Hello everyone, thank you once again for any follows and reviews, I truly appreciate it. Here is chapter seventeen. Any grammatical mistakes are mine and I apologize in advance. I hope you enjoy.

Saturday, March 12th 1983

The city of Boston returned to normal on Saturday with all business and public services resuming operation. The city worked quickly to plow the streets and the residents paved their own walkways and driveways. If it wasn't for the snow on residential yards and public parks, no one would've been able to tell that it snowed at all.

Gia slept until ten, which was late for her, having been up for over twenty-four hours the day before. She woke up and immediately went to Maura's room. Gia knocked before entering the little girl's room to find her sitting on her bed, flipping through one of her mother's art textbooks that focused on internal human anatomy.

Gia smiled as she sat down at the foot of Maura's bed. "You really dig this kind of stuff huh?"

"Dig?"

"Meaning that you're into it."

Maura looked up and smiled back at Gia, "Yes, I find it oh so fascinating"

Gia gave a small but appreciative laugh at Maura's choice of words. "I have an idea, let's cancel your lesson for today and take a little field trip, everyone deserves a day off, right?"

Maura was hesitant "I don't think my mother would be pleased with that. Also, I have the solo, I really shouldn't be missing any practices."

"She's away for the next two days, besides it's not like you are skipping school or anything. And, you've been doing wonderfully at your practices, you can miss one day." She gently elbowed the little girl in the ribs as a playful way to nudge her into accepting the idea. "Com'on, it'll be lots of fun."

Maura warmed up to the idea, and was even more excited that Gia wanted to take her somewhere special, "Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise."

Gia called Maura's ballet teacher canceling the lessons for the day. Then the two ate a small brunch as Gia secretly planned the day's itinerary with a curious Maura trying to figure it out. Soon after, the two boarded a bus heading for the train station.

"So wherever we're going is too far to drive," Maura asked trying to get Gia to reveal the surprise.

"Nice try, Peanut."

When the two got to the train station Gia approached the teller. "Two tickets for Philadelphia, please." After completing the transaction, she handed a ticket to Maura.

"Philadelphia? So we are going to you're home town."

"Yes, and that is the only clue you're getting."

When their train arrived, the two got on, heading for their destination. During the train ride Maura looked out the window with excitement, happy that Gia had a surprise planned.

When the train had stopped Gia grabbed Maura's hand. "It's only a few blocks from here." Maura could see how excited Gia was to take her to this special place. They walked for about fifteen minutes until Gia stopped in front of a very old looking building.

"Here it is Dr. Peanut... The Mütter Museum."

Maura's eyes widened, she heard about this place before. "...Of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, Thomas Dent Mütter donated his collection in
1858 for education and medical research." Her excitement soon took over her historical rant about the museum. She blurted "The Hyrtl skull collection is in there" and pointed at the building.

"Yeah, not to mention..." Gia started, but was interrupted by Maura, "The Soap Lady, the tallest skeleton in North America, slides of Albert Einstein's brain..."

Gia smiled at Maura and offered her hand. "Well, what are we doing standing out here, let's go check it out."

Maura smiled back at Gia and took her hand squeezing it tightly as she pulled her nanny towards the entrance of the museum.

As they walked through the museum, Gia watched as Maura approached every exhibit with complete awe and fascination. For Gia it was fun to watch the little girl, how excited she was just to be there.

The two remained in the museum until the curator told them that they'd be closing in the next fifteen minutes.

As they walked through the gift shop, Maura seemed to pick up everything from books to replicas of popular exhibits, such as the Soap Lady.

Gia's eyes were however drawn to a piece in a case behind glass. It was of an anatomically correct heart made from colored glass and copper wiring for the veins and arteries. Maura came beside Gia and looked at the piece as well. "This is gorgeous, accurate and beautifully detailed, what a wonderful piece."

"Thank you" Gia responded, "At least you think so."

Maura was confused by Gia's statements until she saw the name next to the piece
"This is yours?"

"Yeah I entered a contest at my school, fall of my senior year, my piece was chosen and put up for sale here with other glass replicas of organs. You should have seen the brain and lungs, talk about real talent." She looked at the empty space in the rest of the case. "I guess mine is the only one that didn't sell."

"I'm buying it" Maura stated.

"No, Peanut, you don't have to, really I appreciate it, but you shouldn't waste your money."

