Maureen's face immediately lit up. In a flash, she flew across the room, and threw her arms around Joanne's neck. She kissed her lover passionately on the lips.
"Are you serious?" Maureen asked.
"The paperwork came through right before I planned on leaving this evening, so I made sure everything was in order, and stopped by the orphanage to pick Felicity up."
"You were in an orphanage sweetie?" Angel asked with a concerned look on her face.
"As of last night, yeah, but I'm used to it," Felicity replied.
"Let the girl in for God's sake!" Roger exclaimed. "She's been standing in the door, and you're playing twenty questions here!" Everyone laughed. Maureen took Felicity's bag down to her room, and joined her friends back in the front room.
Felicity talked and joked around with the Bohemians well into the night. She acted like she had always been there, and anyone else stopping by would have thought so themselves. Around two AM, Angel noticed that she was drifting off to sleep.
"Come here sweetie," she said. Felicity rested her head in Angel's lap, and closed her eyes. In an instant, she was fast asleep. "Looks like we wore someone out," commented Angel as she ran her fingers through Felicity's soft hair. Everyone laughed. Mimi got up off Roger's lap, and pulled Roger to his feet.
"Come on, we should get going," she told him. "Bye everyone!"
"Bye," the Bohemians replied. Angel got up carefully, and slid a pillow under Felicity's head.
"Come on baby, we should get going too," she said. Collins and Angel said their goodbyes, and left too.
"Felicity honey, wake up," Joanne said quietly as she gently shook Felicity's shoulder. Felicity's eyes fluttered open, and she sat up. "Come on, let's get you to bed." Joanne guided Felicity to her room, while Mark and Maureen cleaned up a little bit.
Suddenly Maureen squealed, "Oh Marky, I can't believe Felicity's ours!" Mark smiled weakly as he threw out a stack of plastic cups.
"It's a little weird to think that we're parents," he replied. Maureen threw her arms around Mark's neck from behind, and gave him a hug and quick, friendly kiss on the cheek.
"But it's completely awesome though! I thought I'd never see her again when we gave her up, and now, now she's asleep right down the hall."
"She won't stay asleep if you don't lower your voices," Joanne said firmly as she came into the room.
"Yes Mother," Maureen replied. She and Mark both burst out laughing while Joanne didn't look pleased. "I'm sorry Pookie." Maureen wrapped her arms around Joanne, and swung from her neck. Joanne gave her a peck on the lips.
"I'm going to sleep," she said. "Night Mark." Mark waved, and Maureen pouted because Joanne didn't say goodnight to her.
"Goodnight Jo," said Mark. Joanne untangled herself from Maureen's grasp, and went to their shared room.
Maureen stood in the doorway to Felicity's room. She crossed her arms over her chest, and leaned against the doorframe. She felt Mark gently rub her back.
"You know," Maureen whispered. "Parents normally watch their infants sleep, not their preteen daughters."
"No, parents always watch their kids sleep." Maureen looked at Mark.
"She's really ours. Can you believe it, Marky?" Mark gave Maureen a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Come on Mo, let's go to bed."
As time passed, it became more and more evident that three women were living at the loft. Make up, nail polish, and teen magazines were scattered all over the place. If you were to go over to the baby picture of Felicity, you'd find the biggest change of all. Next to the picture in a bright new picture frame with family written across the tope in colorful stickers (courtesy of Angel) is a picture of a teenage girl wither her parent's arms around her. All three have huge smiles plastered across their faces.
A/N: First chapter of Off-Set is up, so GO CHECK IT OUT! (The link is on my profile). Much love, one more chapter (but it's not a real chapter, you'll have to wait and see what it is!) Thanks to all my great reviewers! Will be back in 10 days (July 16th), and I'll update again then!
Tina101
