They were at the airport. They got there over an hour before the plane was supposed to land. Phil was at a table with Skye waiting near the exit. Melinda and Bobbi were waiting in the arrival area for Lian and William. Phil was waiting to get a text from his wife that they had arrived so he could get the SUV and drive over to pick them up. Skye was slowly sipping on the milkshake he had bought her, while he drank his third cup of coffee.

"Do you think they'll like me Phil?" Skye was looking at him with a solemn expression.

"Of course I do. They'll not only like you, they will adore you."

"How can you be sure?"

"Well, cause you are adorable for one." He reached over to tweek her nose which made her giggle.

"Mama is worried. Why is she so worried?"

"I don't think she's really worried about her parents Skye."

"She cleaned the whole house all sparkly. Very sparkly Phil."

"She did, didn't she?"

"Yes. And she is worried. She frowns more when she's worried and she gets this wrinkle thing here." Skye pointed to her forehead. "It's not the same as when she's mad, cause then she had that too, but also her eyes flash when she's mad."

"Skye. Melinda loves her parents. It's just that all relationships are complicated. Do you understand?"

Skye nodded and then shook her head. "What do you mean Phil?"

"Lian, her mom, has high expectations for her daughter. She wants her to be all she can be. She grew up in a house that was very disciplined and probably pretty strict. Melinda's a bit of a rebel so they clashed a lot. William was always the peacemaker and less intense. Although he's never afraid to tell Melinda exactly what he thinks. It's been tough for them too, not always knowing how to help Melinda, what to say. They all love each other for sure, but sometimes they don't communicate all that well."

"Why'd she clean so much though? Everything is already cleaner at home then some of the places I've lived at. There ain't no bugs or nothing."

"It is just something she does. It's something she needs to do."

"Okay. Phil?"

"Yeah?"

"Why is Bobbi's mom so mean? She made Bobbie cry."

"She misses her I guess."

"But you don't be mean to people you want to be with. That's dumb."

"It is. I think Audrey is just realizing what she's missed all these years."

"Phil?"

"Huh?"

"You're not gonna let her take Bobbi away right?"

"Right. Not a chance." His phone buzzed and he checked the text. "Looks like their plane has arrived. Come on. Let's go so we can be back when they get down here with their luggage. Skye threw her now empty cup in the trash after Phil threw his remaining coffee and cup away. They headed out the door to get the SUV.

Skye held tightly to Phil's hand as they waited by the curb. Soon they saw Melinda and Bobbi headed out the door and walking toward them. Following behind them was an older Chinese couple.

Skye shifted nervously and then ran to Melinda after Melinda smiled and waved at her. She ran up to her and practically jumped into her arms. Melinda wrapped her arms tightly around the little girl pulling her up.

"Hey you."

"I missed you." Skye laid her head on Melinda's shoulder.

Bobbi laughed and reached over to ruffle Skye's hair. "We were only gone for an hour or so Skye." Skye pulled back a little and laughed too. Melinda grinned at her and set her down on the ground.

"Skye these are my parents. Lian and William May." She turned to them. "This is Skye."

William moved forward handed her a stuffed red panda. "This is for you Skye."

Skye looked at Melinda and she nodded. She took the gift and smiled, shyly saying, "Thank you."

"You are quite welcome. That's just one of a few things your grandmother and I brought you."

"Dad. You don't need to spoil her."

"And why not Mellie? That's what we are supposed to do is it not. Right Bobbi?"

"Right." She gave him a huge smile, then turned to Phil. "Dad, look what Meema and Poppy gave me." She held out a beautiful jade bracelet she was already wearing on her wrist.

"That's pretty Bobbi." Skye held Bobbi's arm looking at the bracelet closely.

"I'm glad you think so," Lian May spoke up. "Cause I have a bracelet for you too. This one is called a tiger eye bracelet. It represents strength and confidence." She put it around Skye's wrist.

