Healing
Rated G
*****
Laura stood silently by the door. She had been there for about ten minutes now, just looking at him. His desk lamp was turned on and he was hunched over his desk, carefully looking over some papers. He hadn't noticed her presence yet, but Laura didn't mind.
~Through the darkness
I can see your light
And you will always shine
And I can feel your heart in mine
Your face I've memorized
I idolize just you~
Rick straightened up in his chair, rubbing the stiffness in the back of his neck. His eyes caught a figure at the doorway, startling him for a second. He squinted his eyes to make out who it was, and his face softened as he realized it was his daughter. "Laura?"
"Yeah." Laura walked into the room. "It's me."
"What time is it? Is something wrong?
Laura smiled at his question, and the way his face reflected his concern. "It's midnight. And nothing's wrong, I just..." She didn't know how to explain how she felt, how she'd never forget this day and what it meant to her.
~I look up to
Everything you are
In my eyes you do no wrong
I loved you for so long
And after all is said and done
You're still you~
"Just what?" Rick prompted, as Laura fell silent in her thoughts. He got up from his desk, meeting Laura in the middle of the room.
Laura looked up at him. "I just wanted to say thank you."
Rick understood, and he felt the familiar feeling of protectiveness come over him. He knew how many people had let her down in her young life, and when he'd signed the adoption papers, he had promised himself he wouldn't be one of them. "You don't have to thank me, Laura. I'm proud to be your father. And you will always be able to count on me. That's a promise."
Laura bit her lip at his words, tears forming in her blue eyes. "I love you, Dad."
Rick pulled her into a hug, and kissed the top of her head. "I love you, too."
~I look up to
Everything you are
In my eyes you do no wrong
And I believe in you
Although you never asked me to
I will remember you
And what life put you through ~
Laura's eyes remained closed as the memory faded, the feelings from that moment when she'd felt safe and loved lingering, keeping her warm as she kneeled on the snow-covered grass.
She finally opened them, faced with the cold reality of the engraved marble that marked the spot where her father was buried. She could feel the panicky impulse to hide again, to forget, but she forced herself to not look away. She wanted to scream, to cry... but in the end, she simply whispered, "I'm sorry."
It didn't make everything okay, but maybe it was a start.
She stood up slowly, taking the offered hand that was held out to her. She breathed in the crisp air, letting out a trembling breath.
"How are you feeling?" Stefan asked gently, still holding her hand in his, and covering it with the other.
Laura turned to face him. "I don't know," she said truthfully. "But thank you for bringing me here. I know the doctor thought it was too soon, but... I needed to do this."
"Of course."
Laura smiled faintly, realizing she didn't have to explain.
"Are you ready to go?"
Laura nodded. She looked back at her father's headstone. She didn't know if she'd ever be able to forgive herself, but... she would always remember.
~The End~
Lyrics: You're Still You, by Josh Groban
Rated G
*****
Laura stood silently by the door. She had been there for about ten minutes now, just looking at him. His desk lamp was turned on and he was hunched over his desk, carefully looking over some papers. He hadn't noticed her presence yet, but Laura didn't mind.
~Through the darkness
I can see your light
And you will always shine
And I can feel your heart in mine
Your face I've memorized
I idolize just you~
Rick straightened up in his chair, rubbing the stiffness in the back of his neck. His eyes caught a figure at the doorway, startling him for a second. He squinted his eyes to make out who it was, and his face softened as he realized it was his daughter. "Laura?"
"Yeah." Laura walked into the room. "It's me."
"What time is it? Is something wrong?
Laura smiled at his question, and the way his face reflected his concern. "It's midnight. And nothing's wrong, I just..." She didn't know how to explain how she felt, how she'd never forget this day and what it meant to her.
~I look up to
Everything you are
In my eyes you do no wrong
I loved you for so long
And after all is said and done
You're still you~
"Just what?" Rick prompted, as Laura fell silent in her thoughts. He got up from his desk, meeting Laura in the middle of the room.
Laura looked up at him. "I just wanted to say thank you."
Rick understood, and he felt the familiar feeling of protectiveness come over him. He knew how many people had let her down in her young life, and when he'd signed the adoption papers, he had promised himself he wouldn't be one of them. "You don't have to thank me, Laura. I'm proud to be your father. And you will always be able to count on me. That's a promise."
Laura bit her lip at his words, tears forming in her blue eyes. "I love you, Dad."
Rick pulled her into a hug, and kissed the top of her head. "I love you, too."
~I look up to
Everything you are
In my eyes you do no wrong
And I believe in you
Although you never asked me to
I will remember you
And what life put you through ~
Laura's eyes remained closed as the memory faded, the feelings from that moment when she'd felt safe and loved lingering, keeping her warm as she kneeled on the snow-covered grass.
She finally opened them, faced with the cold reality of the engraved marble that marked the spot where her father was buried. She could feel the panicky impulse to hide again, to forget, but she forced herself to not look away. She wanted to scream, to cry... but in the end, she simply whispered, "I'm sorry."
It didn't make everything okay, but maybe it was a start.
She stood up slowly, taking the offered hand that was held out to her. She breathed in the crisp air, letting out a trembling breath.
"How are you feeling?" Stefan asked gently, still holding her hand in his, and covering it with the other.
Laura turned to face him. "I don't know," she said truthfully. "But thank you for bringing me here. I know the doctor thought it was too soon, but... I needed to do this."
"Of course."
Laura smiled faintly, realizing she didn't have to explain.
"Are you ready to go?"
Laura nodded. She looked back at her father's headstone. She didn't know if she'd ever be able to forgive herself, but... she would always remember.
~The End~
Lyrics: You're Still You, by Josh Groban