Lyra's eyes adjusted to the light being shined in her eye by the doctor from his torch, she blinked her eyes anticipating pain only for it not to come. Her eyes cleared as the light was removed as the doctor turned it off, she blinked multiple times as she glanced past the doctor at the woman who had returned the very next morning dressed in a nice dress looking professional and stunning. The woman had yet to say anything besides stare at Lyra longingly, worriedly and fearfully which Lyra found interesting.

Lyra pretended not to stare as to not be rude, she glanced at the hospital room wallpaper which was full of interesting colors as to appear cheerful, it was this pattern since she was in the children's ward.

"Any pain or sharpness Lyra?" the doctors word brought Lyra back to his attention as she turned her head silently towards him. Lyra only softly shook her head in response that she hadn't felt pain that time, her head was still sore and she felt pressure however it was not currently like it was the day before where she had passed out from the pain. Lyra remembers safe arms wrapped around her, a calming feeling; the woman.

Lyra played with her hospital gown as she nervously was checked over by the doctor, she felt uncomfortable and a tad scared not knowing anything or anyone. All she had were assumptions and numerous questions on a really long list inside her mind. The top being who she was, the next who the woman was.

The doctor took off his stethoscope to check Lyra's heart which made Lyra nervous and she flinched when it touched her chest being so cold. The doctor smiled reassuringly as he checked her heart and breathing instructing her to breathe in and then out. Lyra followed his instructions as he performed his examination, checking her ears last.

"Alright Lyra, I am going to ask you some questions" the doctor then asked Lyra who at the sound of his voice sheepishly stopped fiddling with her hospital gown.

Lyra listened intently wishing to know any and all information, Pan coming up to sit on her lap as he sniffed the doctor listening as intently.

"Do you know where you are?" he asked the basic question trying to gauge how much the girl remembered.

"The hospital" Lyra spoke very low unsure of herself, she had deduced that was where they were based on everything around her and the presence of the doctor.

"What is your name?" he asked this time getting to the important questions.

Lyra sat there without saying anything for a second or two, Marisa took in a sharp breath as she saw firsthand the damage that had been done.

"Lyra?" Lyra asked unsurely, she had heard the doctor reference her that name when she first woke up in the hospital fully in pain. Pan squinted up at Lyra who glanced at him in return, both feeling as equally lost.

"Alright and your daemon's name is?" he asked next, as Lyra hesitated glancing at Pan Ozymandias made a sad sound akin to a whine Marisa holding him back near her where he sat on the arm of the chair she was sitting in facing Lyra and the doctor.

"Pan" Lyra spoke knowing her daemon's name over her own, for some reason she did not know.

Marisa couldn't take it as she was brought back to a babies cry and a tearfilled day "Pantaliamion" she muttered out as she lowered her eyes to Pan, filled with melancholy. Lyra looked over at the woman with a curiosity at the information supplied by the woman who glanced at her with sad guilty eyes.

The doctor then looked at Marisa meeting her eyes as he silently asked her a question before she slightly nodded her head as the woman stood up from her chair slowly sauntering closer to Lyra.

Lyra watched her as the woman crouched down to her level, Lyra had been sitting on the edge of the hospital bed while she had been examined. The doctor had been off to the side on a metal stool with wheels, he slid out of the way a bit for the woman.

Marisa then softly took Lyra's smaller delicate hands into her own as she looked at Lyra, she really looked at her daughter here. Lyra's hair had grown in the past couple of months, she hadn't cut it like she had discussed with her once while in the bath. Lyra's face had looked smaller a bit, she had lost some weight according to the doctors.

The doctor slowly then asked "Lyra, do you know who this woman is?" he then gestured to Marisa who held Lyra's hands in her very delicately as she adjusted her grip in fear and fear of Lyra pulling away from her. So many times had Lyra been pulled away from her.

As Lyra listened to the question she then innocently looked at the woman, she glanced into Marisa's eyes and looked directly right through her catching Marisa's breath away.

"No...I'm sorry" she whispered out seeing the woman so upset, Lyra knew one thing she didn't wish for her to be sad.

Marisa held a sound of sadness in her throat as she blinked back tears trying to hold herself together, she gripped Lyra's hands. Just as she had done when Lyra had confided in her about Roger being missing at Jordan college, trying to comfort Lyra and herself.

Marisa sucked in her top lip as she held back her emotions as she then let one hand go to brush back Lyra's hair that had gone astray pushing it behind her ear.

