All Love
Thank you to all the followers who have followed me so far, that is awesome! Was a little disappointment with no reviews however. Not that I am not happy with the many followers so far, but to anyone who writes (or does anything for that matter) reviews help a lot to motivate these sort of things. Again, thank you to the all readers, I hope you are enjoying it so far!
This was getting to be a bit much.
Weeks after that serious conversation in the bedroom, everything was about this baby. Have you filed this paperwork yet? Have you dug out your medical files? Should we get this more baby proofed before the social worker checks out the house? Of course Beca knew that the process would be long and exhausting, but it was getting a little out of hand. Especially now that not only was both Chloe and Beca's parents excited about the news, but six year old Leo was just as cautious and excited as Chloe.
"Beccccaaaaa. When is my baby sister going to live here?" he whined to her one day. The couple had kept their plans on the down low for several months, not wanting to get their hopes up in case they didn't qualify or to have the months and possible years of waiting, to wear out the women's relatives. He was so intent that he would have a sister. One would think that a little boy would want a little brother, right? Even after explaining to him that they didn't know yet what gender of sibling they would adopt, Leo was sure it was to be a girl.
"Because we don't have one. We have a Beca, a Mama, and a little boy. Now we just need a baby girl." Leo explained to her as if she had asked something so ridiculous to such a simple answer.
"You are right little dude." Secretly, but not so secretly, they all wanted a girl. Just like Leo had said, they didn't have one. Of course Chloe would want to teach her all the "girly stuff" she didn't do with Leo (though she kept his hair long enough, Beca almost questioned whether Chloe just really wanted to play with his hair like the little girl she didn't have) and though Beca typically related to guys on a certain level, having a daughter seemed more natural. Someone to teach her the finer things in life, like the beauty of music and all that jazz. Though she could easily do that with Leo or another son, something about having a daughter felt a little more...prideful. Like the child would be more easily inspired by their mother, maybe wanted to be like them. Though that also made Beca's stomach clench at the thought of her kid being anything like her. She really hoped she would end up more like Chloe.
Surprisingly enough, the adoption process went faster for the pair, it marking the end of the year since they started applying to agencies. Through all the classes, home inspections, paperwork, they finally were able to start getting access to their possible child and gaining visiting rights.
Both women were pulled out of work that day, sitting in their adoption agents office. Though Chloe only worked part-time at a daycare center and was more flexible about getting the time off, Beca was more in a time crunch. She tapped her foot impatiently, staring at the clock upon the plain-white walls. She hated waiting, she always had. Chloe grabbed her hand, her eyes too wandering, humming an unfamiliar tune. Finally, a stout woman with an unruly bun on the top of her head, came through the office.
"Chloe, Beca. Nice to see you again." she said as she offered a smile and a nod as she took a seat behind her office desk.
"Dana." Beca offered back, some irritability still caught in her voice from waiting so long. Chloe gave Beca a final squeeze to her hand as if to remind her to be on her best behavior before smiling at the woman.
"Do you have some good news for us today, Dana?"
"Well it seems all your home studies and paper work seem to be in order, and now the track goes a bit faster. Now we get to discuss pairing a child with you."
"Pairing us with a child? Don't you just, kinda hand over a kid and we will be on our way?" Beca questioned, who only received an almost inaudible groan from Chloe.
"She is totally kidding. Um, how does it really work?" Chloe asked, this time trying to lead the conversation, so Beca didn't spill anymore of her random and inappropriate comments in front of the woman who was going to give them a child.
"We like to ask parents what they are looking for. Age, race, special needs. We want to make sure that both the child and the parents will feel comfortable in the living situation."
Chloe gave Beca a confused glance, before sheepishly looking back at the adoption agent. She wasn't really expecting this be like a pet shelter, where you got to sit and pick out the one you liked. Or at least that's how she interpreted what Dana had said.
"I guess we really hadn't thought about it. We were hoping for a younger child. A girl, really. She doesn't need to have a set personality, per se. I love all children, and all their personalities. I am sure any child could thrive in our household, really." Chloe concluded, giving her thought a final, firm nod.
Dana looked through some big book she had carried in with her, and began skimming it. After her fingers traced over what she was obviously looking for, she kept her place with her index finger, before looking back up.
