disclaimer - i don't own any of the Monarch of the glen characters, they belong to the BBC

Prologue

fourteen years ago

16-year-old Lexie lay back exhausted on the thin hospital pillows, her whole body ached. She listened to the sound of crying babies coming from down the hallway, she shivered. Down there with them was her daughter.

"Miss, would you like to see her" the young nurse stood in the doorway, in her arms she held a white bundle, Lexie just stared at her, nodding quietly. The nurse walked in quickly and placed the tiny bundle in Lexie's arms. The baby was beautiful, looking just like her young mum with lots of beautiful dark hair and the same wonderful skin. "I'll leave you two to get to know each other" the nurse left as quickly as she had come. Lexie just looked at the baby, her baby. She heard heavy footsteps coming towards her door, she knew what it was. It was the matron. The door flew open and the large scary woman entered, Lexie held the baby closer to her protectively.

"And what may I ask are you doing with that baby" the matron's nostrils flared. She walked towards the bed and snatched the baby out of Lexie's arms. "Stop give her back, she's mine" the matron shook her head, "no my girl she is not yours. I am on strict orders from your mother not to let you see this child" with that she left. Lexie sobbed.

Present Day

Archie stood looking out of the large window, staring out at the land, his land. Acres all of his own and yet it all had no meaning, he had everything and yet he had nothing. The one thing he craved was the one thing he didn't have. He turned and looked at his wife sat on a large over stuffed chair, reading a book. She looked so beautiful but also fragile.

"Lex, have you ever thought about children" her head snapped up, eyes wide with surprise. She stood up and walked towards him, "well have you?" he took hold of her hand and smiled at her.

"To be honest Arch no" she looked in to his eyes sensing the hurt in them "I'm sorry but I haven't. We're happy aren't we just you and me? We don't need another person to make us complete do we?" he turned away, wanting to hide the tears that had started to slip down his face. He was desperate for a child to carry on his family name.

"Lex, I can't help wanting a child. A little Lexie running around" he grinned to himself at the prospect, he could just imagine a little girl with his wife's beautiful features. He turned to look at his wife again

"don't you have a deep desire to see little children running around here laughing and playing? Don't you want to hold a baby in your arms and know that it's yours? Don't you want to be called Mummy?" Archie looked.

"No I don't. I can't help it Archie" a tiny tear slipped down Lexie's cheek, she hated seeing that disappointed look in Archie's eyes.

"What about if we try for a baby, you'll feel different when you see a scan and hold the baby for the first time" Archie pleaded with his wife.

"Archie stop it please" Lexie looked up at her husband, tears streaming from her eyes. She hated arguing with him. Archie looked back at her, his face filled with determination "Lex, I just think its time we had a child together." Lexie burst in to a fresh wave of tears; she turned away "Arch, I already have a child"

Part 1

"What" Archie grabbed at Lexie's shoulder spinning her round with force, he looked in to her tear stained eyes. "I have a child" this time she spoke louder with more confidence but still she felt unable to properly meet his gaze. A tear slipped down his cheek and he turned away from her feeling betrayed.

"Why didn't you tell me" Archie couldn't keep the hurt out of his voice. Lexie moved to the window and looked out at the beautiful surroundings

"I've never told any one here. Never had the need to. I had her when I was sixteen. I felt so ashamed, mum told me that I would be allowed to keep the baby but I always felt that somehow I would, that I'd find away, mum worked that out though. I went to term and gave birth to a beautiful baby girl; a nurse brought her in to see me but matron took her away only minutes later, the nurse gave me a photo later though. A doctor told me later that day that my daughter had died, I never believed him though, I'd seen her earlier that day obviously he didn't know that. three years later, I found a letter in my parent's house, confirming the 'adoption' of a baby girl, my daughter" Lexie took a deep breath "of course it wasn't a legal adoption, I'm not even sure what it was all I knew was I wasn't allowed my daughter" Lexie sighed and turned, Archie had turned and was looking at her, his eyes filled with unshed tears.

"I" words failed him; he stepped towards his wife and wrapped his arms around her. She cried on to his shoulder

"I'm sorry I never told you Arch" he stroked her hair willing her to stop crying, he hated seeing his wife cry. She wiggled closer in to his grasp, her tears seeping through his shirt.

Downstairs

Molly looked out of one of the windows, out side the house a teenager was wondering around looking rather confused. She smiled, runaways always seemed to find themselves at her door, fondly she thought of a young Lexie turning up. Slowly she went outside and smiled at the girl who looked rather scared.

"Hello. Can I help you?" Molly spoke kindly, she girl just looked at her for a second as if deciding weather or not if was safe to talk

"you don't know of any jobs going do you" the girl spoke with a strong south-west accent. Molly took a second to study the girl from her thick clothing, to her clumpy boots. The girl was probably very pretty when she tried to be with long brown hair which seemed to need a good brush, large soulful brown eyes and a healthy looking figure.

"well I'm not to sure about jobs. How old are you? You seem a bit young to be wondering round of your own" the girl looked worried, she hesitated about answering the question taking a little too long.

"I'm sixteen" she didn't sound very confident. Molly smiled again

"well then I'm 30" the girl smiled and relaxed

"ok I'm fourteen but please don't tell anyone that I'm here" for a second Molly pretended to look insulted "and you don't believe I'm 30" Molly giggled "well ok for now I won't tell anyone you're here, why are you here" the girl looked at Molly again for a second.

"I'm trying to find someone" the girl took a deep breath "I'm looking for my mother"