It's short and I apologize for that, but an anon on Tumblr asked me to post it, so I did. I don't really love this chapter, but I think you'll see that we're approaching a turning point. :) Sorry for the wait, but I should be able to squeeze in a few chapters soon! Thanks for reading!

Chapter 21

"Coming Home"

Maura and Joseph were able to bring Amelia home on the fourth day. Maura was so ready to be in her own bed—no nurses wandering into the room in the middle of the night or scratchy hospital blankets. The whole ride home her mind kept drifting to thoughts of lying in her own bed snuggled next to Amelia and Evelyn. She had also found that she missed being able to walk next door and talk to Jane. Over the past few weeks of their friendship she had become accustomed to divulging almost every detail of her personal life to Jane. It had been strange not being able to talk to her, to see her face in relaxed conversation.

They pulled into the driveway about an hour before Evelyn was expected to be home. Maura wanted to go right over to Jane's house, but decided to take Amelia inside instead. Joseph turned the lock and they all three walked inside.

"This is your house, sweetheart," Maura cooed. She walked to the nursery and turned on the light. "And this is your room."

Amelia's eyes were open, listening to every word. Maura found immense pleasure in the alertness. She had been so terrified that she would never see this moment realized after what happened to Will; it made the moment so much more surreal.

She pulled her in closer, rocking her gently, talking to her about everything and nothing at the same time. The nursery walls were bare, to remain gender neutral, but now ideas of everything she could do to the bedroom floated through her mind. She imagined white lace curtains with pink ribbon trim, tiny rose colored sheets in the crib, and little flowers painted as a border on the wall. "We're going to have so much fun," Maura smiled. The corners of Amelia's mouth turned up, and Maura pretended that it was a smile.

Joseph appeared in the doorway, breaking the moment. She felt a little let down. It was strange, but she felt like she didn't want to share her.

"Do you want me to take her so you can lie down until Evelyn gets home?"

Maura shook her head. She was far too excited for that. She had only just begun to get to know Amelia, she couldn't stop now. "I think I'll wait until later. I am kind of hungry though. Would you mind making me something?" She flashed her best dimpled smile at him.

"Not at all. What would you like?"

"Surprise me."

His laughter floated down the tiny hallway as he left the room, Maura feeling only slightly guilty for sending him away.

"Now, where were we?" Maura sank into the rocker and talked about all of the endless possibilities with her room, games that she could play with Evelyn when she was a bit older, and books they could read together, and any topic that crossed Maura's mind. She only wanted to keep those two tiny eyes trained on her face as long as she could. Anything to let Maura know that she was here, she was real, and she was alive.

Amelia was everything she had hoped for, and so much more. She thought that moving to Brookside and having another baby would repair her relationship with Joseph, but she was slowly realizing that her feelings for him were not changing. But it had brought Maura to so many better things. She was becoming a person that she actually liked, and then there was Jane. Jane was definitely one of the best things that could have ever happened to her. She was supportive and fearless and bold and caring and gorgeous and loving and absolutely perfect. No wonder she wanted to spend so much time with her.

Maura thought about her laugh and how full of life it was. She could see her now tossing her head back with her lips slightly parted, dimples marking her cheeks and deep voice reverberating off of every surface making Maura's insides feel like goo. Jane didn't hold back with her, and that made Maura love her even more. She was real and honest and unlike anything Maura had every experienced. She knew that after getting to know the real Jane, she wasn't entirely sure if she could live without her.

The baby cooed in Maura's arms eliciting the largest smile from Maura. Tears sprang to her eyes and she kissed her tiny forehead lightly. Her life was complete now. Evelyn, Jane, and Amelia had been able to piece her back together. What's funny is that she didn't even know she was broken. They were her girls, and she knew that they were all she would ever need.