AUTHOR'S NOTE Okay, so here's my time breakdown. Rachel fell into a coma after her car exploded from the bomb that Alec set, as shown through flashbacks in "The Berrisford Agenda." I'm setting this up so that she was pregnant and delivered while in a coma. I don't know if that's possible, but suspend your disbelief. Rachel then dies during the events of "The Berrisford Agenda." It's been nine years or so since then, so roughly 2030.
DISCLAIMER Don't own them. I did make up Holly.
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Holly – "Plant with Red Berries" English
Logan pulled his SUV to a stop in front of the cemetery. He glanced at the eyes faintly bright in the backseat. Alec stared intently out the window. Logan turned his worried gaze to Max beside him, but the beautiful X5 just shrugged.
"Alec, are you sure you're ready for this?" she asked.
He locked his catlike eyes with hers. "I'm always sure."
He didn't crack his trademark smile, though. Max knew how much he must be hurting. It had been been six months since they heard the news of the death of Robert Berrisford and nine years since he and Alec had had their last confrontation in this very cemetery. Finally, Alec sighed and threw open the car door.
Max and Logan remained in the car as Alec slowly made his way through the gravestones. He trudged down the path, his heart growing heavier with each step. He had been told in no uncertain terms never to return to the graveyard.
But the man who commanded that now lay in the ground as Alec walked on. He paused in front of the stone marked "Robert Berrisford."
"Hello."
Alec jumped at the small voice beside him. He cursed himself for not seeing her through his grief. "Who are you?" he asked softly.
"My name is Holly," she said matter-of-factly. "Who are you?"
"Alec," Alec replied. Holly smiled at him with clear blue eyes. "Where are your parents, Holly?" he asked.
The little girl blinked solemnly. "I lived with my granddad. He's dead now."
Alec was surprised by her calm nature. "I'm sorry to hear that. What about your mom and dad? Where are they?"
"My mom died when I was a baby," Holly answered. "My granddad never talked about my real dad."
"Why not?"
Holly shrugged. "I asked about him once, but Granddad told me to forget about him. He never told me why."
Alec reached down to put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Holly."
The child looked up and locked eyes with the X5. "What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I'm visiting a friend," Alec said, keeping his voice steady. "She died many years ago."
Holly patted his hand that rested on her shoulder. "So did my mom."
Chills crept down Alec's spine as he gazed into Holly's bright blue eyes. "Holly, how old are you?"
"I'm ten."
More chills, followed by an impossible idea. "Do you know how your mother died?"
"No." Holly shook her head. "I just know that she was sick and died. I overheard Granddad talking about her once. It sounded like he thought my dad was responsible for her death."
Alec swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. He forced himself to speak. "Do you have a last name?"
Holly nodded, but instead of answering, she took his hand and pulled him to the next grave. Alec's heart skipped a beat when she finally said, "Holly Berrisford."
Against his will, Alec's eyes filled with tears. "Rachel," he whispered.
Holly's eyes lit up. "You knew my mother! Is she the friend you came to visit?" Alec slowly nodded, trying to process the fact that Holly was Rachel's daughter. The girl was excited. "Will you tell me about my mother?"
Alec finally found his voice. "Yeah, sure. But not now."
Holly's face fell. "Why not?"
"Because you and I need to have a little talk first." Alec led Holly to a bench where the two of them sat down.
"Am I in trouble?" Holly asked.
"No, no. Don't worry." Alec took a deep breath. He leaned his head back. "Where to start?" he muttered. "Okay. Holly, this won't be easy for you to hear. I, uh, I knew your mother very well." He stopped. How did he tell a ten-year-old girl that he was her father?
Holly patted Alec's hand. "It's okay, Alec. I miss her, too."
Alec half-laughed. She was pretty observant. "I didn't know about you," he finally said. "Robert never told me."
"Granddad kept secrets from everyone," Holly assured him. "I don't even know if my dad knew about me. He never came to visit, but I don't want to believe that he was a bad person."
"Oh no!" Alec cried. "No Holly, I'm not."
Holly cocked her head, as Alec stared at her. He hadn't meant to admit it like that, but it was done. She didn't seem fazed. "Did you love my mother?"
Alec's voice broke. "Very much."
His daughter nodded her small head. "Then my Granddad lied to me. I don't think you meant to hurt my mother."
"I didn't. Never in a million years."
Holly surprised him by standing up and asking, "Can I live with you? I don't my governess to teach me anymore."
Alec took her hand. "Sure."
Max and Logan were confused, to say the least, to see Alec return with a young girl at his side. Their shock only grew when she introduced herself, saying, "I'm Holly Berrisford. He's my dad."
"Nice to meet you, Holly," Logan replied. "My name's Logan."
Holly smiled at him, then turned her attention to Max. "What's your name?"
"Max," she replied, dazed.
"Are you my aunt and uncle?" Holly asked.
"Uh," Max said. "We can be if you want us to be."
"Good." Holly snuggled next to Alec in the backseat. "I'd like to have a family."
Max caught Alec's eye in her mirror. He looked down at his daughter in wonder before looking back to Max. He kissed the top of Holly's head as Logan pulled away from the cemetery.