Hello everyone, and welcome,

I have done a little revision to this chapter to check some of the spelling and content. It is the same; nothing new was added, just a little check; my spelling back then was a little atrocious. Not greatly better now, but a tad better.

Please do comment and review, they mean kind of a big deal to authors. Thanks!

B. M. Adams...

Xoxo,

Disclaimer: I do not own anything, just the OCs and plot.

Jane's POV

We went to our room, and I looked at Maura. "That went well," I said to her.

"Yes, it did," she said excitedly, smiling beautifully. "So, what do you think?" she asked.

"'Bout what?" I asked her back while I was taking my boots off.

She looked at me. "The night, what do you think about her and the interactions" Maura asked, some nervousness in her voice.

"Well, she won my mother when she said she could speak Italian. I saw her and the kids talking, so I think that was good, too. Frankie and she had a fairly nice conversation about something. I don't know about what, but they seem to get along. So, I think we can call it a good night" I answered, happy to realize that this night was a success and probably everything will keep being as good as tonight.

Maura smiled. "And what about you? What do you think?" she asked again.

I ruffled my hair, thinking a bit before answering, "I…I enjoy it very much, really," I said, looking into Maura's eyes, and she smiled lovingly at me. "What do you think?" I asked after a few seconds of silence.

"I think I can get use to this" she said heartfeltly. She kissed my cheek, moved to the hairdresser, and started to take her jewellery off.

I moved from the bed and engulfed her in a tight hug from behind. "Then, I think that we should keep things just the way they are now. I like them this way," I commented, and she turned around, looking me in the eyes and kissing my lips.

Megan's POV

They left, and I was sitting on the bed, not sure what to do. This was nice and welcoming but estrange and uncomfortable at the same time; I started to feel the same I felt when I went to the group home, that strange angst on the pit of the stomach that I couldn't pinpoint. I was lost in my own thoughts when I stood from the bed and felt my phone in the back pocket of my jeans. I ran to my backpack and looked for the phone charger, so I plugged it in immediately and prayed that the phone still worked. The light of the screen turned on and the little white apple appeared on the center of it. When it finally finished the initializing process I realized that I had data and mobile plan, I started to think how that could be possible, the phone had been disconnected and off for more than five months. Arthur, he might have kept the monthly paid affiliated to the credit cards "Nice of him" thought I. Right after I turned the data on, the phone started to sound like crazy, immediately I turned the sound off. Thousands of messages and missed calls, and many more notifications started to arrive. I locked it and left it on the nightstand, not having the energy nor the desire to check them out just yet.

I went to the bathroom and splashed some cold water on my face to calm myself down a bit, brushed my teeth and put my PJs on. I lay on the bed, looking intently at the ceiling, not even trying to go to sleep. I knew that sleep was something far from what I'd do. Thoughts were buzzing in my head like wasps. Everything hit me, memories and uncertainty, fear and expectation, hope and guilt. Many emotions ran through my brain, and I couldn't turn it down. I prayed, prayed to some god or someone up there, prayed to stop this angsty feeling in my chest, and that was what I did until exhaustion won me and pulled me into a restless sleep.

Morning came way too fast, the sun started to pick from the window that remained uncovered during the night. I rubbed my eyes, trying to wipe the sleep away from my eyes and hiding from the light entering the room. After I turned and looked at the clock on the nightstand, 7:09 it read, I let a soft groan escape my mouth and went to the bathroom to complete my morning routine. After that, I went to the bedroom again, not sure what to do, so I started to check my phone. Hundreds of missing calls and thousands of unread messages, mostly from when my parents died, people giving me their condolences and saying nice things and asking where I was "like if that would help" Once again, I said to myself.

Like half an hour later and most of the messages read and erased from the phone I started to hear footsteps on the wooden floor, two set of feet sounded tiny and soft and the others were heavier. Obviously, the kids, Maura and Jane, were awake and moving fast already. It was Saturday, but they were early risers, by what I could hear. I waited crossed legged on the bed until I heard a knock on the door of the room I was in and then a voice saying, "Kids, don't. We don't know if she's still asleep. It isn't polite. Why don't you go downstairs with mama, she's making pancakes" Of course it was Maura's voice behind the door and right after she said that, loud squeals were heard followed by little footsteps running and a 'Be careful!' from Maura again warning the children.

I heard a knock on the door. I breathed deeply and said, 'Come in' almost as a whisper, waiting for her to miss the words and walk away. The door opened, and Maura's face appeared in the small gap. "Good Morning, Megan", she said with a smile.

I smiled back "Morning" I just responded softly.

She got closer to the bed and sat on the edge of it. "I'm sorry for the kids; did they wake you up?" she asked.

I shook my head "No, don't worry" I said to her.

We both said no words for a few seconds until Maura spoke. "Jane is downstairs making pancakes", she said and placed her hand on my knees; I stiffened at the touch, and of course, she noticed it, but her hand remained on my knee. "I'll see you downstairs whenever you are ready", she winked, patted my leg and left the room. Minutes later, I hesitantly went down the stairs and into the kitchen. The kids were on the stools by the breakfast bar, waiting impatiently for her mother's speciality; Jane was indeed in front of the stove cooking the pancakes, Maura was brewing some tea for herself, and I stood still in the middle of the room, not knowing what to do.

