and then i met you {chim}

Chapter 14

Author

"Kimberley-" Jane began as she walked into the front room, her mother close behind.

"Sit." Kimberley pointed at the sofa, forcing Jane to sit down.  Kimberley sat next to her daughter and took a deep breath.

"I'm really sorry." Jane apologized for running away, feeling ashamed.  Kimberley had Cheryl drive all the way to the diner and pick Jane up.  When they did, she was cold and shivering.  The second Kimberley got out of the car, she wrapped Jane in her coat that she took off and took her into a warm embrace.  Jane was surprised that Kimberley didn't blow up on her, all of her past foster parents would have.

"I know because I am too." Kimberley apologized back and sat closer to the teen.

"You didn't let me finish," Jane said and prepared to tell her mother everything she was trying to say before.

"I'm sorry, what were you trying to tell me?  This time I won't open my mouth until you're done." Kimberley said, making Jane lightly giggle.

"I was trying to tell you that I think I should start calling you...Mum." Jane simply said, needing to get this off her chest.  Everything that Kimberley has ever wished for just came out of Jane's mouth.

"I thought this was about the whole 'Annie' and your father thing." Kimberley furrowed her eyebrows.  She wants nothing more than to be Jane's 'Mum', but she never picked that up from last night.

"That's coming, now you said you'd wait until I was done." Jane cocked her eyebrow at her mother and continued to go on.  Kimberley nodded and let her daughter speak.

"Cheryl and I had a conversation that I'm sure you ended up hearing about.  She is my mother just as much as you are - well, a little bit less than you are.  But, she's my mother, too." Jane told Kimberley, needing her to know that Cheryl means just as much to her.

"Now to the 'Annie' bit.  I, um...don't know how to say this," Jane paused and thought about all the stuff she told herself while walking around "I think I should change my name." Jane spat out what she wanted to say and saw that Kimberley remained silent.

"You can talk now," Jane said and allowed her mother to open her mouth to speak.

"But, you're Jane," Kimberley sighed and put her hand on Jane's cheek "You're my Jane." Kimberley felt herself tearing up, knowing that permanently calling her Annie out loud wouldn't be the same.

"I mean change my middle name.  I can be Jane-Eloise Annie Sco-," Jane said and frowned to herself "Walsh." Jane corrected herself and smiled up at her mother.

"Really?" Kimberley asked and felt the tears brimming in her eyes.  She let one slip and watched Jane wipe it away and replace it with a kiss.  It was the first time Kimberley had seen the teen be affectionate towards her.

"Yeah, I thought that you could somehow arrange that," Jane said and smiled at her mother.

"It will take me awhile to get used to calling you...you know," Jane spoke with her hands, referring to the word 'Mum' "So, don't get hurt if I can't say it right away," Jane explained as Kimberley nodded along.

"Listen to me for a second," Kimberley grabbed her daughter's hands "The next time you run away from something, run to me.  Even if I'm the one your fighting with.  I can't lose you - not now, not ever." Kimberley made sure her daughter understood.  She has worked for so long to find Jane and she's not losing her ever again.