"Huh?" She asked, noticing the tear and quickly wiped it away. "Oh, yeah. Sorry. I just... I never knew my mother..." She sat back. "I just thought... that if I were ever to meet her she'd look like you." A few more tears rolled down.

The woman blinked and then smiled warmly, "That's very sweet of you to say. So... what is it that brings you here?"

Ciara calmed herself. 'Keep it together girl.' "I came to see her... I was told that if I stayed here and watched down that path... That I may get a glimpse of her. Though," She looked down at her lap, "She doesn't know me... Dad only ever speaks of her briefly. Telling me how wonderful she is... or was. How much joy she brought him. Her warm smile, her red locks..." She fiddled with her fingers, "I think it's hard for him... " She looked down the path, as if she was hoping she would come along, "I don't know what he'd think if I were here, trying to see her... But I don't think she'll come... "

"Why not? Was the person who told you not very reliable?" she asked, a little confused.

"No. He's reliable. I just think he got the place wrong is all cause she should have been by here by now... Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?" She asked, pointing to the woman's tummy.

"Oh well" she blushed, "I know it's so old fashioned, nobody does it anymore but... We wanted it to be a surprise. I know it's silly but we don't want to take the risk that if it's a gender neutral mutation, we don't want the child to be pressured one way or the other."

Ciara smiled, "That's not silly at all. I know lots of people who want it to be a surprise. Good for you. Have you thought of any names yet?" She asked, curious as can be.

"Well, I've been considering a few..." she paused, "okay, honestly this whole mystery thing is just for my sake. I love not knowing what gender, or what the name will be, or anything. It's like a beautiful surprise, but my husband keeps giving me these little looks-he's sort of a seer of the future, it's complicated. Anyway, he's trying to be subtle about it, but I'm pretty sure it's going to be a girl, and he's leaning towards a lot of C names" she rolled her eyes, "he thinks he's so clever."

Ciara couldn't help but chuckle. "Ah, I have someone like that in my life. Not in a romantic sort of way but he's a seer of time as well... Always gives me those. 'Trust me' speeches and looks every now and then"

"Really?" she smiled widely, there weren't a lot of people who could see through time, so it was exciting to have someone who understood, "I know exactly what you're talking about" she mimicked the look perfectly and impersonated a voice, "I'm sorry I can't tell you now dear, but you'll understand eventually. Just trust me." she rolled her eyes, "and it's like, I do trust you, but do you have to give me the look?!"

"I know! And then they're all cryptic about how they word things, in fear you might try and change something that is to happen and mess up the whole time line." Ciara blanked her expression and mimicked Horatio perfectly, "Ciara, you have to trust me... or... How many times have I told you not to mention things to others? It could change everything! " She smiled widely. She was actually relating to her mom. Actually TALKING to her mom.

She laughed and nodded, "and I mean really, how bad can it be if I want Vanilla ice cream one day, instead of chocolate?" she chuckled, "because of one comment he may have made. Next thing you know the apes will get an evolutionary jump ahead of us."

"I know right? A whole Planet of the Apes sort of time wrap. But he does mean well. Regardless of how many times he keeps me in the dark or persuade me to just listen to him, he's always looking out for me. Saved my life on more than one occasion. I guess it must be hard for them. Not being able to just live life however you see fit because they've already seen how each action will effect future events..."

She sighed and nodded solemnly, "True enough. It does get pretty hard sometimes, especially when they're still figuring it all out. He'll never admit it, but there are the days that I catch him looking at me with the saddest eyes. I don't know what he expects to happen but at some point... I think I'm going to break his heart. Yet he still drives on, somehow, he puts up with it all and he still manages to smile at the end of the day. I can't even imagine how difficult that must be... being forced to live out something that you know won't end well. he's insistent, determined to make me believe that it isn't my fault." She seemed distant for a moment but sighed and shook her head, "I'm sorry, we've only just met and here I am telling you everything about me. You're very easy to talk to" she laughed, "Perhaps we know each other in another life?"

Ciara's heart skipped a beat, "Likewise... Maybe we did know each other in another...life." Ciara's eyes glanced down at her stomach for a moment then she looked away when she realized she was staring. "Hey, I don't have anything to do. Would you like help carrying your bags? I'd love to keep chatting. I'm Ciara by the way. Ciara McCoy." She said introducing herself.