Skye looked in wonder at the bracelet and pondered Lian's words. Then she gave Lian a huge smile. "Thank you. I love it." She turned to Bobbi. What does yours mean, Bobbi?"

"Protection and good luck."

"But we should go, yes? Not stand around here taking up space." Lian spoke to Melinda.

"Yes mom. Phil can you and Bobbi put their bags in the trunk? Sorry mom, Skye's car seat is in the middle seat. I can move it to the back seat."

"Nonsense. Leave it there. I can climb in the back with Bobbi. William can sit in the middle next to Skye. I'm still in great shape for my age."

Skye looked at her, thinking about what she said, and asked, "How old are you?"

The girl's question caught Lian by surprise but then she chuckled. "How old do you think I am?"

Skye's eyes widened and she pondered the question. She glanced at Melinda who raised her eyebrows at her and smirked. "

Bobbi came around from the back and leaned down to Skye. "Well Melinda's gonna be fifty soon. So Lian is much older than that."

Skye's turned to look incredulously at Bobbi, then she stared at Melinda and then Lian and turned back to Bobbi again. "But that's old Bobbi. Mama's not old."

Melinda grinned. Lian stared at the small girl who had just openly called her daughter, mama.

William moved next to Melinda. "You're right Skye. Mellie's not old. But she is going to be fifty. Meema is seventy – six and I am seventy-seven. Phil, you're older than my daughter, aren't you?"

Bobbi giggled and Skye looked up at Phil, who gave Bobbi a dirty look.

"Is that true Phil? How old are you?" Skye questioned.

"I'm only fifty-one. That's not old either."

Skye turned to Melinda clearly astonished at the information of how old Melinda and Phil were. "I had a foster once. She was fifty- five. She had grey hair and walked funny using a cane. And she had lots of wrinkles."

"Did she now?" Melinda knelt down next to Skye.

"Yep. She was nice. But she was only a temporary. She took in us kinds of kids that needed a place to recover. That's what Sister Beatrice said. She told us kids to call her Mattie. That's a weird name for a lady ain't it? "

Melinda nodded. Skye had been starting to share more bits and pieces of her life. This was one of those rare glimpses into her past that came more often now during regular conversations. Melinda was dying to know what Skye had to recover from but knew pushing her was not going to get any results. Skye had to reveal things in her own time, under her control. "It could be short for a long name. Like Matilda. Or Madeline."

"Like when Phil calls you Lin?"

"Or when Poppy calls her Mellie." Bobbi said with a straight face.

Skye grinned. "Or when people call you Bobbi cause your long name is Barbara, right?"

"Hush you.' She tweaked her nose playfully. "No one calls me that awful name."

Phil walked to them. "I think we better get in and leave. The security guy is giving me dirty looks. This is just short-term parking to load and unload. Everything's loaded."

Melinda nodded as she stood up. Bobbi got in the back followed by Lian, and then Melinda buckled Skye in her car seat. William got in the other side door and sat down next to Skye who was still tightly clutching her new stuffed panda and staring once again at the bracelet on her wrist with a huge smile on her face. Phil got in the passenger seat and Melinda sat down in the driver seat and proceeded to pull away, maneuvering out of the airport and onto the highway. On the drive home, in the back, Lian and Bobbi held a conversation pertaining to Bobbi's classes, basketball and friends with William occasionally chiming in.

It was later in the afternoon and Lian and William had settled into the guest room. Bobbi had gone to her room to study for a test, Phil had gone to his office to grade papers, and Skye was doing her homework. So far, she'd done her spelling, and her reading assignments and was currently working on her math problems. Melinda was also sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of tea, there just in case Skye needed help. She looked over as Lian and William entered the kitchen.

"Mom. Can I get you both a cup of tea?"

"That would be good. Thank you." Her mother responded.

Both her parents sat down at the table. William spoke to Skye. "You are doing homework, yes?"

"She looked over at him and nodded. "I'm almost done. I just have a few more problems to finish."

"So what kind of problems are they?"

