Thank you all so much for your understanding. Your reviews were a nice welcome back and they lifted my spirits. You are all truly fantastic. I would also like to thank any new follows and favorites. Here is chapter 23, I hope you like it. We are nearing the end my friends.

Friday, December 21st 1984

Valerie sat at gate G17, flipping through a magazine, looking up every few seconds to watch her friend pace back and forth flapping her hands nervously.

"Please sit, G"

"What if she doesn't get here in time," Gia expressed worriedly.

"Calm down, she will."

Gia pointed to a small wrapped box sitting next to Valerie. "Will you give that to her for me."

"Yes, I will, if it comes to that, but it won't. Now please, sit, you're making me nervous."

Gia picked up the wrapped box and sat down, resting the box on her lap. "Distract me, please!"

Valerie thought for a minute, "I told my parents."

Gia knew immediately what Valerie was referring to. "How'd it go?"

"Not well, we're not speaking, and they don't want me there at Christmas."

Gia immediately felt horrible. "I'm so sorry Val, I'm sure they'll come around."

"I don't think so G, I just hope they don't tell everyone, I wouldn't want my aunts, uncles, or cousins to think any different of me, especially Jane."

"I'm sure she wouldn't, Val."

Valerie sighed. "At least my classmates are cool with me being gay."

Gia felt bad. "I wish I could be there for you... Come with me."

Valerie smiled. "You know I can't, but please don't worry about me, I'll be fine. I'm glad I told them, it's better than living a lie. In more uplifting news, I met someone."

"Oh yeah?"

"Well she's one of my classmates, so I've actually known for about a year. Since my family doesn't want me there, I'm spending Christmas with her."

"That's good at least... So does this mean you don't love me anymore?"

"Shut up," Valerie responded playfully. "Seems like you're the one who needs to get over that kiss."

Gia put her head on Valerie's shoulder, "I'm going to miss this," Valerie said.

"I'm going to miss you," Gia responded.

MEANWHILE

Maura nervously played with the buttons on her coat while she and her mother sat in traffic.

"We should be there in about ten minutes, sweetheart," Constance offered, trying to calm her daughter.

Maura looked at her watch, "Her flight leaves in less than an hour, I hope we make it."

"Don't worry we will. So... Maura, I saw the brochure you left by my bedside table, Wellington Girls Academy?"

"Well, Gia moving to Australia got me thinking that I might want to something different too."

"I think it's a great idea, the school is very prestigious. We can visit the school after the holidays if you'd like?

"Okay," Maura secretly wanted her mother to protest, but she was so hard to read. Maybe she thought that this what Maura wanted, and although she did, she wanted to know that her mother would miss her. Then again maybe Constance was just being completely supportive, and would miss her.

Maura's thought process was interrupted by their arrival at the airport.

/

After getting lost for almost twenty minutes, they found their way to Gia's gate. Gia was in line walking slowly towards the corridor that led to the plane. She was looking back to see if the little girl would make it before she got on the plane.

The two spotted each other at the same time.

Gia jumped out of line, ignoring the commotion coming from the boarding attendant and ran towards Maura. Maura ran to Gia too and jumped into her former nanny and now friend's arms.

"I'm so glad you made it," Gia said, while waving to Constance.

Maura held on tightly already starting to cry.

"We don't have much time, Peanut," Gia continued. As she put Maura down she saw her tears. Gia started to cry a bit too, "Oh no, now you've got me started."

Maura took off her backpack, quickly opened it, and took out a box. She handed it to Gia. "It's stationary, I had your name and address printed on it. I figured that now that you have a new job, you needed some professional stationary. I also included about a hundred envelopes already stamped and addressed to my house.

"About a hundred," Gia laughed, if Maura was anything it was thorough and prepared.

Maura smiled, wiping away some of her tears, "One hundred sixteen to be exact. Also, I wrote you a letter, but don't read it until you get on the plane."

"Thank you, Peanut," Gia said as she hugged the little girl. "This was very thoughtful." She signaled to Valerie who then joined them, "Hello Maura," she said while handing Gia the small wrapped box.

"Hello, Valerie"

Gia handed Maura the box. "I made something for you, but don't open it until I've gotten on the plane, I wrote you a letter too."

At this point the boarding attendant was getting impatient. "Ma'am, you need to board now."

"One more second," Gia begged. She hugged Maura one last time. "I love you, Gia," Maura said, starting to cry again. "I'm really going to miss you."

"I love you more," Gia responded, reluctantly breaking their hug. "Be good, Peanut, and remember, this isn't good bye, it's 'see you later." With those parting words Gia left to board her plane, unable to look back, for fear of breaking down completely.

Constance, Valerie, and Maura stayed until Gia's plane took off.

As Maura left with her mother to go to their car she turned to Valerie, "I never thanked you for reuniting us."

"And I never thanked you, for inspiring her again," she hugged the little girl.

/

Gia opened the letter that Maura wrote her after take off was completed and the 'fasten seatbelt' light was turned off.

Dear Gia,

I this may sound silly, but I think you are magic. You made and invisible girl, seen and heard. You are the first person that made me feel loved, that made me feel like I belonged. Everything is better since you came along. I remembered the day you interviewed that my mom told you that she wanted you to help me "come out of my shell." Well this Peanut did come out of her shell, and it's all thanks to you. Good luck in Australia, Gia, you truly deserve all the happiness life can offer. I love you. Please don't forget me, as you will always be in my heart.

Your Peanut,

Maura

After finishing the letter Gia clutched it close to her heart and whispered, "I could never forget you, Peanut."

/

When Maura got to the car she immediately opened the letter that Gia gave her. She read it aloud.

Dearest Peanut,

First and foremost, thank you. I don't know if you know this, but you taught me how to love life again. Just when I though all was hopeless, you stumbled into my life and gave me purpose. You gave me the special gift of a new outlook on life, that after pain, one can find joy again. I will be eternally grateful. You are such a great kid, Maura, and I know that you will grow up and continue to do great things. Please don't forget the things I've taught you, how to make snow angels, how to flip pancakes, and that cupcakes make everything better.

Love,

Gia

Maura choked through the end of the letter, she new that she meant a lot to Gia, but it was only now that she realized just how much. After composing herself, she noticed the post script which made her remember that Gia also made her something.

P.S. I hope you like your gift, sorry I couldn't make anymore.

She opened up the box. The inside of the lid read. "For my beautiful, young friend, I love you, sweetie." As Maura removed the tissue paper it revealed a charm bracelet. Maura lifted it from the box and examined the charms, each representing a piece of their time together. There was a ballet slipper, a marshmallow, a cupcake, a bowling pin, a snowman, a heart, and of course a peanut. She immediately put it on her wrist, and although they'd soon be separated by ten thousand miles, Maura could look at her bracelet and still feel close to Gia.

/

Gia kept her promise writing Maura everyday, and in turn Maura also wrote Gia everyday. Soon with both getting busier in their separate lives, Gia with her demanding job and Maura with her new school, the letters were reduced to once a week and eventually once a month. By the time Maura was in high school, the letters stopped altogether when both changed addresses at the same time losing each others contact information in the process.

The day at the airport was the last time they would ever see each other.

Okay, I will be picking up the story in present day. I will tie up some lose ends with Hope and Jane, and everything should come together nicely... I hope. I will either have one or two chapters left depending on how I work it. Thanks for reading. Reviews are welcome of course.

Be well and have a splendid day :)