Washington, D.C.

May 2009

The sunshine mocked her as she eased her way out of the van and unbuckled her two year old daughter, putting her on her feet in the hospital parking lot. The little girl darted over to a patch of weeds and began to pluck up dandelions.

"Come on, Brooklyn." The pregnant mother took her daughter's hand and helped her to her feet.

"For Daddy." The child explained the three flowers, following her mother towards the hospital. When she noticed her mother's upset features, she asked in her little girl voice, "Why you sad?"

The mother looked down at her young daughter, putting a smile on for her sake. "I'm okay."

"Okay. Daddy here?"

"Yep. We're here to see Daddy."

Brooklyn looked up – and up and up - at the hospital before asking her mother, "Daddy okay?"

The woman sighed heavily. "I hope so. Now come on, hurry up."

Mother and daughter stopped at the information to get the room number of their respective husband and father. Then the woman scooped up her flame-haired daughter and started off in the proper direction, trying desperately to ignore all the thoughts plaguing her. She wasn't here for the others, just for him. They would be there with him for sure and she would have to face them. After all, she wasn't supposed to be anywhere near here, and Brooklyn… A dry laugh escaped her as she imagined what they would have to say about Brooklyn. But she didn't have to let herself care what they thought. All she cared about was getting to him.

Brooklyn leaned forward to press the elevator button, and then relaxed back into her mother's arms. As the elevator doors closed behind them, Brooklyn began to twist her mother's gold wedding ring around on her mother's hand.

"Pretty." Brooklyn complimented on the ring.

"It is, isn't it?" The ring had faded a little; its shine wasn't so bright after two and a half years of constant wear, but that was nothing a good cleaning wouldn't fix.

The elevator doors "ding"ed open and she exited, holding her daughter tightly to her. She turned to the right, and there they were, all but Morgan. She could see them through the glass wall of the waiting room.

There were a couple of people she'd never actually met sitting with them: her replacement and Gideon's. Before she could process the thought, her eye was caught by someone coming down the hallway. She caught sight of Morgan at the same time he saw her.

She saw the shock in his eyes as her being there registered. "Greenaway?"

This will be two or three chapters long. Please review! Thanks. :)