"Manda?" Ryder asked, "Will Rrica wake up?"

"No, Sweetie," Amanda said, "Not this time."

"Why not? She said we would play more later."

Amanda's heart clinched. How do I tell her this so she will understand? She thought to herself.

"That big bang you heard... Ry, it was a gun," she said finally.

"Like my papa shoots sometimes? He told me never to play with them cause I could get hurt if I did."

Amanda nodded. She'd seen the guns in a locked cabinet on her way upstairs, "Yeah, that's right," she replied. "Dylan, he used a gun to hurt Rica."

Fresh tears filled her baby blues. "So, that means she's- she's not coming back?"

Amanda nodded sadly. I'm afraid so, Ry," she confirmed.
She clutched Amanda's shirt and let them fall. "Manda, it's- it's- n-not- f-fair!" she cried out. "B-bring h-her b-back!"

It took all Amanda had not to cry, too. "I"m sorry, Sweetheart," she said, I wish I could."

"I w-want R-Rica to c-come b-back," she whispered.

"Yeah, I know you do," she said, rocking her. In the next moment, she felt a hand on her shoulder. "Amanda?" the familiar voice asked.
Still holding Ryder, she turned "Fin," she said, surprised, "What are you doing here?" She was actually really happy to see him. They'd been sharing a place for a couple months now, with all the blessings of the captain, of course.

"Can we talk outside for a sec?" he whispered, motioning toward Ryder.
She didn't like look on his face. This wasn't gonna be good news. "sure. Ry, can you wait up here for me? I just gotta go talk with Fin, and I'll come right back."

"N-no, M-Manda, d-don't g-go!" she pleaded., still crying.

"I'll come right back, I promise."

"O-ok, b-but a-are y-you s-sure?"

"Sure of what?"

"That you'll come- come back? Rica did-didn't."
Amanda gave her a squeeze "yes, I'm sure."

Ryder nodded, the tears slowing and finally ending. "Okay, I'll wait,"
"Good girl," she said, smiling at her as she sat her down and followed Fin out. "What's up?" she asked.

"No one can find her folks," Fin replied. "We have a missing persons report out on them."

"Is there any family she can stay with?"

"Not that we can see, and we've been doing a lotta digging."

"Then I guess she will have to come home with us til we find them," Amanda said, reaching up to give him a peck.
"Sure?"

"Positive."

A/N I know I kinda just slipped Fin and Amanda sharing a place in there, but I promise, I'll fill in the back story there as I go. Hope you enjoyed this one!