Hello and Welcome everyone!

Well, my muse finally came back and I hope she doesn't go away again! Sorry for the late update, I'm still on the adjustment process and to be honest it haven't been easy but I'm getting better, hopefully. I hope this chapter worht the wait and i hope to post one more next week. I have an announcement, I'll be going to the US soon so updates might be a little late but I promise to post!

Thanks for being there and for all the support, I can't do this without you.

Please, let me know your thoughts. Any suggestion, comment, review, question is very much welcome and appreciated
If there's any grammatical error, please, let me know!

B. M. Adams

Disclaimer:I do not own anything from R&I, just the plot and OCs


Megan's POV

"I don't know if I want to go with them" I said, hiding my face on my pillow.

"What do you mean, you don't know!? Are you nuts!?" Jannet snapped at me, we've been talking about the interview and according to her it went perfect and they were so. She specially loved the fact that they were a homosexual couple, that meant that there were no abusive foster fathers to be worry about.

I raised my head from the pillow "Do I have to explain the whole thing again?" I said, raising an eyebrow.

"Please, don't! I just can't get that a nice couple want to foster you, and they even gave you the option, which I may say is super cool, and you still don't know if you're going with them. If you don't go with them, you are indeed nuts" Jannet voiced, trying to convince me of going with Jane and Maura. Even though I was hesitant about it, she was right; they were noble giving me the chance to choose and for more I didn't want to admit, I liked them. "You're really frustrating, you know?" she concluded, smirking at me.

I chuckled softly and remained silent for a little while, until Jannet broke the silence "Seriously, I think you should think about going with them" she said on a serious tone

I noticed the tone of her voice, raised from the bed and looked puzzled at her "Why are you so sure?"

"I've been in this pit enough to know two things. One, build a wall and don let anybody in and Two, if you can get out of here, do it! You have that option. Go!" she said, not leaving room for arguments.

"I'll think about it" I simply said sighing deeply, once again sinking on the lumpy mattress.

"You most" said exclaimed "Night, grumpy pants" she finished and tuned on the bed, facing the wall and falling asleep.

I ended up lying in bed, looking at the ceiling; my mind was running and could stop thinking. I was Confused, I did want to go with them, but right after that thoughts always a wave of guilt hit me, the tightness in my chest grew bigger with each passing minute, with every tick of the clock I felt more and more anxious and confused for I felt like a traitor, every time I closed my eyes I could see the disappointment in my mom's eyes and the betrayed on my dad's, I could even feel my sister's hurt because of my decision. My mind and heart were a bag of mixed emotions that I couldn't comprehend; these past hours have left my senseless. I laid in bed imagine those many smiles with used to share and those nights laying on the grass of the backyard looking at the stars and now I just see myself alone, hurt, confused and somehow hopeless. That night I ended up falling to a restless sleep somewhere around 3 am.


I was in my house; everything was exactly like I left it on December. I started to walk passed the hallway to the leaving room, I wasn't walking, and I felt more like levitating throughout the house. "I can see you're pretty confused, princess" a voice said behind my back; I closed my eyes and gather some strength, I sudden wave of sadness came to me because the only one who called my princess was my mom. I immediately turned towards the voice, I gasped when I saw my mother sitting on the couch with a cup of tea, just like she used to. I tried to run to her arms but I couldn't move. Tears started to rolled down my cheeks like a waterfall, I felt like if I was tied up, I also tried to scream but nothing came out of my mouth; I just cried.

