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Hope you enjoy this chapter. I think this is a very important chapter, I hope I have made justice to the situation.

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B. M. Adams

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


Maura's POV

04/12/2010

I woke up feeling anxious and excited, I wanted to ask her straight away. And wanted dearly to celebrate she is permanently staying with us. I was aware we still needed to go through all the bureaucratic process, but knowing she wanted to be here with us forever, made anything worth doing.

Jane and I got ready and tried to act as casual and normal as possible, we didn't want any of the kids to notice our anxieties about this. We told the kids Angela had found this soft play place and she wanted to take them there, knowing Megan had finals and the Christmas play soon, she most likely wanted to stay home and do her stuff. It was around 9:30 am, and we hadn't seen Megan yet. It would be strange behaviour for the teenager if it wasn't for the fact that she spent 10 hours inside the school building for almost the entire week dealing with classes and rehearsals. She was exhausted and it was understandable.

Lucas was doing his homework on the kitchen counter and Lily was playing with her building blocks on the floor. Jane was reading the newspaper and sipping on her coffee absentmindedly and I was just standing, leaning against the kitchen counter with a cup of coffee as well, enjoying watching them doing their own things. It was really awe-inspiring how much Lily and Lucas have grown, they were still very much kids but didn't need us 24/7 on their side. There was him, so grown up, doing his own math homework and there she was, playing and resolving her own 5-year-old kids' problems with building blocks. It was both sad that they were growing up so quickly, and so beautiful to see them grow, flourish and thrive on their own. I couldn't be more proud of my kids, the three of them.

I was brought back to reality at the sight of a messy-haired teenager, rubbing her eyes and coming into the kitchen still in her pajamas "Morning, sleeping beauty" Jane said, standing up from her chair to greet the girl.

"Morning" Megan mouthed, ruffling her hair and seating on one of the kitchen stools, resting her head in her hands. The girls were more asleep than awake. Both kids said morning to her but kept on doing their own things.

I walked toward her and gave her a kiss on top of her head "You can keep on sleeping, you know" I said.

She nodded "I know, but I have a ton of crap to do," She said with her eyes closed and rubbing her whole and getting down the stool to attempt to prepare herself something for breakfast. I

"Stay there, sweetheart," Jane said, "What would you like to have for breakfast," She asked the girl, who was now back on the stool. I stayed next to her, caressing her hair "Would you like some tea?" I asked her.

She remained silent for a little longer. "Some coffee would actually help today," She said smirking, knowing that she wasn't regularly allowed to drink coffee.

I laughed and kissed her head "Only today, ok" I said, getting next to Jane, who was about to brew some coffee for her. "A little milk and no sugar, right?" I asked. The girls smiled and nodded "Yes, please".

"You have the face of someone that would like scrambled eggs and toast" Jane joked.

Megan laughed "I would," she said, nodding and making a pouty face.

Laughed and gave the teenager the cup "Here you go sweetheart" I said leaving the cup on a coaster next to her.

"Thank you, Maura," She said, grabbing the warm cup in between her hands, and giving it a sip.

"Mom I also want scrambled eggs" Lucas then chimed in, followed by Lily, who wanted to join the party "Me too, Mommy" she happily squealed.

"Hey!, you two already had breakfast" Megan joked.

"And how do you know?" Lucas questioned playfully, looking at Megan and pointing at her with a colour pencil.

Megan turned to him and took the colour pencil from his hand "My brain might be mush, kid, but I can still smell grilled cheese sandwiches". She winked her eye at Lucas, trying to be menacing but only making the kid laugh at her comment. I laughed and Jane did as well. This was what I wanted to wake up every day to. I couldn't be any more sure that Megan was the piece in our family that we didn't know was missing.

"Ok, ok, before you start a Jedi battle, here," Jane said with a smile, she placed a plate in front of Megan and two smaller plates for Lucas and Lily. "Come on troops, eat up, Nonna is coming in shortly to take you somewhere" Jane then said to the smaller kids.

"Ooh! Where are you going?" Megan asked then.

"I don't know Nonna said it was a surprise," Lucas said while he kept eating his scrambled eggs a little too fast.

I stopped drinking my coffee "Lucas, don't eat so fast. Your stomach while hurt" I coaxed the kid, who started eating a little more mindfully this time.

"My ma found this soft play- jungle gym kinda place and wants to take the kids today. If you are up to it, you can join them" Jane explained and asked the teenager, knowing she had exams and the idea of going to a kid's park was not really appealing for 16 years old.

"No thanks" She laughed, before sipping her coffee "I have a math exam on Monday, and things are not looking too bright," she said and kept eating her breakfast.

