A New Member of the Family

Chapter1

Tim and Abby sat in the living room of their new house looking nervously at the photo on the coffee table before them. The months of planning, interviews, filling out reams of paper work, medical checks etc for them AND Sarah and tomorrow was the big day. The day they could collect their new son.

Dylan was 10 years old, had dark blonde hair and blue eyes. He had been in the foster care system for four years. They had met him on numerous occasions and even had an overnight stay at the old apartment but tomorrow night would be his first night in his permanent home, as their son.

So far, he'd seemed extremely easy to please and very happy that he was going to be a part of their family. But their visits were limited. Tim and Abby and even Sarah had also been eager to please HIM, they all loved him already. His room had been decorated in his favourite colours. He had a big screen TV with a new games console,with tons of games and more toys and books than you could imagine. Tim had been a bit worried that they may have gone overboard but Abby had wanted to give him everything that she thought a ten year old boy could possibly want or need. They had even chosen a house with a pool. She wanted to make up for his rough start in life.

"Abby I........"Tim started but was choosing his words very carefully. He didn't want Abby to get the wrong idea or to take offence at what he thought he had to say. "Abby I don't want you take offence so please hear me out before you jump to any conclusions. You know that I love Dylan and I can't wait for tomorrow but I think we need to talk about how we're gonna handle things."

"What do you mean 'handle things' Tim."she said suspiciously.

"Well,...... I mean every day things like structure and discipline....... You know like bed times, eating times.... rules of the sort of thing." he said warily.

"Tim, we have a few days off to help him settle in, we don't really need to hound him with a bunch of rules right off. We can afford to be a little bit lenient for a few days, can't we?" Abby said starting to narrow her didn't like where this was going at all.

"No Abs, I don't think we can. You know what we've been told. These kids settle in better when they know what's expected of them. They need to know the rules. They need boundaries. They need a routine." Tim said his voice becoming firmer.

"McGeee!!! 'These kids' How can you POSSIBLY know what it's like to have been in FOSTER CARE or to have had to go WITHOUT? I just wanna spoil him a LITTLE bit. I know what they said but I really don't think they meant Dylan. He's such a sweet little boy and HE'S OUR SON! How can you not wanna give him everything?" Abby said stamping her foot.

Tim stood too, not wanting to give her the height advantage which would help to set her temper tantrum really going. "Abby you need to calm down. We're just talking about a few simple everyday rules here.I do wanna give him everything that he needs. I just think that the MOST important thing he needs is a stable and loving home and that includes structure."

Just then Sarah decided to make an appearance. Walking through the living room she smiled at their spat. Like many that she had witnessed before, they were never serious, and kind of reassuring in a way. Everything was always resolved by breakfast. (Even if it did involve Abby avoiding actually sitting at the table unless Tim insisted). "Don't mind me, just passing through to get a drink. Although, if you want my opinion, I agree with Abby Tim, there are way too many rules around here." She said scooting past and up the stairs before he could swat her. "Let's have a rule free weekend, help the kid really settle in."

"Thanks Hun, NOT HELPING." Abby shouted up the stairs. "I'm not suggesting that we let him run wild exactly Timmy I just think we should wait a bit before we scare him with a bunch of rules. We didn't make a lot of rules for Sarah straight up did we?"

"AH....no ......no....we didn't. As I seem to recall that didn't go so well. Remember?" Tim said sarcastically.

"This is different. Before you say anything about the whole sibling rivalry thing. I love Sarah as if she was my own child but she's a teenage girl. HER acting out was bordering on dangerous. Dylan is just a little boy. What could he possibly do?"

"Famous last words Abs. Let's ask Dinozzo. I bet he's got plenty of naughty boy stories to tell. Any way, I'm his Dad and if I want to talk to him about what I expect I will." Tim said putting his hands on his hips to match Abby's fully intended to put his foot down.

"Well I'm his Mom and if you do I'll.......I'll...........I'll tell him not to listen." She said childishly. As soon as the words were out of her mouth she regretted them. "Tim ....I ....I ...didn't REALLY mean that I'd tell him not to listen." She said backing away.

"We are not going there again Abigail!" Tim said approaching the retreating Abby. "If you make this little boy think I'm the enemy he'll never trust Me." he said trying to calm down. He really didn't want this evening to be spoilt with a silly argument.

"Oh Timmy I would never wanna do that." She said sincerely. "I just want it all to be perfect."

"I know Abby, but nothing's perfect. There's gonna be rough times, I just think it would help, make him feel more secure if he new what was gonna happen if he messes up."

"We'll love him anyway even if he does mess up." Abby said crossing her arms

"Of course we will Abs but we're his parents. It's up to us to teach him right and wrong."

Seeing that he had a point and that she wasn't going to win here Abby decided to go for a compromise. "Ok we'll talk about limits but NO SPANKING." She said firmly."He's been through enough already."

"That's a start." He answered."But Abs he wasn't an abused child. He lost his family in an accident."

"What kind of rules were you thinking?" She asked.

"Well, I'm thinking meals on time, bedtime eight thirty, shower after dinner, teeth brushing before bed." He started.

"Ok. Maybe a bit later on weekends for the bedtime?"Abby added.

"Sounds reasonable."

"Television or video games one hour a day after homework when school goes back?" Tim suggested.

"Agreed." Abby said.

"Dylan can't swim, so we'll get lessons but this one for the time being is not negotiable. No going anywhere inside the pool fence without adult supervision."

"Deal. But, no spanking!" Abby said.

Tim thought for a minute. "I won't agree to no spanking ever Abby. Sometimes it's needed. Spanking as a last resort. But if it involves the pool fence or something equally as dangerous then I WILL spank him."

Abby studied Tim's face. Realising she wouldn't get a better answer than that tonight she gave in. For now. "If that's your last word McBossy boots." She said pouting slightly.

"It is." Tim said lifting her chin with his finger. "And if I find out that you've covered for him, to keep him from a spanking, then I will consider it lying. That didn't go so well either last time did it."

"No." she said."Not for me!"

"Come on let's go to bed. Tomorrow's a really big day. I don't know about you but I can't wait. The sooner we get to bed the sooner it will be tomorrow." Despite having to act the grown up for his talk with Abby, Tim was feeling like a kid at Christmas. Hand in hand they went to check out all of Dylan's cool new stuff before they retired to their room. This was gonna be the best present either of them had ever received.

TBC