The Moon and The Earth

The New Moon Pt. 11

Mako exited the room. He shut the door behind him, leaving Neoma with Jian. He had seen Kya and Lin both observing the woman anxiously and after he decided that the girl was safe, he came out to share what he had learned with the couple. He struggled to look either woman in the eye; their shock and apprehension plastered plainly across their features. The worry as to what this meant flashed through both of their minds.

"Jian, 35, married with two kids. Family is from Shu Jing." The Detective began relaying the woman's information as best as he knew how; as if this were a case. "Neoma's biological mother is Jian's younger sister, ten years her junior. She didn't give me much information on her, probably trying to protect her. Home life was rough and after Jian was able to get out of the village she couldn't keep her sister out of trouble.

"Anyway, sister got pregnant and had the baby, Jian sent her enough money to get her to a harbor town, where her husband is a fisherman, to live with her family. They didn't hear from the sister until a letter a few weeks ago that said she couldn't care for the baby and didn't want to burden Jian and her family. From what I can tell, she just wants to make sure the baby is okay and maybe try to find her sister while she's out here."

They stood in silence when Mako had finished. The three of them watched through the window, absorbing the information, then Neoma began to cry and after a minute when she still hadn't settled, Lin couldn't stop herself from entering the room. Kya and Mako followed after her.

Jian looked over her quickly and greeted Lin, "Hello, officer-"

Lin started to say something but Kya placed her hand on her wife's arm, pulling her attention away from the other woman.

"You're in your armor still, honey. I've got her." Kya said softly to Lin before moving to take the baby. Neoma started to relax almost instantly in the waterbender's arms as she rocked her.

"Kya, right?" Jian asked. "She must like you, or I'm just out of practice because my sons are preteens now."

Kya looked up from Neoma and gave her a small smile. "Yes, I'm Kya. And this is my wife, Lin. We've been taking care of her."

Kya sat the girl in her stroller with a toy when she settled.

"Well, thank you both for looking after her then. My sister was just doing what she thought was right by surrendering her to the hospital."

Lin scoffed quietly, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"But now she can have a good life with her family. I see you've got essentials here, but does she have any other things? I'd like to get on our way home tonight, the children are excited to meet their cousin."

"What?" The couple spoke at the same time.

"You're not taking her anywhere." Lin was quick to anger but tried to keep her voice level. She took a step towards the woman. "Neoma is home. You expect to just show up out of nowhere and after an hour with her to just hop on a train and disappear with her?"

"Lin-"

"Well, yes actually. She belongs with her family, not with strangers." Jian said.

Mako stepped up and interrupted what was likely to become quite the argument. He held his own as he looked between each woman and reminded them that the child was in the room. "Jian, you have no custody over her unless a judge says so. You can file for a custody hearing, but until then the baby remains with them."

There was a still, quiet moment. Without another word but with a rather determined look in her eye, Jian left the room.

Uncomfortable with the tension still in the room, the Detective also stepped out of the room and shut the door. Lin took deep breaths in an attempt to keep her composure. She bent off her armor and picked Neoma up, holding her close as she turned to Kya who had tears gathering in her eyes, threatening to fall.

"We are her family and that woman is the stranger. Any judge will see that and our adoption petition. We've taken care of her for a month now, we're her family." Lin spoke slowly, taking her time to voice rational thoughts to not cause further fear of losing their foster-daughter in herself or her wife. Kya could tell though that this calm demeanor was quickly, but carefully, curated to hide her wife's true feelings; an attempt to not fall apart.

Soon, they went home and when Neoma was placed in her crib that night, both women mechanically went about their nightly routines. They talked very little, both needing time to absorb what had, and what might be, happening. 

It wasn't until they both laid in bed, staring at the ceiling, that either woman said a word about that evening's events. 

"What are we going to do?"

"The only thing we can do: what is best for Neoma."

---

They would spend the next week the same as those before. One woman went to work, one stayed home with Neoma. They wouldn't disrupt the girl's routine they had decided, prioritizing her well-being. Even though their concerns kept their minds busy and bodies tense, they made sure to keep the house as warm and as happy as they could.

The couple would be given notice at the end of the week. They would be required to present themselves in court and in a few days, permanent parental custody of Neoma would be decided.