Chapter one: Homecoming

It didn't matter how much time past he found himself waking up and walking down the hall to her room. He couldn't understand why he did, but perhaps it was his parental instinct. Or just because he was afraid that he'd find that she really wasn't there.

Sterling rubbed his eyes and quietly shut Olivia's door before he walked back down to his room. He sat down on his side and looked at the digital clock seeing in three hours it would be light again. He took comfort in his bed and fell back to sleep.

The annoying buzz from the alarm clock woke Sterling from a peaceful rest. He reached over and slapped the clock quiet before starting his morning. The grey of the sky made him want to turn over and sleep for another hour, but that was not an option. He had things to do and a teenage daughter to bring to school since he didn't very trust the school's transportation. His daughter was too precious to put his trust in their transportation.

He finally got out of bed and headed downstairs to start a pot of coffee and fresh breakfast. But to his surprise Olivia was already downstairs preparing a hardy breakfast and a fresh cup of coffee already waited for him at the table.

"Morning, Dad," Olivia greeted him.

"Good morning, darling. You're up early," Sterling said as he kissed Olivia's head.

"Well, I actually had my alarm set so I could make breakfast for my hard working father," Olivia remarked.

Sterling smiled a little and looked at the paper laid out to the first section he always read. He lifted the hot coffee and took a sip. He gave a nod of approval at the perfectly made gourmet brew. It was a stress free morning already as he took a seat at the table.

Of course that was until he saw why Olivia got up early to prepare breakfast for him. His eyes caught sight of an elegant card sitting in plain view. Its black and white design also had the school's crest on it and the word Homecoming embossed in an elegant print. The time, date, and place were also printed with the same text. Sterling set the finance section of the paper down and lifted the invitation.

"Homecoming," Sterling read out loud.

He turned and looked at Olivia as she stopped flipping the pancakes. She sat the spatula down. She turned and looked at him with an innocent smile and he raised his brow at her.

"The theme is Hollywood of the golden age," Olivia said. "Anything goes."

"I see," Sterling said. "And I get the feeling that you want to go."

"Desperately," Olivia said as she fell into a chair. "Can I?"

"Liv, we talked about this stuff." Sterling looked at the pleading eyes.

"It's the first social event that I can actually attend with people my age."

Sterling looked at the invitation and sighed. He couldn't keep Olivia close to his watchful eye for much longer. She was in high school and eager to spread her wings.

"I suppose it can't hurt," Sterling said.

"Thank you!" Olivia wrapped her arms tightly around him. "So, can we tomorrow go shopping?"

Sterling sighed once more. This was the point where she'd take one of her best friends or her mother with her. He'd just hand her the credit card and go. But Olivia's BFF wasn't State bound and her mother was deceased. He was the only one she had to take her to pick out that special evening attire for her first high school formal.

"Tomorrow, we'll start early." Sterling looked at her. "I make the final choice in what you wear, Liv."

Olivia nodded and looked at him.

"I promise I'll pick something nice out that is Dad approve," Olivia said raising her right hand up as if to swear to him.

"Alright, let's eat breakfast and I'll get ready to bring you to school." Sterling kissed her head.

Sterling dropped Olivia off to her school and headed off to run a few errands to keep him occupied until two. He had plenty of time to kill and headed to his favorite spot to get a cup of hot coffee and read over some reports that Interpol sent him. He managed to balance fatherhood and his duties as an Interpol agent very well, but it took control and discipline. Something he took very serious because if he lacked either one he could get himself or another agent killed. Or worst he could lose his daughter again.

He flipped through the reports looking for mistakes as he often found when rookies worked a field case. He had more experience than the average agent since he worked as an insurance investigator. His eye for pointing out the stupidity a rookie made was most annoying to anyone who worked with him.

"I'll have a look at it when I come back from lunch," a familiar and pleasant voice caught his attention.

Sterling glanced up from a file and stared up at the delicate framed woman sitting two tables away from him. Her hair was slightly shorter, but it suited her and her eyes were just as blue as he remembered.

A smile crossed his lips and he flipped the file shut. He couldn't pass up an opportunity to say hello. He stood and headed over to the table.

She wasn't looking in his direction as she was finishing up her conversation. She closed her phone and sighed.

"Hello, Maggie," Sterling said.

Maggie lifted her head a little and she turned to look at him. A smile touched her lips at the sight of him.

"Hello, Jim," she returned the greeting.

She stood up and immediately gave him a kiss on the cheek like old times. There was nothing wrong with a simple gesture of friends.

"What brings you to this part of town?" Sterling asked.

"I've been hired by the museum to set up an exhibit of Renaissance art." Maggie smiled.

Sterling looked at the delicate woman. She was beaming with pride to be in charge of something she loved to do.

"Would you like to join me for some coffee?" Sterling invited her.

"I wish I could, but I need to get back to the museum before chaos breaks out," Maggie replied. "But perhaps another time, maybe tomorrow."

There was a brief moment that he would have said yes, but his promise to Olivia was prompted by simple words of tomorrow.

"I am afraid I can't, I've promised my daughter I'd take her shopping for her first high school formal." Sterling slightly sighed at the thought.

"How is Olivia adjusting to being home again?" Maggie asked.

"Very well, she's taken a liking to reminding me that she's growing up." He rubbed his head.

Maggie laughed a little and she looked at him.

"How are you, Jim, adjusting to being a father?" Maggie asked.

It was her gentle tone that made him have a deep throat chuckle. A smirk of amusement pulled at his lips. He had never really been asked how he was readjusting to fatherhood by anyone. But of course he didn't have many friends and that was ok. He knew how to relate to people when they weren't there around him.

"Its process," Sterling answered.

He looked at Maggie and saw the sincere look of happiness to hear that things were working out for him. He looked away for a moment and turned back to her.

"Perhaps you wouldn't mind to come along? I don't know dresses and I think my daughter would die of embarrassment if I suggested something of a particular taste." Sterling smiled.

"Oh, Jim, you have great taste in clothing." Maggie's hand lightly touched his hand. "Don't you think you should use this moment to spend time with Olivia. She wants to share this experience with her father. Not many teenagers want to spend time with their parents."

"Perhaps you're right," Sterling answered. "Could I suggest meeting us for lunch then?"

Maggie lightly touched his hand again and nodded. "Could we make it a late lunch?"

"I'm sure we can kill time. Say about two o'clock."

"Perfect, I should be finishing with the plans," Maggie said.

Her phone rang and she sighed.

"I'll let you head on," Sterling said as he watched her look down at the phone.

"It was good to see you." Maggie leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "You still have my number right?"

"I believe I have it somewhere. If not, we can stop by the museum."

"That would be perfect."

Her phone continued and she lifted it to her ear and answered. He watched her as she returned to work.

"Good bye, Jim." Maggie waved as she took off.

"Good bye, Maggie." He waved.

He turned on his heels and walked back to his table. He stared at the files and suddenly he couldn't focus on work. He could only focus on tomorrow.