As Marisa breathed in once more taking Lyra's hand once more, she looked into her daughter's innocent, curious unknowing eyes. Marisa softly smiled as tears formed in her eyes as she softly smiled trying to comfort Lyra, she opened her mouth the words softly refusing to surface at first.

"I am your mother Lyra, I'm your mother" Marisa glanced down in her sad thoughts as she was brought back to when Lyra had first returned to her after finding out the truth.

"Hello" Lyra then whispered to her mother, which caused Marisa to smile at her for the first time since they had been reunited having been reminded of when she met Lyra at Jordan all those months ago. She had missed her so much, Marisa reached out her hand cupping Lyra's face in her hand as she had done so before. Lyra closed her eyes relaxing at the touch, she then brought Lyra in towards her for a hug cradling her head as she exhaled.

Marisa sighed a small weight of her chest as she held her child, she had been so scared for her trying everything and anything to bring her home. She had missed her with every fiber of her being, one hand wrapped around her she breathed in Lyra's scent.

Pantalimion then curled onto Lyra's neck as a white ermine snuggling into Marisa catching her by surprise, as she held her child.

Ozymandias feeling left out leaped onto the bed to come close wrapping his arms around Lyra and Marisa as well. Lyra felt Ozymandias hug her catching her by surprise, her mother must have been worried for her and loved her for her daemon to be hugging her as well; Lyra felt a warmth in her heart.

After a couple of minute's Marisa loosened herself from Lyra, she rubbed the girls' arms in comfort as she looked at her with a sad smile on her face. "I had been so worried darling, you had been gone for a couple of months, you were lost and they found you…. You don't happen to remember...anything?" Marisa inquired wanting desperately how much Lyra recalled if anything, Lyra looking lost tried to think back on some kind of memories only reaching a haze.

"I don't remember" Lyra spoke her fears as she softly whispered, she wanted to remember not knowing anything about herself or her past was infuriating and frightening. Lyra wore a sad expression, Pan bowing his head sharing the same sentiment.

Marisa looked down wondering how she was to handle this delicate situation, she faced a dilemma of either telling Lyra the whole truth, she could tell the truth omitting certain details or she could try and lie to her completely.

Marisa taking Lyra's hands into her's once more she sighed before speaking "Lyra, when they found you. There was an accident, where you hit your head" Marisa winced in pain glancing at Lyra's injured head with white bandages surrounding it. Lyra listened intently wanting to know any and all information.

The doctor then chose to elaborate "Afterwards you were brought here to the hospital, based on your lack of memory and your head injury we believe you are suffering from retrograde amnesia" he spoke softly preparing them for the news, Marisa only looked down in thought, as they both listened.

"I'm sure you have numerous questions about everything, this must be awfully confusing for you Lyra. Not to worry, eventually your memory will return and everything will be alright" the doctor spoke hopefully trying to cheer Lyra up who smiled softly for a second.

The doctor then stood up "Right, now I must go. I have other patients, please send for the nurse if anything comes up" he smiled softly in a charming way as he walked out of the room leaving Lyra alone with her mother.

Lyra watched the doctor go, while Marisa watched Lyra she held an expression on her face of dread. Pan then made moves to curl up into Lyra's lap trying to become comfortable showing her insecurities of being alone with her mother, mother or not Lyra still felt foreign and unsure. Lyra laid back into the bed properly under the blankets, feeling sleepy her head still feeling foggy and pressure-filled.

Marisa seeing this faltered in her breathing for a moment, not knowing what to do or say in the moment to help ease Lyra and to help her. Noticing Lyra's eyes drooping "You sleepy?" she asked worried.

"Yes"

Then Marisa remembered the items she had brought for Lyra, reaching into a bag she had brought filled with items she procured a blanket. Not just any blanket however Lyra's grey fur blanket from her bedroom that she had loved so much.

Marisa smiled softly as she felt so proud to have brought the blanket, the blanket she herself had slept with every night secretly while Lyra had been with Asriel. Her high heels clicked on the floor as she returned to Lyra's bed before she then unfolded the blanket tucking it around Lyra like she had done before.

"This is your blanket from home, I thought you might appreciate it here in the hospital" she spoke as she smoothed it down, Pan jumped out of the way as Marisa laid it out on top of Lyra before he then jumped on top once she was done.