"Come on, you'll do great," Jane said patting her shoulder "I believe in you" Jane reassured the girl. Jane sat down at the table and started to read the newspaper again.

"Yeah, keep that faith" she chuckled. I could only laugh at their interaction while absentmindedly sipping on my cup of coffee.

"You finished, baby girl," I said to Lily as she passed me her plate. "Good, now, you and I are going to go change, Nonna is about to arrive," I said, going towards her and holding her in my arms, the girl happily obliged "Luc, please, when you finish go up and get dressed". I then said to Lucas who was about to finish.

"Yes, Mommy," He said jumping down the stool and leaving his plate in the sink. He then walked with us upstairs.

I dressed her up and she was ready within 20 Minutes, and surprisingly Lucas was already downstairs watching some cartoons. "No fighting over the remote, ok?" I told them. Both kids nodded and left them on the couch and went to the kitchen, to find only Jane on the table.

"Where's Megan," I asked Jane, walking towards the fridge to grab a glass of water.

"She put the dishwasher on and went to her room. I can only assume to study…or to be on her phone". I nodded and sipped the cold water.

"So, when are doing… the thing," Jane said, trying to be cautious and not give any giveaways of what we were going to ask Megan.

It took a few seconds to come up with an answer "Well, perhaps let's give her a little time. When your mother has taken the kids, we can approach her then" I suggested.

Jane nodded "Ok" she simply said. Jane took a deep breath; I knew she was just as anxious as I was to ask her. She wanted to say something else, but the doorbell rang.

Jane stood up and went to open the door. The kids ran to her grandma, who happily greet them. "How are my beautiful babies" she exclaimed, giving each kid a big hug and a kiss.

"And where is the third baby?" Angela asked, referring to Megan. I smiled at the fact that everyone in the family casually mention Megan as part of the family.

"She's upstairs, stressing over a math exam" Jane joked.

Angela passed by us "None sense!" She said approaching the stairs "Megan, come down now and give me a kiss before I leave" Angela yelled from the bottom of the stairs.

"Ma!" Jane scolded. Her eyes widened. I just laughed, even though Jane wanted to keep everything as normal as possible so anyone would suspect anything, this was not odd behavior for Angela.

Angela waved Jane's words. Suddenly we hear stomping coming from the upper floor and then coming down the stairs. The girls ran down the stairs and hugged the older woman. Jane and I were taken aback, for Megan to give hugs was like pulling teeth. At least to give them to us.

"So, you hug my mom just like that, and I have to steal hugs from you. I am offended" Jane bemoaned, pretending to be offended.

Angela and Megan looked at each other "Don't answer, trick question that it" Megan whispered to Angela.

They both laugh and I did too, even the kids laughed. Jane kept her role of being offended "You're hurting my feelings" she dramatically said.

"Grow up darling," Angela said, passing by us and patting Jane's arm. "Ok, kids, let's go," Angela said, opening the door and saying goodbye to the three of us.

Megan said goodbye as well and was about to go up the stairs to her room again "Sweetheart, can we… have a talk" I said, the girl stopping dead in her track.

She turned around and started to descend the stairs slowly, looking puzzled "Sure, what's up?" she said, trying to appear casual, however, we could see past that façade. Megan used to do that, in a very much Jane style, she minimizes when she feels scared or unsure with casualty and/or humour.

"Why don't we go to the living room?" I suggested, looking at Jane, who softly nodded and led the way.

Megan went poker-faced, and a hind of fear crossed her fear. I was feeling bad that we were putting her through this stress. I wanted to rip it like a band-aid and get this done quickly so I placed my hand on the small of her back and nudge her a little bit, inviting her to walk towards the living room. She sat down on the armchair next to the sofa, and Jane and I sat on the sofa, facing the girl.

"So, what's going on? you two been acting weird since last night," The girl said after a few seconds of silence, her forehead creased, and eyebrows furrowed.

I took Jane's hand in mine, looking for some strength to begin "Well, sweetheart, Trish called yesterday" I said, trying to dose the information in manageable chunks for us to explain and to not overwhelm Megan with too much all at once.

"Oh" Was the only thing that came out of Megan.

"She told us that there is a family that wants to adopt you" Jane followed after. The girl's mouth parted a little at the information, but she remained stone-cold. "Trish said they are a nice couple" Jane then explained.

I tried reading Megan, but her expression was blank. "He is a geography professor at University, and she is a piano teacher" I continued "Trish mentioned that they have adopted before and have a big house in the countryside, so they have lots of space and their daughter is older and living on her own, so you would be the main priority, and of course, she could teach you so much more on the piano…" I mentioned, trying to paint a full picture for her.

