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Minor rewrites and mistakes*

B. M. Adams
Xoxo...

Disclaimer: I do not own anything from R&I. Just the plot and my Original Characters

Jane's P.O.V

We had already finished the nine-week training period, which went horribly slow, a couple of months ago; the training wasn't that bad, but it was mostly the same things we've already learned by ourselves in the past eight years being mothers. But we indeed learned things that will probably help us. As to understand and not to judge, to be not overwhelming because as we had been told, these kids may have gone through a lot of things, bad things and probably a good deal of trauma; to not push them to speak or open up too much, to let them come to us alone, to show that we love them, just as we love our own.

A phrase from the lecturer still rumbles in my head until today "There are no differences in love; love is love, in any of its ways… A family isn't made by blood but by love" It was just really meaningful for us, because of our past and how we became a family in the first place. We were all pieces of a puzzle that was not meant to fit but ultimately was perfect.

We've already been in a few meetings with our assigned social worker, but we knew since the beginning that this process wouldn't be anything closer to something easy. Our social worker, Trish already had sent us a few profiles based on what we thought would be a good fit in our family, even though we marked the 'just for reference' box in our form, we wanted to be able to make a choice based on the kids we met, not on what we thought would be perfect. We had already met a few kids, but as the lecturer on the training said "You'll feel a connection, something you might won't able to explain it…It's simply how it works" Maura and I hadn't felt that so far.

We spoke with Trish yesterday, she told us by phone that she had found a 7-year-old girl that fulfilled our specifications on Hyde Park in 'Saint Mary: Group Home for Girls'. She said that we should meet and discuss it. We agreed and met the next day to be informed.

"Maura, Jane, how have you been?" Trish asked politely, shaking hands with both of us.

"Great, anxious, but great. How have you been, Trish?" Maura said with a beautiful smile plastered on her face.

"Fine, so here it is, this is the file" she said and handed us a folder full of papers from the kids in this group home, the first one was, of course, the one kid Trish wanted to show us, the first thing we saw was the picture of a little girl named Stefanie, shiny-hazel eyes and black straight hair. We had seen this before, most foster kids are smiling, in a desperate attempt to find someone who can give them what they'd lost, someone who can at least provide them with some love. For these kids, smiles aren't always synonymous with happiness but synonymous with possibility.

Maura searched the page completely while Trish and I were talking about the training and how is everything going home with the kids and family about the fostering. After Maura finished she handed me the page and as she did; I read the details of this kid. While I was reading I tried to grab my cup of coffee but I ended up spilling it all over the table, Maura managed to lift the folders before the coffee could stain them. "Oh my God, I'm sorry Trish," I said, looking pretty guilty. She just showed half a smile and waved away my apology.

Some of the pages fell from the folder due to the abrupt way Maura took them out of the way of the spilt coffee. I was picking the pages from the floor and one of them caught my attention, it was almost empty, just a picture of a sad-eyed looking teenager, who apparently was 15 years old, but to me, she looked like 13 years top, her features were pretty soft and her gaze had a childlike shimmer, olive-green eyes, and wavy light-brown hair, her smile was obviously forced because her eyes didn't participate in the happiness her smile showed. On the page appeared her birth date, parents' names, blood type, some medical information, and why she ended up in foster care and this one had a complaining note; most of the files had a little more information, some personal information and hobbies and things they like, but this one just had the basics. I looked curious at Trish and couldn't resist the need to ask about this girl.

Trish noticed the questioning look in my eyes "That's Megan, she has been about 5 months only in the system, nice girl but an unruly teenager " she just said, her face showing a little annoyance talking about the girl. I handed the page to Maura, whose face was puzzled.

"Why is there so little information about this girl?" Maura asked Trish curiously.

She sighed and took her glasses off "As I said before, she has been only 5 months in the system and she is a very reserved girl" she simply said, wanting to avoid more questions about this girl. She then stood up from the chair "Well, I have a few errands to run so I'll be going now, but tomorrow at 3 pm is our meeting at the group home. If there are any changes, please call me…Bye" she said, saying her goodbyes she walked away. Both Maura and I looked at each other confused by Trish's attitude. It completely changed when we mentioned that girl, she always said pretty good things about the children on her charge, but this is the first one that she won't talk about. We were just wondering why.

We went home after this, the kids were with my Ma and they'd spend the afternoon there, probably making cookies or some unhealthy dish that Maura would probably not approve of.

"She was acting weird today, don't you think?" I asked, mostly to myself.

"After we questioned her about that girl, yes, she became somewhat annoyed more than weird, I would say" My wife answered "Now the question is why," she said right after, while she was changing her clothes into something more comfortable.

"That girl was intriguing, though," I said, looking at Maura who nodded her head affirmatively at me "Yes, she was" she just said.

