With a knowing smile, Aydin strode into her fathers corporate office, pausing at the door, and taking in the rich deep hunter green wing chairs, the deep mahogany bookshelves and woodwork, and her father, Arthur Avallon, seated behind the heavy antique desk.

As promised by her father's secretary, he was engaged in a phone conversation, so she continued into the office, crossing over to the large bookshelves. Aydin scanned the volumes of leather-bound books, pulling a copy of the Canterbury Tales out, and traced her fingers lovingly over the cover, which was adorned with gold leaf.

Hugging the book to her chest, she crossed over to one of the wing chairs, and sat in it, tucking her feet gracefully beneath her. Opening the cover, she began to read the beautiful words, as she waited for her father's conversation to end.

After a few minutes, she heard her father's conversation drawing to its conclusion. Aydin closed the book and rose to her feet. After setting her book down, her eyes lifted to find her father watching her with a slight smile playing on his lips, and a proud gleam in his sky-blue eyes.

"Hi Daddy," she said.

"Hello Poppet," he said as he stepped out from behind the massive desk. His gilded silver hair shone in the light as it framed his strong face, which would have been striking, had it not been for his crooked nose, which had been broken numerous times in his delinquent youth.

When he reached her, he leaned down to kiss her forehead and she had to raise on her toes, and still was not tall enough, causing him to have to lean over farther. Arthur then hugged his daughter warmly and the top of Aydin's head tucked neatly below his chin as her dainty frame was enveloped by her father's much larger size. When they broke free from each other's embrace, Arthur met Aydin's gaze with an expression of concern. "I heard about the fire. Is everyone alright?"

Though Aydin's smile remained, it appeared to grow tired as she sighed heavily and replied, "No one was hurt. The fire caused a great deal of property damage, however."

Arthur waved off her concern. "Don't worry, I'll have that taken care of in no time."

A wave of love swept through her as she shook her head and said, "Daddy, no. Let me handle this. We agreed that when I started my own company, that you would be strictly an advisor. No financial assistance. Remember?"

"You can't blame an old man for wanting to take care of his little angel, can you?"

"I know Daddy, and I love you for it. But you have to let me be an adult."

Arthur sighed dramatically as he rolled his eyes. "If I must," he replied.

"Yes, you must," she admonished him.

They laughed together when child finished scolding parent. She was going to do it anyway, but just to amuse her father, she said, "If it will make you feel any better, I'll have Saline fax you the damage assessment so you may mull over which course of action would be best for me to take."

"It would please me to no end," he replied, knowingly.

Aydin rolled her eyes at him before she stands on her toes once more and kissed his cheek. "Bye Daddy. Be good." she told him as she turned and walked out of Arthur's office.

"Call your mother!" He called after her before returning to his desk.

"Yes Daddy!" She called back down the corridor as he returned to his business dealings.


Reed looked at his fiancé with mild disbelief. "You know Aydin Avallon?"

Sue looked and acted like it wasn't the big deal the others were making it. "You know how long I worked for Viktor. Is it really that hard to accept?"

Before Reed could ask her to elaborate, Ben interrupted. "As interesting as this is, can we just acknowledge the impressive performance Johnny put on? I believe that's a record for you, isn't it? Rejected faster than light speed!"

Everyone was silent for a fleeting instant, expecting the sharp comeback from Johnny…

But it never came.

Heads turned in his direction.

It appeared Johnny hadn't heard a word spoken, perhaps ever since they'd returned home. He was standing several feet away, unmoving, and staring at nothing.

"Johnny?" Sue ventured.

Still not getting a response, Sue went over to her brother and gently touched his arm.

"Johnny." She tried again.

Her younger brother was startled out of his daze. "Yeah? What? Are we going somewhere?"

"Johnny, are you okay?"

"Fine. Why?"

Sue exchanged looks with Reed. "You seem a little…distracted."

"I'm not. So, what do you know about Aydin?"

Sue's eyebrows creased into a frown. "What?"

"C'mon, you know you wanna tell me something!"

With an exasperated sigh, Sue turned on her heel and walked away. Johnny followed relentlessly.

"C'mon! Tell me! Tell me! Sue, come back here! Wait! Sue! Tell me something! You have to! Hey! C'mon! Sue!"

His sister went invisible just to get away from his verbal assault.

Johnny stopped in his tracks, a bemused look on his face. "What'd I say?"

He turned to Reed and Ben, looking for an explanation, but they both turned and walked away from him as well.

"What?" He found himself alone and talking to himself. "Anyway…if you guys don't need me, I think I'll take off."

Realizing he wasn't going to get any reply, he grabbed his leather bike jacket and headed for the elevator.