Prologue

Boston, Massachusetts

1973

Darla felt truly lonely, for the first time in years.

Of course she'd occasionally see her sons and daughters who were married, working and moved on with their new lives. On holidays or on any rare occasions, like looking after her grandchildren, sure they're come to visit her. But the most recent visits she gets was from her youngest son Billy- the scout mercenary working for the BLU: Builders League United. And her lover and the father of Billy; Pierre. Who is also a mercenary- a Spy, but works for opposite team called RED: Reliable Excavation Demolition.

Darla smiled as she remembered John's comment and jokes when she first adopted her child.

Guess my little sister is now a little mama. I'm gonna be an uncle and that means i'll never leave by your side and I'll do everything I can to help you and my nephews and nieces.

Then she frowned of remembering of him.

Her dearly beloved big brother: Jonathan Travis Harrison.

They stuck together through thick and thin. He was at least five years older than her and they always watched each other's backs. Their parents died when they were young and they had to live with their only relatives: their father's parents.

Their grandfather was a diver and told them stories of when he went numerous expeditions under water. John was fascinated by his stories while Darla preferred cooking with his grandmother. As the years passed, they grew up, graduated from collage and had careers of their own. Darla was graduated from the culinary department while John researched underwater, zoology and maths. He worked as an agent who searched for mysterious sunken ships and planes in underwater expeditions.

Darla adopted her first child when she was 21, a small orphan boy who lived in a run-down orphanage. Then she adopted another one, and another until it was the seven of them. The children greatly admired their uncle and always looked up to him. The she met a foreign, handsome spy named Pierre LeBrouche. A man from France who was a ladies killer (metaphorically speaking) until he set his sight for Darla like a real love's first sight. John on the other hand was not entirely thrilled of this spy, since he too was a spy from the CIA branch- as a diver. Until he too was warmed up to this stranger and in time he welcomed to the family and Darla had a baby; Billy. However the Interpol of the French department kicked Pierre out and marriage was out of the question because of the dignity and honour for the ex-spy. One day the administrator of Mann Co. hired him for the RED team in which he accepted it. He helped the family through money and love. Darla did not ask for money for she wanted a father of her kids but knew it would not be possible. Years passed and she still hoped that one day that they could. On other things, the family was fine. Her brother was still single yet it attracted a lot of ladies in his life. Much to his embarrassment and Darla's amusement. She also hoped one day he would settle down and have a family of his own, and most of all; becoming an Aunt. There was not a single problem or issue that caused the family tear apart.

Until the day she dreaded the most.

John was assigned by the CIA to an investigation of the many ship and submarine disappearances in the Atlantic Ocean, southwest of Iceland.

Darla begged him not to leave them. John assured him that he will somehow comeback to them one day and wrote the letter to Pierre to watch over her and the kids. If he didn't: he'd wedge his Parisian pants and hook him up to the top of the Eiffel Tower for everyone to see. But of course it was a threatening joke.

He kissed his nephews and nieces for the last time and told them to look after their mother.

Darla and John embraced for as long as they could until he departed. But not before they exchanged their lockets which was gifted by their grandparents on their deathbeds. And soon left for his mission.

The government told their condolences that he never came back and had searched for him deep, far and wide. But never found him. Darla grieved and cried so hard that she collapsed. Much to the family's panic, Pierre had immediately arrived when the news reached Teufort with the permission of the Administrator to return home. He had liked John as they were good friends and knew that John and Darla were very close. John's belongings were never found and Darla knew that he had kept her locket close around that time. An empty grave was made for him and they mourned their lost family member.

And it had been fifteen agonisingly, lonely years since her brother's absence.

She was still grieving but also in denial that he was not dead, just lost and prayed one day he would come home to them.

The knock on the door brought her back from her reminiscence and opened the door. Her family had arrived as well as Billy's Teammates which she insisted on inviting them for Thanksgiving.

"Hey Ma! I'm home!" Said Billy as he hugged his mother tenderly.

Darla hugged him back, after that she was expecting for hugs and kisses from her family. Handshakes from the team even a bear hug from the big hearted man; Misha and a sweet, shy one from the BLU Pyro. Greeting Dell's little twins who grew up so fast after she had heard the disappearances of children all over the world, which was five years ago. And finally was her beloved RED Spy, Pierre.

"WHAT IS THAT MAGGOT DOING HERE?! HE IS THE ENEMY OF THE BLU'S AND HE IS NOT WELCOMED HERE!" Soldier bellowed as usual. Much to the family, team and neighbour's annoyance. And children's dismay.

"Knock it off Jane! He's Missus Harrison's lover and we respect 'Im in this house. You got that pardner?" Dell spoke irritably.

That shut Jane up as he sat on one the couches with the whole crowd. While Pierre held her hand and kissed it.

"Mon petite chou-fleur. How 'ave you been?"

Darla forcefully smiled at her lover. "I'm fine sugar. You know I am. Dinner's almost ready then we'll say our graces." She replied. Then walked back into the kitchen.

Pierre knew that she was distressed. Still mourning of her late brother. He couldn't stand to see the pain in her eyes yet she stayed strong and putted up in front of her family after all theses years. Just like John.

Darla walked back into the kitchen as she spoke to herself quietly:

"Happy Thanksgiving John. If you're out there... Please come back home."

Atlanta, Georgia

On the outskirts of the city where a large farm property is located, Johnny Topside stared into the sky until someone called out to him that the Thanksgiving feast was ready. He stood up from the swinging bench and walked back inside the house. He held a small trinket in his hand, and the photo inside it was still alien to him. Whoever this woman was, there was a mingling feeling in the back of his mind that he needed to see her. But if only he could remember her somehow.

TBC