Jane diverted her gaze from the pan and noticed my presence; she smiled when her gaze spotted me. "Morning, honey," she said

I answered the same "Morning"

"Hey, come here; I have some pancakes with yours and these munchkins' names on them," she said happily.

I walked towards the stools and climbed onto one; immediately, a plate with two pancakes was placed in front of me; Maura came and brought two glasses of orange juice and gave them to the kids. "Do you want anything to drink, Megan? Some orange juice, tea, a latte maybe?" she smiled and waited for my answer.

'What a kind voice' I thought, I zoned out for a second before coming back to reality "Water is fine, thanks" I said and was ready to stand up and look for it myself, not wanting to bother her.

She touched my shoulder "Stay there, I'll get it for you, don't worry" she exclaimed.

I swallowed and right after a glass full of water was placed in front of me. I looked at it "Thanks" I said and she smiled at me. They join us at the island and they started to chat, I was still hesitant and eating almost too slowly.

Jane must have noticed my hesitance, I was trying to take refuge in a soft smile and nodding occasionally, and she began to speak to me while Maura was having a conversation with the kids. "So, sweetheart, did you sleep well?"

I nodded. "Yes, I did"

"Good," she said; she began to eat again but raised her head right after, and she winked at me, patting my back

'Why do these people touch so much?' I though, not because this was annoying me but because my family was never like that, we barely even hug each other so I wasn't used to that and felt weird, nice but weird.

After at least 20 minutes and a few more questions we all finished our breakfast and I wanted to leave the room, they were having a nice conversation and also trying to get me in to it but I felt completely out of place anyways.

Maura started to gather the things that were on the table, so I saw my opportunity to avoid any other possible conversation helping her and washing the dishes. I stood from my seat and took the plates from Maura's hands "let me help you" I simply, with a smile said, carrying the plates to the sink and started to wash them. I looked behind my back, and the both of them were looking puzzled at each other. I just buried myself in the pile of plates and cups.

Maura's POV

I looked puzzled at Jane, and so did she. "A teenager helping with chores", I mouthed to Jean, who just shrugged. This was something I never saw coming.

"Hey, Maura, it's half-past nine, it's about time to take the kids to their activities" Jane said standing up from her seat.

Maura looked her watch "Oh! Yes… and remember, don't forget Lily and Luca's uniforms like last time" she remarked.

She rolled her eyes and smirked "Yes, Ma'am" she said, doing a military salute. "Come on, Kids, we have a lot to do. Go, go, go!" she said while both kids rushed upstairs.

Before she could run up the stairs, she remembered something. "Maura, can you come for a minute" I left the thing that I had on my hands on the table and went to where she was. "Are you going to go with Megan?" she said, almost whispering.

I nodded "Yes, I'll talk to her first, thought" I answered. She said 'ok' and went to our room to change and help the kids afterwards.

I re-entered into the kitchen, and the things on the table were already in the sink being washed. "Well, Meg, thank you very much for helping with these. You didn't have to," I said to her.

A few seconds passed before she spoke. "It's no problem," She said, looking briefly at me with half a smile plastered on her face.

"Anyways, thank you," I said; she looked again towards me and smiled, going immediately back to what she was doing.

I began to dry the washed dishes and waited for a minute before my proposal. "Hey, Meg," I said. She turned her face and looked at me, waiting for me to continue. "I don't know if it is too soon, but I was thinking that if you wanted to pick your thing from your…" I trailed off a bit, not really knowing if I should call her house, her old house or what else, so I just said what came first to my mind, "Your home; we can go this afternoon or maybe in the course of this week" I said

She looked quizzically for a little; her face changed, and instead of her usual little smiles and bright eyes, her traits changed; her eyes were sad, and her lips were flat. "Ok", she just said and continued to clean the last utensils. "Today is fine", she said, closing the tap. In complete silence, we finished putting the dishes away and putting the kitchen in order. She went to her room, and I remained on the ground floor, checking my email and trying to figure out if asking her to relieve all of those memories so soon could be helpful or not.

After finishing checking my email and messages, I went upstairs to get dressed and go to Megan's house to take her things. She just had a duffle bag and a backpack, obviously not enough of any for a teenage girl.

When I was ready I directed myself towards her room, I slightly knocked on the door and waited for her to answer. It didn't take longer than 10 seconds. She was already dressed. "You ready, sweetie?" I asked in case she needed to do something else before leaving.

She nodded her head "Yeah, I'm ready" she simply said.

"Ok, we should get going then", I said; she nodded and started to walk down the stairs, heading towards the car. The ride was completely silent; she just uttered words while giving me the address and indications. Hope and illusion were evident on her face, but sadness and pain also were visible. After a ten or twelve-minute ride, we got to the house; it was a beautiful, big house.

