Mia sits on the bed shaking, knees pulled up to her chest; her heaving breaths the only sound filling the room.

She feels her head start to spin, the room getting hazy, and knows she needs to get her breathing under control.

In through the nose. Out through the mouth.

In. Out.

In. Out.

After another five breaths, she feels more in control; her heart's no longer racing.

She's scared. Those men scared her.

Those men who came into Byron's apartment, trashed the place looking for their payment (whatever that meant), and threatened her and her unborn child.

If they didn't get their money that day, she and Baby J would be in a world of hurt.

That's what the men said. A world of hurt.

She could laugh at the humor in the statement, wants to, but nothing comes.

They trashed the apartment. Absolutely destroyed it.

And getting yelled at? It shook her to her core; echoed so badly in her ears Mia swears she can still hear it.

But now that her hands have stopped shaking so badly, she picks up her phone.

"Mommy?"

She answers after the fourth ring, and just hearing her mom's voice makes Mia start crying again. Mia tries to relay the story through her sobs but it's a lost cause.

"Mia? Baby, I can't understand you. Take a breath for me, okay?"

Miyana listens to her mom, takes some long, deep breaths.

In. out.

In. out.

"Okay," she says. "I'm okay."

"Okay," her mom says calmly. "Tell me what happened."

With her mom's guidance, Miyana explains. And then come the questions. "What do you mean two guys? What did they look like? Do you know who they are? So they are friends with Byron? Okay, okay."

She really doesn't think she remembers much. Especially not now with all the adrenaline running through her.

"Hold on, baby. I'm gonna put you on speaker, okay? Tio and Uncle Kevin are here," her mom says.

Oh, her uncles. She'll be okay. Her uncles are there. She'll be okay.

"Mia, you said you knew who the guys were?" Uncle Kevin asks.

"Not really. I mean, they said they worked with Byron's dad. But, I don't know their names."

"Okay," Kevin replies.

"I mean, maybe they work with Danny? I don't know," Miyana says, gripping her hair in her fingers.

"Danny? Who's Danny?" Her mom asks.

"He's Byron's dad's head assistant or something. I only met him once."

"When?" All three cops ask.

"About two months ago, I think? We were at the theater and Byron took a call and then Danny just showed up outside. And when I came out, he was there on the street with these two guys and it looked like they were threatening Byron. But when I asked him about it, Byron just said everything was fine and he was handling it."

"And did he? Handle it?" Her mom asks.

"I thought so! I mean, Byron never brought it up again," Miyana answers, her voice decrescendoing as her confidence in her boyfriend falls. "But clearly not."

"Okay. And you're sure they're gone?" Tio asks.

"Yeah. Yes, they left."

"And did they take anything?" He continues.

"Um, I don't think so? Honestly? I ran and hid as soon as they pushed their way inside and threatened me," she laughs. It's self-deprecating and trying to be cheerful all at the same time.

"Okay. We're coming to get you. You're at your place, right?" Mom asks.

"No, we stayed at Byron's last night." The realization comes to her in a flash. "Oh my god! They didn't know I was going to be there! The apartment was supposed to be empty! He's at a swing rehearsal. Oh my god, I'm so stupid!"

"No, Mimi, you're not stupid! They are!" her mom says. "We're on our way."

The call ends and Miyana lets out a screech.

How could she be so stupid?

[][]

Miyana jumps at the knock at the door. Her heart starts racing again, her palms are sweaty. Her throat tightens and she feels tears filling her eyes. She just wanted it to stop! Wanted the monsters to go away.

"Miyana? It's us, baby! Open the door."

She runs to the door, flings it open, and falls into her mother's embrace.

The sobs and tears come a second later. All the fear and worry seeping out of her from the comfort of her moms arms.

"You're okay. It's all over," her mom soothes, rubbing her daughter's back; smoothing her hair. She checks her daughter over, looking for signs of injury, putting a hand on the swell of her pregnant belly.