Lyra brushed her hands on the top of the blanket as Pan rubbed himself into it on his back sniffing the blanket, to Lyra the blanket did feel familiar and comforting. She smiled softly at her mother "Thank you" Marisa watched Lyra's reaction hoping to see Lyra remember the blanket, something she had provided the girl.

"Do you remember darling?" Marisa asked watching Lyra as she grabbed a bit of the blanket in her hand feeling it, Lyra had felt a connection to the item however as soon as her mother spoke it had come and gone.

"I might, I'm not sure" Lyra felt disappointment over not remembering, she had felt for a second that she had however it was gone.

Marisa smiling sadly, smoothing down her dress sat in the chair next to Lyra's bedside. She watched as Pan spoke to Lyra about the blanket being ever so soft where she agreed before Lyra tore her gaze to the journal on the bedside table.

Lyra reached out for it, when she did so this was the first time Marisa had noticed it. Ozymandias started to get antsy wanting to look at the journal, Marisa remembering that Lyra had been looking at it when she cried out from pain the other day.

"Where ever did you get that Lyra?" Marisa asked wanting to know where the girl had gotten it from, noticing the drawings it contained briefly not getting a good look at any of them.

Lyra without tearing her gaze from the pages pointed over to her rucksack that was in the corner of the room "I found it in the bag" she flipped through the pages not really paying attention to her mother glancing through the journal. Marisa's eyes widened when she realized one of the sketches was of her, it was awfully good with great detail causing her to wonder who's journal it was.

Marisa moved closer to Lyra glancing at the pages as well, Ozymandias leaping onto Lyra's bed sitting next to Pan curling his tail around the white ermine. "These are extraordinary sketches, does it say who it belongs to?" Marisa inquired to know, who had sketched her inside this journal and more importantly who it belonged to having suspicion who it belonged to Asriel and may contain some of his research notes she desperately wanted to know.

Lyra feeling very sleepy handed the journal towards Marisa who then flipped through the pages reaching the beginning of the journal, reaching the cover page.

Marisa reached a hand out to push the pages to see, she noticed the handwriting where it was written 'Lyra Belacqua' surprising her that it belonged to Lyra.

Then as glanced at the page she noticed in the faint light writing on the next page, Marisa then turned the page.

Upon the page was an inscription in sharp handwriting that Marisa Coulter knew anywhere from lost love letters of the past.

Written was 'To Lyra, may you forge your path of adventure' then it was signed Asriel Belacqua however was crossed out only for 'Father' to be written below in its place.

Marisa sucked in a breath glancing at the inscription, her eyes softened as it sunk in what Asriel had written. She then glanced over at the now sleeping Lyra who had fallen asleep, Pan curled near her hands asleep as well. Ozymandias sat on the bed comfortably, leaning against Lyra's leg using it as a comfortable headrest.

Marisa Coulter looked to Lyra with a soft expression and loving eyes, as she thought of Asriel and their family with Lyra. All of them together, something she would never see she thought sadly as her eyes began to water before she held back tears.

He had written father, what had happened in the couple of months that Lyra had been with them to have him from declaring that he had never had Lyra call him father since he never was one. Only for him to become sentimental, inscribing and gifting this journal to Lyra writing the very term he swore he was not. Lyra had melted his heart, just like she had done with her. It had to have been love, something Marisa Coulter had only experienced a few times in her life.

It was a parental love, both for their child. They would do anything for her, they would protect her, die for her and even kill for her.

Then as she stared at the dark side of the room's wall, she was brought back to memories of Asriel and that frightful night.


Edward had arrived home drunk admitting to her that he knew. He knew….

All about how he had figured it all out, spouting off curses at her as he chased her up the stairs where she locked herself inside the bathroom in fear. He leaned heavily on the walls taunting her, barking mad as he hiccuped from the alcohol on his breath.

"You should have Belacqua come save you!" she had wished, shutting her eyes as her mascara ran with her harsh tears.

His banging on the door, each bang making her jump as her emotions overtook her with shame and fear. He went on forever banging and yelling through the door before eventually it had gone quiet. She had hoped he had passed out.

Oh had she hoped.

She had been wrong, he had been in his office drinking some more before reaching into his desk drawer for his pistol proclaiming what he had set out to do. Shouting that he would find him to handle it, the baby and Asriel both.

Marisa had only remembered a blur afterwards as she clung to him to stop him with everything she had, pleading with him, begging him not to.

