"Barbara. It's so good to see you."

"I wish I could say the same."

"Don't be that way Barbara. I just want to talk to you."

"Well I don't want to talk to you. And it's Bobbi. It's been Bobbi for 13 years now. I prefer it and you know that."

"Well it was cute when you were a toddler and couldn't pronounce your name well and it came out Bobbi and Phil started calling you that."

"And no matter how many times I say I prefer Bobbi and hate the name Barbara you still insist on calling me Barbara. Why is that mother? Why can't you respect my wishes?"

"Your wishes? It's Phil who allowed it not me. I've always called you Barbara not that male nickname."

"Well he was the one who stuck around wasn't he?"

"You have no idea what I had to go through married to him. He isn't the perfect man you have pegged him as. He has many faults. For one, his job always came first before our relationship did. And his relationship with Melinda started long before I left. She was always calling, always showing up. She practically stole him from me."

"Did she cause you to walk out on your own kid too?"

"She turned you against me. Even now, you act like she's your mother. She's not. I am. She's not blood. I'm your mother."

"Then act like it." Melinda's voice was even, and her gaze fixed on Audrey. She walked up behind Audrey, holding Skye's hand, moving to stand next to Bobbi. "For one thing, this is not the place to be having this conversation. For another, you've already put Bobbi on the defensive and nothing good will come from a conversation like that."

Skye looked at Bobbi and at the woman while she held a bag, presumably with her present for Thomas in it. She felt the tension and moved closer to Melinda and tightened her grip on her hand. Bobbi moved closer to Skye and patted her on her shoulder.

"Well Barbara refuses to answer my calls or texts. So how do you propose I talk to her. You probably told her to not talk to me."

"She did no such thing. You filed for custody and I decided I didn't want to talk to you. Nor do I want to live with you, and you are well aware of that. I've got a perfectly good life where I am."

"Your life could be so much better. I can give you so much more than they can. Give you opportunities you never dreamed of. You can live in a penthouse in Sydney. Go on the road with me over the summer and see the world. Vacation at Aspen, or Hawaii, even the best hotel at Disneyland although why you like that place, I'll never understand."

"Those things don't make life better mother. They are just things. They're fine things sure, even better to go to and do with people you love, but they aren't end game. Money doesn't make you happy."

"Well it sure can make is easier and more comfortable. Something you won't have living with Phil and Melinda. Especially now with them having another mouth to feed. A foster kid."

"That kid is my sister."

"Audrey. Just stop. Running into Bobbi by accident is okay. Saying hello is okay. But if you really want to talk to her, we should set something up. With Bobbi, and Phil and me with you. We can meet and talk this over. We don't have to go through the court."

"Oh it wasn't an accident. Since Barbara refuses to talk to me I wanted to find her and talk to her. I figured you wouldn't let me in your house, not after I filed for custody."

"You figured wrong. Talking is in everyone's best interest here. You know that as well as I do. Just how did you know we'd be at the mall anyway?"

"That boy she likes. He told me."

"Lance? He wouldn't have. He knows what you are trying to do."

"Whatever. He did."

"Look Audrey. We've always gotten on amicably. What changed? We always allow Bobbi to see you and spend time with you."

"You allow. That's rich. I'm her mother, not you. You don't allow anything. You have no say in any of this."

"Stop it mother. You're scaring Skye."

Melinda looked down at the little girl and squeezed her hand to reassure her. She also took a deep breath and lowered her voice. "Look. Skye needs to go home since it's getting late. Call me tomorrow. I'll talk to Phil and we can set up a meeting. We need to talk this out, but not here and not now. We can come to an amicable reasonable conclusion. You're never going to win if you demand Bobbi comes to live with you. You'll drive her further away. You know that."

"I want to see her more. I want some input into her life. I want to have joint custody. There's no reason I should be relegated to second string. I am her mother. I never gave up custody."

"You don't have any right to me, you're the one who left me and ..."

"You gave up physical custody Audrey when you decided to run off and leave for Australia. So yes, you did give up custody to Phil. Bobbi has lived with him since she was two and you married Phil. And when you left, she kept living with him."

"And dad and Melinda raised me. You didn't."

"Well they did a poor job. Look how they struggled for years financially after Phil was shot. You should have come live with me back then. Phil was shot because of Melinda's poor decision in the field."

Bobbi whipped her head to look at Melinda. Melinda's face was stoic. "How dare you, mother. Melinda was injured too. She – she – she lost..."

"Bobbi. Stop. Audrey that's not helpful. You're just lashing out and while that's okay to do it to me, it is okay in front of my daughters. We can meet somewhere neutral. We can figure this out. You know the judge won't give you custody. You left her with us. She will get a say where she wants to live. Just-just agree to talk. Please."

