a/n: hey everyone, thanks for the reviews, i think i replied to everyone, if not sorry. btw i got my alerts and PMs back since Monday but i haven't received the ones i missed so if any of you had PMed me before that, i didn't et it.;)
timeline here, i realized it's clearer in the next chapter. it's set a couple of months before the first chapter, which was a kind of prologue if you want.

Chapter 2

The second person of the lab to welcome a child into their home was Stella. When Clara was born, she realized how much she wanted that. A family. She wanted to be a mom and she was ready, now. Not when the right man came along, if he came along of course. So she decided that she would try to adopt. She had been one of those kids that were needing a family, someone to love them. She contacted a few agencies, talked to Mac about making her schedule lighter, knowing full well that an agency wouldn't give her a child if she worked crazy hours all the time. Mac had been stunned at her request but he understood. He agreed to let her have a 9 to 5 schedule with second on call duty during weekends. Stella thought it was a pretty good deal and she thanked him.

She went through a lot of different steps, from filling out endless paperwork -she would never complain about work paperwork again after that- to visits with social workers, examining her life under a microscope. But she made it through all that and she had been declared fit for welcoming a child. She had met a few kids but they weren't a perfect match to her and vice versa. Until she had met Alexandra. She was two years old, barely a few months younger than Clara. She had black curly hair and bright green eyes. The first time she met Alex she couldn't believe no one had considered adopting this kid. The social worker had explained to her that it was mainly because Alex hadn't started to talk yet. Several doctors had examined her and said that there was nothing physically wrong with her and that she would probably be talking sooner or later. Stella didn't care about that, even if Alex never talked, they'd find another way. There was something pulling her to that little girl and apparently she was having a good effect on the girl too. The social worker had told Stella that Alex seemed brighter and happier whenever Stella was around.

Today after months of visits and everything else, she was finally bringing the little girl back home. She had everything ready, she had bought everything she needed and some things she didn't really need, although Lindsay thought Stella had managed to control herself quite a bit actually. She was waiting for the social worker to arrive with Alex, she was doing the bringing back home in actuality.

There was a knock on the door and Stella rushed to open it. It was safe to say she was nervous. She was becoming a mom after all. She opened the door and her eyes fell instantly on her daughter and she smiled, her nervousness calming at her sight.

"Hi," Stella greeted ushering the both of them inside her apartment.

"Hello Stella. How are you?" Ms Gilmore asked.

"Nervous a bit, but I'm fine thank you." She answered.

Alex was struggling against Ms Gilmore and holding out her arms for Stella to take her. Ms Gilmore was happy to oblige, very satisfied in witnessing the bond that had formed between the two. Once in Stella's arms, Alex put her thumb in her mouth and snuggled into Stella's neck. Stella caressed her hair and kissed her forehead, she was reveling in her touch, knowing that she was hers. Not officially yet, but she would be soon.

"Hey, little girl." She whispered in her ear sweetly.

"We've got some papers to sign and then I'll leave you two alone." Ms Gilmore explained taking out a bunch of papers out of her bag.

"Alright," Stella said sitting down on the couch with Alex still held on to her.

They spent almost an hour signing other papers and determining Ms Gilmore's next visits for the next few months. Once that was done, she left the apartment, leaving them alone.

"Alright, Alex, would you like to go and see your room?" Stella asked, not really expecting an answer although Alex seemed to get a little excited at the prospect. Stella walked to the room she had filled with children furniture and toys and had decorated herself.

The walls were a light pink, she was a girl after all but it was not that pink that it would attack your eyes immediately, no it was a soothing pink she found, most pastel than pink. The crib was white and was very practical because it would later convert into a child's bed. There was a matching dresser and changing table. The room was filled with toys too but it didn't look cluttered or overfilled. There was a couple of stuffed animals in the crib and some dolls and even blocks.

"So, what do you think, Alex? You like it?" Stella inquired. Alex's answer was to squirm into her arms to be set on the floor. The little girl got on her feet and headed towards the dolls. She took one in her arms and began to play with it.

