Family Found Part 3 free porn video

In the morning, the girls were tough to awaken as they were a bundle of nerves and fearful of what the kids would do. They showered and ate breakfast, then dressed in silence while Paige gathered her work before heading to the school. All seven were going to the school so there was no denying they were all a family and may get some of the biggest jerks to eat crow about Elise being a bastard or unwanted. The drive was short but it felt like hours to the girls. They were scared but seeing their parents did help them quell some of their fears. Thankfully for them, Pierre was distracting them by moving around causing them to hold onto his fingers as he moved his arms around in his car seat. As soon as they parked, all got out and were noticed by the arriving children and parents. Anne being in a skirt and having her hair brushed out and held in place by barrettes turned heads, with Elise walking with two strangers carrying a newborn making many stop in their tracks. It was an even split, as the whispers and rumors started to spring up about both girls with Pete having to hold his temper in check as some of them were making him want to scream at the offending kids and parents. The group walked to Cole Hill's office to have a private meeting, with Bryan and Pete waiting outside so nobody tried to enter and eavesdrop on their conversation. Cole looked at Anne and was speechless while Elise hanging off of Hannah gave him some concern. The two acted like this was no big deal, as Paige and the woman with her were looking over paperwork without taking any notice of his reaction. Finally, after several minutes, Paige introduced Anne and Hannah. He looked over Hannah and could see that she was indeed her mother as she was so similar that she could have been her big sister. It took him a while to gather his wits but Hannah explained, "I canceled the rest of my book tour to be with my daughter and give Paige and my brother some relief as they dealt with Anne's issues. I'll be taking an active role so Paige isn't inundated with work and caring for the girls." He turned his attention to Anne to which Hannah explained, "Anil Patel is no more. Anne Smith will be attending your school until the end of the term. After the term ends, both girls will be transferring to a school in our hometown. Before you ask, it has been cleared by both our family and their new school. Our aunt is the principal at the school that they will attend and has dealt with multiple transgender students including our sister younger sister, Lady Nichole. She just happens to be her daughter-in-law." Paige showed the paperwork and added a firm, "She has the full backing of social services. Our friend Ruby Evans will be expecting backlash and has the department's statement ready. Her director, Garry Grant, has the legal might of social services not even trying to defend any claims against us as they are in enough trouble already and know all of the facts involving Anne's transition as they were present at the hearing last week. If you try to remove her you and the school will be liable for the lawsuit that her solicitor will file on her behalf. That's not considering that the Met will not hesitate to investigate you and the school for violating her rights." Cole offered a quick, "I have already cleared it with the borough council and the few on the council who are against Anne have mysteriously become silent just days ago. Rumors among their staff say it likely has to do with the group having ties to the two men who removed Anne from her mother's custody. Did you have any role in that whole situation?" Hannah smirked while Paige angrily explained, "They talked themselves into an investigation by the Met as they tried to cut off an active investigation by the police at the request of Mr. Grant. We are only the catalyst, whatever happened involving them was a chain reaction after things had already started. They overstepped their authority and threatened Garry after Benson and Hedges went to them to stop things in hopes of saving their jobs. It failed badly. They are in serious legal trouble due to things that had nothing to do with their jobs but involved Anne." There was little else to talk about as it could endanger the cases against Benson and Hedges. Cole was happy to be rid of the two as Anne was now safe and in the hands of a loving family. She looked happy and healthy and full of life- a stark contrast to how she used to look in school 10 days before. The four walked out and Elise showed her mother their classroom with Hannah having to hold back a smile as she was getting a little anxious but was happy. Hannah had to calm her and tell her that it was going to be OK and she was ready to help if she needed, but she had to be mature. Elise understood and calmed down, but was still on edge as Hannah left to rejoin her husband and Bryan. The trio walked out with Pierre stirring and then crying, forcing them to change and feed him while enduring stares of parents as Bryan handed them what they needed while muttering that they owe him big for being their pack mule. Hannah was about to say something but was stopped by Pete's look that told her that it wasn't appropriate words for their location. She did have a smirk on her face which was enough to make Bryan roll his eyes at his twin still being a sarcastic brat after nearly 38 years. In class, Paige could hear the whispering of her students as they insulted Elise regarding the mystery people who were with her. They were keeping their words about Anne to themselves but there were glares and weird looks as they entered. Elise was the easier target, Paige dared them to say something about Anne but they would have no problem going after Elise. A few did get bold and started to ask Elise about the two people with her. They joked that she got taken away from Paige and was in foster care while Paige had to make it look like nothing was happening to them. That caused the kids to laugh as they knew the meek Elise wouldn't fight back. Paige was about to say something but Anne defended Elise by proclaiming, "Those weren't Elise's foster parents, those were her real parents. That was Uncle Pete and Aunt Hannah, daddy's twin sister and his brother-in- law or as you know them- Lord and Lady Smith, the Baron and Baroness Gosfield. They are back because Aunt Hannah gave birth to their son last Monday night." Anne was defending Elise, something none of them would have believed was possible especially as the two were not close before the break. Paige used the shock as a way of moving things along and told the class, "That really was my sister-in-law and her husband. Like my husband and I, they are titled nobles. They returned at their daughter's request as well as Hannah needing to end her book tour early as she needed a break for health reasons. She suddenly gave birth after I adopted Anne as my own daughter. Yes, she is a girl and will attend school as a girl until the end of the term, at which time she and I will be moving to the US to our hometown of Winnisimmet, Massachusetts." She paused then explained further, "Anne is legally my adopted daughter by judicial decree. During our week away we were able to find her birth father's family. She is my husband's 4th-cousin's daughter. She is a Smith by blood. That makes her Elise's 5th-cousin. They share a great- great-great grandfather. Even though Elise isn't a Smith by blood due to her mother and my husband being Smiths by adoption, she is a Smith regardless. Anil is gone, Anne is in his place. Her name is Anne, not Anil. It was changed by the judge who granted her adoption and is protected under the law of the UK as a female so if you try to bully her, assault her, or in any way act against her rights, you will find out how far our family will go to protect our loved ones. Far too many have fallen for doing just that. Smith is a name that brings terror to the police, social services, and councils throughout this country." She scanned the class and dared them to say or do something. They were all too shocked to do anything as she had them left with nothing to say. She nipped the issue in the bud right away and stole their only ways of retaliating making them have to rethink things before they cost themselves dearly. Paige got class underway and didn't get much from the students. Anne and Elise were doing a lot of the work in class for the others. For the first time all year, the students were actually learning instead of trying to outwit Paige and come up with ways of harassing Anne. During lunch, Anne and Elise walked out with pride and ignored the stares while Paige paid for their lunches. When they finished, the duo went outside again to play and acted like they were all alone and ignored anyone who came close to them. None of the kids thought that they were going to do any of that, Anne always holed herself up in the classroom doing work while Elise followed others around. Their classmates finally had enough of their meals and wanted to get more information, hoping to use it against Paige and the girls but didn't realize that they were in over their heads with them. Anne was fast becoming like her aunt and uncles as well as their cousin, their branch of the family was known for its sly manipulations of people with nefarious interests and using it against you when you least expected. She was her father's daughter but differed greatly in that she would use her ability for good. The kids asked what else they did during the week. Elise happily said they got to take care of her new baby brother while Anne said they went to a couple of places with her aunt when she needed some time off from the baby. Both giggled as they watched the reactions, with Elise saying how cute he was. The kids asked if that was all that they had done, Elise smirked then explained, "We went to the Anita Love concert at the H2O arena. We were onstage during the show and got to hang out in her dressing room. She told us we were going to her Boston show too when her tour hits the US this winter, but mom said it depends on how are grades are." The kids laughed at the two, believing that they made it all up. Paige casually asked, "You don't believe them?" The kids said they were lying, the show was sold out and Anita is a recluse who hates fans. Paige just smiled, then put a couple of photos on the classroom smart screen. The kids gasped in shock as Anne and Elise were hugging the famous singer, with Anita kissing them in another. Paige then put up new pictures that she had just received, telling them, "Anita came by our house to meet Elise's new brother. He is named after her husband Pierre. We know her lyricist and music composer, her lyricist is Elise and now Anne's aunt's cousin but Elise just calls her 'Aunt Tabby'. She's an old friend of ours who is like all of the other adults from our generation in that she treats the kids like nieces and nephews. She was in town by pure luck and demanded to meet her newest niece. They really did watch the show from the side of the stage and would have joined her onstage but I told her not to do that." The girls were all smiles as their classmates' mouths dropped in shock. The two knew the hottest singer in the world and knew the people who were responsible for her success as well. The fact that she went to their home was even cooler, especially as they were shown a photo of an angry Bryan changing little Pierre while a happy Anita, Hannah, and Pete talked in the background. Elise had to laugh at that and added, "Uncle Bryan hates changing diapers. He must have told mom and dad to sit and talk while he did it for them. Uncle Pierre took the pictures, he's Aunt Anita's husband." Paige let that sink in and started class again, working the kids hard until the day ended. The kids ran off and told anyone who would listen that Anne and Elise knew Anita and had been onstage watching the show. They were spouting off how cool it was that they knew famous people and acting like they were their best friends now while never noticing that Anne and Elise were disgusted by their behavior. The two just blocked it out while helping Paige put away papers and other things while they waited for the kids to clear out before heading home. They didn't mind the wait, they worked on their homework and did a lot of talking, which Paige had to snicker at hearing. Ophelia and Lillian weren't close due to Ophelia growing up in another town and neither were close to girls in their schools so this was the first experience she had seeing how she and Hannah were like as kids. The girls saw her smiling and asked what it was for, getting a happy, "Just seeing what it was like for me and your mother was your age. Your sisters weren't as close since Ophelia lived in Bradford rather than Winnisimmet so they didn't share a bond like you are. It's just so sweet, it's just like we were." The girls smiled and hugged her for saying that. They were acting normal, they had started to become closer than anyone could have hoped and it was all due to being themselves. Elise just needed to drop her act and show her true self to the world while Anne just continued to be what she already was. They finally exited the school and saw a crowd of upset parents waiting for them. Paige ignored them and walked on to her car, the girls didn't bother to look at the crowd as they were just trying to get them to react and cause a fight that Paige and the kids would get blamed for. Paige did text Cole to alert him that the parents were revolting and he needed to be ready for their barrage of complaints. Anne said that none of them were parents of students, she didn't recognize any of them from any of the time she had spent watching them come and go from school. Cole came out and saw the crowd and did a cursory check on them before moving over to the crowd and asking them to leave or he would call the police. The crowd tried to scream at him but he called the police without looking at them or giving any kind of response, especially as he knew there were cameras pointed at him from close by. Police responded immediately and forced the crowd to move while Cole told the officers that none of them were parents, therefore, he would not hesitate to have them arrested for trespassing. The officers moved closer to the crowd prompting many to run off in fear while a few angry stalwarts tried to stay and fight the officers. It was a moot point, they couldn't handle the growing crowd who were there to help the officers especially as they learned they were trying to harm a child. Cole had the men taken into custody with the police telling those who were still acting out that they are going to protect the school and all children there regardless of what the crowd believed. This was just a ploy to get the assailants to react, with several shouting obscenities about Anne's sexuality and being in a skirt and that they would remove her if the police didn't do it. The crowd turned on them and would have led to a riot but was stopped by Max Evans saying, "As you have made your opinions known, you will be charged with rights offenses. You are all big men trying to harm a kid, one who has no idea who you are nor do you have any reason to be here in the first place let alone try to harm a child." The crowd dispersed, with Paige waiting a few more minutes before driving away. Max was already waiting for them at the house and alerted her to what had happened and why. The crowd was there thanks to Virginia Golden paying them to be there and had been placed under arrest due to it. Paige asked why she had done that. Max explained, "She hoped that by them attacking Anne, Anne would lose all rights to her inheritance. As a caretaker of Anne's inheritance's wife, she would have access to the money and was going to remove all of it. It turned out that she is married to Benson, and married him for money so she could live the high life at Anne's expense. She violated the conditions of her bail and is now being remanded." Paige asked why Anne would be