"She's my daughter. She's not your daughter."

"Then act like a mother. Put her first."

"Fine Melinda. I'll call you tomorrow. I'm not saying I'm giving in or stopping anything. I'll see you later Barbara." She turned on her heels and strode defiantly away.

"You okay?" Melinda's worried face looked to Bobbi.

"How did you not lose it after what she said to you. What a bitch."

"Bobbi."

"It's true Melinda. You have no idea how she would talk about you when I was with her. And about dad. I don't care if I ever see her again." Tears were flowing down her face now. The small crowd who had stopped to watch the scene started to move on.

Skye moved over to Bobbi and wrapped her little arms around her legs. "It'll be okay Bobbi. Melinda won't let her take you away. She'll protect you from that bitch just like she protected me."

Bobbi knelt down and wrapped her arms around Skye. "I know."

Melinda could barely stifle her giggle at Skye's use of the derogatory term. She also didn't correct her.

"She's masking her fear with anger. I should know. I used to do it all the time." Melinda bent down so she was eye to eye with Skye. "It's okay Skye."

"Is she going to take Bobbi away?"

"No, she's not. It's going to be okay."

"You don't know that Melinda. Why is she doing this? What is she trying to prove? She never wanted me to live with her before."

Melinda put her hand on Bobbi's shoulder. "I know. And I know she's going about this all wrong. But I think she's lonely. Maybe she finally figured out what she missed all these years. I think maybe she woke up one day and realized she barely knows you, and the ideal daughter she wants you to be is not who you are. She's scared you won't be a part of her life. And Bobbi, in the past you did spend at least part of Thanksgiving with her, and usually part of the Christmas holiday too, and this year you told her you wanted to stay home for both. Last summer you had to cut your time with her short because of that special basketball camp you were invited to at Syracuse."

"But she's wrong. You do think she's wrong don't you?"

"Of course. Being vindictive is never right. If she's not careful, she will lose you completely."

"I think that line has already been crossed."

Melinda shook her head. "I hope not Bobbi. Come on, let's get out of here."

Melinda picked up her glass and took a drink of the Haig. They'd gotten home before Phil, who had a faculty meeting to attend, and Melinda had made sure Skye took a bath, and put her to bed, reading to her first. Bobbi had called Lance and found out that Audrey had told him there was an emergency and she needed to find Bobbi to talk to her in person and Lance had believed her. After Skye fell asleep, Melinda had gone to Bobbi's room and just held and comforted her while she cried until she fell asleep, Bobbi saying over and over she wanted to stay with them. Melinda sat on the kitchen stool, playing over in her mind what Audrey had said and her thoughts drifted to that day when everything in her and Phil's life changed forever.

It'd been just another normal day, until it wasn't. Bobbi was in second grade at the time. Phil had made pancakes for breakfast, and they had dropped her at school and gone to the FBI office together, working on paperwork. The call came in at ten-twenty. There was a school shooting at Coventry Prep High School and local law enforcement was asking for FBI backup. Melinda, Phil and five other agents were dispatched immediately, all having previous experience in hostage situations and terrorism. Getting on scene they met with Izzy and Maria and other officers they'd worked with before. Maria had become a fast and close friend of Melinda's a few years prior, ever since Melinda worked a sex trafficking case with the local police and had been set up at the station for a while with them.

Melinda usually blocked out those thoughts, easily and purposefully, when they came by going to do something else that required concentration or calling a friend. But as she poured a second glass of Haig, she took a drink and the memories engulfed her.

They'd set up in the perimeter outside the school gymnasium. The school had already been evacuated with students being hurried by police next door to the Coventry Middle School where parents were showing up to be reunited with their kids. The school was small, only about four hundred students in the middle and high schools. Izzy had told her there were at least six adults and sixteen students unaccounted for. The two gym teachers, the principal, a counselor and two office workers were missing, and no one had any contact with them. The police had identified that they believed there were at least three suspects based on witness accounts. But they were getting conflicting statements on exactly what those suspects looked like, and what had happened, which was normal in a situation like this one. It had been three hours since the first shots had been fired. Numerous injuries had occurred from the scramble to get out, and all those injured had been taken to hospitals. All other students and faculty and support workers were at the middle school, first to be questioned by police, and then released to go home.

There was a huge presence of local police, state police, and now, the FBI had also joined them. Phil had called the office once they got there to send more agents and six more were on their way, covert and weapons specialists. The bomb squad of the police department was also on scene although no indication of explosives had been detected. It was purely a precautionary response. Of course, also on scene, but outside the perimeter the police had made were the media. A heavy presence of media. The mayor was there as well, on the phone with the governor, and numerous government workers were also present.

