Summary: A woman by the name of Sara Rutledge arrives, causing Diana great concern. But is she who she claims to be?
Warning: This story is loosely based on spoilers/rumours that are floating about regarding Season 3. If you don't want to know, might be best not to read!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but my precious 4400 DVDs. Upsetting as that may be.
Thanks for reviewing! Anyhone who has ever written anything knows just how much they are appreciated. Please let me know what you think of the upcoming chapters too :) Here is Chapter 3
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Chapter Three
'A Sante Sana Squashed Banana'
Maia giggled and rewound the DVD for the 10th time.
'Maia...come on. Don't you want to find out what happens to Simba?'
'In a minute. I like the monkey, he's really funny!'
There was a knock at the door and Diana got up to answer it, leaving Maia to Rafiki.
She knew as soon as she glanced through the spyhole who had come to vist. It was Sara. Somehow, Diana had managed to convince herself that the possibility of Sara coming back was extremely small, and she realised now that she had been kidding herself. She briefly considered keeping the door closed and faking an empty apartment, but chances were Maia knew who was on the other side of the door. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door.
'Good Evening, Ms Skouris. How are you?'
'Fine, thankyou.'
'And Maia?'
'She's...fine too.'
Obviously done with the pleasantries, Sara got straight to the point.
'So...have you had a chance to think about what we discussed? Can I see her?'
Diana bit the inside of her lip and forced a small smile.
'Come In.'
Sara followed Diana through to the living room where Maia had given Rafiki a break and was now watching the rest of the movie whilst trying to catch popcorn kernels with her tounge.
'Uh...Maia, you have a vistor.'
Maia looked up, a smile on her face, but not her usual happy-go-lucky smile. This was more a puzzled, wondering smile.
'Maia...hello there. My name is Sara Rutledge. I'm...I'm your sister, dear.'
Maia kept the same vague smile on her face.
'I know who you are.'
'Oh, of course, of course. Diana must have told you.'
Diana felt her past resentment returning at Saras apparent refusual to admit Diana's maternal role.
Her smile suddenly disapearing, Maia slid off the couch and went to stand next to Diana, slipping her hand in her mothers.
'Hi.'
Her greeting was cold and distant, very unlike her bubbly self. Diana knew she must have seen something, the question was what of and how much did she see.
'So...Maia. I brought the old family album to show Diana. I'm sure you'll remember it. There's some lovely photos in there of you as a baby. Just darling.'
'Well, Maia, shall we take a look?' Diana squeezed Maia's hand.
'No.' Maia dropped Diana's hand. 'You promised.'
Diana looked down to sear tears trailing down her daughters cheeks.
'Don't make me live with her, please. I don't understand. You promised!
Sobbing, Maia ran past her mother into her bedroom. Diana looked at Sara apologetically.
'I'm sorry, she...she's very fragile at the moment. If you have a seat...I'll go talk to her.'
Diana made her way quickly into Maia's room.
'Maia...hey, what was all that about?'
Maia looked up, her arms hugging her knees.
'I saw it.'
'Saw what?'
'You're sending me to live with her. After you promised you wouldn't.'
'Now, Maia, come on. We've been over this. I have no plans to change our current arrangement, unless you're not happy. You're my daughter, you know that. Nothing's going to change. You have my word.'
Maia wiped her tears away furiously with the back of her hand.
'I saw...I was in a new bedroom. Sara..she was calling me to get ready to go. She had a backpack in her hand. '
Diana frowned. 'Maybe...maybe you misinterpreted it. Maybe...she was...babysitting you?'
Maia shrugged.
'Look, Maia, I don't know what you saw, so all I can offer you is my promise that you are not going ianywhere /i anytime soon.' Diana offered Maia her hand and helped her off the bed. She started towards the living room, then stopped and knelt down in front of her daughter.
'Maia, I love you. You know that, right?'
Maia nodded. 'I love you, too. I just...worry sometimes.'
Diana smiled understandingly.
'Come on, lets go look at these photos.'
The two made their way back into the living room and took a seat next to Sara on the couch. Sara smiled at Maia. 'Alright?'
Maia smiled back shyly and settled into Diana's lap. 'Yes.'
Sara began to turn the pages of the album, and Maia felt a little twinge of emotion at each one, remembering the tree, or the seat, or the step where each photo was taken. But she continued to grip Diana's hand tightly to let her know that it was okay, she loved her best now. Diana oohed and aahed over the photos, a bittersweet smile on her face. Half of her wished she had known Maia at that age, but the other half reminded her how lucky she was to have Maia as a duaghter at all, even if she had entered Diana's life at a later age.
As they neared the end of the album, Maia suddenly summoned the courage to voice a question she had been itching to ask for a while.
'Is my house...the house...is it still...there?'
Sara nodded.
'It certainly is. It's been renovated a great deal, of course, but it's still there.'
Maia relaxed, seemingly content with the answer. Diana decided it was time to voice a question of her own.
'Do you think...could I...' She bit her lip. 'Would I be able to keep one of these photos, do you think?'
'Or course! Choose any one you like.'
Maia helped Diana pick out one and they set it aside to frame. With a barely supressed yawn, Maia announced that she was sleepy and they hadn't eaten yet.
'Of course, I've kept you from your dinner, and it's getting late.'
Sara got up, ready to go. 'Do you think...could I come back sometime?' I'd really like to keep in touch.'
Diana smiled kindly. 'Of course, let me give you our number and you can call her aswell if you wish.'
She wrote down the number for Sara and bid her farewell. Following Maia to the kitchen, Diana recalled something peculiar.
'So...you seemed in a suddent hurry to get rid of her.'
Maia just continued to set out the plates and cutlery.
'We shouldn't get too close to her.'
Diana was startled.
'Any particular reason, Maia?'
Maia took a seat at the table.
'It's just not a good idea.'
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Find out why when Sara returns in the next chapter. Up soon!