"Ok," Megan simply replied, still stone-faced "So…when are they…" She tried to say something but trailed off.

Jane looked at me and smiled a small smile, she then moved to sit on the coffee table and grabbed Megan's left hand in hers "Actually…" She started "There is another family that would love to adopt you," Jane said in a soft and sweet voice, she then turned to me. I mirrored her move and took Megan's right hand in mines. Her features softened and she squinted her eyes for a second and then raised a single eyebrow, puzzled about the direction our conversation was taking. I could read some intrigue and anticipation about what we were going to say next.

"This other family is a little busier and more hectic, they have two small kids that love roughhousing around," I said, this time I couldn't hide the smile forming on my face.

"And there is a loud and rowdy extended family, so not much peace and calm" Jane added, she was smiling as well.

The girl looked down, at her legs for a little bit and then looked back toward us, with a neutral expression, but her eyes were shimmering "I'm gonna take a wild guess here" She stated. Jane couldn't take her eyes off the girl, waiting for what she was going to say next. "The other parents have busier lives," She said. Both Jane and I nodded, we knew she could have easily inferred that the other family was us "And they have very demanding jobs" She added "And haven't adopted yet, but they are great and are implying they want to adopt me?" she concluded. Jane and I looked at each other and took our free hands in each other before adamantly nodding our heads affirmatively.

"Only if you want to, sweetheart," Jane said wholeheartedly.

Megan gave a tight smile "You…you want to adopt me? She drew her eyebrows together. She questioned it more for confirmation than because she was unsure if we had really asked her if we wanted to adopt her.

I enveloped her hand in both mine hands "We would be honored if you would stay with us, my love" I could feel my smile growing bigger and my eyes starting to well up a little. Jane was the same, expectant of what she would say. She was debating internally with herself how to respond.

"Is everyone ok with this?" she then asked, genuinely concerned about that.

"Well, the only one that knows right now is my Ma," Jane said smiling.

Megan chuckled "That explains," she said. Both Jane and I laughed as well. Angela was really eager to finally call Megan her granddaughter, even though she already considered her granddaughter.

"But we are sure everyone will be thrilled. You don't need to worry about that, " I said, reassuringly smiling.

A few minutes passed but anyone said anything, Megan was still internalizing what was happening "I'm going to tell you this" Jane said, "The day of the shooting I was scared" She admitted "I was scared when I saw Frankie bleeding. I was scared of not knowing if Maura was safe" She continued. Jane sighed "When I saw you down at the morgue, I felt I kind of panic I had never felt before. And when I finally found Maura she was just as scared as I was, but not for ourselves, but because we knew we needed to get you out of there safe" she confessed. I nodded along, letting the girl know that she was indeed right. What we felt was not easily described, it was a mix of panic, fear, anguish, terror, and anxiety, among many emotions all at once at the same time.

"What I mean is, we would love for you to stay with us, and we both hope you do, we deeply love you. But even if you choose to go with the other couple, we would always be there for you, to make sure you are safe and happy" Jane heartfeltly explained. We were in the same spot sentimentally speaking, and she perfectly explained what we felt about her and the fact that we would be by her side no matter what.

The girl kept on looking at her legs, still silent "What are you thinking, sweetie?" I asked her.

Megan gave a small smile "I…I just…I just don't want to create more problems" She said, both of us were unsure of what she meant.

"What do you mean, sweetheart?" Jane curiously asked.

The girl bit her lip "With the whole shooting thing, I just don't want for a judge to then rule against you guys. Even though I want to stay, there is a possibility that I'm taken away anyways…I…" She trailed off.

I approached the girl and with one finger I lifted her chin "Sweetheart, that is not something you have to worry about, let us deal with that in due course, ok?" I reassured her.

"Mom is right," Jane said, "We will deal with that if we come to that situation. But be totally sure that no one will take away from us," she said.

I smiled at the girl, whose eyes we glossy but happy and full of hopefulness "So, what do you say, sweets, would you complete this crazy family?" I ask her, smiling brightly.

The chuckled and nodded "Yes…that…that sounds great" she replied with a grin on her face and finally lifted her head up, fully facing us. She was glowing with hope and excitement.

"She said yes!" I squealed, I could help but stand up and envelop her in a tight hug, I was incredibly happy that she wanted to stay with us. Jane came after and hugged us both. I felt that the hug was not enough, we were practically squeezing her. She softly laughed and I couldn't be more delighted, at the sounds of her laughter. My cheeks hurt from how bright and wide I was smiling. I could see Jane was smiling just as bright and wide as I was, and I saw a single tear roll down her eye, I reach her cheek and cleaned it.