removed, to which Max grinned and told her, "There is a clause in her father's will that was to be invoked that would negate her inheritance if she were arrested or shown to be immoral and unfit as a person. Being transgender wasn't one of the conditions, when they tried to use that against Anne a while ago the judge laughed them out of court. It turns out that they knew all about her dressing and tried to use it against her without her knowledge. She was going to have Anne get assaulted so she had to retaliate and would have shown that footage to a judge allowing Golden to take the money in full as caretaker then drain it dry. She was stopped by Isla before she could do it, with Isla now taking direct control of her assets on behalf of Anne until you can do so for her." Hannah demanded to know how they could still have access to the estate. Max was ready and explained, "They don't. In fact, she was placed under arrest for trying to access the estate's accounts soon after the hearing went in your favor. She had spies in the court but your two brothers-in- law were already two steps ahead of them. They had all access cutoff and a motion to remove Benson and Hedges as the caretakers placed before the courts. The estate is temporarily frozen but due to the wording of Noah's will, it becomes Anne's in full whenever she wants. She is a millionaire now, all she has to do is have Isla file a claim on her behalf and it becomes hers with full access." The ladies smiled as the whole thing was planned by Miles Finn and David Peterson to trap Golden, Benson, and Hedges without anyone knowing they were setting a trap. They knew what they were doing and were really at the hearing to save Anne's wealth as they knew things were already in hand legally. The two were more than happy to stay quiet, they had done their work en-route to the country then the courthouse and had Isla's colleague file the motions while the hearing was underway. Anne couldn't believe what she was being told. Max got up to leave, but first looked down at his new namesake and smirked at the sleeping angel. He was happy to see him but also upset that his parents were about to start in on him not dating or marrying a young lady. After Max left, the four adults sat with Anne and explained what they hoped that she would do with the money she had inherited. Anne didn't want any of it, but Paige and Bryan insisted that she keep it. She refused, telling them that her aunts and uncles and cousins should get it as they knew Noah. Paige hugged her and told her that they wouldn't accept it but she would try to give them a tidy sum. It was really going to be half, with Anne being shown what she was going to give to them and crying as she nodded. It was ?250 million, it would mean none of them would need to work again but it was a gift from the heart and no matter the amount it was too much in their eyes. Anne went off to do her homework while the adults started to work with the legal minds to secure the estate's split allowing the Chiselworks branch of the family to know how much they meant to Anne. It took a lot of discussions but Matilda Smith finally agreed to take the money and split it among the seven Smith siblings and cousins with their own kids then getting shares of their parent's portion. The kids were not told what was going on but the seven adults were all in tears as Anne's request was explained to them. The kids slept soundly that night with the two getting some time helping feed Maxwell after the frank talk about Anne's inheritance. The girls were blissfully unaware that Pete and Bryan were maneuvering to get the court to force injunctions in Anne's favor to protect her from people who were about to go after her publicly. It was a calculated response, Golden, Benson, and Hedges couldn't leave well enough alone and they had already shown that they were willing to take down Anne by any means. In the morning, Pete was out of the house before the girls were awake. He went right to the courthouse and met with a sympathetic judge who issued an injunction against the reporting of private information about a child as well as violating the rights of the defendants in a criminal case. The judge was cutting off the trio before they could make the claims themselves, it was their actual leak that was about to get the media to harass Anne but they were going to claim it was harming their case despite that fact. Pete didn't play around and personally delivered the injunction to every reporter spotted around the school. Only a few dared to defy it and were apprehended by police while pleading they had rights. The few parents who were around demanded their removal as their own children would be shown and they refused to waive their rights in favor of a story about another kid that they didn't know nor care about. Cole was feeling the pressure of Anne's being a student. He had endured hours of phone calls from the borough council trying to fish for information to use against him. It was the same story each time, he refused to give in to pressure and let them vent before telling them that he was not going to give up on a child who had done nothing wrong to warrant being expelled from school let alone be forced to attend as a male especially as it is illegal to force her to do so and the council had already given their support. There were the usual threats against his future but he countered that they knew full well what they were trying to do to Anne and had issued a memo supporting her being a student in his school so they were about to go against themselves making their claims come into question. He went for their throats and knew that their image was going to be tarnished by the revelation that they went back on their support when they received the first complaints. They were playing with fire and would get badly burned as he was not afraid to use the illegality of their actions against them and point it out to the full council and the media with the council having to pay a lot of money in a losing effort to go after Cole. His job was in jeopardy and he knew it. The most powerful and vocal opponents were in the pockets of Benson and Hedges and were threatening to do whatever it took to get rid of Anne even if it meant that they would be sued into bankruptcy. They didn't care about the school nor Cole, they only cared about their source of income especially as it was in danger thanks to Anne's being in the Smiths' care. There was mounting pressure on the few on the council who supported Anne. They were ready to go to war and air every bit of dirty laundry that the opposition had. Anne had more actual support than any person realized, the silent majority were about to make their presence known and ready to fight. In the morning, once the media rodents had been exterminated, Cole addressed the entire student body during their daily assembly. He was not afraid to lay into the few among the students who had seen fit to complain to their parents about Anne despite not knowing the first thing about her or her past. He knew that they were the worst offenders regarding discipline so would be easiest to quash as they were suspended or expelled for their actions. He went after everyone and proved that they all had differences, showing that there was not one perfect student in the entire school. He was vocal and angry, with the kids who were bullying and using Anne as a way of trying to make a vie for power put on notice that they were known and would face the harshest penalty that any student could endure. He singled out a few who were heard plotting, telling them that they were expelled right then and there. Cole was angry and showing it. The few in the faculty who were disgusted by Anne were told that they were not going to be permitted to remain with the school after the year and that if they persisted they would be terminated with a notice put in their file explaining just why they were terminated. That was an even stronger message as the kids saw just how serious this was if teachers were getting fired. Cole went to his office and awaited the fallout. He expected the union to be after him but their call did not come, showing that they were not about to help someone who was harming a student. The teachers who did complain were forced to accept their punishments as they would have to explain just how they should be allowed to retain their jobs after both breaking the law and violating their employment terms specifically the discrimination clauses. The media did inquire about the non-retention of teachers, but it was to show that the school was trying to protect vulnerable students from the abuse by teachers. It wasn't related to Anne, it was actually part of a longer investigation into schools and teachers as a way of catching those who were the opposite of Cole. He directed them to the right people and didn't say anything on record, but did let the reporters know that students had witnessed the confrontation which would give them what they needed. Paige had to endure the kids trying to treat Anne better but still seeing that they were hoping to use her for what they wanted especially if it got them to meet famous people. She disliked the children more and more as the day wore on and was starting to think that coming back was a mistake. She was losing her will to teach, especially as the kids were uninterested in class and only going through the motions until they could talk freely with Anne to get what they wanted from her. Anne kept quiet but sensed Paige's frustration. She hated school and wanted a change, even if it meant leaving school. She wanted a new start, in a place nobody knew her nor cared about her past. Elise endured the kids in class bugging her about what she was doing after school and if she was going to go see Anita or someone else famous. She tuned them out, they were resorting to the same spoiled jerks that they were before and it would be only a matter of time before they forced themselves into her house to swim and have fun with her newest games and computer. It was the same as they were before Anne came to them, only it was worse if you consider that they were not even trying to hide their lack of actual interest in her and only wanted what they could get from her. As school ended, Paige saw the looks on the faces of the students and felt that it was getting to the end of her time with the school. Anne and Elise were looking the same way, with Elise trying to look away in shame as Paige tried to say something to her. Anne just stared silently at her homework while trying to think of how to ask her mother if she could go home for good. Cole entered and saw the frustration on all three. Paige sighed and explained to him, "I'm tendering my resignation effective the end of the month. This is getting out of hand. The kids are just too unruly and interested in only what they can get out of the girls. They refuse to learn and what I try to teach doesn't take. It's starting to harm Anne and Elise, they are the only ones trying to learn and are doing most of the work in class. I am sorry if this is going to put you in a bind but I'm not going to let the others harm the girls. They have as much right to an education as these rotten brats." He understood and gave his blessing. The girls mattered most and he had seen it himself, the class was in chaos as the kids refused to act civilized. Paige had failed to reach them, it would be impossible for any teacher to reach the children of her class with the way their personalities were acting. Paige started to gather her things and leave when she saw the parents of the children that had been expelled waiting outside. Cole confronted them and demanded that they leave, but they refused and wanted blood. Paige held the girls back for their own safety, it was her own fight, not theirs. Paige steeled herself then proceeded to ask, "Blood for what? Violating multiple rules by bullying and harassing students? By getting caught planning to harm a student during the middle of an assembly? By trying to intimidate others to do the same? Your children were expelled because they broke multiple major school rules and were willing to harm my daughter because they wanted to show the school that they were the top students and everyone would bow to them. Those were their exact words as Headmaster Hill will gladly tell you as he heard them himself. That's why they were expelled so quick: they were caught red handed and have no excuses and nor defense for their actions!" Paige dared them to say something, but all that happened was one trying to grab at her to shut her up while others tried to go after the children but were stopped by several other teachers who were angry at the crowd and at Paige. Paige was yelled at by her colleagues for causing a scene with two insulting her by calling her, "Cheap Yankee trash" which only infuriated her more, causing her to finally react. Paige turned to Cole and angrily told him, "This was the final straw. I am sorry but this is no longer a place of learning. I can no longer teach here and will withdraw my daughter and niece immediately. These people have the gall to complain about me, yet they took no action until they were forced to. They are just lazy brats, it's no wonder their students act the way they do." She walked off to the office as the girls walked quickly behind her. She wasn't bluffing, she signed the paperwork to remove the girls then wrote out her full and immediate resignation and signed it without looking up at the secretary. She was gone before Cole could reach his office, his secretary already on the phone to arrange for a new teacher as he arrived. What was done was done, Paige had no intention of returning to the school now that she saw just how bad it had gotten and her own colleagues had shown their true colors. It wasn't what she wanted but she couldn't stay where she was disliked and even hated. The girls would go to school, even if she had to homeschool them. At home, Elise told her parents what had happened. Hannah sighed and told Elise, "We will spend some time up in Barnstead with your great- grandparents before we head home to Winnisimmet. Mom and Dad will have it all arranged so you start right away. It's not going to be easy for you, kids will ask why you are back so soon. You don't have to tell them everything but don't lie to them." Paige was unable to answer Anne's unasked question about whether she could go too. Paige wanted her to go but it was impossible just yet. They would need to have a meeting with immigration officials so Anne could go with them to the US. When the kids were sent off to do some schoolwork, Paige endured phone calls from Isla and Ruby about what happened. Isla said she would draft lawsuits against the parents who tried to assault her and the girls while Ruby said it was coordinated by Clarence Harrison. Paige had to fight a swear but Ruby understood her frustration and had Arthur draft a lawsuit as well as a criminal complaint against him. Harrison had agreed to community service in exchange for testimony against Benson and Hedges but had gotten his payback by going to the families of the bullying kids to get them to force their kids to act. The kids were just pawns, their parents were low-paid workers who were trying to get Paige to fight back against them in the hopes of suing Paige. He assured them that Paige was going to attack if they pushed her far enough, but didn't count on others becoming involved in the fighting or that it may backfire on them costing the families a hefty sum of money that they had to pay to her. Paige had finally had enough and told Ruby to draft a letter of support so she could legally move to the US with Anne. Ruby had one ready to go with Garry Grant and Toby Ward signing off on it as character witnesses. She would need to show up at the embassy with Anne and all of her legal documents to show that she was ready to move home and only needed a signature. It was what she had wanted to hear. The kids would be happy to know that but it wasn't time to