Maisie took a breath, listening to the air fill her lungs then exit back out. This was meant to calm her, but the tension stayed in her fingers, arms, her shoulders… pretty much her entire body!

"You're not going to hit anything with that posture." Owen told her, hunkering down to her level.

"She doesn't really need to try and hit anything." Claire mentioned from Maisie's other side… several feet away. Owen looked up at her in exasperation. "It's a gun, Claire. Hitting something's kinda the point."

Claire moved her hand down her leg. Maisie had noted that she was making a habit out of it, when she was nervous. But she was too busy holding Owen's rifle and couldn't think about being nervous. They were taking a break from the roof work that was nearly completed on the cabin. Owen wasn't leaving for any 'safe haven' until that was done. He and Claire had almost come to yelling over it, but Maisie was secretly pleased that Owen had won her over. That, and her first lesson with a rifle.

"You sure about this, Maisie?" Claire asked again, looking at her anxiously. Whereas Owen gave an exasperated sigh. "Claire-"

"I'm just making sure."

"No,you're making her nervous."

"Guys!" Maisie shouted before they escalated. "My finger's very shaky and veryclose to the trigger."

Claire took a breath and Owen backed up. "Then take aim, Maze."

The sound of her nickname steadied Maisie enough and she but her bead on the spray-painted dot on the tree. Aim… breathe… squeeze.

She did. The rifle jolted and Maisie tottered back, gasping at the jab it gave the right side of her body. Owen caught her, but Maisie looked at the tree… she'd missed.

"Not bad." Owen shrugged, a hand on her sore shoulder. "You nicked it."

Maisie rubbed at the whining in her ears. "I had it in my sights, how'd I miss?"

"You moved when the rifle did." Owen loaded another round into the chamber. "Remember what I said about your feet-"

"Owen." Claire interjected again, only she wasn't looking at them. Maisie followed her gaze as a car parked in the gravel along the trailer. That grabbed her attention. There hadn't been another vehicle up here since they had arrived. She squinted as the driver's door opened and a woman climbed out.

"Iris." Maisie spoke in disbelief. Then she sprinted from Claire and Owen, joy bubbling over. "Iris!"

The gentle-faced nanny saw her coming and dropped her purse in astonishment. Maisie reach her and about knocked her over, a type of laugh-cry coming out of her mouth.

"Oh, dear girl!" Iris breathed, squeezing her tight. The buttons of her coat pinched Maisie's cheek, but she didn't care. "You didn't get eaten!"

Iris laughed, tilting Maisie's head up. "Too gamey, I suspect… let me look at you."

She stroked Maisie's cheeks with her thumbs, eye lost in wrinkles as she smiled. "Where did all this color come from?"

Maisie couldn't stop smiling, grabbing her hands. "How'd you find me?"

"By no easy means." Iris held her out at arm's lengths to inspect her. "One would think you were trying to vanish off the entire planet."

For a lover of Queen's English, Iris was such an exaggerator. Maisie looked back as Owen and Claire walked up, apprehension on their faces. Iris noted them as well and her no nonsense posture emerged. "Miss Dearing, if I recall."

Claire cleared her throat and shook Iris' hand. "Yes, from the estate. And, it's Mrs. Grady."

"Owen Grady." Owen looped himself in, hands occupied with the rifle.

"They got married two days ago." Maisie informed Iris, still smiling. "I was the witness."

"I'm aware of who you both are." Iris' arm tightened protectively around Maisie. "And I don't know whether gratitude or fury is in order."

Maisie's smile weakened. Iris withdrew some of her tension, eyes travelling to the trailer. "I find that conversations like this are best done over tea."

Maisie glanced at Owen, smirking. "Told you we would need that."

}{}{}{}{

Claire was grateful for Maisie's presence to buffer the level of discomfort she had with Iris here. It felt like the equivalent of the Supernanny and her laser vision coming to visit. The presence of tea- served in coffee mugs- only deepened this illusion. However, would this end with Maisie leaving them?