"Easy ones. Just word problems using addition and subtraction. It's a review sheet cause we are having a test on Wednesday before break. See." She held up the paper and showed him. "I can add and subtract pretty good. I don't like the division ones though. I get a multiplication and division review sheet tomorrow. That one will be tough."

"Oh well maybe I can help you. I'm pretty good at math."

"You are? I'm not so good at it. I'm getting better though. And I do good at spelling and I'm reading better too. Melinda said so."

"Very good. Sounds like you like school?"

"I do. Most of it. I love music class, and art class, and recess the best. Miss Foster reads to us every Wednesday and Friday too. I like that. And I like all my friends. I have lots of friends at school. I never had so many friends like I have now. There's Jemma and Leo, Lincoln, and Robbie. Tashie. Mack too. He's been playing more with us since the zoo. And I just went to Thomas's birthday party yesterday. Cassie was there and so were Ellie, Ace and Donnie. They play on my soccer team and they're my friends too. Phil took me cause Melinda was busy cleaning. Auntie Maria and Auntie Akela came over to help. It's all sparkly now ain't it?"

"Yes. It sure is." He winked at Melinda who had turned to look over when Skye mentioned the cleaning.

"Melinda tells us that you are a super fast runner on your soccer team." Lian spoked up.

Skye grinned. "I am very fast. And Coach Mike is teaching me how to play soccer better. I like it a lot. We have pink uniforms."

"You like the color pink?" Lian asked.

"Yeah. I like blue too. Blue used to be my most favorite but now I like pink too. I like them both."

"Mellie used to like pink too when she was a child."

"She did?"

"Oh yeah. Pink Curtains in her room, pink rugs, pink comforter."

Lian chimed in. "Pink dresses, Pink bows. Pink ice-skating outfits."

"I was ten mom."

"Ice Skating?"

"Yes Mellie was a champion. You won the regional juniors when you were twelve, right Mellie?"

"That was a long time ago dad. I haven't been on skates in ages."

Skye looked at Melinda who had brought over three cups of tea and was pulling out a chair to sit back down. "I never been skating."

"Well, we can fix that, right Mellie. We could all go while we are here. There are indoor rinks around here aren't there?"

Skye looked at Melinda hopefully. She was just about to use her puppy dog eyes when Melinda smiled.

"I suppose we could. It's been a while. I don't think Bobbi's ever been either. We could do that between Thanksgiving and Christmas."

"Really?" Skye gave her a huge smile.

"Sure. Why not. It's a holiday thing, right? I'll add it to the list."

"What list is that?" Lian asked.

"The list of holiday things Skye has never done or hasn't done often."

"Yeah. I never went and cut down a Christmas tree. Or visited Santa. Or had a part in a holiday play. I'm in one at school. You can come see me if you want. Do you want to?"

"I wouldn't miss it." William smiled at her warmly.

"Of course we want to." Lian said pragmatically. "What else is on your list, Skye?"

"Having a big Thanksgiving dinner. Mama's having one of those. Everyone is coming."

"Everyone?" Lian looked at Melinda. She also noted that once again the young girl had used the word mama to refer to Melinda.

"Well, all of us of course. Maria of course. Akela. Izzy and Vic."

"And Lance and Tashie." Skye chimed in.

"Don and Jane," continued Melinda.

"She's my teacher. Miss Foster."

Lian nodded at her.

"A few other people from work who don't have family here."

"So Phillip will be doing the cooking I assume?" Lian asked.

"Most of it. Well the turkey and ham, potatoes and a few sides dishes. Everyone is bringing something too. Either a side dish or dessert."

"I will make buns then. And Peking duck. Maybe some dumplings. You have a large group coming."

"Okay Mom. Phil figured you would want to make some things. He's going shopping tomorrow night."

"Good. I will go with him."

"I never had duck before."

"You will love my duck. And perhaps you can help me make the buns and dumplings?"

Skye smiled. "Okay. I can try. I do like those. We get them in take-out sometimes."

"You will like Lian's better than take out," William said.