Melinda had the most experience with her military background and work with hostages in previous situations with the FBI. They had a layout of the building; the doors and windows, all rooms, all exit possibilities. The plan was to try to negotiate the release of the hostages. Melinda volunteered to go in unarmed to negotiate. It had been Izzy who made initial contact with one of the suspects to set it up. The suspects seemed to want to cooperate and not bring any harm to anyone, wanting to air grievances against the administration, certain teachers and the school claiming a coverup. Izzy had managed to negotiate the release of half the hostages in exchange for drinks and pizza to be delivered. Melinda had volunteered to deliver the items. Phil didn't like it as Melinda would be technically another unarmed hostage. "You'll be unarmed and vulnerable," he had said. She had responded "If I need a gun, I'll take one. Besides you and the others will have my back."

Melinda winced remember her words. Yes, she had needed a gun. And yes, she had taken one and used it. The images flashed in her mind as she relived it. The screaming, the sound of gunfire, the sheer panic. Her mind played the slow- motion scenario over and over as she remembered the young boy had turned to her giving up his weapon – the one suspect she'd gotten through to. He told her he didn't want to die. His blood had splattered on her as one of the other suspects, a female, had fired on him killing him instantly. She'd grabbed the gun from his hand before he fell, herself falling to the ground and rolling coming up firing at the girl as she watched the bullet hit Phil's chest before she could fire on the girl and other boy. It all happened in seconds. Melinda had moved toward Phil, knowing, like her, he had a vest on. But he wasn't moving at all which wasn't surprising to her, the force of the shot would definitely have taken his breathe away for a few moments and would leave a sizable bruise. What she shouldn't have been seeing when she turned him over was blood everywhere continue to gush from his chest.

She found out later the bullets they used were armor piercing bullets. Totally illegal just like the guns were in the hands of underaged kids. The boy she tried to help was only fifteen, a cousin of the other two. The girl she'd killed was only sixteen. The other boy was the girl's older brother. He survived a gunshot wound to his leg. Phil had only been on scene to take the younger boy who was surrendering out of the room, when the girl changed her mind about letting him go and shot him. Phil survived of course, but it was touch and go for awhile and it wasn't an easy recovery. The principal and one teacher were dead, having been shot earlier and laying in the boy's locker room. No other hostages were hurt. She had spent hours with them and eventually she'd gotten through to the young boy but could not get through to the girl. The girl shooting the boy was unexpected and it had shocked Melinda as she never saw it coming and barely had time to react to take down the girl and other boy.

Everyone called her a hero. Everyone said she'd had no choice. She replayed the scene over and over, each time questioning her decisions. She was convinced she should have seen how much more unstable the girl was. She convinced herself she should have done things differently. She convinced herself she should have been able to prevent the boy's death, and prevent Phil getting shot. Audrey's words rang true in her ears as she had always blamed herself for how south everything has gone.

Melinda was shaken out of her memories as she heard the door open and turned to watch Phil enter the kitchen.

"Hey you're up late. I thought you'd be in bed. The meeting ran really late." Phil looked at the bottle and glass and then looked back to Melinda. She didn't usually drink Haig alone. "Hey you okay? Something wrong?"

"Audrey was at the Mall."

Phil's face grew curious. "You ran into her accidently?"

Melinda shook her head. "No. She knew Bobbi would be there and she waited till she was alone to speak to her. Skye and I were getting Thomas's gift and Bobbi had gone off on her own. I think she was looking for something for me."

"How did she know you'd be there and what is she doing in town?"

"She called Lance and he told her. Bobbi hasn't been answering her calls and texts. I don't know why she's here, unless it's just about he her case she filed for custody. She – she -she brought up the Coventry incident."

"Lin."

"It's all – it's – I can't – I can't stop them – they just - the images Phil. I can't stop seeing them. Four glasses in and they won't stop."

"Hey. Hey look at me Lin." He moved to her side and gently cupped her face with his palm. "It's done. No amount of what ifs will change what happened. You did what you had to do. I'm here because of what you did."

"You got shot because of what I did."

"No. They made the choices they made. That's on them."

"They were just kids Phil."

"Kids with guns Lin. Kids who had already killed and were planning to kill themselves while taking out as many of us as they could. But you got through to the boy."

"He didn't want to die. He was scared."

"Lin that was not your fault."

"I should have seen it coming Phil. I could have stopped it."

