"Boys and girls! I have an announcement to make!" Ms.Winters said gaining attention of the class.

It was the end of the week and we had just come into school.

I was chatting with Abbey about some TV show she wanted me to watch when our teacher called for our attention

"Every year in 4th grade we have an annual picnic to fund raise for field trips and stuff. I am giving you a permission slip for your parents and guardians to come and join us!" The room erupted in chatter

"I hope my dad can come!" I said to my table

"My mom will definitely be there." Collin said clearly just as excited I was

"I don't think my mom would be able to come." Abbey mumbled "But maybe my big sister can!" She said perking up. I let out a sigh of relief. I didn't want anyone to be without a parent cause I know how that feels

"If anyone doesn't have someone to come I will gladly share my dad." I said. Collin nudges me "You're too nice." He teased. I stuck my tongue out at him and he replicated my action.

We barely got any work done that morning and just kept talking about the exciting picnic next week. Soon enough it was lunch time and we were swept up in the wave of students rushing into the cafeteria.

Like everyday I went to check in with my brothers "Hey kiddo how's your day going?" Grey asked as I took the seat between him and Beau

"Good. We have a picnic next week!" I told him excitedly. "Oh yeah, I remember going to the 4th grade picnic. It was super fun." My smile widened

"I'm wicked excited." Beau turned away from his conversation with some boy I didn't know and looked at me. "What are we excited for?" He asked sliding an arm lazily over my shoulders. "The 4th grade picnic." I said leaning into his side

"Ahh, I remember going to that. We were having fun until Grey decided to jump off the swing and broke his arm." Beau smirked at his twin. "It seemed like a good idea at the time." Grey mumbled taking a bite of his sandwich.

Just then Drew walked in with some girl I had never seen. Him and the girl sat in front of me and she smiled at me "Thea this is Jenna. Jenna this is Thea." Drew introduced "Jenna's had to do a project all week so you haven't met her until now." He explained

"Hi Thea. Drew has told me so many things about you." Jenna smiled at me and she seemed very nice but I still felt shy so I sort of hid behind Beaus arm. "Hi." I said quietly "Thea's a little shy." Grey said to Jenna.

She nodded "That's okay. Hey Thea I'm coming over tonight. I'm sure it'll be a much needed break from all those boys." She said making a funny face. I giggled quietly deciding I liked this girl.

I was still a little wary of strangers so I stayed close to Beau while I was with them. I noticed how Jenna and Drew kept talking and Jenna kept blushing at things I could hear. "Do they like each other?" I whispered into Beaus ear.

He chuckled "I don't know you'll have to ask Drew." He whispered back. I looked at them and they were both laughing and smiling. "I think they do." I murmured to my brother

"What are you 2 whispering about?" Drew asked with a raised eyebrow. I blush at having been caught and hid my face in Beau's arm. "Go on tell him." I can hear the mischief in his voice.

I look up and glare at Beau and hurry over to the other side of the table to whisper to Drew "Do you like Jenna?" I asked him. Drew's face turned tomato red. "Thee why don't you go back with your friends." He suggested

"Do you?" Drew gives me a no nonsense look. "Thea go." I huff for a second but do as I was told.

The rest of the day was uneventful and boring. Once we were home, Dad, Alex and Hayden were there getting ready for our company we were having tonight.

Dad had told me that the Harts were friends of his and they had 4 kids of their own. Jenna was one of their kids but apparently that had 3 older sons as well and the idea of all those people at once was a little nerve racking.

When I saw dad he opened his arms for me to hug him and I happily obliged

"How's my baby girl?" He asked kissing the top of my head

"I'm good! We're having a picnic next week and you can come!" I said "I mean if you want to." I didn't know if Dad would even want to come to some 4th grade activity with me. Dad smiled down at me

"Baby I would love to come with you." I beamed and hugged Dad tight. The boys walked in and said a quick hello to Dad before heading upstairs

"I have a secret to tell you." I said motioning for him to come down to my level. "Drew has a crush." I whispered in his ear.

Drew seemed annoyed when I asked him earlier so I wanted to be careful that he didn't hear me. "Who is it?" I looked behind me to ensure Drew wasn't listening "Jenna." Dads eyes widened "You think so?"

I nodded. "Hmm okay then." Dad said standing up. "Go upstairs and get dress okay baby?" Dad said gently pushing me towards my room. "Okay Dad." I dashed up the stairs and put on a dress Alex had gotten me earlier in the week.

I was coloring a picture I had gotten from school when the doorbell rang Alex who had been sitting with me got up to answer the door. "Hey guys!" He said to people I had yet to see.

Hayden walked into the kitchen and I immediately attached myself to his arm

"You'll be fine baby. I promise." He whispered kissing my temple.

The group walked in and I saw 4 tall men, 1 shorter woman and Jenna. My grip on Hayden's arm tightened at the sight of so many people who were so much taller than me.

My brothers were all much taller than me but these guys seemed to have extra height.

Dad walked in and smiled when he saw the group of people

"Hey! Glad you guys came!" He said clapping the older man on the back "It's good to see you Arthur." The woman said smiling.

