Madonnafan2005—thank you for your review!

LucyKevinfan—thank you for your review!

Krazypirategurl (and everybody else)— Okay, I'm really sorry. I probably should have explained earlier—Lucy is not related to Eric and Annie. Mary and Lucy are just friends in this story (not sisters), and Mary is the one related to Annie and Eric. I hope that helps. If you have any other questions, please feel free to send me a review. I will be happy to try and help. Thank you!

Jafargirl2004—thanks for your review!

Disclaimer: I own Alexandria (who will be known as Alexia) and Brian Trent, Sourlene and Jack, who will be introduced in this chapter.

An hour later, there was a soft knock on the door. Her father opened the door slightly and poked his head in. "Lucy?"

"Dad?" she whispered, glancing up from her math book. She hadn't done a single math problem; she could barely concentrate on anything, knowing that her mother was dying.

Her father held his arms out to her. "Come here, Honey."

Instantly Lucy knew what they meant. She rushed into her father's arms and began to cry. "No, Daddy! NO!"

"I'm so sorry."

"How could she?" Lucy asked, wiping her eyes. "How could she just leave us like that?"

"I don't know, Lucy, but it wasn't her choice."

And Lucy sobbed in her father's chest for the rest of the night.

A month later, Lucy walked home from school with Mary. "I'll call you," Mary said as she walked to the next house and up her steps. The date had been canceled after Mary had found out about Lucy's mother's death, but Lucy decided to make up for it for the upcoming weekend. Dickon's step-brother was back in town.

Lucy entered the house quietly, hoping not to disturb her father and his work, so she was surprised to hear angry voices in the kitchen.

"Brian. She needs to go home."

"Jack, she's my daughter!"

"She is not your daughter, Brian. She belongs to Colette and Vince. You know that."

"But Alexia and I officially adopted her when she was just a year old!"

"No, Brian. You adopted her until your wife's death. We just don't believe you can cope with Lucy and your wife's death at once. Neither do Colette and Vince. They don't want to burden you, but they do want to see their daughter again."

"I can cope with this! I have been able to for the past month!"

"Brian! Listen to me," the man exclaimed. "You are not the legal guardian of Lucy any longer. She is going back to Colette and Vince. The only reason she lived with you two is because of Alexandria, who gave up quite a fight about it."

"I am not giving up Lucy," Brian replied firmly. "This case is closed."

"I'm afraid it isn't, whether you like it or not," the man replied, as Lucy heard the chair scrape against the floor. "I'll be back again. This matter isn't closed but you can't tell Lucy yet about this, all right? She can't know about her identity. It can cause major problems for her."

She saw her father nod through the crack of the door. "All right."

The man walked out of the kitchen, and Lucy heard heavy footsteps as he walked out of the house, slamming the front door behind him.

"Who was that?" Lucy asked, entering the kitchen.

"Oh Luce! Were you listening?" Her father's eyes became sharp. Lucy had learned at a young age never to eavesdrop, no matter what the cause.

Lucy nodded.

His eyes softened, so Lucy knew that he wasn't too angry. "Well, I'm afraid I can't explain yet. Now, why don't you go and do some homework? I have some work of my own to do."

Lucy sighed, as she went upstairs. Her father was not going to tell her.

As soon as Lucy was out of earshot, Brian immediately picked up the phone and dialed his best friend's number at the church.

"Hi, Eric. It's Brian," he said as soon as he heard his best friend's voice.

"Hi, Brian. Are you okay? How are you doing?"

"Jack came in today."

He heard Eric sigh. "I knew it was only a matter of time."

"Eric, I can't give up my daughter yet! I've grown so close to her…I've known her since she was a year old!"

"And yet she isn't yours, Brian. They can take her if they want." Brian heard Eric sigh again. "Listen, I'll see what I can do about this but I won't make any promises."

"Thanks. That's all I ask."

I hope you enjoyed this chapter!