Hello everyone, thank you all for any reviews, follows, and favorites. I know some of you are questioning where I am going with this and I hope that by the end it will al make sense. Speaking of the end, we are getting there soon. Here is chapter 21, I hope you like it. I apologize in advance for any grammatical errors.

It had been almost nineteen months since Maura had last seen Gia at her recital. In that time Maura had two birthdays and was now eight years old. She and Constance had become closer, and although her mother was still quite busy, she made it a point to spend more time with her daughter and appreciate the time they had together. Constance was thankful for Gia's "wake up call," because it put in perspective what was truly important in life, being a good mother.

Maura still enjoyed school and was friendly with a few kids in her class but preferred to spend time by herself, reading and spending time with her tortoise, which she named Bass. The once tiny animal, now fully grown, served as a constant reminder of her former nanny. She would often talk to Bass and tell him stories about Gia.

/

Saturday, October 20th 1984

Constance sat across from her daughter, who was working on a puzzle of the respiratory system, thumbing through a catalogue of Halloween costumes.

"What about Cleopatra, dear," Constance suggested, showing Maura the picture from the catalogue.

Maura looked up from the puzzle, "It's nice, I just don't know if it's for me."

"Okay well what about-" Constance was interrupted by a knock at the door.

"I'll get it," Maura sprang up, "It must be the delivery man with the strawberries for Bass."

Constance smiled at her daughter, "He's so spoiled," she joked.

When Maura answered the door, the person on the other end surprised her. It took her a second, but Maura eventually recognized the woman.

"Hello there Maura, do you remember me? I'm Valerie, Gia's friend."

"Yes, I remember you."

"I have something for you," she handed an envelope to the little girl. "It's an invitation for you and your mom, Gia is having an art show. It's in New York, she lives there now."

Maura held the invitation with both hands and looked up at Valerie, "How is she?"

"She's happy, but she misses you. She doesn't know I'm here, I wanted to do something nice for her, because she deserves it, I hope you can come."

"Thank you, I'll have to ask my mother."

Valerie nodded and turned to leave.

"I miss her too you know," Maura called out to her.

Valerie turned around and smiled at the little girl. "Then, I hope to see you in two months."

/

Saturday, December 15th 1984, New York City

Gia stood scrutinizing one of the sold pieces at her art show. She was dressed in a simple black cocktail dress her with hair styled like 1940s old Hollywood. Holding a glass of champagne close to her chest, she tilted her head slightly, and let her critical eye wonder. She could easily point out where she made mistakes, rushed, or was just plain lazy. She was surprised that the piece even sold in the first place let alone for triple what the asking price. Her concentration was broken by a hip bump from her friend Valerie. "Stop it." Valerie ordered.

"Stop what?" Gia responded still recovering from the startled state caused by her friend.

"Looking at your work and finding nothing but flaws, despite what you think, you're not a total screw up." Valerie put her arm around Gia, who in turn put her head on Valerie's shoulder.

"Thanks Val, ya know for everything."

"I love you, G," Valerie said as she kissed the top of Gia's head. "So... you have some people interested the 'Broken Heart' piece."

"...but that one's not for sale."

"They want you to name your price, they seem pretty set on not leaving with out it."

"It's not for sale, and that's that."

"Well the one said it belonged to her anyway and she just wants it back"

Gia's stomach dropped as the realization of who Valerie was talking about set in.

She looked at Valerie. "But how, this was an invite only event?"

"I know, that's why I invited them," Valerie replied.

Gia covered her mouth with her hand as a feeling of fear rushed over her.

Valerie could tell that Gia was nervous. "They showed up, G, just talk to them."

"They're in there." Valerie gestured to the other room.

Gia downed the glass of champagne in her hand, then handed the empty glass to Valerie and headed for the other room.

Gia's heart started beating rapidly she didn't know exactly what to expect, the last time she had spoken to the two Isles women they were upset with her albeit for different reasons but both had left her with the notion that they never wanted to see her again. Then again, here they were in New York City at her invite only art show.

Gia walked into the other room and immediately spotted the Isles girls looking at her sculpture made of metal trash cans with their backs to her. She immediately focused on Maura, she was at least five inches taller and her hair was longer. Gia wondered what else had changed since she last saw her nineteen months ago.