We stayed like that for a little longer "I know is easy to worry, but no one will take you away" Jane stated.

The girl nodded "Thank you, guys. For wanting me to stay" she shily said.

"There is absolutely no need to thank us" I sternly said, "We are so, so happy that you want to stay," I said, keeping her tightly wrapped in my arms for a little longer. "We will send the paperwork to Trish today" I explained "And, would you like to do something tonight? Angela wanted to go somewhere to celebrate tonight, we can tell the kids, Frankie, and call my mother if you want" I suggested.

"Yeah, that… that sounds fine" Megan stuttered, she was still processing the whole situation, Megan was abstracted in her own thoughts, she had a goofy smile and contempt plastered on her face as if the weight of the world was lifted from her shoulders.

"We can do it another time if you prefer, we don't need to do anything" Jane added, letting the girls know that she could have as much time as needed because she seemed to be lost in her thoughts and trying to make sense to the situation and her feeling s.

She finally looked at us "No, that's fine, we can tell them" She quickly replied, "I was just lost in my thoughts" she then added.

"What are you thinking, then?" Jane asked, caressing the girl's hair.

She shook her head "Nothing in particular" she began "I'm just…thinking" she simply said. My phone rang then, and as it was the morgue I had to take it, I was on the phone, at the threshold between the living room and the kitchen, but I could still hear Megan and Jane talking, standing next to the couch. And their interaction made me shed some tears.

"Well, I'm just going to tell you that I love you sweetheart, and I'm so glad you want to stay here". Jane said, hugging Megan tightly against her, and I could see Megan was equally hugging Jane tightly.

"I love you too, Jane" I hear Megan whisper. I almost choked; it was the first time she fully said those three words. her replies to our I love yous were usually one-word replies, but never the full phrase. I could not help but let a tear roll down my cheek. And I knew Jane had to be crying too.

The girl then looked to the window next to them and rested her head on Jane's chest "And for the record, I love your hugs. I…" I heard her saying, but she stopped, like debating if to say it or not. "I… I just didn't want to get used to them… in case I had to…" she said but was interrupted by Jane.

"You might as well be getting used to our hugs because you are not going anywhere, never" Jane promised. I could not take it anymore and told Suzy that I couldn't talk right now and would call her later.

As soon as I hung up the phone I approach them and joined the hug "I can't promise that things will be always easy and smooth" I said as I separated from them and cupped the girl's face in my hands "But what I can promise is that we will always protect you and always be there to catch you if you fall and to love you. No matter what life throws at us we are here for you, all of us" I heartfully said, the girl intently looking at me with a mix of adoration and confusion in her eyes, I felt she was unsure of how to react to what I was saying. "Megan, we are not trying in any way to replace your family. We…" I couldn't finish as Megan interrupted me.

"I know!" she said. To, I think, make us know that she knew our purpose was not to replace anyone but to take on where her family left off unwantedly.

I proudly smile and kissed her forehead, lingering the kiss for a little. Megan then hugged me tightly, this being one of the few times she has initiated a hug, "I love you, Maura" she whispered, hiding her face in the crook of my neck.

My heart swelled with love for the girls, and she finally said it to me, I could not be any happier "I love you, too, sweetheart, I love you too" I said, closing my eyes and holding the tears forming in my eyes at bay.

"Ok, enough of this mushiness," Jane said, whipping some tears from her face.

Megan and I chuckled "I agree," the girl said. I could help but feel a kind of bliss I didn't feel a long time ago. Since before losing Lucy, I hadn't felt so complete. Megan was not replacing Lucy, no one could do that, just like we could not replace Megan's parents and Sister. I didn't know if to call it God, a higher power, destiny, or a mere casualty, but I was sure we were meant to find each other and help us go through life and help each other heal.

"I am gonna go get changed, I don't want the whole memory to be in Lilo & Stitch pajamas" She joked, heading towards the stairs.

Jane and I laughed and watched her walk up the stairs with a small smile plastered on her face. Then, Jane hugged me, and we just stayed in each other's arms for a little.

"She said yes," I said looking up at Jane's eyes.

"She did," Jane said, looking lovingly at me "Oh my god! we have a teenage daughter, can you believe it" She joked.

I could help but laugh "Yes, we do, and it feels perfect," I said, resting my head on her chest.

"It is perfect," she said reassuringly, giving me a loving and passionate kiss.


Please, Let me know your thoughts on this chapter and the story. Any questions, suggestions, comments, or reviews are very welcome and appreciated

B. M. Adams

Xoxo...