"We have a pretty good authentic restaurant dad. They do dim sum well and the take-out is good."

But never as good as Lian's."

"No dad. Never as good."

"What's never as good?' Bobbi entered the room hearing the last couple words.

"Take out. As good as Lian's Chinese cooking." William answered.

"Nope. Never. Oh, are you gonna cook some Chinese food, Meema?"

"For Thanksgiving. Buns. Dumplings. Peking Duck."

"Oooo... Cool. What about rice cakes?"

"I can make those too. You can help. Skye is going to help too."

"Okay." Bobbi looked unsure. "I mean I don't have to help. If you just want to spend time with Skye. That's cool."

"We can all spend time cooking. Together. Even Mellie can help."

"Okay. I'll keep an eye on her. Make sure she doesn't burn down the kitchen."

"Haha. Just for that I shouldn't make your sesame chicken." Melinda glared at Bobbi.

"I meant Skye. I'll keep an eye on Skye." Bobbi smirked.

Melinda glared longer while Skye giggled. Skye turned to William. "Mama sometimes burns things in the kitchen."

"Oh I know. I know."

Melinda focused her glare on her father. "I can cook. When I want to."

"Too bad your 'want to' is fleeting and far between." Lian added. "Anyway, Bobbi can you get those bags over there? By the corner. They are for you and Skye."

"Mom. You know Christmas is only a little more than a month away. You already gave them both gifts."

"Yes. There are more for Christmas. These are for now. Go on Bobbi. The grey bag is for you and the white one for Skye."

Bobbi looked at Melinda who nodded and gave her a small smile. Bobbi retrieved the very large bags and set the white one in front of Skye. Skye's eyes grew large as she gazed at the bag on the floor nearly half as big as she was. Bobbi sat down and placed her own bag in front of her. She reached in her bag and drew out a wrapped package. She unwrapped it and let out a squeal.

"Box seats. To a game at Madison Square Garden."

"That team you like is from Philadelphia right?"

"It is. Oh Meema, thank you. Oh wait, there's four tickets."

"Yes, Phillip can take you. William likes basketball, so he can go with you. And I suppose your boyfriend might want to go as well?"

"Yes. He would. Thank you so much." She opened a larger package and pulled out a new basketball. She then pointed to Skye. "Open one of yours, kiddo."

Skye pulled the largest package out and opened it, revealing a new soccer ball. This one was pink and silver. She grinned. "Thank you."

William smiled. "Keep going. There are more."

Skye opened another one pulling out another package. She opened it revealing some art supplies. She grinned and looked through everything with Bobbi.

The two continued opening gifts, mostly smaller items. Skye received a few DVD's and books, two board games and Bobbi got a gift card to a sports clothing shop, a few books, and a journal.

As they opened them, Melinda shook her head. Her parents always brought gifts for Bobbi when they visited. Fortunately, they normally kept them small and useful – tailored to her likes and personality. But today, they had overdone it for both Bobbi and Skye, at least in her mind. The girls were giggling and ecstatic. She spoke quietly to her mother. "You know Mom, since you went a bit extreme here, I can't imagine what you've gotten them for Christmas."

"As if you are not going to go all out with them this year, especially your new daughter? How many things have you already purchased for her Melinda?"

"Okay. Point made. I just want the holidays to be more meaningful than just getting things."

"So you make those special memories, those things on the list. And you allow her to give too. Some of the most treasured gifts I have are the ones you made."

Skye came over to Lian and stopped in front of her. "Thank you very much." She than moved to William and thanked him as well. Melinda smiled as she came to her and climbed into her lap. She looked at Melinda very seriously. "I have a lot of nice things Mama. Your parents are very nice. I can't wait to show my new art supplies to Robbie. He likes to draw a lot. Do you think it would be okay to give some of them to him? He doesn't get new stuff very often."

And with that Melinda again realized that Skye was an amazing kid. Her empathy and caring were off the charts for such a young age. She supposed it came with Skye herself having very little most of her life, and her ability to feel for others in the same position.