"Melinda. No. We've been down this road too many times. You saved so many lives that day. You got them to release most of the hostages. Kids who are now adults who got to walk out of there and have a future. You reached the boy and tried to give him a chance. You couldn't have known those kids had access to armor penetrating bullets and they would turn on their own. You were shot too, remember. You lost..."

"Don't Phil." Melinda warned him.

"Come on Lin. We can't ignore how much you were hurt that day."

"I was fine. I needed to take care of you."

"And someone should have taken better care of you Lin. You should have let them. They tried."

"It's done and over Phil. Nothing can change it."

"I know."

"I need to get to bed. I have a busy day tomorrow."

Phil watched as she left the room, wishing he could take away her pain.

Saturday was a busy day for everyone. Phil had a lot of work to do for his classes which would be wrapping up the week after Thanksgiving and thanks to a bunch of administrative meeting at the college and the personal issues at home, he had gotten behind. He wanted to spend the day at the college catching up which left Melinda and Bobbi to clean and prep for Lian and William's arrival and for Thanksgiving dinner. Melinda was planning to do a thorough cleaning and when she found out that Phil would not be able to be there, she had not been happy. So he had done the smart thing and called for reinforcements. That's why at eight am sharp, Maria and Akela had shown up and ate Phil's famous chocolate chip pancakes with Skye in the kitchen. Melinda had gone to the dojo to make sure Carol and Trip and Wanda would have everything in hand for all the classes. Tessa was there, running the gym area and everything seemed to be working out fine. Melinda made it back home in time to see off Phil and Skye. Phil was dropping Skye at Cassie's house and Scott was taking the two girls to Thomas's party at noon. Skye was excited, not only about the party, but about spending the morning with Cassie too.

Bobbi soon dragged herself out of bed, and she and the three women got started cleaning the house from top to bottom. Time flew by quickly and soon Phil was back home with Skye, who he had picked up from the party. He had brought pizza along home for everyone, and after eating, Maria and Akela had gone home, leaving Melinda with a sparkling clean house with just her bedroom and bath yet to clean.

"How was the party." Bobbi was cuddling with Skye on the sofa as they watched cartoons on TV.

"It was wonderful Bobbi. I ate lots of candy and cake and ice cream."

"Yeah we know. You were very hyper when you got home."

"I'm kinda tired now."

"Yeah your sugar high is over and you're crashing."

"That's what Mama said too. Is she okay?"

"She's fine kiddo. Just a little stressed with a few things."

"Cause her parents are coming tomorrow?"

"Yeah. Well that and stuff with me and Audrey and I think maybe stuff my mother said to her made her sad."

"Your mother is not very nice Bobbi."

"Yeah I know."

"Some of my fosters were not very nice either."

"I know. I'm sorry. What you had to go through was terrible. At least my mother is not mean to me and never really hurt me, she's just selfish I guess."

"Mama and Phil aren't selfish. They share everything."

"Yeah they do. So tell me about the party. Who was there?"

"Thomas of course. He turned nine. His brother, Grant, and Miles were there too. They were helping Thomas's sister and her husband. Ace was there, and so were most of the team. Donnie, Cassie, Ellie, Kate, Harley, Billy and Teddy. And his cousins and some other people from his family too."

"Did you play games?"

"Yeah. We played lotsa games. Musical chairs was the funnest. Well that and the treasure hunt. We hit a pinata and gots lotsa candy too. Mama put my bag away and said I could eat it in moderation, and she said that means not all at one time. We gots a little gift too, a bag filled with pencils, erasers, a little notepad, stickers, crayons and a little soccer bear and I won two games and got to pick out prizes. I picked a puzzle and a book."

"Wow sounds like you had fun and got some good stuff huh?"

"Yeah. Bobbi I didn't know kids got stuff at parties too, I though just the kid with a birthday got stuff."

"Well mostly the birthday kid gets presents but when it's a party, many people give party favors like your bag of goodies and give candy and prizes out too."

"Yeah. I didn't know that cause I never been to a birthday party before. Just the ones at St Agnes where all kids of the month who have birthdays gets a piece of cake and get to pick a gift from the donations."

"Well I'm sure you will get to go to many other birthday parties. You have lots of friends."

"Yeah." Skye looked at Bobbi and flashed her a huge smile. "I do have lots of friends now. Jemma and Leo and Lincoln and Ace and Tashie and Thomas and Cassie and Robbie and you too Bobbi. You're my friend too right even though you're my sister too?"

"You betcha. We will always be sisters Skye and always be best friends."

Skye grinned at her and cuddled into her side more as she laid her head on her shoulder. "I'm tired though. Birthday parties are tiring."

