They were taking a trip in the automobile to the center part of London for the day, they were to meet up with Mrs. Davis for a nice lunch. Marisa had the meeting planned in advance at the request of Mrs. Davis herself after briefly hitting it off and conversing at another acquaintance's party.

Marisa struggled internally hoping that the unexpected presence of Lyra tagging along wouldn't bother Mrs. Davis and that Lyra wouldn't disrupt the lunch meeting from going how Marisa prefer it to go. Mrs. Davis would provide her and her husband's support and funding to her research project. There was a bit riding on this meeting and the future of her research project gaining traction and foundation, hopefully leading to a bright more powerful future within the magisterium.

Marisa couldn't ditch the child, she had no nanny or sitter to watch her let alone she wouldn't dare let a stranger watch Lyra last minute like this let alone at all.

Lyra kept fidgeting, wanting to walk away and find her bear and try to play somewhere, she was restless and didn't wish to stand still patiently.

"You are just restless today aren't you?" Marisa asked inquisitively as she slightly struggled to dress Lyra who was near almost wiggling with energy.

Lyra didn't answer, hoping not to anger the woman or make her upset. Lyra secretly didn't want Marisa to hate her as she desperately didn't want to upset the woman in fear she would send her away again as she did when she was a baby.

Lyra squirmed as Marisa dressed her in a pretty adorable dress, Lyra whined as she realized the dress restricted her more than her other clothing. Lyra was dressed in her new blue dress purchased from the store the day previous, she looked like a little Marisa.

Marisa wore a smile and an encouraging expression towards Lyra as she dressed her. Lyra was coerced into wearing the pretty dress and she nearly ran away when Marisa placed a very thin small white ribbon in her hair to decorate, adding insult to injury. Lyra, frustrated when Marisa looked away for a second, went to touch the ribbon with a pout, not used to it.

"No"

Marisa chided her softly, catching Lyra's little hand attempting to pull the beautiful ribbon out of her hair. Pan fluttered near Lyra as a butterfly near the girl's shoulder as he struggled with saying nothing himself about the dress.

Lyra gave her a pout for the books, Marisa found her frustration and slight anger melt away as Lyra fixed her with one of the most adorable pouts she's seen. Lyra laid the look on thick pouting and jutting her lip in a pout with what would akin to puppy dog eyes.

"It's just for today darling, I have an important meeting to attend and you must accompany me"

Marisa smiled softly, eyeing Lyra all dressed up, she cupped Lyra's chin softly eying her with warmth in her eyes.

"Don't you look, beautiful darling"

"Thank you"

Lyra fought a small smile at the comment staring back into Marisa's eyes, Pan shifted upon the floor at Lyra's feet seeing the golden monkey approach.

Marisa's heart weighed as she unexpectedly looked down upon her daemon as he approached Lyra's daemon, stretching a hand to meet Pan's head softly petting him upon his little head. Lyra breathed in at the interaction as did Marisa, they stood there for a moment before Marisa snapped out of her feelings as Pan dipped away, breaking the contact softly.

He leaned against Lyra's shoes insecurely eyeing the golden monkey with a longing and curious look, as the golden monkey stared back.

Lyra didn't know what to think or feel, she felt displaced by the feeling. It felt right however foreign.

"Well, we must go or we shall be late"

Marisa quickly fled the room unsure of herself, as she busied herself with fetching her purse.

Lyra at first went to exit the flat without a coat on, let alone her brand new one just purchased, Marisa sighed at the sight of Lyra without a coat.

"Where is your coat, you absolutely need one it is slightly chilly today"

Lyra simply stared up at her with a helpless innocent expression as she shrugged her shoulder now knowing just looking at herself and the dress she was wearing.

"That simply won't do"

"Please fetch her coat"

Marisa then requested one of the servants to fetch Lyra's brand new coat, they made haste with it, getting it within seconds. Marisa then took the coat when it was offered, she pulled Lyra's little hand to bring the girl towards her as she bent down to Lyra's height and began fixing Lyra.

She helped Lyra into her nice coat, putting the little girl's arms through as Lyra let her take care of her and did so without a fuss. Lyra liked when Marisa looked after her and took care of her, it reminded Lyra of her father and how he was with her sometimes when Ms. Lonsdale wasn't around. Lyra had missed the little affection.

