Hello everyone, thank you to all who reviewed, followed or favorited. I know I say this all the time but it means a lot, and you are all spectacular. Here is chapter ten, I hope you enjoy :) I apologize in advance for grammatical errors and such.

After the holidays were over Constance returned to Boston and Maura returned to school. They resumed their normal schedule.

January 14th 1983 (The day before Gia's Birthday)

Gia had just put Maura to bed as Constance arrived home.

"Gia, dear, I need to ask you a favor. I know you requested off for tomorrow, but I need you stay with Maura for the rest weekend. My old college roommate is in Bridgeport from India and I haven't see her in ages. You understand?"

Gia being one of those people who couldn't say "no" agreed to Constance's request that she stay.

"I'm leaving after I pack, can you let Maura know, I don't want to wake her."

Gia nodded.

After Constance had left Gia went to wake up Maura.

Gia nudged the little girl. "Peanut, sweetheart, wake up."

Maura woke up and rubbed her eyes, surprised to see her. "You're still here?"

"Your mother left for the weekend, I'm taking you to my place."

Maura's eyes widened with excitement. "I get to see where you live."

Gia laughed a bit. "I think you're going to be a bit disappointed."

Maura packed her belongings, then she and Gia got into Gia's car.

"So... Tomorrow is my birthday." Gia announced awkwardly.

"What? Gia, why didn't you tell me? I haven't gotten you anything." Maura said with a frown.

"I'm not a fan of my birthday, Peanut, I mean it's just another day." Gia said with a sigh.

"No it's not, it's a special day, I'm going to make sure of it." Maura said with confidence.

"Well, my friend Val is coming tomorrow so you'll get to meet her."

"I can't wait." Maura said with a smile.

When they got to Gia's apartment, Gia immediately put Maura to bed in her room, as it was way past her bedtime. Then she called Val to inform her that there would be a change in plans.

"Hello," Val said.

"Hey Val"

"Birthday Girl, can't wait to see you tomorrow, you and I are going to paint the town red, my friend."

"Uh... About that..."

"No... no, no, no, You are not canceling on me."

"No Val, not canceling but we have to change our plans, I have Maura because her mother is away."

Val sighed, she wasn't mad at Maura, she was mad at Constance. "You asked for one day and she couldn't even give you that? She treats you like a machine." Val stopped herself from ranting any further. "I have an idea, I'm gonna bring my little cousin, she's about Maura's age, the four of us can do some family friendly activities and make a day of it."

"Sounds good. Thanks for understanding Val."

"No problem, G, my cousin will be so excited to see you, she missed you at Thanksgiving."

"See you tomorrow Val, I love you."

"I love you too G." Val hung up.

Gia fell asleep on her couch.

/

Saturday, January 15th 1983 (Gia's birthday)

Maura woke up before Gia and was trying to be very quiet. First, she made a phone call for a surprise for Gia, then she started to make breakfast.

Gia woke up to the smell of French toast.

"Peanut?" Gia said groggily.

Maura was still preparing breakfast. "I don't know why you said I'd be disappointed Gia, your apartment is great, I love looking at all of your pieces." Maura gestured towards Gia's artwork.

"Thanks, Peanut, at least someone likes my work." Gia said as she got up.

"No, Gia sit. I'm bringing your breakfast to you?"

"That's fine Peanut, but can I pee first?"

Maura laughed. "Of course you can void your bladder."

When Gia returned from the bathroom Maura was on the couch waiting for her with two plates of French toast on the coffee table.

"The stove isn't so hard to navigate, you know." Maura said with a smile as Gia sat next to her.

"You're getting bigger everyday, Peanut, soon you won't need me anymore."

"That doesn't mean I wouldn't want you." Maura said with a smile. "Happy Birthday, Gia, I love you," Maura said as she hugged Gia.

"Thank you, Peanut, I love you too."

The two sat and ate as Maura pointed to the various pieces in Gia's living room, making positive comments on each one. When they finished eating Maura insisted on cleaning up by herself. When she finished she was a bit exhausted from everything she had done that morning that she lay down on the couch resting her head in Gia's lap.

Gia and Maura heard a knock at the door.

Maura looked at her watched, she was surprised that her surprise for Gia had arrived so quickly, but then remembered it could also be Gia's friend.

"They must be here." Gia got up from the couch to answer the door.

