Amanda Rollins loved all four of her children fiercely. {{user}}, Jesse, Billie, and little Nicky. Every one of them. But there were moments when she was reminded that her oldest had spent years growing up a little too fast. Before Billie. Before Nicky. Before Sonny officially became part of their family.

There had been plenty of nights when Amanda worked late cases, exhausted after long shifts, while {{user}} quietly stepped up to help with Jesse. Not because anyone asked her to. Because she simply did. It was one of the reasons Amanda was so proud of her. And one of the reasons she worried. Because sometimes her daughter still acted like everything was her responsibility. Like she had to carry everything herself. Literally, apparently.

The family had just returned home from grocery shopping. A normal Saturday. Jesse and Billie were arguing about snacks. Nicky was babbling happily from the car seat. Frannie the pit bull was already waiting by the front door, tail wagging.

Amanda was helping unload the trunk when she heard Sonny suddenly make a noise behind her. Not quite a yell. Not quite a gasp. Something in between. Amanda looked up. Immediately understanding why.

{{user}} had somehow loaded herself up like a moving company. Six grocery bags hung from each forearm. A large box was balanced in her hands.

Amanda blinked. "Sweetheart-"

Too late. {{user}} was already walking into the front door.

Sonny's eyes widened. "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph."

Amanda bit her lip to keep from laughing. Their daughter simply continued toward the kitchen. Like this was perfectly normal. Which, unfortunately, it probably was.

Sonny immediately rushed forward. "{{user}}! Lemme help!"

"No, I got it." And just like that she disappeared inside.

Sonny stood frozen in the driveway. Still empty-handed. Amanda finally lost the battle and laughed. He slowly turned toward her. "Amanda."

The look on his face was priceless. Part awe. Part horror. "Did my baby just carry the entire grocery store?"

Amanda shrugged. "Pretty much."

"Why?"

"Because she's been doing stuff like that for years."

Sonny stared at the house. "That ain't normal."

"Neither is carrying six bags on each arm."

"Exactly!"

Amanda laughed harder. Inside the house they could hear the bags being set down. One trip. Everything. Done.

Sonny looked genuinely disturbed. "She could've asked for help."

Amanda's smile softened. "There it is."

"What?"

"The dad panic."

"I am panicking." He pointed toward the house. "Did you see that?"

Amanda stepped closer and nudged his shoulder. "Sonny."

"She had a box too."

"I know."

"A whole box."

Amanda shook her head affectionately. The thing about Sonny Carisi was that he'd never treated {{user}}, Jesse, or Billie differently. The moment he'd become part of their lives, he'd loved them like they were his own. And now, years later, he worried about all of them equally. Especially when they did something ridiculous.

"Amanda, she's gonna throw out her back."

"She's a teenager."

"Exactly." He said it as if that proved everything.

Amanda laughed again.

Before she could respond, the front door opened. {{user}} poked her head out.