Disclaimer: I don't own Law & Order: SVU, etc.
Faith
"John, we've already been through this, and we decided on Brandon," Fin said, trying his best to keep their car straight in the downpour that had suddenly struck downtown Manhattan. "He had it tough when he grew up too, and I really feel for the little guy. I just want him to have the good life and parents that I never had."
"I know, I know, but it still kind of bothers me that he wasn't brought up Jewish when he was still with his parents. I may have lost faith in all of humanity, but I still haven't lost all of my faith in my religion." Munch quietly scratched at his chest where his Star of David necklace had rested in his younger days, now so far away that his words were for the most part empty to him. "I… it's just something that my mother always wanted." He winced as he lied.
"I just can't believe you keep going back to it. We must have spent six months going to different places and looking for the perfect one, and now you're hung up on his religion? I really don't get you some times. You wish the boy was Jewish, and I at first wanted him to be black, but I got over that for you. We've made the right decision, and if you would just let this happen, I think you'd see how happy he'd make you—and how happy you'd make me." After his initial anger, Fin concluded with a touch of sadness; he couldn't bring himself to look over at John. The wiper blades' squeak provided the only interlude between the harsh stillness that hung in the car between them.
They finally arrived. Fin got out of the car first with Munch lagging behind him as they walked to the door. In this moment Munch was most thankful that his umbrella, his dark sunglasses and the pouring rain that still managed to catch his face effectively hid his sporadic tears. Fin walked slowly in front of him, obviously trying to keep some distance but not trying to completely isolate his partner. John's distorted image grew larger on the building's glass doors as he finally stopped, but before Fin could grab the door handle, John stopped him and pulled him aside, partially out of view of everyone working inside.
"Look, I'm sorry; I never meant to reopen this, but you know how my faith has haunted me. I wish I could just turn it off, but I'm not there yet. It was even an apprehension with you when we first got together; it's just some stupid, distant voice that's always and probably always will follow me. I'm just tired of it making you unhappy. That's all I care about, and I know how much you like Brandon, so I'm ready to let it go and just accept him and love him and to let us be a family."
Fin didn't speak for a moment. He smiled weakly before he grabbed John in a tight, warm embrace. "Thank you, John," he said, rubbing his check against his partner's and letting his hand run up and down his back. John only closed his eyes behind his glasses and smiled as well.
They finally broke apart. As Fin opened the door to the adoption agency, John took his other hand and they entered together.
