"No! No you can't do this!"

Valentine raced out his front door behind the social worker. The stood on the lawn as he stopped her from getting to her car.

"I'm sorry, Inspector. It's all finished."

The woman dragged Elodie along behind her with some difficulty.

"Balentine!"

"Don't worry, sweetheart. I'll-"

The woman turned to him, "Stop. It's best not to make promises you can't keep."

He pushed past her. Elodie freed herself of the social worker's grip and ran to Valentine. He gathered her in a hug as he lifted her up.

"I can't let you do this."

"You don't have a choice."

"Balentine, I don't want to go."

"There! You heard her! She doesn't want to leave."

The social worker sighed. "It doesn't matter what she wants, and you know that. The law is the law."

Valentine stammered. "I...we..."

"Say your goodbyes."

He smoothed a hand over her hair. He needed to find a way to be brave. For her. The problem was...he didn't feel brave. He felt scared, and sick. This little girl whom he'd come to be attached to...to love, was now being ripped away from him and given to a stranger. A stranger who in his opinion had a secret or two.

Thinking of Elodie scared and alone made him physically ill. He felt unsteady as he sat her feet back on the ground.

"This girl has experienced a trauma. Can't you see that taking her away now will only make things worse for her?"

"You can file a petition with the court, Inspector. As I've told you."

"Yes, but that will take weeks! Months!"

The woman shoved a screaming Elodie into the back of her car. She gave Valentine an exasperated last glance before getting in and driving away. Leaving Valentine standing in front of his house with his hands on his head.

He woke up with a start. His heart pounding. Elodie. He ran into his bedroom to find her curled up asleep. Safe and Sound. It was all a dream. A nightmare. He put a hand to his head. His heart wasn't the only thing pounding. That's it. He was going to get this sorted out. He refused to let her go through any more pain.

Later, Valentine found himself dropping Elodie off with Mrs. M while he went in search of answers. Unfortunately, his search for answers lead him to the front door of Francis, the man who claimed he was Elodie's real father.

He knocked and waited. And waited some more as he heard movement inside. Finally, the door was answered. However, not by Francis. By a woman. A woman whom Valentine had definitely seen before.

"Can I help you?" she asked calmly.

Valentine put on the charm that he was famous for having. "Yes, I'm looking for a Mr. Francis,"

"I'm sorry, but he's out."

"Ah. Well, no bother."

"Could I take a message?" The woman asked.

"If you wouldn't mind telling him Valentine came by," He left the title of inspector out.

"I will,"

He nodded as she closed the door. As he walked back to his car a determined grin spread across his face.