tell them yet. Anne needed some stability, the next few days would provide her that. The next morning, Paige, Bryan, Pete, and Hannah gathered their bags for the trip north. Hannah complained about the number of things they had to pack for Pierre alone, which was mostly things that they didn't have at the estate due to having donated them to charity when Elise outgrew them. She had been the last Smith child who had stayed in England for any length of time since Ethan Smith left after his parents died and he was adopted by his aunt and uncle as their own son. Elisa was born in the US but spent four years of her life in Barnstead while Pete oversaw at the estate and Hannah wrote. The twins were alongside them but spent their time private schools teaching the American style of education so as to not get culture shock. The kids were alright staying there and were doted on by their great-grandparents but still missed the US, thus why they were there then. The stay was really because of Hannah's burnout from Hollywood as she hated how the industry reacts to things that they can exploit for profit. She was an author of an extremely popular children's book series but she was also the co-author of her uncle's biography and wrote the screenplay for the movie that was adapted from the book as well as the screenplay for a movie Anita produced then her the three movies based on her cousin Jaimie and Uncle John's first three years as family. She spent two years going back and forth to Hollywood and fighting to get things done right including finding the perfect actors and actresses for the roles of her family, all of the frustration caused her to take the family to England for several years. Elise loved England but never really caught on with younger kids there. She had Lucy and Hamish Paine as friends but things were different with them, they cared about her like family instead of friends. When Elise became old enough for schooling, the family returned to the US with Hannah feeling better about life and the idiocy and greed of others. Remembering why they were in the UK last time she lived at the family estate, Elise said that she would help as much as she could with her brother but was told that she should go with Anne so Anne was calm on the drive up. It was really due to the number of things that they had in the car and due to Pete not wanting Elise in his small Porsche, the twin to Bryan's car and one that Pete only drove north because he didn't want to leave it all alone at the house. He had a good reason, he knew people would try to vandalize the house when they were gone but with nothing visible to vandalize and with a great security system they risked burglary charges in being there. Elise was so eager to go with Anne that she never asked to sit in the front seat with Hannah as Hannah drove north in her own Range Rover, something that she wanted to do for a long time. It was as if she was trying hard not to fight her mother, but she had a good reason. Since Anne was the only one who had to remain in the UK until they had her immigration issue settled, Elise could have gone with Pete and Hannah to the US at any point since she is a full US citizen by birth with UK citizenship by birth through her mother and father being UK citizens as well. Elise was smart but like her mother and other females from her maternal great-grandmother's side of the family, she spent too much time trying to outsmart you when the obvious was right in front of her. She didn't question what she should have questioned, but this time it was with good reason. Hannah felt a sense of pure pride as her little girl was acting so grown up the longer she and Anne were together. It took a while to drive as the family had to stop several times thanks to Pierre insisting on having a diaper change and a new bottle just so he could show he was there to his mother and sister. As much as she wanted to feed Pierre via breast, she inherited the family curse of having issues lactating making him need to endure special formula and checks by a nurse every week to ensure he was growing well and had no lingering effects of being born a month early. She quietly kept that from Anne and Elise, the girls didn't need to be concerned at that time but it still pained her a bit to know. The group arrived just after noon, with Theo Baker happily greeting them at the door and directing the maids to bring their bags and Pierre's things inside. Bryan was all smiles as Theo was decked out in his typical suit, vest, tie, and gloves, he looked amazing and his demeanor was one of business and respect. Pete introduced himself and Hannah while Paige told Theo that he already was miles ahead of his predecessor, getting a smile from Theo who took it as a major accomplishment. He did have to correct the family, telling Paige and Bryan, "Please address me as Baker as is tradition, I wish to keep up formality." Bryan and Paige simply smiled and agreed to his request, it felt wrong to call him that but it was his choice. He had his reasons for doing so, but he had no fear of losing his job because he chose to allow the family to address him by his given name. Hannah and Pete asked what that was about, then got upset at Baker's past. They were more than happy to see the annoying and constantly undermining Clarence Harrison gone. Hannah and he would often come close to blows as he tried to intimidate her only to cause her to stand up to him and make snide remarks about her being out of line and Pete needing to put her in her place, done whenever Pete was absent as the coward in him would never dare to say that in front of Pete. He was smart enough to never make those remarks in front of the elder Smiths, but all on the staff knew about them. Pete had to tell him to stay away from his wife on multiple occasions, with Harrison ignoring them. Pete would have fired him instantly but chose to stop Hannah from harming him and forget about it, the last time he having done that being before they left on Hannah's book tour making Pete not need to follow-up on his intentions as Bryan had done it for him. It was lunchtime so the kids were told to wash and eat. Bradford and Ophelia were happy to stay out of the way and allow their grandchildren time to take their things to their rooms but also proud to see the newest Smith sleeping away with the girls by his side. He was special to them, he gave them a special gift that they hadn't thought would happen- witnessing the birth of another Smith in their country and ensuring that the family could never be called false Brits as he was born in the country. Paige and Hannah finally came down after running the girls ragged putting their things away and were more than happy to tell Bradford and Ophelia that they would be there for a few days before they moved on to Chiselworks to see that branch of the family. It was fine with them, they gave the couple more than they wanted and the time they spent with their great-grandchildren was valued time. For the couple, any visit by their grandchildren and their kids was time well spent especially if the youngsters were happy and healthy and give them lasting images of the two dying elders. Lunch was quiet but Ophelia did ask about what the children would do during their short stay. Paige simply told them that they would ride and swim and do some schoolwork. There was little need arguing as it was a solid plan and the children did need to continue their education. After dessert the family got the girls settled in their room, with Anne staying in Elise's room at their mutual request. The girls got settled then helped keep an eye on Pierre while the adults set up his things in the nursery. Much of it wasn't needed as the family still held onto antique baby cots and cradles from when Bradford's father was a baby, but it was more along the lines of retaining family history than reusing them again. The little newborn didn't make a noise and slept throughout their hard work, giving Hannah a bit of an annoyed groan as he somehow calmed down around the girls while giving his parents unwanted, "Gifts." The girls loved that comment, especially as it made them feel special for being someone that the little boy liked to have close by. Anne was happy to help out her family especially her new aunt, even if it was entirely on instinct and he didn't really recognize them yet. She loved mothering, it was her favorite game to play. To actually help with a baby was a dream come true, especially as the baby was her new cousin. Elise could tell just from her reactions that Anne was given something special that none of them could fully understand but loved being part of that gift. Hannah took the girls to visit the horses and told Anne to remove her gaff so she didn't hurt herself as she rode again, causing Anne to reluctantly comply while Elise offered her a sympathetic nod. It would be a fun afternoon for Anne now that she didn't have the constriction in her groin area, but it was still a tough time for her. She wanted to feel like a girl so badly, not having the gaff mad her feel like a boy. Riding did calm Anne as she got used to the horses and feeling the saddle under her and corrected her posture so she didn't suffer the same bruising that she had the previous week. Marion Paine was eager to teach her and had Elise close to Anne so she didn't get spooked or the horses get upset. Anne took to him fast and after two hours she had the basics down and was able to ride around the paddock on her own while Elise and Hannah rode beside her in support. The girls were happy and got happier as Lucy Paine returned home from school and greeted them. She was in near tears as the girls told her that they were staying for a while and not returning, she missed them and wasn't happy that they didn't have much time to enjoy the estate together the previous week. Anne liked Lucy a lot and was happy to have someone else there who enjoyed her, especially as Lucy was like a big sister to her even if she was only her babysitter. Lucy asked about Anne's brother BJ as hadn't talked with her for two weeks and sounded like he was upset at something the last time she tried to talk with him. Elise wasn't sure if she should tell Lucy or not but Anne explained, "He came to the UK to be with us when mum and dad had to go to court to keep me with them. He didn't want to upset you especially as he was only here for the day and flew back the following day. He was tired and grumpy and had to have Ophelia hold him back from harming the men who wanted to take me away from mum and dad. He's not cheating on you, he is just so tired from his sports. Dad said he plays American football and gets tired from that, something about taking a lot of hits to his arms and legs making him sore and tired." That comforted Lucy, he would have jet lag from the flights and would be tough to get back to normal especially as he played a tough position. She smiled at the image of him dressed up while Elise giggled at Lucy now looking quite red and flustered. Anne asked if she was alright, snapping Lucy out of her hormonal fog and prompting Elise to joke, "She's picturing BJ all sweaty" causing Lucy to blush again and Anne to gasp in shock and shame over asking that question The girls walked off while Hannah tried to hide her smile from Lucy. She did casually tell Lucy, "He was asking about you when he was here. We told him to leave you alone as you didn't need to worry about what was going on down in London. He understands that you are upset with him not contacting you. He does love you, all of us can see it. He is being faithful to you, no girl dares to try to date him thanks to Uncle John watching out for him and you." Inside, Hannah saw Baker and one of the maids talking quietly and saw that there was a spark between the two. It was subtle but Hannah had enough of an idea to get them together. He deserved a shot at love and the young maid was one of the best maids employed by the family. Baker was actually dating her already. The two had shared a lot of time together during his short time working there and with the Smiths down in London for three days previously they got to know one another closely as there was little to do when the Smiths were away. Baker happily talked with her and the other maids as he understood them even if he hated what he had internally. He was a man but he did grow up as a girl and could empathize and sympathize with their stories. It was yet another stark contrast from the fired Clarence Harrison, Baker was a decent manager to them and treated the ladies as equals instead of "below" him. Harrison was of the belief that as the butler he could do as he pleased and would often harass the maids to the point of having them refuse to work near him for fear of what he may do to them. The maids would frequently smack him before storming off, with the other maids leaving for the day until Harrison retired to his room for the night before they returned to finish working their shifts. The maids were fine with Baker's gender change and were able to see that he was a great butler and was going to be around for a long time. Baker garnered their respect by asking if they had all of the needed, "Supplies" which Harrison had refused to allow to be bought by the estate despite being part of the job requirements. He had them stock up on what they needed and even had the estate pay them back for the costs that they had incurred due to Harrison's actions, telling them he'd arrange payment soon. The first night that the Smiths were gone, the housekeeper and maids went for a night on the town to blow off some steam and invited Baker to join them. He was reluctant but the housekeeper insisted that he take a break as he had little to do and the maids at the house had his number so they could call him if need be. He happily joined them and after a pint had found himself and the maid who had caught his eye kissing as the two shared a quiet and intimate talk after a glass of wine each. Baker returned to his room with the maid in tow, with the two enjoying a night of passion that both had not realized they needed but each loved. It was hot and heavy but it was enjoyed by both, with the lovemaking lasting for two hours before exhaustion overtook the couple. Baker didn't mind that he lacked the proper equipment to fully please her as she enjoyed his anatomy as it was. Hannah was silently plotting away when the housekeeper asked to have a word with her. The kindly woman was well aware of the look on Hannah's face and carefully told her to back away from her scheming as it was already too late. Hannah raised an eyebrow and smiled as she realized what she meant, he had already done his own matchmaking and was an item without the need of their help. Paige listened to the conversation and gasped in shock while the housekeeper explained, "The two have formed a bond. I know my daughter and she would not do something unless she saw something in our new butler that she liked. I am proud of her for giving him acceptance and hope that they last. I have been in the service of your family far too long to not know that it is possible to be a grandmother if the couple is to be together in marriage." Paige and Hannah had to hug the proud mother as she was genuinely happy to see her daughter giving Baker a sense of himself. He had a job, now had a lover, and had Bryan backing him as a friend. He may not know it, but Bryan was treating Theo Baker as a friend even if he technically was his boss. The girls asked what was going on, they heard that Baker was dating but didn't get most of what they were saying. Hannah cursed to herself for not noticing them while Paige was unsure how to explain the whole situation to the young ladies without it getting awkward for her. Hannah was bold and explained, "Baker has started to date one of the maids and has gotten close to her. We were told that her mother is happy for her, Baker is a good man and has the staff's full support already." Elise rolled her eyes and demanded an answer. Paige snickered as Hannah