Sophia 5
Disclaimer: See all previous parts.
The next day Susan strode purposefully toward Sheridan's office, in uniform again complete with the knee lenght cloak and hair up in a bun. She held in Sophia's birth certificate in her right hand, and in her left hand she held the hand of her long lost daughter. She marveled the word 'daughter.' Sophia was wearing a pleated navy blue skirt and white blouse with patient leather shoes.
John was surprised when Susan and Sophia walked in. Susan looked him in the eye with determination as she slapped a paper on his desk. He picked it up and saw that it was a birth certificate. The name Sophia Faith O' Neal. He nodded towards Sophia in a questioning way and Susan nodded back to confirm that it was Sophia's birth certificate. He read down to birth mother and when he saw Susan's name he looked up at her. She smiled and nodded. John jumped up from his chair and wrapped Susan in a bear hug, laughing," this is great, this is fantastic. I can't believe it. " he said finally releasing her lifted Sophia into the air. Susan silently appreciated the fact that he hadn't questioned that she must have been only a teenager when Sophia was born or that she had never mentioned the child.
When they settled down Susan began," John I want you to write up the papers making her mine again."
John didn't hesitate a second before drawing up the papers, that Susan was Sophia's mother, her adoptive parents were dead and that he believed Susan competant to care for the children and as governer of Babylon 5 he was giving Susan custody of the child.
***** Sophia started school soon. As soon as she finished class she would run to Susan in c and c. The crew got used to Sophia running around with her cries of " mama", at everything she had to share, and Susan's eagerness to hear everything the child had to say.
Aside from the wars, everything was going well for a while. Sophia was helping Susan come out of her shell and it showed in the way she interacted with others. The child was growing healthier , doing well in school and was generally happy.
However, despite the fact that it was the middle of the war, the unexpected happened. undetected by security, Alfred Bester came on board.