Hello everyone, sorry this update was late, well later than I wanted it to be. I had some trouble making it fit at first, but I think that the section, the day after Thanksgiving is my favorite so far. I hope I haven't lost any of you, and I appreciate anyone who has taken the time to review, favorite, or follow this story or me. Hope you enjoy :)

Wednesday, November 24th 1982, Thanksgiving Eve

Gia enters the Isles residence at 2:30 to pick up a heavier jacket for Maura because she intended to take her to the park after school. There she saw Constance who was home at an unusually early time. Gia was surprised.

"Gia, I'm glad I caught you, I will be picking Maura up from school today. I'm giving you tomorrow off, I assume you would want to spend the holiday with your family. I will however need you back in the evening on Friday, I am leaving for New York to present my new installment. I will be gone for the next five days, you will need to stay here at the house with Maura overnight."

"Uh... Yeah, sure, see you then. Oh Happy Thanksgiving, and tell Maura I said so too."

Constance wishes Gia the same sentiments and then Gia leaves.

/

Maura walked quickly as she exited her school building, as much as she loved school, she welcomed the small break. She was excited to catch up on her reading, practice her violin, but most of all spend more time with Gia. As she surveyed the parking lot, looking for Gia's car, she spotted her mothers.

"Hello Mom, why are you here? Did something happen to Gia? Is she ok? There was genuine concern in Maura's voice.

"She's fine Dear, I gave her the holiday to spend with her family."

"Oh" Maura smiled at her mother. " It's nice to see you"

"I apologize for being so busy, but I wanted to spend the holiday with you before I leave for New York on Friday, Gia will be staying at the house with you until I get back." Constance responded.

Hearing that Gia would be staying over made Maura happy. During the ride home Constance mainly spoke about her new installment while Maura listened.

/

Gia arrived home to an already ringing telephone. She picked it up.

"Hello Val," Gia answered with excitement, it had been a long time since she had spoken to her best friend.

"How do you answer the phone like that?" Val chuckled, she was happy to hear her friends voice.

"Like what?"

"I mean, what if it wasn't me?"

"But it's always you, who else would it be?"

Valerie sighed,"The invitation still stands you know, my mom said you're more than welcome to join us."

"No thank you, I think I'll just catch up on some sleep" Gia replied. "Besides I'm back to work on Friday and will be working all day for the following five days."

"Wow you're really at her Beck and Call aren't you?"

"I don't mind, it's good money and I really like Maura."

"Oh she's not weird anymore?"

Gia laughs, "she's definitely weird, but in an adorable way."

"Well you better have off when I come to visit in January for your birthday."

"Of course, I can't wait to see you Val"

"My train leaves in twenty minutes, I better get to the station. I love you Gia and I miss you, take care of yourself."

"I love you too, Val, Happy Thanksgiving."

"Happy Thanksgiving Gia."

Valerie hangs up.

Thursday, November 25th 1982, Thanksgiving

Maura spent most of the day in her room reading and practicing her violin while Constance was busy entertaining the people who commissioned her latest installment. Maura made a few appearances before dinner was ready, but felt uncomfortable which was why she spent most of the time in her room. She was also very quiet at dinner, no one addressed her or paid much attention to her. Constance was told she had a very well behaved child.

Gia spent most of her day watching the parade and reruns of her favorite sitcoms alone in her apartment. She ordered Chinese takeout because it was the only place that was open. She retired to bed early.

Friday, November 26th 1982

Gia arrived at the Isles residence at 5:00pm. At this time Constance and Maura were coming home from a shopping trip. Maura's eyes lit up when she saw Gia.

"Maura, dear, take these bags inside and put them in the hallway closet," Constance said as she handed the bags to Maura. Then she kissed the top of her head, "I'll see you Wednesday."

As Maura walked to the house she playfully elbowed Gia.

"Gia, unfortunately I am running late and have to leave immediately. I have set up the guest room for you. I hope you had a good Thanksgiving with your family," Constance said before getting in her car to leave for New York.

When Gia entered the house she could hear water running, she figured Maura was taking a shower so she decided to work on dinner.

Moments later Maura came down stairs.

"A bird defecated on my head while we were shopping, I wanted to wash my hair," Maura said as she entered the kitchen.

"That's a sign of good luck." Gia laughed.

"That's a ridiculous superstition, that has no empirical evidence to support its truth," Maura responded as she sat at the island of the kitchen.

Gia laughed.

"How was Thanksgiving with your family? Maura said as watched Gia cut vegetables.

"I didn't see them," Gia responded not looking up.

"They must have missed you. You have siblings right?"

"Yeah, I had three sisters and a brother" Gia responded, again not looking up at Maura.

"Had?"

"They died... Along with my parents... In a car accident while coming to visit me in Rhode Island." Gia finally looked up, her eyes became watery but she smiled at Maura as she continued making her dinner.

