Hello Everyone And Welcome Back!

Here we go again... sorry for taking more than a year again, same ol' story. things have been ard but finally, I got my muse back and hopefully for the better. hope you enjoy this chapter, there is more fun coming up. this is basically an inflection point chapter but there might be a bright future ahead for this awesome family!

Really, love you all, and thanks for always be there reading this story that s by now, really close to my heart!

Please, let me know your thought on the chapter and the story. Any questions, suggestion, comment or review is very welcome and appreciated
If there's any grammatical error, please let me know!

Thank you so much for all the support you have been giving me, I wouldn't be able to do this without you guys! Really, thanks VERY much!

B. M. Adams
Xoxo...

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


Megan's POV

August/18/2010

It was difficult to close my eyes during the night; I knew I had screwed up a good lot last night, and I was more than sure that the morning will not go great either. After what happened last night, I was sure I would go directly and with not stops back to the group home or to another place, that was for sure. Maura did say I wouldn't be going anywhere, but I wasn't that certain. It took me longer than usual to get up. Obviously, I was dreading the moment I had to face Jane and Maura, I knew they were pissed and with all reasons. As always, I acted recklessly, and they were right, if the police would have been involved this story could have been very much different, for the worst. I sighed deeply, knowing it was very unlike for me to go back to sleep any time soon.

I checked my phone and the time read 7:30 am. I stood up and decided to change before going anywhere. I checked my phone and saw quite a few texts from Christina and Garret, and even from Arthur, my parents' lawyer, obviously Jane and Maura had spoke with him, maybe to ask if he knew my whereabouts last night. I was feeling guilty about the whole ordeal and how it went. Even though I was denying the feelings, I knew they cared for me. In these short months I have come to the conclusion that I have been acting out of politeness, that everything I do is because I don't want them to be upset, or anything like that. Every time they say "I love you" I respond just saying simply "too" or something on the same lines, or when the show any kind of affection, I accept it because of the same reasons, I don't want them to be hurt or angry. And that makes me realize I care for them too, I cared about their feelings. Was hard to come to terms with this, because this means that I'm getting attached and that was the first thing on Jannet's list of "Don'ts".

Is this so bad? Is this such a big mistake? Should I just stop and avoid this getting further? I thought to myself. But I knew it wasn't bad. In fact, I was growing fond of that, I was growing fond of their "I love you", their hugs and affection, the way Jane always called me sweetheart. Those little things where the ones that I was missing the most when I learned about my family's death, and while I was at the care home, but finding all these people willing to provide them for me gave me this warm, tingly feeling that I have been longing. I was never a really affectionate person, but when you feel that alone that you think you won't have that again, makes you think in retrospective and appreciate those little things the people that love you do for you. And that is why I was so mortified, because I knew I scare them and make them angry, even hurt them. And that was the point I knew I had fallen for them; I had succumbed to their affection without even noticing it.

I started to read the messages on my phone "Hey, meg! How you are doing?" Garret message read. And that text put a smile to my face for some reason. I simply wrote him back "Hi! I am good, thanks, you?

Moving to the next text, Christina had also written, in her own personal style "How's it going, beach! Xx" I laughed; Christina was this super extrovert that somehow knew how to make everyone feel comfortable around her. I joked in the same way "oh! You know, living the fanta-sea, how you doing?" I wrote back. I did not really want to get into details of what happened, not until I knew what would be happening with me. I knew they would for surely sending me away, they had put up too much with my shit.

The next text was Arthur "Megan, Maura and Jane are worried sick. Come on, don't do this to you and them. They care for you" he wrote. I knew he was worried too, but this confirmed for me that I have really screwed up. I decided to give him a call later today, he deserved an explanation too. He's been taking care of all the things my parents left and always checking on me. He, out of many other people I considered part of my life, in some cases family, has been one of the few that has cared enough to even text. That made me quite mad, that there were so, so many people that could have spared me the bitter sip of the care home and the feelings of loneliness and hurt. I thought at first that the whole group home thing would last not more than a week, someone of the many, many "friends" of my family will take out of that place. Well, time told a different story and being honest to myself, it was for the better.

