AN- Well, I really can't claim to have seen any Namber anywhere. So I decided to fix that. This is the first 'chapter' of a fivepart thing, but I'll be revising the rest of it.

The title was inspired by Metric's awesome song, but not the fic itself.

This chapter really could be K+, but I can't say the same for the rest of the story.

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The first time he sees her she's seven, hanging from her father's coattails. Her father and his powerful contemporaries are ignoring her. The people around are milling about, socializing, dancing, and drinking, and they don't notice her either. Nobody really notices as she slips away, through the crowd.

He's halfway across the room, still at his table. From here he can safely observe Marni, who hovers by Rotti's side. He doesn't really notice Amber either, not until she takes the abandoned chair beside him and makes herself at home. He looks at her and smiles a little, distracted.

Are you looking at Marni?

He chokes a little on his drink, and puts it back on the table. Was it that obvious?

He notices he didn't call her Mommy, and feels a flicker of hope spark inside. But he's quick to disguise it, quick to deny it.

Your dad really loves her. He struggles to keep the sincerity in his voice.

No, she returns. She says it absently, watching her shoes as she swings her legs. The chair is too big for her. Nathan is surprised by her answer, but doesn't show it. A little afraid of how perceptive the child is, he looks back to Marni. Then he feels warm fingers on his wrist, touching his watch.

Daddy has one of these.

He's a busy man, he replies. He needs it for his business. He sees her nod from the corner of his eye. Marni has latched back onto Rotti's arm, and he sighs, looking away. Amber lets go of his watch.

Are you a busy man?

He chuckles a little before seeing she isn't smiling. In fact, she looks sad. He shrugs a little. I suppose so. I'm a doctor. Nathan hesitates at her crestfallen look. Not wanting to be responsible for an unhappy child, he falls back to that age-old question: What do you want to be?

She's looking at her shoes again. Shame or shyness? Her golden curls fall over her cherub face. He feels guilty, and brushes the hair back from her face in time to hear her whisper.

I want to be beautiful.

Then he's lost her in the crowd, slipped away before he could say anything. He only notices Marni when she speaks.

Dr Wallace?