"Oh!" Miranda declared, noticing the wine. "What are we celebrating" Do tell! You owe me a story, Victoria Granger," she scolded with a grin as she claimed a chair at the table, a conspiratorial expression on her face.

Laughing, Vicki settled more comfortably into her seat. Her expression softened in a way that only happened when she was talking about her children as she spoke. "We're, um ....we're adopting," she told Miranda quietly. "I think you can probably guess who."

"Little Bea," Miranda said, smiling with absolute certainty. She had no doubt that Jon and Vicki could give the little girl a happy home life, so why did Vicki seem so hesitant to share the good news" "What's bothering you, Vicki," she said, reaching out to touch her friend's hand - because that was what Vicki had become to her, one of her closest friends.

There was another pause, but Vicki had learned a long time ago that it was better to take your time and answer honestly than try to pretend everything was fine in front of Miranda.

"What if I mess this up?" she said simply. "I mean ....she's adorable, she'll be so easy to love. But what if Emily or Ben change their minds about having a big sister" What if Bea hates being part of our family' I don't want any of them to think we love them any less than the rest. And Liv's no help - all she had to say was be yourself. Like that's practical advice."

"Honey, that's probably the best advice she could give you," Miranda assured her, giving her hand a little reassuring squeeze before drawing back. "Why are you second-guessing yourself" What are the reasons you've decided to adopt Bea" Does it feel like your family would be missing something without her" Do you think you can love her like one of your own" Do you think you can treat them all the same, without playing favorites" Do you know why Liv and Johnny adopted all those kids, Vicki" It's because they have so much love to give, and not a single one of them - birth child or adopted - feels unwanted, unloved, or left out. I'm not gonna tell you it's gonna be easy because it's not. Adopting Ro was one of the hardest things I've ever done, but I don't regret it for a second. She's enriched our lives so much. She's brought us so much love. And I think Bea will do the same for you. I often wonder if it's not Rufus and I who are benefiting from adopting Ro more than she is from us."

"I don't want this to turn out to be a mistake," Vicki told her uncomfortably. "The thought of sending that little girl back to the orphanage because we made a mistake is just ....it's heartbreaking."

"What makes you think you might be making a mistake?" Miranda asked further. Though she was no psychiatrist, she thought she knew Vicki well enough to get to the heart of the matter.

"Well, I-I don't think it's a mistake, I just ..." Vicki sighed, rubbing a hand through her hair. "I think Jon's worrying is rubbing off on me," she said eventually. "This all started because we were feeling a little guilty about having four kids naturally when there are all these children who don't have families all over the city. Jon really wanted to adopt someone, anyone, and I put my foot down and made it absolutely clear that it would not be happening unless all of us agreed to it. I never expected him to meet Bea and introduce her to us, or that she would be such a sweetheart. It feels like it's moving really fast."

Miranda listened, quietly absorbing what Vicki was telling her. She paused for a moment to find the right words, words maybe Vicki needed to hear. "It takes nine months or more to make a baby, but only a few weeks to adopt a child. But that child has been waiting for someone like you and Jon for years, Vicki, and maybe, just maybe, you've unknowingly been waiting for her. You've brought four beautiful, happy, healthy children into the world. Why not add another child to the family who needs your love?" she asked, as gently as she could.

"I'm not going to stop the process," the redhead assured her. "We've already started it; she's coming home next week. The kids have all but redecorated her new bedroom all by themselves. I suppose I'm just a bit intimidated. I know we have Dani to help us out, and she's an angel with the twins, but I'm so scared that one of them is going to think I don't love them anymore. It's silly, I know."

"Sweetheart, they know you love them. You show them that every day. But each child is different, and each child needs something different from you. Bea is a special child. She's the child of your heart. The one you are choosing to invite into your family. What did Ben and Emily say when you told them?" Miranda asked curiously.

Vicki snorted with laughter. "Emily is delighted because apparently now she'll have a girl to teach her how to be a proper girl and be her best friend at home," she said, rolling her eyes. It wasn't as though Vicki hadn't become quite considerably girly in the last few years, but Emily was of the opinion that proper girls didn't spend all of breakfast wandering around in their pyjamas without their hair being brushed. "Ben's just happy. I don't think there's anything in the world that could stop my little boy being a ray of sunshine."

"And the twins are so young, they'll grow up thinking Bea was there all along. So, what are you most worried about' Are you really worried about Emily and Ben getting jealous, or are you worried you won't have enough love to pass around?" Miranda asked further, before taking a sip of her tea. The wine would come in a while, when Vicki was on the right track again.

There was a pause, and Vicki's bluntness finally came out to play. "I'm worried I'm going to fuck up," she said plainly. "That I'm going to do something, or say something, that means Bea doesn't feel safe in her new home with her new family. I'm honestly not worried about Emily or Ben. I'm worried about whether or not I can be the mother Bea needs me to be."

"And you never worried about that with Emily or Ben or the twins?" Miranda asked, knowing every mother - every parent - worried about that at one time or another, whether their children were theirs by birth or adoption.

"Oh, come on, you know I did," Vicki pointed out, and stopped, looking sheepish. "I'm being an idiot, aren't I?"

Miranda shrugged. "You know, I'd be more concerned if you weren't worried. It just means you care enough about Bea that you want her to be happy. That's all every mother wants for their children, Vicki. Like Liv said, you just need to be yourself. Everything else will fall into place," she assured her.

