Tate looked up at his older brother, his eyes bright. “Theo, why you mad? We gettin’ ‘dopted! Together!”

Theo crossed his arms and turned away. “Whatever. They’re just gonna send us back like everyone else did. We’re too much work, and they won’t want us. It’s happened before, and it’s gonna happen again.”

Tate’s little face scrunched up as he tried to figure out what to say. “But… but if Nathan was here, you’d be happy!”

Theo stiffened at the name, then glared down at his little brother. “Just finish packing, Tate,” he muttered, zipping up his duffle bag roughly.

Tate ran over to the door, practically bouncing in place. “Come on, Theo! Hurry up!”

“The person who’s adopting us isn’t done with all the paperwork yet,” Theo said with a sigh. “It’s gonna take, like, an hour—maybe longer. You know how it is.”

Tate’s excitement deflated, and he shuffled back over. “Sorry, Theo… I’m just really happy! We might get a real home this time, right?”

Theo let out a long breath, then took Tate’s hand and sat him down on the bed. “Look, I just don’t want you to be disappointed, okay? With all your… stuff, and the way I act around people, don’t be upset if we’re back here again soon. I don’t wanna see you cry like last time.”

Tate puffed out his chest and gave a determined nod. “I won’t cry! I promise. I’ll even keep my shoes on all day!” He pulled on his sneakers, wincing a little as he tried to get them on properly. “See? I’m wearin’ ‘em, even if they feel funny.”

Theo rolled his eyes and laid back on the bed. “Yeah, sure. Whatever helps you cope with the pain.”

Suddenly, the intercom buzzed to life. “Would Theo and Tate please come to the director’s office with all of your belongings? I repeat, Theo and Tate to the director’s office with all of your belongings.”

Theo groaned and stood up, grabbing his duffle bag. “Well, that’s us.” He reached for Tate’s hand. “Come on, let’s get this over with. The faster we get through this, the faster they realize they can’t handle us.”

Tate held onto Theo’s hand, a mix of excitement and nerves in his eyes. “I hope we get a nice Dad that play with me a lots!”

“Yeah, don’t get your hopes up,” Theo muttered as they walked down the hall toward the director’s office. “We’ve been through this before. Just… don’t get too excited, okay?”

“Okay…” Tate whispered, still holding tight to his brother’s hand as they headed to meet their potential new family.

When the boys arrived at the office, they found the director shaking hands with a young man who looked taken aback.

“Wait a minute, who are these two?” the man asked, eyebrows raised.

“These are the boys we discussed—Theo and Tate,” the director said, his voice strained. He hadn’t expected the boys to arrive before the paperwork was finalized.

“But I thought they were supposed to be barely a year old. That’s what you told me,” DJ said, turning to the director with confusion.

Theo folded his arms, his expression sour. “Wow, Bullock, you’re so desperate to get rid of us that you’re lying about our ages now?”

The director fumbled for words. “I-I thought—”

Tate’s eyes welled up with tears. “But why don’t nobody want us, Theo?”

Theo sighed, wrapping an arm around his little brother’s shoulders. “C’mon, Tate. People don’t want ‘problem kids’ like us. Let’s go back and unpack.”

He turned to lead Tate out of the office, but DJ’s voice stopped him.

“Wait,” DJ said, his eyes softening as he watched the two brothers. The scene reminded him too much of his own past. He glanced back at the director, who was frantically shuffling through papers.

“Uh, let me get you the files on the younger kids,” Bullock stammered, reaching for a new stack of documents.

But before he could grab them, DJ picked up a pen and signed his name on the adoption papers for Theo and Tate.

“W-what?!” the director gasped.

“I’ll adopt them,” DJ announced firmly.

“What!?” Theo’s eyes widened in shock.

“YAY!” Tate squealed, running up and wrapping his arms around DJ’s legs.

DJ knelt down, smiling. “Well, hey there, buddy. What’s your name?”

“Tate!” the younger boy said, still hugging him.

