Melissa asked what that was about, getting a giggle from Sydney and a happy, "She's Logan's big sister. She's why he was so nice to Piper all summer and fall. She had 'the talk' with him about girls and got him to see us as being normal after he had a crush on his second-cousin early in the summer." Sydney had a look of reverence towards Jaimie, which caused Melissa to ask, "What's really going on with her. You aren't acting normal." Sydney sighed and explained, "She's like me. Last summer she had the same surgery mom just had. She is what I want to be, but she's more confident in herself than I am. She's even going to be a mother too, her fiance is going to have a baby that she is adopting as her own." Melissa let it go, it was hero worshiping and was the right kind. She did have to admit that Jaimie was a beautiful girl and nobody would say she was any less than a woman. Sydney was a genius with two patents and $130 million in her bank account but there are things that not even her intelligence could help- like motherhood and feeling comfortable as herself. The boys kept by the girls' side during school for the next few days as they worked on schoolwork and talked during lunch. Slowly the boys started to see the girls' new side, one that was similar to Piper but still their own person. It was a drastic change, but the girls had seen how much better they liked being a regular person instead of lying to themselves that they were better than everyone else. The girls were ecstatic and jumping for joy when the boys asked them to escort them to Logan's older brother Michael's wedding on Christmas Day, with Piper breaking down into tears as he asked her. The girls kissed the boys on the cheek sending them into a deep blush and having to turn away in shame as they fought for words. The boys were happy to ask the girls but getting that kind of reaction from them wasn't what they had in mind, the girls knew just how to make them speechless and give them a lasting memory that they would cherish forever. Sydney had to take the girls shopping for dresses, with Jaimie acting as their chaperone for the trip. The girls didn't know about Jaimie's past with the exception of Piper so when they heard a couple of boys making rude remarks about Jaimie they were shocked to learn why. The girls looked at her oddly but Piper told them that she was all woman and unless you saw the extremely rare signs that you can't change despite hormones and surgery there was no clue about ones genetic gender. The girls let it go and tried to find the right dresses to wear. Jaimie had pictures of the kind of dresses that the other girls were wearing, and would have had them made up if there was more time but they were forced to find matching ones from the racks at the local department stores. It helped that the girls were wearing a common color that went with most occasions but it still took a couple of hours to find dresses for each of the four girls. The girls had a blast as they got the right dresses from their third store but found some nice dresses for later on which Sydney paid for and ensured that they would wear by showing the pictures to her aunts. Jaimie took the trip in stride and ended up showing the girls that people are people and you are what you make of yourself, with the girls learning about some not-so-nice girls like Jaimie and Sydney who had a lot of trouble with girls who had been lucky to find loving families who accepted them. Things were going great for Piper but her past wouldn't fully go away. She had a behind the scenes battle brewing with the IRS and state revenuers over her inheritance as well the found money that had been cleared up the week before. She wasn't aware of it but they were trying to make an example out of her and waited for the right moment to try to arrest her for tax fraud. It was comical but they knew charges wouldn't stick. What they really wanted was her money, with it being one of their biggest finds that year and ones that would make a name for the investigators they wouldn't let it go without a fight. Valerie, Savannah, Beverly, and Savannah's partners Ricardo Vincent and Cameron Byrne-Toro were kept unaware of the situation until US Marshals came to arrest Piper after school that Friday. Piper ran off scared as they approached her and announced who they were, doing her best to get away from the state troopers and US Marshals trying to arrest her by doubling back and faking her way down side streets as they drove past her. She had done this before when her birth parents ran from police in their native Washington, she hadn't used it in a while though so it took her a second to get the memories back. She was successful and hid out in an abandoned building, knowing that it would take a while to gather support to look for her. Melissa called her brother-in-law who then called in the big guns. Valerie, Ricardo, and Cameron were all over the agencies for trying to arrest a child who had been cleared of wrongdoing and without just cause or new evidence. Valerie wasn't pulling punches and demanded that they show themselves in court with their evidence as she knew damn well that there wasn't any cause for trying to arrest Piper. Piper's location was known to Valerie simply by asking around to the right people. Ricardo's father had his network of informants telling exactly which building she was in and what she was doing based on how she was acting. Ricardo just smirked and called