I decided to go to the balcony to take some fresh air before going down and face the inevitable fate of facing Jane and Maura. I kept on going through my phone, checking social media, and just basically losing time to avoid both women as long as possible. My phone rang suddenly, seeing Christina's name appeared on the phone.

"How's it going, beach" Christina said cheerfully.

"What are you doing up, so early, it's summer" I couldn't stop from laughing at her intents to be funny "You're having fun with your pun lines, aren't you?" I remarked.

"You know, it's the sea-sun" she laughed loudly.

"Come on, shut up, now" chuckling, I said. "So, how are you doing?" I asked her.

"Oh you know, bored as hell in good ol' Boston" she said "Dad is too busy to have some holidays… He is a complete workaholic" she expressed with annoyance in her tone

"You are so dramatic" I joked.

"Said the person that is at the beach, tanning and drinking mojitos" she exclaimed sarcastically.

I laughed at her remarks "Hey, I not drinking mojitos, just lemonade" I teased her.

"Ha, ha, ha, very funny, Eloise" she said, stressing my middle-name.

"How do you know that" I said surprised that she knew that details. I never say my middle-name.

"Just as I know you play piano. Be careful, I have a pretty particular set of skill" Christina said making her voice go deeper.

"Calm down, agent Mills" I taunted her. I could hear her laughing on the other side of the phone. she loves the movie Taken to the point of being annoying at times.

I sighed deeply and rested my elbows on the balcony "I have actually screwed up…pretty bad" I let out. I needed to tell her for some reason. I needed to let this out. I have been hiding my past from them just to avoid the questions. The past always catches up with you one way or another I wanted to nip it in the butt before it nipped me.

"What you mean, what did you do?" she seriously asked understanding that I was meaning no joke here.

"I ran away last night" I blurted out.

"Ok, what you mean by ran way last night" she exclaimed.

"Well, technically didn't ran away, I left the house for hours and didn't told anyone that I was going out or where I was" I explained.

"Well, I mean, you probably are ging to be grounded until you are 18, but it doesn't seem to be a live or death situation" she truthfully said.

"It isn't life or death, but this stunt could send me very far" I said.

"Ok, again, what you mean, you are scaring me now, Megan" she exclaimed worried.

"This is a long story so, sit down…and I'll try to be as concise as I can, all questions can be asked at the end, got it" I explained.

"OK" she simply responded.

"So, on December last year my parents died in a plan crash and I ended up in group home, which is basically a very nice term for a place were social services put kids to wait until someone, or anyone to come for them until they are old enough to leave on their own. There was where I met Jane and Maura…" I said but was interrupted.

"That explain why they are you parents and not mom or whatever" she commented more to her own understanding of the facts I was giving.

"Pretty much. So, back to the story. I lived there for 6 months, in which I basically only did chores, had a governess, that wasn't that bad though, but the dean was the rudest, most insolent person ever. There I screwed purposely many interviews of people that wanted to foster me simply because I didn't wanted to live with any strangers, and the fact that a lot of people get foster kids because the state pays them, I was basically a pay check for them and didn't want to feel like that, I had already felt shitty enough to throw myself to that…" I stopped for a second, trying to find the correct words to say the following, and looking at the horizon said "And one good day, Maura and Jane appeared at the group home, both smiling genuinely and with this aura of kindness and warmth that invited closeness, and familiarity…" I just stopped, a sense of sadness suddenly punching me in the gut. I didn't want to lose that; I didn't want to lose them. "And well, since mid-May I have been living with them, and well, they are honestly amazing people, but I think after this little stunt of mine, I'm out of here. I don't…don't think they want to put up with more of my shit, they have already two awesome kids and the option to stop worrying about someone else's unruly, troublesome teenager" I told her, feeling a huge lump firming in the back of my throat.