"Sure you can give some to Robbie. I think that is a very nice idea." Melinda the pulled the little girl into her, wrapping her arms around her. Skye snuggled contently into Melinda. Lian and William shared a smile as well.

Bobbi grinned. "You know what Skye? I might have some old art supplies in my closet. Probably some never opened. Maybe you can give them to Robbie too. We can look through them later if you want."

Skye lifted her head and smiled at Bobbi. "Okay. You're the bestest sister ever."

"Back atcha kiddo."

Melinda was upstairs with Skye combing through her hair after her shower. Bobbi was back in her room studying. Lian and William were sitting with Phil in the family room as the news played on the TV. Lian looked over at Phil and then spoke to him.

"So the little girl calls my daughter, mama. How long as she been doing that?"

Phil blinked at her direct question. He hesitated but then smiled. "Yes. Sometimes. Not very long actually."

"I noticed the sometimes part. What about you Phillip? She calls you Phil?"

"Yes. Usually." A huge smile formed on his face. "She called me PapaPhil. Once. Well twice but during the same conversation. She's called Lin – 'mommy' a few times. But mama seems to be her go-to now and she does it more and more every day. I think she feels safer here every day. And is a lot more comfortable with Lin."

"Melinda told us some of her past. It makes sense Skye is more comfortable with Melinda. It's good to see our daughter more open and showing more emotion. It's been a long time of healing."

"It has. Skye has been so good for Melinda. She can't hide from her and Skye seems to intuitively understand Melinda's pain and fear. She makes her push through it. Skye is really a caring little girl. Al the bad things that have been done to her seem to have made her stronger in her compassion for others. She hasn't had a bad dream in weeks, nor a full-blown panic attack. Just Melinda's presence seems to keep them at bay. Her last panic attack was at the zoo, and it was not to bad. Melinda helped her through it. Of course, she is seeing a psychiatrist too, a very good one."

"Is Melinda?"

"You know the answer to that William. She's still as stubborn as ever."

"Well this silly custody thing with Bobbi isn't helpful for any of your stress either. If I were younger, I'd have a few things to say to her. Maybe even more than just talk."

Phil raised his eyebrows at Lian. "Melinda gets that protective thing from you then? She was thinking about driving down to Philly with Akela and Maria, where Audrey is playing with the orchestra the other day."

"Good. It is what mother's do. They protect their children."

"Yeah." He grew somber. "This is hurting Bobbi so much. Melinda is trying so hard to not be part of that. She's trying to be civil with Audrey. She always has been accommodating to her and never tried to take her place in Bobbi's life. But now, well now, I guess the gloves are off. Bobbi's her cub."

"She finally realized she is Bobbi's mom. That took longer than I thought it would." Lian shook her head.

"Oh I think she's known it all along, she was just to scared to admit it to herself. Skye has changed how she sees herself. She finally sees that she is a mom. To both Skye and Bobbi."

"Well, it's been a while since I've spoken to Bobbi alone. Do you think she's finished her studying?"

"Probably. She's most likely texting Lance by now." Phil frowned as he said it.

"Ah the first serious boyfriend. You'll survive it Phil. We did with Melinda." William chuckled.

"Did you threaten him?"

"Of course we did. We threatened all of them. Surely you picked up on that?"

Phil smirked. "Indeed. Melinda used to tell me it was all in my head. But I knew better."

"Smart man." Lian patted his arm as she passed by him on the way out of the room.

Lian walked up the steps and knocked on Bobbi's door.

"Yeah?"

"It's me. Can I come in?"

"Sure."

Lian opened the door and entered the room. Bobbi was laying on her bed with her phone in her hand.

"You finished your schoolwork?"

"Yeah a little while ago."

"Texting the boyfriend?"

"Bobbi turned slightly pink. "Yeah. I was telling him about the basketball tickets. He says to thank you very much."

"He's a good boy, yes?"

"Yes."

Lian moved further into the room and sat down on the desk chair. "He must be to put up with your parents. Most would have run for the hills already."