his brother Willie Pena, having him get to Piper before she was hurt and keeping her safe as his wife and Ricardo's husband sought answers and got the arrest warrants rescinded by judges. Piper wouldn't leave without a fight, getting ready to flee once she heard people coming close to the building. Willie had Sydney come with him and had her do the actual talking, she was the only person that Piper fully trusted and if she said it was safe then Piper would go with her. Piper listened and left, but didn't take her eyes off of Willie the whole trip to his house. At the Pena home, Piper was seized by the playful Billy Pena while his parents had Sydney keep an eye on them. Piper was unsure what to do, Sydney showed her what to do to get the rambunctious Billy to play and focus on her and not on annoying her. Billy loved the attention from anyone and once he had his fill and got bored the two were able to relax while the adults worked to keep Piper out of jail. It took hours but Kennedy was able to get a state superior court judge to toss out the state warrant based on a violation of her rights due to having been cleared previously once Cameron showed the statement showing that she didn't owe a penny in taxes to either the state or the federal government to the judge. He grinned and offered an arrest warrant for the state revenue employees who signed off on going after Piper since they knew about the document and ignored it. He wasn't going to let them harm an 11-year-old girl because they wanted to make their careers. Things were much more intense at the federal courthouse as Valerie had to fight with the US Attorney over the attempt to circumvent he client's rights by seeking her arrest after she had been cleared by the IRS of any taxes on the money. The USA was trying to crack down on all tax cheats and an 11-year-old tax cheat was exactly what he needed to show that he was serious about fraud. Valerie had to force him to admit that he knew that she was not breaking any laws and that she was not entitled to pay any taxes yet he refused to drop the charges against her and threatened to arrest Valerie for obstructing justice. Valerie calmly told him, "Do it. Seriously, do it. See how fast you end up running for cover and begging me not to end your career. This isn't an idle threat, that is a guarantee. You will be lucky to resign in shame instead of being outright fired for your actions by the President." She dared him, and he called her bluff. He had the US Marshal take Valerie into custody while telling the deputies to go pick up Piper. The US Marshal refused, knowing what Valerie was doing and seeing the deputies around him refuse to comply with the known illegal order. He would not let his deputies get put in the line of fire because he wanted to look good for the cameras as he ran for higher office. Downstairs in a courtroom unbeknownst to the USA, one of his assistant US attorneys was in a heated argument with three people. Kennedy had her angriest face on and was spouting off dozens of statues and regulations alongside an angrier Paul and Alexandra James. Paul and Alexandra were more than happy to jump to Piper's defense, they loved a good fight and had piles of ammunition to use against the AUSA to ensure that they got their way or someone was going to look foolish on appeal. The judge in attendance was listening to the arguments and after the first couple of decisions that were irrefutable to anyone with half a day of law school he tuned out Kennedy, Paul, and Alexandra. The AUSA tried every possible angle and made up multiple claims that had no way of being proven and were known by all to be false, yet he still continued on trying to get his way. The judge finally had enough and asked for the damning evidence, looking over the statement from the IRS that cleared Piper of all taxes and freed up the money to be taken into her own account. Seeing that it was granted 10 days before he yelled at the AUSA over the USA violating Piper's rights by trying her for something that they had already cleared her of and knew to be false based on their own words. The judge had to fight his rage and summarily dismissed the charges, telling the USA to give Piper a full and public apology for knowingly trying to prosecute her for a crime she didn't commit. The USA was furious and had a war of words with the judge over letting Piper go free. The deputy marshals grinned as the judge ordered he be placed under arrest for violating her civil rights and perjury for lying on the arrest warrant. The USA tried to fight the claims but gave in immediately. Piper was told the news immediately and asked to go home. It was too late to walk home alone and Melissa was already in bed so Sydney walked her over to the Finn home where they would spend the night. John Finn told Piper that she was staying in the guest room above Logan so there would be not funny business, she blushed and told him she would not do anything like that agreed to his rules. Piper was out as soon as she lay in her bed. Sydney told the younger Finns to leave her alone, she didn't need anyone waking her up which they agreed to. Logan saw Sydney there and went right to bed, not wanting to be caught out of his room when Piper was there and causing John to grin at his maturity. Valerie was released the next morning and saw the judge wiping the arrest from the records with the court offering their apologies for the USA violating her rights in