On a rarity of a day off and ordering Erin's engagement ring, Miranda, wearing her Columbia t-shirt and jeans, turns on her speakers that her phone is attached to and chuckles when a familiar song starts playing. She and Heather moved in with Erin and Nicky since their apartment is bigger and closer to Miranda's work. Out in the hallway, Erin gets off the elevator to surprise Miranda and hears the song playing and starts giggling.
"I can't believe that song is playing." Erin softly said as she opens the apartment door to see Miranda dancing. She places her hand up to her mouth and fights back from hysterically laughing.
"We're gonna turn this mother out. We're gonna turn this mother out. You've got a real type of thing going down, get down. There's a whole lot of rhythm going 'round." Miranda sang with the music as she is shaking her butt towards the door. She is dancing and turning towards the door and screams and jumps when she sees Erin standing there and her girlfriend starts hysterically laughing.
"How long have you been standing there?" Miranda asked as she turns off the music.
"When you were shaking your ass at me. Which, by the way, a major turn on." Erin said.
"Now that you've given me a heart attack, what are you doing here? I thought you had to be at work?"
"I decided to come home early. I'm glad I did."
"Not one word."
"I won't say anything. Although, that brought back memories when I first met you." Miranda groans and places her forehead against the kitchen island.
"Don't freaking remind me. I was so embarrassed when I saw you and your parents standing there." Miranda said and Erin giggles and rubs her back.
"You looked like you were going to have a heart attack at that moment." Erin said then laughs.
That night, Miranda is looking at a file with Erin's legs in her lap and her girlfriend on her laptop and the girls doing their homework in the living room.
"Hey Mom?" Heather asked.
"Yeah?" Miranda asked.
"Our glee club is doing funk this week and our group number is 'Give Up the Funk'. Do you know the song?" Erin looks at her girlfriend over the laptop monitor and has a smirk on her face.
"You, zip it." Miranda said to Erin.
"I didn't say anything." Erin said with a chuckle then gets back to work.
"Ok, you two are acting weird." Heather said.
A few days later was Halloween. Miranda walks into the apartment and makes a quick sandwich.
"Honey? Is that you?" Erin asked.
"Yeah babe." Miranda walks to the bedroom with the sandwich in her hand and sees Erin at the makeup table.
"Do you really have to work on Halloween?" Erin asked as she is putting on the green body paint and Miranda swallows her food.
"You know I have to. A city of eight million people and over 35 thousand cops and my crew and I have to do the reminders for sex offenders in my district then correlate with the 16th precinct. Heather?" The teen appears from her bedroom wearing a robe.
"If I'm dropping you off at the school party, hurry up because I'm leaving in five minutes." Miranda said.
"Ok." The teen said then closes the door again and takes off her robe.
"Your Mom is going to flip out when she sees you wearing that." Nicky softly said as she puts on the wig for her Dorothy costume. Heather is going as Lara Croft.
"I'm not going to be wearing this when I walk out of the room. I have a softball uniform that I'm going to wear over this." Heather softly said as she puts on the USA softball uniform.
"Ok, but don't rain on my parade when it backfires." Heather walks out of the bedroom.
"Ready." Heather said.
"Ok, let's go. I love you Erin." Miranda said.
"I love you both." Erin said.
"Bye." Heather said then she and Miranda head out.
Miranda walks away from the house with Nick when she sees Erin, Nicky, Jack and Sean. She chuckles then looks at Nick after watching Erin scare Jack and Sean.
"Talk to the others on the street." Miranda said.
"You got it." He said then walks away as Miranda walks over to her girlfriend and stands next to Nicky.
"She scared the boys, didn't she?" Miranda asked.
"Like always." Nicky said and Miranda chuckles.
"Honey?" Erin looks and smiles.
"Hey. What are you doing here?" Erin asked.
"This is my district. You do realize that Danny and Linda are going to kill you for traumatizing their boys, right?"
