This story is based off of the following OTP prompt: Person A was separated from their biological child. Several years later, they start dating Person B, and are delighted by B's adopted child. What A doesn't realize is that B's child is the child that A was separated from in the first place.
It's got a some definite homage to August Rush.
Just to be cautious, here's a warning: Although there is no actual death, this story does have moments where loss of an infant is brought up. If that is a sensitive subject matter, this story may not be for you.
"I like your shoes. Are they hard to walk in?"
The small voice barely registered. Her full concentration focused on the case she was trying to familiarize herself with, but something deep and knowing pulled at her and she looked up, instantly freezing.
Maura was certain time had only ever stopped three times. The first, when she discovered she was pregnant. The second, after she found out she wasn't going to be a mother. And the third, at that very moment as a little girl expectantly stood in front of her.
Her mind became a jumbled mess of thoughts and emotion. Every detail that struck her about the child she tried to rationalize, only added to her compounding disbelief and confusion. She blinked twice more to ensure she hadn't begun to hallucinate, but there the girl continued to stand.
Strawberry blonde hair fell in her face, as if it had been attempted to be tamed but resisted with every try. Wide and curious light green eyes speckled with bits of brown, just like the freckles sprinkled across her cheeks and nose. A grin that carried the perfect mix of cleverness, charm, and innocence.
Maura was looking at a small version of herself and her chest ached as thoughts of what could have been settled atop her heart.
It took everything in her to eke out a small shake of her head in response to the little girl's initial question.
"My name is Elle. That's what my ma and uncles call me, but some of my friends call me Ellie, so you could call me either of those. My actual name is Eleanor, Eleanor Grace, but no one ever calls me that unless I'm in trouble. What's your name?"
"Uh, my name?" Maura stammered, still somewhat in shock from moments earlier.
Elle nodded enthusiastically, climbing to sit next to her on the worn, wooden bench.
Maura cleared her throat in an attempt to gather herself. "My name is Maura."
"I've never met someone with that name."
Maura smiled, almost more of a grimace, as she glanced around the area for the adult this child belonged to. She wasn't good at this. Small talk. Human interaction. Not with adults and certainly not with children.
"Is that an actual dead person folder?"
She instantly snapped the file closed, not realizing how close Elle had gotten to her. It didn't initially register with her as to why a child would have any inkling what an autopsy report was, her anxiety over her current situation shadowing all other thoughts.
"Shouldn't you be in school given it is one o' clock in the afternoon?"
Elle gave a look like she had grown two heads while asking the question. "It's the middle of summer. I have a calendar at home, so I know I don't have school for another seven weeks."
"Well, do you have a parent or guardian accompanying you?" Maura asked. Her concern was growing, not only for the seemingly solo child, but for herself as well.
Elle nodded and turned her attention to the other side of the park. "My ma is getting us a pretzel."
Maura followed the direction of Elle's small outstretched arm. The bright red umbrella attached to the metal pushcart enough to keep her from having to search for long. But instead of reassurance, panic settled in further at the sight of only the vendor. No other adult in the vicinity.
She took a deep breath. She needed to settle herself. Give reminder that Elle was just a child. The first thing that came to mind were facts. The certain truth to them always served as the center she needed.
"Did you know that pretzel is derived from the word pretiola, which translates to little reward. And they should only be eaten as seldom rewards and not on a regular basis as the salt can induce excess water to accumulate within the blood, exerting increased stress upon the heart over a prolonged period of time. Although, I suppose if the two of you were to split it, then the adverse effects would be minimal."
She stopped herself from continuing any further. Years of experience had taught her there was a limit to her explanations that people could tolerate. So, it surprised her to find Elle listening intently to her every word.
"You said some really big words that I don't know. Do you talk like that because of your job?"
She recalled all that she had just said. There weren't any particularly obscure or difficult words she had used, but she supposed to a child some of them had probably sounded like a foreign language.
"Although the correlation between your question and the subject of our current discussion are unrelated, I suppose there is some overarching accuracy to it all," she replied. This time her answer caused Elle to scrunch her brow in confusion. "Yes, I use big words in my work."
"What do you do?"
"I'm a doctor," she answered, opting to keep the details to herself.
She noticed a look flash across Elle's face. Something close to understanding, as if she had put two pieces of a puzzle together. And then it was gone just as quick, child intrigue taking over.
"Cool! That's what I want to be when I'm grown up. I already asked my ma for a real anatomy book for my birthday. Have you saved anyone's life?"
Her response teetered back and forth. She had saved a life before, but that wasn't what her job was about. Rather she lived in the world of the dead. But the temporary uncertainty of her answer didn't last long.
"Eleanor Grace!"
Maura jumped at the shout. As she relaxed, goosebumps settled over the tops of her arms. There was rasp and warmth, concern and relief that filled the voice. Maura instantly wanted to know who it belonged to and to her surprise it wasn't because that meant she had found the person responsible for Elle, but rather due to a pull she couldn't explain. A natural draw she had always dismissed when others had attempted to explain it to her.
"Uh oh," Elle whispered. Maura briefly looked over to her before turning back in the direction the shout had originated.
"What have I told you about wandering off in a public place?"
Maura sat still, taken aback as she watched the woman kneel near the bench. There was a wildness to her. Untamed and thick hair. Wide and worried eyes. Long limbs that looked poised to wrap her daughter up and ward off anyone else.