Silence fell over the conversation; I could only hear her softly breathing. "Do you want me to be honest?" she said after a few seconds.

"That be much appreciated" I responded.

"First of all, I am really, really sorry about your family. I understand how it feels to lose someone you love. And second, I know you are scared because of what you did but I don't think they would just send you away like that" she reassured me.

I exhaled loudly "I want to believe that, though" I said.

The line felt silent again for a few seconds before Christina spoke again "I don't know your reasons, Meg, but what you did had a reason, speak with them. They sound reasonable and nice so, I wouldn't be so distressed, be honest with them. Is all I can say. I don't know what you've gone through, but I can say you're not just dumbass teenager" she truthfully said "I'm sure you're an ass, but in a good way" she joked

"Thanks, I just …" I started to say but was interrupted by a knock on the door "Someone is knocking on the door; I'll talk to you later if I'm alive by then" I said. Christina laughed saying goodbye quickly, hanging up. "Come in" I said loud enough t be her but in a very timid way, knowing those would be Jane and Maura.

They appeared from the door threshold and sat down on my still unmade bed "Morning, sweetheart" Jane said patting the spot in the bed between the both of them, inviting me to sit down.

I looked down and slowly walked towards the bed and sat between them, never adverting my sight from the floor. I was avoiding looking at them while I could feel their piercing gazes directed towards me.


Maura's P.O.V

Jane and I had woken up earlier than what we would have wanted. But we wanted to speak with Megan before Lily and Lucas woke up to avoid distractions and any interruptions. We wanted to let Megan know that what she did was wrong and unacceptable, running alone outside and at night-time is dangerous and even though she had a motive, it was no excuse to just leave the house like that. However, she was scared, she thought that we would send her way and that was something we wanted to make clear, that it doesn't matter how hard or complicated things get, we would never send her away, she needed to also know that this was her family, not only the people she lives with for now until they get annoyed by her but the place she could make mistake and amend them knowing that we all will lover thought it all.

I got dressed and then woke Jane up after I got ready, she also got dress rather quickly while I was making the bed. I opened the doors of the balcony to ventilate the room and heard Megan's voice talking to someone on the phone. I debated myself between listening to what she was saying or of just close the doors and respect her privacy, but then I heard that she was recalling last night's events and my curiosity got the best of me. I hear how worried she was of us sending her away, thing that made me think we needed to be as clear as possible that, that scenario was not even a glimpse of a possibility. I didn't feel particularly proud of eavesdrop on her conversation, I knew it was wrong of me to do so, but her words hold so much emotion and distress.

Then, Jane came behind me "Whatcha doing? She asked, hugging me from behind and resting her chin on the crook of my neck.

"Ssssh…listen" I simply said. Both of us listen intently to what Megan was saying and she was evidently mortified and scared. I looked at Jane, whose eyes, just as mine, were glassy due to the tears we were holding. Her words made us realize how much reassurance she needs, how much more love she is longing. We then knew that in our approach to this conversation should prevail the fact that she did still belong to this family and that wouldn't change. However, we needed to make clear that this habit of her of running away needed to stop immediately.

"I think we should go and get this conversation out of our way" Jane proposed.

I sighed deeply "Yes, we should" I said and we both walked towards Megan's room and knocked on the door. We waited a few seconds until she cleared us to come in.

Jane said good morning while both of us sat down on her bed. She was standing under the doorframe expectant of our movements. Jane patted the space on the bed between us, inviting Megan to sit in the middle. I removed some hair from her face and placed it behind her ear "Honey, we just wanted to talk to you before the kids woke up" I introduced, looking at Jane.