"I'm so mad at him," Miyana finally says, meeting her mom's eyes, anger written on her face.

"I know. Me too." her mom agrees.

Thankfully, the boys had jumped into action taking stock of the trashed apartment and calling the appropriate people.

It really was a disaster. Papers strewn all over, book covers ripped off, the couch end tables have been overturned; a broken lamp.

Those guys did a hell of a job.

"Come on, let's go get your stuff," her mom says, leading Mia back towards the bedroom with their arms linked.

When they return, the apartment is starting to fill with uniformed officers and crime scene technicians.

"Do we really need all of this? I don't want people starting rumors," Miyana asks, wincing.

"Yeah, we do, babe," Tio replies. "They committed a crime. And whether it was intentional or not, or meant to be found or not, it's still a crime. And you know we'd get in trouble if we saw it and didn't report it."

"Even if mom's the captain? I mean, can't you just let it slide this once?"

"I wish!" Tio laughs. "But I'd rather not face the consequences if we got caught. Too much paperwork and meetings with people in suits." The downturn of his face makes Mia smile and loosens the knot in her uncle's chest.

"Okay. Thanks, Tio. Thanks, Uncle Kevin. I really appreciate it."

"Anytime, kiddo," Uncle Kevin replies, hugging the young adult.

"Come on, baby. I'll take you home. The boys can finish up here," her mom says, leading her daughter out of her boyfriend's apartment and down the stairs to the street.

Brooklyn on a spring afternoon danced around them as the girls got into the car; the noise of the street muffled as the doors closed.

They were only sitting for a moment when Mia's phone rings, Byron's face lighting up the screen.

"Hey," Mia answers, nodding along as he tries to explain. "What do you mean you didn't know? They came to your apartment! They broke down the door! Byron, only bad people do that!" She rubs her forehead in frustration, sighing loudly as Byron continues to talk. "Just shut up, okay? Meet me at my place. I can't do this over the phone." She ends the call, dropping her phone into her lap.

Her mom doesn't say anything, just puts the car into drive and pulls into traffic, listening as her daughter cries.

[][]

Goose hasn't left Mia's side since she returned home. The dog follows along as Mia paces the apartment, making laps from couch to kitchen to window and back.

Kate's sure he senses something is wrong.

And boy, was he right.

"Do you want me to stay?" Kate asks, breaking the silence.

"I don't know," Mia whimpers, blinking back a fresh round of tears.

"Okay."

It's not long before the lock clicks and Byron comes through the door. "Hey! Babe, I'm so sorry.' He goes to her for a hug, but Mia stops him.

She pushes him back with a loud grunt, uses the anger building inside to put space between them. "Fuck you."

"Fuck me?"

"Yeah, fuck you." Miyana is close to shouting, her fists are balled at her side. "Fuck you and fuck your dad and his stupid fucking company. Fuck you for getting pulled into it. You dumb ass! Why did you have to do that?" Now she's crying again, hot tears spilling down her cheeks.

"I thought I could fix it. I thought by getting involved, it would be gone quickly. But I was wrong."

"Damn straight you were wrong! Look where it got us!"

"I know! And I am so sorry," he steps up to her again, and again she pushes him away.

"No! No. you don't get to hug me and tell me you love me! You scared me! Those guys scared me! You don't get to scare me and then tell me you love me!"

"Miyana," Byron whispers, shaking his head. He was an idiot. A whole idiot sandwich who screwed it all up. He just wanted to be done with his dad; the bastard who left them when he was nine only to resurface again to have his only son clean up the mess he'd made.

"No! You need to leave. Until you can raise your right hand and swear to me this is all over and you're in 100% with us, that everything with your dad is over and done, you don't get to talk to me. You don't get to talk to my family. You don't get to talk to Baby J."

Byron takes in a breath; her words cutting him fast and deep.

"You need to leave," Miyan says again, setting her jaw; her words short and sharp. "Leave! Get out! Get out of here!"

