Don't own either of the shows.
I know how crazy this is, but trust me.
So Carolyn was married to Senator Slater, but when Wilhelmina was 2 years old they got a divorce and Carolyn married Harold Shepherd. They had Derek very soon and then Nancy, Kathleen and Becca. In this fic, Wilhelmina is still the evil Willie we all love (or love to hate, your choice), but she grew up with her mother. Her relationship with her father was horrible, but she was really close to Derek. Oh and she never changed her name. It was always Wilhelmina.
The first chapter takes place way in the past. Wilhelmina is 12, Derek is 9, Nancy is 5 and Kathleen and Becca are 2.
CHAPTER 1:
"Willie?"
Wilhelmina Slater opens her eyes when she hears her only brother's voice, looking at him tiredly.
"Der? Why aren't you sleeping?"
"I can't. I… I heard daddy coughing again and… Willie, can I stay here tonight?"
Wilhelmina shifts to the side, allowing her brother to get onto the bed with her.
"Willie, is daddy going to die?"
She wants to reassure him, but the words won't leave her mouth. So she drapes a slender arm around him, hugging him comfortingly.
"I don't know, Derek. I hope not. But I don't know."
"Nancy, Kath and Becca don't understand."
"I know."
"You do."
He closes his eyes, grabbing onto his sister's hand tightly.
"I love you, sis."
"I love you too, Der."
The smell of death is present when they wake up the next morning. Carolyn Shepherd waits for her children in the living room, her eyes red and blotched.
"Mom? Is dad going to be okay?"
Wilhelmina looks at her mother seriously and Carolyn bites back more tears.
"Daddy is going… to heaven, sweetie. But he wants to talk to you."
Wilhelmina is the first to go into Harold's room, climbing on the bed and resting her head on his chest.
"I don't want you to go to heaven yet, daddy. I want you to be with us for a little longer. I don't want the senator to be my only dad."
Harold smiles, hugging her frail body closely.
"Everything is going to be fine, Wilhelmina. You'll see. You're strong, you'll get through this. And the senator isn't that bad."
"You smell nicer. And… you love me."
"I do. I love you very much, Willie. But the senator loves you too. He just has a different way of showing it."
Wilhelmina sighs, looking at Harold seriously.
"You betcha."
"Willie… I need you to promise me something."
"Yes, daddy?"
"I need you to take care of the others. Oh, Willie, it is so unfair of me to ask you this. But your mom is going to be really hurt and if she… if she doesn't cope then I need you to take care of the others. Will you do that?"
Wilhelmina nods, tears forming in her eyes.
"I'm going to miss you, daddy."
"I'll always be here for you sweetie. Whenever you feel all alone, just look up at the sky and remember that I'm always there for you."
Wilhelmina nods again, unable to hold back the streaming tears and Harold touches her face with a small smile.
"My beautiful girl. You are going to find a great man some day, Willie, and you are going to be really, really happy."
"I love you daddy."
He gives her a last kiss on the forehead before allowing her to jump off the bed. When she opens the door, she finds Derek standing there, terror written over his face.
"Willie… I can't do this."
"Yes, you can."
"No. I can't."
"Yes. You can, Derek. You can do this. I know it."
Derek takes a deep breath, squeezing her hand before going in to talk to his father.
Four Days Later
"Derek?"
The closet door opens slowly and Derek looks up sadly. Wilhelmina sighs before getting into the closet, sitting down next to him.
"I miss him, Willie."
"Me too."
He leans his head against her shoulder, tears forming in his eyes.
"Real men don't cry."
Wilhelmina shakes her head quickly, looking at her brother seriously.
"No, Der. Real men cry. Daddy is gone. It's okay to cry."
"Will daddy be disappointed if I cry?"
"No. He'll just know how much you miss him. You can cry, Derek. I won't tell anyone."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
"Willie, will we be best friends forever?"
"Of course. You're my only brother. We'll always be best friends.