was coming full force with the same attitude that she herself gave others. Hannah finally explained to both girls, "Baker is like your cousin Anne. He was born a girl in body but is all man. He was shown care by a woman for the first time and it is blossoming into love. Please don't think that just because he is transgender that we hired him, it would be insulting to his hard work. He's a great butler and should be more than that." That satisfied the girls while Anne mumbled a soft, "You didn't have to hide that from me. I know that there are others like me out there. He has a right to privacy and we won't disturb it." Anne's feelings were known, she understood Theo Baker unlike anyone else. It did make her feel better to know that she could be successful and find a good job if he could. He was nice to them and made them feel like they belonged at the family estate, she didn't know if it was part of the role of the butler but she did like that he never mentioned that she wasn't a, "Real" girl despite having known about it. The kids went upstairs to their room to shower, with both going at the same time with Elise dragging the scared Anne into it alongside her. She happily told her that she didn't see it as anything but a birth defect and she shouldn't be afraid of family seeing it. Anne was still reluctant to even look at it but Elise was encouraging her to ignore it and just do what she needed to do regardless of it. The shower was quick and refreshing for the girls, with the two dressing without looking at one another as they had finally moved on from the anxiety that Anne had. They relaxed in the nursery as they used the dolls that Elise had left there, with Anne falling in love with one that she couldn't part with. Elise was happy to let Anne have the doll, it was an old doll that her aunt Nichole owned when she was their age and had told her to hold onto just in case another girl needed it. Anne didn't believe that story, but the elder Ophelia, Paige, and Hannah were in tears as Anne hugged the doll with Hannah finally explaining, "It's true. Nichole got it when she first came to live in the US. Mom bought it for her as a gift because it looked so much like her and she didn't have any dolls of her own. It was passed on to our cousin Cat, who passed it on to your cousins, who kept it here. It was going to be donated once Elise grew too old for dolls, but you are the perfect person to keep her. She's your doll now, keep her safe and clean and love her as your cousins and aunts did." The girls played quietly while the ladies observed. Anne would occasionally look over at them to see if they were watching her to see if she was handling the doll right but they never said anything. It was a pure mother/daughter moment as all of the ladies were calm and peaceful and enjoying something that they had taken for granted a long time ago- simply playing with your own doll. The kids enjoyed their time playing but soon started to get hungry. Ophelia led them downstairs to the dining room and awaited their dinner, with the kids seeing the sleeping Pierre in Pete's careful hands as he and Bryan talked with Bradford about something. Anne loved the sight, Pete was juggling being a new dad while helping run the estate while Bryan was writing something out as Bradford dictated. After a long delay that saw Bryan reiterating what Bradford had wanted to do the trio finally called it a day and sat to eat, with Pierre placed in his carrier so he would have his evening bottle when he finally stirred. The meal was quick with the girls going to their room to do some assigned schoolwork while Paige and Hannah worked out a schedule for the following two days. The girls were happy to do the work, they were feeling tired and knew they'd fall asleep afterward so there was no point in doing anything more that evening. Their parents were exhausted as well. Bryan and Pete were talking with the Chiselworks Smiths to set up the meetings and had to hold off invitations to stay with them. It didn't work as Maxwell was silent the whole time they were talking and didn't give Matilda Smith reason to accept their refusal. Matilda was a master manipulator who was immune to the counters that the guys had. There was no reason not to stay with her as she had space since her children had moved out to their own homes and the neighbors were all away on holiday so there was no reason to not stay with them. Anne could use the closeness of family, Matilda wanted her to know that she was their family even if she was now the daughter of Bryan and Hannah. Anne would meet all of her cousins and 2nd-cousins and visit Noah's final resting place. He was not interred in the Smith family crypt, he chose to be buried instead of joining the family. It was a bit dubious that he wasn't cremated as all other Smiths had been, but nobody had gone into why he wasn't. Paige saw a rat and asked if the arrangements were made by Benson and Hedges, with all now seeing that it was yet another way of keeping Anne a secret from Matilda and her husband. It was going to be Anne's choice as to whether she wanted her father to remain buried or have him join the family. It was a big deal to her, as it was her confronting her past head-on while dealing with her feelings about him. In the morning, the girls were told that they would enjoy the day at the estate then would go to visit the Chiselworks family that evening, with Matilda being mentioned as wanting to see her specifically. It was fine with the girls, they were going to enjoy seeing their distant cousins again. The kids were great fun while they were in the courthouse as they made poor Dora Walker, grandmother of several of Anne's 2nd-cousins, ragged trying to keep them quiet as they played with one another. Anne had more fun with her cousins and second cousins than she ever had with the kids in her classes. They were fun and included her in their games, with the boys not even caring that she wasn't, "Real" like the other girls. The boys did ask if it was true that she was born with a penis, but it was more of them trying to believe the truth instead of trying to make fun of her especially as they were younger than her and were asking out of curiosity. The kids swam then rode horses until lunch. Anne was still timid on them and needed Paige to steady her but she did better than expected even if she wasn't ready to ride on one of the trails. Elise was close by and wasn't that far ahead of Anne, she had the luxury of time on her side but was still a novice rider. After showering and eating lunch, the family got ready to leave. Baker coordinated their luggage and ensured the girls that their dolls would be safe, with Anne smiling at that. It was intended to show that her doll was her own and was going to be taken care of as a prized possession by the staff. Anne was asked if she wanted to join her father on the ride, but Paige shot that down as she had them ride in the family's people carrier instead. All of them were in it, with the girls safely in the back and told to keep the sleeping Pierre company. The drive was long for the girls as Pierre kept crying for no reason. He had his bottle and a change of diaper but wasn't happy to be traveling for some strange reason. He only stopped when they were at Dora Walker's clothing design and retail store in Chiselworks. Seeing the buildings made Anne feel odd, it felt like she had been there before but didn't know when. As she looked around, Paige told her, "You were born here. Your mother spent your first two years here but moved away to a cheaper flat in London when your father stopped providing money to her to take care of you. Those two men tore you from your family, your entire life would have been different if they hadn't lied to your mother or had told your grandparents about you from the start." Paige was getting angry but quelled her feelings when she saw Anne smiling at some of the places that she was looking at. They were memories long forgotten, happy ones of times when her mother wasn't a bitter, angry woman who resented Anne for being born. She was happy to remember them, they were the few memories of her mother that she wanted to keep. The kids were happy to finally be able to get out and stretch their legs but were immediately seized by the rushing Sienna and Poppy Smith. Dora Walker, Poppy's mother, told them to let the girls breathe getting a laugh from the two women while the girls smiled and hugged them even tighter. They were in a good mood now and were more than happy to see the two designer/seamstresses. The ladies ushered the kids into their shop and tried to get them to try on their newest kids' clothing designs. The girls weren't happy and just wanted to relax, with Poppy and Sienna grinning at the adults as they tried their hardest to keep a straight face. The girls didn't know what was going on but turned around to see Matilda and Archie Smith there smiling at them with Anne hugging them tightly. Dora shook her head at her daughter and daughter-in-law trying to act coy and upsetting the girls but it was a harmless prank and did buy them some time so the two elders could arrive. Paige and Hannah were happy to see the girls were not too upset but did want to have a private talk with the elder Smiths without the girls hearing. They directed the girls to help Sienna and Poppy for a bit while they talked about some plans they had to make for the next day. In Dora's office, the four laid out what they wanted to do and why and waited for Matilda's response. It was clear that Archie had his mind made up about what to do but knew that his wife would have a thing or two to say about it. When she finally spoke, she stated, "He's going home to his family. He served his penance and deserves to lay with his ancestors. He tried to make amends with us but we weren't sure if he was trying to do it to get money or if he was serious. I can't look at Anne and not see that she was the reason for his turnaround. We should have let go of the past and talked with him but my ego just couldn't let me. I am sorry to Anne, we should have helped her years ago. It's all my fault." Years of grief were coming to the forefront again as she broke down in tears. Matilda loved her son deeply but she hated what he had become as a man. Anne was a victim of her own stubbornness, she couldn't help but feel that it was her fault that Anne suffered even when it wasn't her fault at all. Matilda pulled herself together and told the others that it was best to just talk with Anne and ask her what she wanted to do with her father's remains. None of them had a right to tell her what to do, it was her own choice what to do with Noah. Anne needed to know and make her wishes known. Anne was brought in and asked what she wanted to do with her father's remains now that they knew he was kept from the family crypt. Anne looked down at the floor and needed several long minutes to think about the situation. When she finally looked up at Matilda she explained, "He did a bad thing but he tried to do the right thing. He was lied to by those men and he regretted it. He deserved to be with his family even if they didn't want him. Please don't leave him all alone." It was from the heart and was what they had hoped she would do. Noah was going to return to the fold after nearly 17 years of exile. Anne loved him enough to do the greatest act she could for him, giving her relatives the peace of mind that he had been unable to achieve in life. The family decided to end the discussion and enjoy the evening together. Anne needed to see the Smith family as her own, even if she was part of it directly she still acted like she was on the periphery and not a Smith by blood. She needed to know that she was one of them, and loved by her grandparents. Matilda led the seven to her home several blocks away. It was larger than most in the neighborhood but tiny compared with the Barnstead estate. She showed them around and was a little afraid of what they would say about it, compared with what they could afford it was tiny. Hannah loved it, especially as it was nicely furnished and the right size for Matilda's four kids. It was not unlike her own home in Winnisimmet, except this didn't have a "man cave" and entertainment room in the basement. Paige had to hide her smile as Hannah enjoyed the place, she happily told Archie, "It's like her own home. It's the same size. This doesn't have the furnished basement though." Archie understood, he had a smaller car park but had a storage space in his basement rather than the furnished basement that his niece Sienna had gushed about. He would have made a similar basement but his kids were already too old and independent for the space compared with Matilda's brother's kids. He would have loved his own office, but he could settle on working in the attic. The family sat around the living room and talked for a while, with Anne being shown pictures of her aunt Isabelle and uncles Lloyd and Clyde as they grew up, married, and had children. They held off showing pictures of Noah but when the last of the pictures were shown she asked about the fourth pile of pictures. As Matilda moved the book, Anne saw just why it was left for last and asked to see it. Noah was a normal kid, but as he grew older he was always around an older man. Anne asked about the man, getting an angry, "He was your great-grandfather, Wilson Smith. He was a terrible man who did horrible things to people while ruining the lives of hundreds. He would hate you with a passion, he hated all who are different. Your being South Asian and born with a birth defect would have made him demand that you be put up for adoption or tossed into an alley to die. He died in prison 10 years ago so you will never have to meet him nor fear him." Anne didn't ask any more about Wilson, but Archie added, "He was a rich man but he lost half of everything to the government. What we could legally keep we donated to charity, with his ex-wife getting half of his initial fortune in their divorce. She left her half to Matilda and her brother Reggie, they have kept it saved for their children. You are owed the sum of ?2 million as the heir of Noah." Paige and Bryan shook their heads and shot back a quick, "She has decided to give half of the money that she inherited from her father to her cousins. She inherited ?250 million from Noah. I don't think that she will accept a penny of her great-grandmother's money when she has her own that she wants to give to the family." Anne was nodding in approval as she refused to even touch any of that money and only accepted what she inherited because she had no choice but to accept it. She didn't want any money, she wanted her family and she got it in spades. To her, money was what cost her knowing both sides of her family in the first place. Matilda was speechless while Archie smirked at her. She was going to say something but he shut her down with, "She is a Smith. That is a bit of you in her. That is her cousins and aunts. She's no different than any of the children in your family. That is Nichole and Ethan and Nigel. She is her grandmother's granddaughter. There is no doubt about it, she is your granddaughter." Anne was in tears hearing her grandfather say that. She loved knowing that she was part of something even if she didn't know that she was showing it. To her, it was the world as she was one of them beyond blood- she was a member of the family in full. The Smiths gave her a chance to calm down while preparing for dinner. Pierre made his presence known to all, both with his cries and his smelly diaper. Anne took great pride in helping change him and cleaning up his mess, giving her a sense of calm that she needed right then and there. Watching Anne help change her cousin caused Archie and Matilda to shed a tear as Anne was so much like her cousins that it was tough to not see Noah in her. She was no different than the girls, she did all of the same movements and reactions that they did when trying to help change diapers. The girls were so close that the