Dad saw me hiding behind Hayden and beckoned me over. I walked to him and hid behind him the same way I had done moments ago with my brother.

Dad must have seen my discomfort because he lifted me up on his hip so I didn't look quite so small compared to everyone

"Guys this my daughter Thea." He introduced me

"Thea this is, Mr and Mrs Hart, Ricky, Corey, Tyler and I believe you met Jenna already." I looked at everyone with wides eyes while they looked back at me with smiles

"Hi." I mumbled shyly.

They all waved and said hello

"Why don't we have the kids go hang out upstairs while we catch up." Mrs.Hart suggested.

Everyone agreed and Hayden took me from Dad "You'll be fine." Dad said kissing my forehead.

I gripped Hayden's t-shirt as he carried me up the stairs.

We went into the game room where all my brothers and now all the Hart kids were sitting around watching Greyson play Tyler in some video game. Hayden sat down with me in his lap beside Corey

"Hey Thea how old are you?" He asked turning to me.

I hugged myself close to Hayden trying to hide myself

"Are you 25?" Corey asked. I looked at him and couldn't help the small smile that made it's way onto my face.

"No I'm 9." I said with a giggle. How silly of him to think I was 25. "Ohhh I see." This boy seemed nice and not nearly as scary as he looked

"Thea what do you like to do?" Ricky who was sitting next to Corey asked me. I thought for a second before jumping off Hayden's lap to get something. I ran into my room and grabbed my coloring book and crayons.

I ran back into the game room and ripped 2 pages out of the book. I handed one to Ricky and put the crayons between us. "Wanna color?" I asked.

Ricky smiled and nodded "I'd love to color." So that's what we did. Me and Ricky started coloring and soon everyone wanted a page. You are never to old to enjoy art.

I still stayed close to Hayden but I wasn't nearly as nervous earlier.

We colored and laughed until Mrs.Hart told us it was time for dinner.

We all sat at the table eating our lasagna that Alex made while the adults made conversation. I learned that Ricky was in school to become a lawyer and Corey was training to be a police officer, and Tyler was becoming a teacher.

It was a nice meal until Mrs.Hart started talking "So who is Thea's mother?" She asked Dad.

The table went dead silent and I shrunk in my seat

"Is there a reason you ask Alice?" Dad asked clearly unhappy about this conversation

"Well I'm just trying to understand the sudden appearance of this child Arthur."

No one said anything

"Is she dead?" Mrs.Hart pressed "My mom's not dead." I mumbled quietly "So what did you do?" She asked me. Alex choked on his drink "Excuse me?" He said incredulously

"Well if her mother sent her away chances are she did something to make that happen." Dad slammed his fist down on the table making me jump

"That is enough Alice. I will not have you talk about my daughter like this." He boomed. Mrs.Hart rolled her eyes

"Relax Arthur I just want to know what this girl did that was so bad that her mother felt the need to send her away. What's the big deal?" She asked shrugging her shoulders.

A tear leaked from my eye at her words

"The big deal is that you're insisting that my sister did something when you have no idea what the situation was!" Alex yelled at her. Mrs.Hart held her hands up in surrender

"It's not my fault her mother didn't want her." All of my brothers stood up angrily.

I cowered in my chair and hugged my knees to my chest "Mom what the hell!" Ricky yelled at her "Get out of my house." Dad said scarily calm "Arthur-" Dad held his hand up to tell her to stop "Get the fuck out of my house!" Dad repeated louder.

Silent tears flooded my face as the Hart family all got up from their seats. "I'm so sorry Arthur." Mr.Hart said to Dad. Then he turned to me "I'm so sorry little Thea." His voice was soft and sincere.

"It's fine I just want that woman away from my child." Dad said pinching the bridge of his nose. Ricky knelt down in front of my crying figure. "I'm so sorry my mom did that little one. Don't listen to a word she said alright?" He wiped a tear from my face as weakly nodded

"I'm sure I'll see you again." He whispered. With that he got up and left with the rest of his family.

Dad rushed over to me and pulled me into his arms. I broke down in sobs. "Shh baby I'm right here. You're okay sweetheart." Dad whispered in my ear. Once my tears had slowed Dad carried me upstairs and had me change into pajamas.

When I was tucked into the bed Dad sat beside me and stroked my hair. "Dad?" I asked in a small voice. "Yes sweetheart." I sniffled and looked up at the man who had such love in his eyes just for me

"Where is my mom?" Dad's body tensed. "Well Mom hurt you and moms are not supposed to hurt their kids so she has to go to jail for a while."

My eyes widened "B-but I w-was bad. And now she's in jail because of me." A new set of tears escaped my eyes

"No, no, no, baby. You were never bad. I promise you were never bad. And it is not your fault. Not at all." He soothed. We stayed like that for a long while just enjoying each others company.

When Dad started to get up I grabbed his arm "Dad will you stay with me?" I whispered.

I hadn't slept with Dad in a few days and to be honest I was missing that little bit of extra comfort being close to my dad provided me. Dad smiled and kissed my forehead "Of course I'll stay with you baby."

And once he was beside me and I was in his arms, all my fear and anxiety took a back burner replacing itself with that sweet sense of safety and belonging.