Barney handled the paperwork. Pink made arrangements for the nursery. Red set up a live interview with an nationwide news program. He was going to tell the world their story. Right after they got Navaeh.

The place where they were keeping her was dirty and overcrowded. There were stains everywhere. In the closet, on the walls, on every couch and set of sheets. It was full of kids. Sometimes up to five kids to a bunk. The home was run by tired, frazzled women who looked like they hadn't slept or showered in days. Red felt pity for every child and employee there. He made a mental note to donate a large sum of money to this home.

They found Navaeh in a corner of the playroom being terrorized by some of the older kids. A couple of teenage boys. Navaeh was screaming as they yanked on her long, curly hair. Red swatted them away. He was so angry that he wanted to hit them. He took on the mafia, he could certainly take on these fucking kids. But he didn't. Barney scolded them and told them to go the fuck away. They ran off.

"Sh. It's okay, sweetie." Red said in his most soothing voice. He wiped away her tears and gathered her up in his arms. "We're here to take you away."

Navaeh looked up hopefully at him. She looked like she had never seen kindness. Red's heart hurt. She reminded him of himself before he had met Barney. He was glad that they had come to take her away.

They showed the employees their paperwork and Navaeh and told them that they were adopting her. The women seemed desperate for her to leave. To be fair, it was pretty crowded. They didn't even ask for Barney or Red's names. They just grabbed their paperwork and shoved the three of them out the door.

Barney and Red looked at each other incredulously and then down to the little girl in Red's arms.

"Daddy?" She asked.

Red sobbed, pulling her closer and crying into her bushy black hair. Barney smiled and wrapped both of them in his arms.

–•❤️💛💚💙💜•–

Navaeh adjusted quickly to her new home. She looked at her bed like it was the best thing she had ever seen. Everything was new and exciting for her. Pudding became her best friend within the hour.

"Puddy!" She screeched happily. Pudding smiled, pulling his lips back to reveal all his teeth and licking her cheek. Navaeh giggled and reached her meaty toddler hands out to stroke his fur.

Pink adored her. She was constantly hugging her and kissing her and holding her tiny hands. Barney had never seen Pink so happy. It was precious. Navaeh took their happy lives and brought a little more light into it. Red stopped having nightmares. Barney got more sleep. They both loved their new daughter.

Barney even got laid for the first time in over a year.

Red came into their room one night, beaming and giggling and nearly naked. He jumped into their bed, gave Barney a rough, passionate kiss, and the rest was history. They got a noise complaint from the neighbors. Red was very happy.

Green was always concerned about making healthy meals for Navaeh. He used his knowledge of plants to make the best food possible for their daughter. They were constantly learning new things about parenting. Like Navaeh would eat broccoli but not carrots. And she'd only eat her broccoli if it was smothered in cheddar. Green decided that it was healthy enough to let her have as much cheese as she wanted.

Navaeh loved watching My Little Pony with Yellow. They'd sing the theme song together while Yellow made them flower crowns.

Blue taught Navaeh how to draw rainbows. He was afraid of bringing Navaeh down with his depression, so he found something else to enrich her childhood. He always added pink to the end of the rainbow.

"Mommy crayon!" Navaeh declared, holding up the pink crayon.

Blue smiled. A rare, genuine smile. "Yes." He agreed softly.

Purple knit a blanket for Navaeh, which she carried everywhere. She wore it around her neck like a cape during the day and slept under it at night.

Orange signed up for a cosmetology class. He wanted to know how to take care of big, bushy hair like Navaeh's and learn how to put it in fancy knots and braids. He spent weeks playing with her hair. She never seemed to mind. She actually liked it when they touched her hair.

As for Barney, he found his own special way of adding to her life. He took her out to playgrounds and read her bedtime stories. He put tiaras on her head and told her she was a princess. Barney made sure to bring Navaeh into the office to play with Mason and let everyone there fawn over her. They all took turns trying to get her to laugh. Adam adored her.

Barney made sure to read what must have been stacks of books about parenting. He taught Navaeh how to count. He would teach her how to read too, when she was ready. Every night when Barney tucked her in he'd say "You are our blessing. Don't ever doubt that you're beautiful." Then he'd kiss her forehead and turn off the lights.

Obviously it wasn't all fun. Life was stressful when she got sick or when she cried or had tantrums like all young children do. Barney and Red and all the other colors were still adjusting to being parents. But they were a family. They were happy and blessed and they wouldn't give it up for anything. Red smiled down at Navaeh, who was tugging on his pajama pant leg. He finally felt like he was home.

===========================

Barney is now a daddy in two ways.

-💕 Bubblegum Biiiiiiitch 💕