two felt like they were soulmates who belonged together as friends, if they were older they could have been considered potential girlfriends but there was nothing beyond friendship there. It helped a lot that Anne shared a lot of similarities in her appearance to her father. She shared his face, his hair, even his laugh. Her only real difference was in her skin color, she had a darker skin tone than any of her cousins but she was so similar in appearance that it was hard not to see that she was a Smith by birth and by blood. Matilda dished out the stew that she had simmering the whole time, with the kids digging in and loving her cooking. Their parents were little better, they enjoyed Matilda's cooking alongside the girls. She offered to give them the recipe but was told that if they made it at home they would be forced to give their uncle a copy of the recipe and the results would be disastrous for all. Matilda tried to say something about that but Paige pointed out that they need only ask Sienna and Poppy about John Finn's infamous cooking failures as they had tried them before. Hannah one-upped her and joked that he would be barred from ever entering the UK if they knew just how badly he could mangle chicken tikka masala or Yorkshire pudding. Bryan laughed at that and added, "We aren't joking, he's bad at cooking dishes based on recipes that others have created. He's even banned from making our great-uncle's rice dishes. Thankfully for our family, several of the kids and teens learned how to make it so when Great-Uncle Jorge passes on his food will still live through him." That gave the couple a laugh as the girls snickered while Elise nodded in agreement. She whispered to Anne, "Gruncle John is really bad at making anything other than basic dishes. Don't let him talk you into trying any of his new creations. Only accept desserts from him, never new dinners." Once they were finished with dinner, the adults cleaned up and let the girls unwind for a bit before going up to their room while the two couples went into two others. Matilda and Archie got to see how cute the girls could be when they fell asleep clutching Elise's cabbit Sammi. It was tough to not cry as she looked so peaceful and beautiful, Matilda had to go to her bedroom and let out some more grief as she saw how much of her son was in Anne that memories of her eldest child came flooding back. Pierre made for a tough night for Hannah and Pete but thankfully he didn't awaken Matilda and Archie from their slumber. He was fussy in the morning until he heard the girls coming down to eat. It was as if hearing Anne and Elise's voices made him happy, which Hannah could understand since he seemed to like them the most out of anyone. The kids loved that Archie ate the same cereal that they ate while Matilda groaned that he was just a big kid who never grew up. He just smiled and told her, "It's true, and you love me for it" then continued to eat. The girls were fighting laughs but managed to hold themselves together until they were finished. The ladies laid out their plans and explained to the girls that they were going to visit the solicitor who filed Noah Smith's will and claim Anne's rightful inheritance then secure it for the future. Archie would be the one who would handle it as he was an accountant by trade and handled their daughter's and sons' and nieces' trust funds. He would happily handle Anne's for her, with Paige and Bryan's blessing. Both agreed to do so, with Pete asking that a contract is drawn up to make it official and keep out any others who may try to exploit it for their own use. Archie was fine with that, he already knew that Miles had gone over the account already but he would be proud to ensure nothing further was removed. He asked if they were going to get the amount removed by Benson and Hedges put back into the account, getting a joint, "Yes, please do" from Paige and Bryan while Hannah added, "Get all of it, leave nothing behind. Then go after every penny they have in retaliation for how they treated her." The group departed for the solicitor's office, one Dewey, Cheatam, and Howe, and a half hour later was in Ms. Cheatam's office presenting the paperwork to show that Anne was whom she claimed to be and had a right to claim her inheritance in full for herself. Ms. Cheatam looked over the paperwork, asked if the name change was official, then agreed to release the money to Anne as all she had to do was show up with the right paperwork. In a matter of seconds, Anne was a vastly wealthy young girl with ?250 million in her bank account. Ms. Cheatam asked why Benson and Hedges weren't there, they were listed as Anne's legal guardians in her files. Matilda angrily explained, "They are currently sitting in prison awaiting trial for a variety of crimes involving my granddaughter. What is this you say about them being her legal guardians? This is a first for all of us! I'm her grandmother and I should have been given legal custody of her regardless of whatever they claim. And for your information: up until two weeks ago, former daughter-in-law, Anne's mother, had full legal custody of Anne! Her losing custody sparked the two of them eventually ending up in prison and awaiting trial in the first place!" Ms. Cheatam realized her mistake and carefully explained, "They showed me legal paperwork that they were Anne's legal guardians as her mother had transferred custody over to them. They had full access to her trust, it was already claimed by them but they didn't close the account. We had no reason to suspect that they didn't have Anne, their paperwork was sound and showed that Oldham Social Services had removed Anne from her mother's care and she was staying with a trusted foster family." Archie grinned and happily told her, "Give every piece of paperwork to the police. We will be in contact with the Metropolitan Police about their new actions now that it's known. You may have just assured that the two are going to prison for years as you were lied to by them. Anne was never in their care, in fact, she was only in social services' care for just five days officially. You should have asked to see Anne to prove that she was with them, instead of just taking their word for it." She got a cold chill down her spine as Archie had a look of anger and revenge on his face. Matilda was on the phone with Max Evans and his father, while Paige was talking with Max's sister Ruby. The two were in full agreement that this had just opened up a big can of worms that the police needed as it was now fraud and theft alongside attempted kidnapping, extortion, lying to police, lying on records, and a variety of other charges against Benson and Hedges. The will was looked at by Pete and Bryan and immediately they spotted that Benson and Hedges had outright ignored multiple parts of the will. These were important parts, they just so happened to involve Anne, her grandparents, and who is supposed to get her once his wife was deemed unfit to retain sole custody of Anne and the duo were not mentioned as getting custody of her at all. Noah had thought of Anne from the start and had her in mind, she was going to have a family even if she would never know him. He left her everything that he had, but he also left her a note that she had to read when she was mature enough to handle the news. Anne looked it over and was in tears, sobbing uncontrollably as she read it over twice. Paige read it and shed a tear herself. Hannah asked what it said to which Paige told her, "He says 'To my dearest son Anil. I am gone now but I will always remember you. I made a mistake when you born, I shouldn't have listened to my friends and believe the worst. I see now that they are nothing but liars but I couldn't bring myself to beg your mother for forgiveness. I loved her deeply but we just were not compatible. She is a tough person to deal with, more so than any other person I ever met. She has a lot of anger toward her family that she needs help with but she won't seek it. I am sorry for not being man enough to seek you out when I was alive, you deserve a more loving home. I only hope that when your mother makes a mistake, you find my parents. I don't want you anywhere near my so-called friends and hope that they are never involved in your life. The name Benson and Hedges is toxic to you, please find your grandparents Matilda and Archibald Smith. You deserve them as guardians, they will love you in ways that neither your mother nor I ever could'." Paige asked if the will was read or had Benson and Hedges simply waltzed into the office and forced access to Anne's inheritance without anyone checking. It was a legitimate question but when she asked Dewey and Howe, the more senior partners, she was told, "We didn't ask, they had the right paperwork with them. We believed that was sufficient enough to release the inheritence." Hannah gave the partners an angry look while Matilda screamed, "You violated my son's rights. They are specifically barred from having anything to do with his will by his own words. You just gave two wolves access to a fortune, one that was supposed to be my granddaughter's!" Anne was upset at hearing the yelling so Paige calmly told them, "I am transferring all assets owned by my daughter to a separate account, one that is inaccessible to anyone but a select few. Further, I am asking that this firm be removed from all involvement with Noah Smith's. As it was your own lack of due diligence to follow the will that allowed the theft, you will be forced to reimburse my daughter every penny lost due to your ignorance and lack of oversight." Matilda added, "She, as Anne's mother, has the right to do just that. She has the right to seek damages against your firm for violating the terms of my son's will due to your gross negligence. I'll be speaking with the firm of Bloomfield, Davies, and Evans tomorrow about this. Be glad you aren't facing criminal charges for being part of the conspiracy as I doubt you were so utterly ignorant as you seeem." It was bittersweet for the Smiths but despite the anger and frustration, Anne was able to put aside her past feelings of abandonment by her father and see that he really did care about her in the end. Pride made you do stupid things, his pride cost him time with Anne but he still did the right thing in the end. He loved her, even if he couldn't be with her he still loved her. It took them a few minutes but the family gathered their wits and drove to the desolate cemetery where Noah was buried. It was creepy and the wind howled through the trees but it was made worse as Noah's marker was broken and his burial plot weed covered. Matilda was outraged but quelled her anger as she saw Anne fighting tears at seeing her father's name on the headstone with no mention of her mother, herself, or any other person on it, just a name and dates of birth and death. The family stood back while Elise led Anne closer to her father's grave and stood by her as she silently sobbed at seeing the man's final resting place. Years of anger and sadness over his abandoning her were wiped away as she felt love for him overcome her. She missed him, for some reason she felt like part of her was no longer with her despite knowing that he had been dead for years. Anne stood silently while Elise hugged her, showing her support and love. The two didn't need to say anything, they accepted that he was dead and Anne was safe now because of him. He did right in the end, he made up for his past by giving her a future. The girls finally turned around and hugged their fathers, with Pete and Bryan carrying them to the cars. It was touching and only served to strengthen the family's resolve to get back at Benson and Hedges. Noah deserved better than being buried and forgotten, he was a terrible person for years but he turned his life around and finally did some good in the world with Anne being his biggest accomplishment. The family drove to the Smith home and waited for Matilda and Archie's grandchildren to come by looking for the girls. The girls needed some time to themselves and the kids were around their own age so it was worth the wait for the girls. Most importantly, they didn't care that Anne was transgender and actually liked playing with her when they were in the courthouse 10 days before. The kids loudly burst into the house, giggling at their parents while trying hard to not go over the line and upset their grandparents. When they saw the girls they ran to them and hugged them, with Anne's cousins Ava and Emily, her uncles Clyde's and Lloyd's daughters, kissing their cheeks and telling them they were lucky not to have to go to school. Neither girl realized that they had hit a nerve in Anne but she kept herself together while Elise told them, "We have to do schoolwork, Aunt Paige makes us." The girls led Elise and Anne to the garden to play while their cousin Hugh plopped down on the floor to play by himself. Hugh ignored the adults and played on his own, working on puzzles before tiring of it and going off to play on his computer. Archie smirked about Hugh, telling the others, "He's a genius, he can't focus on much for long though. He hasn't found his calling in life, but he might be a promising scientist if we can get him to focus on something for long." Hugh's parents entered and asked if he was already bored. Archie pointed at the boy working on his computer and smiled. He was writing something on the computer, looking up every few minutes but not keeping his attention on much for long. He was writing fast and furious, Hannah looked over at Paige, Bryan, and Pete who all said, "Rachel." Hannah explained to Hugh's mother and father, "Our cousin Rachel Sylvester is like that, she's not as advanced in writing like he is but she is good with computers and can do amazing things when she is looking for evidence for the state police. She gets in that kind of zone at times. He is gifted, he just needs proper guidance. If you get him into a program that hones his skills he could be a force for good, otherwise, he might get into the wrong places and cause catastrophic issues or even turn to crime." Hugh heard that and looked up at them. The 13-year-old asked if he was in trouble again, getting the others to look at his parents who shook their heads and told Hugh, "You aren't in trouble, they are just saying that you could use someone to help guide you so you don't do something that could send you to prison. You are naturally curious, but you need boundaries." Hannah got the name of someone who could help Hugh and if that person didn't want to help or if they tried to manipulate him they gave him Rachel's card. She was a forensic examiner by trade, but she was still a strong hacker who could keep up with the best for a while before her personal boundaries kicked in. Hugh was in good hands, the Smiths would have plenty of help for Hugh if he needed it. Hugh got up and walked outside and watched the girls play. The girls giggled at him on his computer but Anne said that he was trying to do something so he didn't think about something else. He was too smart for his own good, it was something she read on the computer once in class when the kids were all outside eating lunch and playing with their friends. Matilda's nieces then came by with their kids, which saw Anne hugging her 2nd-cousins and getting big kisses from the youngest boys as they played with her for a while with their sisters and cousins playing with Elise, Ava, and Emily. The boys were energetic but respectful of the older Anne, showing her that she was fun and could play with boys even if they knew her "secret." She loved that not all boys were the same, she could have fun with either sex if they were nice to her in return. Sienna and Poppy's youngest kids did the least among the kids but loved playing with Anne even if she didn't know that they did. The trio was quiet and respectful, they were used to people being mean to them due to their mothers' marriage but Anne tugged at their heartstrings as she was the first girl that they knew who was