She took another sip from the steamy, hot cup of tea and place it on the coffee table in front of the couch "You don't have to worry for us, we are ok" she said and caressed my cheek making my cry even harder than before "There's not need to cry, baby" she smiled her beautiful smile and wiped the tears out of my cheeks. "I know this is hard, but you have to think for you, not for us, we aren't here anymore, but you are and you cannot waste your time, it's too precious, my love" once again she wiped the tears falling from my eyes and started to rubbed my upper arms "We will love you no matter what, baby" there was a silence for a few minutes, we just looked at each other's eyes, she held my hands the whole time just smiling at me, her eyes sparkled as warmly as their used to in those chill fall afternoons, in which we sat on the chaise-longues of the pool reading and just enjoying the afternoon and the company we gave to each other "You will always be our baby, never forget that….Nothing can change that. But as someone who loved you like no one ever have, I have to let you go and tell you to enjoy what is ahead and to open up your heart to love, because if you can't love, there no way to live… now, follow your heart and give love a change, you won't regret it. Goodbye, baby girl" she said cupping my face on her hands, kissing my forehead for a few second and embracing me like when I was a kid, my head pressed against her chest, the beating of her heart soothing me and her arms protecting me from whatever was outside her warmth "I love you, princess".

I wanted to tell her that I loved her too and tell her to stay but after she let go of me, everything went black. I woke up on the floor of the piano room and like I was a puppet, I levitated from the floor to the piano stool and sat on it, my hand directly went to the keys and start to play a song I couldn't recognize at first but after a few second I knew it was 'You raise my up' by Josh Groban, song that I learnt to play for a gift for my parent's 20th wedding anniversary. While song was playing I stared at the keys and my fingers moving smoothly by them. I listen to the music intently and let myself to be immersed in it until a wrong note brought my back to reality.


I woke up sweeting around 5 am, not much before my alarm went off, I was breathing rapidly and my heart was pounding against my chest 'Calm you down, meg, you're at the verge of a panic attack' I said to myself, trying to regulate my breathing remembering my mom's heartbeat, that thought made my eyes instantly burn with tears I didn't want to let fall but inevitably they fell. I touched my right cheek, where my mom placed the kiss on the dream. It felt too real, I'd swear that my mom was really there talking to me. Her words where dancing on my mind and I knew what she meant with them, but even though I wasn't sure if going with Jane and Maura was the right thing to do, because I couldn't come to terms with my own mind and feelings.

After I could regulate my breathing I got up and went to the bathroom and turned the spray on looking for the warmth of the water. Under it let the hot water wash the tension away from my body. I stood there for a while until a loud knock on the door startle me. "Come on, Megan. You're not a fish, you don't need that much water!" the voice said, I recognize the nasal voice tone of Kara's, she kept on knocking until I screamed "Give me 5 minutes".

She groaned and left. Quickly I got dress and when to the room, Jannet was just getting up. "You look awful" the girl said, smoothing her curls that were tangled from the bed.

"Thanks, that what everyone wants to hear first thing in the morning" I said annoyed and rolling my eyes at her while I was ordering my thing and making my bed.

"Ok, that wasn't wat I wanted to say, I meant that you look like you haven't sleep" she said, sound concerned and getting up from her bed, picking her towel, clothes and toothbrush.

I sighed and nodded without looking at Jannet. "I bet you've being thinking about whether going with them or not… Hate me, but I think you should" she said and left the room, heading to the bathroom.

One again that left me thinking why it was so difficult for me to make this decision, I was scared, beyond scared for that matter, I didn't want to be let down. I sighed resignedly walking down the stair and going into the kitchen, it was my time to make breakfast. Kara was probably still on the bathroom so I stared alone. I started placing the bread on a line and spreading them with cream cheese, when I was almost down Kara entered "What do I do" she simply said, opening the fridge and taking the water pitcher and serving herself a cup.

"Mmm... You can add the ham to the sandwiches" I said.

She threw the cup on the sink and lazily went to the fridge to take the ham and started to add it to the breakfast. "Hey!, I heard that you got and offer" Kara suddenly said while she finished the sandwiches.

"I…Yep" I simply said, trying to avoid another probable lecture, this time from Kara.

"And so I heard that you are considering not going with them… In my opinion, you should go" she said, not turning to look at me and carrying the tray full of sandwiches out of the kitchen and towards the now crowded table.

