AN: OK, I don't know where this came from. Perhaps it was too much Starbucks mixed with the GG's marathon on ABC family combined with a few ideas running in my mind. Whatever the case, those ideas collided to form this. If you can, let me know what you think.

MissDevon

Tomorrow, the Sun Will Shine

Prologue: Rewind

The sun shown through the window of the judge's chambers, as she sat in a chair that seemed to swallow her as she kicked her legs back and forth while her mother moved to the desk and bent over it. She just sat and watched. At half past six she had been in more courts than people four times her age. She could, in fact, bail her mom out of the jail, not to mention the time she spent in them while Roxie fought with DYFS. Hell, even at her age she knew that it was bad that is was the neighborhood bookies who were calling in the authorities.

But Roxie promised that there was a way out.

That she had a plan.

A few weeks ago that meant Rex leaving.

And now. . . well, she didn't know what it meant as Roxie turned away from the desk and came over to her. "Well, kid, you've got your very own Daddy Warbucks now. Don't screw up," she said before ruffling her hair and walking towards the door.

Unperturbed, Natalie watched her go, staring as the door closed behind her. "Natalie?" a voice said causing her to turn her head to look at the man whom her mother had been talking to earlier. "She's not coming back, is she?"

"Not for a while, no," he answered softly as he sat in the chair next to hers.

"Guess I shouldn't be surprised. She never keeps her promises."

"What did she promise?"

"That she'd fix things. Should've known. I'm the one who fixes things."

The man only stared at her, "what if someone else could?" he finally managed to ask.

"No one ever does."

"I'd like to try, if you'd let me."

"Yeah, right. Why?"

He smiled sadly as he looked towards the window and then back at her, "I had a little girl once, but she grew up too fast and went away. Her mother and I have been very sad without her."

"So, you want me to fix you?"

"No. I thought that perhaps we could fix each other. How would that be?"

"OK, I guess."

"Good. We're agreed then," he smiled as he slapped his legs and started to rise.

"But. . ."

"Yes?"

"What's a Daddy Warbucks?"

He stared at her for a moment then laughed: "I'll be sure to teach you that one day."

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

"Absolutely not! I can't believe you did this, Richard!"

"What would you have had me do? The girl needed somewhere to go."

"You were conned."

"I know precisely what I was, Emily."

"Oh, for pity's sake, you can't just replace them."

"I'm not replacing anyone. I only. . ." he paused as he looked away and then back at his wife. "She needs someone, and I would like to have the chance to do some things over."

"And what about when that woman shows up again? When she takes her away? When we lose her too. That I don't want again!"

"Money talks Emily. If she ever tries we'll just pay her off."

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

"I don't want to go back," she sighed from her bed as the rain pelted against her bedroom window and watched the maid pack her bags."

"We don't want it either," an older woman said from near the window. "But there's nothing we can do to stop it."

"There never is," Natalie pouted. "Why does she always have to ruin everything? Even if she lets me come back, I'll be so far behind that I'll never get caught back up at Chilton."

"They'll let you finish over the internet," Emily sighed staring sightlessly out at the lawn below. "That Richard and I could manage at least."

"The car's here," Richard informed solemnly from the doorway, watching helplessly as his wife stiffened.

"Well, they'll just have to wait. She's not finished packing yet."

"It's. . .the social worker isn't willing to," he sighed as he put his hands in his pockets and rocked on his feet.

"It's ok," Natalie put in, "its better that I don't take a lot anyway. Roxie will only hock it."

"Just don't forget your laptop. It's for school, and that she can't make you give up," Emily reminded.

"I'll hide it," Natalie promised as she rose and grabbed two of her bags. "I just wish. . ." she started looking at Emily's back.

"Don't keep them waiting. Show them we raised you with better manners than that."

"OK."

"I'll walk you down," Richard said softly taking a bag from her.

"You don't have to. I'm a big girl now," Natalie said. "I can be on my own. I'll have to be."

"No," Emily protested forcefully as she spun around. "You do not! You will always have us, do you understand me?"

"Yes Ma'am."

Swallowing Emily turned back to the window. "Go on then."

Nodding, Natalie moved across the room to where Richard waited. Slowly they started down the hall. "She doesn't mean to seem so. . ."

"I know. I didn't mean to break it."

"To break what?" he asked her.

"We were supposed to fix each other, I didn't," she started as they reached the steps.

Richard shook his head as he put down the bag and stopped her: "you never had to fix anything. It was our job to protect you and make it ok. If anyone failed, it was us."

"No. It's how it's supposed to be. I mean, Annie had to go back at some point didn't she? Besides, happy endings don't happen in real life. Roxie's. . . well, she's what I have. The biological. Can't fight that."

"Yet he gets her back," Richard mused.

"Yeah, well, I don't plan on handing off the sides of any draw bridges any time soon," Natalie shrugged as she looked down the stairs at a pointed cough. "I gotta go."

"Yes. You do," Richard sighed watching as one of the servants came up the stairs to get her remaining bags.

Fighting back tears, Natalie started down the stairs, only to stop and stare at him: "thanks for trying, Daddy Warbucks."

Chuckling slightly he forced a smile, just as he knew she wanted, "I love you Annie Girl. Don't you forget that, or us."

"Never," Natalie smiled tearily before turning and walking down the stairs, forcing herself not to turn and run back up them or even to just look back.

Richard stood at the top of the stairs watching till the door closed behind her and the social worker before dejectedly walking back to his 'daughter's' room. Once there, he stood in the doorway, watching his wife's tense form. "Emily. . ." he started.

"I warned you Richard. I warned you years ago, and every time she's tried to take her away since," she cut him off stiffly, never looking away from the window as she held herself together with the arms she crossed over her chest. "And I will never forgive you for making me go through this again," she added before dropping her arms and turning. Angrily she stalked pass him, into the hall, and across it to their bedroom, which she entered, slamming the door behind her while he could only watch.

Tiredly, he turned back to the room and looked around it before he slowly pulled the door to it shut. Next, he took a key out of his pocket and to lock the room up. Once finished, he moved across the hall to the door of his own bedroom, only to hear the muffled cries of his wife through the heavy wood. Knowing she'd be unresponsive to anything he had to say from previous experience, he turned away, walked down the hall and back down the stairs to the foyer. His steps growing heavier as he crossed the sitting room and entered his home office. Without thought, he closed the door and went to his desk.

Stoically, he sat behind the large piece of furniture and pulled a file out of the drawer, catching sight of the pictures he had hidden in there. Unflinchingly, he slammed the drawer shut and rested his head in his hands, trying to ignore the tears running down his cheeks.