Lyra watched as Marisa buttoned Lyra's coat up, getting all the buttons secured and checking Lyra giving her a once-over glance with her eyes.

"There we are, all set" Marisa reassured Lyra softly with her eyes.

Marisa then bent upward from Lyra's height brushing her dress, flattening it out, as she nodded to Niles the butler who was waiting by the lift holding Mrs. Coulter's purse for her while she helped Lyra.

Lyra smiled warmly, Marisa then took her purse upon her arm before then reaching for Lyra's little hand once more, who was standing there cluelessly waiting. Pan crawled up Lyra's side before getting up to her shoulder as a mouse. Marisa then tugged the little girl towards the lift and down to where the car was waiting for them and on their way.

A day out on the town.

Inside the car, Lyra looked out the windows in wonder and curiosity as she did the other day when they went down the road from the penthouse flat to the children's clothing store. Lyra wanted to sit up and look out the windows as the car was moving which prompted Marisa to become alarmed when Lyra attempted this, pulling her to sit back down quickly.

Lyra was quite antsy and restless, which was beginning to grate on the golden monkey's nerves as he sat upon the floor eyeing Lyra with calculating and watchful eyes. He found the child annoying and needy however found he was quick to make sure she and her daemon were kept out of danger; it was unconscious behavior.

Lyra attempted once more to peer taller to see out the windows as the car was moving, Marisa who was preoccupied with talking to the chauffeur quickly about picking them up later when and where was currently distracted.

Lyra grunted as she attempted to move, she finally was able to see peering over the door out through the window at the buildings and people moving about on the sidewalk of the passing street. The car turned down another street sharply causing Lyra to lose her grip slightly on the window, causing Lyra to whine trying to hold on as Pan stuck to the window as a gecko.

The golden monkey then screeched, getting Marisa's attention back on the little one, her head wiped back to Lyra who was leaning on the window once more caught.

"Lyra!" Marisa then pried Lyra and her fingers away from the window and pulled the little girl closer to her.

"But...but I want to see" Lyra whined in displeasure, Marisa's eyes honed onto Lyra's meeting her gaze.

"It's not safe for you to be hanging on the window like that when the car is in motion, I do not wish to see you risking that again"

Marisa gave her a look as if to silently tell her not to push it, Lyra bowed her head slightly as knew when she was reprimanded just like when Ms. Lonsdale would tell her no.

After a moment more, Marisa saw Lyra subtly glance towards the windows once more as if considering trying it again. Marisa, frustrated, wouldn't let her take the chance.

Marisa then placed her arm around Lyra's back, before lifting her up and placing her upon her lap hugging her.

Lyra leaned back upon her mother comfortably, however, pouted as she crossed her little arms sulking. The woman sighed from the interaction and child-like nature of the child; having not been around children much before, let alone her own daughter.

Marisa never thought she would see the day where she mothered her daughter after Lyra left to go with Asriel, it made her wonder what it would have been like if Lyra had never left her side.

The golden monkey sneered towards Marisa, quite like it is now. The golden monkey then took it upon himself to leap onto the seat next to Lyra and Marisa as if to forcibly keep Lyra from moving again in a possessive way.

"Here we are, come along darling" The automobile had come to a stop down the street from the cafe where Marisa's lunch meeting was to take place.

The chauffeur opened the door for Marisa who once it was open shifted Lyra off her lap for her to exit before she then stepped out and lifted Lyra up into her arms out of the car.

Lyra placed her little hands on Marisa's shoulders as she was carried, Marisa adjusted Lyra in her arms hoisting her in the air for a moment to adjust her grip.

Marisa gathered her wits and her purse, she then sighed before beginning to walk down the sidewalk Lyra within her arms. After a couple of feet, Lyra was itching to be let down, she was lightly swinging her little legs.

Marisa sighed, getting frustrated with the energetic child she placed Lyra down on her own two feet upon the sidewalk, however quickly grabbed the little one's hand into her own so she wouldn't runoff.

Lyra let Marisa walk with her down the street towards the restaurant, holding her hand in a near-death grip. Lyra didn't let it phase her as she was too excited at seeing the city and all the people before her, holding Marisa's hand she wasn't as shy anymore.

