Hello everyone and welcome back!

Please if you'd like I really appreciate all reviews and suggestions!

Italics in this chapter are for Maura's flashback and Megan's thoughts

The chapter has been revised for mistakes.

B. M. Adams

Xoxo...

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

Maura's P.O.V

December had come and gone and so the craziness it brought within. We spent New Year with the kids, just the four of us in a small cabin in the woods that had been in my family since I was a little girl; I've been told that my Grandfather made it completely from floor to roof. It was cosy and warm. This had been one of the best holidays we had had since the kids came into our lives, the best thing of course.

We made amends with the kid about the fostering, and both kids agreed on fostering a girl in between their ages, most likely 6 to 8 years old. Both Jane and I were fine with this, but both of us knew even then that we would know who that perfect match would be; we would feel it in our hearts, no matter age, race, gender or anything. I've never believed in fate or something bigger making greater plans, but since I became a mother I understood the essence of love and how it works and affects people in some sort of way. A lot of people had questioned us about this, about how we would pick someone that fit in our family, some people had said that we are crazy, bringing a stranger around our children and family, and some others had made other various types of questions on this topic. The truth is that we weren't sure how we would know; back then we just believed that we would know who the perfect match would be.

"Allô" Constance said in French through the phone.

"Hello, mother" Maura said, waiting for her mother to recognize her voice.

"Oh! Maura, Darling. What do I owe the pleasure of this call?" her mother said, surprised by the unannounced contact her daughter made with her.

"Well…Hmm… Do you have time; I need to talk to you?" She asked.

"Darling, I'm about to get to a conference, I will call you later. Au revoir, chéri" she simply said, not having any remorse in hung up the phone, not even at the nervous sound of her daughter's voice.

"… Au Revoir" she said after the older woman hung up the phone, the disappointment in her voice pretty evident and the sadness showing on her face. She put her phone on the kitchen counter and sighed deeply, rubbing her forget frustratingly.

Jane entered the kitchen and found her wife holding her tears at bay and visibly sad, she stopped and waited a few seconds before approaching her wife; she put her hand on the blonde's lower back and started to rub it softly. She looked at her with questioning eyes, hoping that her wife would initiate a talk. It didn't happen

"What's wrong, honey" Jane asked, concerned and worried; the detective knew that she had talked to her parents, but she didn't know how it went.

The blonde sighed deeply once again "She had something to do, she'll call me later" she said steadily, trying to keep her composure.

Jane felt some anger building inside her, she had always hated the way Constance and Arthur put their daughter aside and always had taken her for granted. The M.E. always tried to be indifferent to this situation, but the keen detective knew this hurt her, hurt her deeply and she hated to see any of her loved ones in pain. "I'm sorry, honey" the brunette just said, and hugged her, rubbing soothing circles on her back, in an attempt to give her as much comfort as possible.

I was pulled out of my thoughts by Jane's voice "Honey, we have to get in" she said, some excitement and nerves in her deep voice. I Inhale deeply standing up and intertwining my hand with Jane's. We walked and entered my family's lawyer's office.

"Hello, Maura, Jane" he said, shaking hands with both of us "Please, take a sit" he said, inviting us to take a sit. "Ok, I received your documents a few days ago and I have to say it's in complete order… You are almost approved, so you just have 3 steps left. The fire inspection, physician's reference and training classes" he said.

"Training? Why do we need training? We're already parents. We know how to take care of kids" Jane said a little too harshly, confused by this step she thought completely unnecessary.

"I know it's a bummer, but it's a requirement, and you'll hate what I'm about to say," The man said, looking at me and my wife in front of him, both of us with worried expressions on our faces. "Both will have to go once a week, morning or evening, for nine weeks to Foster Parent Orientation Training, the classes last about 2 hours and you can check this, for more information" He finished handing Jane a pamphlet for the training classes we will have to attempt.

Jane sighed deeply and rolled her eyes taking the pamphlet "If this is what it takes to foster a child, we'll do it" she said determinedly, looking at me; I immediately smiled brightly at my wife's enthusiasm and gigantic heart she has.

"Well, when you are done with the requirements you can send them to me and when I have your license I'll call you to come and we'll celebrate" He said, smiling at us; we were holding each other's hands tightly.

We said our goodbyes and we headed to the car "Nine weeks, seriously?" Jane asked annoyed "I mean, I know this is indispensable, but nine weeks it's a bit too much"

I laughed softly "You're incorrigible, Jane" I said smiling, rubbing her upper arm and looking right into does awfully beautiful eyes of hers.

"Oh! You know what I mean, I'll do it, I have no problem but that won't change the fact that nine weeks it's excessive" she said, pouting about the amount of time she would spend on training.

"I bet it won't be that bad," I said, kissing Jane's cheek, and making the detective smile.

"Are you assuming?" She asked joking at my statement, making me laugh as well.

"No, I'm making a friendly bet, based on your behaviour patterns" I joked at my wife, who feigned to be offended by my words.

