Hello!

I know I've been really slow with the updates, but I really appreciate how patient everyone has been! This is the final chapter for this particular story, but have no fears Story 11 is in the brainstorming process! It may take me a little longer to get it started than usual but I will do my best!

Hope you enjoy this last chapter!

Thanks so much to everyone who has read and reviewed! -J

Chapter 10

"How does this look?" Alex asked, standing on a stepstool, holding up one end of a 'Welcome Home Henry' sign as she tried to tape it to the wall. "Is it straight?"

"Ummm raise it just a little bit," Sandy replied as she moved around the family room, attempting to tidy up the already clean house, while Andrew sat on the couch with Sergio on his lap. "That's perfect right there," she said as Alex fixed the sign before taping it down.

"When are Uncle Adam and Aunt Sara getting here?" Alex then asked, hopping off the stool and taking a seat next to Andrew on the couch; the older man immediately putting an arm around the teen.

"They should be here in about an hour or so," Andrew replied. "Most likely shortly after your mothers get here. Last time we talked to Sara they were just going to make a short stop before they got back on the road. Lily was apparently bouncing around the car. She can't wait to meet baby Henry."

"I bet," Alex laughed, easily imagining the little blonde's enthusiasm. "I can't wait to see everyone. And I'm so excited to have Henry home. I just want to cuddle him all day long."

"That's exactly how Rosaline was when Jenny was born," Sandy said, taking a seat on Alex's other side. "I mean she liked Andrew enough when he was born but she was still so young. When Jenny was born though she was thrilled. She basically treated her like a little doll. Always wanting to hold her and help with everything," she explained, looking slightly wistful as she talked about her oldest child. "She was such a good big sister. I know you will be too," she smiled, taking Alex's hand and giving it a squeeze.

"I'm going to do my best," Alex smiled, leaning her head on Sandy's shoulder. "I already love him like crazy."

"That's usually how it works with babies," Andrew said, patting the teen's knee with a smile. "They get you from the minute you set eyes on them. They just hook you in, and suddenly you find yourself unable to ever say no."

"Yes your Grandfather here definitely had a hard time saying no to the kids," Sandy said with a laugh. "Jenny was the worst. All she had to do was look up at him with those baby blues of hers and he was helpless."

"And she knew it," Andrew chuckled. "She used it to her advantage that's for sure."

"I could see that," Alex laughed, sitting up as she heard the sound of car doors in the driveway. "Is that them?" She asked, getting excited as she jumped off the couch, heading for the door as it opened to reveal her mothers, Emily carrying a sleeping Henry in his car seat. "Moms," she smiled, immediately throwing her arms around JJ who happily returned the hug.

"Hi Sweetheart," JJ greeted, turning to kiss the teen's head. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," Alex replied, pulling away, but grabbing the blonde's hand. "Both of you," she added as she turned to Emily who was handing over the baby carrier to Andrew.

"And we both missed you," Emily smiled, giving her daughter a kiss on the cheek before turning to watch Sandy and Andrew heading towards the family room with Henry. "Apparently not everybody missed us though," she laughed.

"We've been replaced," JJ laughed. "They don't need us anymore. They've got Henry," she said, following her parents still holding Alex's hand. "Oh you made a sign," she gushed when she noticed Alex's artwork hanging on the wall. "That's so sweet," she said before turning her attention back to her parents. "Hey you two don't even say hello to your daughter? We're here too you know."

"Oh yes hi honey," Sandy replied, not even looking up as she took Henry from his car seat and she and Andrew moved to sit on the smaller sofa together; both gushing over their grandson.

"Well that was heartfelt," JJ said sarcastically as she sat down with Emily and Alex. "Any idea when Adam and Sara will be here?" She asked, turning to Alex since she knew her parents weren't paying her any attention.

"Shouldn't be too long now," Alex replied. "They weren't far last time they called."

"Good," JJ smiled.

"I can't wait to see Lily," Emily added. "I bet she's going to be so excited," she said as she began playing with Alex's hair. "And what about you big sister? You still excited about your little brother?"

