Author's Note: Hey everyone! Writing once again is yours truly: Marie, Catherine my twin sister will once again be your idea person (but I came up with this idea on my own, so she will have to pull her weight if she wants to be credited). Sorry for those hoping for a Harry Potter Fanfiction like our other ones but we decided to do a Ranger's Apprentice story, our other favorite series! We recommend that the entire series is read, just so that you can understand some of the circumstances that we'll make reference won't keep you much longer but... ***I do advise reading past the first chapter, because this one is short and just sets the scene***. Please REVIEW and tell us what you think!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or anything John Flanagan wrote in his amazing books.

Chapter 1

For a While

There was a knock at the door. The man groaned as he pushed out of his chair, his muscles sore and beginning to tell him that he wasn't as young as he used to be. He moved cautiously to the door something was wrong; he might be retired, but his Ranger senses had only become better over the years. Since he was forced to retire, he hasn't received a single visitor: mostly because he lives so far into the woods that it would be nearly impossible to find it. He placed his hand on his Saxe knife, his bow would be no good for close quarter fighting, but at least he wouldn't be unarmed facing this unknown threat. His stomach told him that this wasn't going to be anything like he had ever faced before.

He reached the door and quickly ripped open the door, that way he would have the upper hand in a battle if needed. His grip on the Saxe relaxed slightly when the man in front of him was a simple traveler: weary and unarmed. He didn't completely let go of the hilt as he saw three other men dismounting their battlehorses, but they had the look of soldiers and they were armed with swords tided at their wastes.

"Ranger Beckett?" Beckett nodded suspiciously. The tired soldier shakily handed over a roll of parchment, tied with a black ribbon. "We would've arrived sooner, but it took us..."

"Get to the point." He cut the man off, showing him that he wasn't in the best mood at the moment for prolonged conversations.

"I'm sorry sir, but your son is dead." Beckett's heart skipped a beat. This was the first time in six years he had heard any kind of news from his son. Not since he ran away with that witch. "We were on our way back from Seacliff when we found them. Your son was barely alive when we found him, I only hope his wife didn't suffer, only managed to croak out that you were his father. He handed me the letter then died. I made it our responsibility to bring it to you." Beckett tried to keep his stone hard Ranger grimace on his face but it was a losing battle. One of the knights stepped forward, a large bundle in his arms.

"We also found this hiding in the wreckage." In the soldier's arms was a little girl with dark curly hair, sleeping peacefully. "She was hiding under her mother's body, and we almost missed her." The soldier smiled down at the girl in his arms and without asking went inside the house to lay her down. The other soldiers brought a few more packages and laid them down on the porch. When they were finished they all remounted giving their condolences to the old Ranger, turning to then leave him alone once more.

He slumped against the wall and slid down to the floor. He was alone now and able to grieve for his son. His son was all he had left of his wife, and now they were both gone. It was because of him that he was forced to retire early. His son fell in love with a girl, but he was blind to see what she really was: a witch. Remembering the day they left, was too clear in his mind: the shouting all too clear. There was no such thing as a good witch, and his son couldn't see that he was only trying to protect him. They hadn't spoken a word since. The time apart drove Beckett's world into a dark hole, driving all of his friends away. Crowley was forced to retire him because Beckett became less responsible in his duties, even became reckless. Hiding in the woods where no one could bother him, made him only sourer.

With shaking hands he opened the letter gingerly.

Dear Father,

I know we haven't talked in a while, mostly because I didn't know what to say if we ever did meet again. I hope we will, I miss you. I hate how things ended between us, and I am such a coward for not being able to face you, but I'm sorry that I didn't inherit bravery from you. Someday I will find the courage to face you and ask for forgiveness and I'm sending this letter to you so that you know that I haven't forgotten you and that you might see me knocking at your door someday.

I know you might not understand but I do love my Rosetta and I want you to know that I am happy. I have stopped worrying about your approval because nothing can stop me from loving her. I won't say anymore about her because that's not what this letter is about. It has taken me more than four years to figure out how write it but here it goes... You are a grandfather. Her name is Silas and she will be turning five in the spring. I want you to meet her because I want you to be a part of her life. There is so much you could teach her, she's a fast learner and would be a lot easier to teach than me. Even if you slam the door in my face when I come, at least say hello to her first and let her in for a while.

Until we meet again,

Your son, Ryland

Beckett shed silent tears. He folded the letter and placed it in his breast pocket, keeping his son's final words close to his heart. He picked up the bundles left by the soldiers and carried them half-heartedly inside. He had lost his son for the second time, but this time there was no chance for a reunion. Everything he had held dear was now lost. He slammed the door shut with his foot, he froze. He nearly dropped the items in his arms because of what was sleeping peacefully on his couch. Placing the items to the side he went and sat on the chair facing the couch.

The girl, no his granddaughter, whimpered slightly in her sleep as if having a nightmare. Beckett delicately placed a hand on her shoulder and she stopped shaking. Her small porcelain face was stained with dirt and tears, exhaustion completely etched on her features. He removed his hand and sat back in his chair.

"What am I going to do with you?" He asked the sleeping form. He wasn't looking for an answer because he already knew what he was going to do. He was going to do what his son asked: he would let her stay a while. He couldn't turn his back on family, his own flesh and blood. Not this time.

How he was going to raise a child he didn't know. His beautiful wife raised Ryland, because he was often called away when he was needed as a Ranger. How he was going to raise a little girl, was the harder question.

Silas stirred in her sleep, mumbling incoherent words. Rubbing her eyes she sat up and looked around. Her small legs dangled off the couch as she faced Beckett for the first time. He was shocked by the permanent fierce and erratic look in her wide white-grey eyes. Something in them told Beckett that his life was about to become a lot more interesting.

Authors' Note: Oooo... That could get interesting. What happens next? You'll have to read the next chapter to find out ;). REVIEW please!

Love C & M