"Kick the ball over here, Mommy!" Maddie giggled as they ran around Memorial Park. "Over here!"

Maria gently kicked the soccer ball and Maddie went to stop it with her foot when a pair of arms came down and scooped her up.

Maddie let out an excited squeak. "Hey, that's cheating," she laughed.

"No it's not," Aidan said. "We didn't say there were rules against picking up the goalie." He looked at Maria. "Did we?"

Maria laughed. "Nope. I don't think so."

Maddie continued to giggle as Aidan placed her back down on the grass. "Don't be silly Mommy," Maddie laughed.

"Silly?" Maria laughed, putting her arms around Maddie, falling to the grass, tickling her. "Silly?" Maddie continued to giggle. Maria paused a moment. "Let's see." she said. "What should we do with Maddie Grey here? Sharks?"

"There are no sharks in the lake."

Maria smiled. "No, I guess not, huh?" She paused. "I guess we could forget about the sharks. How about some ice cream? You wanna go get some ice cream?"

"Yea!" Maddie cheered.

Maria smiled, handing the child a few dollars. "Just go right down to the ice cream man and come right back, OK."

"OK, Mommy," Maddie said before running off.

Aidan walked over to Maria, crouching down beside her, wrapping his arms around her. "Maddie's really warming up to you." she said.

"She's an incredible little girl," Aidan said, kissing her head.

"Yeah, she sure is. I feel like her mother, you know. I feel like I could be..."

"You are her mother."

"I just wish... if there was one thing I could remember... that I could remember being a mother to my children.""

"Mommy!" Maddie called, running up to Maria and Aidan. "They didn't have any chocolate, so I got vanilla with sprinkles."

"Sounds yummy." Maddie held the ice cream up for Maria to taste. "Mmm," Maria smiled. "Cold." Maddie laughed, leaning back against Maria. "Don't forget that your Daddy told you to save some room for dinner."

"Daddy's bringing us to McDonald's for Happy Meals." Maddie said. "I'm gonna ask him if you and Aidan can come too."

Aidan looked at Maria. "I think Daddy wanted to take just you and Sammy to dinner."

"You used to eat dinner with us all the time, Mommy. How come you don't anymore?"

Maria took a deep breath. "I'll tell you what, sweetie. I'll talk to Daddy... and we'll pick a day to have dinner together, OK?"

"You promise?"

"Cross my heart," Maria smiled.

"Yea!" Maddie cheered. Maria laughed. "Why don't you go make sure you have everything so we can get going."

"Aww, do we have to?"

"Yeah, I'm afraid so. I told your Daddy I'd have you home early." Maria paused. "Go ahead."

Maddie ran off to collect her things as Maria looked over at Aidan. "I could meet you back at the Pine Cone," she said. "Then maybe we could pick up some dinner of our own? Sound good?"

"Sounds great," Aidan said as Maddie returned.

"Ready to go?" Maria asked her.

"Ready to go," Maddie repeated.

"Oooo Kay," Maria smiled. "Say bye to Aidan and we'll get you home to see if Sammy's back from camp yet."

"Bye, Aidan," The little girl momentarily clung to him. "Thanks for playing with me."

"You're very welcome." Aidan said. "You have a good time?"

"Uh huh. I'm gonna practice really hard so I can win next time."

"I'd better be ready," he said.

"Come on, Maddie." Maria said, extending hand. Maddie took it willingly. "I'll see you in a little while." she said to Aidan.

Maria led Maddie back to the car, leaving Aidan in the park and they headed back to Wildwind.