his attempt to get at Piper. Valerie could have just as easily claimed attorney/client confidentiality but the judge knew that her arrest would be a bigger impact and get the right people to react and get the arguments being used against Piper as well as the USA's threats and lies on paper, which did indeed happen. She was right as the media were all over the USA being taken into custody for violating an 11-year-old girl's rights as well as arresting her lawyer for refusing to tell him where her client was as the girl fled from prosecution for a crime that she was cleared of just 10 days before by the IRS. Valerie's name was mentioned and her championing the rights of children as well as her own battles in courts with the government over their overstepping of authority painted her as a martyr for attorneys and children. She got the reaction she wanted, the USA was facing fire from the media and politicians especially as he was shown to have tried to go after a girl for not paying taxes that she didn't have to pay at all. Piper's name was kept out of things but she was touted as a martyr for unfair taxation and had people willing to give whatever change they had to pay off what she may have owed, with the IRS desperately telling the media that their investigators acted on their own and were not being supported and that Piper had not owed a penny to anyone at all. It was still a feel-good story as Piper's plight made people see that kids could be exploited by the government trying to make a name for themselves. The IRS was under heavy fire and had to vow to change their investigation practices and how investigators operate especially in regards to children and others who don't normally pay taxes. Piper awoke to a strange bedroom and the sounds of kids laughing and playing nearby. She walked out, unaware that she was in her pajamas thanks to Sydney changing her. When she saw Logan she blushed and as she moved a certain way he blushed as he saw her flat belly and some of her flat chest and her nipples. Sydney handed her a robe and discretely told her that she accidentally flashed him her chest, causing her to nearly faint while blushing a deep shaded of crimson. Logan had to hurry up and leave the table as he couldn't contain his reaction to seeing Piper's chest and stomach, with his sister Ella giggling at his running scared. Sydney offered her a glare which caused her to stop, while Piper blushed herself at causing his unwanted reaction by moving the wrong way. The other three Finn kids, Sydney, and Piper finished and going upstairs to change clothes. Piper just couldn't escape Ella's looks and after she herself changed, Ella entered Piper's room and watched as she got changed. Piper didn't appreciate her scrutiny but didn't say anything about it. When Piper finished, Ella asked, "Are you my brother's girlfriend? He acts weird around you and the girls say he is acting like he likes you. You act the same, you act like our brothers and sister act with their fiances. Are you his girlfriend?" Piper blushed but Ella wouldn't let it go. Piper finally sat down and confessed to the eager girl, "I don't know. I like him a lot but we aren't ready to be boyfriend / girlfriend. He's the first boy who treated me like a person and he is the only real friend I have. Sydney said our cousins cousins are becoming friends but he's my only real friend so far." Ella didn't say anything further, she saw her father standing there giving her a glare which made her run off. John wisely told the distraught Piper, "You two are too young. You like having someone who is close to you but you don't actually have the kind of relationship yet to date. You are just close friends." Piper didn't say anything as she walked downstairs with John to await her parents returning home from the hospital. Savannah was finally released and going to take time to recuperate at home with the girls around her, with Piper eagerly trying to help her to pay back for adopting her. It was what Piper needed most and with the realization that she did like Logan she needed the break. Piper nearly knocked over Savannah when she saw her enter, tearfully hugging her mother and making her sit down. Sydney gathered their things after hugging and kissing Savannah, then told her that the two kept to themselves overnight and only had a minor incident in the morning. Savannah raised an eyebrow while John whispered, "Wardrobe malfunction. She didn't have a robe and showed her chest." Savannah saw the blush Piper had and let it go, she was more interested in how she acted. Sydney told her about Billy and her handling Ella which was enough to get a smile from Savannah. The two had done their jobs in keeping her distracted even if they didn't know they were helping. The Stoners left, with Piper giving Logan a hug and kiss on his cheek as they left. He didn't react, just accepted the kiss and hug while his sisters and brother snickered at him. Piper kissed JD Finn causing him to blush and giving the girls a snicker while smiling at her to show they were just teasing. At home, Savannah told the still smiling Piper that she was getting too mature for her age. Piper took it in stride, happily telling her, "I like him a lot. He's the nicest person I ever met and he was the first person who ever treated me like a friend. I love being close to him. I know we are too young for dating but I still like spending time with him and kissing him." Sydney didn't say