Thank you again to anyone who reviewed, favorited, or followed. It means a lot to me and I appreciate it. All questions will be answered at the end but I like that you are asking them. Thank you for having an open mind about this story, you are all awesome.

As mentioned before I'm only renting the characters.

I'm really trying with the grammar.

Hope you enjoy :)

It had been a month and a half since Gia had started working for the Isles family in mid-September. During this time she had become closer to Maura after bonding that first day. The two fell into a comfortable routine, eating meals together and Gia listening to Maura play violin. They were often left to their own devices since Constance had been commissioned to create a new installment about the current political climate and was absent almost everyday.

Sunday, October 31st 1982

"Maura sweetie you're going to be late," Gia called from downstairs.

After a few minutes of not hearing an answer, Gia decided to investigate as to what was taking this normally punctual six year old so long.

Gia stood in the doorway of Maura's room. "Interesting choice of hairstyle"

"I tried to do French braids," Maura responded in disappointed tone.

Gia entered the room and put her bag down on Maura's bed.

"Ah well, you get an A for effort, but it is hard to do a hairstyle that requires eyes in the back of your head." Gia laughed as she approached Maura who was sitting at her vanity. "May I?

"I guess so," Maura responded defeated by her lack of skill.

Gia started to gently untangle the little girls hair. Maura remembered how her previous nanny would often pull and rush while doing her hair but Gia took her time. When all of her hair was untangled Gia brushed it then separated it into two parts. She worked on the first braid and then tied it off at the end. Then she worked on the second braid and did the same. Maura ran her fingers across the braids. They were perfect.

"I have a great idea" Gia beamed. She ran to her bag "Pink, purple, or yellow?" she said, as she held three spools of ribbon.

"Purple, please" Maura responded. Gia grabbed her scissors and cut two pieces of purple ribbon from the spool. She tied each piece into a bow at the end of each of Maura's braids.

When Gia was finished, she leaned over and put her face next to Maura's, so they both were looking in the mirror, and smiled. "There we go."

"Thank you" Maura said.

"No, thank you kiddo for letting me help you, but we should really get going, you are dangerously close to being late." Gia grabbed her bag from Maura's bed and headed for the door.

"Gia?"

"Yes, Maura"

"I... I love you," Maura stated as she looked at the only person who she felt truly understood her.

Gia could feel her heart swell, she walked back over to Maura and wrapped her arms around the little girl resting her chin lightly on top Maura's head. "I love you too, Peanut."

Gia went down stairs and walked outside to wait in her car for Maura. She felt honored that this amazing little girl loved her, it had been a long time since she has heard those words from anyone besides her best friend Valerie. She then became worried if saying such a thing was professional after all she was employed by this family, what if it saying "I love you" was inappropriate? She didn't have much time to dwell on this as she was soon joined by Maura, dressed in her leotard and tights.

"Can we listen to that mix tape you made last week?" Maura asked with excitement.

"Sure," Gia popped the tape in her car's cassette player.

"We Got the Beat," by the GoGos began to play. Maura danced and sang in the passenger seat as Gia drove her to her ballet lesson. Gia smiled as she thought about how Maura originally wasn't a fan of her music and now enjoys it so much that she is singing and dancing.

As Gia pulled up to Maura's ballet studio, she noticed that the other children were dressed in costumes.

"Oh man, I forgot today was Halloween, you don't have a costume," Gia said feeling bad that she let something this important slip her mind.

"It's ok Gia, I don't really like Halloween"

"What? Trick or Treating, the candy, what's not to like?"

"I've never been trick or treating" Maura said looking down at her feet.

"Are you kidding me, you mean your mother never took you? Gia was stunned as Maura just shook her head. "That's it! We are going tonight, you and me, but where am I going to find you a costume, what would you want to be?"

"Can I be anyone I want?" Said Maura curiously.

"Anyone." Gia responded.