Until she decides what she wants to do. Owen's words echoed back at her from a week ago. Course Claire could tell by the look on his face, seated across from Iris at the table, that he was regretted them as much as she did. Then again, this stiff British twig of a woman had been with Maisie her whole life… they couldn't stand in the way of that, no matter what Claire or Owen wanted.

"It took quite the convincing of that Miss Rodriguez to tell me where you were." Iris's gaze lingered on the cramped interior of the trailer; ending with Owen. "Guess I should be glad that your shirt's tucked in, Mr. Grady."

Owen smirked. "Careful Grandma, you about snapped your elastic."

Maisie tried to hide a giggle, Claire restricting a slap to his shoulder.

"Well, I like that." Iris placed her mug down with the first prim sip. She glared him down, and then looked at Maisie. "Maisie, is your room clean?"

Maisie protested. "Iris-"

"Is that sass I detect?" Iris eyed her.

That shut her down quickly and Maisie stomped back into the bedroom. She didn't, however, close the door. Really, what was the point in a space this small?

"So," Iris turned steely eyes on them as Claire, too anxious to sit, came to stand beside Owen. "Just what isyour explanation for running off with Sir Benjamin's granddaughter?"

"They were protecting me from Mr. Mills." Maisie called out from the bedroom.

"Maisie, show some respect." Claire threw out before thinking. Iris gauged her, as though the command were a slight to her presence. But she went on after another swallow of tea. "I'm happy to report that the sorry git's remains were identified yesterday. Course, all they found was a foot."

Owen's expression became oddly satisfied at hearing that. Claire only felt relief. She sobered however with her next question, catching Maisie's eye. "What about Mr. Lockwood?"

"I've made arrangements," Iris offered stalely. "Even with the red tape surrounding this whole mess. With Mr. Mills gone, management of the estate falls to me-"

"Has he been buried?" Maisie's query rang out, silencing the trailer. Iris looked back at her and for the first time, her demeanor faltered.

"There's been nothing about it on the news." Claire interjected. "Only of the use of his place to hold the auction."

"That was extent of his involvement." Iris whipped her head at them, daring them to say different. "He knew nothing about…" she hastened to collect herself. "I gave the press all that they wanted. Anything else is a private matter."

Maisie was in the doorway now, staring intently at the back of Iris' head. "Where is he?"

Iris clasped her hands to her mug. "Scheduled for return to Oxford. Buried in the family lot, as he always wished."

"Where his daughter's buried?" Owen guessed, a knowing gaze piercing the old woman. Claire touched his shoulder this time. "Owen."

"There's much to find offensive in your tone." Iris squared her shoulders at him. Owen leaned forward. "Did you know? Not about the auction, but about Maisie?"

"About…" Iris gasped, a hand flying to her throat. Maisie stepped out of the bedroom and up to the table. Iris looked at her, realization hitting her face. She looked back at Claire. "Mills."

"Oh he had plenty to say." Claire commented. Maisie was close enough and she placed her hands on her shoulders. Iris looked over at Owen, who hadn't wavered in his glare.

"Was her name really Gloria?"

Claire and Owen looked at Maisie in surprise. Gloria? Had that been the name of Lockwood's daughter… Maisie's name? Iris got up and drew Maisie close, brushing the girl's hair out of her face. "Your grandfatherwas… heartbroken when he lost her." she blinked through the tears misting her eyes. "He couldn't move on, like most of us did."

Maisie continued to stare at Iris, throat jumping in emotion. Claire felt like they were intruding on a moment.

"When I found out what he had done." Iris spoke straight to Maisie. "I convinced him… any name but Gloria."

Owen and Claire looked at each other. Iris shook her head with the memory. "It was too important. You're so much like her, it hurts, love. But… there are traits you exhibit- you learned- that Miss Gloria never did." She kissed Maisie's forehead and hugged her tight. "And it has been my joy to raise you, understand?"

Maisie hugged Iris back, fitting perfectly against the woman. That made Claire more nervous then she was prepared to feel. Iris broke off after a minute, smoothing her clothes and hair. She placed a hand on the table and returned attention to Claire and Owen. "Since we're all on the same page," she gazed back at Maisie. "Are you ready to go back?"