"Very," Alex smiled. "I'm just so happy to have everyone home."

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"Can I hold him now Mommy?" Lily asked, sitting up on her knees on the couch next to her mother with her lip sticking out. "Please? I'll be really careful. Please Aunt Jenny?"

"Of course you can hold him bug," JJ replied with a smile. "You just have to be really careful and let your mom help you okay? Henry's really little so we have to make sure we don't hurt him."

"I won't I promise," Lily was quick to assure her aunt with a wide smile.

"Okay well let's get you over here," JJ said, lifting Lily up and placing her in the corner of the couch where it would be easier for the little blonde to hold Henry since the arm of the couch would offer extra head support. "Alright your mom will help you okay bug. Just listen to what she tells you," she said, kissing her niece on the head before going to sit with her brother.

Adam, Sara and Lily had arrived shortly after Emily and JJ got home, Lily practically bouncing with excitement at meeting her new little cousin after rushing to give Alex a hug first. Adam, who was just as excited, had quickly pulled his little sister into a practically bone-crushing hug, attempting but failing to hide the tears in his eyes when he set eyes on his new nephew. Without even asking, Adam had taken Henry from Andrew's arms, cuddling the little boy until his wife eventually demanded to get a turn.

"So how you feeling little sister?" Adam asked, putting his arm around JJ.

"Over the moon," JJ smiled. "Never knew I could be so happy. I mean I've got two amazing kids and a fiancé who I'm completely crazy about. I don't think it gets any better than this."

"It does sound pretty good," Adam grinned, before falling serious. "I'm really happy for you Jenny. I love seeing you this happy and I'm so happy that Emily came into your life. You two are really great together. Definitely meant to be."

"Thanks Adam," JJ replied, her eyes filling with tears as her brother pulled her against his side, their sweet sibling moment interrupted by an excited squeal across the room.

"Daddy, Aunt Jenny look," Lily called from the couch where she was now cradling Henry, with Sara close by.

"Aw look you big girl," Adam replied, a big smile on his face. "What a great big cousin."

"Oh we need to get a picture of this," JJ said. "Em, honey can you bring the camera," she called towards the kitchen where Emily and Alex were preparing lunch for everyone. "It's in my hospital bag."

"Be right there," Emily called back, eventually coming into the room with Alex following close behind, both smiling at the sight of the little blonde holding Henry. "Aw look at you munchkin," Emily grinned. "Looks like Henry loves you already," she said, handing JJ the camera; the blonde immediately taking a picture.

"Look Alex I'm holding Henry," Lily said, looking extremely proud of herself.

"I see," Alex smiled. "You're doing a great job."

"You should get a picture with all the cousins Jenny," Sandy then suggested. "Alex go sit beside Lily."

Immediately complying, Alex made her way over to the couch, taking Sara's place as she made sure Lily kept her grip on Henry, while smiling for the camera. After a few pictures, Henry began to fuss, JJ explaining that it was time to feed him as she lifted the little boy from Lily's arms, excusing herself to go feed him upstairs, as Sandy followed close behind.

"Lunch should be ready in a few minutes guys," Emily told everyone, grabbing Alex by the hand and pulling her towards the kitchen so they could finish up. "Those pictures are going to look great. We'll have to get some with the whole family after too."

"That's a good idea," Alex agreed, smiling as they began finishing up lunch preparations, her smile eventually fading as her shoulders dropped; her mother immediately noticing the change in demeanor.

"Hey you okay?" Emily asked running a hand over the teen's head. "What just happened?"

"Nothing," Alex shook her head. "Nothing…I was just thinking."

"Care to share?" Emily pushed, not wanting the teen to begin bottling things up again.

"I just…." Alex began, hesitating slightly. "I was just thinking how I wish that I had…that I knew all of you when I was little," she explained quietly. "I mean I just…it's just different with me you know. I missed all this stuff with you that you and Mum will get to do with Henry and I just….I wish we had that."