When I parked, Megan immediately got out of the car and stood in front of the structure as if she was contemplating it; I got out of the car too and stood by her side, my hand on her upper back, she didn't flinch this time, she was motionless on her spot. She sighed a few minutes later and looked at me and started to walk to the door. She took a key out of her pocket.

She opened the door and her stone-cold expression turned into a yearning one, a small smile on her lips lighted her face up, and she began to walk inside and looked intently at every picture, chair, table, picture, and at everything she saw there. She froze in front of the living room and just stared at it, and just a second after she walked upstairs, I followed her close, scared of what she might do in this emotional state she was trying to hide, but that girl had a curse and a blessing, her eyes; those olive green eyes gave away every emotion she was feeling.

I gave her a few minutes alone to clear her thoughts and figure out what she wanted to do. When I heard moving upstairs, I went to the noise; Megan was in her room, a big, beautifully decorated just like the rest of the house. A black suitcase was on the bed, and Megan was in the closet, gathering things and shoving them on the suitcase. I stood behind her, watching how she was angrily taking pieces of clothing and folding them roughly. She didn't notice my presence until a few minutes passed, her eyes were shimmering with tears she wouldn't let fall "Are you ok, sweetie?" I asked.

She took a shuttering breath "I'm... Yes, I'm just…" She couldn't find the right words at the moment, she was too confused and too many emotions were going through her brain at the same time.

"Overwhelmed?" I said, and she nodded.

"Yes, but I'm fine, don't worry", she rapidly answered and continued to fold clothes, and I just sat on the floor beside her, helping to fold, both in complete silence but happy to be accompanied by one another. When we finished with that, we moved to her shoes, putting them in another suitcase along with her personal belongings and a few other stuff that we put in some boxes she brought in case we needed them.

Around three hours later, we finished, and we were getting out of the house. I proposed to go to a small restaurant near home that Jane and I love but she just said that she wasn't hungry, I understood, she was over emotional and bottling it all up must be excruciating and exhausting for her. We loaded the suitcases in the back of the car, she jumped in the car immediately after, and I was about to do the same when Jane called.

"Hey, Honey. We're home, how are things going there" she asked, eager to know how we have been doing.

"We are going back now," I said and sighed deeply. "She is putting some walls up. I'm worried she's bottling her feelings," I exclaimed.

"We'll address that later, honey. We should give her time to come to terms with herself, maybe she'll come to us on her own, let's just make clear that she can come to us for anything" Jane said reassuringly "Don't worry too much, Honey" she finished.

I smiled to myself. "I'll try. See you at home in a bit. Love you," I said and hung up the call. I entered the car and looked at the sad face by my side. "Let's go home, sweetie", I said, wanting so desperately that we could be and make her feel at home and for her to believe in that.

When we arrived home, Megan was still looking through the window, zoned out and lost on her own though; I wasn't sure if she noticed we were at home, so I said, "Meg, we're here"

She came up of her trance "Oh, yeah" she said, unsure of what to do next.

"Come on, let's take these things to your room." I said, emphasizing the word 'your', Jane was right, we needed to reassure her in any way possible and starting to call things like 'hers' would help, I thought.

She nodded and got out of the car, going towards the trunk to pick up some of the things in there. She took both of the two rather heavy suitcases and carried them inside. I was impressed by the strength of that girl. Jane came out of the house dressed in jeans and a plaid shirt; she came closer and kissed on the lips as usual.

"I can see you are in your barbecue clothing, so I theorize that's what lunch is, right?" I said laughing

"Well, my Ma did some snacks and I thought the barbecue as a 'late lunch' thing" Jane said grinning proudly at her idea.

I smiled picking up one of the boxes "That's a great idea, darling" I said.

Jane took the box from my hands "I'll take that, don't worry" she said and winked her eye at me. She picked the rest of the thing from the trunk and went upstairs to find Megan.

I entered the house and greeted everyone. Angela was in the kitchen washing some vegetables, and the kids were in the playroom. I stayed in the kitchen, helping Angela and preparing the things we would need for the barbecue.

Megan's POV

I got in the room and placed the suitcases on the floor. I knew that I was supposed to put the clothes and shoes in the closet and drawers, but something was stopping me from it. Jane entered the room carrying the rest of the boxes that were on the trunk, she placed them beside the suitcases and stood by my side, her hands on her hips.

"So, where do we start?" she asked. I looked at her, confused, not even knowing where to start. I shrugged and shook my head "I have no idea" I said.

She laughed and bent down and opened one of the suitcases, taking out a few pieces of clothing "I guess you'd like to hang this in the closet" she said smiling, a few shirts on her hands. I did the same and started to take things out and put them away in their respective places.

We were on full task when Jane's mother called us downstairs to take some snacks and for Jane to start with the barbecue. "We'll finish this tonight," she said, patting my shoulder and inviting me to come down the stairs with her.

The rest of the afternoon went by fast. I can't deny that I enjoyed it. I started to consider letting them in a little to be more open and feel a little more comfortable. I wasn't sure if that was right, but it felt right; they were too nice to be pushed away.