A/N: This story takes place in the Family by Love universe (21 years after the start of FBL and 20 years after the end of FBL, for reference).
Maura: May, Twenty years in the future
"Mama?! Mom?!" Finn's voice rang through the house.
"Sweetie? Finn is that you?" Maura called back, immediately turning around on her way up the stairs with a basket of laundry. She dropped the basket at the base of the stairs and followed her daughter's voice.
"Hi mom," Finn greeted when Maura walked into the kitchen. Maura noticed the nervousness in Finn's mannerisms instantly. She was standing perfectly straight, fidgeting with her rings, and chewing her bottom lip, but she smiled as they easily greeted each other with a hug.
"We weren't expecting you," Maura said, rubbing her daughter's upper arm in a comforting gesture. "Mama is still at work. She has a few afterschool meetings for IEPs for next school year, but I'm happy to see you. Is everything okay?" Maura had been planning to work up to that question, but her daughter's anxiety was too palpable to ignore.
"Yeah, I just thought I'd stop by to say hi," Finn obfuscated.
"Okay, well, I love that," Maura said skeptically. "Would you like something to drink? Coffee? Tea? Wine?"
Finn smiled as she slid into one of the chairs at the island. "Sure, tea would be good," she replied.
Maura filled the tea kettle and started the water before asking, "How's work?"
"It's good. I delivered two healthy babies today," Finn responded. Finn was almost done with the second year of her ob-gyn residency. She hoped to specialize in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, so she had to do well in order to earn a fellowship.
Maura was about to respond when Finn changed the subject. "Did you get to pick your ob-gyn when you had me and Emma?"
Maura was somewhat caught off guard by the question. She and Jane had always tried to be open with all four girls about their history and Maura's experience in witsec, and as the girls got older, Maura and Jane shared more specific information. However, at this point, they had all known the full truth for nearly ten years. Of course, the topic had come up every once in a while over the years, but at this point, they hadn't talked about it in a while.
"No, I was assigned doctors through witness security," Maura said. "I wasn't happy about that at first, but I actually ended up really liking the doctor that treated me throughout my pregnancy. She even travelled to Boston to deliver you and Emma."
"I had a mom last week that was alone for her labor and delivery," Finn said, looking at her hands. "It broke my heart, and I hate to think that you were alone, and then, you didn't even get to take us home, so you were even more alone."
Maura stepped closer to her daughter, rubbing her back as she spoke. "It was the hardest thing I'd ever done. It's still the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, but sweetie, you and your sisters are worth every moment of pain and loneliness. I don't regret my past because it had to happen to get me here, to get all of us here. I would do it all over again if it meant one day – one minute – with our family, and I've had almost twenty-one years," Maura said quietly but vehemently.
"You've never wondered…I don't know…you've never wondered if it would have been easier…"
"Yes, my life would have been easier if I hadn't gone home with your biological father, but it definitely wouldn't have been better. Easier doesn't automatically equate to better. In fact, the best things in life are hard. If you're asking if my life would have been easier if I had terminated my pregnancy, I don't know, but as much as I believe that women should always have that choice, it wasn't a choice I wanted to make. I already loved you and Emma so much. It's hard to explain."
Maura paused. She squeezed her daughter's forearm before walking around the counter to pour the hot water for their tea. She carried two mugs of tea back to where Finn was seated and handed Finn her mug.
"I'm willing to answer any of your questions, but why are you thinking about this now? Is it all because of your patient?" Maura asked.
"No, it doesn't really have anything to do with my patient," Finn said softly as she took a sip of her tea. She paused and took a deep breath before looking Maura in the eye. "I'm pregnant," she whispered.
"Oh, sweetie," Maura cooed as she pulled Finn into a hug. Her initial reaction was happiness and excitement, and she wanted to congratulate Finn, but given her daughter's questions, she wasn't sure if Finn was actually happy about this.
Maura pulled back and cupped Finn's face in her hands. "I'm scared," Finn admitted.
"It's okay to be scared," Maura said. "It's natural to be scared. I was scared when I found out that I was pregnant with you and Emma, I was scared when I found out that I was pregnant with Sophie, and I know mama was scared when she found out that she was pregnant with Harper."
"She'd already done the parenting thing," Finn said, slightly distracted. "Why was mama scared? She knew what to expect."
Maura laughed lightly as she wrapped one arm around Finn's shoulders. "She was afraid of a lot of things. She was afraid that she wouldn't be enough for three kids. She was worried about how you and Emma would feel. Every new kid is scary for their own reasons."
"I guess that makes sense," Finn agreed. "What do you think…about…this?" she asked, waving her hand in front of herself and reminding Maura so much of Jane that it was uncanny.
"I know that mama and I will be here to support you no matter what you decide to do," Maura said.
"I mean, I'm gonna keep it," Finn said. "I just…this isn't how I thought it would happen."
Maura squeezed Finn closer and kissed her cheek. "You are going to be a wonderful mother," Maura said. "But I meant it when I said that mama and I will be here for you no matter what. Does this mean I'm allowed to say congratulations?"
Finn laughed. "Yeah, I guess so," she said, unable to hide the smile that graced her face.
"Congratulations, sweetie," Maura said, pulling Finn into a proper hug.
