Lisa's TWW Fan Fic Archive Home
Post Ep | Romance | General | Drama
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The Addition ~ 8
The week seemed to fly by for CJ. All she could do was think about picking up Madeline from the Children's Home and finally having a child. She looked at the room that would soon be occupied by a two year old girl. The walls had been painted a light purple color, Madeline's favorite, from what CJ had been told. There was a bed in the corner that could easily be turned into a crib just in case she wasn't ready for a real bed, which CJ knew she wouldn't be, a large amount of stuffed animals, many of them given to her by her co-workers. She smiled as she looked around the room. It was a little girl's dream.
The ringing of the phone brought CJ back into reality. She went into the living room and answered it. "Hello?"
"Hey, CJ," Toby said.
"Hey yourself. What's going on?"
"I was just wondering if you wanted me to, you know, come with you to pick up your new daughter..."
She smiled. "Thanks for the offer Toby, but she's still so shy right now. I don't think that this is the best time. Maybe you can come and see her in a few days, after she gets a little more comfortable with the apartment."
He didn't say anything for a moment. "Okay."
"Toby, you know that I'm not shutting you out of her life, it's just that, well, she has never been around strangers...At least not since she was a baby."
"Yeah..."
"So you understand? I mean, you know what I--"
"I know, CJ. It's okay, really. Just let me know when it's okay to come visit."
She smiled. She could tell that he wasn't upset. "Don't worry, you'll be the first one who will come and visit us."
He couldn't help but to smile. He always knew that deep down in CJ's heart that she always wanted a child. Her dream was finally coming true. "Sounds like a plan. I'll see you later."
"Yeah, see ya." She hung up the phone and looked at her watch. A quarter to two. The director had told her to be at the home by 2:15. She decided to get a head start. It wouldn't hurt to be a little early. She grabbed her coat, purse, and keys and headed out to her car. She smiled every time she looked at the back seat. Instead of three empty places, there was now a car seat occupying one of them.
CHILDREN'S HOME
CJ got to the home at exactly 2:11. "Four minutes early," she said to herself. "Not bad." She walked to the front desk and was greeted by Daniel, the director.
"CJ, it's great to see you again," he said, shaking her hand.
"Same here," she said, shaking his hand as well. She couldn't seem to not smile.
"Would you like to go and take your daughter home now," he asked, smiling.
"That would be wonderful." She was now beaming.
"Great. Why don't we first go to my office so you can just sign the final adoption papers, then we'll be ready to do the next thing." He said as they began walking towards his office.
"Sounds good to me."
When they reached his office, Daniel pulled out the adoption papers. "I just need you to sign here, here, and here." He gave her a pen.
"Okay." She signed the papers and handed the papers back to Daniel.
"Great. Are you ready?"
"I've been ready ever since I first called."
"I had a feeling you'd say something like that." They walked out of his office and down the hall to the room that Madeline had occupied during her stay.
"Madeline," Daniel said once they reached the room, "Look who's here." He gestured to CJ who smiled.
"Hi sweetie," CJ said, kneeling down. Madeline smiled and walked over to her. She had warmed up to CJ as the days went by when she visited. "Are you ready to go to your new home?" The little girl nodded and then looked up at Daniel.
He knelt down beside CJ. "Hey, can you promise me something," he asked Madeline who had walked over to him and hugged him. She looked at him and nodded. "Promise me that you will have tons of fun with your new mommy and that you'll have lots of fun in your new home, okay?" She looked up at him, a few tears in her eyes, and nodded. "Good." He smiled and turned her around so that she was once again facing CJ.
"Look what I got for you," CJ said, taking something out of the bag that she had brought with her. A huge grin spread across the little girl's face. "Do you like it," CJ asked as she took Madeline's hand. Madeline nodded. "Would you like to hold on to it for me? I think he or she would be happier with you." Madeline once again nodded and as CJ held the stuffed animal out to her, she took it from her hand and held it.
"Tigew," she said softly, holding the stuffed tiger in her hands. She smiled and looked at CJ. "Tank you."
"You're very welcome. Are you ready to go home?" She nodded. CJ picked her up, holding Madeline in one arm and her suitcase in the other. As they approached the front doors, CJ turned to Daniel. "Thank you so much for allowing me to adopt her. This is just so..." CJ couldn't think of the words.
"I know," he said. "Bye bye, Maddie," he said, blowing her a kiss. She pretended to catch it and laughed.
CJ waved goodbye and headed out to the car, strapped Madeline in her car seat, and drove home.
CJ'S APARTMENT
"We're here," CJ said as she set both Madeline and the suitcase down. "Would you like to see your new room?" Madeline nodded. "Okay, come with me."
Madeline followed CJ, still holding the tiger that CJ had given her. When she saw the room, her eyes went wide. She looked around the room and then back at CJ. "My woom?"
"Yes," CJ said, smiling, "Your room." CJ watched as Madeline looked around. She seemed so happy. Then Madeline found the stuffed animals. She ran over to them and sat down.
"These are all for you," CJ said as she sat down next to Madeline. "Have you decided what you want to name your tiger?"
"Daniel," she said slowly and softly, as if asking for CJ's approval.
"What a great name."
Madeline smiled and started playing with her new toys, CJ playing along with her.
THREE DAYS LATER
CJ walked to the door and answered it. "Toby," she said quietly. "I'm glad you came."
"Why wouldn't I?" He asked as he took off his coat.
"I don't know." She paused. "Ready to meet her?"
"Yep." He smiled and followed CJ.
"Maddie," CJ said quietly, walking into her room, "I want to introduce you to a friend of mine. This is Toby," she said as she knelt down next to her.
"Hi Madeline," he said softly.
She took one look at him and hid her face in CJ's shoulder.
"It's okay," CJ said gently as she rubbed her back. "Toby's a nice person. He wants to meet you."
Madeline shook her head and kept her face buried in CJ's shoulder.
"Um, maybe another time would be better. She's still getting used to things..."
Toby simply looked shocked. "Is she afraid of me or something?"
CJ looked at him. "No, she just feels like being extra shy today for fun." She said sarcastically.
He sighed. "Okay." He stood up and left the room.
"Toby," CJ said, following him out of the room with Madeline in her arms. "I'm sure she'll warm up to you. I mean, she started crying when my neighbor came by and said hi to her."
"Yeah." He said in an even voice. "I guess I'll see you Monday."
"I'm sorry, Toby..."
"No, it's okay." He took his coat and opened the front door and left, leaving CJ in shock. What had just happened? This was not the normal Toby. The normal Toby would have been a little more understanding. She had told him that Madeline would be a little frightened.
He walked outside the apartment building, regretting ever leaving it. Why did he do that? What was going on? Was he...jealous?
TBC.....