Bobbi laughed. "I think it's probably more of a sugar high you're coming down from." She squeezed her tighter. "I do love the cuddles though. I missed you today."

"I missed you too. What did you do when I was at the party?"

"Me and Melinda cleaned mostly. With Maria and Akela."

"Yeah it looks really, really sparkly. The kitchen floor is all shiny too. There ain't nothing sitting out anywhere. Everything got put back where it goes."

"It did indeed."

Skye lowered her voice to almost a whisper. "I'm kinda afraid to move. I don't wanna make anything dirty or messed up."

Bobbi laughed. "Yeah I get that. You wanna head upstairs and play a bit in the bonus room?"

"Melinda cleaned all sparkly there too. I looked in before."

"Yeah. It's like being stuck in a castle with sanitation moat around us. If we try to cross over it, we might get swept up."

"Or put away in a toy box, or closet." Skye grinned as they both looked over as they heard footsteps approaching.

"Hey there you two are. I've been looking for you Skye. It's time to take your bath and get ready for bed, okay?"

"Okay," Skye answered Melinda but made no move to get up.

"Okay. Well come on then."

"Skye glanced at Bobbi and then back to Melinda. "I can't. I don't want to get sweeped up."

Bobbi giggled at Melinda's puzzled expression. "It's a sanitation moat Melinda. We don't want to cross it and get eaten cause we're dirty."

Melinda frowned at Bobbi.

"Well you have to admit, the place is nearly perfect, not a speck of dust to be found and not a thing out of place." Bobbi continued.

"So we are in the castle which is the only place we won't get sweeped up." Skye added.

"You two are funny. Haha."

Skye stood up on the sofa and held her hands out. "If you carry me, I won't make anything dirty"

Melinda shook her head with an amused expression as she moved next to Skye. She picked her up, with Skye wrapping her arms around her.

"Alright you little monkey, let's get you upstairs."

"I'll be up soon too Skye. I'll pop in to say goodnight."

Skye waved to Bobbi.

Melinda was combing out Skye's hair, both sitting on her bed. Skye was in her pajamas and nearly ready for bed. She had told Melinda all about the party while getting her bath and getting ready for bed.

Melinda finished and put down the comb." Okay so get under the covers and I'll read you a story and then you need to go to sleep. Tomorrow is a busy day. We need to drive to the airport to pick up my parents.

"What do I call them?"

"I'm sure they'll let you know that. Probably what Bobbi calls them."

"What does Bobbi call them?"

"She didn't tell you? She calls them Meema and Poppy."

"I thought they'd be weird names. In Chinese."

"Nope. One day when they were visiting right after Phil and I got married, Bobbi was calling them Lian and William and my mom said to call her Meema. Later my dad told Bobbi that Pop- Pop or Poppy was okay. She choose Poppy."

"Those don't sound like mean names."

"No. Hey." Melinda brushed back Skye's hair from her face. "Hey you don't think my parents are going to be mean, do you?"

Skye looked at her and bit her bottom lip. "Maybe."

"What makes you think that?"

"You are all weird and you made the whole place sparkly."

"Yeah. I just – look they will love you to pieces. Just like I do. Sometimes my mom can – can seem a little stern. She has high expectations of me. I guess I just want to please her so she can't find fault with anything. But you, you she will not find fault with."

"Did she hit you?"

"Oh no. No Skye she never did. I mean I got disciplined but she never hurt me. They just expected me to be a certain way. They're – they were just strict and stern. It's their way. Dad's mellowed out a lot since I've become an adult. Mom's getting there. "

"Oh."

"Skye look. I know you're not quite understanding this. I am at a bit of a loss how to explain it. How about you meet them and then you'll see. Okay?"

"But they're safe?"

"Yes. They're safe. They won't hurt you. They won't hit you. I promise. They already know so much about you. I've sent pictures too. My dad said you are so beautiful. Once they meet you and get to know you, you'll like them, and they'll like you. As far as my stress, it's just me being silly. I'm still just their kid and I want to make them proud of me."

"Okay. But I'm gonna stay real close to you anyways tomorrow."

Melinda smiled. "I wouldn't want it any other way."

Skye nodded. "I'm tired. Birthday parties are tiring."

"I know. You crawl under the blankets and I'll get the book. Melinda read half a chapter of the book 'The Borrowers" before Skye finally fell asleep. The book was hard for her to read by herself, but she had taken it out of the school library a week ago and practically begged Phil or Melinda to read it to her each night at bedtime. Jemma had said she'd like it and she really did. Melinda gazed at the little girl and smiled brushing a few stray hairs from her face. She turned off the light and left the room, chastising herself for letting her anxiety for her parents' visit roll over onto Skye.