We all sat around the kitchen table with a bit of a cloud over our heads.  One we were trying to ignore by acting like everything was normal, but it wasn't.  America was here with us, having dinner like usual, but unlike every other night, she would not be disappearing to the bedroom she and Cam shared.  After dinner, we knew she'd have to go back to her current foster home.  The Jenkinses, we'd learned.

Lin had been all over the arrangement immediately.  In 24 hours, he'd learned more about the foster care system than other probably did in years.  He'd filled out the necessary paperwork today, along with America, in hopes of getting her back with us as soon as possible.

We tried to drag things out as long as possible, but soon there was nothing more to do.  It was time to clear the dishes and get on with the evening.  Luckily, the Jenkinses were very reasonable and understanding people.  Lin had visited them personally to explain the situation.  They were aware that America had been with us for several weeks now and had settled in.  They were aware of the situation with her mother.  We'd come to an agreement that America would go to their place around 8:00 in the evenings.  Luckily, they lived relatively close by.  Just a couple subway stops away.

America sighed as she put her plate in the dishwasher.

"You don't need to help with the dishes," I told her, brushing my hand on her arm.  "Why don't you hang out with the twins for a few minutes."

The twins were all too happy to get in some more playtime with America.  We had patiently explained the situation to them, but they still had a hard time understanding why she couldn't stay.  America happily played with them on the floor with some Legos while Lin and I took care of the dishes.

Lin walked over to the twins and knelt down next to them.  "Alright, guys.  Bathtime."

"But we wanna play with America," Raina protested.

"I know," Lin acknowledged.  "But it's time for America to go.  Can you give her a hug good night?"

Felix stood up and wrapped his arms around America and Raina reluctantly followed suit. 

"I'll take you to the Jenkinses in a few minutes," Lin told her.  America nodded and sat on the couch with Cam, who was channel surfing.  Lin ran the bath for the twins and found their pajamas.  He got them in the tub as I finished wiping down the table and counters.  Lin walked out a couple minutes later.

"Alright, they're all yours," he told me, grabbing his wallet.  "You ready, America?"

She sighed and stood up reluctantly.  "I guess." 

Lin gave her a sympathetic smile.  Cam told her goodbye and soon they were out the door.  Lin insisted on riding the subway with her to make sure she got there safely.  When he returned, he looked defeated once again.  I was in the middle of pouring myself a glass of wine.

"You okay?"  I asked him.

He shook his head, breathing out slowly.  "It's so hard to leave her," he admitted.  "Luckily, they're good people but she just doesn't want to be there."

I reached out and squeezed his arm supportively.  "You're working on it, though," I reminded him.  "We'll get her back soon."

Cam turned on the couch to look at us.  "Why isn't she back with us already?"

I gave her a small smile.  "These things take time," I explained patiently.  "The legal system has all sorts of hoops to jump through.  Your dad's on it.  Don't worry."

"But if the Jenkinses are such nice people, why don't they just let her stay here?" she asked.  "Nobody has to know."

"Cam, that would be asking them to break the law," I explained.  "We can't ask them to do that."

"How can you just stand there and let this happen?" she got up, surprisingly angry.  "You're both just sipping wine, relaxing, and America is off with some strangers?"

"Camila, watch your tone," Lin told her.

"No!" she protested, stepping around the couch.  "If you really cared about her, this all would've gotten worked out today!"

"Cam, I did everything I could today," he explained to his daughter.  "We have to go through the legal system.  We can't just decide she should be with us and keep her here.  We'd be arrested."

"This fucking blows," she grumbled, kicking at a kitchen chair.

"Hey!" Lin snapped at her.  "I'm trying my best here and I don't appreciate your attitude.  We will get her back as soon as we can."

"Well, try harder!" she yelled, then stormed off towards her room.  The door slammed and one of the twins cried out from their bedroom.  I'd just gotten them down.  I could tell Lin was upset from the exchange with Cam, so I went to see the twins.