"No they won't." Erin said as Miranda's phone starts ringing and she looks at it.
"Captain Hill...Oh. Principal Ryan. How are you?...Wait, what?" Erin looks at her while Nicky silently gulps, making Miranda raise her eyebrow at the teen.
"I'm on my way to pick her up and believe me, I am extremely mad that she is wearing that because she was wearing a completely different costume when she left home earlier. I'll see you in a few minutes." Miranda said on the phone then hangs it up.
"Everything ok?" Erin asked.
"Heather broke the rules of the dance and is getting kicked out. And you," Miranda said then looks at Nicky.
"Know why she's getting kicked out." Miranda walks away to her squad car.
Heather walks into the apartment with Miranda and is wearing Miranda's black jacket.
"You are so grounded." Miranda said.
"Mom, it was a costume." Heather said.
"Heather, you knew the dress code and you deliberately broke the rules."
"Nicky knew about it and -"
"I freaking knew it since she was acting funny as I was on the phone with your Principal."
"Nicky?" Erin asked. The other teen walks into the kitchen and Miranda looks at her with Erin.
"What?" Nicky asked.
"You knew about Heather's costume?"
"I told her not to wear it." Nicky said.
"Heather, hand over your phone." Miranda said and Heather hands over her phone.
"I don't see what the big deal is." Heather said.
"The deal is that you broke the rules for going to the party dressed like the Tomb Raider." Erin said.
"Oh, so other girls could dress up like Playboy bunnies, but I couldn't wear this?"
"They were also kicked out of the party. You will get your phone back in two weeks. Change and go to bed. You will get the rest of your punishment in the morning." Miranda said then Heather and Nicky walk to the bedroom.
"I can just hear my parents chuckling. I don't remember being that rebellious." Miranda softly said.
"Because you knew you had more to lose since you were on the basketball team." Erin softly said as Miranda sits on the counter in the kitchen.
"Still. Maybe my job is hindering my parenting skills. Maybe I'm not a good enough mom."
"I don't ever want to hear you say that again. Baby," Erin stands between her legs with her hands behind Miranda's knees.
"You are an amazing Mom to her and you raised her pretty much on your own until you started dating Maura. There are going to be times where you question your parenting skills, but never say that you're not a good enough Mom." Miranda nods then Erin leans over and tenderly kisses her.
"Do you have to go back to work?" Erin asked and Miranda shakes her head.
"I told my guys if they need me to call me."
"Let's go to bed." Miranda hops down then Erin takes her hand and pulls her to the bedroom.
The following day, Miranda walks into her office and sees the box on her desk. She opens it and pulls out the velvet box and looks at the four carat engagement ring then places it in her drawer next to her service weapon.
"This is really going to happen." She softly said.
At Sunday dinner, Miranda doesn't say anything, Heather doesn't say anything and the boys are still a little bit traumatized after what happened during trick or treating.
"What's up with Miranda and Heather?" Linda asked Erin as they are putting away leftovers.
"Heather wore a costume to a Halloween party at her school that was against the dress code and Miranda had to go pick her up." Erin said.
"What did she goes as? A Playboy bunny?"
"No. Lara Croft from the Tomb Raider."
"Now I get it." Erin sees Heather walking over to Miranda and they walk outside.
Heather leans against the pillar and Miranda leans against the other and looks at her daughter.
"I wanted to fit in." Heather said.
"Honey, dressing as the Tomb Raider isn't going to get yourself fitted in at school. You are a smart, beautiful girl and whoever doesn't want to get to know you, it's their fault. Not yours. But you have to remember that there are rules. I don't want anything to happen to you and something could have happened if your Principal didn't call me."
"I'm sorry Mom." Miranda pulls Heather into her and hugs her.
"I know you are." Miranda softly said. Erin looks at them and softly smiles when she sees them hugging, but her smile slowly falls.
She wishes she had that with Nicky.