"Then I'd like to be Marie Curie, the chemist and physicist who was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize. She won two actually, and to this day she is the only person who has won for multiple sciences." Maura said.

"Good choice Peanut, very original. How long is your lesson today?" Gia asked hoping she had enough time to prepare for the night.

"Two hours" Maura stated.

"Okay I think I can figure something out between now and then. I'll see you at 4:00," Gia said as Maura exited the car.

/

Gia quickly rushed to the library to research Marie Curie for Maura's costume. Most of the pictures she found featured the woman wearing a black dress that was ankle length, with long sleeves, and a high neckline. Gia thought about the stylish dresses in Maura's closet and decided that a trip to the thrift shop was necessary to properly pull off this look.

Gia really lucked out at the thrift shop and because of her keen artistic eye she was able to pull together a costume almost effortlessly. She found a dress, a brooch and a pair of simple black lace-up boots. The dress was a bit big, but she had planned for this already, and was thankful that she had her sewing machine in her car. Gia finished just in time to pick up Maura.

/

"How'd it go, Peanut?"

"Okay, I guess, actually I couldn't wait for it to be over, I can't wait to go trick or treating," Maura was very excited.

When the two arrived back at the Isles residence, they immediately rushed to Maura's room to work on the costume.

"Hold still," Gia said as she was pinning the dress to make alterations. Maura did as instructed staying as still as a statue. When she had finished making the alterations, Gia used her sewing machine to finalize the changes that were made.

Maura put the dress on and Gia fixed a brooch to sit at the bottom of Maura's neck. Maura admired the how the once loose and long dress now fit perfectly.

"You are quite the seamstress, Gia!" Maura said clearly impressed with Gia's skill.

"My first semester at RISD I was a clothing design major, but then I took a metal work class as an elective... And the rest is history," Gia said as she removed one of Maura's pillows from its case and handed it to her. "This is for your candy."

"Ok, Peanut take a seat," Gia instructed as she gestured towards Maura's vanity.

Maura sat as Gia stood behind her, unravelling the braids she did that afternoon. Gia then styled the golden blonde hair into a whispy bun to complete the look. As Gia worked with the same amount of care she that she had earlier that afternoon, Maura couldn't help but wonder if this was what IT was supposed to feel like with her mother. If Gia's care and genuine concern for her well being was felt by other little girls from their mothers. This time Maura pulled Gia down so they were both looking in the mirror. She hugged Gia pressing her cheek to Gia's cheek. "Thank you so much, Gia."

Gia's eyes began to water, "You look great, Peanut."

Maura liked her new nickname, she knew that other kids had them, this was her first one and it was special, because it meant that she belonged.

/

As the two arrived at the first house for the evening, Maura hesitated at knocking at the door, "What if they ask for a trick? What do I do?"

"Don't worry, they won't... Go ahead," Gia responded.

Maura knocked and a man dressed as Frankenstein answered. "Hey little lady."

"Trick or treat," Maura responded melodically, holding open her pillow case. Frankenstein put a bite-sized bag of M&Ms into it.

"Thank you, Happy Halloween," Maura responded.

The two walked around for four blocks hitting every house with the lights on, until Maura had a pillow case filled with candy.

"I'm getting tired," Maura yawned as she rubbed her eyes.

Gia picked the little girl up and Maura put her arms around her nestling her head into Gia's neck. Maura was asleep within seconds. Gia walked back to the Isles residence letting her thoughts replay the events of that day, and the last six weeks. It happened suddenly and unexpectedly; without warning this little girl became her entire world.

When Gia arrived at the house she walked up stairs carefully with Maura still sleeping in her arms. She helped the sleepy little girl put on her pajamas before tucking her into bed. As Gia turned to leave the room. She heard a small voice.

"Gia?"

"Yes, Peanut?"

"Promise me you'll always stay."

Gia swallowed hard she knew in her mind that she couldn't make that promise but her heart spoke with out reservation, "I promise."

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Have a splendid day :)