Balloons on the floor. A cake (store bought) on the kitchen table. The lettered sign 'Happy Birthday hanging on the wall with tape.

A dark-haired woman sitting in a chair with her head in her hands. Her body shook with each sob that racked through it.

A high-chair is set up at the edge of the table. On the folding tray rests a plate and a rainbow-spotted party hat. The chair itself, though, is empty.

"There doesn't seem to be any sign of forced entry, ma'am. We've sear-- oh, my God."

"What? What is it?"

"The window. It's wide open."

"Oh, God!"

The sound of a key turning in the lock broke the woman out of her misery. She hurried to the door. It was Tim.

They stared at each other for a while. The woman collapsed into his arms.

"I'm sorry."

"Please don't cry." He rubbed her back and kissed her head. "It's all right."

"Mira's gone." Fresh tears escaped the woman's eyes, soaking the man's shirt. He hugged her even tighter.

"We'll get through this. I love you, Virginia."

The couple stood in the doorway, embracing and crying.

XxXxXxXxX

"What's that smell?"

"Do you like it?"

"Do I lik-- you have got some nerve."

"What's the matter?"

"I found your shirt from yesterday covered in perfume. I don't wear perfume!"

"I thought you might like it."

"What, that you're cheating on me? That kind of rubs me the wrong way."

"Cheating on…Virginia. I love you. I'd never cheat on you."

"I guess the idea is a little silly."

"Yeah. That you wouldn't trust me about something like that."

"I never said I didn't trust you."

"Granted, but the implication was pretty strong."

"Well, there's no need to bite my head off."

"I was just saying…"

"Tim! You should've told me that the perfume didn't come from some woman."

"I wanted it to be a surprise. Heaven forbid a husband do something nice for his wife."

"Where are you going?"

"Out!"

XxXxXxXxX

The baby, wrapped in a blanket from her crib, looked around for some identification of her surroundings. The only thing her eyes could make out was darkness. She started to shake and cry.

The child never even saw the figure emerge, seemingly out of nowhere. It seemed to extend its hand to her and wave its hand back and forth.

"I wanna…go home!"

Her crying had stopped somewhat. She put her hands to her mouth. Her head turned around as she pushed herself into a sitting position.

She glanced at the blue-haired figure, whose hands were folded.

"I cannot believe you." The look on Angela's face was one the child didn't recognize on the spirit's face - contempt.

"What are you talking about and where are we?"

"Where we are is unimportant. What you've done is what I'm concerned about."

The baby folded its arms. "I didn't do anything."

"Oh, no, nothing…except create a mess and make it look like your father was cheating on your mother. I must be here for your second birthday."

Mira turned away from the spirit. Angela simply snapped her fingers and disappeared, reappearing in the child's line of sight. "When will you figure out that your parents are in it for the long haul?"

"When will you leave me alone?!"

"I can't do that, love. I have to watch over you. Not everyone is given the same opportunity as you; to have a fresh start. People like you are usually sent back as paramecium and only last a few days."

Angela picked Mira up and cradled her.

"Did you know that I was once a mother?" The blue-haired woman waggled her finger at Mira as if it were her own child.

"But you look too young to be a mother."

"I chose this look after my Earthly form had dissipated."

"Wait. You got to choose your look?"

"Seniority. I was once a mother. I had six children - four boys and two girls. I loved all of them so much. I was always there for them: school functions, sports matches, you name it." The spirit sighed deeply. "Then, one night, I was driving home. A milk truck came out of nowhere and wham! Just one more way the two of us are connected." She laughed slightly.

"What happened to your children?"

"They grew up. They never forgot me, thank Heaven, and I never forgot them. I miss them every moment of every day. You think nothing can hurt you when you're dead? Sure, not physically, but emotionally, and that's the worst kind of pain."

"You ever visit them?"

"What do you think I do when I'm not chatting with you? I'm just grateful that they all turned out to be well-adjusted, caring adults. Don't you miss your parents?"

"Not that much. I mean, Tim is just…"

"No. I mean Vicky's parents."

"Like crazy. I miss how Mom would sit on my bed and talk to me before I went to sleep. I miss how Dad would take me to school whenever I missed the bus. And the way they'd dance in the living room when they were sure that me and Virginia were in bed."

"How do you know you won't have those same good times with your new parents? If anything, they might be even better." Angela held Mira in front of her. "So, what do you say?"