"I just came from the doctor," Finn explained as they separated, and Maura moved to take the seat next to Finn. "I'm six weeks. I haven't told anyone else, not even the Kevin," she said, referring to her boyfriend.
"He's the father?" Maura asked.
"Yes, mom," Finn said in mock annoyance. "I'm only sleeping with one guy, right now."
"Be nice," Maura teased, poking Finn's arm, causing her to laugh.
"Yeah, he's the father, but…" Finn said more seriously. She paused and let out a shaky breath before continuing, "I mean, I'll tell him, obviously, but this has made me realize that I don't really see a future with him."
"That's okay, sweetie," Maura said. "You have to do what's right for you and your future child. It's not like you don't have an example of nearly every type of parenting arrangement in this family. Uncle Frankie and Aunt Nina have followed the more traditional route. Uncle Tommy raised TJ primarily as a single parent. Aunt Cailin co-parented with Uncle Grant, but they haven't been together since a couple months into her pregnancy. And then there's our family."
"Yeah, I don't think they have a name for whatever you and mama did for the first six years," Finn teased. "But yeah, I get your point."
"It's okay to be uncertain about this," Maura said. "That doesn't mean you won't love your child the way you want to."
"It's just bad timing," Finn said. "Work has been going so well. I thought I had a really good shot for a fellowship, but…but this is going to change that."
"I wish I could promise you that becoming a parent won't set back your career, but we both know that this world isn't set up to support working parents. What I can promise you is that mama and I will do everything we can to mitigate the negative effects on your career," Maura said. "You know, mama and I have talked about it, and we want all four of you girls to be able to have both the families and the careers that you want.
"When you and Emma were born and again when Harper was born, mama chose to put her career on the backburner so that she could be a full-time parent. I also made the choice not to go back to work full-time when I returned to Boston. You girls never experienced the way we worked before we had kids. But we were lucky in that our family money meant that we had that choice. Most people don't.
"But it goes both ways. Just because that's the choice that we made, doesn't mean it's the right choice for you or for any of your sisters. You know that mama was pregnant a few years before you were born, and at that time, her career was part of her identity. She still wanted to be a cop, and you know what? She would have continued to be a great cop while also being an amazing mother.
"All of this is to say that you can count on us. We'll be your childcare. If you want to move back home with the baby while you finish your residency, you can do that. If…"
"Don't you think you should ask mama before…" Finn started.
"Ask mama what?" Jane called out as she walked into the house from the garage. "Hey, bug," Jane said, pulling Finn into an awkward side-hug when she entered the kitchen. "Hi, love," she added to Maura, leaning to share a soft kiss.
"Hi, Jane," Maura replied when they separated.
Jane walked back to Finn's other side before returning to the previous topic. "So, what are you asking mama?"
"Oh…" Finn said.
Maura reached out to rub Finn's arm, reassuring her. She was just about to prompt Finn when Finn started talking again.
"Um, I'm pregnant," Finn said, anxiety lacing her voice.
Jane's mouth dropped open in surprise as she looked between Finn and Maura. Maura gave Jane a look to get her to respond, and it was enough to pull Jane from her thoughts.
"Finn, baby," Jane said softly as she pulled Finn into a bone-crushing hug. "I love you so much, bug. Whatever mom said we'd do, of course we'll do it."
Maura's heart swelled with love at Jane's words, and she smiled at her wife.
"Okay, enough hugging," Finn whined, pushing Jane off of her lightly.
Jane laughed. "Sorry, bug."
"I'm going to keep the baby, but I don't want to give up my career," Finn explained. "Mom was just saying we could move in here if I wanted, and that's what I said she should ask you about."
"Well, this is one of those times that it helps that mom and I know each other so well. She didn't have to ask because she already knew what I'd say. Is that what you want? To move in here?" Jane asked.
"Oh, no, I don't know," Finn said quickly. "I haven't made any decisions yet."
"And you don't need to make any decisions yet," Maura interjected. "You have time, okay. But you're not alone in this. You'll never be alone."
"Yeah, even if mom and I weren't here, do you really think Emma would let you do this alone? Or Harper or Sophie for that matter?" Jane asked.
Finn smiled. "Yeah, I know," she said.
Maura stood and kissed Finn's cheek. "Will you stay for dinner?" she asked.
"Yeah, I can stay for dinner," Finn replied, standing as well.
Maura moved to start dinner, but she watched out of the corner of her eye as Jane pulled Finn into a proper hug and whispered something in her ear. She and Jane were going to be grandparents. For years, she hadn't thought that it would even be possible to parent with Jane, and now, they were going to be grandparents…together. There was absolutely no doubt in Maura's mind that the seven years of pain and loneliness were worth it for the life and family that she had now…and there was still so much more to come.
A/N: I posted this on Tumblr a while ago, but I wanted to share it. It's just a one-shot, but I'd love to hear what people think. There's a lot more Family by Love (and its sequels) to come, but I kinda love this scene. Eventually, way, way, way in the future, I could see this growing into a multi-chapter story, but I wouldn't even consider that until I finish FBL and Family Forever (the sequel immediately following FBL). Honestly, I don't know how people feel about Rizzles as grandparents.