I sighed and leant against the kitchen counter thinking, once again about that question. Why was everyone so sure about what I should do but I was so confused and unsure about it? I stood there until one of the girls called to come to the table. I ate a few bites of the sandwich and excused myself. Running upstairs; I entered to the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face; looking at my reflection on the mirror 'Are you seriously going to do this? You better be sure' I thought to myself and drying my face with a cloth I went out of the bathroom not so sure about my decision.


Maura's POV

Jane parked the car and with her hand still on the steering wheel she turned to me "How are we going to explain this to the kids and our families" Jane asked, kind of worried about the reactions, everyone knew that we will foster a child not a teenager.

"I told you that we should have let them know before we meet her, but you insisted" I replied, remembering our conversation a few night prior to interview in which I clearly said that we should inform everyone in case we decided to bring Megan home. But of course, Jane insisted on don't tell just yet because it wasn't a sure thing.

"I know you said that but we never anticipated like her that much; at least, I didn't, though" Jane said with an apologetic look on her deep brown, sparkly eyes.

I sighed and rubbed my forehead "Well none of us did, neither could I anticipated that we will asker to come to live with us" I breathed deeply and turned to see my wife directly "I know this will be a change but I think she's a nice young lady and the kids probably will love to have someone to gang on us" I said smiling at her.

Jane chuckled "You mean gang up on us" smiling brightly and laughing she said, whilst I rolled my eyes at her, making her laugh lauder "And Yeah, I don't think I like that and I know you won't either" she finished

I laughed and shook my head "well, yes that might not be the best part, but if she decides to come with us, and I'm willing guess that we will have a lot of fun" I said hopefully

Jane looked lovingly into my eyes "oh! You bet" she said. We both got down of the car and entered into the house. Jane mother, Angela was with the kids and knew about the interview, she saw us coming in and immediately ran to us.

"So, how it went? Tell me about the little girl" she asked eagerly.

"It went pretty good, and… well the thing had might change a bit" Jane said, waiting for the avalanche of question her mother will probably ask.

Angela looked at us puzzled and furrowed her brow "What do you mean. You won't foster anymore" she asked.

"No Angela, we are indeed fostering a kid" I said, looking at Jane "But we meet a teenage girl, Megan, who we think that she might be the perfect fit" I said.

Angela looked socked, she imagine another little kid running around the house, she evidently she didn't expected this at all, but after a few seconds her features soften and her eyes looked lovingly at us, she held one hand of each one of use "Well, you know what you're doing and I know this girl most be amazing for you to speak of her like a perfect match" she said, her eyes sparkling with true happiness for us.

"She is, though" Jane said right after her mother finished.

"So, when this amazing young lady is coming" Angela asked excitedly.

Jane looked at me and then spoke to her mother "We don't know if she's coming… yet!" Jane said hesitant, knowing that the last statement will bring more questions up than answers to her sometimes-pretty-nosy Mother.

"What do you mean, Janie?" she asked confused.

Jane sighed "She is a teenager and we felt she was hesitant and kind of scared, we didn't want to make her more uncomfortable than she was, so we gave her the option to come with us or not" Jane explained

Angela look sympathetically at us with a small smile on her lips "That's very noble from you, girl…I want to believe that she'll see your action as a truth act and she will say yes, I hope, at least" the older woman said.

Jane and I, both smiled widely and Jane hug her mother for a few second mumbling a barely audible 'thank you' in her mother's ear. She separated from her and I did the same, I hug her and said thank you. She has been beyond comprehensive with all this and had supported from the very beginning and this made me sad sometimes because when my parents new about the fostering the just said 'congrats' and both excused themselves, hanging up the phone right after. I hope that when they finally meet Megan, they will be more warm and welcoming than what they were on the phone. They acted like it didn't matter, like it wasn't a big deal, but it was a big deal; a huge deal in fact.

After I let go of Angela we heard little footsteps running down the stairs. "Mama" Lily screamed and jumped into Jane's arms while Lucas came to me and hugged me.

"How was your day, lovelies?" I asked, kissing Lucas' temple and giving another in Lily's cheek.

"Good! We did coloring today at school" Lily said excitedly.

