Title: Too Late

Author: Kate

Rating: PG

Spoilers: None, unless you haven't seen The Crossing, etc.

Disclaimer: I don't own them.

~*~

"Tata! Tata!" Jasna flung herself at Luka, wrapping her arms around his legs. "Take me with you, Tata! I wanna go!"

He bent, kissing the top of her head. "Not today, Jas. You stay here with Mama and your brother." He struggled, to no avail, to disentangle his daughter from around his legs.

From the other room, they heard the baby begin to wail. Jasna brightened. "See, Tata? Marko wants to go, too!"

Luka chuckled, shaking his head. "I will be back before you know it, and then we will all eat lunch together." Jasna refused to budge. "A picnic, would you like that, sweetheart? We will eat our lunch here, on the floor, like a picnic." He bent to peer into her face as he spoke.

One last pout couldn't last behind a giggle that escaped her lips. "A picnic inside, Tata?" She rolled her eyes. "That's silly."

He kissed her silky head again. "You're silly, my Jasna."

Both Luka and Jasna looked up as Danijela walked into the room, a now-happy Marko on her hip. She surveyed the scene, Luka with shoes on and key to the flat in his right hand. "You're going out now?" she asked, her cheerful voice barely masking fear.

"Yes, Mama, and tell him I should be able to go too!" interjected their daughter.

"No," Danijela said shortly, crossing the room to lay a hand on Luka's cheek. "I wish you wouldn't go," she whispered into his ear.

Luka turned his head, kissing her lightly on the temple. "We have no bread for lunch," he explained. "And I promised Jasna a picnic." He tapped Marko on the chin. "Take care of the place, eh buddy?" he grinned, his hand on the door.

"Luka…" Danijela trailed off. "It isn't safe…" She mouthed the last words for the benefit of the children and stared into his face.

He squeezed her hand, then opened the door. "I'll be careful." He bent, smiling at Jasna. "Get our picnic ready, okay?" As he closed the door behind him, he heard his daughter chattering away about the silliness of an indoor picnic.

~*~

Ten minutes later, Luka was standing in the bread line when the bombing started.

And he knew.

He knew, and he started running, because even though you know, you still think you can stop it. You think you can turn back time, if you just run fast enough, and listen to your daughter when she asks to come along.

And then it was too late.