Maryland snuck into Minnesota's room.  She tip toed toward her little bed and smiled warmly at the little blonde girl sleeping.  She had decorated her room with orange balloons and had hid confetti in some places as well.  She had some cupcakes in their little kitchen and she hid the presents in her own bedroom. 

As she got closer, Mary gazed at the girl.  She looked so innocent sleeping like that.  However, that's not what made her gaze soften... she looked so much like Diana.  She remembered having sleep overs with her in high school.  She remembered playing sports with her, going to classes with her, their graduation, they did everything together. 

Then she got recruited for Project Freelancer, and since they did everything together, she naturally became an agent as well, but it just didn't suit her, so she didn't really involve herself as much and didn't go on as much missions as Louis.  Thinking back at their childhood was nearly bringing her to tears, so she pushed them away.  This was a day for happiness and celebration.

She smiled again and carefully sat on her bed.  Sota fluttered open her eyes and she grinned sleepily at Mary.  "Hey!  Happy Birthday, Butterfly!"  She ran a hand through her hair.  "You're getting so big!  I can't believe it!"  She giggled with Sota.  "Thanks, Mary."  Sota smiled bashfully. 

"Well, come then, Minne!  You've got a whole day of excitement coming!"  Mary clapped her hands and gestured to the room.  Sota grinned as she saw the balloons and confetti.  She squealed in excitement.  "Six years old!  Wow!"  Mary made an explosion sound with her mouth and an explosion action with her hands around her head.  "Mind blown!"

Sota smiled proudly, but her cheeks also heated up in embarrassment.  "Come on, we'll get breakfast and then we can have cupcakes!"  Mary looked like an excited girl as well.  Sota looked mischievous.  "Chocolate cupcakes...?"  She asked slowly.  Mary laughed.  "Only for you!"

Sota was out of bed and running for the kitchen in an instant.  "Woah!  Slow those wings, Butterfly!  We gotta eat breakfast first!"  Sota obviously didn't hear her.

~~~

Sota was building a princess castle out of Legos, or at least in her mind she was.  She was really just stacking pink and purple Legos on top of each other.  She had gotten a pack that day for her birthday.  She also had chocolate on her face from the cupcakes and the Hershey's bars she got.  Mary also gave her a princess coloring book and some crayons and colored pencils. 

Sota liked to color sometimes but other times she just drew on the pages.  She loved to doodle.  She was very busy trying to find the right piece for the top of her castle.  Everything was pretty quiet in her room, but every once in a while, she'd hear soldiers march by.  Some talked, some stayed silent, and some used words that Mary told her were bad.  Every time she heard a bad word, she'd immediately cover her ears as if the breath that said the word would float into her room and infect her.

That time, though, she heard just one person.  Sota peeked out the door to see Mary.  She didn't think much of it and continued building her castle.  She imagined she was the princess of this castle.  She was the one giving orders, not the Director.

Everything was fairly quiet, so she started humming a made up song on the spot.  She finished her castle and clapped.  Afterwards, she knocked it over and began to take it apart again.  Then she was silent for a little while longer.  She heard something strange, then.  She stopped what she was doing and listened.  She heard it again.  It was like a whimpering sound.

Sota got up and ran to her door and put her ear up against it.  She gasped softly when she recognized what it was.  It was crying.  Jessica was crying.  She frowned.  That wasn't right.  Mary was always so strong and firm.  She'd never seen her waver, and she'd definitely never seen her cry.  That couldn't be right.

She heard another sob.  It was unmistakable.  Curiosity overtaking her, Sota slowly opened the door and stepped out.  While her room was girly, pretty, and very comfortable looking, the hallways were dull and had dark stone around her.  There was faded paint on the walls and floor and every step felt very hard against her feet.  She closed her door and tip toed towards Mary's bedroom.  Strangely, the door was creaked open and Sota could see right in.

Mary as sitting there on her bed, holding a picture.  There behind the frame was four people.  Three were adults and the fourth was little Joy.  Two of the adults were women and the other was a man.  The man and one of the women were holding hands and smiling widely while the second woman held a squirming baby girl.

The one holding Joy was Jessica.  The other two were Holden and Diana, but Sota didn't know that.  Jessica swept her finger under her eyes to clean the tears away, but it was no use since more came.  Sota had to listen closely to hear what she was saying inbetween sobs and sniffles.

"Diana... I miss you... so much!"

Sota frowned.  Did Mary lose a friend?  She studied the woman carefully.  She didn't see anything special about her.  Why was she crying over her?

"I wish you were... here... it's so hard...it's-"  Mary couldn't get the words out before another sob over took her.

"And Holden... you don't know... what they've done to him, Diana!"  Mary shook her head as of trying to shake away the memories of seeing him the way he'd been.  In fact, Sota didn't know this, but Nevada had come to pass on a message to her.  Usually he was very casual and friendly around her.  He always mentioned Diana and Joy.

This time was different.  He didn't really speak unless he needed to, otherwise responding with grunts and growls.  "Not once... did he mention you..."  She felt so hurt and confused, the other words just slipped out.  "...or Joy."

Sota's eyes widened.  She looked at the man closely but didn't recognize him.  She had seen Agent Nevada, but not without his helmet.  She didn't really know what he looked like so she didn't make the connection.  She slowly stepped in.  "Jessica?"  She spoke nervously.

Mark whipped her head around in surprise.  She dropped the picture and quickly wiped her face to get rid of the tears.  "Minne!  I told you not to call me that here!"  She scolded, though technically the Director didn't want Mary calling Sota Minne either.  "I'm sorry..."  Sota mumbled, then looked at the picture.

Mary followed her gaze and quickly hid it.  When she looked back, though, all she could see in the little girl's eyes were the eyes of her best friend.  The eyes of the woman who had been there for Mary her entire life.  The eyes of Diana.  She turned away. "Minnesota, please go to your room."

"Mary, who's-"

"NOW, Sota!"  Mary snapped and Sota stood there, shocked.  She then pursed her lips and ran out of the room.