Chapter 2

"So…I don't have to go back to that place no more?" Leah asked from the backseat of the car, her eyes darting between the back of Maureen and Joanne's head, waiting for answers.

Joanne smiled, and turned around, "No sweetie, like we said before, we're going to be your new mommies now."

"I get my very own room?" She brightly asked, kicking her feet back and forth.

"Yup." Maureen answered, turning around with a big smile, happy the little girl…their little girl seemed excited about the new situation she was in.

"Can I paint it bright pink!?" Leah happily asked, "With a Barbie bed spread?"

Maureen giggled, turning to face Joanne, "I thought she was shy?"

Joanne shrugged while she undid her seatbelt, climbing out of the car and opening the backseat so she could grab Leah. "Where here."

Leah held out her arms gladly letting Joanne hoist her up. True she didn't know much about Joanne and Maureen, but for some reason she knew living with them was going to be way better than living back at the foster care center. She hated it there. The grown ups only thought she was shy because there were so many other kids around, she didn't get enough attention like she wanted.

Once Joanne pulled her free from the car, the lawyer bent over to set her on the ground, but Leah kept her arms firmly wrapped around Joanne's neck, just eyeing her.

"Honey, I need to grab your suitcase." Joanne smirked, trying to set her feet on the ground one more time, but Leah bent her knees, her eyes intently locked on Joanne's.

"But I don't wanna." She half pouted, already liking the feel of being in Joanne's arms.

Joanne's heart melted, how could she deny that look?

"This is going to be a problem." Joanne said, her playful eyes averting to Maureen.

"What?" Maureen asked,

"She already has me won over with a pout." Joanne explained.

Maureen smiled and pulled Leah's suitcase from the backseat of the car, "Very nice. We haven't even had her for a whole day and she's already learning my wonderful tricks."

Joanne humorously rolled her eyes, "Just what we need."

Finally after locking up the car, the trio headed upstairs to the apartment. Finally Leah was successfully set on the ground and free to roam. She kind of felt out of place in her new home, everything was so neat and tidy, until she entered her room, which was purple instead of pink, but she shrugged it off and ran and jumped on the bed, happy she wouldn't be sharing a bedroom with six other kids anymore.

"You like it?" Maureen smiled leaning against the doorframe.

Leah stood on the bed, nodding as she began to jump up and down, a giant smile on her face.

Joanne came in next, standing next to Maureen, her face falling at the sight, "Leah, we do not jump on furniture in this house."

Leah immediately stopped, her eyes quickly clouding over with tears.

"Joanne." Maureen muttered, slapping her wife's arm, before entering the bedroom, hesitantly sitting on the edge of the bed. "It's okay, she's a silly grown up with too many rules."

"Rules are good." Joanne said.

Leah wiped her fallen tears, and crawled over to Maureen, slumping her head against her shoulder.

"Aw, honey." Maureen soothed, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. She looked up at Joanne, "She is sensitive."

Joanne walked in, taking a seat on the other side of Leah, "Hey…" She tapped her shoulder, "Sorry, I didn't mean to make you upset, honey. It's just, I do have rules here, and you're going to have to follow them, okay?"

"Okay." Leah quietly whispered.

"Why don't we all go get something to eat?" Maureen asked, trying to break the awkwardness.

"Good idea." Joanne nodded.

"I can't believe you broke the rules out on her first day." Maureen mumbled as the two headed out of the bedroom, with Leah following behind.

"Just because it's her first day, doesn't mean she gets a day off from the rules." Joanne replied.

Leah listened to every word as she followed the two adults into the kitchen, already understanding that Joanne was going to be the tough one while Maureen was going to be the pushover parent. She stored that in the back of her mind, knowing it was going to become very useful in this household.

The next morning, Maureen all but followed Joanne out the door as the lawyer went to work.

"But Pookie!" Maureen whined, grabbing Joanne's arm and pulling her back into the apartment, "You can't leave me alone with her…I don't know what to do!?" she whispered.

"What did you think, we'd adopt a child and I'd stay home from work?"