"Yeah that's true. He is a bit afraid of Melinda. But he also thinks she's amazing."

"This thing going on- this situation with Audrey, you will get through it."

"I know. It's just – I don't understand why she is doing this to me. Especially now. Mo- Melinda thinks it's cause she regrets leaving and now thinks she's lost our relationship. Can you believe that Melinda actually feels sorry for her?"

"Melinda had always had a big heart. She has always tried to put herself in other's shoes and not judge too harshly. It seems that the little one is the same, yes?"

"Skye? Oh yeah. She does. Even after everything she's been though. Melinda's been through a lot too. I remember back then. When everything happened. When dad was shot. She took care of him, me and everything in the house and was just amazing. And then starting up her own dojo and gym shortly after that. I didn't find out about her losing her baby until last year. Akela let it slip accidently. It was when Izzy and Vic had taken in Natasha and talking up foster care to everyone. Akela wouldn't give me more details, but I figured it out on my own. She can't have any kids now, or if she would try, she probably couldn't bring the baby to term and would miscarry. That was about eight years. I never realized it till my mother brought up the shooting and I started thinking about everything, but her baby would have been around Skye's age now, maybe just a little younger. She never deserved that. Melinda is the best person I know, always putting everyone else first. She puts me first all the time, even to the point of not talking smack about my mother, so she doesn't hurt me."

Lian smiled. "Audrey is not now and never has been a mother to you Bobbi. She just gave birth to you."

"I know. Melinda's my mom. Even before she and dad got married, she did more mom things for me than Audrey did."

Lian frowned. "Wait. Did you say that Audrey brought up the shooting? To Melinda?"

"To all of us. At the mall. We ran into her there. Turns out she actually was looking for me there. But she and Melinda had words. And she brought up the shooting. She told Melinda that dad getting shot was her fault. She's an idiot. I don't think she knows mom lost a baby that day, and almost lost dad. She had to shoot kids. I know she suffered from that. But it wasn't her fault."

"How do you know that? She tried to keep that from you Bobbi."

"Yeah well, I can read. The internet has everything you know. It was in the local and national papers. After all it was a school shooting."

"You're right. She had to do what she did. She saved Phil's life and most likely many others. No death should ever be celebrated of course. But sometimes you have to do a terrible thing to protect people. Melinda couldn't bare it though. That's why she quit the FBI. It's why she pushed people away and why she still internalizes so many things." Lian smiled. "But thanks to Skye and you, and Phillip, and her friends – she is almost back to how she was. I heard she chaperoned a bunch of kids at the zoo."

"Yeah. It was funny. She prepared for it like a mission. Skye loved it. We were going to go back to the zoo as a family last week, but the weather didn't cooperate. So Melinda said maybe early spring. Cause right now is busy, with the holidays coming up."

"You help her Bobbi. You help keep her grounded and you help her have fun. She loves you very much."

"I know. She loves you two very much too. Even if she's a bit scared of disappointing you."

Lian's look of shock made Bobbi laugh.

"She cleaned this whole place from top to bottom. At first I thought it was to impress you and cause you used to be kind of more – well uptight about stuff, but now I know it was cause she needed to use up her energy and stop worrying. She really still cares a lot about what you think of her. Honestly I think she feels that way with dad sometimes too. At least she did before Skye came here. Almost like she wasn't worthy of us or you loving her."

Bobbi stopped talking and then took a deep breath and continued. "She's always been tough on herself. I only started seeing it the last year. Akela said a few things to me that made me start noticing more how much pressure she puts on herself. But she's gotten much more spontaneous and free spirited since Skye entered out lives. Do you know what I mean? I mean am I making sense?"