"We wanted to address what happened last night" she said and paused, looking intently to the girls, trying to read her, but failing as Megan had her eyes glued to the same spot on the floor. "The first thing we want to say is we understand…we understand what you are feeling and how much all those feelings might hurt" she continued "And is ok to feel anything you are feeling"

"Megan, there is something you said last night that I think we should address too" I said, looking at Jane, who took the girl's hand. "I would love for you to look at me when I say this" I softly said. Gently I took her chin and lift her face for her to look at me. She girls' eyes looked empty and sorrowful "The fact that you make mistakes and things you are no supposed to do is bound to happen, you are a teenager. And we are here to guide you, to teach you and love you through it" I paused looking at her trying to see any changes on her expression without success "There is going to be a day that making the wrong choices won't look as bad and you would trust us, this family we are all part us and no matter how hard things get, we will be here through it all" I reassured, noticing slight sparkle coming to life in her eyes.

Jane then started talking, adverting Megan's attention to her "And part of that teaching and guidance means that your choices have consequences. We need to know that in a near future you will make the right choices. As for this particular time, you will have to be under our watch at every moment. You will need to win back our trust and we need to make sure you are safe at all times. Any of us want anything bad happening to you and running around at nights is dangerous enough to make us worry" Jane explained.

"Megan, what we want you to understand is that what you did was very dangerous and could have jeopardized your stay with us, that is the least we want. So I hope this is the last time you go and leave on your own and without telling anything to us" I sternly said "Whenever you are feeling like doing such an impulsive thing, you come to us and we will help you. We would never turn you down. We understand that It hurts still that your family is gone, we understand that you miss them, and that's only normal. Sweetheart, it possibly won't stop hurting, but that is why we are here for, to help you in every step of the way" I heartfully said.

"And just as you have to earn our trust back, we want to earn your trust, too, and make sure you know we are here for you. If not us, there is my mother, my brothers, even Frost, Korsak, and Mom's parents. We are all here for you, and that is something you will have to realize. We are all here for the long run" Jane chimed in.

The girl nodded vehemently "I…I'm just sorry" she managed to utter.

"We know, and that's why we want you to come to us if you feel like is it too much" Jane said, taking another stranded hair from her face while she faced down back to floor. "If you want, later this week we can go back to the house, if you feel like going back there" Jane commented.

She then lifted her face again "Would-would you do that?" she questioned, looking mindfully at Jane.

Jane smiled "sweetheart, we would do anything for you" she said, grabbing the face of the girl gently in her hands and kissing her forehead. Jane lingered he kiss a little bit longer and then we stood up. The girl stood up and yawned on her way to the door. I figured that she didn't get much sleep last night. I looked at Jane and she nodded, making me understand that she had seen it too.

"Why don't you and I stay here and sleep a bit more. It is really early" Jane exclaimed.

"Don't worry, I'm fine. Don't want to hold you back" she whispered.

"Come on, you need to rest, Megan" Jane said.

Megan looked at me like looking for approval "Go on, you need the rest. I will come and get you in a little" I said on my way out, leaving the room and closing the door.


Jane's POV

We then laid down on the bed in complete silence and within a couple of minutes, the girl was out cold. I replayed the conversation in my head for a while and hoping for all the things we said would make her understand that this was not so much of a temporary thing and we were here for the long run. I knew it was hard. Being so young and having experienced so much pain and so many changes all at once, with the uncertainty of an unknown future, and not having anyone to hold you when everything is too much to handle on your own. Watching her steady breathing and at peace was comforting.

Throughout our conversation, it was obvious the girl was waging an internal battle with her own feelings and thoughts. A battle that obviously was hurting her. Maura's concerns about Megan bottling her feelings were right. I knew that eavesdropping on her conversation on the phone was wrong, but otherwise, she wouldn't have told us all those things she said and that meant she didn't fully trust us, a thing that needed to change and we hoped that this would be that inflection point for her to start understanding that she has people that care for her very much.

While I was going through everything that had happened this morning, Megan started to shift in her sleep and snuggling up to me. I could only wrap her with my arm and kiss her temple, letting myself succumb to the sleep, too. After a little while, Maura came and woke us up, announcing that Breakfast was ready.