A/N: Told you I'd get another chapter up some time this week. Now I'll just request one thing of you in return for these fast updates. Fight for SBT to get back on the air. Email CN, call CN, rate the videos on the official CN website for SBT. Do what you can. We need to fight for what's right.

Disclaimer: I own nothing at all. This whole chapter is a letter.
Warning: Slight reference in this chapter. Just thought I'd tell you. Don't want to get called out for not warning you.


Lance,

I wasn't sure how to start writing this. I actually had a hard time figuring out if I wanted to write 'Dear Lance' or not because of everything we went through, but that seemed to formal and everything else seemed to dull. Your name seemed to work just find in my eyes. I hope that's alright for you too.

I meant to write this a long time ago. I meant to write it about a month after we first got back to Galaluna, but I never found the time to. Everything was just a blur for me, colors, lights, ceremonies. Everything was chaotic here in the palace the second I stepped foot back on the planet. I know you didn't receive the same welcome, but I recall clearly that you had military friends to celebrate our return with. Our lives just split after that. I'm not sure how we got to this point, but we did.

I sincerely regret leaving you behind so quickly. I know you hated everything about me at one point in time, but when we got past that stage, things were better. Brother and sister, remember? I even remember the times when Octus had to break up our little fights. He really was the perfect parent for us. We were such rowdy teenagers all those years ago. Remember that, Lance?

Anyways, I'm sure you're wondering why there's a little girl attached to this letter. Or a letter attached to a little girl. Either way, you're bound to be expecting something ridiculous. But hear me out. Don't turn her away yet. I know that with your background that you won't be able to refuse what I'm about to tell you.

We're, what, twenty-nine now? After two years on Galaluna with you and after eleven years of missing you, I finally got around to writing this. I feel horrible for leaving it for so long. That and leaving you.

I honestly miss you, Lance. You were one of the best things that happened to me. But I guess we should have seen this future coming from what happened. We would be celebrated and then taken back to our respective places in the world, me to my palace and you to the military again. That's what you do, I know that. I lived with you for long enough. You were probably one of my only two friends on Earth.

Anyways, I'm rambling and my fingers are already cramping up. I haven't even gotten to the point of this letter. Laura. I know you probably don't recognize anything of her, but if you looked long and hard enough, you would see how innocent she is and how much her dark hair is like yours. It's softer of course. I would know. (I feel guilty for knowing that.) But she's… Let me find an easier way to put this…

Remember that last day on Earth? When we didn't even know it'd be our last day? Octus had sensed the rift gate ripping open and we were surely doomed to die that time. We were losing power with Titan and everything was happening so fast. We hunkered down, you and me, hiding out for hours while Octus was away and trying to find out what was going wrong.

Surely you didn't forget what happened there.

Well, this is Laura. She's our daughter.

Don't think I'm lying. She's an innocent little girl. She's got your hair and your stubborn attitude. I don't know how she got it, it's not genetic, but every time she argues with someone, I see a striking resemblance to you. It drives me crazy to think that you never knew about her until now. I really do feel bad about that. I meant to write to you when I was "sick" (that was just my cover, you know), but I couldn't find a way to write to you that I'd had your daughter.

I still feel guilty for telling you in a letter, but meeting with you would've only resulted in further conflicts. I've already had enough publicity. I don't feel the need for anymore, and I know you wouldn't want to have your name put on every newsstand in Galaluna. It's not your style, is it?

The reason I had to send Laura to you is because her "mother" died. For the ten years she's been around, I've been passing her off as my chambermaid's daughter. It's been working for a long time. No one ever suspected anything as far as I know. I kept Laura close to me, almost closer than her mother. They really were the best maid's that a girl could ask for. They took care of me better than I ever thought possible.

Recently, Clarissa, my chambermaid, passed away. And Laura, being her "daughter", cannot stay in my care any longer. It's just a palace thing. I tried to fight it, but I can't keep a ten-year-old tending to me all the time. She's almost eleven though. No one paid attention to that argument. So Laura needs to find a safe place to stay. You were the first person I thought of. Who better to take care of the girl than her own father?

One thing I want to stress though is that Laura has no idea that I'm her mother and only knows you as my close friend. Well, less close now obviously, but she knows that you were protecting me while we were on Earth. She's a smart girl. She learns fast. Maybe she'll fit in with your lifestyle, however you're living now. The way I picture you is over a sloppy little card table in a little folding chair with a tv dinner and Laura stalking around somewhere or staring at you. But that's how I see it. I've clearly been around you too long.

Back to the point: Laura doesn't know anything of my little secret. Only Clarissa, my father, and I know. Now you know. Neither my father nor I want a controversy here over her not being Simon's daughter or even the fact that she's my daughter. I can't lose her to someone who'll treat her badly. I know that you'll take care of her, Lance.

And please don't think of turning her down. She's a sweet girl. She's got the spirit that you always showed, and she can play piano well. It almost reminds me of when you used to be in that band, Disenfranchised.

The reason I think you won't turn her down is this: you lived without a father for so long that you know the pain. Clarissa never married. Laura never had a father. I know you'd make the perfect figure to her. She would live up to your every expectation. The girl is bright, and there is a whole future ahead of her just like there was for us. She shouldn't have to grow up without a father like you did. And this is your opportunity to be a dad yourself, Lance. I don't know if you ever wanted to fill the shoes that your father couldn't with his disappearance, but I know he really did mean a lot to you and that you could mean a lot to Laura as well.

I know you're still probably thinking that I'm crazy. I'm not. I wouldn't lie about a little girl's life. She's my whole world, Lance. I know she could be yours too. She's our daughter. And don't tell me that you can't look at her and see how she looks so much like you, dark hair, soft smile, bony build. She's so much like you that I couldn't help but see your image standing behind her every second she was near me. I only wish that maybe we could've stayed on Earth to keep her as our own, together. Like a family.

Our lives divided and this leaves Laura somewhere between us. She cannot stay with me any longer because of palace guidelines. You're the only person I could think to put her with. I hope that you'll take her in. She's a good girl. She's so much like you that she was the reason I missed seeing you every day. But now she's going to you.

I'm sorry that I kept her from you for so long. I hope you'll understand why I had to. She was sheltered here. She's been living as a servant under the impression that her mother was my maid. I really hope you'll understand why I had to keep her. But please take her in. I'm ready to beg that you take her in. She needs a father just like you did all those years ago. I just thought I'd tell you her situation. Anyways, this is Laura. Take good care of her.

Ilana


A/N: I'm really hoping that you like it. I'm working so hard on this story. It's addictive. So reviews are great. More reviews, more chapters!

~Sky