"You are. Melinda's always held this bit of façade around her, a cushion really to keep control over things. She's more of an introvert and actually was a very quiet kid growing up. She endured a lot of prejudice and just outright idiocy from people who wanted her to be a certain way. I think because she was so tender and gentle and sympathetic and the world was harsh and bitter, she imposed a barrier around herself that few people broke into when she was a child. She stifled that outward emotion. Moving around a lot didn't help. But she has always been warm and funny with the people she does let in. Phil saw that right away. Her close friends see that. You always did too. You never let her build herself a wall around you. Even after the shooting. I know she wanted to distance herself from you, thinking she was protecting you. Probably part of the reason she pushed you to have a relationship with Audrey even when Audrey was being so selfish."

She shook her head and then gave Bobbi a small smile. "She had to grow tough to make it in the military and the FBI. There was so much bigotry back then. So she became tougher on the outside."

"And she learned how to beat up everyone."

"Yes. Most boys were intimidated by her. Many girls too. Yes we were strict with certain things when she was growing up, but that was because we knew she had so much potential. And we knew she would have to work very hard to reach her goals since the system was not set up for success for Chinese women back then. And I'll have you know young lady, that William and I are not uptight."

Bobbi raised her eyebrows at her.

"Okay maybe a bit old fashioned. A little strict on certain things perhaps. Our culture is different in some ways. I know Melinda has always been a pushover though. That's who she is. You had a part in that too. She's always loved you Bobbi. She has always thought of you as her kid, even before she agreed to marry your father."

"I know. I remember her talking to me before they got married. She wanted to make sure I was okay with it. I was more than happy. I mean my mother constantly tried to get me to like music and art and stuff. Melinda got me. She understood that even when I was little, I just wanted to be outside, wanted to move, run, and jump and stuff. I bugged her relentlessly till she taught me martial arts. She drove me to all my basketball and softball practices. She sat in the stands cheering with dad at all the games and she did all the fundraisers for the teams. Of course, she would just get all the agents and everyone of the force to buy stuff. Even after, after the shooting, after that, she still did those things for me."

"She always will be there for you Bobbi. I remember when she told us she was marrying Phil. She said you were part of the deal. She told us that now we were grandparents. It was one of the greatest days of our lives. To see our daughter so happy, so animated and joyful. It's all we ever wanted for her. You and Phillip gave her that."

"She's done so much for me. Made me who I am. Well her and dad."

"You have inherited all their best qualities. Compassion, patience, humor, curiosity, and trust from Phillip. Strength, empathy, fearlessness, selflessness from Melinda."

"And her sassiness."

"Indeed." Lian grinned at her then her face grew serious. "So why are you not using all those things to talk to your mother, to talk to Audrey. I know Melinda taught you how to stand up for yourself. Phillip taught you how to present an argument. They both taught you to speak for yourself, tell people how you feel and you are quite able to speak well to adults. You need to set up a meeting, tell Audrey what you want and tell her some of the things you've talked to me about tonight. Tell her who your family is, what you want to do, and tell her to stop making these threats. You need to set the boundaries you expect her to follow."

"Meema. I'm not strong enough to do that."

"Yes Bobbi, you are. And you have to be prepared to compromise a little. She wants to be a part of your life. That's fine but it is you who needs to make it clear what part that is going to be."

"I don't like her very much right now. I don't even care if I never see her again."

"Yes you do. She's your family. No she has not been much of a mother, as Melinda has that role in your life. But she is family. We need all the family we can get. But on your terms. Make it clear who you are, who Phillip and Melinda and Skye are to you. Tell her what role she can have in your life. What role you will accept. Once she knows where you stand then she will have to make a decision. To be part of your life or not. Then the burden is on her."

"I don't think I can do that alone Meema."

"What would make you think you have to. Ask your mom to go with you. You know she will. I will go too. But you are the one she needs to talk to. Now it is late and I need my beauty sleep." Lian winked at Bobbi.

Bobbi laughed. They both got up but before Lian could get to the door, Bobbi hugged her. "Thank you. Thanks for reminding me who I am."

"You are most welcome. Talk to Melinda tomorrow. Promise?"

"Yeah, I promise." She let Lian go and smiled. "Goodnight. I love you."

"I love you too."