"Recently, an orphanage type facility was shut down in Northern California. It was discovered that the babies and children living there, were unkempt and upon further investigation-abused. Currently, they all in foster homes. One little baby, a girl, that I recall, I think could be matched with you."
Chloe's eyes lighted up immediately. "What is her name? How old?"
Dana shuffled through her files again, before sighing out a grunt.
"She is around eleven months, but no name was given. None of the babies had names given to them when they entered the caretaker's child in particular was dropped off at a fire station, according to her file. "
"Oh, those poor babies." Chloe sympathized. How could anyone mistreat a baby? Innocent little angels, who have done nothing wrong. They didn't even have a name to call their own.
"What makes you think she would be okay with us?" Beca interrupted. She hadn't meant to sound rude, but she couldn't see the connection. She wasn't expecting a perfect child, but did they really want a baby that had come from a bad place? Could they even handle her personality if was already messed up?
"Well, to be honest, I think she would fair better in a woman authority household. She is a timid little thing, I will be honest. She doesn't speak or make noise. Doctors have ruled out deafness, and said it is more of a defense mechanism from the living situation or she simply hadn't learned how to speak properly. Orphanages like these typically only care for the basic needs of the child, and lack the love and trust a child needs to learn when they are first born."
"Does that mean she wouldn't ever...attach to us? Is she capable?" Chloe asked, her eyebrows formed in a worried fashion. She had the basic knowledge of children because of where she worked, and knew some of child development. Trust was a big issue when babies grew up, and if they didn't, it could cause behavior problems and trouble to bonding to the parents or caregivers.
Dana sighed. "It is hard to say, but I think she could. She just needs to be exposed to a stable home, which is provided for her at her current foster care. She is still young, and the percentage of her growing normally physically and emotionally, are higher than older children."
"Do you have a picture?" Chloe asked, a little more optimistic sounding.
Dana smiled a little, before reaching for a little picture attached to the back of the small file. Chloe took it willingly, while Beca peeked over her girlfriend' shoulder. The girl in the picture was indeed small, compared to the couch she sat in front of. Despite the cropped hair that was cut badly, (probably due to the improper care, Chloe guessed) and the uncomfortable curled position she stanced in, she was darling. She reminded the mother's surprisingly enough, of Beca. With her small frame, brunette hair, and almond shaped eyes, it was easy to compare the two. She had features of her own however. She probably had the deepest dimples the mother's had seen, and it ached in Chloe to see what they would like when the baby smiled. Unlike Beca's slanted and arched nose, the baby girl's nose was cute and stubby, like most babies her age.
"She has gained weight since then, but she is still pretty wary of people." Dana offered, after a couple minutes of the mother's silence of searching every inch of the small picture.
By the way Chloe was looking at the picture, Beca could tell the redhead was in love. But Chloe was like that with all babies. Beca was still wary to whether they could even help this girl. She seemed damaged. What if she couldn't learn to love them?
"Could we have a couple minutes alone, Dana?" Beca asked, and Dana nodded and quickly left the room to go get some coffee.
"I want to meet her." Chloe finally said quietly, her eyes still fixated on the picture she held securely in her hands.
"Chloe...it's the first kid she has offered….don't you wanna like, look around first?" This however, caught Chloe's attention. And not in the good way.
"This isn't a pet we are talking about Beca. This is a human being. This is the one Dana recommended, and...look at her. She needs us."
Beca ran a hand through her hair. "I am sure there are other kids she has in mind for us. I am just worried that...she needs more help than we can offer."
"No matter the child, they are going to have problems. Leo will have problems, and I would do anything to help him, even if it is beyond my reach. That is what you do when you are a parent. It is a commitment." Chloe said sternly, a crease of worry in her forehead. "The least we can do is visit her." she finished a little more quietly.
Beca sighed. Chloe was right. She always was. They could at least give the little mouse a visit and see if it was a match. She glanced at the little girl in the picture again and smiled a little. The insecurity and awkwardness of the girl couldn't help but remind Beca of herself. To be so unsure of letting people in who could potentially hurt you, was definitely something she could relate to. Beca should have guessed Chloe would have clicked with the little girl. Chloe always had this thing about the underdogs, and seeing the good inside of them. Beca had figured that out on a very personal level, and it was one of the best qualities Chloe possessed and one of the many things Beca loved about the bubbly woman.
I guess they would just have prove to the munchkin that they would be different than all the caretakers before them.
