TRANSITIONS

"I hear some good news is in order!" Gregory cheered the next morning when I got up for breakfast. Jeffrey came running right over to give me a hug, and he handed me a card – It's a Girl! – signed by the whole family. I couldn't hide the shock on my face. I had to admit, I was fairly anxious for Liz and Gregory to find out about Drew and Rick's plans to adopt me.

"Thank you," I smiled. "I guess word travels fast," I said as I stuffed a muffin into my mouth. Nathan smirked while Liz pointed at me to sit down.

"Nina sent over some information on the transition last night. They're moving fast with you and your sister, it felt like ages when we were trying to adopt Nathan and Jeffrey," Liz explained. "We're really happy for you, hun."

"Do you actually think the adoption is going to happen?" I asked after a few minutes. Now the excitement of the previous night had died down, I was starting to think about the facts. Being gay wasn't exactly something that was widely accepted in Texas. I wasn't sure what the laws were, but even with Nina's pushing, was the law on our side?

"We've seen a lot of miracles," Gregory confirmed. "There's a lot of people in your corner, and they're moving mountains for you all to get a happy ending. That doesn't happen as often as you'd like to see. God will work things out in the end."

"Are you upset? You know, do you think Drew and Rick will be good parents? Would you support that?" I tried to gauge where they were coming from. I didn't think the courts needed their approval, but just in case, I wanted to know what we were up against.

"We've seen a lot of kids go back to the wrong homes," Liz answered. "As much as we would like to keep you ourselves," she shared a glance with Gregory, "we've seen how you are with them, and we wouldn't dream of taking you away from your sister. I personally believe a child should have a mother and a father, but it's obvious that even mother and father households can't keep it together. We're not going to stand in your way, Liv," she finished.

"You just said last night-" Nathan started to say, but Gregory silenced him quickly. I could tell by the way Liz was talking she wasn't thrilled, but it didn't seem they were going to try and stop us. Honestly, that was all I asked for.

"So do you know what the next steps are? Nina never really went over this with me," I asked.

"You were an emergency placement, so the plan is to get you in permanent housing as soon as possible," Liz explained. "Since Dr. Alister is planning on adopting you, and he and his husband are filing the paperwork, the plan is to transition you to their home permanently."

"How long until that happens?" I took an apple from the fruit basket. I was grateful they were sharing all this information with me.

"It could be weeks, or it could take months. It depends on their legal team, home studies, and if they're qualified to be foster parents. I'm sure Nina is counseling them on all of this."

"Does it speed anything up that my sister's dying?" I was met with blank stares. I don't think they were expecting me to be so blunt about it.

"I don't think…"

"She is, though," I corrected Gregory before he could try and minimize what she was going through. "She's dying. If she doesn't get a lung soon, she's going to die, so how does that factor into all of this?"

"We don't know, Liv," Liz sighed. "It's a messy case, but everyone is doing their part. In the meantime, you have work today, so you better get moving."

"Okay," I sighed, and ran back up to my room to grab the last of my things I needed for the day.

"I can't believe you're still here," the studio owner, Zach said to me after one of his classes. It was late – almost nine o clock at night.

"I told you I'd close tonight," I handed him a sweat rag from behind the counter. He just shook his head.

"You really don't like your foster family, huh?" He asked. "I thought they were treating you okay?"

"I like them," I insisted. Things had gotten a lot better now that I'd been around for a while. "I just need some space."

"You're getting attached," Zach teased, laughing. "It's okay, you know. They're the ones who took you in when no one else did. It's okay if you're going to miss them."

"Nothing's going to happen if Brianna doesn't get new lungs, so it doesn't even matter," I grumbled, packing my bag.

"She will," Zach nodded.

"And if she doesn't? Who says Drew and Rick are even going to want me around if she doesn't make it? She's the reason they're adopting us," I finally said out loud. Zach shook his head.

"I'm one hundred percent sure that's not true," he insisted. "Adoption isn't something you compromise on."

"Like you would know, Mr. Bachelor," I teased, trying to change the subject. Zach didn't know commitment if it was coming at him was blazing lights and sirens. The only thing he was committed to was his studio.

"Hey, Zoey and I are going strong," he pointed. "Which, by the way can you take over my summer jazz workshop on Monday? We're going white water rafting this weekend for our anniversary," he winked. I rolled my eyes.

"I don't know what she sees in you," I shook my head. "But yes, I'll see if I can cover it. If not, I'll ask Jennifer."

"Thank you," Zach smiled. "Look, I'll lock up. Who's picking you up tonight to bring you back to the boonies?"

"Thanks," I yawned. "Rick is. Nina made a deal between Rick and Drew and Liz and Gregory. If Liz or Gregory could bring me into the city, Rick or Drew would bring me back before my curfew. Usually it's Rick, since Drew's working."

"Girl, you lucked out," Zach high-fived. "Give my best to Brianna, and I will see you next week." He said as he kicked me out.

"Have fun with Zoey," I winked, walking out of the studio. Rick was already there waiting for me.

"Howdy," I smiled, piling into the truck with my dance gear.

"How was class?" He asked, reaching over to hug me.

"I don't teach over the summer – especially now that I'm not local. It's too complicated, plus enrollment is low. It's mostly workshops, and I'm mostly at the front desk doing registration. I get more hours that way," I explained. "I'll go back to teaching in the fall."

"Ah, I see," Rick nodded. "Well, how was sitting in front of a computer all afternoon?"

"Better than you'd expect," I chuckled. I basically hung off facebook and skyped friends, things I wouldn't be able to do with my limited screen time at Liz and Gregory's, but Rick didn't need to know that. "How's Brianna?"

"She's hanging in there," Rick's tone was enough to tell me she wasn't getting any better. It wasn't anything we didn't know, but I was still hoping for the good news. "Drew's with her."

"I figured," I stared out the window at the fading lights, wondering silently if Bri would ever see them again.

"He's trying, Liv," Rick sighed. "They all are."

"I believe that," I asserted. "I just wish I could do more."

"I know," he squeezed my shoulder. "I know."