A/N: I would firstly like to thank everyone for clicking on this fic. This fic is set in my AU and so first and formostly has my OC Cassandra included. She's Maura's sister and 19/20 in this fic. Past this chapter she probably won't be focused on much but she's obviously going to be around because she lives with them, atleast at the beginning of the fic. She's also a vegan and she turned Maura plant based about a 9 months before this fic was set. I think Maura going plant based makes a lot of sense so I had to wind that in there.
Jane and Maura entered their house, coming back from vacation with suitcases in their hands.
"Welcome back girls." Angela greeted whilst she was cooking dinner for everyone.
"Hello Ma." Jane greeted.
"Hello Angela." Maura greeted. "Where's Cassandra." She asked.
"In her room." Angela answered.
"Okay thankyou. I'm going to see her." Maura answered, taking her suitcase up and dropping it in her room before going to see Cassandra.
"Hello Casey." Maura greeted.
"Your back!" She responded happily, having missed both Maura and Jane over the past week.
"Yes. I'm back lovely. How have you been?"
"I've been alright," She answered. "Can I have a hug?"
"Of course you can." Maura responded, sitting beside Cassandra and hugging her. "Me and Jane have some news to share at dinner."
"Are you too finally having a baby?" She asked.
"We're adopting." Maura answered and took a pause. "Pretend you don't know until we tell Angela."
"That's amazing Maur!" Cassandra exclaimed. "Of course I'll pretend I don't know." She answered.
"Thankyou." She answered and released the hug. "I'm going to freshen up a bit before dinner if that's okay?"
"That's fine." She responded and smiled.
Meanwhile downstairs Angela gave Jane a big hug that was way too tight for her liking. "I missed you!" She exclaimed.
"Yes. You too." Jane answered uncomfortably.
"How was Vacation?"
"It was good Ma. How have you and Casey been?"
"I've been good. Casey's been really anxious in the evenings but otherwise okay."
"Oh that's good." Jane answered. "What's for dinner?" She asked.
"Tempeh Curry." She answered.
"Ma! Really?" Jane whined.
"Yes. It'll be nice." She answered.
"Are you turning into Maura and Casey?"
"Well I have been eating more plant based lately. It's much more energising. They are right."
"Okay Ma." She answered disbelievingly. "We have something to tell you at dinner?"
"Are you pregnant again?" Angela asked, her face lighting up.
"No. No one's pregnant Ma." Jane answered honestly.
"So what is it then?" She asked impatiently.
"We'll tell you at dinner."
"Oh you spoil sport!" Angela exclaimed.
"Sorry Ma." Jane responded before heading upstairs.
At dinner the four sat around her table and after some small talk Jane decided to announce their news. "Me and Maura have decided to adopt a baby."
"Wow! That's amazing. I'm going to be a grandma again!" Angela exclaimed excitedly.
"I'm so happy for you both." Casey also responded excitedly, pretending she hadn't already heard from Maura.
After the announcement Maura and Jane told Angela and Cassandra about their holiday, wanting to share how Maura had dragged Jane round Buckingham Place and in revenge Jane took Maura to the London Dungeons which nearly left her with nightmares.
"Anyone want dessert?" Cassandra asked.
"No thank you." Maura and Angela responded.
"You know me, always up for dessert." Jane answered.
"Vegan ice-cream okay?"
"Vegan ice-creams fine." She answered. With Maura and now Angela being so health conscious she was lucky that they had even vegan ice-cream in their freezer.
As Cassandra got the ice-cream and some bowls, Angela and Maura left the table.
"I've heard you've been getting really anxious while we we're away. Do you want to tell me about it?" Jane asked, knowing she might be able to understand how Cassandra was feeling and offer her support.
"I've just been really scared that someone might break in and hurt me or Angela." She answered.
"I know what that feels like." Jane answered, being able to relate greatly to that feeling. Especially after what had happened with Hoyt. "It can be scary being alone at night, can't it?"
"Yes, very. Wish I could make the fear go away."
"I don't think there's a way to do that." Jane answered. "If you do find one let me know." She paused. "I think you just have to learn to deal with it as best you can."
"I know I do." Cassandra answered. "I don't know how you do what you do."
"You get used to it and learn how to do with all the scary things." She responded. "How's your stomach been?" She asked, changing the topic. Knowing Cassandra had been having problems with her stomach for most of her life and even more so since getting sick in Thailand almost 2 years ago.
"Just uncomfortable."
"That's not too bad then."
"No. Fairly average." She responded.
The two stayed up and spoke for a while longer as it seemed as though Maura had gone to bed early and Angela had gone back to the guest house. They talked more about Jane's vacation and she even confessed that she was ever so slightly spooked by the dungeons.
"I'm going to go up to bed now." Cassandra said.
"Okay night." Jane replied. "I should probably be going up to bed too. I've barley slept in the last 36 hours." She responded yawning. "Me and Maura both seem to have some difficulty sleeping on planes."
"You're not the only one." Cassandra said, being able to relate. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Yes, you too."
