Chapter 2

A/N: Hey everyone! Thanks for all the awesome reviews! For a category of these size, eight reviews is MONUMENTAL! Now, I've heard a rumour going around that we're not allowed to respond to reviewers.. :s (and those of you that know me from other categories know how I LOVE to do this). So, just a quick shout out, thankyou all very much, and please keep them coming!

And now, on with chapter two!

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Diana closed her front door and leant against it, eyes closed, and let out a deep sigh. Maia came towards her with a smile on her face. Diana opened her eyes and smiled back. She met Maia and bent down, encasing her in a tight hug.

"Boy am I glad to see you," Diana said, relieved to finally be home.

"It's been a long day," Maia added.

"It sure has. I'm sorry I'm home from work so late again. I kinda… fell asleep at my desk," Diana admitted. Maia giggled in response.

"I promise I'll try and come home from work on time from now on," Diana offered. At that moment, Clarisse, Maia's babysitter came out from the kitchen and they exchanged goodbyes before she left. Diana and Maia moved to sit at the table.

"So, tell me all about what you and Clarisse did today," Diana said, turning her full attention to Maia.

"Well, we went to the park, then we went to a movie, then we came home and played board games and made a cake," the girl replied.

"A cake? We had the ingredients here to actually do that?" Diana asked, surprised.

"No, we bought the ingredients while we were out," Maia replied.

"I see. Well, it sounds like you had a fun day then."

"I did."

"Good. Oh hey, guess what, I made some calls today, and it looks like we can get a teacher to come and teach you at home," Diana informed the girl.

"Oh," Maia replied.

"So that'll be fun right, to be back at school again."

"I guess," the child said sombrely. "Well, how was your day?"

"Quite uneventful," Diana said drearily. Maia smiled to herself. She knew better.

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Diana awoke in the middle of the night to a loud scream coming from Maia's room. She immediately jumped up and rushed out of bed, running into the girl's room. She found Maia sitting up in bed, breathing heavily, tears streaming down her cheeks. Diana without delay hurried down to sit next to her, and pulled her into a tight hug.

"What's the matter sweetheart? Bad dream?" Diana asked, rocking Maia slowly back and forth in her arms. The weeping girl nodded and cried into Diana's shoulder.

"Mommy," she whimpered.

"It's alright, I'm here now, I'm here now," Diana whispered comfortingly.

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The light streaming through the curtains awoke Diana the next morning. She rubbed her eyes and sat up, before turning to look at the girl lying asleep beside her. Maia had refused to go back to bed alone, so Diana had carried her into her own room, and she had slept the night there. Diana looked over to the clock – 9:39am. Seeing as it was Saturday, she was hoping for a longer sleep-in, but she promised Maia that they'd go to the park, after her constant persistence that they go at 10:30am. She rubbed her eyes sleepily and gently nudged the quiet form beside her. Maia stirred and opened her eyes slowly, looking up at Diana.

"Morning sleepy," Diana said with a small smile. Maia sat up and rubbed her eyes.

"You feeling okay this morning sweetie?" she asked, brushing down Maia's wayward morning hair. The girl nodded in reply. She wrapped her arms around Diana's waist, causing her to be slightly taken aback at the action. She hugged Maia back all the same, and, when Maia looked across Diana to the alarm clock, she jumped up in excitement.

"Quick!" Maia said, "we have to hurry if we want to get there on time!"

"Where on time?" Diana asked, confused.

"The park," Maia replied with a smile, before rushing out of the room.

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"Hurry, hurry!" Maia said, jumping at the door.

"Hold on, I'm just getting my jacket," Diana replied, looking through her closet.

"You don't need a jacket," Maia replied stubbornly.

"Maia!" Diana replied, with a hint of surprise in her voice.

"The sun is gonna come out. Now hurry, please!" she urged.

"What is your rush?" Diana asked, giving up on the jacket idea and heading towards the door.

"No reason."

"Don't you want your jacket?" Diana asked. Maia shook her head quickly. "You will freeze!"

Maia just shook her head again and stood there in her orange t-shirt and jeans. Diana on the other hand was wearing jeans, a brown belt and a long-sleeved boat-neck green top, with her hair out. She quickly grabbed her keys from the table and pushed them into her pocket before opening the front door, allowing Maia to escape out into the hallway.

"Hey, wait for me!" Diana called, shutting the door behind her and shaking her head as Maia disappeared around the corner.

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"Bye Tony!" Maia said with a wave as her and Diana headed away from Tony's stand. He waved in response, with his arm around his girlfriend.

