Nicola came home one evening after work with Asa to discuss business while Bebe was at work. Asa noticed that she seemed a little down, and over a coffee, Nichola revealed that she was being kicked out of her lodgings, and she had nowhere to stay. Asa looked around his home – with only Xenia using one of the three childrens’ bedrooms, there was plenty of room. He told Nichola he would speak to Bebe.

Bebe was surprised at the request – she knew Nichola was a good friend of Asa’s but she barely knew the woman. However, she had a request to make of Asa too, and so she acquiesced.

She told Asa about the devastation the flooding had left in Twinbrook, about the children left orphaned, and how it was really on her heart to offer a home to one of them, to adopt a child into their family. Asa knew as a father and as a politician, there was no way he could refuse to help out, and he told Bebe he’d be delighted if they could become parents once more.

And so it was that Twinbrook social services dropped round a very special delivery to the Populous household.

As Bebe held her knew son, Yabbie Creek, she felt a rush of love for him just like that she had for her own children, and like that she felt for Asa’s children. Their unconventional family meant they were each used to caring for children who were only biologically related to their partner – that Yabbie Creek was neither of their biological relation made little difference. He was their son.

Bebe took her son into the nursery and told him of all his wonderful brothers and sisters. Of Annalise, Brad, Cameron, Declan and Eddie, born so long ago, before Asa and she were married.

She told him of Fitzy, Gail, Henry, Ian, Julie, Katya, Lucy, Maria, Nick…

…Olenski, Phoebe, Pepper, Quinn…

…Rosemary, Rebecca, Scott, Todd, Udagawa…

…Vikram, Wendy and Willow. Bebe’s heart was filled with a strange mixture of total joy and utter sadness as she thought of her beautiful children, this lineage that Yabbie Creek would be joining. She smiled at the thought of those still living who would love their little brother just as they loved each other, and wept silently as she thought of those he would never meet.

She told him of his other brothers and sisters – Wilson, Sterling, Ruth, Edna, Shawanda, Natasha, Paige, Cassidy, Julianne and Loren – some of whom he would never meet either, and she choked as she thought of those of Asa’s children who had died so very young.

And she told him about his big sister Xenia, who would be so excited to meet him when she came home from school, who would look out for him as he grew, who would be the best big sister in the world.

Xenia had been a little put out when her parents told her they were adopting, but Wendy had reminded her of how much she loved being a little sister and having big brothers and sisters to talk to. Surely she should want the same for little Yabbie Creek, especially as he had lost his biological parents?

So Xenia decided to welcome her little brother in style and made a few phone calls…

…The Populous family welcomed their new arrival in the best way they knew how – a family party.

Yabbie Creek Populous was part of the biggest, happiest family in Sunset Valley.

After the party, Bebe and Asa slept soundly, overjoyed with their new son. In the morning they would welcome their first lodger into their home. Something in Bebe caused her to hold her husband extra tightly that night.

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Author’s note: Bonus geek points if you work out why I called Yabbie Creek that.

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