Until she physically fought him, attempting to wrestle the pistol out of his hands only to be knocked over in his aggression being left on the floor unconscious.

The next thing she remembered was coming to hours later only to have the house staff help her up off the floor as she mumbled frantically "he's going to kill her….he's going to kill them both" as she struggled to get up to follow after Edward to Asriel's cottage in Oxfordshire.

As she entered the cottage, she could tell she had been too late. She failed to stop him, the door had been kicked open. The cottage was in disarray, she walked slowly still numb and recovering from the baby's birth only days ago.

Hands frail, shaking as she sobbed at the sight believing the worst had occurred she clung to the hallway walls for support nearing the living room.

Marisa remembered the cries, the baby crying in the distance. Lyra had been crying hysterically as she was trying to be soothed by the gyptian woman who held her in her arms in the doorway of the closet they had been hiding in.

Marisa had reached out for her child taking Lyra within her arms, soothing her as she held the baby to her chest rocking her in her shaking arms through her tears as her fear for her child's life dissipated as she held her kissing her head softly inhaling her scent.

The Magisterium and state police were cuffing Asriel condemning him to jail for murdering Edward pulling him away as he noticed her shouting for her to protect Lyra.

"Marisa protect Lyra!" he shouted as he struggled in the state police's hold being taken away.

Marisa hadn't registered what he had meant until state police officials were holding their arms out to take Lyra from her demanding she be handed over into their custody for the trial.

She had no choice as they snatched her out of Marisa's arms as Lyra screamed loud shrieking with cries and hiccups as she was torn from her mother.

Marisa had reached out for Lyra as she cried, her heart clenching as her child was taken from her. State police wouldn't let her have her. The cries pierced her heart, making her body numb.

Their child had been taken away to a nunnery in the night.

As Marisa stood in the living room of the cottage, a baby's crib in the corner, through her sobs and tears. Numb all over, she glanced down to see Edward's body covered in a white sheet.

Deceased

She was all alone, forbidden to go near Lyra.

Her mother whisper's in her ear of disgracing their family, forbidding swearing off her connection with Asriel and the child they shared. Sins to cast away.

There was the trial, she condemned her affair with Asriel speaking only when she had to.

Asriel met her eyes filled with betrayal, heartbroken.

He was to be released from the court's decision, however he would lose everything.

So did she.

Lyra was to stay in a nunnery, hidden away from them forever. Until Asriel had found her taking her away to Jordan College during the great flood.

She downplayed the love they shared in effort to save some of her tattered reputation, listening to her mother as her brother held back standing up to their mother.

Her mother had told her what to say, being broken and vulnerable she had listened.

A regret, she will forever hold.

Stating it would be better to forget.

She had tried, with alcohol and her work

She never did

She still hears the cries

Lyra's cries


Tears flowed down her face, as she was brought out of the past into the present with a knock upon the door. Lyra happened to be still asleep, Marisa quickly wiped her face of tears trying to school herself and her emotions as she stood up from the bed just as Ozymandias reached out his hand for her; hers missing it by a second.

Marisa smoothed out her dress as she checked Lyra's blankets, moving the journal to the bedside table. She stood there watching her breathe for a second or two before sighing, leaning down and pressing a kiss to Lyra's sleeping forehead.

As Marisa breathed in, she stood away from the bed to see who was at the door, she glanced at Lyra from near the door with a soft sad smile before opening the door.

As soon as she cracked open the door she was met with Asriel Belcqua's eyes, they shimmered with worry and emotion.

Surprise overtook Marisa never expecting to see him of all people, her heart started beating fast as he looked into her eyes.

He took her arms into his pulling them both gently into the room closing the door behind, he didn't dare take his eyes off hers. He looked deeply into her eyes with something she hadn't seen in years bringing her back in time before heartache and devastation.

"How are you here Asriel?" Marisa then asked in disbelief, she glanced into his eyes as he was filled with confusion.

"The Magisterium provided me with an offer I could not refuse...either they would make an example of me, hurt Lyra or I was to pledge loyalty and my mind to the magisterium" he looked intently into her eyes as he held her in his arms, she did not resist his arms.

"After everything we have been through, I never expected you would help me...however I am glad you did" he continued as he held her in his arms, as they stood a hair length apart their forehead's almost touching each other.