She stood there watching the two. Constance was interpreting the piece while Maura listened intently. Maura then offered her interpretation of the piece. Constance put her arm around her daughter and told her that her interpretation was "beautiful and insightful". Gia stood watching their interactions proud that Constance seemed to listen to what she had said the last day they had spoken. She didn't want to interrupt them and was still quite nervous, so turned around to return to the other room.

"Gia?" the small voice she hadn't heard since that fateful day in March, called her name.

Gia turned back around to face them.

Before she could react she felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist and the weight of the now eight year old's head on her stomach.

"I've missed you terribly, Gia."

Gia began to cry, "I've missed you too, Peanut."

Maura looked up and smiled, "I'm glad I'm still your Peanut."

Constance then approached the two.

"Maura, can I speak with Gia alone for minute? Gia, can you have Valerie take Maura to get a piece of cake?"

"Sure," Gia walked Maura to the room where Valerie was.

"Com'on Maura we have a couple of different desserts you can choose from," Valerie said as she took the little girl's hand.

Gia returned to the other room slowly, she felt intimidated, she had no idea why Constance wanted to speak with her privately.

"Gia, I want to apologize for the way I treated you. To be quite honest, I was jealous of you, and how much Maura loved you. She looks up to you so much, when you were off, you were all she ever talked about. I should have realized sooner than I did that it was my problem, not yours. I am sorry. I also want to thank you for setting me straight. You were completely right, I was taking her for granted. I don't know if you know this but, I went to get you back a week after I let you go, I had no idea what to do and was desperate to fix things. Don't take this the wrong way but I'm glad that you had already left because it forced me to step up. I am a better parent because of you Gia, and for that I can't thank you enough."

Gia didn't know what to say, she was in complete surprise of Constance's revelation.

Constance continued, "Maura asked me if she could stay with you tonight, we're currently staying with some friends of mine and she seems to be a bit bored. I think she'd have a better time with you, I said she could if it was okay with you."

"I'd like that," Gia finally spoke, "... And thank you for sharing that with me Mrs. Isles, I appreciate it."

"Call me Constance, dear."

The two walked to the other room and joined Maura and Valerie.

"Okay sweetheart, I'm a bit tired so I'm heading back, you may stay with Gia," Constance said as she kissed her daughter on top of her head.

Maura's eyes lit up, she was very excited.

"Mrs. Isles, we can split a cab if you're going up town," Valerie said.

"That would be lovely."

After Constance and Valerie left, Maura grabbed Gia's hand and led her to the room where the piece she wanted was. "Tell me about it."

Gia took a deep breath and scratched the back of her neck nervously, wondering how Maura felt about it. "Well, it's broken glass fused together by melted down copper wire into the shape of a traditional Valentine's heart."

"Is it," Maura bit her lip, "the one I..."

"Yes."

"I'm so sorry, I did that."

"It's okay," Gia put her hand on Maura's shoulder, she could see that the little girl wanted a closer look, "go ahead, pick it up."

Maura picked up the heart and traced her fingers across the copper wiring.

"The materials I used are from the original heart, I didn't add anything to it," Gia stated.

"The shards of glass were so tiny this must have taken a long time."

"Three months, I tried to restore it to it's original anatomically correct shape, but i was unsuccessful."

"I like it better this way," Maura responded, "It has so much more feeling behind it."

"I like it more now too... And so does everyone else, it was my most asked about piece, but I'm not selling it.

"Oh," Maura put the piece back on its display stand.

"...Because I'm giving it back to you," Gia placed the heart back in Maura's hands, "after all it is yours."

"Thank you, Gia. I promise I'll take good care of it."

"I know you will," Gia said as she kissed the top of Maura's head, "I can't believe how tall you're getting."

"What about you, Gia," Maura said as she wrapped her finger around one of Gia's curls, "you look absolutely gorgeous."

"Thank you so much, peanut, you're making me blush."

Maura looked at Gia's cheeks, "vasodilation, it's involuntary, you know."

"It's so cool that you know that... Smarty pants"

"Now, I'm blushing," Maura replied.

As Gia noticed the crowd die down she glanced at her watch, "the gallery is closing now, are you hungry."

Maura nodded.

"Let's grab a pizza, and head back to my place so you can check out my awesome studio," Gia held out her hand, and Maura grabbed it. Gia smiled and made a small laugh.

"What's so funny," Maura asked.

"Nothing, Peanut, I've just missed you is all."

I plan to pick up at Gia's studio for some more Gia/Maura time (Because I've missed them together too). Reviews are welcome as always. Be well and have a splendid day. :)

*edit* date fix