A/N: Hey guys, sorry its been a while, but this is kind of a long chapter so it sort of makes up for it :) I've had to delete the original of this chapter from this, as it seemed a little too complicated for my liking, so I've altered it and posted it again.

Firstly, I must apologise in advance if any of the information I have used in this chapter is inaccurate. I'm not an American, so I have no idea what the Law is over there. I just kinda made some of it up to fit in with my plot. Secondly, I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to review, or favourite my story....You guys rock :) Lastly, I hope you enjoy this cos I had fun writing it.


Chapter 7

Alexandra was awoken suddenly by a loud and violent knock on the front door. She heard Larry rush to the door, and open it, slowly. She yawned, rubbing her stiff neck with her warm hand. How dare someone disturb the sweet dreams she was having of General Octavius. She could hardly believe that it had been two glorious weeks since she had met the Roman General, and rekindled her romance with him. He was all she could think about, and she had also become close with the cowboy, Jedediah. She enjoyed nothing more that spending her afternoons dreaming of the two miniatures and the adventures they were going to have the following evening.

Lazily, she climbed out of the bed and peeked around her bedroom door, trying to listen to the conversation that Larry was having with the visitor.

"Are you Mr Larry Daley?" A tough voice asked.

"Er, yeah. Can I help you?"

"I'm Detective Constable Wilson. May I come in?" The man held up an ID and Police badge in front of Larry's slightly-shocked face, confirming his identity.

Alexandra peered around the wall, seeing her uncle stood, wearing his scruffy, black jogging bottoms and a grey hooded-top. His arm was stretched out, welcoming the other man into the small apartment. The detective was a tall, stocky man, dressed in a black suit, his green tie clashing with his eyes. He strolled into the living room as Larry shut the door behind him.

"What can I do you for, Detective?" he asked, one hand on his hip.

"I believe you are caring temporarily for your niece, Alexandra, at this moment in time?" the taller man replied, glancing around the flat. "I have some rather bad news, for the both of you. You may want to sit down." Eager to hear what he had to say, Alex rushed into the living room, taking a good look at the detective. His hair was dark, a few strands hanging down onto his face, covering the pale cheeks. For a man who looked young, fit and strong, he seemed glum, tired and worn; like his eyes had witnessed too much. Alex shifted past him and joined Larry on the couch, the detective standing opposite them. The man sighed before he started.

"I'm afraid there has been an accident, a road-traffic accident to be exact. Two days ago in Los Angeles...involving Claire Daley...." The man paused as he saw Alex's eyes fill with tears at the mention of her mother's name.

"Wh-what?" Larry did not want to believe what he was being told. The girl stood up violently, fists clenched tightly.

"That's not true!" she yelled at the detective, "It can't be!"

"I'm so sorry, Miss Daley, but we've had the best forensic scientists on the case in LA, and the woman has been identified as Ms. Claire Daley." The words seemed to stick in his throat; never had Inspector Wilson had to deliver such tragic news to a family. He felt like he may cry himself. Distraught and broken, Alex ran into her bedroom and slammed the door shut behind her, Larry staying put on the couch.

"How?" he asked, through gritted teeth as the tears streamed down his cheeks.

"A head-on collision with a Range Rover caused severe damage to her skull and spine. By the time the ambulance team got into the wreckage...it was too late." Larry buried his head into his hands, while he felt his heart physically shatter into pieces within his rib-cage. Gone? Just like that? It didn't feel real. It couldn't be real. The pair sat in silence for a few moments, Larry crying his broken-heart out.

"There is also another issue, Mr Daley," D.C Wilson said, the other man glancing up at him. "As you are not Miss Daley's legal guardian, and her mother is...deceased, she needs to be placed in the care of the closest member of her remaining family. It's the law."

Larry's eyes widened. No, he wouldn't let this happen to her.

"Her Father?!" he shouted, the detective nodding in response. "Do you people know he's an alcoholic?! How can sending Alex to live with him be best for her?!" 'Not only that,' Larry thought, 'He lives in Philadelphia...that's a big city for such a young girl.'

"Mr Daley, please calm down. There has been a thorough check that Mr Cooper is suitable and safe for Alexandra to be in the care of, until she is 18."

Larry shook his head. "Patrick Cooper couldn't take care of a goldfish," he growled, "never mind a broken fifteen year-old girl." The Officer stood to leave.

"I am sorry Mr Daley, this is just the way it has to be. Alexandra must be in her legal guardian's care by tonight. She will have to fly out to Pennsylvania later this afternoon." The night-guard said nothing, knowing that his effort to argue would be futile. He nodded, acknowledging the man's instructions. If it was the Law, then there would be no going against it. DC Wilson bowed his head slightly, and left, shutting the door behind him.

