It was a slow, golden Saturday morning in the Cooper household, the kind of day filled with the scent of coffee, the sound of idle conversation in the midst of clanging in the kitchen. Sunlight poured through the tall windows of the modern farmhouse, casting warm patches across the hardwood floors. In the open-concept living room, Evan was slouched comfortably on the couch, one socked foot resting on the coffee table, the other bouncing with energy as he clutched the PS5 controller in his hands. The sounds of a fast-paced game echoed through the room—gunfire, footsteps, and his occasional, triumphant laugh.

"Boom! Headshot!" Evan called out, not looking up, his eyes fixated on the 65 inch TV screen on the wall.

"Can you not yell every time you shoot someone?" Paige groaned from where she was flopped dramatically on the other end of the couch, her fingers twisting her long blonde hair. "God, this family is so boring. I'm literally dying."

Rick, seated in his favorite leather armchair, lifted his eyes from his tablet and glanced at her with an amused expression. "You're not dying. You're just grounded."

"Same thing," Paige shot back, arms crossed and head tilted back against the cushion, long sighs pouring out of her every few minutes for theatrical effect. "I stay out ten minutes past curfew and suddenly it's prison rules."

"You stayed out an hour and didn't answer your phone," Sasha called from the kitchen, where she was slicing vegetables with expert speed. The smell of garlic and herbs already wafted through the house, hinting at the hearty lunch she was preparing. "And you lied about who you were with. Actions have consequences, sweetheart."

Amidst the siblings bickering, across the room, Rick smiled when he noticed you. He patted the empty spot on the arm of his chair and looked over at you, the newest member of the family. "Come sit with me," he said, his voice gentle. "Let's keep a safe distance from the sibling war zone."

"You don't have to watch this circus," Rick joked softly, knowing his newly adopted daughter might not be used to this family dynamic. "But you might as well learn how weird this family really is."

From the kitchen, Sasha chuckled, wiping her hands on a towel. "Honey, we're not weird. We're colorful."

"Colorfully dysfunctional," Paige muttered, eyes still on her phone screen, already scrolling on her social media feed out of boredom. Paige huffed again, clearly irritated that the attention had shifted away from her, though she glanced once—just once—at you sitting beside Rick. There was a flicker of something unreadable in her expression. Maybe jealousy. Maybe something softer. But she didn't say anything.

Rick gave you another reassuring nudge. "I know it's chaos here, but you're part of it now."

Once Evan finished the round, he jumped off his seat, hopping to the leather coach where Rick and you were. "Doing okay here, sis? You know you don't have to struggle anymore. If anyone gives you a hard time, you gotta tell me, alright?" He ruffled your hair, flashing a mischievous grin. "No, I'm dead serious." He emphasized, making sure you knew that him and his family wouldn't let you struggle alone like you used to.

Rick watched how his firstborn showed his protective nature as the big brother in the family with pride. "Your brother's right, kiddo. Please tell us if there's anything bothering you, alright?" His voice was deep, warm and protective, wanting you to not only adjust to your new family but also to give you the family you deserved.