Byron backs to the door, watching as his girlfriend breaks down screaming and sobbing; her mom's hug the only thing keeping her together.

"Byron, leave," Kate orders as he just stands there, hurt and sad with a furrowed brow. "Get your life figured out and then we'll talk."

[][]

They're back in the car before Miyana can even comprehend it, speeding down the expressway as the skyline flashes across the windows. The only noise is the radio playing softly and Goose crying from the back seat

It's not until they pass a certain landmark that Miyana pipes up.

"You missed the exit for the theater."

"I know. That's not where we're going."

"What do you mean! I have a show tonight!"

"No, you don't. I called you out."

"What!? Why? I'm fine!"

"Miyana, you are the least bit fine. I called your stage managers and said you couldn't come in tonight because of a family emergency. I didn't give details, they didn't ask." She waits a bit for Mia to stop arguing. "You're coming home tonight. You can't be alone."

"I wasn't going to be alone. I have everyone at the theater! Brynn and Allie will take care of me! So will Mama Sue and Eric. I have people who will take care of me!"

"I know that, baby, I do," Kate says, laying a hand on Mia's knee. "That's not what I meant. I meant that if you go to work tonight, there's a strong chance Byron will be there. And you two don't need to be in the same place at the very least for tonight."

Oh.

Oh, damn. She was right.

"Okay," Mia finally concedes. "Thanks, momma."

"Always."

The car falls silent once again and Goose manages to wedge his body between the front seats to lay on the center console. Miyana rubs his head and finally, his crying stops. It also helps Miyana to calm down; the repetitive motion gives her brain something else to focus on.

[][]

She's not home for more than fifteen seconds before her dad wraps her up in a hug.

Miyana tries her hardest to not let more tears fall and squeezes her dad harder.

"You know, if you wanted to play hookey from work and come home for the night, all you had to do was ask. You didn't have to stage a break-in."

Miyana laughs at that. She always loved how he knew how to make her feel better quickly. "Well, where's the fun in that?" She supplies.

It's what they did, she and her dad, used humor to cover up the hurt and fear.

"At least it gave your uncles something to do for the afternoon. Mom told me they were so bored sitting at work," Castle says, rolling his eyes.

Mia laughs again, hugging her dad again.

"Are you hungry? There's leftovers in the fridge I can heat up."

"Nah, I'm okay," Mia says. She knew she should eat, but couldn't even consider the idea of putting food in her mouth right then.

"Ice cream? I still have that stash of your favorite." Her dad gives her that crooked, dimpled smile he was famous for.

"Maybe later," Mia sighs, making her way to the couch and plopping down. Goose climbs up next to her, sitting nearly on top of her thigh, and rests his head on her belly. Baby J was doing cartwheels in there. She clearly did not appreciate the events that had unfolded that day.

Castle joins them, scooting close to his daughter and pushing her head to rest on his shoulder. He presses a kiss to her temple and starts to rub her hair. With the other hand, he calls up the movie he knows will make her feel better. Even just the tiniest amount.

The familiar music and the orange fish carrying a sandwich.

Mia huffs out a laugh. "Thanks, Daddy."

"You're welcome, baby."

They watch the movie in silence, Miyana mouthing along to the dialogue, and it does give her mind something else to focus on.

She doesn't see her mom go off alone into another room. Doesn't hear the hushed conversations about opening an investigation into the events earlier that day or the need to bring Byron in for questioning. Doesn't know the hurt Kate has about having to do the hard things to protect her daughter.

"What am I gonna do?" Miyana murmurs about an hour into the movie. The two sisters have just been told they don't get to stay together. As their flowers fly away in the breeze, Miyana starts to cry again. "What am I gonna do?"

Kate leans over the back of the couch and hugs her daughter from behind. "We'll figure it out, okay? You hear me? We'll figure it out."

Amidst her sobs, Miyana mods.

She heard her mom.

But she wasn't sure she believed her.