"Well, tomorrow we can ask a little more," I said, getting out of the room towards the kitchen to make myself a cup of steaming hot coffee.

Maura stopped me from getting out of the room by grabbing my hand gently "Honey, I know that look in your eyes, you want to meet her, don't you?" she said; it was amazing how she was the only person that can read me so easily, with just a glance she can know everything I'm thinking or feeling.

"I don't know; I'm just curious. How 'unruly' a teenager has to be to make you speechless about and to make you have that face at the mention of her name?" I said, referring to the annoyance her face showed when we asked further about the teenage girl.

Maura sighed "I'm curious too, but we have to be sure about the next step we are going to take" she inquired.

"Honey, I'm not saying that we have to foster her, I just want to know why Trish acted so unlike her at the mention of the girl," I said, rubbing my forehead with my free hand.

Maura pulled me a little closer to herself "Tomorrow we'll know… talking about it, we're still up to meet that girl Trish wanted us to meet, right?" She said, a little hesitant about it. The kid Trish wanted us to meet looked cute and happy and was in the age range we thought could work just fine for our family, but sometimes what your brain thinks is not what your heart wants.

"I think we should give it a shot, maybe this is the lucky strike we have been waiting for," I said, kissing Maura's soft, yet perfect lips.

We separated "We should go down and start preparing dinner, your mom and the kids will be here anytime soon" she said, grabbing my hand once again and leading me down the stairs, going into the kitchen. We made dinner in rather beautiful silence, stealing kisses and loving glances in the meantime.

Megan's P.O.V

My alarm went off at 6 o'clock, the same routine every day; wake up, classes, chores, sleep...repeat. It's been about 5 months since I came here and nothing has changed, except for me. Since the first couple's complaining note I had 3 interviews in all this time, none of those were even close to being okay. Every couple was worse than the previous one. Of course, I had to be a bit of an ass with everyone, just because I cannot imagine myself living with strangers. The most amazing thing is that I managed to survive without my phone, internet, or some contact with the exterior, well I did have some contact. Jannet and I sneaked out a few more times after the first one on Christmas day.

I went down after taking a shower and dressed up; breakfast was almost ready, so I just sat at the table and waited for the same sandwich or cereal we always used to have. As if I was able to predict the future that morning we had the same tasteless fake cheddar and ham sandwich we had 4 times a week, the other 3 days the main menu was cereal.

After eating it was my turn to clean up the dining room and the kitchen after I got used to this, it became less horrible and just annoying but after all, I had nothing better to do anyway. Finishing with the cleaning, we had classes from 8:30 am to 1 pm with our governess or the evil version of Mary Poppins as we named her, she had the same kind of dresses Julie Andrews used to use in the movie, her hair puller in a severe bun and awful high-pitch, nasal voice tone that gave me migraines once in a while. Right after finishing our classes Jannet, Kara, and I went to the kitchen; it was our turn to make lunch.

We cleaned and left the kitchen perfectly in order, when we were finishing two guys entered and took Stefanie with them, she had been sick for a while now, but no one really thought she would have required medical attention; it was just a persistent cough, they took her and put her into an ambulance to take into the nearest medical centre.

Not much after we finished I went upstairs to have a most needed shower. I was walking upstairs when I saw the front door opening, Trish entered and behind her a two-women couple entered, I just looked briefly and ran to the bathroom. I picked my things up from my room and got into the bathroom, turning the spray on.

In the last months, I found my safe place in that group home, the bathroom; that was the only place I could be completely alone, where I could be my true self, outside that door I had to be strong, tough, indifferent, I had to shut my feeling up and had to pretend not to care about nothing. The truth was that I was a kid, who had nothing but the hope of getting out of there to feel like she was worth something because the system makes you feel like you are just a file and some opinions, usually those aren't good.

Maura's P.O.V

Jane and I woke up early the next day; we had a lot of things to complete before our meeting with our possible new foster child. Jane helped Lilly get ready for daycare while I helped Lucas with his day at school; he had an important presentation, so I helped him rehearse it a little before school too. Breakfast went by quickly and after cleaning the kitchen we were ready to start our day.

"Ok, kids, you ready?" Jane said, grabbing the car keys from the kitchen island.

Both kids nodded, eager to go to their daily activities. "Did you brush your teeth?" I asked, knowing that Lucas tended to avoid that process often.

Lily once again nodded, but Lucas did what he usually does, he pursed his lips and looked away from my gaze "Ok, little man, go upstairs and brush your teeth, quickly" Jane answered right after. He did as told and ran upstairs, coming down a few minutes after, smiling and showing his shiny, fresh-cleaned teeth. "Ok, little guy, if you forget this tomorrow again, you'll not be able to use that hideous videogame of yours" I commented and he made a little pout. We all walked outside and got in the car.