anything while Justin tried his hardest to keep from having a, "Dad moment" with his younger daughter. He loved her, but it was a lot to take in. A boy had won her heart and was making her feel like a young lady, it was tough to get used to as he didn't expect it to happen for another few years. Savannah got relaxed while the girls settled in again. She felt relieved to be home and finally have some time with her daughter. The feeling of being mother to a young girl made her feel different, almost like she was more of a mother than she was before because she could help guide Piper through life more so than she could with Sydney. The girls stayed by her side until bedtime and even then they didn't go to sleep until Savannah was tucked into her own bed. The girls felt great babying their mother, especially as it was the only way they could show that they loved her. Piper was going overboard with her own affection as she still felt like she had to show she was the daughter that Savannah wanted. The girls stayed by Savannah's side the next day as well, refusing to let her cook or clean and bringing her food to her. It took all of Savannah's strength to not say something, it was just so touching. The girls kept the house spotless and even Justin was impressed with their cleanliness. At school on Monday, Piper was dropped off by Savannah causing her nieces to flock to her and offer hugs and kisses. Savannah didn't know how to react to them giving her that kind of attention, they had previously been hostile toward her despite their mothers being sympathetic and understanding. Piper's eyes showed that it was alright so Savannah hugged and kissed them goodbye, letting them go inside. It felt great for her to do that, with the Stoner wives all loving the scene as the girls had finally gotten to show that they were better than their fathers and brothers. Savannah couldn't hide her own joy, they were her nieces and for the first time treated her like family. The ladies didn't say anything, but Savannah confessed to them, "It feels great to have them acknowledge me as their aunt. My niece and nephews aren't the same as the girls, it means a lot more to me to have them accept me despite their fathers' actions and attitudes." The ladies just smiled and let it go, encouraging Savannah to go with them and relax while they enjoyed a day inside until the end of school. Savannah lay on a couch while the ladies talked with her, enjoying the time together and giving Savannah a taste of one of the benefits of motherhood. The ladies actually liked Savannah and what she had to say, getting them to laugh at some of the teasing that she had to offer as they talked about their ex-husbands and some of their quirks. Piper endured teasing as she entered, with Mr. Snow demanding to know what happened to her Friday as he let her know he didn't appreciate being grilled by police over her actions. Logan was on top of him immediately, all but yelling, "She didn't do anything. Mom will be happy to tell you that they were trying to put her in jail for not paying taxes that she never had to pay in the first place. Mom is going to be mad that you are even mad at her, Mrs. King told you not to talk about this anymore." He glared at his teacher while Ethan added, "Aunt Kennedy and Aunt Valerie's lawyers took care of it and the men who were responsible are in jail. Aunt Kennedy will be glad to tell you that you are in trouble for trying to lie to get Piper to come in today so she could get arrested. Aunt Valerie will be seeing you after school about that, she and Aunts Beth, Harper, Katie, Ms. Byrne, Uncles John, Sean, and Ben are asking why you accepted a bribe to break the law." Mr. Snow's face went white while Tabitha, Melinda, and Agatha asked who those people were. Logan explained, "They are all teachers. Dad is high up in the teacher's union and mom knows all of the laws and rules regarding teachers. Mom isn't happy with what he did especially since he wanted to get rid of all of us for making his job tough." Yvette King entered and asked to speak with Mr. Snow, with Valerie appearing to tell Mr. Snow that he was being let go after the year for acting against common good of students. Yvette offered him a terse, "I can understand being intimidated into giving up a student, but not with setting them up to go to jail because you were given assurances of a promotion and better job. You could have been a principal on your own merit when my colleague retired at the end of the year but you chose to act against common good. You will find employment elsewhere but you are done here in June. Things went better for Piper once the money was finally cleared and handed over to her with the IRS and state revenuers handing her their apologies as well as the resignation of those involved. Piper now had $20 million in money in her account along with another $1 million in cash. She was told about the money and refused to touch any of it, asking for it to be given away. Savannah put it away in a trust fund for Piper despite her refusing to accept the money. She ensured that Piper would have a steady income thanks to the interest from the money alone as well as from investments. Piper would never be for want, but it would ensure that she had a nest egg for when she was old enough to marry and have children. The wedding arrive two days after the money cleared and was a hectic day for the kids. Piper was on pins and needles as she got