Maureen shrugged, running a hand through her hair, "Well…maybe for the first week you'd want to stay home and get to know your daughter."

"Maureen, you'll be fine." Joanne smiled, giving her a reassuring kiss on the cheek. "If I could stay home I would, but you know I'm working towards that big promotion…"

"Yeah, yeah…" Maureen mumbled, crossing her arms over her chest, pursing her lips into a pout.

Joanne closed her eyes, shaking her head, "If I don't see the pout, it doesn't affect me."

"Pookie!" Maureen whined, pouting even more, leaning in so her face was closer to Joanne's.

"I can't see it." Joanne smirked, turning towards the door, opening her eyes when she knew it was safe. "Call me if you need anything." She called out, and quickly vanished into the hallway shutting the door in Maureen's face.

Maureen huffed, and turned around. She sulked for a minute before walking around the corner towards the kitchen, coming face to face with the petit blonde.

Maureen couldn't help but smile. Why that bitch called Leah an ugly duckling she would never know. "Good morning." She greeted her, suddenly feeling more chipper than before.

"Hungry." Leah groggily said, rubbing her stomach.

"What would you like? Cereal?" Maureen suggested, since that's what she planned on having.

"I don't like cereal." Leah replied.

"Toast?"

"I don't like toast."

"Eggs?"

"I don't like eggs."

Ten minutes later, Maureen was standing at the cupboard still searching for something Leah would hopefully like and eat.

"Pancakes?" She said with a sigh.

"I don't like pancakes."

"Well, you're going to have to starve then, because that's all the food we have." Maureen said with annoyance, turning to face Leah, regretting what she just said right away when tears welled up in Leah's eyes. "Don't cry!" Maureen said and was quickly kneeling on the ground, wrapping her arms around her. She pulled back satisfied when the little girl's cheeks were still dry.

"I have an idea…" Maureen said and stood up grabbing the phone, dialing a familiar number. "Collins…?"

A half hour later, Collins and Angel arrived, meeting Leah, who was shy at first, but once she was comfortable around the two new comers, she broke out of her shyness and happily talked and played with the three grown ups. Angel even managed to make her something to eat.

"Maureen I thought she was shy!?" Angel squealed as she ran after a naked Leah, who was running through the living room passed Collins who was out of breath lounging on the couch.

"I remember when I used to run around naked…" Collins stated, bringing his beer up to his lips.

Maureen had decided to give her a bath, since Collins and Leah had a flour fight, and now that her bath was over Leah thought it would be funny to run around the apartment naked.

"So did I!" Maureen said surprising Leah by jumping out of the kitchen, but Leah ducked under her arms, and ran passed her, and towards the front door when she heard it open, jumping directly into Joanne's arms, giggling madly.

"What's going on?" Joanne asked, biting back a laugh, walking over to Maureen who had a towel ready.

"We're playing." Leah answered, snuggling into the warm towel.

"That's not a fun game." Maureen sighed, trying to catch her breath from chasing her. She turned her attention back on Joanne, "You're home early."

Joanne nodded, smirking, "I felt bad for leaving you alone." She kissed Angel on the cheek and then Collins, "But I see you have help."

Collins sat up, cradling his beer in his hands, "We were thinking about taking her over to the loft tonight. Marky has a new girlfriend, and Mimi wants to meet this firecracker." He grinned pointing to the blonde who was playing with the ends of Angel's skirt.

"I want to be pretty like her." Leah pouted, looking up at Joanne, almost asking for permission to wear a skirt.

"You can sweetie." Angel smirked running a hand through her damp hair, "Come on I'll do your hair for you."

Leah smiled and grabbed Angel's hand, dragging her into her bedroom.

Collins eyes lit up, his attention moving to Maureen and Joanne, "I think you guys picked a good one. She's going to fit in perfectly."

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Oh wow! Thanks so much for all the reviews you guys! :)

And to answer the question: Yes. I will be doing a Parenthood Part 3. I hope you won't be sick of the Jefferson-Johnson's by then. ;)