Larry sat back on the couch, feeling like the world was watching him cry. Suddenly, a worrying thought sprang to his mind. If Alex had to leave this afternoon, she wouldn't have chance to say goodbye to anyone...not even Octavius: the man who held a very special place in her now-broken heart. This was going to crush her even more. He ran his shaking hand through his dark hair, sighing deeply. Why did life have to be so cruel?

Alex was lay on her bed in a foetal position, her eyes red and sore. She didn't want to bare thinking about her Mother in a cold grave. How? How could this have happened? One minute everything was perfect, nobody seemed to have a care in the world, and the next.....her Mother was gone and everything was falling apart. She began to cry again, feeling like the tears were falling from her soul. Larry entered her room, kneeling on the floor next to her bed.

"Alex....I know the pain you're going through, but I need to tell you something, baby," he sniffed, and took an intake of breath. The girl didn't move, her eyes locking with his.

"When I was talking to DC Wilson before, he said....that 'cos I'm not your legal guardian, you need to be placed in the care of your closest relative..... so you have to go and …. live with your Father." It pained Larry so much to tell the helpless, young girl that she was being sent away to live with a man she had never met in her life. A ruthless, selfish man and not to mention an alcoholic. Alex widened her bright blue eyes as she began to sit up, moving very slowly.

"...Wh-what? … No, I can't, I have to stay here...I belong here now," she said, her voice low. Larry shook his head.

"Alexandra, I'm sorry. There isn't anything anyone can do, its the law." As much as she hated it, the man was right. As Larry wasn't her legal guardian, and it was her father who now was, it was in his care in which Alex needed to be placed. She would be battling with forces she couldn't control if she chose to argue. Larry rose from his knees and wrapped his arms around the shivering girl.

She looked up at him, staring into his bright blue eyes.

"What am I gonna tell Octavius?" Her eyes began to fill to the brim with tears, as did Larry's.
"I'm so sorry, honey....You're not..." He paused, feeling like what he needed to say was going to break what was left of Alex's shattered heart. "You're not gonna see him...." The girl struggled out of his grip and stood before him, fists clenched.
"No! You can't do that!" She yelled through gritted teeth. "I belong with him! I belong here!"

"I know you do, but there's nothing I or anyone can do. You have to leave this afternoon. They want you to be home tonight."

Larry said no more, feeling like there was nothing he could say that could possibly help. He walked into his bedroom and came back into Alex's room with a large, black suitcase. Opening her wardrobe, the man began to pull clothing from the shelves and drawers, neatly folding them and placing them in her case. Alex didn't try and stop him, nor did she try to run. What would be the point? There was nowhere she could go, nowhere to hide from the truth. She'd only just re-discovered the love of her life and now, she was being forced away from him. She lay back down on her messy bed and felt her heart physically break in two.

~*~

"Flight 229 to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania now boarding at Gate 17, please."

Larry escorted Alex to her gate, dragging her suitcase behind him. The pair had not spoken since they had left the flat, neither knowing what to say. It seemed that, this time, there was no way out. The pair stopped outside Alex's designated gate.

"Well, suppose you'd better get going. You don't wanna miss your flight." Larry tried his best to smile through the pain he was feeling. His whole body felt tense.

"Actually, I do." Her smile faded into a frown. "Why does it have to be like this, Uncle Larry?" she cried, looking down at her sneakers.

"Hey....c'mon. It's not like we're never gonna see one another again, is it? Philadelphia is only a couple of hours away." He brushed his thumb against her cheek. "Don't worry." The girl leapt forward into her Uncle's arms, feeling like this was the last time she'd ever see him. She buried her face into his shoulder, not wanting to let go, but a few seconds later, the man did, his hands holding her cheeks. He forced another smile, Alex copying.

"Now get outta here...." he whispered, brushing a hand through her dark hair.

"Goodbye, Uncle Larry...." Alex swallowed hard before reaching into her coat pocket, bringing out a white envelope. "G-give this to Octavius for me? Tell him...I said I'm sorry." She handed the man the envelope, and grabbed her case from his side. She gave him one last smile, before walking away. She scuffed her shoes along the floor, her bag-pack slung across her shoulders and tears brimming in her eyes. As she climbed up the steps, she looked up into the blue sky, knowing Octavius would still be in his dormant state. "I'll come back for you Octavius....I swear I will..." she whispered aloud, not caring who heard.

Watching his niece walk through the gate and onto her plane was hell for Larry. He rushed over to the large windows, seeing Alexandra climb up the steps into the plane. She turned, waving at him before she disappeared inside the aircraft. The man stayed at the windows, hands in pockets and watching the helpless girl fly off into the distance, alone and awaiting her fate with her father...


A/N: Phew...long chapter. I have altered a few things, so the next chapter flows better and its easier to understand :)