Stella stayed where she was, content to just observe her. Alex was right at home and she was playing like any other kids. She was smiling and obviously having fun and Stella couldn't be any happier. Suddenly, Alex got up, doll in hand and came up to Stella. She help up the doll to her, wanting her to take it.

"You want me to play with you, sweetie?" she inquired, taking the doll out of Alex's hands. Alex nodded and grabbed the hem of Stella's shirt, pulling on it to make her come play with her.

That's how they spent the next few days, getting to know each other more, Stella enjoying playing different games with Alex and falling into a routine.

Stella had just put Alex to bed when her phone rang. The caller ID displayed Mac and Stella sighed.

"Hello Mac." She greeted picking up.

"Hi, Stella. I'm so sorry for this but I need you to come in. There's been a triple homicide and I need everyone at the scene." He explained, genuinely apologetic.

"Mac, I don't have anyone to baby-sit, not that I'm comfortable leaving her with a stranger yet."

"Lindsay will be there, she's confined to the lab and Clara will be there too. You know I wouldn't have called if it wasn't an emergency, Stell'." He told her.

"I know. I'll be at the lab as soon as I can." She sighed and hung up the phone.

She gathered a few things for Alex and then went to her room to change. Finally she entered Alex's room and scooped her up in her arms. Alex stirred but didn't wake up, even when she put a jacket on her. That kid was a heavy sleeper.

It took Stella only 15 minutes to get to the lab, which must have been some sort of record. She got out of the elevator, Alex nestled in her neck and spotted Lindsay in the same position she was in with Clara. Lindsay saw Stella coming out of the elevator and smiled at her. Knowing Lindsay, Stella knew she would have squealed if she didn't have her daughter asleep in her arms. Lindsay waited for Stella to catch up with her before going into the break room.

"Hey, Linds'." Stella said when she arrived face to face with her friend.

"Stella. How are you? How is she? Oh she's so cute!" Lindsay whispered without taking a breath.

"Remember to breathe, Linds'. To answer your questions, I'm good, she's fantastic and yes she is adorable, isn't she?"

"Yes, she is, even better than in the pictures. So, is everything going well? You know, I've been fighting myself not to call you." She chuckled.

"Why didn't you? I wouldn't have hung up on you or anything." Stella wondered.

"I know, I just thought, you two might need a little time alone, that's all." Lindsay explained while setting Clara on the couch.

"Mac said you were staying here?" Stella asked, waiting for a confirmation.

"Yeah, Mac said I could do some things in here until the girls wake up. Then I'm sure we'll find something for them to do in here if I have to get in one of the labs."

"I wish I could stay until she wakes up, so she doesn't get scared. I mean, I know nothing's gonna happen but she doesn't know you yet." Stella told Lindsay, with Alex still in her arms. She wouldn't let her go yet.

"I know, Stell'. But I promise to call as soon as she wakes up, that way, you can talk to her and reassure her and I'll call if there's anything else. Everything's gonna fine." Lindsay understood how worrying, even terrifying it was to leave your child to someone said child didn't know yet. The first time they had hired a baby-sitter for a couple of hours to go on a dinner date with Danny after Clara was born, Lindsay had called home every ten minutes to make sure everything was okay. She knew Stella trusted her and only needed to adjust to everything.

"Alright, alright. I better go, then." She said, reluctantly putting Alex down on the couch on the opposite side of where Clara was sleeping. She tucked a black curl behind Alex's ear and caressed her cheek before dropping a kiss on her forehead. Lindsay retreated to a corner of the room, letting Stella have a moment and enjoying the view of one of her best friends being a mom. The good thing was that she could blame the hormones for the few tears that escaped her eyes when Stella noticed them.

"See you later, Linds'." She murmured, leaving the room.

a/n: not much Clara and no DL, i know a shocker for me!lol. but this story is about everyone else too, so there will be DL but not for now. the next 2 chapters are about Stella and Alex and after that it will be Flack and OCs (i don't have a lot written for that) but after that, i'm not sure if i'm bringing DL back or if it's Hawkes' turn, i -well my muse- haven't decided yet.