Sure, Mira held a less than favorable opinion of her parents, mainly her father, but they were her parents, who had shown her nothing but affection and love in the year of her life. She still felt strongly about this, but she let out a heavy sigh.

"I want to go back."

Angela waved her hand, causing the darkness to bleed away. The two of them were in Mira's room, standing near the door.

"Pretty convenient, if I say so myself, but it's going to look suspicious if we're found like this." The spirit again cradled the child and waved her hand over her form, leaving only air.

XxXxXxXxX

Virginia sat at the kitchen table. Her eyes glanced at the cake. She folded her arms and buried her head in them. Tim crouched down and held her gently.

A knock at the door stirred them from their embrace.

Tim hurried to the door and opened it. At the entry way stood a blue-haired woman a little shorter than him. In her hands was a child with dark hair wrapped in a blanket.

The man covered his mouth as the woman rushed to his side.

"I found her lying in an alley. I saw the news report on the telly. I can't begin to tell you how upset I'd be if it was one of mine."

Virginia took the child from the mystery woman's hands. "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you." The brunette cooed at her daughter.

"I don't know if there's ever anything we can do to repay you for this." Tim pulled out his wallet. "What's your name?"

The woman shook her hand. "Oh, no, Mr. Turner. The looks on your faces is reward enough."

"Well, if that's what you want… And, again, thank you."

"You're welcome." The woman disappeared behind the closed door.

"Now, we've got a party to throw for you, Mira." Virginia kissed the girl on the cheek. Tim worked on the other cheek. Tears fell from the child's eyes. The couple held her close, unwilling to let her go a second time.

XxXxXxXxX

The couple spent the next few days pouring attention on their daughter and answering phone calls about her. Even though Angela had Mira for a few minutes, it amounted to nine hours in Earth time. It merited a story in the local newspaper, but that day's issue wound up in the recycling almost as quickly as it had arrived in their home. Tim and especially Virginia wanted nothing more than to put the incident behind them.

Mira seemed to grow up before their eyes. It was a matter of time - five months - until she learned to walk on her own. Following by a couple of months were her first words - "I love you." To her surprise, both of her parents were present when the words were spoken.

The girl ended up loving her mother as much as, if not more than, she did when they were sisters. She flirted with the idea of telling her who she once was, but thought better of it when she overheard her parents talking one night. Something her mother said stuck with her: "I'd better stop. If I spend all my time worrying about the past, I'll never have a future." Mira decided just to keep caring for her mother. It surprised her every time she referred to Virginia in that manner…

Just as it was a surprise to refer to Tim as her father. There were occasional pangs of animosity and jealousy, she was forced to admit to herself. Even so, he loved her with all his heart. Ultimately, the animosity melted into guilt; she wished she had been as kind to him then as he was to her now. Every so often, she would mouth the words 'I'm sorry' to him. She couldn't say it aloud for fear of dredging up a multitude of questions that she didn't have the nerve to answer.

XxXxXxXxX

About a year later, Virginia felt herself ready to return to work. Tim wanted her to take it easy, insisting that he can carry the family himself. She knew how much of a strain it was on her husband and she didn't want him to bear the financial burdens alone. Also, when she put her mind to something, it was as good as done.

She spent the next week traveling to local schools applying for a teaching position. Her expertise at Literature earned her a job at the high school.

Of course, this would mean that Mira would be left in the apartment by herself.

Thinking of this, Virginia planned to put out an ad for a babysitter; someone 'available during the day, trustworthy, LOVES KIDS!!'. (Given the childhood experiences shared by her and her and her husband, she was sure to make that part clear.)

Within the day, an applicant appeared at the apartment. It was a young woman, casually dressed, with a streak of sky blue in her brown hair.

"Good evening. I just moved into the building and I found an ad posted on the bulletin board. This is 7-D?"

"Why, yes it is." Virginia tucked back a loose strand of hair. "Come on in."

The young woman sat on the couch, while the brunette sat in the chair.

"So, do you have any children?"

"Oh, no. I don't even have a boyfriend."

"Any siblings?"

"Only child, but I have a couple of baby cousins whom I love to pieces."

"Do you have any source of income?"

"Oh, why, no. I just drift from town to town."

Virginia's approving look became an apprehensive one. The woman started to laugh. "I'm a telemarketer. A pretty nice gig; work from home, pick my own hours."