dressed, needing Savannah to help her put her dress on and fix her hair and put on light makeup. Savannah had to hold back tears as she saw Piper after, she was beautiful and looked like the daughter she always envisioned she would one day have but couldn't. Sydney came in and created even more tears as she was simply beautiful in her dress, even more so than Piper was in hers. The girls hugged and kissed Savannah over the kind words, they loved how they felt and she only made them feel all the more beautiful. The girls kept fighting back tears as their mother dressed and when she turned around she matched the two girls in both style and color shade, making it tough for Justin to not say something about his girls' being like three sisters. The Stoner girls got a lot of attention, especially as they met with their escorts for the wedding. Logan could not take his eyes off of Piper, and upon seeing her exit the car he could only utter a soft, "Beautiful" as he saw Piper's dress. Ella and Cat snickered at his reaction while JD uttered a happy, "Pretty" to Piper, reinforcing the feeling of Piper being beautiful to Logan. The girls were stuck having dozens of pictures taken with everyone and anyone, especially their escorts. When they had a moment to themselves, Logan offered a happy, "You look beautiful," to Piper which earned him a kiss on the cheek followed by a hug. She offered him a happy, "You look handsome, you may be the most handsome boy here" which caused him to blush and run off in embarrassment. The five Stoner girls were the center of attention from the younger kids with the 3rd graders joking and teasing them while enjoying their teases back. Ella offered a happy, "Logan really likes you. He likes you more than just a friend. He should be your boyfriend but mommy said you are too young." The girls blushed as they all knew what was going on. Logan did like Piper and she liked him. The girls felt the same about Neil, Junior, and Ethan and didn't want to admit that they enjoyed the boys. Christmas vacation was busy for the Stoner girls as they spent a lot of time with the four boys. They made mutual plans to go to the movies, with the boys sitting with the girls and sharing a meal with them. None of them would admit that it was more than it seemed but it was clear that they liked the time out together and wanted more. As time went by, the either grew closer. After a month, their parents finally gave in and let them enjoy a date together. It was as expected and the kids were too timid to do anything except enjoy the movie but it was a big step in their relationships. After the near-arrest and after having not shown any signs of grief over her parents' passing and eventual burial Piper endured a long talk with a counselor over her past and her feelings about her deceased parents. She didn't want to go to it but it was felt that she needed to talk about them so she could move on in full even if she believed she had done so already. Savannah had to exude a rare bit of parental prerogative in forcing her to go but it was in her best interests to do so. The sessions were intense as she confessed her past misdeeds and what they had done to her over the years. She did indeed feel better after talking, but it wasn't really needed. She had accepted that they were gone and that they were terrible parents who could have killed her had she not been forced to live in the shed to avoid their drug cooking. Her counselor was impressed with her maturity but it was expected, she had been forced to grow up earlier than she was ready. Logan was talked about with Piper being told to take it slow but he was indeed a great friend to her and one who would be close to her even if they weren't meant to date. He had shown her what she needed most and she gave him maturity and affection that he needed. By the end of winter, the couples had become inseparable. They had become the center of ridicule from the boys and girls in class but it was pure jealousy. Piper wasn't about to take their ridicule and did something bold- she kissed Logan on the lips in front of everyone in school when the teasing got to be too much to take. Logan nearly fainted while Ella giggled at his reaction. He wasn't able to say anything, while Piper had to endure the girls in her class teasing her about liking a boy. Her cousins did the only thing they could think of, they kissed Neil, Junior, and Ethan on the lips causing the same reaction from them causing the kids in their class to stop cold and get laughed at as their jealous was finally exposed for all in the school to see. Yvette offered the girls teasing a hearty, "Are you jealous that they have staked their claims to the boys or that the boys haven't seen you in the same light? Judging by your reactions I'd say that they see you as being too immature for them. Those four boys are much more mature than their counterparts. I am proud that they have shown that they are acting older than their age." The girls had to be separated by their parents with the girls being given "the talk" so they understood just what was happening with them and why they needed to take things slow. Savannah was in tears as she gave Piper "the talk" but it was more of her showing that she understood her even if she couldn't fully understand her biological functions. Piper appreciated "the talk" and kept quiet, then hugged her mother tightly and saying, "I love you, mom. Thank you for being such a great mom."