This caught Marisa's attention, she sucked in a breath pulling away slightly. The magisterium did not do such things lightly or without reason, that of which frightened her especially when he spoke of them harming Lyra.

"I did it for Lyra..I'm surprised the Cardinal agreed to my proposal to begin with, don't think I won't throw you to the wolves" she spoke softly with reluctance towards him not wanting to admit while she had been desperate to help their child she also wanted him for herself.

Asriel looked intently at her with emotion in his eyes as he studied her face trying to see a hint of a lie, he found uncertainty and fear. She had wanted him, with her. Asriel thought and realized Marisa could not handle this on her own, she needed him by her side in order to help Lyra.

"You and I, we work together. I knew it then...you know it now. Whatever comes our way, we will overcome it...together" he spoke truthfully as he was enamored with her, she looked to Asriel with desire and a passion as old feelings were brought back into the light. When he had come to take Lyra, she knew as they were all together that she had wanted it more than anything.

Marisa was brought back to the gyptian man that had broken into her penthouse, what he had said struck a chord within her.

'I betray my family for no one'

She had thought of her family, overcome with a shock and grief she had realized she had sacrificed her own family for power and knowledge never putting them first. No swore to herself no longer, she would fight for what was hers.

They had been robbed all those years ago, Marisa and Asriel. Meeting at the wrong point in time, they were together now. Stelemaria purred as Ozymandias and her embrace touching one another, as if no time had passed.

"Lyra must come first, we have to keep her safe" she swore, she held tears in her eyes once more. He held her gaze as they shared the same feelings, Lyra was important to both of them they both had to admit that now. They had put aside the past and their history for their child.

"We will"

Asriel then told her of all the conditions of the arrangement leaving nothing out, everything seemed too good to be true to work out as much in Asriel's favor and falling in with her's. Marisa stood there stunned, Asriel had pledged loyalty to the church and the magisterium. She hadn't known what the conditions would be, not even knowing if the cardinal would entertain the idea. She happened to be very persuasive however there were limitations on how far her skill would reach.

He had gained his lordship back and more importantly they were to be wed; which both gave them feelings they rather not confront. They would be a proper family, only something did not sit right with either of them. Everything was working out in their favor, it was too perfect.

What had caused the cardinal to approve, more or less push for all of this. There had to be a big catch that they did not know of. Marisa may have some power, however not enough to manage all of this. No there were other chess pieces in play, it bothered them both on end not knowing. Especially Marisa who despised a lack of control in each and every situation.

"Well, for now, you and I must comply with these conditions to stay on the right side with the magisterium" Asriel advised as they spoke attempting to be civil and think rationally.

"For Lyra" Marisa then spoke, drawing Asriel's focus to Lyra as if for once remembering her current state. He moved past Marisa towards the hospital bed getting a glimpse of Lyra.

Lyra was still sound asleep on pain medication and from her healing head. Asriel gazed at her with a softness as he reached to grab one of the girl's limp hands as Marisa joined him on Lyra's other side.

"They had told me what had happened, however seeing her….How is she?" He asked concerned as he moved his thumb on Lyra's hand comforting her.

"She's sleepy most of the time. Asriel….she doesn't remember. She doesn't remember us" Marisa softly spoke speaking with a vulnerability, Asriel glanced in her direction as she spoke. Lyra's situation now fully hitting him, as he shook with disbelief.

He looked down in pain as he gripped Lyra's hand tighter holding back his feelings towards the girl. His daughter, who he desperately tried and failed to put to the back of his mind and heart just like her mother.

"There has to…." He struggled to sound reassuring, fearing that Lyra would never be the same again. He fought back breathing heavily as his emotions started to overcome him.

Being surrounded by his love and their child, the situation and the pain of his past failures.

Marisa just stood there looking at him and at Lyra with sadness in her eyes "I want to believe that however the doctor believes there is a chance she will never remember" she broke to him gently the information the doctor had given her earlier.

Asriel looked down as he thought, he caught a glimpse of Lyra's journal on the bedside table next to her bed. "We will try, did they suggest how to help?" he asked beginning to figure a type of plan already taking charge ambitious to help Lyra.

Marisa sat down in the chair she had been occupying before, reaching over to Lyra moving closer before pushing her hair away from her face careful of her bandages "They suggested photograms and to tell her stories of her past, you should have plenty of those having been with her all those years at Jordan" she spoke with jealousy, having not been in Lyra's life until recently years apart.