Jane smiled lovingly at Lily's innocence and happiness "That's great, baby! I'm dying to see those pictures of yours" Jane exclaimed "And you, little man? Was school fun?" Jane asked Lucas, who was fairly silent, something pretty unlike on him; He is all his mother and he inherit that amazing, but annoying at times, quality of speak non-stop.

Lucas shrugged "Fine. It's school, there's nothing fun about it" he said and let go of me, standing in between Jane and I, I looked at him horrifies and Jane was at the verge of a fit of giggles.

"I have to disagree with you, young man, school can be really fun. You get to study science and math, history, literature and many other subjects. School seems really funny to me" I said convinced that my arguments will be good enough for him, who was standing, looking at me with one of his eyebrows raised.

"Yeah, those weren't good arguments, honey" Jane said joking, smirking at me, making both kids laugh.

I rolled my eyes at her and slapped her forearm playfully. Jane placed Lily on the floor and before we could say anything else Angela said that she had leave to run some errands, she kissed everyone's cheek, said her goodbyes and left.

We were left alone; I looked at my watch and noticed we had plenty of time before dinner so we needed to put the kids onboard of the new situation about the fostering.

"Well kids, we have something we need to talk about" Jane said leading all of us to the leaving room. We all sit on the couch "You know that today we went to the group home to meet this girl that probable will come to live with us, right?" Jane said.

Both kids nodded. "We are having sister?" Lily asked excitedly, looking at my wife with her big, hazel sparkling eyes.

"It's a possibility, yes" I said "She has to decide if she wants come with us"

"And what's her name" Lucas asked shyly.

"Her name is Megan" I said and looked at Jane, who started to speak about her "And she's fifteen, she loves sports and plays the piano and the guitar and maybe she could teach you guys, isn't it that cool" She said, trying to encourage the kids to like her and welcome her

A hint of worry could be seen on Lucas sharp features "She's gonna be older, I thought that I would still be the man" he said sadly.

"Oh! Baby, you will always be the man, she might be older but you are out man is you and that won't change" I said, cupping his face with my hands, reassuring him that he'll be the man.

"I think I she sounds nice, when is she coming?" Lily asked hopefully.

Jane placed her hand on Lily's little knees "Well, cutie, she has to decide that, but maybe in a few days we'll know if she's coming" Jane said. The girl nodded eagerly, satisfied with her mother's answer and smiled sweetly at her.

We spoke for a few while about school and other thing, until dinner time came and we started to prepper dinner all together, the night was lovely and calm, the kids were easy to bath and put to bed.

Both Jane and I tucked Lily in and were about to do the seam with Lucas, but Jane received a call from work and had to answer it, so I went to Lucas' room to tuck him in. I knocked soft on the door "Hello, little man" I said while entering into the room and walking towards his bed "Ready to drift off to sleep?" I asked him, smiling.

He nodded softly, his eyelids beginning to close "Yep" he just said.

I smiled sweetly at him and pulled the cover up to his chin. "I just want you to know that I want to meet Megan and I don't care not being the oldest anymore" he said almost asleep.

I couldn't help but smile widely and give him a kiss on the forehead "You have no idea of how happy you have made me and how happy you'll make Mama" I said "Goodnight, my love. I love you" kissing him once again on the forehead. "Night, Mommy. Love you too" he mumbled half asleep.

I got out of the room, turning the lights off and half-closing the door. I saw Jane coming towards me "No troubles with Luc?" she asked me.

I shook my head "But he said He wants to meet Megan" I said excitedly and smiling brightly.

"That's great, now it's just a matter of Megan, to decide if she's coming" Jane said, worry filling her words.

I sighed "I hope she says yes" I said, hugging Jane, gabbing her by the waist and resting my head on her chest, while she wrapped my on her strong but soft and loving arms.

"My too, baby" Jane said, kissing my temple "I really want her to say yes" I looked into her eyes and saw that hopeful sparkle on her eyes that spoke of so much love.

"I love you, baby" I said, placing my head back on her chest.

"I love you too, Maur" Jane said and leaded me to our room.