"It's not a waste, this is my first original Gia Sparks piece, I consider it a great investment, even though I'd never sell it."

Maura raised her hand to get the attention of the cashier. She then gestured to Gia's piece. "Ah, the glass heart," the cashier started. "We've had a few people interested in this piece in the past but it's slightly damaged and very fragile as it sustained a few cracks when it was originally shipped here. This unfortunately has turned people off from purchasing it, I'm obligated to tell you this before you decide to make your purchase."

"I still want it," Maura replied without reservation.

The cashier carefully handled the piece wrapping it in several layers of tissue paper and bubble wrap before putting it in a box.

As the two were leaving Gia noticed a photo booth by the exit.

"Hey, Peanut, I just realized that we don't have any pictures of us."

She put money in the machine and pulled Maura into the booth. "Okay Peanut, it's going to take four pictures, rather quickly, Val and I used to make different faces ready?"

"Smile!"

Both looked at the camera giving their biggest smiles

FLASH

"Look surprised!"

Gia looked at the camera with wide eyes and Maura covered her mouth.

FLASH

"Silly face!

Gia stuck out her tongue and Maura crossed her eyes.

FLASH

"Any face you want!

One the last picture, Gia blew a bubble from the gum she was chewing and Maura looked at her and popped it.

FLASH

The photo booth printed out two copies and Gia handed one to Maura. "One for you and one for me." Then the two exited the museum.

"You hungry, Peanut?"

"Starving."

"Let's get cheesesteaks, it's the only place in the world that gets 'em right anyway."

"What's a cheesesteak?"

"One of the most delicious foods in the world, I'll take you to my favorite spot."

The two hopped the subway and headed to South Philadelphia to Gia's favorite cheesesteak spot. When they arrived the owner recognized her immediately.

"Little Gia, how's my favorite grill girl," he asked.

"I'm good." She then turned to Maura. "Maura, this Dominic, I used to be his grill cook when I was in high school. Dominic, this is Maura, I'm her nanny."

Dominic looked at the little girl. "Nice to meet you, and she was my best grill cook. You are very lucky to have Gia she is a wonderful person."

Gia blushed and became slightly embarrassed.

Maura looked at Dominic. "Trust me sir, I know how lucky I am."

"Smart girl."

"You have no idea," Gia replied.

"Would you like your usual Gia?"

"Of course Dom."

"And for the little one."

"I'll take Gia's usual too," Maura responded.

Dominic gave the girls the sandwiches "on the house" which Gia tried to protest, insisting on paying, but Dominic was having none of it.

"Thanks, Dom!"

"Anything for my favorite grill cook."

Gia and Maura sat at a table and ate their cheesesteaks.

"Well what do you think, Peanut."

"It's delicious."

"Yeah, I've missed these sandwiches so much," Gia replied.

When the two finished eating, Gia checked her watch. "We have a two hours before our train arrives, do you want to walk around a bit more, South Philly has some really great murals."

The two walked around, with Gia letting Maura lead the way, the two were not going to get lost as Gia knew the neighborhood very well. As Gia had claimed the city did have some very beautiful murals.

Suddenly, Gia stopped staring at a house. Her legs became weak and she sat on the curb of the side walk. She covered her mouth and her eyes began to water.

Maura watched her nanny and then looked at the house as well. There was something familiar about it, the steps, the ones from the picture on Gia's bedside table. This was the house where she grew up, where she lived with her family.

Maura wrapped her arms around a sobbing Gia, resting her chin on the top of Gia's head. The little girl didn't say a word, she just held her nanny as tightly as she could. After about fifteen minutes Gia regained composure and the two took the subway back to the train station to head back to Boston.

On the way back Maura took the metal and glass heart out of the box and examined it carefully.

"You really do have real talent Gia, this piece is amazing. Thank you for everything today."

"I should be thanking you, you're amazing, Peanut."

Maura fell asleep in Gia's lap halfway through the train ride back to Boston. The little girl remained asleep through the bus ride and walk back to the Isles residence. Gia carried her the entire way.

As they approached the house Gia noticed that Constance's car was in the drive way and a police car was parked behind it. Gia felt her stomach drop. This couldn't be good.

I plan on picking up immediately from where I left off. Thank you for reading, be well and have a splendid day