When I opened the door, Raina was sitting up in bed and Felix was stirring.  I sat down on Raina's bed and she immediately climbed into my lap.

"Mommy, why was Cam yelling?" she asked tearfully.

"Oh, she's just upset about America," I explained as I rubbed her leg.  "She wishes she could be here."

"Why can't she?" she asked.

"Well, it's complicated," I said.  "Because her mommy's in jail, she has to stay with other people.  She was with us for a while but now she has to go live somewhere else."

"But why?"

I wished I knew the answer.  "I don't know, sweetheart.  She'll be back soon though."

"Promise?" she asked.

I kissed her head.  "Promise."

I reached over and pulled back her covers.  Gently, I transferred her back to her mattress and pulled up her covers.  I kissed her goodnight and checked on Felix, who was fast asleep again.  After I'd left the twins' room, I knocked on Cam's door.

"What?" she asked shortly.

"Can I come in?" I asked.

"Fine," she muttered.

When I entered, she was on the floor with her homework spread out.  She didn't look up as she punched a few keys on her calculator, then recorded an answer in her notebook.  I sat on her bed.

"Was that really necessary?" I asked her.

"What?"

"Snapping at your dad?"

She sighed and set her pencil down.  Her hands went into her hoodie pocket.  "I'm just so frustrated.  Shouldn't it be easy enough?  She wants to be here, so she should be here."

"I wish it was," I told her honestly.  "But we have to be patient and go about this the right way."

She was quiet for a few moments.  "Why's her mom being like this?"

I shook my head and shrugged.  "Beats me.  I imagine she's just frustrated and hurt.  Finding out your only daughter doesn't want to be your daughter anymore is pretty upsetting, I imagine."

She nodded and seemed to ponder that.  "Pippa?"

"Yes?"

"What if we can't get her back?" she asked.  "What if she has to go back to her mom when she gets out?"

I stood up and knelt next to her.  "Your father and I are doing everything we can to make sure that doesn't happen.  Now, we can't think of the negative.  We need to keep a positive attitude for America.  She needs that."

Cam seemed to understand and nodded.  "Sorry if I woke up the twins."

I gave her a small smile.  "They're nodding off again now," I told her, gently stroking her hair.  "Don't stay up too late."

I stood and walked to the door.  "Okay."

I joined Lin back in the living room.  He was sitting on the couch now, rubbing at his temple with a wine glass in his other hand.  I stood behind the couch and started working at his shoulders with my hands.  He let out a groan.

"You're tense, Miranda," I told him.  His head lolled to the side as I continued to work.

"Why are we doing this again?" he asked me.  I leaned down and let my chin rest lightly on top of his head.

"Because we're caring adults and America deserves a better life," I reminded him.

"Right," he nodded lazily.  Lin seemed exhausted.

"It will all work out in the end," I tried to assure him.  He turned his head to this side.

"Will it?"

I sighed and kissed his head.  "We have to think positive.  That's what I just told your daughter."

He patted my hand and stood up, picking up his wine glass with it.  As he walked to the kitchen, he tipped back the last of his wine as I followed him.

"And we want another moody teenager?" he joked dryly.  I smirked as he set his wine glass in the sink.  I wrapped my arms around him from behind, smelling his familiar scent.

"Remember, this was all your idea," I reminded him.  He chuckled a little.

"You're supposed to talk me out of these things," he said, gently extracting himself from my arms.  He gently took my wrists and guided them to drape around his shoulders.  His hands went to my hips and he swayed me back and forth, looking into my eyes.

"You're pretty stubborn," I reminded him.

"Maybe," he acknowledged.  "But you still love me."

He was confident and cocky, and I couldn't stop myself from grinning.  I leaned in and captured his lips in a slow, sweet kiss.  He returned it fervently, deepening it as his hands roamed to my butt.  I groaned and he smiled into the kiss.  He surprised me as his hands went to the back of my thighs and he picked me up off the floor.  I gasped and instinctively wrapped my legs around him.  He kissed me as he carried me down the hallway to our bedroom.