Asriel froze catching Marisa's attention as he said nothing for a second or two, she glanced quickly to him. She saw the look upon his face, it held pain and a fondness. He opened his mouth to speak only not to before he clenched his jaw.

"There are only a few, each year I had the college take a photogram of Lyra and send it in the post" he spoke shamefully that was all he had of their child, he hadn't been around much not wanting to become attached to the girl.

Just then there was another knock on the door, which then opened revealing the doctor he smiled softly seeing Lyra was asleep. He came into the room to check on Lyra and check her vitals, he then noticed Asriel who had then almost let go of Lyra's hand to turn towards the doctor.

"You must be the father, I am the doctor looking over Lyra nice to meet you" he went to shake Asriel's hand who met him with a firm handshake with his free hand. Asriel had realized this was the first time he had openly admitted that he was Lyra's father by shaking the man's hand.

Marisa watched the exchange with surprising interest, as the doctor moved to check Lyra's medication lowering the dosage a bit, he then spoke towards Marisa. "Has she asked for any food or water?"

"No, she fell asleep a couple of minutes after you had gone" she told him, he checked Lyra's clipboard near her bed.

"I'll have the nurses bring in some food, see if we can get her to eat. I want her back to a healthy weight. It will help her recover, we will see how she is doing tomorrow and hopefully she will be fit to go home" he furled up a page to see information on the next page, he smiled softly at the parents.

Marisa bore some relief on her face that Lyra would be able to go home soon, however it did not last as was brought back to the thought of her and Asriel having to face the magisterium. Asriel raised his eyebrows at the remark about Lyra being underweight looking to Marisa who met his eyes in question. "She always ate very little when she was with me, I always told her to eat most on her plate" she defended as the doctor then left the room closing the door behind him.

Asriel then turned his attention to the journal on the bedside table his eyes filled with realization, he knew it was Lyra's. He picked it up catching the attention of Marisa who watched him, she held a softness in her eyes knowing that he gave it Lyra. "This is Lyra's, when I took her she was constantly drawing in the thing everywhere we went. This could help her remember, she wrote a diary inside it" he gripped it with determination as he smiled in a small victory, they had something to help Lyra. He smiled to himself that Lyra had written down her memories, of course she had done it to help herself navigate the life she now lived trying to cope with the changes. However it would now help her remember who she was.

Marisa smiled at the realization that he was right, Lyra had already been looking at it the other day as if she knew she could use it to remember. The door then opened once more, it was the nurse who had wheeled in a cart with food tray's upon it. She bowed her head respectfully before placing a tray on the bed table along with a pitcher of water along with some cups.

The nurse once she had placed the tray, reached for a vase of flowers and a colorful children's gift bag. "These were delivered to the receptionist desk for Lyra Belacqua" she informed them as she placed the beautiful bouquet on the bedside table along with the gift bag. The nurse smiled as she left, leaving the room before banging the door accidentally with the cart as she left.

Lyra then breathed in as her eyes fluttered, they slowly opened as she woke up from her sleep. Lyra moved on the bed as Pan rolled dramatically over Lyra's soft blanket awaking as well, he stuck his tongue out a he yawned in a cute manner. Asriel's eyes softened at the sight Stelemaria curled up at his feet wiping her tail as she stood up to glance at the edge of the bed.

Lyra blinked her eyes as the room came into focus, she then glanced at Marisa who was in her line of view as she was brushing Lyra's hair with her hand

"Lyra, how are you darling?" Lyra furrowed her eyebrows staring at Marisa as she remembered she was in the hospital and that this woman was her mother. "Sleepy" she spoke softly, as she tried to swallow the dry feeling in her throat. Asriel saw her do so, so he reached for the water pitcher and poured a cup.

"Do you want some water Lyra?" she asked as Marisa watched him do so before he handed the cup to her, Lyra had nodded. Marisa brought the cup to Lyra's lip who took quick sips of the water being thirsty.

"Small sips Lyra" Marisa warned as Lyra took big gulps, she didn't want her to choke. Asriel held back a chuckle at the sight of Marisa being so attentive and acting like a mother. Lyra drank the water then caught a glimpse of Asriel from the corner of her eye.

Lyra felt his hand holding her's it felt familiar, Marisa took the cup away noticing Lyra had finished and that she was now looking at Asriel. Asriel stared at her with soft eyes just as he had done when she had wanted to help him spy on the master, Lyra met his gaze as she stared back at him with an innocent face.

