Chapter 2

He wasn't even sure why he was here. It wasn't like anyone wanted him here anymore then he wanted to be here. He hated parties. He hated this house. He hated the fact that this was supposed to be his life with her. He shook his head and blew out an annoyed breath as his eyes scanned over the picture of Erica, Jack and Alli. That sweet child that could have been his. But as always, every chance at happiness was stripped right out from under him. He was just about to set his empty scotch glass down and make a break for it, when he heard rustling, and then a soft voice from behind him.

" David. " He heard the tiny voice exclaim, from what he presumed to be the top of the stairs behind him. He smiled brightly to himself, he'd know that voice anywhere. He set his glass down on the coffee table in front of him, and spun around on his heels, seeing Alli flying down the stairs towards him. She was already over half way to him, her smile bright and playful.

" Hey princess." He grinned, kneeling down so that he could scoop her up when she finally got to him.

She beamed at him, as she flung herself into his arms. " Hi." She breathed into his shoulder as he hugged her tight.

He laughed lightly a few seconds later, after hugging her tight. " I thought you're supposed to be asleep." He asked, shifting their positions so that he was sitting on the stairs and she was on his lap.

She nodded, her arms still around his neck as she looked at him, " Yes."

" Then why are you awake?" He asked, using his other hand to tickle a spot on her lower back. He smiled as she giggled and wiggled her body, trying to escape the tickles. She obviously inherited that from her mother.

" Because I want to dance." She told him, flashing him her most adorable smile.

God, he was going to give this child the world. If her smile didn't get him, it would be those big, brown, almond eyes that she got from her mother. Erica could get him to do anything if she batted those eyes just right and now Alli had the same power of him. If by the grace of god he managed to survive both of those things, it would be her pigtails and pink nightgown, that read, what else but "Princess", that got him. " I don't think your mommy is going to like your not being in bed."

She shook her head, " Mommy would let me dance." Her smile fade as she braced herself to say the next part, " Daddy wouldn't." She scowled. " He's no fun. I don't like him."

David could help but snicker, she sounded so much like Erica, " Well, I think he's just doing his job as daddy and making sure that you're taken care of."

She pulled her arms from around his neck, and crossed them over her chest, " Then he's not my real daddy." She said, pouting now.

David's breath caught for half a second, and his heart clicked. God, he wished that were true.

" Why aren't you dancing?" She asked innocently, her eyes locked with his.

He shrugged, " I don't know, I guess I haven't found the right girl to ask to dance."

She nodded, satisfied, " My real daddy would let me dance." She said, shaking her head, as she switched gears back to their original conversation.

" Well," He said, managing to pull himself out of his haze, " maybe it's because this is a charity party. I don't think you'd like it."

" Who's cherry?" She asked, looking over her shoulder and up into his eyes.

He laughed lightly, and pulled her close. He adored this child. " Charity. And it's not a who, but a what." He started, and she nodded, showing that she followed. " A charity, is a group of people, who get money that they use to buy clothes and food for families that don't have it." He told her, " And your mommy's party is being used to raise the money to give to charity."

She stared up at him for a seconds, her face twisted as if she was processing everything. " Oh," She breathed a few seconds later, " that's very nice."

David nodded, smiling proudly at her. " Yes, it is."

She nodded, " Mommy and daddy have lots of money. They can feed lots of kids."

" Yes they can." He told her, nodding. Brightest child he'd ever met. She had to have gotten that from her mother.

" I want to help mommy make money for the charity." She told him, " I want to feed kids. I want to dance."

He studied her face for a few seconds, and then looked around the stairwell. There was no one around, really and there was enough room where she could dance, one dance, and then be back in bed before Jack or Erica found out. Beside that, he didn't have it in him to tell her no. " I think you could maybe, dance one time, before you go to bed. But you'd have to promise me, after that, you'll go to bed."

" Promise." She told him, nodding so vehemently that her whole body shook.

" Okay." He nodded, scanning the room, " Only one problem."

" What?" She asked, turning her head to look around the room.

" Who are you going to dance with?"

He watched her face light up and her eyes go wide as something dawned on her, " You." She breathed, nodding happily.

" You want to dance with me?" He asked, narrowing his eye at her.

" Yep." She grinned.

" I don't know," He teased, " I was waiting for the right girl."

" That's me." She beamed. " I'm a princess. I'm prefect."

" Well, when you put it like that, how can I resist?" He asked, putting a hand to his heart.

She shook her head, and grabbed his hand, " You can't." She said, pulling him as she ran down the stairs.

Unnoticed by them, someone ducked around the corner as Alli fly past him, dragging David with her. The man whipped around another corner, headed straight for Erica Kane. He tapped lightly at her shoulder, " Ms. Kane?" He said in a heavy French accent.

Erica turned on her heels, " Yes, Jean-Paul?" She asked, eyeing the photographer. She'd hired the best photographer around. Straight from France and the most prestigious art school in the entire country.

" Come, you must see." He said motioning towards the other room.

" See what?" She asked, not sure why she should leave her guests.

" The picture of the year." He told her in his thick French accent, " Please, come, you must see."

She nodded, and excused herself to the few guests she'd been talking to.

" Please do not get mad at Miss Alli." He told her as they approached the room where David and Alli were.

" Alli is wake?" She questioned, " Why didn't she come find me?"

He just smiled at her, and pointed towards the dance floor.

Alli stopped in the middle of the floor, and turned to look at David, smiling her brightest smile. She was still holding his hand, but she wasn't moving. Her smile faded as something hit her.

" What?" David asked, looking down at her.

" I don't know how to dance." She breathed, her whole demeanor changing.

" That's okay, let me lead." He told her with a smile.

She nodded, held her breath as he picked her up.

Erica leaned behind the corner with Jean-Paul who was busy taking all the pictures he could get. She had to stifle a gasp as she watched them. This was no doubt the most adorable thing she'd ever seen. And even if Jean-Paul wasn't taking pictures she'd have it burnt into her brain. It was moments like this when her heart twisted at the thought that Alli could have been dancing with David as her dad.

David set her down softly on the tops of his feet, showing her where the best place to put her arms were. Of course she didn't listen, and threw them around his legs.

She leaned her chin against his legs and beamed up at him, signaling that she was ready for their dance to start.

David nodded, and put his hands around her tiny back.

Alli held on for the ride, beaming as he moved them slowly around the dance floor.

Erica watched them with wide eyes, her face filled with awe. She'd never seen Alli so content. So at ease. So at peace. It was like she was right where she belonged. She stifled another gasp with the back of her hand. She didn't want this to ever end. She didn't care about her guests. Or the money. Or anything other then the scene before. One of pure innocence and love. Like it or hate it, Alli was crazy about David, she always had been, and he adored her. It must be something with the Kane women.

" That is the picture of innocence, the one we will use on the website. On the pamphlets. In magazines." Jean-Paul told her, " That picture of love and laughter, of a father and daughter."

Erica's head whipped around, and she was just about to correct him, but the words got caught in her throat. She turned back to David and Alli, letting Jean-Paul go back to snapping photos, his words ringing in her ears. Father and daughter? Her mind raced, old wonders and instincts starting back to the surface. Could they really be after all?

To be continued…