transgender who had been abused. They refused to let any harm come to Anne while they were around, they would protect her even if they didn't really need to. The couple's elder sons were out with friends so couldn't come but they were fine with Anne. She knew that not everyone could drop their plans and see them, especially on such short notice. The boys were 15 and had only two things on their mind once homework was done: football and girls, with the boys having a lot of fun with both even if their parents ensured they didn't get too far with either. Anne loved hearing that, it was great in her eyes and she wanted to experience siblings like that. She realized that her own brother and sister were no different, he played American football and went out with friends after school according to her aunt and uncle. Elise said her brother was the same way, only he didn't have a girlfriend in England like BJ had. The group spent several hours together as they played with the girls while Hugh tapped away on his computer. Lloyd, Clyde, Poppy, Sienna, then Sienna's sisters Imogen, Layla, and Thea and their husbands appeared to pick up their kids but were wrangled into dinner. Sienna joked that they had all there except her parents which got a groan from her sisters as they were the next to turn up. The only ones not there were Lloyd and Clyde's wives. The two women were away on business as they tried to broker new deals with some companies in the US. They didn't say who it was with but the Smiths had all smiles as they told about the two working out new connections to Chiselworks. Reggie Smith didn't want to lie so told Bryan and Hannah, "Your sister and her mother-in-law had a meeting with them before they had their meeting with the suppliers. You can put it together from there. Neither side wants the other to know that there is a preexisting connection via Sienna but they didn't get away from meeting with their distant relatives while there. Your parents can be very persuasive." The two groaned while Pete and Paige added a hearty, "Did you really think that they wouldn't want to see them? It's lucky they didn't have Nichole, Nigel, and Ethan over as well." They had to hand it to their spouses, they were right as their brothers and sister would try to see them but were busy with their kids and making up for work lost the week before due to flying to the UK for the court hearing. The Smiths enjoyed an evening together, with Anne getting to feel like she was part of the Smith family in more than just name. The kids were great fun and the younger kids did things with her that she had not had the chance to do before, like play simple board games and chase each other around the garden. When it finally ended and the kids went home, Anne felt sad but happy that she would enjoy seeing them during Christmas break. Anne and Elise were put to bed while plans were made to help Hugh with his issues. If he was a genius as claimed, he should have the chance to challenge himself academically. Sadly the local universities weren't interested in a child like Hugh, especially if they couldn't exploit him for their own needs. Rachel returned their phone call and explained that she knew a few professors who would be happy to have him as a student of theirs, especially as he was coming with a clean slate and not with a criminal investigation already underway into his actions. He would have to have proof that he no longer needed school but that was easy to obtain from the school. The family had proof already that he passed the GCSE and A- Level tests in several subjects so could go to the US to study so long as he had oversight, which Paige and Bryan could provide. Paige and Bryan asked to get things settled for the transfer, they would need to have a long talk with Isabella and her husband about Hugh and try to reach an agreement so he wasn't left to sink into a sad boredom that would only lead to trouble. He was a bright kid, he just needed a chance to shine. His parents were kindly people but inexperienced with kids of his talents. The next morning, Isabella and her husband Beau brought Hugh to talk about Hugh and their plans. He was not interested in what they were planning, he was interested in writing a new computer game and going into a popular website to change some of the colors he disliked. Anne asked him to play with the two girls which he at first refused, but gave into as he saw her pleading face. Isabella loved the idea of Hugh attending college and earning degrees, it was better than forcing him to stay away from certain websites as they normally did. Beau had to ensure that he was offline so he didn't get around their rules but Hugh didn't push things lest he loses his precious laptop. The two agreed that he was in need of structure and if it meant they would only see him during winter, summer, and spring breaks then it was worth it in their eyes. Hugh was asked to come into the living room and saw his mother explaining to him, "We have decided that in the best interest of your education and social wellbeing, you should attend university in the US. Hannah and Bryan's cousin knows several professors who would be thrilled to know you and help you learn to expand your knowledge and hone your abilities. You are incredibly smart and curious, if we did not get you some outlet that caters to your curiosity you may be tempted to break the law. Please, let them help you become the man you are meant to be." He asked if it was a joke, getting a soft, "It's what is best for you. You won't be alone, Anne is there so you have blood relatives close by. Your fifth cousins are also there and willing to help you enjoy life. There are many kids your own age there so you won't be all alone or without social interactions." Hugh didn't fight them, they had made up their minds. He knew that they were right, he had gotten a few interested people asking him to join them in hacking some places alongside them. He was going to join them but the meeting the previous night shut down those plans, he read online in the morning that the guys who actually participated in it were arrested and charged with multiple crimes meaning that had his distant relatives not come by he would be behind bars himself. The family made plans with Hugh giving his blessing. He was happy to hear that he would have his own room in the Smith home as well as enjoy some freedom that others didn't have, such as fewer school classes and less homework. It was going to be tough, but he loved the idea of the challenge. Isabella asked if Hugh would be signed over to Paige or would he be with Hannah. The ladies had to think about that while Matilda happily proclaimed, "Paige and Bryan should care for him. As much as he would enjoy staying with Hannah and Pete, Pierre there will have a lot of sleepless nights ahead and it will be a problem for Hugh as he has a short temper and is a light sleeper." Matilda put her foot down but it was actually pretty smart thinking, he would be better off without the baby waking him every night. He asked if Anne was OK with him staying, getting a nod and hug from her sealing her approval. He was fine with Anne and just wanted to know for sure that she was OK. The family drew up official paperwork that withdrew Hugh from school with the school he was at more than happy to let him go. His headmaster wasn't too keen on the boy and as she couldn't use his genius for her gain, he was expendable. She would rather someone else have him as a problem, he was the kind of kid that she despised: intelligent but unmotivated, disciplined but unexploitable. Hugh asked to go home so he could get his things together so he could move immediately. After he left, Matilda asked that they ensure that he stayed out of trouble even if they had to have someone talk with him every day. Paige just gave her a smile and happy, "He will have Rachel begging to work with him, he's got her interest already. He should have our cousin Margaret talking with him as well, she does some of what he seems to enjoy." The group waited for an hour but when Hugh returned they set about leaving so they could get back to the estate. Hugh asked why they were going there, getting a happy, "It's so we rest for the night before we head south. We need to go to the embassy so we can sign paperwork for you and Anne and it's too long to drive there directly. Without it, you can't go with us. Your mom has your solicitor waiting for you tomorrow afternoon. He's a great man, he has helped us out a lot over the years." The allusion to Jonas Bloomfield got Hannah snickering while Bryan added, "He doesn't get to do a lot of simple things since he took over his law firm as their senior partner when the founders retired. He doesn't mind the easy work, it gives him a reason to keep others on their toes as they underestimate him. Plus he has a special place in his heart for us." The family got into the two Range Rovers and drove on to the family estate in Barnstead, stopping for petrol and a snack but otherwise not doing much else. The kids were busy talking on their iPads with their US cousins with Hugh not saying much at all but listening to the talking. They were treated to a fun afternoon as they all wanted to see the sleeping Pierre but feeling sad that he wasn't moving around much nor responding to their voices. Hugh got a shock as he received a Skype call from someone he didn't recognize but wanting to speak with him. He looked over at Elise for help but she only told him, "You need to answer it, she needs to talk with you. She wouldn't call you directly unless it was important." When Hugh finally answered he saw a beautiful woman with flowing red hair, freckles all across her face and shoulders, and a beautiful body appear causing him to go into a hormonal fog as he fell in love with her before she ever said a word to him. He tried to form words but only odd sounds were coming out of his mouth causing Anne and Elise to snicker at him becoming so weird. The woman blushed and needed a second to get herself together before she spoke, his reaction caught her off guard making her feel weird as few guys ever had that reaction to seeing her. Elise finally pulled herself together to ask why she was calling. The woman calmly explained, "Your grandmother and aunt wanted me to talk with Hugh since he is going to be doing some work in the same field as me. They don't want him to be overwhelmed by what he is doing. I'm the only one who is a pure programmer, Rachel is more of a hacker and analyst than a programmer. He can be great at his job but he needs help from people who have been there already." Elise finally told Hugh, "She's my aunt Margaret. She writes programs for computers and wrote the most recent Death Dealers Saga game. She talked with the author of the books and anime series and even got to see some of her newest work while giving ideas of her own that weren't used but did have some impact on the story." Hugh looked up at her and gasped as he loved that game and played it a lot when he was supposed to be doing schoolwork, it was tough but fun and the different combat and tactics were far beyond anything anyone else was doing with others trying hard to copy its success. Margaret started to ask Hugh questions about what he learned so far, what he had written, how much of it he had borrowed from other writers, and a lot of simple things that Elise couldn't understand but sounded important to her aunt. He was in awe as she was talking to him as an equal and not down to him as a weirdo or not worth the effort to talk to. Margaret could see that she was having a positive impact and asked him to talk with Rachel and her friends when he came west, she would have some work for him to do so he was able to contribute to her new game and maybe even work out a few of the bugs that she knew it had as well as test his abilities to be truthful to her about what he was doing. The whole conversation took well over an hour but to Hugh and Margaret, it was time well spent. Hugh never noticed that they were almost to the Smith home but continued to talk with Margaret. She could have talked with him all night but her own young kids were looking for her making him have to cut off the conversation before they got dragged into a long discussion with Hugh before he was ready to talk. Hugh asked about Margaret's story, hoping that this wasn't a "too good to be true" situation that he was being set up for. From the front, Hannah explained, "She is our sister's best friend. She was the first one to befriend Nichole when she started school and fully accepted her as a friend. Her father has known our uncle since he was a kid and has been the best friend of our uncle Willie since they could talk. She cares about all of the kids especially ones who have special talents. She's not just a pretty face, she can dance and sing and play musical instruments. She's not as good as our cousin Trinity but she is good." Hugh was smitten with Margaret and it showed all over his face. He finally found someone who is the ideal girl but was way too old and happily married with kids. He looked sad for a bit but perked up as he was told that some of their cousins were good with computers and one was trying to learn to code like Hugh was doing, only she couldn't find someone to work with due to the guys saying she is too much of a geek and weirdo. He was practically drooling over the prospect of someone his own age wanting to work with him. It was one thing to learn to code properly and earn a degree, but to work with a cute girl and help her to be a coder too was beyond belief. He let out a happy sigh as he settled down for the rest of the trip, it was not going to be as bad as he thought now. The drive to the estate was quick after that, as Hugh was in a world of his own and staring outside at the passing scenery without thinking about much. The girls had to hold their grins as he was acting like a typical teenage boy, albeit one who was on the cusp of puberty. Anne didn't say anything about how he was acting but he was clearly impacted by the call and was practically a changed person. When they arrived at the estate, Hugh was unsure how to react to the place. He was used to attending the yearly family gatherings with the other Chiselworks Smiths but they were tightly controlled by the butler and he didn't get to do much there due to there being not much to do that interested him. It was a place that was nice to look at, but to someone who spent hours lost in the world of computers it was like being trapped in a place with no escape as the boredom of being there overtook him. The group entered and were met by Baker who helped Pete and Bryan bring in the bags. Hugh's being with them caught Bradford and Ophelia's eye leading to questions that made Hugh cringe and feel like he was about to get booted from the estate. He looked at the adults for help with Hannah nodding to him to show that it was alright. Hannah smirked then proudly announced, "Hugh is going to come with us to the US to study at MIT. He has outpaced all of his classmates and passed his exams so he doesn't need to stay in regular school. He has a standing offer from both Rachel and Margaret to study under them, with Margaret being the one that we think is best to help him. She's not on Rachel's level but works in a field he has an interest in." That satisfied them and led to them asking the family to sit down to dinner as they looked famished after the long drive. It was the truth as they hadn't eaten since before Hugh's parents dropped off his things. Hugh was unsure about the meal and was ready to eat in his room but the girls kept him close, showing that it was OK. Hugh ate in silence while the girls plotted what they were going to do in London the next day, with the two disagreeing on whether they'd get the chance to swim or were going to have to visit places that they were supposed to be learning about in class. He saw the fun they could have together and was a little jealous of them. He tried to rush through the meal and was