"What does that supposed mean?" she said, narrowing her eyebrows at me, confused.

I laughed "Shut up and drive, love. The kids are waiting for us" I finished. Jane hit the road seconds after; I kept my hand on her tight all the way from our lawyer's office to the daycare and after to Lucas' school.

Megan's P.O.V

I was lying in my bed after doing my daily chores, just escaping from reality for a while; I was basically talking to myself.

One month, one lonely and awful month I've spent already in this hideous pit. Nothing really has changed since I came for the first time. Winter is raging this year, and everything is grey and white, I still have no idea if it's just my vision of the world or if it's truly how the world looks, nothing seems real, actually.

I spend my days doing my chores, mostly cleaning and when I'm done I just lay in bed, listening to music trying to fly to other lands, to forget about this existence. I think sometimes I'm being way over dramatic about this and people usually say that I am; I think sometimes that things can't be worse and some others I think of throwing myself out of the window, but then I remember and say to myself "There are bars on the windows, you idiot".

Besides Jannet, everyone in here is pretty quiet or unpleasant. Everyone seemed to be angry and sad and I can understand why they were like that; I believe that I'm starting to be like that lately; I've been in here for a month and I already hate this place, in fact, I have hated it since I saw it for the first time. People say 'You can't judge a book by its cover' but this is way worse on the inside.

Since I was a little girl. Since I can remember actually, I have never been one of those overly happy, cheery people, But I did love company and loving touches, just like everyone else. But right now, I just feel as miserable as someone can be. Most people here think that I'm just a selfish, spoiled brat who thinks she's too good for them and this place. They are right about something; I think none of us deserves this, no one deserves this. As Trish made me feel when she had taken me here like they made us feel, like old furniture that needs to be placed somewhere and got rid of. "Yep, this is the best way to start the new decade".

I was pulled out of my thoughts by Kara, one of the other girls of the home "Hey, Miss Tales needs you downstairs, now" she said emphasizing the word now, this made me roll my eyes in annoyance and exhale loudly, a signal of my annoyance to see that witch once again.

I ran down the stairs and she was waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs "How many times do I have to repeat that I don't want you to run inside" she said harshly and angrily. I just rolled my eyes at her and passed by entering her office, sitting on one of the chairs.

"I'm starting to be pretty pissed with that attitude miss Ainswoth, if you keep it like that you'll never find a family," she said, pretty sure that I never will find anybody that will be willing to take care of me, little did she knew, I didn't want anybody.

I huffed at her statement and she looked at me with contempt in her blue eyes. I looked away from her and that made her snap at me "Ok, get done with this attitude" she said more strictly this time; once again I just huffed and showed a defiant smile.

"We're done, you'll have to do breakfast every morning for a month and clean after dinner, keep daring me and you'll become Cinderella," she said, placing her hands on the desk angrily and looking straight into my eyes, I had the best poker face I could gather, I thought I had been stupid and I just made my existence worst but I couldn't be nice to this insufferable human being if she can be called like that.

"I thought I would never say this, but a couple is interested in you, they'll come tomorrow for your first meeting," she said, my eyes went bigger in disbelieve and one of my eyebrows raised, I really thought people never get interested in teenagers, less in me because probably what the dean has to say about me wasn't the best. "Maybe if you pretend to be nice, they'll consider fostering you," she said, smiling maliciously. I heard her words, she said 'pretend' in such a critical way that made me roll my eyes and stand up from the chair.

"Got it, tomorrow I'll be ready pretending the best I can, so I can leave this pigpen as soon as possible. May I go now, Miss Tales" I said harshly, leaving the office, not waiting for her to respond, I knew that my attitude wouldn't help me, but I just couldn't keep my anger inside. I went directly to my room, waiting for dinner to start to clean the mess after it and so I did, cleaned until every single inch of the kitchen was spotless, taking my rage out with the counters and stains and afterwards went to get a shower around 10 pm, at least this was one of those few things that didn't need beforehand approval.

I went back to my room around 10:30 pm drying my hair with the towel, Jannet was sitting on her bed reading the same book she had been reading since I met her; I wasn't sure if she pretended to read it or if she really like it and she read it over and over again because of that.

Jannet put the book down "I've heard that you have an interview tomorrow" she said, with a steady voice and some hesitation. I just nodded.

"So, you're getting out of here," she said, this time some envy resounding in her voice.

"I don't know, that depends on the couple" I commented as if that was the most logical thing, and being honest it was on them to foster me or not, but ultimately I wouldn't go with some random people if I didn't like them.

She raised an eyebrow "You're nuts, you know? If you can get out of here, GO! Doesn't matter if they're the Monsters… I would do it if I were you" She sounded disappointed and angry at the same time. I didn't really know much about this girl, but what I did know was that she had spent a lot of time in the foster system, I wasn't sure of how much, but a lot I supposed and I also knew that this place can affect you, in ways I can't explain; it just simply makes you ran out of hope.

