* A/N- sorry for the fact that part of this chapter is in French, them being in France in all I figured they should have at least one convo in French
Disclaimer: Ya I should probably do this in all my stories but I DO NOT own sanctuary or any of the characters (Sadly because if I did… well, things would be slightly different) but this story line is all mine
Pairing: John/Helen
Summary: imagine John has been in Ashley's life since she was a born, and she "died" ten years ago… Now ten years later John and Helen are in Paris France and they meet a special little ten year old…
And now without further ado the story…*
Chapter one: Le Café
Helen Manus and John Druitt sat a small café in Paris, France enjoying the transition from fall to winter, when all of a sudden Helen let out a startled gasp. "Helen?" John asked looking at her.
"Hmm? Oh sorry I saw someone." Helen said starring off past John.
"Helen you look as if you've just seen a bloody ghost." John said worriedly.
"Perhaps I did." Helen said softly still starring at what she knew wasn't possible. 'It can't be. It has been ten years! It's not her; you just miss her is all. Plus that girl looks like what only ten! It's not possible Helen, your just seeing things.' Helen tried to tell herself but it wasn't working. John turned to find what she was looking at but didn't see who or what she saw.
"Helen, love, what is it you see?" John asked, and turned back to look again.
"Ashley…"Helen and John whispered as a blonde haired ten year old girl turned around. "It can't be…" John started but trailed off as the girl walked toward them.
"Bonjour madame, monsieur, le pardon de l'interruption pourrait vous épargner une somme d'argent?"
« Bien entendu, où sont vos demoiselle de parents ? » John asked in fluent French.
"Je n'ai aucun, monsieur." The look-a-like answered in a whisper.
"Oh vous enfant pauvre!" Helen said. The girl looked so much like Ashley right down to the way her hair was cut, and the way she stood! One thing though that stood out, well, two, one she was supposed to be dead and this girl was ten and two she spoke French, Ashley wasn't that good, at least to her knowledge.
"Je reçois par" the girl replied.
"si je peux me demander ce qu'est votre nom? » Helen said shakily, what were the chances that this was Ashley or that her name was Ashley? She didn't seem to recognize her dad or her so it most likely wasn't, right?
"Je m'appelle Ashley » Ashley said. John and Helen just stared at her. "Qu'ai-je dit?" Ashley asked confusedly.
"Rien, rien, que vous parlez anglais?" Helen said.
"Oui." Ashley said nodding her head at the same time her stomach growled.
"Would you like some food with this money we've offered you, Ashley?" John asked.
"Yes monsieur, most people turn me away so I don't get much food or money." Ashley allowed timidly.
"Well then most people weren't taught manners now were they?" Helen asked while looking for a seat for Ashley.
Noticing her looking for a seat for her Ashley said "I can stand Madame, it's the least I can do since your being so kind."
"Nonsense! If we can't find a seat then you may have mine." Helen said.
"Merci, Madame but that's not necessary." Ashley said.
"It's no use fighting her Ashley; she gets what she wants one way or another." John said kindly and with a smile on his face at Ashley.
"And Ashley, get whatever you'd like to eat." Helen said as she saw the waitress coming up on them.
"I couldn't do that, you're being so kind already…" Ashley said but trailed off as the waitress shot her a look.
"Bonjour Madame, monsieur, is she bothering you?" the young waitress asked the couple pointing to Ashley.
"Oh, heavens no! But we were looking for a seat for her, and we would like to order." Helen said glancing over to Ashley and giving her a reassuring smile.
"You do know she lives on the streets right Madame?"
"Oui I do, but she needs to eat like everyone else does, does she not? Now could we please have a chair?" Helen said getting impatient with her.
"Right away ma'am" said the young waitress as she scurried off.
"Now that that's taken care of tell us a bit about yourself." Helen said smiling.
"Here you are Mademoiselle, and what would you three be getting to eat?" the waitress asked.
"I would like two eggs Sunnyside up and some hot tea please." Helen ordered.
"The same please." John said.
"Can I get Lucky Charms?" Ashley asked Helen and John.
"Of course," Helen answered with a smile, Ashley loved Lucky Charms and went crazy after eating any sugary thing let's see what happens.
"Lucky Charms please." Ashley ordered with a pleased smile on her face.
"Right away." The waitress said and ran off.
"Madame, why are you being so kind?" Ashley asked.
"Because…" Helen stopped and looked to John who nodded his head for her to continue, "We lost our daughter ten years ago and can't stand the thought of turning a child in need away."
"Thank you so very much, I never met Ma mère ni mon père."
"You've been on the streets since you were a babe?" Helen asked.
"Oui, as long as I can remember."
"Never went to an orphanage?" John asked.
"I did but they always turned me away because they didn't have enough room." Ashley said sadly.
Helen looked at John again. He knew what she was thinking for he was thinking the same thing, so he nodded his agreement with her. "Ashley," Helen started.
"Oui?"
"How would you…" Helen said but stopped when the waitress approached with their food.
"Here you are Madame, Monsieur," the young waitress said pleasantly and just gave Ashley a look to which Ashley averted her eyes. After that she walked off.
"Ashley how would you like to come with us?" Helen asked.
Ashley just stared, she must of heard wrong, was this lady she had just met asking if she, a poor orphan wanted to come live with them, people were no doubt wealthy? No she must have heard wrong or misunderstood their English. "Could you repeat that? I must have heard wrong, it sounded as if you who have just met me were asking if I wanted to come live with you…" Ashley said shyly.
"But that is exactly what I said," Helen announced.
"Well, then… I would love to Madame. But why?" Ashley said excitedly.
"Because our home is huge and we have many a room empty and we think it's time that one of those rooms are filled, with a young blonde ten year old." John answered with a smile on his face.
"But you should be warned we have, er- strange quests." Helen said.
"Strange? Even stranger than the ones that lurk on the streets of this fair country?" Ashley asked.
"Haha, it's not nice to talk about people that way but, yes." Helen replied with a little chuckle.
"Oh, I wasn't talking about the people." Ashley said with a weak smile just as she finished her meal. John and Helen were done eating too so they were looking around for the waitress so they could leave. The waitress saw them and hurried over to them mistaking the look on their face as one of annoyance.
"Mademoiselle," she directed at Ashley, "I believe it is time for you to leave." Ashley glanced worriedly at Helen and John for help.
"No, she can stay we would just like our check please." John said.
"Oh, here you are Monsieur." The waitress said embarrassedly.
"Merci," Helen said as she pulled out her money and handed the check and cash to her. Taking the money the waitress walked away.
"One more thing Ashley, we don't live here," Helen said waving her hands to gesture to where they were. "We live on the border of America and Canada. Its up to you if you come, we won't force you, but we would love it if you came to live with us."
"I still want to but, could we go to where I have been staying so I can gather what little things I have?"
"Of course." John said getting up and moving to pull Ashley's chair out for her as well as Helen's, "Now if you will just lead the way."