Hello! Okay so this update is a tiny tinsey late. I mean, you have to forgive one and a half years!? Yes?... No?... Oopsey. But I decided that I needed to finish all of my fanfics off, it had to be done. I couldn't leave these stories unfinished, and after watching the most recent series of SW we all needed a little of Leo/Harry/Janet loving.

Anyway, this last 2 years ish has been madness. My life has changed so so so so much! And a lot of it was originally down to silent witness fanfic (I know, how geeky). I met some very special people on here who changed my life.

So to all you new people on here, read this story! I can't guarantee that you'll like it, because it is not set within the new series at all. It is set possible after series 14 and in series 15? Leo and Janet are still alive, and dating, and Harry is most certainly NOT in New York. If you haven't seen these series then I would totally recommend.

And you all my original followers of this story, I hope you enjoy the continuing of life for Maya Rossi, Nikki and Harry, and Leo and Janet :)

As always, drop a review at the end, and I hope this lives up to all your expectations!

It was a strange feeling thinking that her Dad was going to be visiting her in hospital. Was she meant to call him Dad? Or would he prefer Daddy maybe? That's more English. It's what all the girls on those TV programmes called their fathers. Or perhaps she should call him the Italian version? Papà or Babbo. Papà was usual for Rome where she was born, but Babbo was the colloquial normal for where she was raised in Tuscany. Did he think of himself as Dad, or just Leo?

She was suddenly aware that she was in a hospital gown and hadn't washed for days, let alone brushed her hair or teeth. She pulled the bag of items towards her, desperately trying to search for things. She decided to try and tie her hair back seeing as it was knotty and unwashed. She brushed through it gently, trying not to aggravate her stomach before trying it back in a plait.

She then sat there nervously and waited. What if he changed his mind? What if he didn't come? What if he saw her and decided against it?

And then she saw his figure outside the door. She watched him open the door slowly, nervously even. She smiled as he came in. He stood in the doorway.

"Maya," He sighed her name, as if he were relieved to see her. "Oh god, I'm so sorry." He didn't enter the room, but just stood there looking at her. The sadness in his eyes was obvious, as well as the nerves, guilt and relief. He was a man of very mixed emotions.

"Hello," She said, her voice quiet and croaky. It was like she'd forgotten how to speak, she didn't know what to say. What do you said to your Father you'd never met before? A man who you've known for two weeks, and one of them you were basically unconscious for, what do you say? There needed to be a manual for this.

"Maya, let me explain." He took wary steps into the room and sat on the chair next to her bed. His vision was focused on her. It was the look of a Father looking with love at his daughter.

Maya hadn't had that before.

"In August 1994, I met your Mother. She was very kind and wonderful, and we spent the night together. I didn't tell her I was married to Theresa however, and we never spoke again. It is no excuse but I didn't know she had a daughter. My daughter." He cleared his throat. "Maya. If I had known, I would have done everything for you."

"It doesn't matter Leo, I knew..."

"I want to do everything for you now. And if you would let me, I would be very grateful." Leo hung his head, as if he was disappointed in himself for not doing something he didn't know about.

"Why would I stop you being in my life?" She wasn't sure on what he wanted her to say. Or what she was supposed to say.

The situation was so awkward for her. So scary. Maya had dreamt of this moment for her entire life, and look what it was. Two really confused people sitting in a hospital, trying to mumble words at each other. Nothing is ever like the films. There isn't a big reunion scene, when you run at each other in open arms. You don't just catch up on life over dinner. And there certainly isn't any inspiring music in the back ground. Why did no one warn her?

Leo looked up at her again. His eyes looked glassy, but he was smiling.

"Thank you Maya." They both paused again. Neither of them had to say or ask what Leo was thanking her for. New beginnings were always very sought after in the day and age. They'd been lucky. They'd found one.

A day later, Maya had progressed away from ice, and squash and onto a English classic; Jelly. As she slurped it from her spoon whilst watching an episode of friends on the hospital television, Harry and Nikki came bounding in holding hands. It was very sweet (and almost a tiny bit sickening) how much in love they were. Nikki kissed her on the cheek, as if they were old friends before perching on the end of her bed. Harry took the visitors chair next to the bed.

Nikki started telling her all about the whole Italian case. Apparently because of Maya they had progressed very far. They knew it was linked to the restaurant, and they had IDs on the men who had attacked Maya. The police had arrested them, and obviously discovered the drug den in the basement to La Migliore.

"The only mystery is," Harry started, "Is that we aren't sure why they had to kill anyone who found out. There are easier ways of making sure people don't spill the beans rather than killing them."

"I guess." Maya sighed. It would have been a lot easier if they hadn't killed everyone, including her Mamma. "But it's a make sure method. 100% guaranteed that they won't go to the police. That's sort of what they said to me anyway." Both Harry and Nikki looked at her in curiosity.

"Has anyone taken a statement from you yet Maya?" Nikki asked.

"No. They came in on the first day I was awake, but at that point I could hardly remember a thing, and everything I could remember was pointless. The police said they'd come back in a few days."

"Can you tell us what they said? Or at least what you remember?"

Maya closed her eyes, trying to recall every word spoken, every facial expression made.

"They said they convince people to kill themselves, or they kill them. They were supplying people the drugs to people in very high places apparently. And obviously couldn't have anyone else knowing about it." Harry looked slightly disappointed with her lack of information. "However, when I lived in Italy with Mamma, we visited Rome every now and again. Mamma always used to point out this one restaurant, 'The Best'. She said that the Italian mafia worked there. She always told me it as a joke, but I guess maybe it wasn't."

"But how does that relate to this case?" Nikki asked.

"Well, La Migliore roughly translates into English as 'The Best' and the managers of both of them are brothers." Maya said. She was surprised that she had never linked this together herself before. It was painful to think of the happy times in Italy, except now it didn't seem so bad. She knew that there was a future for her in England. Perhaps that's why she could link it? Her Mothers, and all the other Italians deaths, had been linked, and justice would be served. She was at peace again, free to talk about her home, open her heart.

Nikki and Harry looked at her in shock. They both jumped up talking to each other about contacting the police and Leo. An hour later of phone calls and small talk, some worried looking police officers took her statement. Leo and Janet both had visited within that time.

But it was pointless. Maya knew that. These people didn't let restaurant workers live if they only saw the drug den. The police, Italian or English, wouldn't get anywhere with this lead, even if it were true. Yes, the men working directly in the drug den, and the ones who killed her Mother would probably be prosecuted, but the high up leaders would never be found.

Maya told them that, over and over again, however, hardly any attention was paid to a 17 year old girl. Why should they?

But one person sat beside her throughout all the statements and held her hand in his; paid her the attention that Maya craved and deserved. Her Father, Leo Dalton.

Hoping that was okay- don't think it was up to my standard previously, but oh well!

Much love, Poppy xx