"I don't know if it's that simple, but I do want to get out of here, just not with weird people" I simply said, I was tired beyond comprehension and this conversation wasn't something I was looking forward to continuing "Night, J," I said, drifting myself into a way too short restful sleep.

At 6 am sharp my alarm went off, and with the deepest of sighs and way too tired, I reluctantly got up from the bed, got dressed and headed to the bathroom before my 'shift' started. When everyone was gathered at the table we served breakfast and cleaned afterwards, at this point my hands looked awful, all my nails were broken and the skin on my hands was cracked from the cleaning products.

At 10:00 am the doorbell rang and I knew those were the couple the dean had told me about, I signed and I heard Miss Tales' voice calling my name, sighed deeply and went downstairs and stood in front of a small room across the hall. "They are inside, do not mess this up" Agatha said and left me in front of the door. Are you really gonna go live with some strangers, do I really need a family? I thought to myself, I was confused, I wanted to leave that place as soon as I could but right then, in that situation and in front of that door; It felt like I was betraying my family, the love they gave me and everything they did for me.

I inhaled deeply and gathered some strength and went inside. Sitting on a beige couch there was a couple, both middle age, the man was tall, with dark hair and green eyes, he had a sympathetic smile and soft features and the woman with him had tanned skin, probably she was Latina, dark, curly hair and deep, brown eyes.

The first one that had said something was the woman, who introduced herself and her husband "Hello, Megan, my name is Natalia, and this is my husband, Mark James, we're so excited to finally meet you" she said, and by her accent, she was indeed Latina; she stretched her hand to shook mine, so did her husband. Both seemed like nice people but something inside me was screaming "Yeah…no way you're going with these guys"

They sat on the couch and I sat on the chair in front of them "So, Meg…can I call you like that?" The man said, I just nodded to his question, opting to not make any verbal answer just yet. "So, Meg, tell us a bit about yourself" the man asked me, looking eager to know what I had to say.

"I'm pretty boring, I used to play sports and a few instruments, but other than that I just read a lot," I said, not wanting to give any major detail to these people.

"That's interesting," the woman said "So, what sports do you like the best," the men asked again.

"I used to play volleyball, that is my strong point," I said.

"You said that you played instruments, which ones? What's your favourite music" the Latina woman asked, on her indubitable Colombian accent. She had a high-pitched voice, annoying at times.

"Well I used to play piano and guitar, but not since I came here," I said, starting to be uncomfortable with all of their questions.

"That's great… how life here is? What do you do all day?" the woman asked me again, I started to tense up at the constant questions they made.

"Nothing really, just do chores and that's pretty much it," I said in a monotone voice.

They looked at each other and both smiled and said something in Spanish "Eso puede ser de utilidad (That could be useful)" the woman said "Si, por fin algo interesante (Yes, finally something interesting)" He responded to her, little did they know, some of those things most people don't know about me is that I can speak a few languages other than English, Spanish being one of those.

"Well, honey, we'll love it if you come home with us," the woman said in a sweet, loving voice as if she cared. I smiled "Yeah, I don't think so… next time; you should ask 'What languages do you know?' … Bye guys, have a nice day" I said, standing up and getting out of the room, slamming the door strongly. Agatha heard the door slamming against the frame and got immediately out of her office.

"What was that?" she asked me exalted and angrily.

I was about to answer but the couple got out and started to complain about me with Agatha who already hated me.

"That girl is so insolent, we were trying to be nice and she just snapped at us, you should control your kids, you'll hear our complaints from our case worker," the man said, angry and after that they left.

Agatha's face turned into a deep shade of red and her eyes were bloodshot, the combination between the red and the blue on her eyes made her look like a demon. "Into my office, NOW!" she yelled at me. I did as she commanded.

"What's wrong with you?" she asked, her voice filled with rage.

"Like if you care," I said in a stone-cold voice at her.

She laughed softly like mocking me "Of course I care because this stupid attitude of yours is affecting me and if this affects me I'll take care of that… do you understand that if they make an official complaint about you is a permanent mark on your case file!?" she spoke almost screaming, almost losing control of her own actions, she wanted to punch me, right in the face.

"Actually, I don't care" I simply said, not making any expression or showing any emotion.

This made her even angrier "Fine, screw your life, you know how much I care about it" she said, trying to hurt me.

"Yeah, I know… I don't need you to care, I just need to get out of here and get far away from you" I said. She laughed at me

"If you keep being like that, you' won't get out of here any time soon" she said with her malicious smile "You can go now, shut the door when you're out" she finished.

And so, I did, I got out and stood for a minute in the empty hall, grabbing my head with both hands. The thought of being in that place for 3 more years made me sick and made me want to run away as far as I could get. But I knew it was useless, if I escaped I'd be on search and capture and when they found me I'd be put in Juvie, something close to jail but for minors.

I went to my room and did what I used to do when I was suffocated and when I wanted to escape from reality, listen to music and bury myself in my pillow. Waiting for dinner, to clean the mess the cooks will leave and wash the dishes.