" Do we really have to have a party just for me being adopted?" Cece asked.
" Our friends want to meet you. It'll be fine." Troye promised.
" I'm going to my room while they come." She said, running to her room.
" I hope she'll be ok. Zoe even came all the way here just to meet her." I said.
" She'll warm up to the idea, Con." He said.
" She hasn't even called either one of us dad." I sighed.
" It's going to take some time." He said hugging me.
After a while, we had to go pick up Zoe from the airport.
" Come in Cece. We gotta go." Troye called.
She shuffled her way to the car and flopped onto the back seat. We were halfway there when I heard her groan.
" Can at least see what I'm going to have to deal with back here?" She sighed.
I scrolled through my photos till I found a photo from the last time she visited and zoomed in from just her.
" You didn't tell me she was pretty." She said.
" I told you she was pretty." Troye said.
" You didn't say she was that pretty." She said.
I laughed and grabbed my phone from her.
" It's cute that your home screen is just Troye." She said.
" Awe Connie." He said.
" I know I'm yours so don't go sentimental on me. Besides Cece is my lock screen." Troye said.
" Well you and daddy Con are my lock and home screen so I win." She said before her eyes grew big.
" What did you just say?" I asked, turning around with a smile on my face.
" I'm so sorry Con. I didn't mean to." She said.
" No, it's ok. I've been waiting for that for a week now." I said out of relief.
" Why did he get called dad first?" Troye practically screamed.
" Because your literally 7." She said, earning a high hive from the front seat.
We arrived at the airport and Cece dragged me towards a bench closest to the gate that Zoe would be arriving in.
" Why did we have to get here so early?" Cece yawned.
" Because if Zoe got a later flight it would be 2 days late." Troye said.
" It's 8 in the morning." She whined.
" Wait till next week." Troye mumbled getting me to snicker but she heard neither of us.
" How long till her flight lands?" She huffed.
" We got here pretty early. Maybe 30 minutes?" I said.
" Can I go back to sleep? She asked.
" Sure sweetie. I'll wake you when Zoe gets here." I said.
She laid across our laps, resting her head on Troye's leg. I was amazed at how fast she could fall asleep as soon as I could hear her breathe soften.
" This is what I've always wanted. A loving family." I said, kissing Troye afterwards.
Zoe eventually made it and walked over to us since we couldn't get up with Cece on our laps. I caressed her head so Troye could get up and I picked her up and gently shaking her to wake up. She started to stir and I sat her on her feet as she rubbed her eyes.
She hid behind me as soon as she saw Zoe. Zoe smiled and opened her eyes, showing Cece that she wasn't going to hurt her. I nodded in approval and she slowly walked into the arms of Zoe.
" Cels this is Zoe. She is pratically sister so she can be your honorary aunt." Troye said.
" Oh, so I have 2 aunts now." She said.
" Actually 3. Zoe, Nicola, my sister I told you about, and Sage, Troye's sister." I said.
" Well, do you have any other siblings I need to know about?" She huffed.
" You have 4 uncles." I said.
" What?!" She said in disbelief.
" On my side you have Dustin and Brandon." I said.
" And on my side you have Steele and Tyde." Troye continued. " But Tyler is honorary family."
" Ok." She said, just trying to change the subject. " Is there going to be any other honorary family at the party?"
" Basically all our friends are family, but Zoe and Tyler have helped us in more ways than one." I said.
She started picking at her skin and clothes and I kneeled to her height and grabbed her hands.
" Breathe, ok? It's going to fine. Troye and I will be there the whole time." I said.
She nodded her head and intertwined her hand in mine as she asked Zoe a million questions as I leaned my head on Troye's shoulder.
Zoe and Cece talked the whole way home and Cece drug Zoe to her room, showing her many pictures and artwork she's done.
Zoe and Troye switched positions, with Troye distracting Cece while Zoe and I caught up while sitting up for the party.
We were finally ready by 12:00, which was roughly around Tyler arrived.
We were busy answering the door for others like Joey, Daniel, Ingrid, Hannah, Grace, Mamrie, JC, Ricky, Kian, Trevor, Bethany, Shane, Jenn, Ben, and Colleen.
Everyone was talking and mingling between the kitchen and living room.
Cece walked up to me with makeup, a dress Troye and I had bought her, and converse on.
" Hi daddy. Daddy Tro did my makeup." She said happily.
" You look beautiful." I said. " Can I escort you around?"
She laughed and I took her around, letting her meet everyone. She got along rather well with Trevor, Kian, Joey, and Daniel.
" Ok Cels. I'm going to warn you. Tyler can be loud at times. You ready to meet him and Ben?" I asked and she nodded with a nervous smile.
I walked over to Tyler and Ben, who were engrossed in some topic. He smiled and hugged me as soon as he saw me then started to talk to Cece.
" Hi Cece. I'm Tyler. How has it been?" He asked.
" It's been good." She said.
" Do you like mocha?" He asked.
" She's actually allergic to cats so we gave her to the neighbors." I said sullenly.
" Dad, how do you know Ben?" Cece asked.
" He was a friend of Tyler then I watched his videos and I loved them." I said.
" Tyler, can you watch Cece for a minute? I need to make an announcement and I don't want her freaking out." I said.
" Of course, but I think Ben has her more distracted then I ever could." He said, referring at how Ben was cracking puns and making her laugh.
I walked over to the coffee table and stood on top of it with the help of Troye and got everyone's attention.
" As we all know, Cece's grandparents live either on the other side of the country or the other side of the world. Well, we called both of them and they both are dying to meet her so next weekend they are both coming down her with all of our siblings." I said.
Everyone smiled, but suddenly I saw a line of people move then the bathroom door slam. I ran and tried opening the door but it wouldn't budge.
" Cels, open up. Please." I said.
I heard her undo the locks and saw my little girl, clenching her chest, short of breathe, and tears streaming down her face. My heart broke at how upset and scared she was. I picked her up and sat down with her in my lap. She bundled up the back of my shirt and I rocked her back and forth.I sat her on the countertop and held her hand.
" Control your breathes to the clenches, ok?" I said while squeezing her hand.
After a while, she was able to breathe properly and talk.
" Daddy, w-what was that? D-did I almost die?" She stammered.
" No, it was a panic attack. I know it feels like you were, but it's just your body trying to protect you." I said. " Can you tell me what happened?".
" Well you made the announcement and you guys are so amazing so they must be amazing and what if they don't like me?" She asked.
" They will love you because we love you and your our daughter. Now let's get you cleaned up and something to eat to help calm you." I said.
I wiped off her smeared makeup and led her outside. Everyone had a smile, but clearly worried. I flashed a smile to say it was ok and we went to the kitchen.
" I'm going to give you some cake because you need a little sugar. This isnt going to be a regular thing." I said while cutting it.
She took it and ate on the couch with Daniel, Joey, and Ben. They laughed and talked and I was sure she was going to be happy here in this youtube family.