Maggie was taken aback by the question and she couldn't bear the thought of further breaking this little girl's heart. But she decided that it was best to be honest. She carefully formed her thought to best answer the little girl's question so as not to bring further heartache.

"Uhmm… Miranda I'm not leaving but..." Miranda's expression which for a moment looked hopeful suddenly fell with just one word… BUT. Maggie quickly explained before the girl shut down on her "It's just that it's different now you know? You're with your family with your mommy, your little sister and… and Reese… You're living in Paris and well I'm now living in Seattle."

"We are now living here in Pine Valley." Miranda softly interrupted. "Why can't you just live here too?" she whined.

"I… I can't… I have my whole life there you know my job?" she tried to reason so the girl could understand.

"Why can't you work in PV Hospital? Doctors work there don't they? Uncle David works there," she pointed out.

"Well uhmm yes, but… I don't think they have a job for me there and I can't just leave my new place… You see there are also a lot of sick people in Seattle too and they need me there. Here, the sick people go to PV Hospital and David takes care of them. The same way, they need me in Seattle to take care of the sick people there. Nobody's gonna take my place so I can't just leave." Maggie answered. Nice Stone! She thought… I think she'll buy that one she hoped.

"But… but…" Miranda tried to counter with a look of defeat in her face. Maggie tried to smile reassuringly "Hey… why the sad face? I may be in Seattle but that doesn't mean I can't see you right?" Miranda didn't answer her. "Oh come on now baby… don't get mad at your Maggie… You see I'll only be here in a couple of days, will you rather spend it mad at me?" She tried to coax her. I promise I'll visit as often as I can… that is as long as it's okay with your mommy's" she said forgetting that Bianca or Reese may not approve of this. Yep I definitely need to talk to Bianca she said to herself.

"It's the age of technology!" Nice! As if the child will understand that she scolded herself. "I mean we can talk on the phone and… and there's internet! You can see me on the computer it's as if I'm just right here… I promise I'll visit as often as I can. Hey you can visit me too! I mean if you have no school or something maybe you can spend sometime with me in Seattle!" she rambled.

The little girl's face lit up, "Really?" She asked. Oh-oh she thought. "Uhmm yes… of course! As long as your mommy agrees okay?" The child just hugs her… "Okaaay! Hey remember we have to ask you mom first ok? As long as your mommy agrees… ok? If not… if not then I'll just come visit with you!" Maggie said, now she's in too deep she thought. But for Miranda it's very worth it she thought. With that they just held each other as Maggie with tears in her eyes looked up and said a silent thank you to the higher power that made this possible.

After minutes of just sitting under the tree with Miranda in her arms, Miranda started to stir and said "Mags, I need to pee!" Maggie was confused for a moment then it dawned on her "What? Oh yes of course that's why you were on your way to the comfort room! Oh I'm sorry baby but you must have cried some of those liqiuds out huh!" she chuckled. Seeing the discomfort on the little girl's face "Okay we should get you back ASAP!" and so they went… with Maggie running back carrying an agitated Miranda…

TBC…