Asriel did not know what to expect, Marisa watched the entire interaction in suspense knowing full well how it felt when your child looked right through you with no recognition.

Asriel opened his mouth to talk only to have the words caught in his throat, he closed it as he thought of what he could possibly say.

Lyra had beaten him to it "Who are you?" she asked as she felt the man's hand loosen her's from his grip. Asriel looked to Marisa who held watery eyes being reminded of the matter of fact, Lyra had amnesia. Pan stood alert as he sniffed Asriel through the air, leaning on the edge of the bed close to him only to quickly make a noise of surprise at seeing Stelemaria go to sniff Pan.

Lyra tilted her head slightly as she looked at Asriel studying his face, hair and eyes. "You look familiar" Asriel's eyes widened with hope as Marisa's eyes widened as well in surprise, Lyra had both of her parents on each side of her.

Asriel looked at Lyra flicking his eyes to Marisa before glancing back to Lyra "Well I…" he fumbled with the words, Marisa looked to him as she brushed Lyra's hair from her forehead. Lyra continued to stare into his eyes, Asriel had felt his throat close up briefly at the sight of her staring into his soul.

Asriel swallowed the frog in his throat "I'm your father Lyra" Lyra then smiled softly, she said nothing as she glanced at both of her parents next to her sides. Asriel looked at Lyra with such love in his eyes, soft in his gaze as he returned the smile to match. He was happy to see Lyra smiling again, he had longed to see after a while of absence.

"You're my father…" Lyra spoke softly as she inspected Asriel's face trying to commit it to memory, she hadn't wanted to forget it once more. Lyra then turned to Marisa's eye's, she had her fingers in Lyra's hair. "And you're my mother...when can we go home?" Lyra innocently asked preferring not to be in the hospital, she wished so deeply to remember.

She felt helpless and scared of the unknown, she held such guilt at not being able to remember anything. All Lyra knew was that she was a child and she wished to be somewhere safe, the only thing that soothed her were the glances of her parents.

As she asked the question Marisa and Asriel glanced at each other as they had just now realized, they were to be married They would be together for the first time ever, they would be a family.

Asriel sighed before deciding to speak "The doctor believes you may be able to leave tomorrow, until then you should eat the food the nurse has brought" He then made moves to set up Lyra's food tray, making sure she had everything. He pushed the bed table closer to her helping her sit up a bit, Marisa then took a napkin placing it on her lap.

Asriel seeing the dish that was brought noticed it was chicken with a bit of vegetables, Lyra made moves to begin eating abet very slowly as they sat in uncomfortable silence. Asriel caught Marisa's eye, as he flicked his eyes to her as his mind wandered to the topic of them. Asriel trying to put it off as long as he could trying not to dredge up heartbroken emotions of the past looked around for a distraction.

Asriel had noticed Lyra had his rucksack in the room, he then went over to it to inspect it and make sure all of his and Lyra's belongings were still inside which they were. Asriel and Stelemaria glanced over to see if Marisa was looking only to see her attending to Lyra talking and encouraging her to eat her food.

Asriel then rummaged around looking for his field notes listing descriptions of his experiment to find they had not been opened or touched since he had last placed them in the rucksack.

He quickly placed it back inside before Stelamria noticed Marisa reaching towards the flowers and gift bag on the bedside table that the nurse had brought in along with Lyra's food earlier. He then made his way back to the side of Lyra he had been before.

This time he had retrieved a chair from the hallway after charming one of the nurses for one causing Marisa to roll her eyes and scoff at him in response. He smirked as he carried the chair into the room victorious.

As Lyra attempted to eat, she had begun to have trouble cutting the chicken she had begun to get frustrated making an expression highly like her mother. Marisa and Asriel saw this occur causing Asriel to snicker at the sight, Marisa did have the faintest of what he was on about.

Marisa reached out to Lyra's hands to help, taking the utensils from her and proceeding to cut the chicken up into little bits. "Here let me help darling" as she was cutting she glanced to Asriel with a scowl "are you quite finished having laugh?' she asked with an attitude raising her eyebrows in question towards him.

Asriel sat back in his chair crossing one of his legs over the other as he looked at Marisa and Lyra with a small smile as he watched her tend to their daughter. Their daughter, something he had to become accustomed to. "Lyra makes an expression mirroring you completely, she just did it there" he explained with a soft smile on his face.

