[it makes maria happy to see heather smiling. she can't really say why other than she thinks someone that age should be smiling. though this place seemed like it would be a mess to handle. especially if you didn't have people.

it surprises her when heather thanks her. was it kind?] Hey, the least I can do is make sure you don't get stabbed as thanks for trying to help me. [and it did feel natural to try to protect heather, for whatever reason that was.

though a thought hits her, considering that heather is young and well, she should have somebody, shouldn't she?]

Are you okay here? I mean, I can see you're a big girl now but is your dad here or anything? Somebody? [to help you?]