Tom looked down adoringly at the little girl held in his arms. For hours he could have stared at her violet eyes and rosy cheeks still plump with baby fat. The child raised a delicate hand to his face and gurgled with joy, causing a smile to spread across his face. His face lit up every time she would giggle. He could hold her in his arms forever.
Quickly, he glanced at the clock on the wall before sighing and standing from the leather armchair he'd be relaxed in for hours. Tom strode over to the crib in the nursery and stood beside it. Glancing down at the toddler in his arms, he sighed again.
"I do not wish to leave you tonight my darling," he whispered to her.
As if understanding, the child stopped smiling up at him and seemed to pout. She waved her little fist around vigorously.
Tom have a small smile, "I know my sweet. I know. But I will be back. I promise you."
Footsteps sounded behind him and he turned slightly. A woman leans against the door frame of the room watching him with a sad smile.
"You don't have to go tonight Tom."
She wandered forward slowly and placed a hand upon his shoulder.
"You can stay home."
Tom glanced at her before returning his gaze to the girl in his arms. He gave the girl his finger which she happily gripped.
"You know I cannot. There are things that must be done. To ensure my future. To ensure your future. And to ensure our daughter's future."
"That boy is only a few months younger than our Valerie…" the woman murmured resentfully.
"That boy puts us all at risk Angelique." Tom growled.
The girl is his arms squeezed his finger tighter and made what could only have been disproved as an angry noise.
"I'm sorry sweetheart…" Tom apologized to her. "Time to sleep for you I think."
He leans down and placed at small kiss on her forehead before lowering her down into the crib. Gently he pulled her blankets over her and tucked her in affectionately. He left another kiss on her head before standing straight and exiting the room.
Angelique followed and closed the nursery door behind them. The two of them walked down the wooden hallway and into his study.
"I know you disagree with this-" Tom began.
"Disagree? Tom you're about to murder an innocent child!" She cut him off, her voice raised angrily.
"To protect our daughter! Her future!" Tom shot back.
Angelique fell silent.
"You want Valerie to live out her life? To have her future? The one she deserves?" Tom pressed.
"Of course I do-"
"-well there you go." He cut in.
"I just don't see why another innocent child will have to die for that." She finished.
Tom dragged a hand down his face and groaned, "I'm not discussing this matter any further. This will be done. I will secure my daughter's future."
He stormed from the room leaving Angelique glaring after him.
He entered his daughter's nursery once again and quietly approached her crib. She hasn't fallen asleep and smiled up at her father when she saw him. Tom lowered his hand for her and she gripped his finger again, bringing it to her mouth.

Anyone who knew him, knew him as Lord Voldemort. Ruthless, merciless, cruel, sadistic.
All his followers, that's all they saw. There were a select few who knew of his soft side. Who knew of his knew him as Tom Riddle, not just Lord Voldemort. They knew his reasons behind his acts, and his love for his did not take much. They would just have to see how much love he and his wife shared. Or the way he looked at and treasured his precious little girl. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do for the two of them.

Tom strode past the gate leading to the Potter's Residence, his wand drawn. He could hear yelling from inside the house, yells of terror. He burst through the door, finding James Potter waiting for him with a wand at the ready. Without hesitation, Tom sent loose a killing curse, hitting James and sending him to the floor in a lifeless heap. He proceeded to step over the lifeless form and made his way upstairs to where he believed he would find the child and his mother.

Angelique sat in the nursery's leather arm chair where he husband had previously sat, holding their daughter in his arms.
She watched the sleeping child while fiddling with the ring on her finger. She knew her husband only wished to protect them, but he was going about the situation all wrong. Hurriedly she stood up and walked towards the crib. She softly looked down at her daughter. She was only shy of a year old and was already the most beautiful child anyone had ever seen. She had her father's black hair and nose, while she had Angelique's lips and cheeks. Her first few teeth had only just started coming through and were on display every time the little girl smiled.
The only odd thing about her was her violet eyes. Angelique's eyes were a light green while Tom's a grey-blue. It was a mystery to them how she got her violet eyes, and both were entirely sure that she was their child.
Angelique leaned down into the crib and brushed a finger along Valerie's cheek gently. The little girl stirred slightly, kicking herself to roll onto her stomach.
"We will protect you darling."

"Stand aside silly girl!" Tom hissed at Lily Potter as she stood in front of her son.
Tom wished to hold up his half promise to Severus Snape, that he wouldn't harm Lily Potter. He didn't wish to harm the woman, but she just wouldn't move.
"Avada Kedavra!"
Lily Potter hit the floor with a thud. Tom looked at her remorsefully, he hadn't meant to do it. She had just pushed his hand too far by standing in his way for too long.
He turned his gaze to the baby in his crib. Momentarily, his own daughter flashed across his vision as he raised his wand. He blinked the image away and focussed on the child in front of him.
'For Valerie.' He thought as he murmured the killing curse.

Valerie's eyes shot open and she began screaming. Angelique rushed back to her daughter's crib and picked her up. She held the screaming child to her chest and rocked her slightly, rubbing her back and whispering to her soothingly, attempting to calm her.
"What is it sweetness?" she wandered around the room, swaying as she did.
Valerie continued to scream and cry loudly. Angelique rubbed her back and bounced and rocked her, yet nothing seemed to work.
"Pippy!"
A house elf appeared in front of her, "yes Mistress?"
"Can you please bring Valerie some warm milk?"
"Right away mistress."
The house elf disappeared before returning with a bottle of heated milk. She handed it to Angelique.
"Can Pippy get anything else for Mistress or Miss Valerie?"
"No thank you Pippy. You may go."
Pippy disappeared again. Angelique moved to sit in the armchair and held the tip of the bottom to Valerie's mouth.
"Are you hungry, sweetheart?"
Valerie continued to cry, pushing the bottle away with her small hands. Angelique sighed and just pulled her close, "What is it darling? I can't help unless you tell me."
She knew it was useless, Valerie had yet to say her first word.
"Daddy!" Valerie wailed, shocking Angelique.
At that moment, Angelique knew something bad had happened to Tom.
For the remainder of the night, she sat with Valerie in her arms. She eventually calmed Valerie to little sobs while she herself silently cried.
It wasn't until morning one of Tom's closest followers and friends entered the house and found the two of them in the nursery both asleep and exhausted.
It was there he gently broke the news to Angelique of her husbands defeat.