“Tate, huh? Nice to meet you, little man.” DJ glanced over at Theo and extended a fist for a bump. “How about you?”

Theo didn’t budge, his arms still crossed as he glared at DJ. “First off, I’m Tate’s older brother. Second, you’re not gonna last a week.”

Sensing the tension, Tate reached up and bumped DJ’s fist with his own, trying to smooth things over.

DJ blinked, then laughed lightly. “Yikes… Well, it’s nice to meet you too, Theo.”

The director looked nervously at DJ. “Are you sure about this? Theo’s been… difficult in the past.”

DJ nodded without hesitation. “I’m sure. I’m not about to split up brothers. Besides, I’ve been where they are—I know what it’s like.”

He turned back to Theo and Tate. “Alright, you two ready to start this crazy adventure with me?”

Theo rolled his eyes. “That’s the whitest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“C’mon, Theo, let’s go!” Tate tugged on his brother’s hand, eager to follow DJ out of the orphanage and into their new life.

Theo grumbled under his breath as he let Tate drag him along. He still wasn’t convinced this would work out. In his mind, it was only a matter of time before DJ gave up on them—just like everyone else. Then he and Tate could go back to their real lives, waiting out the clock until they were old enough to handle things on their own.

The director hesitated, then nodded. “Well, if you’re sure, we can finalize everything now.” He slid a thick packet of documents across the desk to DJ. “Boys, why don’t you two wait in the hallway while your new dad finishes up the paperwork?”

Theo narrowed his eyes at the director, his tone flat. “Yeah, sure. Come on, Tate.” He grabbed his little brother’s hand and led him out of the office.

As they stepped into the hallway, Tate’s face was lit up with excitement. “Theo, we really gonna have a daddy now?”

Theo sighed, leaning against the wall. “I dunno, Tate. Don’t get too excited, okay? People change their minds all the time. Just ‘cause he signed some papers doesn’t mean he’s gonna stick around.”

“But he wants us! He picked *us*!” Tate insisted, his small face glowing with hope.

Theo’s expression remained guarded. “We’ll see. Just don’t get your hopes up too high. It’s easier that way.”

Meanwhile, inside the office, DJ quickly signed his name on each line, sealing the deal. He glanced back at the door where the boys had left, feeling a strange mix of determination and responsibility. This was a big step for him—and for them.

When he finished, DJ handed the signed packet back to the director. “This is just the beginning,” he said with a smile, his voice steady.

For DJ, this was a chance to change their lives. For Theo, it felt like just another empty promise, another adult who’d bail when things got tough. And for Tate, it was the start of the family he’d always dreamed of.

DJ stepped out into the hallway to find the boys waiting. Tate ran up to him, wrapping his arms around DJ’s legs. “Daddy! You’re really our daddy now!”

DJ bent down, hugging the little boy back. “Yeah, I am, buddy.”

Theo stood a few feet away, his arms crossed and his expression hard. “So, what’s next? You think you can handle us?”

DJ straightened up and met Theo’s glare head-on. “I know it won’t be easy, but I’m not going anywhere. We’re a team now.”

Theo scoffed, his eyes skeptical. “Yeah, that’s what they all say. Let’s see how long you last.”

DJ nodded, understanding the challenge in Theo’s tone. He reached out his hand, but Theo didn’t take it. Instead, the older boy just turned and started walking, pulling Tate along with him.

“Come on, Tate. Let’s get this over with.”

Tate glanced back at DJ, his little face filled with confusion and hope. DJ smiled reassuringly, even though Theo’s words stung.

“Let’s go, Tate. We’ve got a lot to talk about,” DJ said, walking beside them as they made their way out of the orphanage.

Theo kept his distance, his guard firmly up. In his mind, this was just another adult trying to play hero. He’d seen it all before, and he wasn’t about to let his guard down. Not yet, maybe not ever.

But as they walked out together, Tate’s hand in his, DJ knew he’d have to work hard to prove that this time, things really were different