"What time is it?" Maia asked Diana, for the 100th time.

"About two minutes since you last asked me," Diana replied, "why are you so obsessed with what time it is today?"

Maia didn't reply, she just looked around, like she was expecting to see something.

Diana sighed and said, "It's 10:56."

"Thankyou," Maia smiled, and slowed her pace a little. Diana shook her head in wonder. They continued walking for a minute, quietly, and then Maia spotted something, and quickly grabbed Diana's hand and started running.

"Maia!" Diana called, surprised, as Maia dragged her along. As they approached the corner Maia stopped suddenly and regained a normal pace.

"What on earth is going on?" Diana questioned. But as soon as they rounded the corner, Diana knew the answer. Heading towards them was none other than Tom Baldwin. He spotted them and gave a surprised smile.

"Hey, what are you two doing here?" he asked. Maia beamed.

"We're on our way to the park," Diana replied. "Yourself?"

"Just going for walk. Seemed like a nice day for it," Tom said. "Kyle's still in quarantine… so there was nothing else I could really do."

"Come to the park with us," Maia butted in.

"If that's alright with Diana," Tom replied to Maia, glancing over to Diana with a smile.

"I don't see why not," she replied, a smile starting to creep onto her face.

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As Maia was off feeding the ducks by the pond, Diana and Tom went for their own 'grown-ups' walk. They were careful not to venture too far from Maia – Diana didn't really want to take an eye off her.

"So, this is the casual Diana, huh?" Tom said playfully. Diana chuckled.

"Take it or leave it," she replied with a smile.

"I'll take it," Tom laughed.

"And casual Tom," she replied.

"Oh come on, you've seen casual Tom before," Tom said. Diana laughed.

"Not when he refers to himself in the third person," she teased. Tom brushed off the comment with a playfully offended snigger.

"See, I'm not all that bad outside work. I don't bite."

"Hard," Tom replied. Diana gasped and slapped him on the shoulder. Tom winced.

"Okay, I deserved that."

"Yes you did," Diana said, crossing her arms trying to warm herself up. "So much for it's going to get warmer… I so should have brought that jacket."

"What?" Tom enquired.

"Oh, it's nothing," Diana said fleetingly, "Maia just told me I wouldn't need my jacket because the weather was going to heat up. Looks like this is the first prediction she's got wrong."

No sooner had she said that, than the sun came out through the clouds, lighting up the park brilliantly.

"Maybe not," she added.

"So, coincidence running into you today, and here, of all places," Tom said.

"I'm starting to think it's not," Diana replied.

"What makes you say that?"

"Maia knew we were going to bump into you," Diana said.

"Did she tell you that?" Tom asked.

"No, she was just rushing me all morning, and constantly asking the time, and speeding up and slowing down according to what time it was, all excited. She must really like you Tom," she said.

"Or maybe she thinks someone else does," Tom replied, looking at her. Diana turned her head to make eye contact with him, and brushed a piece of hair the wind was blowing, out of her face. They kept walking, looking at each other for a moment, before Diana looked down and put her hands in her pockets. Tom then immediately looked away, made uncomfortable by their long stare. They continued walking in silence, and Maia ran up to them. Diana sighed in relief as she approached, breaking the awkward silence.

"The ducks eaten all your food?" she asked Maia.

"Yep. Didn't I tell you the sun would come out?" Maia smiled.

"You sure did…"

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As Diana, Maia and Tom approached Diana and Maia's apartment building, Maia quickly ran inside, leaving Diana and Tom alone. They stopped outside the door and turned to face each other.

"So…" Diana started, "you know, you really didn't have to walk us back, we can take care of ourselves."

"I know, but it was on my way, so I may as well have…"

"Well… thanks," she replied sincerely. "Who knew Tom Baldwin could be human?"

This evoked a small snigger from Tom. "Who knew," he added. They both stood quietly for a minute. For some reason, this felt like the end of a date, both of them awkward, not really knowing what to do next.

"I guess I'll see you at work on Monday," Diana said quietly, breaking the silent tension. Tom let out a small disappointed sigh. He was somehow hoping there would be something more than a 'see you'.

"Yeah, I'll see you then," he replied, placing a hand on Diana's arm caringly, before walking away. Diana let out a deep sigh and turned into the building after Maia.

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A/N: Well my darlings, that was chapter two… feedback is always appreciated! Let me know if you like the URST, if you want them to get together faster, etc, etc.