"Oh I'm sorry." Maura looked down. She felt bad for upsetting Gia.

"Hey it's ok, you didn't know."

There was silence for a few minutes except for the sound of the knife on the the cutting board.

"Oh shiitake mushrooms, "Gia sucked in her breath suddenly and cupped her left hand with the right. Her breathing was short and quick.

Maura looked up when she heard Gia "Did you cut, yourself?" Seeing that Gia was panicking, Maura grabbed some paper towels and helped her to a seat. Quickly wrapping the paper towels around Gia's left hand, she instructed, "Apply pressure and keep the wound above your heart" as she gently lifted Gia's left arm by her elbow. "I'll be right back okay?" Maura quickly ran to her room to grab her first aide kit.

Maura rushed back into the kitchen so quickly that she tripped over her own feet tumbling to the floor. Before Gia could react, Maura sprang up "I'm okay" and made her way over to the kitchen table. She placed the first aide kit next to her and held out both of her hands palms up. "May I take a look please?" Gia was amused. "Okay Dr. Peanut," Gia gave Maura her hand that was covered in blood and wrapped in paper towels.

Maura delicately removed the bloody paper towels from around Gia's hand. The wound was still steadily releasing blood. "This is pretty deep Gia, you may need to go to the hospital."

"Uh... Yeah that's not going to happen, I don't have health insurance" Gia responded.

A look of confusion fell upon Maura's face, for all her worldliness at six years old there were still some concepts that were beyond her grasp.

"Just hand me a few band-aids, it will be fine" Gia continued.

"You're gonna need more than a few band-aids, Gia." Maura re-wrapped Gia's cut with new paper towels. "We need to wash the area." Maura rose from her seat, taking Gia by the hand and guiding her to the sink. Maura grabbed a foot stool so she would be able to have a proper view of the cut. She turned on the water and washed her hands first. Then she unwrapped Gia's finger and ran it under the water. Gia winced slightly. "Sorry" Maura responded seeing the pain in Gia's face. "It's okay" Gia responded, "You're fine... I'm fine". When she was satisfied with the thorough rinsing, Maura stepped down from the stool and lead Gia back to the table to dress the wound.

"The bleeding appears to have subsided, but you seemed to have lost a lot, do you feel light-headed?" Maura asked as she applied antibacterial ointment to Gia's cut. "I feel okay, thank you, Maura." Gia watched the little girl diligently wrapping gauze and medical tape around her finger. "Where did you learn how to do this?"

"Books mostly" Maura respond, still focused on the task at hand. "This is my first time actually doing it."

"Wow, you're a natural, Doc" Gia responded genuinely impressed with the six year old's skill.

Maura smiled. "I did my best but it will probably leave a scar."

Gia chuckled "It's one I can add to my collection." Gia pulled up the sleeve over her left arm and showed Maura a burn on her forearm. "I got this one my sophomore year at RISD, I was working on this sculpture made entirely of bike chains and one of links melted off while I was welding and slid down my sleeve." Maura reached over and traced the scar tissue that went from Gia's wrist to her elbow, "Wow, looks like a full thickness second degree burn." "Yeah it was pretty painful" Gia responded.

Next Gia pulled up her pant leg up to just above her knee revealing a scar just under the cap. "Junior year of high school, varsity softball championships, broken glass sliding into third base. I still managed to run home when my friend Val hit a grand slam. Maura also traced this scar "That must have been deep, you probably shouldn't have ran with your knee bleeding like that." Gia put her arm around Maura, she found the little girls concern for her well being to be very endearing.

Gia continued to document her scars sweeping the bangs from her forehead to reveal one just below her hairline. "Sledding, I'm eleven years old, my youngest sister, Allie, jumps on top of me as I start going down the hill at this huge golf course. We are going so fast and she is scared, screaming at the top of her lungs, at one point she grabs onto my face covering my eyes so I can't steer the sled. We end up in a shallow ditch and I end up with one of her front teeth sticking out of my forehead. She gets a visit from the tooth fairy that night and I get stitches." Gia smiled at the memory that now was bittersweet. Maura kissed the scar on Gia's forehead.

"Tell me more about them" Maura blurted. "That is if you want to"

"Uh, maybe another time Dr. Peanut," Gia responded as she pulled Maura closer and then promptly changed the subject. "What should we do for dinner now?"

"Pizza," Maura responded with a smile.

"Then pizza it shall be," Gia responded.

Well what do you think. Reviews are always welcome and appreciated. Someone mentioned that they'd like to see a little Jane, it wasn't my plan to have her in this but I thought of a way for her to make an appearance. It won't be permanent though and won't be until a chapter or two from now. I would like your opinions on whether you'd want her in it or not.