AJ was sat in the parlour playing on his Gameboy, although he wasn't really in the mood.

"Pssst."

At first AJ thought he had imagined the sound.

"Pssst, AJ!" came a hoarse whisper.

AJ looked up, startled to see Miranda beckoning to him from the patio.

"Miranda." he cried, and then realising his mistake from her startled expression muted his voice, "Miranda!"

Miranda was obviously nervous, he could tell from the way she was gritting her teeth. She beckoned to him again. Cautiously AJ tiptoed to join her by the French windows.

"What are you doing here?" he whispered. Now they were standing side by side he wasn't sure how to behave. He really wanted to give her a hug, but was worried they were both too grown up for that now. He also thought about giving her a kiss and then thought that would be very yucky indeed; he then tried very hard to pretend he had never had that thought at all.

Now they were back together Miranda also found it difficult to know how exactly to greet him and settled with what she considered a very grown up pat on the shoulder.

"I missed you." she said, before beginning her explanation. "We are spending the day with Madison and Scott because Aunt Kendall is visiting at the hospital and I knew you were so close. I have something wonderful to tell you so I snuck out!... I hope I don't get into trouble."

AJ smiled at his Birthday-twin.

"It's so great to see you. I missed you so so much. I've been drawing Bianca pictures every day, and I got to visit my mommy!"

Miranda interrupted him, she had been literally bursting to tell him the moment it happened and she couldn't wait a minute longer.

"They worked - the pictures. I had to tell you the good news! Mommy is all better! She gave us all cuddles yesterday; I wish you had been there."

"It worked!" AJ exclaimed. He let out a whoop of joy and leaped in the air. "I knew it would; I just knew it!"

Forgetting all his former misgivings her gave Miranda a huge hug and began dancing her round the room, shouting,

"It worked, it worked, it worked!"

"What is all that racket?"

Both children turned guiltily as JR marched in. He froze to a stop when he saw Miranda standing there.

"Young lady!" he exclaimed "Would you kindly explain what you are doing in my house? How on earth did you get here?"

"She came to see me!" said AJ defiantly, stepping forward to shield her from his father. "You keep telling me this is my home, well she is my guest and you're not to be rude to her."

JR was fairly taken back by AJ's very protective stance. His first instinct was to banish the little girl from his house, send her running back to her depraved mother, preferably in tears. Something in AJ's face stopped him. He realised he would have to handle things nicely if he was going to have any chance of winning back his son's trust.

"I am just surprised to see her here so far from home. How on earth did you even get in the grounds?"

"Me and Gabby are spending the day with Scott and Madison." said Miranda, nervously stepping forward. Instinctively AJ took her hand; they were in this together, whatever trouble that they were now in.

"So you only travelled as far as the Gatehouse; that at least is a relief." The smile on his face was almost a grimace as he tried to play nice. "Do they know you are here?"

"No." said Miranda a little guilty at first but then a grin appeared. "I just had to see AJ and tell him how well the pictures worked. He had to know, it was his idea. He saved my mom!"

Her smile vanished when she saw the scowl on JR's face when she mentioned her mother.

"Can we go to the hospital and see Bianca now she's all better?" AJ asked, he was watching his father apprehensively. "And can I visit mommy too!"

"I don't think that would be a good idea, Bianca is still recovering." said JR, trying to marshal his temper. "And your mom isn't seeing any visitors."

"Yes she is." said AJ defiantly, "She saw me last week."

"That is impossible!"

"No it's not," protested AJ, "Uncle Stuart took me and mommy was really happy to see me! Please, please, please can I visit her and Bianca; I promise I'll be good!"

"I said no!" snapped JR. "This conversation is over!"

AJ stared at his daddy, his harsh words felt like a slap in the face. He knew he shouldn't have mentioned his mommy, it always made his daddy mad – He just kept hoping his old happy daddy would come back, so it could all be alright again. Only things hadn't been alright for a long, long time. AJ was glad Miranda was with him, it made him feel safer. She had been very quiet through the whole exchange and now AJ wasn't sure he liked the way his daddy was staring at her.

"I think we had better see about getting you back home!" said JR.

AJ was about to open his mouth in protest but Miranda held him back.

"Don't you two look at me like that." said JR, trying unsuccessfully to hide his annoyance. Both children were staring at him with wide nervous eyes. "I'm not angry. You can have as many friends round as you like for play dates AJ. But you have to do things properly. Young lady I am going to phone Scott and have him come and pick you up. You young children need to understand the world is a dangerous place, you can't just run away whenever you feel like it."

As JR went into the hall to make the call, AJ stared after him defiantly.

"I wish I could run away from here." he said quietly.

"Shhh!" hushed Miranda, "You shouldn't say things like that."

AJ wasn't really listening, he had just noticed he and Miranda were still holding hands and for some reason he was now feeling very embarrassed.

…