hoping that he could get a chance to enjoy some more work on his computer but the girls kept him busy through the meal. The girls led Hugh outside to see the horses and got stopped by Hamish Paine inviting them over to his cottage to play on his game system. He was clearly bored and with Lucy out with friends that night he didn't have much to do. He was so focused on talking about his new game that his friend let him play that he walked right into Hugh and caused both to topple over, causing the girls to giggle at them. Hugh was ready to fight as he was used to boys doing things like that to him but Hamish was genuinely sorry for focusing on the girls so much that he wasn't looking where he was going. The two looked at one another for an answer, neither expected another 13-year-old boy to be there let alone one who was interested in playing video games. The girls were fighting laughter as Hamish was at a rare loss for words, Elise hadn't seen him like that since her sister caught him looking at her breasts months before. The girls finally told Hamish that they'd go play with him but Hugh had to go too. They didn't want to leave him alone and get bored, plus he could use time with a boy his own age. Hugh walked behind the trio as they went to the cottage, neither boy knowing what to say to the other as they walked inside and went right to Hamish's game system in the small living room. The girls played for a bit while Hugh watched, then forced him to play with Hamish and give him a big challenge. He was great at the game, putting Hamish to the test as he matched his combo moves and did a few special attacks that Hamish had no clue about. The boys were so engrossed in their game that they never saw the time fly and without knowing, two hours had passed and it was bedtime for Hamish. The girls walked back to the manor house with big smiles as Hugh had saved them from a boring night as Elise complained that he needed to get a friend. Hugh didn't say anything but it was clear that he had fun with Hamish to the point that Hamish had been the closest that he had to a friend in his life. It was a sad fact to him, every boy his age hated him because of his intelligence and interests. The girls gave a glowing review of their evening and got Hugh to blush at times. The six Smiths were all in agreement, it was turning into the best decision possible in having Hugh come with them. It was just the start, but he would have fun with Hamish as the two played online together after school. Hugh went to bed with a smile on his face. Hamish was fun to play against and knew a thing or two about the games including who made them. He joked that Hugh might get to meet some of the people who created the game they had played as the studio that created it was based near Winnisimmet and is a big player in the computer programming world. When he awoke, he felt great for the first time in a long time. He found his parents had sent him a few texts to let him know that he would have to meet with a representative of the university in London and if he did well they would sponsor his visa to study at their school. It was a big thing for him, it was the last hurdle and one that he would have to pass or else he would have to go back to being bored at home. He walked down to breakfast and saw the girls coming out of their room. Anne was complaining that it was tough to sleep with Elise pulling Sammi from her while Elise complained that she kept flopping in the bed making her move to sleep in a better position. Hugh wisely kept his mouth shut, but it was fun to hear the girls complaining about something so simple especially as his sisters rarely got along. The girls were different than his sisters, they weren't too interested in one another and barely spoke to the other unless they needed something. They weren't nearly the same age as the girls, they were two years apart and had their own circle of friends. Hugh was the go-between for the most of the time, with Hugh having to act as both a referee and adviser for how to deal with their issues. The trio was met by the elder Smiths and a cranky Pierre. Hugh didn't speak but was told that they were going to leave after breakfast and he would need to be ready. Hugh countered that he knew about the meeting in London with representatives from the university, but the message was clear to him. Bryan smirked then explained, "That's actually tomorrow. You have to meet with immigration officials so you can join us. It's an important meeting, one that can't be put off for long." He meekly apologized and finished eating then rushed upstairs to get his things together. His reaction was as expected, he was so used to rejection and being put in his place by others that he took his rebuke hard. He needed a lot of help and support from Paige and Bryan, as much as his parents wanted to be the role models that he needed their busy schedules and the girls' constant fighting wouldn't allow that. The girls were told to get their things together and to ensure that they grabbed Anne's doll so they didn't have to have it shipped over later. It took an hour but the girls had everything together and downstairs for Pete and Bryan to load into the cars. Hugh's things were put inside the car next to Pete while Bryan told Hugh that he was driving south with him, giving Hugh the thrill of driving in a sports car. The drive was long but Bryan kept Hugh talking throughout the drive, letting him vent his frustrations about being so smart and treated like a freak by his own family especially his cousins. They loved him, but none of them were able to talk with him on his level nor were they interested in the same things as him. He wanted acceptance and attention, he wasn't getting that from any of his family members. Bryan asked about his sisters, getting a cringe as he admitted that ever since they started puberty they had treated him like he was a nobody and wasn't worth their time. The two constantly fought and made him miserable, with their friends treating him poorly whenever they were at his house. He was in tears as he confessed that, adding that his parents never saw their treatment because they were careful at it. Bryan understood fully. He had seen just how nasty sibling rivalry could be with girls firsthand. Paige was like that with her sister, Christina grew out of it with the help of her future husband- Miles. Hugh felt better after talking with Bryan. It felt great to talk with a guy and not feel like garbage for not liking football or bicycling or cricket. Bryan listened to him and didn't judge him, it was like he really did understand what Hugh was saying to him and wasn't just listening because he had to. Bryan admitted the truth to Hugh and got the response that he wanted, Hugh was grateful and saw that not everyone is the same and he was listening to him because Hugh needed him to listen. Hugh needed a psychologist to talk with, but Bryan would make due until a professional could be located. Paige was a trained psychologist and had been in the process of earning her doctorate, but she was family to Hugh thus couldn't ethically be his psychologist. The girls kept themselves busy by talking and playing games. Their mothers kept focused on the trip to the embassy and how they would react to people and what they may say. The laws were clear as were the rules and regulations for immigrating, but that didn't stop people from harboring their own views on things as the family knew firsthand after experiencing it far too many times. The arrival in London caught them off guard as they drove to the Smith townhouse instead of their the house in Oldham. Pete and Bryan moved their bags inside then drove with Hugh to the house to pack up the rest of their things from the Oldham house while the girls got acclimated to their stay in the townhouse. Anne, in particular, was told to pick her own room as she was now entitled to it, she didn't need Elise to sleep with her anymore and eventually they would need to separate. The guys were met by Max and his brother, with both giving Hugh odd looks while Bryan tried hard to come up with a way of telling them about Hugh without upsetting the boy. When he did come up with a reason he happily told them, "He's getting the chance to shine as his own person in a place that could use his talents. He's a genius, like my cousin Cat and especially like Sydney Stoner. He's coming with us so he can put his talents to use and stay away from breaking the law." Max asked about that, to which Hugh mumbled a timid, "The guys who got busted Friday night hacking the BBC's website wanted me to join them. I couldn't join them thanks to mum and dad making us go to see our grandparents." Max had to laugh as he knew what Hugh was saying and added a happy, "It's a good thing that you didn't join them, I actually think our guys will want to speak with you about it." They let things settled, going inside to move everything out that they need and readied the rest to be sent over when they were ready. It would be a few days but they would have everything ready to be sent across the pond to the Smith home in Winnisimmet, which just happens to be the home that Bryan and Paige leased out after they moved north to the town of Bradford. They didn't have the heart to sell it and it came in handy as it was able to be rented to a select few people but the most recent tenants had moved out three months before leaving it empty and able to be used. The four moved faster than expected and had everything boxed up and moved into the Range Rover in an hour, giving them plenty of time to get back to the townhouse and eat lunch. Max was given much of the leftover food, with Hugh having to fight a laugh as Bryan handed him boxes of cereal, canned veggies, and other items that weren't needed. Bryan smirked while Arthur added a teasing, "You really need that stuff, you eat too many takeaways, little brother." Hugh was seeing brotherly teasing and it was nothing like the stuff that he had seen his classmates do. It wasn't trying to insult one another, it was fun and with an air of truth. His sisters were nothing like that, they would happily insult you just to show they could while Max and Arthur joked with great care. The drive back to the townhouse was slow due to traffic but Hugh enjoyed the solitude as Bryan was so focused on the road and bad drivers that he wasn't able to speak. Hugh did manage to ask him what he really did for a living as he seemed to be so different than he seemed. Bryan didn't take any offense to that as he was used to people underestimating him as a worker. Bryan thought how best to describe his job, then explained, "In my main job, I'm a city planner. I'm the person who has to look at data to decide the best use for space whether it's businesses that should be in the town or the way roads are laid out or how to get people to walk by certain businesses at certain times. It's a tough job as we have to deal with a lot of people who want their way but can't get it as it isn't what is best for the town. We do a lot of work but never get recognized, but are quick to be blamed when bad things happen to the town. It's often boring but it's what I love and I was good at my job." Hugh asked about his other job, getting a humble, "I oversaw the estate's operations. I managed the few properties that the family owns across London, Suffolk, Essex, and Cornwall. I had to inspect them, find people to fix them up if there were issues, then go back and check on them after work ended. Then I had to meet with people about our investments including many hours on boards of directors for many businesses who wanted to exploit our family name for their businesses. It was boring work that took me away from Paige for hours and even days. Our previous manager got a better job with HM Government so Pete was supposed to do it again but due to Pierre causing Hannah issues with her health he had to be alongside Hannah during her book tour. You know how she is a writer? Well, she is also extremely hot-tempered, gets so caught up in her work that she forgets to eat or drink, and can be locked in her room for days unless someone stops her. Pete had to help her or she'd be in serious medical trouble. So I had to take on the job until my father retired from nursing to do the job for us. Unfortunately, things changed and now dad is retiring effective this new year." He was getting a real insight into Bryan's work. He agreed that it sounded boring but it was still work and different than the boring consultant work his father did for companies around England. Bryan at least got to make a big impact on the world even if it was in his hometown. The two arrived and unloaded the Range Rover while the girls kept quiet. Paige asked what happened as Hugh looked different, getting a soft, "He's attention starved. He was trying to connect with me but he couldn't break through his insecurities. Add in that his sisters must have done a number on his self-esteem and we have a lonely young man who is in need of a change." The two let it go as they needed to get lunch settled. The seven ate quickly as the girls were getting out of hand and needed to get going fast. Hugh didn't say much but was thinking about a lot of things that he had learned from Bryan while comparing him to his own father. Pete drove the four to the embassy on the Thames, telling them that he wasn't about to wait around and let them wait for him when they were finished. They could tell that he didn't want to go with them just in case they were met with roadblocks. Pete wasn't one to let people push his family around, especially ones who were supposed to do their job. The group was met outside by the elderly Jonas Bloomfield and his assistants. The group looked like they were a bit put off by the group but seeing their boss greeting the kids warmly and addressing the two by their titles settled some of that arrogance. He was treating them like old friends, something that they hadn't seen since Jonas had been promoted to controlling partner. Jonas asked for the specifics of each then reviewed the paperwork for each. Anne was OK but Hugh would need an interview and a phone call and fax between his sponsors. It was a quick fix especially with multiple sponsors ready to help, but important. Jonas led them inside, then explained to the proper staff people who they were and why they were there and why he had so many people with him. The show of strength was needed, the chief of staff for the US Customs and Border Protection office was a notorious hothead who was picky about details. None of those who had minor errors were given slack, you had to have everything in order first before you got the OK for your visa application. Hugh was spoken to with Jonas in attendance while Anne was spoken to with Paige and Bryan as well as two of Jonas' junior associates. Hugh had to have the professors sponsoring him write a statement of support as well as two other people from the US attesting to his abilities and what he would do and why he necessitated special treatment. Jonas had that already in the form of Pete and Hannah but got Rachel Sylvester and Margaret Pierce to send their statements. Anne had a rough go with her interview. The agent who interviewed her was immediately upset at the visible race difference between Bryan, Paige, and Anne. Anne was South Asian, her skin was a shade of brown which contrasted with the tanned Caucasian skin of Bryan and Paige. Anne was upset when she was accused of being a cheap street rat who tricked two fine Americans into taking her into their home. He called her a con artist who was trying to steal from Paige and Bryan and should have been left on the streets. He called her a wannabe terrorist who was going to use her family to do harm to the US when she got there. Bryan had to be held back while Paige stood in disbelief as the junior associate just let them be insulted by the vile racist slander coming from the agent. Jonas entered and asked to speak with his colleague, leading to a war of words and the young