Part 1 – An Important Talk
-One day at the orphanage, Maya and Grace were both working on a baking project in the kitchen as they spoke with another.
Thanks for letting me help you make lunch today Miss Maya.
My pleasure Grace. You're always a great help. Plus, I wanted to have a chance to talk to you about something.
What about?
About this orphanage. As good as it's become to so many young people… it needs to close down soon.
WHAT!?
I don't mean that in a bad way. What I mean is you all deserve to live in places that feel more like real homes and not some kind of cozy institution.
So what does this mean you're going to do?
Riley has just recently been able to link up with some foster care networks in other counties and other states. We're going to try harder than ever to make sure every child at this orphanage within a year can find good parents to live with; or at least some type of foster care that feels more like a home than this place. But as this process gets underway, I'm gonna need your help Grace.
How?
There's gonna be a lot of people coming into this place in the near future. Potential adoptive parents and foster care people that we're not gonna know too well. And as Ms. Wilson, Riley, and I will have to make some tough decisions on what we think of these people, we're gonna need an extra opinion on these individuals. I think you'd be a good judge of character at helping us evaluate these potential care givers. Do you think you could do that for me?
Well… Yeah. Sure.
Part 2 – Grace's Log of Progress
Dear Diary, it's Grace again. It's been six months now but me, Miss Maya, Miss Riley, and Ms. Wilson have made a lot of progress. About a third of the kids here at the orphanage have found new homes. When new parents and important people have been coming in, I've been telling Miss Maya what I thought about those people and he said my thoughts really helped him. The only sad part is a lot of the kids at the orphanage have had to move really far away. I hope when Sammy gets adopted he doesn't have to move far away. I would miss him SO MUCH! I'm glad we're all finding good homes, but it's sad when you have to say goodbye to people you care about.
Part 3 – The Big Surprise Scene
-In the kitchen of Maya and Riley's home: Maya, Riley, and Grace were all sitting together at the table together having a meal.
Grace: Thanks for inviting for me to your house tonight. The food was really great.
Maya: Well we thought you deserved a celebration. You've been a great help at assisting us in finding so many kids homes.
Grace: Thanks. So… am… I gonna be put with a family soon?
-Maya and Riley looked at each other with a simple smile. The two then moved their bodies so they were sitting right near each other and then they both looked right at Grace.
Maya: Well, there's been a lot of conversation.
Riley: Trust me. A lot of conversation.
Maya: And we think we've found one for you Grace. And since you're a good judge of character, we want your opinion on how this sounds. How would you feel about living with two moms you may know. They had both lost a child long ago and never thought they would become parents again. But now… they suddenly feel ready to adopt.
Grace: Wait… are you saying…
Maya: Grace… if you'd allow us to… if you would consider it… would you give us the opportunity… to be your parents?
-Tears began to appear in Grace's eyes as she leapt forward with her arms and hugged both Maya and Riley.
Grace: YES! YES! YES! A million times YES!
-The three remained where they were hugging for a moment with nothing but smiles on their faces. Then Grace backed away and looked at Maya and Riley with a look of concern.
Grace: But what about Sammy? He's like my little brother. I can't leave the orphanage before I know he's in a good home.
Riley: Well don't worry. We actually have already planned to adopt him too. With so many kids at the orphanage needing homes, we couldn't adopt just one child.
Grace: So this means… I'm finally home?
Maya: Well it's going to take a while before it becomes official but… Yes Grace. You're finally home.
Part 4 – The Final Diary Entry
Dear Diary. Well after months of waiting, today was the day me and Sammy finally moved in with our new mom and dad. When we got to the house, we had a super fun Finally Home Party. Mr. Farkle and Ms. Smackle were there too, and Ms. Smackle sang some really funny karaoke songs about Sumo Walruses from South America. We also got to meet our new uncle and even our new grandparents. Nearly all of the kids from the orphanage now have new parents too, and the couple of ones left that don't will be living with Ms. Wilson at her house and she'll be their foster care mother. It was the coolest day ever. I was even allowed to go to bed with my new princess dress on. The best part of the day by far was when I was tucked into bed and for the first time ever in my life, I finally got to say… Good night mom.
Part 5 – The Final Scene
-In the middle of the night, Grace sat with one light on in the kitchen as she was working on a drawing at the kitchen table. Maya then walked into the kitchen and stood near Grace.
Maya: Hey. You mind if I sit with you?
Grace: If you want. You don't have to.
Maya: I'll think I'll always want to.
-Maya then sat down next to Grace as Grace pushed a box of crayons towards Maya. Maya then began to work on drawing a picture as Grace proceeded to continue working on hers. As they continued to draw, they talked.
Maya: So… you're up kind of late.
Grace: Couldn't sleep. Been thinking a lot lately.
Maya: What about?
Grace: About everything that's happened to us. All of the good things… and bad things. No part of the story should be forgotten.
-Grace then held up a picture she drew of Maya and Riley holding a small baby. Maya held the picture as he made a small smile.
Maya: You're absolutely right. No part or person in any story you experience should ever be forgotten. You know… you and her would have been such amazing sisters. I know she would've loved you so very much.
Grace: I know… and I know she does right now… because I know she'll always be looking down on us… and I'm sure she had to play some part at bringing us all together.
Maya: Yeah. I'd like to think that too.
Grace: You know, even though everything is so amazing now… a lot of bad stuff had to happen to us first before we finally got to here. Why is that?
Maya: I… I don't have a clear answer. I don't know why we both had to lose so much before we finally got to this amazing place where we are now. However… I've learned over time that growing up is challenging. But if you stick to this crazy ride we call life long enough, you might just find life will present you with something that is truly amazing.
-Grace smiled, and then wrapped her arms around Maya while putting her head on her new mom's shoulder.
Grace: I love you mommy.
-Maya smiled as she wrapped her own arms around Grace.
Maya: I love you too Grace.
END OF BOOK!
*Author's Note - First off, apologies for not posting this on the day it was scheduled to. I got really ill and was unable to barely move for about two days. Still not 100% but worked as hard as possible to get this story finished and posted. Anyway, I hoped you all enjoyed this limited series. As with all fanfiction, there was no requirement for me to write this story. However I wrote it because it felt like I was called to write it. Yes it was infused with my idea of how the Girl Meets World series would have continued if it had made it to season ten, but it was also infused with important life lessons I had learned in my own time growing up that were important to myself. Now I'm already speculating someone may ask if I will continue the journey of the characters in this story at some point. Well I'm honestly not sure. Only if there is an important story to tell. However if you want more stories set in my "Future Girl Meets World" universe you can read my series: "Riley and Maya: I Think I Wanna Marry You" which serves a prequel to this series, and "Story Time with Farkle and Smackle" which happens concurrently with this one (click on my username to find these stories). But as of now, this journey has concluded.