In this chapter there is a bit about the foster/adoption system. I know very little about this and am pretty sure that it doesn't work like I have written it, please forgive all the inaccuracies. Let me know what you think, enjoy!

Chapter 26

Zoe.

The next morning I was up early, Jess was awake at 5:45 and my alarm went off at 6 I had a quick shower where I was joined by Ash and then after doing my hair and make up I went down to find, Jess and Ella eating breakfast in the kitchen.

"Morning."

"Auntie Zoe, when is Sharice coming down?" Jess asked me.

"Shall we go up and get her, we can't be late this morning." I said.

"Yay!"

Waking up Sharice was easier said than done. She was a teenager and it was 6:45 am.

She came down at 7:30 after borrowing some clothes from Ella and having a shower.

"Hey, Ella do you need a lift anywhere? I'm taking Jess to school and Sharice into town. Do you have college or something?" I asked.

"I'd love a lift into town if that's alright. I'm meeting a friend there." Ella replied.

"Of course." I smiled, it was probably a boy, but I wasn't going to embarrass her.

"Can I come shopping?" Jess asked.

"No cheeky! You have to go to school."

"But Sharice and Ella don't."

"That's because Ella has finished school and goes to college and I haven't enrolled Sharice in a school yet."

"Fine."

"Good, now come on lets go get your uniform on."

I dropped Jess at school at 8:30 and then Ella in the town 10 minutes later she went into a coffee shop and sat down with a boy in there, I smiled to myself. I then went on to the council offices to go and meet with the social services.

"Hello, Zoe Hanna here to see Mr Hull." I said to the receptionist.

"Please take a seat, he'll be right out."

Sharice and I took a seat on the cold plastic chair in the waiting room.

"Mrs Hanna."

"Dr or Miss Hanna." I corrected.

"I'm sorry. Please come through." He said directing us to his office, "How can I help you today?"

"Well, 6 years ago I was going to adopt Sharice here after her parents dies but she went to her grandparents instead. Yesterday I came into work, at the hospital, and she was there, her grandparents have died and she ran away from the care home she was placed in. I want to adopt her please."

"Ok Dr Hanna, I can see if that's possible. Have you adopted anyone else before?"

"I am the career for my niece, she lives with myself and my boyfriend and his daughter. We are in the process of being granted custody of her, over her father."

"Right, well looking at your records I can see no reason why you cant but I'm afraid that you will need to foster her for the meantime unless you wish for her to go into a care home again."

"That's fine. Anyway that she can stay with me is perfect."

"Right well let me go and get some paper work."

I was officially the foster career for Sharice, Ash was going to go in after work and sign the papers too.

We would have to wait a few months for the adoption to become official, with home visits and so on. It would become official around the same time that we got granted custody of Jess.

I decided that it was probably time to head into work, I had taken the morning off but I knew I should head in for the afternoon.

"Sharice, I'm going to head into work this afternoon, do you want to come with me or I can leave you in town and you can get some things, ill give you some money?

"Can I come with you? I don't want to be alone yet."

"Course, you may find it a bit boring though. I'll try get someone for you to follow if you would like."

"Do you mind if I just stay in your office, I'm quite tired and my wrists a little sore."

"No worries, I've got an I pad you can use and a sofa with plenty of blankets. I don't get off until about 5 but Ash is leaving at 3 so you are welcome to go with him to get Jess and then to the adoption agency."

"Sure, sounds good."

The day went by and Sharice slept for most of it in my office, she left with Ash at 3 to go and get Jess. When I got home I found Jess, Ella and Sharice all sat in the lounge watching frozen, Jess's new favourite film, eating pizza.

Ash was in the kitchen pouring them drinks.

"Hey! I hope you don't mind. I ordered pizza in." he said as he saw me.

"Are you kidding? Why would I mind?" I laughed kissing him.

"Mmmm, I signed the papers."

I smiled, "We have 3 daughters."

"We do." He smiled back.

This was the first time that we had been alone together for the past few days, well apart from sharing a shower that morning.

We stood there for a bit kissing and enjoying each other's company.

"Once we've got Sharice settled and Ella is used to living here full time then we should go away for a weekend. Just us." He suggested.

"I like the sound of that!" I replied kissing him again.

"Do you think your parents would look after the girls?"

"I'm sure they would. All they have ever wanted is for me to settle down, now I have!"

"Good."

"Oh, I think Ella may have a boyfriend."

"What! Since when?" he exclaimed.

"I saw her this morning in a coffee shop with a guy, he looked nice Ash."

"She's too young for that sort of thing!"

"She's 18! You can't stop her."

"She's still my baby girl."

"And she always will be, she's just growing up." I reassured.

"I guess you're right! Well, we will have to have him round sometime."

"Maybe, lets let Ella decide that shall we. Now I'm starved, any more pizza?"

"I ordered your favourite, Italian sausage and black olive. I know that you always share Jess's sweet corn and ham pizza but this is your favourite one." He said passing me a box with a pizza inside.

"You know me so well Dr Ashford."

"Well I seem to remember a shift about a year ago when you took the team out for pizza afterwards and this being what you ordered."

"Ash! You remembered! I love you so much!" I exclaimed, kissing him again.

"Urgh! Mushy stuff!" Sharice said from the doorway.

"Hey sweetie! How's the film?" I said wiping lipstick from around my mouth.

"I was alright, bit childish though. Jess enjoyed it."

"Ok, well I'm going to have my dinner and put Jess to bed but after that how about we watch a more grown up film?" I suggested.

"Sounds great, can I help?"

"Sure, How about you and Jess go into the playroom and pick out some toys for her to take in the bath?"

"Cool." She said and went off to get Jess, they returned a few moments later to go to the playroom.

"She fits in, doesn't she?" I asked Ash.

"Like a glove." He replied, taking our pizza boxes over to the table along with two glasses of wine.

That evening Jess went to bed easily and loved having Sharice help her get into her pyjamas and read her a story before saying good night. I think Sharice enjoyed it aswell because she felt like part of our family, something I don't think she had felt in a long time.

After she was asleep Sharice and Ella had picked out a film to watch, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. This was a movie that I had brought when Ella had first come to stay. I was yet to watch it.

The movie was ok, but I thought it was rather violent at times, but I guess that's me showing my age! Ash didn't enjoy it but sat there with me resting my head on him.

We went up after the movie had finished at around 9:30, we both had shifts in the morning and we were exhausted. Ella and Sharice wanted to watch some other programme so we left them to it, on the promise that they wouldn't be up too late.

Ash and I undressed and I felt him come up behind me. He stroked a finger up my spine as I unhooked my bra and turned to face him.

"Are you trying to seduce me?" I asked.

"That wouldn't be objected to now would it?" he replied pulling my hips closer towards his waist.

"No, not at all." I tilted my head to the side as he kissed my neck.

"Well then, may I suggest that you join me in our bed?" he offered, putting his forehead against my own.

"I will accept that offer." I said my lips a moment away from touching his. He drew back, leaving me hanging, only to pull me down on top of him moments later. The lights were already out and the only light in the room was coming from the stars in the night sky.

Let me know your thoughts! Please R&R, they mean so much when I get them!