September 25th, 1997
San Francisco International Airport, 9:47 pm
Derek stood outside the gate, where incoming flights entered the terminal. His heart was beating uncontrollably in his chest, and he was glad none of the others were there to see his nervousness. The plane was late, almost twenty minutes. When it finally had arrived, he made his way closer to the door, hoping to catch a glimpse of his daughter. The passengers had begun to depart the plane, and Derek still hadn't seen any sign of her. Finally, an elderly woman moved toward her waiting family and Derek saw her, looking around with interest. His heart nearly stopped as he made his way toward her. She was almost the exact image of her long dead mother, though she had her father's dark eyes. When Derek saw these eyes fix on him he called out her name. Her entire face brightened as she made a dash into his arms. He held her there for a long moment before taking a step back to look at her.
She had grown taller, and just barely reached his chin. Her legs were still impossibly long and slender, and she was still as pale as ever. Her dark hair had grown longer, though it still shone vibrantly and curled at the ends. She still didn't look like she weighed much, a subject of argument when she was younger. Now, seeing her face smiling brightly up at him, almost everything was forgotten and they were simply father and daughter again.
"Talya," He spoke, smoothing back a stray strand of her hair, "I missed you."
"I missed you too." She replied, hugging him again, "There's someone you need to meet."
It was then that Derek saw the skinny, dark haired young man that had follow Natalya off the plane. He looked to be about her age, if not slightly older. He stood off to the side, looking nervous and out of place. She spoke a quick introduction:
"This is Dexter Gregory. He's part of the Paris House, and a friend of mine. Dex, this is Derek Rayne."
"It's nice to finally meet you. Taly talks about you constantly." Dexter said, smiling shyly. Judging from his accent, Dexter was from somewhere in England. Derek smiled back, thinking silently how she'd never mentioned the boy to him.
"Dex came to help with the case. He's a whiz with computers." She explained, again shouldering her green canvas backpack. Dexter began to blush and Natalya laughed, slipping her hand into the crook of her father's arm. "Shall we get the bags?" Derek asked, and the trio headed off for the luggage pick-up.
Derek stood outside the gate, where incoming flights entered the terminal. His heart was beating uncontrollably in his chest, and he was glad none of the others were there to see his nervousness. The plane was late, almost twenty minutes. When it finally had arrived, he made his way closer to the door, hoping to catch a glimpse of his daughter. The passengers had begun to depart the plane, and Derek still hadn't seen any sign of her. Finally, an elderly woman moved toward her waiting family and Derek saw her, looking around with interest. His heart nearly stopped as he made his way toward her. She was almost the exact image of her long dead mother, though she had her father's dark eyes. When Derek saw these eyes fix on him he called out her name. Her entire face brightened as she made a dash into his arms. He held her there for a long moment before taking a step back to look at her.
She had grown taller, and just barely reached his chin. Her legs were still impossibly long and slender, and she was still as pale as ever. Her dark hair had grown longer, though it still shone vibrantly and curled at the ends. She still didn't look like she weighed much, a subject of argument when she was younger. Now, seeing her face smiling brightly up at him, almost everything was forgotten and they were simply father and daughter again.
"Talya," He spoke, smoothing back a stray strand of her hair, "I missed you."
"I missed you too." She replied, hugging him again, "There's someone you need to meet."
It was then that Derek saw the skinny, dark haired young man that had follow Natalya off the plane. He looked to be about her age, if not slightly older. He stood off to the side, looking nervous and out of place. She spoke a quick introduction:
"This is Dexter Gregory. He's part of the Paris House, and a friend of mine. Dex, this is Derek Rayne."
"It's nice to finally meet you. Taly talks about you constantly." Dexter said, smiling shyly. Judging from his accent, Dexter was from somewhere in England. Derek smiled back, thinking silently how she'd never mentioned the boy to him.
"Dex came to help with the case. He's a whiz with computers." She explained, again shouldering her green canvas backpack. Dexter began to blush and Natalya laughed, slipping her hand into the crook of her father's arm. "Shall we get the bags?" Derek asked, and the trio headed off for the luggage pick-up.