"Oh honey," Emily said, pulling the teen into a hug.

"I know I shouldn't think like this," Alex said, with her face hidden in her mother's shoulder. "I mean I had a great childhood…amazing parents. But…but it's just…I…"

"I know sweetie," Emily nodded, understanding what her daughter was trying to say. "I get it. I wish that too. I really do," she continued. "But everything happens for a reason, and this is how our family was meant to come together," she said. "And I hope you know that your Mum and I love you so much. And that love isn't any different from the way we love Henry. You understand?"

"I understand," Alex replied, looking up at her mother with brown eyes swimming with tears. "I love you Mom."

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"God I cannot wait to just crawl into bed and sleep," JJ said, later that night, in the early evening as she fed Henry in the recliner in the master bedroom; Emily watching with a smile from the bed. "I'm exhausted."

"I bet you can't wait to finally sleep in your own bed too," the brunette grinned, knowing her girlfriend had hated sleeping in the hospital bed.

"God yes," JJ sighed. "I've missed it," she said, laughing lightly, so as not to disturb Henry. "It's a shame that it won't be an uninterrupted sleep."

"That's for sure," Emily laughed, falling silent as she thought about her earlier conversation with Alex. "You know I had a talk with Alex earlier," she said, wanting to share their daughter's feelings with her fiancé. "She was a little upset."

"About what?" JJ asked, already looking concerned.

"Well she's just wishing that she could have grown up with us, like Henry is going to get to," Emily explained. "I think seeing the baby and Lily with everyone today has just got her thinking about what we all missed out on together," she continued. "I mean we knew that she would probably have a hard time with this eventually. Apparently it hit her a lot earlier than we expected. She seemed better after we talked about it, but I think she's still a little sad," she said. "Which is a bit of a struggle since she feels guilty because of her parents."

"Poor kid," JJ said, shaking her head sadly, feeling bad for the teen who had to deal with way more than she should at her age. "Do you think I should talk to her too?"

"I think it might be a good idea," Emily replied. "A little extra assurance can't hurt. But you don't have to do it tonight. I know you're tired."

"No, no I'll do it tonight," JJ quickly insisted. "I'm almost finished here, why don't you go get her and send her down," she said. "You can go have that game of pool with my brother while we chat."

"Sounds good," Emily smiled, standing and making her way over to the blonde. "I love you, you know that?" She said as she placed a kiss on top of JJ's head.

"I love you too," JJ grinned, watching as the brunette left the room, to go retrieve Alex.

As Henry finished eating, JJ adjusted her shirt before lifting the baby to her shoulder, softly patting his back until he let out a small burp. Smiling JJ placed Henry into his cradle, standing over him and watching him sleep until a soft voice interrupted her from the door.

"Is he sleeping?" Alex called out, carefully not to be too loud.

"Yeah he's out," JJ replied, turning towards the teen. "Come on in."

"Mom said you wanted to talk to me," the teen said, phrasing it as a question. "I take it she told you what we talked about earlier."

"She did," JJ nodded.

"I'm really okay," Alex said, her face reddening slightly in embarrassment. "I just had a moment. It just hits me sometimes you know."

"I know," JJ replied with a small smile. "But I just want to make sure you know that I love you honey. And I hope that you understand that you're just as much my daughter as Henry is my son okay? It doesn't matter when or how you came into my life. You're my kid and I love you so much. You understand?"

"I understand," Alex smiled, as a thought suddenly struck her. "Will you wait here for a minute? I just want to get something."

"Of course," JJ replied curiously, watching as Alex practically ran from the room, heading in the direction of her own bedroom.

Obviously having known what she was looking for, Alex returned in under a minute with a notebook in hand. "Now usually I'm pretty opposed to letting anyone other than my teacher read this," she began to explain, as JJ realized that the book the teen was holding was her journal from her writing class. "However I'm willing to make an exception this once because I think it's important that you read this one entry," she said, moving to hand the book to her blonde mother before suddenly pulling back again. "But you have to promise not to tell anyone. Even mom."