"That would amazing, thank you!" she let out a sigh of relief, "Ciara? That's so funny! My middle name is Ciara. I'm Mia Ciara McHale" she gave Ciara a couple bags to carry and pointed out which way she was headed, "I feel like I have to catch my breath at every bench down the street these days"

Ciara smiled, "What are the odds?" Thought in her head she knew there were no odds. She had been named after her mother. She could feel herself getting warm and fuzzy on the inside. She had her mother's name... Mia... what a lovely name.

"It must not be easy to carry such a large load. It's all that water weight. I couldn't just leave you on your own. My doctor instincts won't let me." She smiled, "Though, a lot of stuff happened. I wanted to be a scientist or a Doctor like my dad but life kinda pulled me in a different direction. I never got the chance to go to University. Always running around, helping people in need... So I ended up teaching kids how to swim when I'm not running off with the team to help people. It's kinda nice... Kinda also helps when your mutant power is water manipulation.

Their warm smiles all looking up at me. And how strong and brave they feel after they figure out how to swim. It just makes you feel like you're making a difference. Even if it is a small one. I hope one day I'll get married and have a child too. " She smiled warmly.

"That's rather admirable" Mia smiled, "To be honest, I feel like I've never been very good with children. At first when my husband and I got married, I said no way, I am not having children. I'd be terrified, I wouldn't know what to do! He never objected, I guess he knew I'd end up changing my mind and now I've never been so excited."

Ciara smile widened. "I was terrified at the idea when I was younger too... But when you're with someone you truly love and who cares about you deeply... You don't feel so scare anymore." She blushed a little embrassed such a cheesy thing came out of her mouth. "And don't worry about him looking sad at you sometimes. If he experiences time all at once, maybe he's just experiencing a time without you... Like you pass away before he does or something... Not that you break his heart.

I suggest you don't look too much into it. Enjoy the time you have together, make the best of every min... Cause you never know when your time together will end." It was taking everything in her not to scream, "I'M YOUR DAUGHTER! HUG ME! Tell me how pretty I've grown up to be... Tell me you love me..."

Mia sighed and nodded a little, "Yes, you're probably..." she paused, looking at Ciara, "... I only said that he was a time mutant... I never said that he experienced time all at once. How did you know that?" she took half a step away from Ciara cautiously.

"O-oh." Ciara blushed, "I just figured... well..." She rubbed the back of her head, "It's how Horatio's mind works. From what you described... It just sounded an awful like his situation, that's all. I didn't mean to sound weird or anything, honest!" She tried, hoping she'd buy it. Horatio WOULD kill her if she altered the time line. It was taking every fiber of her will not to scream the truth.

Mia looked at her skeptically, she wasn't really buying it. "and there are so few time mutants in the world, I've never met someone else who knew one... Who are you? Really?"

Horatio was standing just across the street, behind Mia were she wouldn't see him. He had that look on his face, it was time to go.

"I'm...I'm your..." Ciara looked up and sighed, caught Horatio's eyes even though she knew he couldn't see, "I'm not from around here..." She put the bags down reluctantly, her hands had started to shake. She didn't want to go... She never wanted to leave. "I wish I could tell you..." She whispered softly before looking back up at Mia, "It seems my time here is up... I have to go now." Without warning or giving Mia a chance to react, she wrapped her arms around Mia and held on tightly, her arms trembling lightly. "It was really nice meeting you Mia. I'll never forget this." She said, letting go... Or at least that's what she had planned on doing. Letting go and running off to Horatio but her limbs weren't listening to her. She was terrified to let go.

She'd never see her again.

Mia startled, hesitantly she hugged Ciara back, more confused than ever, "... you're a time traveler" she concluded, speaking softly, "I... are you going to be alright?"

"Yes...No...I dunno." She mumbled, memorizing every detail of the hug. "Sorry." She forced herself to let go. "Got a little emotional...Yeah, I'm a time traveler.." She admitted, not finding the harm in admitting to something she had already figured out. She cleared her throat, forcing a brave smile. "I better go. Horatio has his 'you better get over here before you alter anything' look." She said looking over Mia's shoulder.