Maisie blinked. "Where?"

"To Oxford, where all the legal matters are currently being handled…"

Claire's heart skipped a beat. Her head whipped to Owen as Maisie's did. His face was a mask, looking back at Maisie. "If that's what she wants."

"What do you mean, 'if'." Iris echoed in absurdity. "It's what's best for her."

"Hiding her again?" Owen pegged Iris with his stare. "That's what you did, right?"

"Maisie has been provided for in every necessity since the day-" Iris' glance flitted between Owen and Claire; then her chin lifted in understanding. "What, you were planning on keeping her?"

"It's not so bad an idea, Iris." Maisie said. Iris placed her other hand on her hip. "So, adoption then? I imagine some documentation would be in order; documents she does not possess! And which of you will look after her schooling?"

Claire felt like she was six and being scolded for taking a toy of Karen's.

"You wouldn't be foolish enough to enroll her in public school."

Owen stopped Iris there, tone and chin tight. "She deserves that like any other kid."

"Does she now?" Iris challenged, her small stature going rigor. "And what do you expect people to say about her accent, among other things?"

"Bob's your uncle." Owen suggested, turning Iris livid. "I'm glad you can find such humor in this situation, Mr. Grady."

Owen peeked over at Maisie, winked. "Every little bit helps. And it's Owen."

Iris' arms folded in rising frustration, gaze happening to the window. She yelped and Owen righted himself to take a look. Claire swallowed at the sinoceratops grazing in the meadow. Maisie looked up at her, at a loss, then back as the giant herbivore mowed its way closer to the trailer. Everyone watched for a minute before Owen threw a sideways glance at Claire, scratching his head uncomfortably. "We probably need to call somebody about that."

"Yeah." Claire nodded, watching Iris' reaction dwindled, taking in the sight. She took a breath, shook her head. "John Hammond, Sir Benjamin… they wanted to stand the test of time. I never thought…" she became aware of Maisie again and gave a loving stroke on the girl's chin. "But, there it is then."

"Who else would know?" Claire risked asking. Iris paused, resuming her seat, as fatiguing deepened her wrinkles. "There was a staff of eight in the labs at the time. "Though I can't be sure who witnessed the breakthrough."

"The name Henry Wu ring any bells?" Owen tagged on.

"No, he was all Hammond's." Iris rotated her mug by the handle. "The proper names will be in Sir Benjamin's records, I'm sure."

"What's the likelihood they'll come around asking questions?" Claire said, back to gripping Maisie's shoulders. Owen raised his eyebrows at Iris. "Not likely if they don't know where to look for her."

Iris took hold of what he was saying and she didn't appear to like it.

"We're headed to Carson City in a few days." Owen went on, eyes subconsciously trailing to the cabin. "Once the evacuation's over, we'll be back here. After that…" he looked at Maisie with an encouraging grin. "We'll figure it out, won't we Maze."

Maisie's nod and smile were hopeful. Iris remained uncertain, coming back to a glare on Owen. "As I said, management of Sir Lockwood's affairs falls to me. When all is said and done, Maisie will inherit the lot."

"We don't care about that." Claire stated firmly- having no clue what 'the lot' indicated. "We just want Maisie to be safe."

"I suppose I'll have to take your word for it." Iris gave another condescending glance around the trailer. Her face stayed unsure, but she reached out and took Maisie's hand. "Maisie?"

Maisie swallowed, aware of all eyes on her. She studied her shoes, thought, and faced Iris. "I know why you always told me I couldn't go outside the garden; because I'm outside and… I don't know how I can be satisfied if I go back in."

Iris' eyes misted again. She lowered her head and cleared her throat, squeezing Maisie's arms. She gave her gaze back to Owen and Claire. "Children… need a father anda mother to be raised proper, I believe. If that'swhat you intend to be for her, I shalt object too harshly."

Maisie hugged Iris again as Claire's breath rushed out. She and Owen shared a glance, volumes of joy hitting the ceiling between them.