Marisa had no words in response, not expecting him to say such a thing, she smiled softly with a fond look towards Lyra who had begun to eat the cut up pieces of chicken. Lyra was her daughter after all, his comment made Marisa light inside.

Every since Lyra had been born, everyone had made comments mainly about how she resembled her father. It crushed a bit inside that Lyra hadn't taken after her much, to hear from Asriel himself was an accomplishment of sorts to her.

Ever since Lyra had been brought into her care she had wanted to identify with her daughter, dressing her similarly to her. She attempted to see if Lyra had similarities to her, she promised to mold her. Perhaps she didn't need to, all she really needed to do was look in the right places.

As Lyra ate her food slowly, Marisa had then turned her attention to the flowers placed on the bedside table. It was a beautiful arrangement of Alstroemeria, and the expense hadn't been spared. Curiosity had gotten the best of her through the silence, she threaded her fingers through the flowers spotting a card inserted.

Asriel had been watching Lyra eat making sure she did so after thinking about the doctor's comment on her weight. Noticing Lyra hadn't taken a bite of her veg so far "Lyra, make sure to eat your vegetables as well" Lyra lightly groaned which ended quickly as Marisa caught their daughters eyes, Lyra then took a bite of her vegetables to appease them.

Marisa reached then reached for the card with delicate hands as she inspected it.

The card appeared white card with an intricate design of royal blue, Asriel watched her movements. "The flowers are lovely, did one of your associates send them?" he inquired with a bit of jealousy thinking to himself they must be from someone who was closely knitted to her, sent in sympathy for Lyra; perhaps a lover.

Marisa who had not lifted her gaze from the white and royal blue card, it had struck her as familiar in a sense she could not place for a reason. "Yes lovely, I wonder who had sent them?" she spoke softly in thought as she opened the small card, she quickly read it reaching to who had penned it at the bottom.

Marisa's face as she read the card had paled considerably as her hand had become unsteady, Asriel had almost leaped up noticing the grim and shocked expression upon her face. He quickly stood up as Stelamaria had bound over to Marisa matching Asriel.

Asriel gripped her arms in alarm and to comfort her, knowing not much to set the woman into a state. "What's the matter?" he asked gazing at her with a softness he thought he wouldn't find himself doing. Lyra had stopped eating noticing the conflict within her mother; she only looked on worried as her father comforted her mother.

"Who sent them?" he asked as she then looked up to meet his gaze, she held such anguish in her eyes as she let him see who had signed the card as Asriel eyes widened before glancing at hers once more finding them with unshed tears filled with emotion. Asriel's jaw clenched as red hot frustration and anger flooded him.


In the Magisterium in Geneva, the Cardinal sat inside his quarters upon a grand ornate chair, as he waited for Father Macphail to arrive to discuss matters.

On the grand marble flooring of the quarters, Father Macphail appeared from the entryway flowing as a shadow figure with stiffness for order in his stance.

Nearing the cardinal, Father Macphail bent down in respect at the cardinal's feet where he caught a glimpse of the cardinal's hand upon it was a silver ring engraved with the symbol of the magisterium.

Father Macphail then spoke with respect in a clear voice "Cardinal...I have requested this meeting to discuss my concerns of this arrangement you have crafted concerning Asriel Belacqua" he spoke softly in an effort not to overstep.

The cardinal bowed his head at an angle in which he looked directly into Father Macphail's eyes to show he was serious and to challenge him upon question his judgments. "There is no need to fear Asriel, there are many ways in which he is subdued. There are greater factors at hand of which you know not. In the meanwhile, to keep Asriel and the might of the magisterium in order. I have sent for someone from La Maison Juste to stay within reach of Asriel preserving his newfound loyalty with the Magisterium"

Father Macphail raised his eyebrows with his hands properly behind his back as he stood listening. "Who may I ask?" he inquired as another pair of steps was heard on the marble flooring approach.

Father Macphail and the Cardinal then turned their attention to the approaching figure, he walked with an aloof attitude and a sternness. The man had slightly grey hair appearing to be in his 40's, his daemon flying around him swooping into the cardinal's quarters before landing on the man's shoulder gracefully.

The cardinal who had breathed in staring at the man who had just entered "Father Macphail, I would like to introduce you to Marcel Delamare"

Marcel who had just bent down with respect to the Cardinal glanced upwards towards Father Macphail with a wicked smile upon his face.