woman being sent on her way while Jonas sat down and went to work ripping apart every claim that the agent had made. Paige had to hide her smile at the fiery man now letting his anger out in the only way he knew- through a legal lashing. Jonas calmly stated, "You have just accused my client's parents of multiple slanderous things that I will not hesitate to have you disciplined over. She is South Asian, but she is also a citizen of your country via her adoption by Lord and Lady Smith. She is legally their daughter, and has done nothing but make her country better by her actions. She is not looking for anything from her parents, she actually has as much wealth as they do. She is the recipient of a ?250 million inheritance. She has family who is vastly wealthy and is part of a titled noble family who has deep ties to her country and now your country. Lord and Lady Smith took her into their home and fell in love with her because she needed a family and they needed to spread the love that their family exudes all over the United States." He smirked then added, "She is not now nor is she ever going to be a terrorist. She is a happy little girl who is ready to live in her parent's hometown and enjoy her parent's closest family. They will not let any pencil pusher refuse their grandchild's rightful entry into their country. Just hope that they are not in contact with Senator James or else you would be barred from leaving the US for life." He stood firm and dared the woman to say something further but was stopped by the visibly upset chief of staff entering and asking to speak with the wayward agent in private. He was outraged by the verbal assault on a young child and was about to ask why she felt the need to break just about every rule and regulation regarding interviews but stopped as she read the application as the agent tried to form an excuse. The chief of staff nearly blew a gasket as there was nothing wrong with it, it was only in need of a signature from the interviewing agent allowing Anne to get her visa. The chief sent the agent on her way and told her that he'd have a long talk about her racist claims and to be ready for her trip home. He wasn't one to fool around, he never threatened you. He was infamous for his temper and held the rules firmly. He sat down and asked Anne the required questions then reviewed the paperwork again, asking the few questions that he needed to ensure that there was no deception by either Anne nor her parents. He heard everything that they said and looked over the court decision as well as the rules for bringing an adopted child to the US and was satisfied that things were in order. He didn't ask about the name change, he saw that they had all supporting documentation for her gender change and explained that they had a doctor lined up for Anne already allowing her to transition without interference. His final question was one that was serious, he asked about her next of kin and if they were aware that she was about to leave the country. Bryan firmly explained, "She has met with her aunts and uncles as well as her grandparents. They are all in agreement that she belongs with us, and gave us their blessings to both adopt Anne and bring her to the US. Her grandparents also asked us to take in her cousin, he is being interviewed as we speak. He is a genius who will be attending college in the Spring but will have a few small jobs with my cousin until then." This caught him by surprise, so Paige explained, "He needed a break from his home life and needs to be around people who understand him. He is capable of great good but is tempted to do the wrong thing. He is just a kid on the cusp of puberty but with the mind of an adult and the curiosity that needs limits but who hasn't been able to have the structure he needs. Coming with us will give him that." He looked on the computer and saw that he had been approved, so it was just a formality now to sign off on Anne's visa. It took a few seconds but all was cleared, she could leave at any point with her new parents. Hugh would be joining them, the faxes to the office were quick in coming and were all in order with a lengthy legal support document behind them. The man saw multiple signatures on the document and asked about their involvement in Hugh's life. It was signed by Valerie Finn, Melinda Smith, Rachel Sylvester, and Mark Sylvester. Bryan smiled and happily stated, "Valerie is our aunt and a lawyer; Mark is our uncle and acting director for DCF, social services for Massachusetts, Rachel is our cousin and Hugh's mentor for ethical hacking; Melinda is The Countess of Frampton and our sister-in-law as well as an ADA with Suffolk County, MA. She will be seeking an answer regarding Hugh's visa and has her aunt Savannah Stoner ready to go before a judge." There was little need to do that, he had what he wanted as each had their names run through a computer to ensure they were who they claimed to be. Rachel's employment as a forensic computer analyst, her Ph.D., her colleagues in the legal and computer community were all well backed. The fact that two of his supporters were lawyers with strong backings was more than enough to get a reaction to ensure it was legitimate but Hugh was cleared. They walked out with two new visas that were good until they chose to end them, but with Anne being on the path to citizenship by default it didn't matter. Hugh would have to remain in school and keep out of trouble but he was going to be OK to travel. It was the best news possible for all to hear. The group walked out to Jonas grinning widely. Paige had to tell him, "He was all business. He is a good one for them to have around, he makes up for any of the trouble that others cause." Jonas didn't react, just led them to where Pete was waiting. Jonas had him on standby just in case, but he wasn't needed. It was better for them anyway, he hated waiting for word and wanted to be there now. The group drove to the townhouse and were met by a smiling Hannah who rushed to hug the kids. Elise wasn't happy to have been left behind but she understood why she wasn't there. When she heard about the woman insulting Anne so badly, she wanted blood but quelled herself as she heard how badly she had been verbally smacked down by both her boss and Jonas. They ate a quiet dinner before making preparations for the next day. Everything that could be packed up was put into boxes for shipment, their clothes would come with them but a lot of Elise's toys would be taken later. Hugh was asked what he wanted to be shipped and what he was taking with him on the plane, getting a somber, "I only have my laptop and iPad, everything else is clothes." The girls hugged him as he needed one, he appreciated the affection and hugged them deeply. The girls were at a rare loss for words but their parents were smiling at the two giving him a sisterly moment that he sorely needed. His sisters were merciless, if he hugged them like that they would have laughed hard. There was little else to do except book the plane tickets and offer Hugh some words of encouragement. He went to bed early and had both girls hug and kiss him goodnight, giving him a sense of love that he needed as the gravity of his life changing for the better sank in. The girls were amazing with him and he loved that they were normal girls, not ones so self-centered that they only thought of themselves. The girls realized that they were about to be separated so spent the night together. It was tough on the two to go to sleep but eventually exhaustion set in. When they were awoken the next morning, they had to hold off crying as they gathered their clothes together and took their showers separately. When they finally came downstairs, both girls were dressed the same but with slightly different colors. It was incredibly cute and made their mothers squee as they saw them. Hugh looked at their fathers and rolled his eyes, it wasn't that big of a deal but to the ladies, it meant the world. The family ate in silence as they mentally prepared for the trip. Ophelia and Bradford would arrive to take care of their cars with Baker driving the Range Rover back to the estate for them. The Porsches were going to be shipped over at a later date, Bryan and Pete wouldn't let them stay and couldn't part with their "toys" as their wives loved to call their cars. When the elder Smiths arrived, the family gathered their suitcases for the drive over. Baker was told to keep an eye on the couple but he had no plans of letting anything happen to his employers. He was in a good mood as Bryan casually told him, "She's going to enjoy working beside you while they stay here. It's easier than up at the estate but don't let anyone push you around when they do have guests over." Baldric, the Smith chauffeur, led the group out to the estate's people carrier then had Baker drive the Range Rover. The elder Smiths would get the luxury of entertaining Pierre for the trip to Heathrow Airport while Hugh opted to join the guys in the Range Rover for the trip. He was happy to be with the two but tried not to let on that he was fine being away from the girls, he didn't like how Pierre was in a fussy mood around him as it made him think that he was upsetting the newborn. When they arrived at the airport, the three kids were handed their passports. Anne looked at hers and was thrilled to see that her new name and picture was on it especially as it clearly said, "F" under the gender. She didn't know that they had gotten her one let alone so fast, but it was smart thinking by her mother and father in doing so right away. The group entered the queue for security and experienced no issues, a first for the two couples. The girls were nearly bouncing off the walls but they calmed down as they entered the VIP lounge area so had to quell their rambunctiousness or else they'd upset their gruncle John. They weren't flying first class this time due to the short notice, but they were still treated like VIPs thanks to their family owning a lot of stock in several major airlines as well as owning Peterson Manufacturing, a parts supplier for the airlines and the plane manufacturers. Hugh was at a loss for words as he wasn't used to flying. His family had only taken holidays via train and ferry as his sisters refused to fly. It was a strain and cost them two days of fun in Paris or Berlin but they always got their way, their father couldn't refuse any of his little angels' requests. He was uneasy but he held himself together as he saw Anne was even more nervous. When it was time to board, Anne held onto Paige's hand tightly while Hugh put on a tough facade but was scared of what was going to happen. When he was seated with the girls, he felt relief while the girls looked like it was the best thing ever to happen to them. Hugh took the window seat so Anne could play with Elise on her iPad. He looked out at the ocean and clouds below and couldn't figure out why his sisters were so adamant that they not fly. Then it hit him, the two were scared and didn't want to show it and put on the bratty act just to hide their fears. He felt relaxed as his sisters were nothing but liars and frauds, while he was braver than they would be just by doing something that they were scared to do. It felt great to be able to actually enjoy himself as he let the anxiety go. He enjoyed himself as he watched the in-flight movie and enjoyed the girls being giggling hyenas as they watched videos on the iPad while ignoring all around them. As they landed, Hugh did feel anxiety especially as he saw the urban coastline and tall buildings of the city. The landing was easier than he expected, it was gradual and despite knowing they were traveling pretty fast it was barely felt. It was nothing like his sisters complained about, especially the landing. The family was the last to exit the plane and took longer to get through customs and immigration as the two were put under scrutiny due to the suddenness of the move and their special circumstances. The normal questions were asked and all paperwork shown with the visas checked to ensure that the kids weren't being smuggled out of the UK. It was just a formality and once all was double-checked they were let through to meet with the four teens and other youngsters awaiting their arrival. The eight were met by the Smith and Connors families, with Hugh getting big hugs and kisses from his 5th-cousins. He blushed as Ophelia and Lillian asked a bunch of questions about why he was there and why he was allowed to go without his parents. It was stopped by their mothers but it was meant to be a bit of friendly teasing as they were jealous that he didn't have to go to school anymore. Anne Connors sought out her namesake and gave her a big kiss on the cheek. The younger Anne was in tears as the elder told her warmly, "You have a meeting with your new principal tomorrow. She would have been here today but she had to stay late for a meeting." Bryan asked the elder Anne if the houses were ready, getting a big nod and a happy, "Their rooms are set but the twins might need to wait until the weekend to move in. It wouldn't be right to move them today when they have to get back and do their homework. They really have inherited your laziness at times." Bryan blushed as she said that, while Hannah was cut off from replying. She was little better than him. Hannah could delay until the last second then give you everything in a flash and get good grades. Hugh was looked over by the elder Anne who asked firmly, "Do you have it all in writing and do all of the right people know about him not being in the country anymore?" Paige countered with a hard, "If it wasn't all set he wouldn't have left Chiselworks let alone the UK. His parents signed over custody to us so he could attend college and he has the legal statements from the UK education people that he no longer needs to go to school let alone middle and high school. He's all set, he just needs to meet with the right folks to finalize his acceptance to college." Her mother was satisfied with the answer as she knew that the Evans family would be on top of things. It as their family firm that represented Hugh, Isla's father was a founder while she and Arthur were both junior partners at the firm. Arthur's sister Ruby got Hugh's school to state that he was no longer going there while her twin brother Max got the ringleader who tried to get Hugh to join in the hacking to say that Hugh was being groomed by them but was in the clear as he was reluctant to join them. Max really hit pay dirt due to Hugh and had the UK police agencies playing catch-up to his team as the boy had handed over a goldmine of information that was going to cause a huge break in multiple cases. The fact that he was out of the country was a godsend to them, he would be safer with the Smiths than in his home. Those who knew where he was going told everyone to back away or else they would face the full wrath of the US Smith arm, one that carried the might of multiple police agencies and was not afraid to protect those in their care especially against those who intend to use them to harm others. The family drove on to the Smith homes, with the girls finally having to separate for the final time. It was a tearful goodbye for the younger Anne, she was missing her best friend already even if she was just a few blocks away. Hugh didn't seem to care, he had his own room and had people close who would keep him working hard and focused on other things. Paige and Bryan had to introduce the kids to their neighbors, with the two unsure about how they were going to react to them. Paige knelt down in front of Anne and explained, "Uncle Cameron and Aunt Lupe's daughter Reyna are like you. Reyna is married to Rachel so she will be around at times. Uncle Cameron is also like Baker, he transitioned after having two sons so he understands you more than any of us ever will. You are going to meet a few people like yourself, they will ensure that you will enjoy your life and grow to be the beautiful young woman that you truly are."