Vicki sighed, smiling. "Thanks, Miranda. I spend so much time reassuring the men in the house, I forget that sometimes I need it too." She chuckled, shaking her head. "Not that Jon hasn't been amazing about all this."

"Usually, it's Jon who has a hard time making decisions and worrying too much," Miranda said, knowing both of them pretty well. "You're a fantastic mother, and Bea is very lucky to have you. Now, let's toast," she said, with a playful gleam in her eyes.

"Which is probably why Des and Piper let it happen, to be honest," Vicki mused. "If there was any chance that Peter and Lyneth might have an actual effect on the running of the city, they definitely wouldn't have agreed to it."

"The only thing that worries me is their safety, but I'm sure their parents will make sure they don't get in any trouble," Miranda said.

Vicki nodded, though she wasn't that concerned about safety where Lyneth was concerned. That little person was a lot more than she first seemed, and more than capable of protecting herself and her friends and family if she had to. "It's a low-risk position," she reminded Miranda. "After all, it only lasts a year."

"I know," Miranda admitted. "Maybe a child's perspective is exactly what Rhy'Din needs," she added, restating what she'd said a few moments earlier.

"If nothing else, it'll keep those two out of mischief for about a month," Vicki predicted in amusement. "I hear tell that Peter keeps trying to persuade Ash and James to let him take Cora flying."

"That's what I heard, too, but Ash insists Cora learns how to walk first," Miranda replied with another giggle. "That boy will have all the kids at Maple Grove flying before long. Imagine what their parents will think of that."

"I don't need to imagine hard," Vicki chuckled, shaking her head. "He's not getting the twins until they've learned how to hold hands without biting again."

"No, not Rowan either," Miranda said, with a thoughtful frown. "I assume Ash, at least, had the sense to explain why he can't go taking children on unsupervised flights around Rhy'Din whenever he feels like it."

"I'm sure she has, and does on a regular basis," Vicki agreed. "If there's anyone that kid will do anything for, it's Ash. It's kind of adorable, in its way."

"Have you ever read the book?" Miranda asked, referring to the novel bearing the same name as the boy. "I read it to Bethany when she was little. I think all the poor boy ever wanted was a mother, and now he has one in Ashlyn."

"Whatever you do, don't mention the book around James," Vicki warned her with a half smile. "He has deep opinions about certain liberties Barrie took, apparently. But I know what you mean. Ash is pretty much perfect to be a mother to a little boy who doesn't really know what growing up is all about."

"No, I should think he would be a little touchy, considering how he was portrayed," Miranda said of the supposedly infamous Captain Hook, who ironically had adopted Peter Pan and become his father.

"Mind you, if it wasn't for that play, he never would have met Ash," Vicki added thoughtfully. "Despite everything, I'd say that little family owes a lot to J.M. Barrie."

"Just don't tell James that," Miranda replied with a grin. "What do you think Bea will think of him?" she asked curiously, circling back to the little girl who was about to become the newest member of the Granger clan.

"Of Peter" She'll love him." Vicki grinned. "All children love Peter, hadn't you noticed" It doesn't matter what he does or says, he's got them in the palm of his hand."

"Children are one thing; adults are another," Miranda mused aloud, reflecting on the upcoming election again. "Vicki, do you know if there is a minimum voting age in Rhy'Din" I don't think there is."

"I ..." Vicki paused. "You know, I have no idea. I mean, by custom and practice, people don't vote until they're considered adults by their own culture, but ..." She frowned. "I've never seen anything written down about it."

"It seems to me that if children can run for office, they should be able to vote," Miranda reasoned. "You know, if every child in Rhy'Din voted for Peter and Lyneth ..." She merely shrugged, leaving the rest unsaid, since it was obvious. It was hardly likely, though stranger things had been known to happen.

"That would be a terrible and terrifying abuse of the political system," Vicki pointed out, and abruptly cackled with laughter. "God, can you imagine the panic from the adults everywhere if every child turned out and voted?"

"We might end up with Christmas every day of the week!" Miranda replied, laughing with her. But would that really be so bad, considering what previous candidates had proposed in the past' "Have you seen who else is running?"

"Some mad nun from the Neo-Catholic Church," Vicki said dismissively. "You know, the ones who are a shadow's depth away from Satanism' They're giving it a go."

Miranda rolled her eyes. "That's all we need, some religious fanatic for Governor," she said, obviously not a fan of that particular candidate.

"They had a book burning," the redhead pointed out. "That kind of thing doesn't go down well in Rhy'Din. And the last lot of bigotry isn't long enough ago for people to engage with it this time."

"So I heard," Miranda replied with a heavy sigh. "There's always one crackpot in the group. All we can do is hope the people of Rhy'Din show some common sense. Anyway, like I said before, the governor doesn't have much real power anyway, but they should at least try to make Rhy'Din a better place for all its citizens."

"I think Collie's Rhi is running - Eregor's wife, you know?" It was a peculiarity of anyone connected with the Shanachie that everyone was referred to as being connected to the theater in some way. Out in the rest of the city, Eregor was probably referred to as Rhiannon's husband, the time traveler.

"Aren't they friends of Johnny and Liv's?" Miranda asked. She had her pulse on most of the gossip at Maple Grove and the Shanachie Theater, but she was always eager for more. "Maggie's mother, right?"