"I promise," JJ replied, touched that the teen was willing to share with her, and realizing how important that was.

"Okay then," Alex nodded, flipping open the book until she found the entry she was looking for before handing it over to JJ. "Go ahead."

Taking the book, JJ didn't know what to expect, looking down at the teen's neat printing to find a passage entitled JJ. Intrigued the blonde immediately began to read, her eyes filling with tears almost instantly.

After finding out I was adopted and therefore had two mothers, I never thought I would need another mother. I never imagined a moment in my life where I would consider another person my mother or a mother figure; but then I met JJ. I met JJ on one of my hardest days of my life. I had just lost my parents and I was devastated and scared and I really had no idea what was going to happen to me. Without having any clue that JJ had a connection to my birth mother she somehow made me feel better. She cared about me even though she didn't know me, and she made me feel safe during a time when I thought I would never feel safe again.

Since that day JJ and I have gotten closer and closer. She has become such a huge part of my life and suddenly I have no idea what I would do without her. In the time that my mother and JJ have been dating; before that even, JJ has become like a rock for me. She is there for me whenever I need her and I always know that I can rely on her.

JJ wasn't there the day I was born. She didn't give birth to me, and she didn't raise me, and yet she has become my mother; my mum. I love her just as much as I love my Mom, just as much as I loved my adopted mother Meredith, and I'm so grateful that I have her in my life.

"Oh Lex," JJ said when she was finished with tears slipping down her cheeks. "Come here," she said opening up her arms, which Alex immediately fell into. "I love you so much kiddo. I have no idea what I ever did without you in my life."

"I love you too Mum," Alex replied, squeezing the blonde tight. "So, so much."

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"So your talk with Lex went well?" Emily asked JJ over an hour later as the pair got ready for bed, both having decided to call it a night rather early.

"It went very well," JJ smiled, knowing with absolute certainty that she and Alex had an incredibly special bond and that wasn't going to change anytime soon. JJ had felt relieved and grateful after her conversation with Alex, and as she thought about this another thought occurred to her. "Em I want to adopt her."

"What?" Emily said, freezing with one leg on the bed and one still on the ground.

"I want to adopt Alex," JJ repeated. "I know that she's 14 and technically it won't really change anything, because she already thinks of me as her mom, and if anything happens to you you've already left her in my care, but….but it's important to me," she continued. "I love her Em. So much and I want it to be official just like with you and Henry. And Alex has asked me about it too so she'll be happy and…" JJ's rambling was suddenly cut off as Emily grabbed her and pulled her in for a deep kiss.

"I love you, you know that," Emily said as she pulled away, a big smile on her face. "Give me one second," she then said, holding up a finger as she made her way to the closet, coming back not long after with papers in her hand. "Here," she said, holding them out to the blonde.

"What's this?" JJ asked in confusion.

"Adoption forms," Emily replied with a grin. "I took the liberty of filling them out for you. I believe you just need a couple signatures," she explained, her smile growing at the surprised look on the blonde's face.

"Wha…how did you…when…." JJ stuttered. "How long have you had these?"

"Since we moved in together," Emily shrugged. "I knew it was what I wanted, and I was pretty sure that Alex would want it too," she explained. "I figured it was only a matter of time before you brought it up so I decided to wait."

"I…you're amazing you know that," JJ said, shaking her head in disbelief. "Absolutely amazing."

"Well I try," Emily laughed, leaning in for a kiss, which JJ immediately deepened, holding a hand to the back of Emily's head. "We have the best family Jen," she said when they finally pulled apart. "You, Lex and Henry. You're everything I ever wanted and more. I truly don't know how I got to be so lucky."

Once again overwhelmed by her fiancé's honesty and passion, JJ simply pulled the brunette in for another kiss, trying to convey the depths of her own feelings, before eventually pulling away. "Let's get married really soon. I don't want to wait. I cannot wait to marry you."

Smiling, Emily realized that she didn't want to wait either.

"Okay."