Leaving the kids on their daily activities we went to work, finishing everything as fast as we could to be able to get on time to our meeting at the group home. At 1:30 pm Jane met me in my office, I was finishing clearing my desk and ready to go, the group home was at least 45 minutes from the station, so we needed to eat a quick lunch and head there right away.

We arrived at the place; it looked pretty old and unkempt. We got out of the car and approached the door. Jane rang the doorbell and Trish came out of the door, she greeted us politely and let us in. We got in and the interior wasn't much better than the exterior, but it was at least painted properly.

"Hello and welcome" a nasal voice came from a woman walking through a door on the left of the room. When she stood in front of us she held her hand towards ours to shake them. So, you must be Dr. Isles and you, of course, Detective Rizzoli" she said as we shook her hands.

"Yes, we are. You must be Miss Tales, nice to meet you" Jane said politely at her.

She nodded her head "Yes, I am, Likewise. Please call me Agatha" she said, leading us to her office. We sat on the chair and behind us, Trish entered the office, with her phone in her ear.

"I'm so sorry, ladies but Stefanie is really sick, and CPS took her to the hospital, she has pneumonia, unfortunately. We couldn't tell you before because they took her just 20 minutes ago" she said, not looking really worried for this girl.

"Oh my God, the poor thing" I exclaimed, placing my hand on my chest.

"It's really a shame, I hope she gets better soon," Jane said with a sad smile on her face.

"Well, when she gets better Trish will let you know, and when you can come to meet her. I'm really sorry about this, she seemed great for you two" she said politely, placing her hand intertwined on the desk.

"It's a real shame" Jane simply said. After this Trish's phone rang and she got out of the little room.

"So, Agatha. We saw a girl's file. Her name was… Megan, I think" I said and saw her smile disappearing from her face.

"Hmm…Miss Ainsworth, yes. She's one of the newest here" she said, not giving any further information about her.

Jane looked at me concerned and puzzled "Hmm… we saw that in her file that… there is not much information, why's that?" She asked her, trying to understand why these people always changed their attitudes at the mention of the teenager.

"Well sometimes it takes a little more time to collect the information about the kids sent to us" she said, her voice turning darker than before.

"Is there any possibility to meet her?" I asked leaving both Jane and Agatha surprised. In Jane's face, I could see a little smile drawing itself.

Agatha was stunned at my question "Hmmm…Yes, I think, we can arrange something" she said, a little hesitant about it. "May I ask why you want to meet her?" she asked.

Jane and I both looked at each other puzzled again; neither of us understood why this was such an odd petition. "Because…we found her intriguing," I said drily at the old woman.

Agatha raised her eyebrows "Oh! Well, she's just an average teenager" she simply said. Her expression turned annoyed. "But if you really want to meet her, you can come next Thursday at 5 pm"

"Perfect, we'll be here," Jane said. She squeezed my hand and looked at me before she turned again and faced the Dean "Can we know why in her file was a complaining note?" she asked.

I saw how the woman in front of us sighed annoyed and rolled her eyes a bit. "On her first interview, she has been mouthy and impolite. The couple felt attacked by her" she said. She started to type in her computer for our next date. "Are you still up to meeting Stefanie when she gets better, ladies?" she asked.

"I think we can, yes" Jane answered first.

"Ok, Trish will let you know when she's better," she said, before looking at us and placed hands on the desk again "Well, we're done here, thanks for coming, see you next week" She stood up and held her hand to shake our's goodbye.

We said goodbye and started to walk towards our car "You know, every time we asked about that girl their faces and behaviour changed completely" I said to Jane, who was unlocking the car

"Yes, and every time we asked they say worse things about her" she said, putting her sunglasses on and sitting in the driver's seat.

"That's also true" I stated, I sighed and buckled my seat belt "Maybe she's just defensive. You have to accept that that woman seems insufferable" I said, referring to her voice tone and arrogance in it.

Jane chuckled a little a nodded "No doubt" she said while she pulled over and hit the road towards our home.

"But we can't be sure of anything until we meet her" I exclaimed, not wanting to make guesses beforehand. "They might be saying the truth" I finished.

"I don't know, we've come to know more things about the foster care system, and the more we've known the more we've discovered that people in charge think that foster kids are worthless and disposable" Jane said, a hint of sadness in her voice.

I sighed deeply and rubbed my forehead "It's horrible, how these people think about these kids, they are just that, kids. They just want someone that can love them and care for them" I said, my voice broken and sad.

Jane placed her hand on my tight "It's awful but hopefully we'll be able to give that to one of these kids, no matter if it's a teenager or a young kid" She stopped at a red light and looked lovingly at me, with a beautiful smile lighting her sharp features. I smiled back at her and placed my hand on hers, rubbing softly.

Thank you for reading and please, review! They mean a lot to us writers

B.

xoxo...