"Lyra, I need you to be on your best behavior while we have lunch with Mrs. Davis. Do you understand?"

Lyra hadn't been really listening because she was too busy jumping occasionally as they walked, hyper and anxious. Pan was a stout jumping over her feet in between jumps playing along happily.

"Lyra, will you stop that" Marisa demanded frustrated that Lyra was so excitable and full of energy, it was as if the little one was charged with anbaricity.

Lyra stopped at Marisa's tone, Pan chittering as he stopped himself and changed into a mouse once more hiding his head in Lyra's coat peeking out nervously.

"Who's Mrs. Davis?"

"She is a colleague of mine-"

They were just outside the restaurant now, Marisa needed to brief Lyra on how to behave or it would be a disaster.

"What's a colleague?" Lyra asked innocently tilting her head, listening, genuinely curious wanting to learn.

Marisa then bent down to Lyra's height to make sure the little girl had her full attention and that Marisa had Lyra's.

"It means she is a friend of mine and I need your word that you will be on your best behavior. This is important to me. I need you to be a good girl, do you understand?"

Lyra said nothing as she listened to Marisa, she nodded her head in understanding as the golden monkey eyed Pan sitting on Lyra's shoulder as a little finch. He prowled forward as if to intimidate, which worked as Pan changed quickly into a mouse once more hiding in the comfort of Lyra's new coat.

Marisa was already having thoughts on how the lunch would be ruined, regret and a looming headache took over her. Perhaps she could turn around and send a letter in the post explaining that something had come up explaining her absence.

"Marisa, how lovely to see you dear!"

Marisa's eyes widened as she then braced herself as she stood upright before turning her body around to see Mrs. Davis approached with a charming elegant smile upon her face.

"Clarice, how are you…..and who is this?" Marisa noticed Mrs. Davis hadn't come alone either.

"Oh, I happen to have my granddaughter Madeline with me. I had forgotten she was to be staying with me this very weekend. I hope you don't mind" the woman seemed bashful and apologetic.

"I don't mind at all, how wonderful. I happen to have a similar situation, this is Lyra" Marisa then moved slightly out of the way of hiding Lyra, she brought Lyra in front of her holding onto her hand.

Lyra smiled innocently at Mrs. Davis as Lyra then noticed the other girl just around the same age as her with the woman. Lyra waved her hand silently greeting the other little girl who smiled and returned the gesture.

Mrs. Davis near gasped at the sight of little Lyra, she noticed Lyra's beautiful dress and the white ribbon and thin bow in her hair. She was adorable, Mrs. David was in shock for it was known in all the social circles that Marisa Coulter did not take to children well. Leaving conversations when someone brought up the conversation of their own children and such. It took Mrs. Davis aback never imagining the woman to have a child let alone be around one.

It was clear to Mrs. Davis from looking at little Lyra and Marisa who Lyra was.

"Oh Marisa, she is such a darling! Where have you been hiding her?"

Marisa could only gape at Mrs. Davis flustered at the situation, her cheeks blushed at the compliment towards Lyra; she awkwardly smiled wide. It was going splendidly Mrs. David was taken with Lyra, the funding would be hers. The question threw her as she did not know how to answer, feelings began to surface.

Mrs. Davis sensing a shift in Marisa then turned to Lyra, bending down slightly to her height, with a warm smile on her face and friendliness in her voice.

"How lovely to meet you Lyra. I am Mrs. Davis dear and this is my granddaughter, Madeline"

"Hello" Lyra spoke softly and smiled charmingly towards the sweet woman, being polite like Marisa told her to be. A good girl, she didn't want to displease Marisa.

Mrs. Davis then turned to her own granddaughter lovingly, bringing the girl forward towards Lyra and Marisa.

"Madeline, this is Mrs. Coulter and this is her daughter Lyra"

"Hello" the little girl smiled politely, happy now that at this outing she would have someone to talk to that was her age.

While they all got acquainted, Marisa was combusting internally.

Her daughter.

Lyra moved closer to Marisa with a warm feeling in her heart, it brought Marisa out of her swirling thoughts.

Marisa then brushed the back of Lyra's little hand softly with her thumb comfortingly.

Her daughter.