Chapter 1: Everything Changes

14th Feb. 2005

Jessica/Mandee POV

It's Valentine's Day, Great, not. My boyfriend left three months ago. At first I was miserable but now I'm just a cross between mad and sad. I mean it would of never worked between us anyway, too many secrets. I mean he didn't even know my real name! He thought I was Mandee! I wonder what my father would say about this whole predicament or even my mother. My mother, now that hurt. My mind flashed to this very day 9 years ago. I need to stop letting my mind wander. It's too painful to think about that, to think about home when I couldn't go back.

I sighed again and ran down the stairs to go to school saying "bye" to my Uncle Brian on the way out.

By lunchtime at school I was sitting with my friends, Matt, Angie, Sam, Ashley, and Michael. It was a nice enough day so we sat outside. Just as I was about to start eating my food I heard a voice that I almost thought I'd never hear again. It's over, that's the only explanation. Finally.

"Parker!"

Flashback

I was nine years old and sitting in our family home. Uncle Brian was talking with my father, American accident meeting British. Brian wasn't really my Uncle, he was one of dad's best mates from boarding school so he just became like an Uncle to me that I would visit or he would visit a few times a year.

"You've got to take her with you. I don't want to be away from her believe me. Even if I ordered the entire army to guard this house I don't feel like she will be safe until I find the man that killed her mother." –General Parker, my father said looking defeated.

"I understand what you're staying and I will if you're sure, but who knows how long that will take? It could take years for them to find out who killed her even with you hounding them, Michelle and I would have to adopt her." –Uncle Brian said sighing.

"I know and I know that this will be hard for her. But it's the only way to keep her safe. I'll be watching her in my own way but she'll be safe and that's all that matters. You're my best mate Brian, please take care of her." –My father pleaded with him.

"I will, I'll watch over her with my life."- Uncle Brian told my father with a look of determination I've never seen before.

"Jessica you can come out now, I know you're there." –My dad said with a sad look on his face.

"No, I won't go, I won't leave you, we can face this together. If he comes after you he comes after me too, I'll stand against the monster that hurt mummy!" –I screamed at him.

"You're so young but so selfless and fearless, just like your Mum. Keep those qualities, you'll need them. I'm so sorry, but you have to go with Uncle Brian. It's the only way you will stay safe. You'll need to change your name but know that I will always love you no matter how far apart we are and I will come get you after I take care of whoever this monster is. Remember that no matter the name you go by you will always be a Parker. You will always be my little Parker! (only dad was allowed to call me by my last name because I'm a Military Brat, I was his little soldier) Jessica Parker!"- Dad said hugging to him.

"I love you daddy, I'll be strong daddy, I'll be strong for you." –I told him putting on a brave face.

End Flashback

I turned around and that's when I saw him. As I had grown older I had started to think of Uncle Brian and Aunt Michelle as my parents and to the outside world they were. But, there only a few yards away from me was my father, my real father. It must be over. He finally found him, he finally got justice for my mother. I could finally go home. But did I want to? It's been nine years that I've been away from home. Nine years of only sometimes getting a card or a letter from my real father because he was worried someone might find and hurt me. I use to hate him for making me leave but I finally understood why he had to do it and I loved him more for it. It had to of been the hardest thing he's ever done. And in that instant I knew what I wanted, all I wanted to do was go home to England with my father. I wanted to be myself again. I wanted to be Jessica Parker again. No, I was Jessica Parker again.

I smiled and ran into the open arms of my father. General William Parker, Jr.

"It's over honey, he's gone forever and you can come home."

"I love you dad."

"I love you too Jessica."

"That's Parker to you."

"Yes and it's General to you."

We both smiled at our little inside joke and hugged each other tighter. My father would always be the General and I would always be his favorite little soldier. I once had asked him if he would of rather had a son, but he said that he would only be happy with me as his daughter. The military name calling became our little inside joke between a father and daughter.