Author's note: thank you very much for all the reviews and messages.

May

Chapter Twenty-Four: From There

"I have to be honest with you." The woman slightly leaned over her desk and crossed her hands. "Your file is delicate. Not because you are a same-sex couple – we have absolutely no issue with this – not because of financial reasons but because... You both have demanding and risky jobs. It won't make you win points."

Maura forced a smile. These weren't news for neither her nor Jane. They had always known about it and had filled the forms aware that it was an element that would show up at some point.

"Yes, we ahem... We're conscious of that but do you think it's really going to be an obstacle?" Jane swallowed hard and tried to ignore her shaking tone of voice. "I mean, do we still stand a chance? We do, right?"

The social worker brightly smiled and relaxed on her armchair. She closed the file.

"Most definitely. However, it is going to depend on the commission... I prefer to make things clear right from the beginning to avoid a possible upcoming disappointment if your application is turned down."

Alright. Fair enough. Jane nodded but didn't manage to smile back. She was too anxious for that. It was so clear in her head now that adoption was the best option for them that she didn't want to think that they might fail. Constance knew about it. She had come with her to pick up official papers and had played an active part in the process, highlighting the idea that Jane and Maura were perfect to adopt a child.

She had been more than supportive when Jane had let her know about it the day they had met by accident on the street. They had rushed to the adoption agency together to get the forms then Jane had told her everything.

The insemination, how the stranger met on the street an hour earlier had set it off everything in her head making it all so clear; so suddenly. She wanted to adopt. She really wanted it.

Just as Jane had imagined, the evening she had come back home with the papers – a large bouquet of flowers and champagne – Maura had been touched; and thrilled. Then everything had seemed to be so logical that Jane was now convinced adoption was the right solution for them.

So... No. They couldn't fail.

"When do we get to know the decision of the commission?"

The social worker opened a window on her computer and checked a rather full calendar. She pouted then pointed out with her index finger a date Jane didn't manage to read for her sitting too far.

"June, 6th. Then if the decision is positive, it can go rather fast. Considering your jobs, there will be controls to make sure that you are quite capable of raising a child; controls at work and at your place. Once this part is done, adoption can really start. You meet the children, get to know them etc."

"Okay, thanks." Jane timidly nodded. "That... That sounds good."

"Adoption is a roller-coaster adventure. I can't but wish you the best. Honestly, the only point the commission should discuss is the one relative to your jobs. The rest is... The rest is perfect." The social worker stood up and held out her hand to shake Maura and Jane's. "See you soon, then."

...

Jane offered her best Cheshire cat smile at Margot. The student laughed, Maura only rolled her eyes then buried her face in her hands.

"Oh boy." Back to her wife. "You are really proud of yourself, aren't you?"

Of course, Jane was. Just as Maura knew it. Her question was a purely rhetorical one. She did not need an answer. Jane was parading with pride. Literally.

"Well, shouldn't I? Margot got an A+ thanks to me. Okay, I didn't really understand everything in this sociological essay but hey... I know what an A+ means..." Jane winked at Margot. "Remember the day you told me you'd had chosen me and I didn't get why?" Nod. "Well, scratch that. You got that A+. It's enough of a reason to justify your choice."

"I can't believe that you have just graduated from your first college year. Are you sure that you don't want to stay here until you get your Master's Degree?" Maura held back a sob by drowning it in her glass of champagne.

Margot had been very clear. She would only spend a year in Boston then go back to Bordeaux for the rest of her studies. And she had done it. Her academic year in the US was now over. She only had one month left in Massachusetts before heading back to the South of France.

"Maybe I'll come back for my Master's Degree but I also want to see how a French university works and... I don't know! I want to be a librarian. I need to go back there and sign up for the right classes if I ever want to pass the competitive examination to become one."

"I don't give you three weeks before you decide to come back here and stay here forever. If I weren't a cop and if we weren't on watch for an adoption process, I'd definitely kidnap you right now...!" Jane raised her glass of champagne. "Anyway... Here's to you. Congratulations. You did very well for the first college year and I'm sure you'll be a fantastic librarian as much as it's a freaking boring job."

"Jane!"

Eyeroll.

"What? It's true, Maura." Back to Margot. "I never understood why you wanted to become one... I mean I get you like books and stuff but... It's boring!"

"I want to work for a children library. It's not just about the books, it's about being with the kids too and organize plenty of stuff for them... To make them love literature too. I want to create workshops, plenty of things. I don't want to die of boredom in an old and dusty library!"

Jane nodded. She knew all that and she actually agreed with Margot. Her projects were interesting and she really was passionate about the job. But still, a part of her didn't want her to see the French girl go.

"Are you sure you don't wanna be an au-pair instead? We're gonna need one soon."

Hopefully.

"How are you coping with that, by the way? I sent them a letter too when Constance told me what she had done for you. I don't know if it'll have some influence but..."

"This is really nice of you." Maura grabbed Margot's hand to squeeze it tightly. She still hadn't got over the fact her mother had played such an important role in the adoption process. When Jane had come back home with the papers in hand and had explained everything from beginning to the end, Maura had found herself speechless. She had stared at her mother who was standing behind Jane and had thrown herself in her arms. "I am sure it will make a difference."

"I won't leave the US before I'm sure you get the green lights, anyway."

The adoption was completely different from the artificial insemination. Everyone knew about it this time and Jane and Maura felt better. They received a lot of support – from friends, colleagues – and felt a lot stronger than the way they had handled the insemination. None of them would give birth – probably not – but they were fine with it. It suited them better.

Yes. They held a lot of hopes on this.

"So if you're accepted, you want a newborn or...? How does it really work?" Margot scratched her nose and looked at Jane in all seriousness. "You haven't talked about that yet. I'm curious to learn how all these things work. You want a boy or a girl? Or both? Oh yes, why not adopting two kids?"

"Jeez, one at a time." Jane shook her head but couldn't help laughing. She loved Margot's energy. She was always in a good mood, full of life. Her smiles were contagious. "We'd like to be able to adopt a very young child but then it's okay if he or she is older. Who knows...?"

"The only thing that is sure is that it is going to be an open adoption. You know that I am adopted so there are some things – some methods – I prefer to others. It hasn't always been easy for me to... To not know my biological family. And even when it all became clear... It wasn't always funny. But... I don't regret it nonetheless. Hope and Paddy are part of me. I can't deny it and I don't want to."

Margot nodded. It wasn't the first time they talked about adoption and she had always appreciated the fact that Maura had never had any issue whatsoever to link her personal experience to it. This would help her in the future, Margot was sure of it.

A lound bang put an abrupt end to their conversation. The three of them turned around and looked a bit in disbelief at Bass who had knocked over a whole pile of magazines. Maura rushed to him and tried to reassure him. Jane rolled her eyes at Margot instead.

"Never get a tortoise. They're weird."

She might have whispered it, she still got busted.

"I heard you, Jane." Maura snapped her head around and shot a frosty look at her wife. "I could tell you to never get a couch yourself if you want to make sure you will never be forced to sleep on it at some point."

Oops.

Time to neutralize the potential conflict.

"Champagne, anyone?" Jane grabbed the bottle and brightly smiled at Margot and Maura. "It's a... It's a good one. Give me your glass, Margot. We're celebrating your brilliant start as a college student. Drink." Better. "Let's all drink."