"But I could still see you," Elle tried to reason.
The woman let her head fall, the idealistic and innocent logic enough to erase most of her panicked anger, before she looked up again.
"That isn't… but I couldn't see you and that is what's most important." She tucked a strand of Elle's hair behind her ear. "And you know that rule is only when your uncles or Nona are around. When there are more eyes that can watch you."
"Sorry Ma."
Maura continued to watch as the woman pressed a kiss to Elle's forehead.
"You're okay. It's okay. But don't wander off again, do you understand me?"
Elle nodded. It was only then that the woman seemed to fully recognize Maura's presence.
"Hi."
"Hello."
"Ma," Elle jumped in. "This is Maura. She's a doctor and knows lots of big words and has really pretty shoes. Maura this is my ma. Her name is Jane."
The introduction prompted Jane to stand and Maura followed. They both find themselves stunned. Not just by the other's appearance, but taken by the other. It's Jane that finally finds her voice first, clearing her throat before speaking.
"Thanks for keeping an eye on her."
Maura simply nods.
Jane gives a squeeze to Elle's shoulders. "Elle why don't you figure out who Maura's kid is and go play until Uncle Frankie gets here."
"Oh," Maura begins. It stops Elle's nodding and captures Jane's gaze. The words to come are hard to speak as they bring up unavoidable thoughts of what if. "I don't have any kids."
The response seems to stir up something protective in Jane. She pulls Elle a little closer and moves her arm in such a way that it tucks her blazer to the side and shows off a badge. It doesn't take any longer for Maura to realize how her answer could be interpreted.
"My work is just a few blocks away," she begins to explain, tilting her head in the direction of the precinct. "I was just trying to get acclimated to the area."
"There aren't any hospitals or clinics in that direction," Jane countered, her tone still skeptical. And Maura felt a shiver down her arms as Jane's eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
Excitedly, Elle jumped in with an answer. "That's because she's a dead person doctor. Like the one you work with Ma. Right, Maura?"
"That's correct."
Jane's eyes softened a bit and her body relaxed.
"You're an M.E.?"
Maura nodded and dropped her head for a moment, a blush creeping along her cheeks that for reasons unknown to her she didn't want the practical stranger to see. But when she looked back up, her cheeks flooded with color, Jane still intently observing her. Her eyes only snapped away when Elle lightly tugged at her sleeve.
"Can I go back to the jungle gym?"
"Of course."
With the permission, Elle raced the short distance to the play structure. As she watched Elle climb and chase, the heaviness Maura felt upon first seeing the little girl found its way back into her chest. This time weighing more than she thought possible.
"I hope she didn't bother you too much."
Maura turned back to Jane, giving a small shake of her head. Because while she had certainly been uncomfortable during their entire conversation, bother was the correct word. Their brief time together had been the most interesting thing that had happened to her in quite some time.
"She certainly asks a great deal of questions."
"Yeah, sorry about that. She's naturally curious about everything, and having a detective as a mom doesn't help."
"I don't bring it up as a bad thing," she began to explain, recalling the one time she'd said something similar to a father about his son only to be berated by the man due to a misinterpretation. "It's a natural part of childhood development, stimulating the growth and connections of the neural network necessary for understanding the world. She's very intelligent."
"Yeah," Jane softly agreed. They fell to an awkward silence, the kind that enters when two people are left to themselves once the common friend leaves. Jane wrung the back of her neck a couple of times. "Look, about before with flashing my badge and being suspicious of your intentions… it's just, I see so much bad stuff…" she took a deep, burden full breath as an unwanted flashes of crime scenes broke through.
"I understand."
"Right."
Of course she would know what she was talking about. As an M.E., she would be at all the crime scenes. She too witnessed all the horror people did to other people. And as morbid and unsettling as some may have found it, Jane was somehow comforted by the idea that someone else understood.
Another lull enters the space between them. This one only a few beats long. Just enough for them both to wish the other would say something to keep the conversation going for a few minutes longer. But before either of them can speak, Elle barreled into Jane's side, wrapping tightly around her arm and giving a couple of tugs.
"Ma!" she gasped, panting from the short sprint. "C'mon Uncle Frankie is here."
Jane can't help but chuckle at Elle's enthusiasm. "Alright, alright. I'll be there in a second," she answered, giving a gentle ruffle to her daughter's already unruly hair with her free hand.
Maura's throat tightened, finding herself not breathing for a moment, as Elle beamed a gigantic grin at her. "Bye Maura!"
Before she can reply, she's already raced across the park to where Maura can see a tall, dark haired man that is instantly recognizable as Jane's brother, scoop her up and give a single twirl before setting her down.
"I should really join them before my lunch ends." Jane's words pulled her back and they find each other's gaze again.
"Right. Of course."
"It was nice meeting you Maura. I'll see you around work."
"Nice to meet you as well, Jane." She managed to stumble out.
Jane tossed a half smile, a soft tug on the left side of her lips that Maura can't help but mimic, before she turned away.
A warmth radiated through her, causing her to feel flush. For the first time she can remember, she is comfortable. Home. Only in a way she's never experienced before. It's good and simple and made her feel whole.
And as she watched Jane walk over to Elle, it only grew within her and she hoped above anything else she could keep a hold of it. Because she's only ever felt that way once before, years and years ago, and that time she lost it.
I write to escape and I'm truly enjoying working through this story. Just, thought I'd see if anyone else was interested in following along?