the only exception

 "Hello, I'm Jessica Landry from the Department of Child Services," the lady smiled sweetly in the door frame, "I take it you're Miss. Williams?"

Hayley nodded quickly, shaking her hand, "Yes, hello! Come on in."

The pair made their way to the living room, Hayley quickly inviting her to take a seat. She could feel her nerves shooting through the roof and wasn't sure what to say or do.

"Phoebe and Mrs. Murphy aren't here yet, but should be soon." She smiled, "Can I get you tea? Coffee? Water?"

"That's alright, thank you." Ms. Landry smiled, pulling out some paperwork out of her bag, "Is Taylor York here?"

"Yes, he's taken the dog out back, should be back at any moment." Hayley plastered on a smile, rocking back and forth on her feet.

"So, I know Mrs. Murphy already knows you guys, and seeing as she hasn't arrived with Phoebe yet, is it alright if I ask you a few questions?" The lady asked, in which Hayley quickly nodded her head as Taylor walked into the room.

"Yes, of course," Hayley smiled, "and this is Taylor."

"Nice to meet you," Taylor greeted, shaking her hand before sitting next to Hayley on the couch. Hayley could tell he was just as nervous as she was with the way his voice sounded. They'd stayed up nearly all night talking about it. Well, mostly Hayley rambling while Taylor reassured her of everything.

"How long have you two known Phoebe?"

"Oh," Hayley scrunched her face in thought, "I'd say about four or five months?"

"And how did you meet?"

Hayley chuckled, her nerves clearly spiking the more they talked, "She was walking to get a drink from the store one day and we ran into her. Well, the door we opened ran into her."

"Oh?" Mrs. Landry quirked her brow, looking down at her notes.

"We offered her a ride home from there and then ended up trading numbers so she could let me know if she got home safe." Hayley tried explaining.

"But you just said you gave her a ride home?"

"Yeah," Hayley nodded slowly, scared that every word she's saying was the wrong answer. "She wasn't in a great home situation at the time, so she didn't want us dropping her off at her actual house."

"And you two are musicians? I've heard of your band." Mrs. Landry continued, checking her notes every now and then.

"Yes, ma'am." Taylor answered, reaching over to grab Hayley's hand when he noticed her inner turmoil.

She continued to ask little questions for about ten minutes before there was finally a knock on the door, Hayley jumping to her feet. Mainly because she was excited for Phoebe to finally be there, it felt like such a big day for them, but also because she was sure her anxiety over this interview was making her go a little crazy and she just needed to move around.

"Phoebe, Mrs. Murphy," Hayley smiled brightly, greeting the two women as Phoebe quickly gave Hayley a hug. She could feel the teen trembling slightly, but didn't say anything in an avoidance to embarrass her, "Come join us in the living room."

Phoebe slowly pulled back and followed the adults, Mrs. Murphy taking a seat on the chair besides Ms. Landry while Hayley and Phoebe moved to the couch across from them, the teen sandwiched between Hayley and Taylor.

The two workers greeted each other while the trio sat nervously across from them. Hayley could practically see the anxiety radiating off Phoebe and lightly grabbed one of her hands, giving a reassuring smile. Both for Phoebe's sake and her own.

"Well, are we ready to get started?" Mrs. Murphy asked politely, turning back to the group who just nodded in response. "Miss Williams, Mr. York-"

"Hayley and Taylor are fine," the blonde smiled nervously, earning a nod back from the social worker.

"Hayley, Taylor, you guys recently got your foster license with the intent to care for Phoebe?" Mrs. Landry asked, once again checking her notes.

"Yes," Hayley spoke quickly, trying to keep consciousness and not squeeze Phoebe's hand.

"What made you make that decision?"

"Well, we saw what happened to Phoebe in the first foster home, or well, the first one she was in when we met her. We got fairly close and I wanted to get the license in case it was to happen again, which... It did. I- we just want her safe." Hayley explained slowly, trying to pick the right words.

"And what about the group home she's in now?" Mrs. Landry questioned, "Is there a reason for you to believe that's not a safe place for her?"

"I think it's safe," Hayley nodded, "But by the time she got placed there we'd already had to watch her go through two very bad situations and we realized we just want her to be with us. Just in case things go awry again, but also because she really does just feel like part of the family. We care very deeply for her."

"And Taylor?" Mrs. Landry turned her attention to the curly haired man.

"Oh, well," Taylor started, his words fumbling for a moment, "I mean, when Hayley asked to get the foster license, I was all in. I wasn't as close to Phoebe at the time, but Hayley really wanted to do it and you know, happy wife, happy life and all that. Or girlfriend I guess," Taylor rambled, laughing a little through his nerves, "But then I did get to really know Phoebe and care about her and she really does just click with us. It works."

"And I see you guys just got off tour? You were traveling since last year, is that correct?" Mrs. Landry asked, and Hayley's heart picked up at the way her voice sounded a little accusatory.

"Yes, that's right." Hayley nodded slowly.

"And if Phoebe moves in with you, would you stop touring? Or traveling much for work?"

Hayley shook her head, "I mean, we don't really have another tour planned at the moment, but I wouldn't say it's us stopping, really. Obviously from here on out, we would consider Phoebe in the planning of future trips we have to take from work, and of course we would take her with us if we did go, if she wanted to but-"

"Sorry, so you would drag her around for your job?" Ms. Landry asked, and Hayley couldn't decide if her voice held judgment or not. She hadn't even thought that something like this would be an issue.

"I wouldn't say dragging-"

"They wouldn't drag me anywhere," Phoebe finally spoke, cutting Hayley off. "If anything I'd probably be begging to come with them. I want to be with them and they would never force me to do anything I don't want to, but I would want to."

Hayley couldn't help but to smile at the wide eyed girl.

Ms. Landry continued to ask questions as questions and the further they got into it, the worse Hayley felt. She had no idea how it was going or what the likely outcome would be, and suddenly she was realizing that Phoebe was so close to being part of their family, and that made it all feel even worse that it could get denied.

"Now, Phoebe already lives with an acceptable foster home, why do you think you would be a better home for her?"

Hayley opened her mouth to answer, seeing as the question seemed to be directed at her and Taylor, but Phoebe answered before she had time to.

"Because," Phoebe said, her voice strong, but shaky as she held eye contact with Mrs. Landry, "I feel safe with them. I know they care about me and just want what's best for me. And I know they love me and I- well-" the teen paused, sighing. "I guess I already think of them already, sort've as..."

Hayley could tell Phoebe was having a hard time voicing her thoughts seeing as she kept scrambling around her words. The teen quickly glanced up at the singer before continuing, "I already think of them as like... Well, my parents, I guess."

Phoebe's cheeks flushed at the admission. She knew exactly what she was going to say at this interview, having stayed up all night planning the perfect words, but now she was scared she'd said the wrong thing and made a mistake.

She glanced at Taylor then Hayley, seeing them both wearing proud, watery smiles which helped her calm down a little bit.