"As long as you don't call this place."

"If you're number comes up, I won't."

"My daughter eats an apple. A piece travels down the wrong pipe. Her face turns blue. What do you do?"

"Give her the Heimlich Maneuver."

"And if that fails?"

"Call an ambulance, find out what hospital she's going to and contact you."

The brunette sat back in her seat. "Very good. Young lady, you are hired." The two women shook hands. Virginia turned to the hallway. "Mira!"

The girl ran out of her room. "Yes, mommy?"

"I want you to meet your new babysitter. I didn't catch your name."

"It's Deanne."

"What a lovely name." The woman looked to her daughter. "This is Deanne. I'm sure the two of you will get along great."

"Oh, I know we will." Deanne smiled down at the girl, who wore a look of uncertainty on her face.

XxXxXxXxX

The following day, Tim and Virginia got ready for work. Before she left, though, Deanne arrived at their apartment.

"Oh, it's good to see you. I hate to leave Mira."

"Mrs. Turner, I assure you. Mira is in good hands."

Virginia packed a folder into her briefcase and headed for the door, just as Mira walked out.

She bent down and kissed the girl on the cheek. "Bye, Mira. I love you lots." The brunette disappeared behind the door.

Deanne looked down at the child, who seemed to be scared. She never had a babysitter before…in either of her lives.

"So…you're Mira. I've heard a lot about you."

"Like what?" The girl's voice quavered.

"Nothing." Deanne shrugged. "I just said that as an intimidation technique. So, what do you want to do?"

"You're asking me what to do?"

"Well, sure. Babysitting is about the well-being of the child, right, love?"

"I guess it…is." Mira looked at the woman. She squinted at the woman. The shape of her face seemed familiar, but the streak of blue in her hair was what really got her. The child gasped. "You."

"Me?"

"You. I know you from somewhere. You're Angela!"

"Actually, it's Aaaaaangela."

"Why are you here? To torture me some more?"

"Remember how I told you that I was once a mother? I'm here to take care of you."

"Somehow, I think there's more to this. You wouldn't be here for no reason."

Deanne said nothing as Mira put her hands on her hips.

"I figured it out. You show up whenever I'm misbehaving and I've been extra good, so something's going on, isn't it, love?"

The woman sighed. "You got me. My superiors found out about the…'trip' I took you on." Slowly, an English accent crept into her speech. "Apparently, it's not proper procedure to force someone to change. I was stripped of my abilities. I'm pretty much stuck here for a while."

"You see what happens? But, wait. If you're human, why didn't you visit your kids?"

"My kids are all grown up. I don't need to worry about them. You, on the other hand…your life is just beginning. Sooner or later, you'll grow up, get an education…meet a cute guy…and, generally, have a full life. I just want to help make sure that you do things better."

Mira said nothing as she rubbed her arm.

"So…what do you say?" Deanne's speech had reverted to a plain American sound.

"And you promise you won't try anything?"

"Cross my heart and hope to die and not come back."

Mira thought this over. In her mind, Deanne…Angela…had been duplicitous, manipulative and snotty. These qualities were not foreign to her, as she had exhibited them when she was a sitter. The big difference was that the former spirit did these things out of tough love, as opposed to 'just because'.

The girl nodded her head. "Okay."

"What do you want to do?"

XxXxXxXxX

Mira and Deanne had a lot of fun that day…and many days afterwards. The two grew to be fast friends, which for Mira was a big deal. In her old life, she never had a friend.

Tim and Virginia strongly recognized the bond that developed between the caretaker and her charge. To that end, they resided in the apartment for the entirety of Mira's childhood, even though the couple was able to afford a home by the time Mira entered middle school.

In school, Mira did exceptionally well, having already learned what was being taught. Being derided as a brainiac meant little to her in the face of personal happiness. At times, she even used to joke that she knew the answers because she went through this before.

In high school, her academic streak continued. (Tim remarked that she was a genius and that it must've come from her mother.) She was ultimately named valedictorian of her graduating class. In her speech, she thanked her parents, her former babysitter and her late aunt…without whom she wouldn't be here today.

Her parents never did learn what she meant by that and as far as Mira was concerned, that could not have been better.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: This was originally set to be part of my short story anthology "Some of a Batch". However, the more I thought about it, the more impossible it would be to compress it into one chapter. Hence, this story.

Thanks for reading and reviewing and have a nice day.