"Wait, they?"

"Yeah Val and her little cousin, she's about your age, maybe a little older."

Maura started to breath funny and fan herself with her hands.

"What's wrong, Peanut?"

"You didn't tell me another kid would be coming."

"It's okay, don't be nervous, she's a pretty cool kid."

Gia answered the door, but there was only a little girl.

The messy haired haired girl in a loose ponytail ran through the door.

"BIRTHDAY PUNCHES!" the messy haired girl ran towards Gia with her fists aimed at Gia's left shoulder.

Maura quickly intercepted the punch, grabbing the other little girl's fist in her hand. Maura used her other hand to point at the other little girl. "No! There will be no Birthday punches."

The little girl looked at Maura and shrugged. She then ran like a tornado through Gia's apartment, touching everything and then started jumping on the couch. Then she jumped down and ran into Gia's bedroom and started jumping on her bed.

"Wow, what energy, I'd love to know what her heart sounds like." Maura said as started to walk to her bag to get her stethoscope.

Gia pulled the Maura back by the tail of her shirt. "Uh... Maybe later Peanut, you don't even know her name, which is Jane by the way."

"Hey, Stranger" Val said as she appeared in the doorway holding two over night bags in one hand and a bouquet of pink and purple orchids in the other. "These came for you, I caught the delivery guy when we got in, he was happy he didn't have to walk up all of these stairs." Val said in a huff.

Gia laughed. "You should have heard my movers." She hugged Val despite Valerie's full arms, and then took the flowers.

"I wonder who they're from" Gia said as she took them from Val. "They are gorgeous."

"Read the card." Maura said while doing the same dance she did when she gave Gia her Christmas present.

Gia gave Maura a look telling her that the dance was a dead give away. Gia read the card aloud. "To the amazing Gia, I'm so happy you were born, love Maura." Gia bent down and kissed Maura on top of her head. "Thank you, Peanut, you are so sweet."

Val interrupted their moment "Ummm... My cousin did come in here right?"

"Yeah she's-" Gia was about to answer as Jane ran out of her room wearing her welding goggles.

"These are freaking awesome." Jane announced as she ran over to the group.

Gia laughed. "They look good on you too." She then looked at her three guests. "Where are my manners? Let me introduce everyone. Maura this is my friend Valerie and her cousin Jane. Valerie and Jane this is my Peanut, Maura."

Maura extended her hand to Valerie first, who shook it, then to Jane.

"Handshakes are for stuffy men in business suits." Jane responded, and then pulled Maura into a bear hug. Maura was caught off guard but welcomed the hug.

When the hug broke the two girls looked at each other, like they had known each other for years.

"So... Bowling?" Val said as put her arm around Gia's waist.

"It's what I do every birthday." Gia responded giving a hip bump to her friend.

"Kids versus adults?" Jane asked excitedly as she rested her elbow on Maura's head. She looked at Maura. "That okay with you short stuff?"

Maura smiled, her nerves from earlier extinguished, she was happy to feel accepted by Gia's friends. She then remembered something that she new Gia had probably forgotten.

"Gia, your clavicle can't take the stress." Maura stated.

"Her carnival is stressed?" Jane responded confused.

"Her cla-vi-cle" Maura looked at Jane and reached up and ran her fingers over the taller girl's left clavicle. "This part."

"G, what happened to your clavicle?" Valerie said.

"Oh, it um... Broke" Gia responded.

"How?" Valerie responded in authoritatively upset tone.

Maura took over. "She was hit by a car while protecting a little boy. She's a hero."

Valerie smiled at Maura then looked at Gia. "You just can't keep yourself out of chaos, can you?"

Gia looked Valerie. "It follows me, my friend." Then Gia directed her her attention to Maura. "Peanut, I'll be fine, I bowl with my right hand, minimal stress will be placed on the left. Plus, it's my birthday, so I have to bowl."

Maura sighed knowing she would loose the argument that she wanted to start. "Fine, but you wince once and you're done." Maura said pointing at Gia.

"Shall we?" Gia said to her guests as she gestured towards the door.

"Shotgun" Jane called out, at as the group left to go bowling.

I plan on picking up at the bowling alley so there will be more Jane. I just wanted to get this chapter out to get my thoughts going, sorry if it's short. As always reviews are certainly welcome. Be well and have a splendid day.