A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed, keep them coming. And now, here's the next chapter.

Instead of going back to the office after dropping his father off Wesley went home. Fred had decided to take that opportunity to do laundry in the basement of the apartment building. There wasn't anything on television besides trashy talk shows or soap opera's. Since he had the soaps he liked Tivo'ing in his bedroom (which he'd deny under all forms of torture, and blamed Spike and Angel fully for his formation of the guilty pleasure), he turned off the TV. Instead he occupied his time by watching Sophia color and eat Gummy Bears (her favorite candy.) The fact that coloring was a calm activity, especially for the usually active child, did not escape him. Come to think of it, he realized, with the exception of a few times, she hadn't been as active as usual the past few days. Perhaps her habits were changing? Maybe she wasn't feeling well? Had her lack of sleep had been going on longer than the night before, but she only made a fuss about it the night before, and that was making her less hyper? There were a number of reasons that entered his mind. He watched with more interest, studying her almost to see if he could find the reason in her behavior. He couldn't. There was one other option left. "Sophia," he called to her, "come here." She obliged, and took her Gummy Bears with her. "Do you feel sick?"

"No." One possibility eliminated.

"Besides last night, have you been having trouble falling asleep?", he actually knew the answer before she said 'no' again. "Have you been staying asleep?" Once again, she said 'no'. He was on to something. "So, you've been waking up in the middle of the night?" She nodded this time. "Why haven't you said anything?" After saying that, Wesley felt stupid. How exactly could she tell either one of them fully what had been going on? She very rarely gave two-word answers, and the two words were usually 'thank you.' Still though, he decided to let his question stand and hoped there was a way she'd be able to tell him. Sophia was after all good at getting her point across non-verbally. But the child didn't have non-verbal in mind.

Much like with her paper cut explanation to Fred, Sophia wanted to tell her story. She didn't want them to be awake too, because she sure didn't like being awake when she wanted to sleep, but la. Her attempt to tell her father this failed. She knew it from the beginning of the sounds left her mouth. It didn't make sense to her. She understood perfectly what was being said to her, and she knew in her head how she wanted to reply. But it didn't work out as planned. The four-year-old didn't see this fair at all. Especially after she tried a few more times. No, it certainly wasn't fair. And it made her angry and sad.

Watching as she struggled and failed to talk made Wesley feel worse. In fact, it killed him to watch. Unknown to them both, they were thinking the same thing; it wasn't fair to her. Eventually she ran into her room, Gummy Bears in hand still. He wasn't sure if he should let her be, or go and talk to her. After thinking it over for a moment, he decided on going to talk to her. When he entered the room, he didn't see her at first. She wasn't on the bed, or chair. She was sitting on the floor in the corner by her window.

Sophia had heard her father come in but she didn't acknowledge him. She didn't want to. She didn't understand why he even entered the room. It wasn't like she could talk to him, why did he want to be around her? Why did anyone for that matter? As of late she was understanding less and less. So instead she stayed concentrated on her Gummy Bears. After all, she was up to the orange. She always ate them in order by least favorite to favorite. Green, white, red and then finally, orange. Even after he sat on the floor with her she still didn't look away from the candy.

"Please don't be upset?" he asked. It didn't work. "I wasn't thinking. Sometimes, that happens. Adults say things without really thinking it through. I didn't mean to hurt you or for you to get upset. I just meant to ask why didn't you wake us before last night if you've been waking up quickly for a while now.. The only reason why I was asked in the first place was because I want you to be okay," he then explained.

After sitting still, remaining silent for a few moments, Sophia finally responded the best way she could think of. She took a Gummy Bear from the bag and offered it to her father, pleasing him greatly.

"Thank you," he replied, flattered. She didn't share her Gummy Bears with just anyone, especially the orange. "You know, I meant what I said to you yesterday, about you've been making progress. Just because you can't speak much now, doesn't mean that will always be the case. I, personally, believe it won't be. And even though it is now, if you're having a problem, or something's bothering you, I want you to come to your mother or myself anyway, I am sure we can figure something out and then help you, okay?"

"Yes," she answered meekly, before offering him not one, but two, more Gummy Bears. The child let out a yawn, soon after.

"Still tired from not sleeping?"

"Yes."

"Well, would you like to have a nap?" He decided he'd look into the sleep issue later on.

"Yes."

Wesley went over to her bed and removed the covers from the head. Sophia proceeded to climb in the bed and he put the blankets over her. "If you need anything, I'll be in the other room."

"No," Sophia insisted.

"No?" He was slightly confused.

"Come."

After thinking the two requests over, it finally clicked what she meant, even though he had a little trouble believing it was true. "Do you want me to stay with you?"

"Yes." She said that slightly annoyed, and kind of demeaningly, as if he shouldn't have had to even question it. She had learned that tone from Sarai, Wes concluded. What he couldn't conclude was why she wanted him there. But it wasn't something he was going to dispute anytime soon.

"Of course I will," he told her as he sat down on the chair next to her bed.

"Thank you," she replied softly.

"No need for that. It's my pleasure, really."

Sophia's attempt to nap wasn't successful. She laid awake for a while. The room remained silent. "Would you like me to read to you?" Wesley eventually offered. She didn't object. So he went to the bookshelf and scanned the selection. Fred kept the books in alphabetical order. When he get to 'L' "the Little Prince" caught his eye, but then he remembered Fred was reading that to her. Next to it, however, was "a Little Princess". It didn't surprise him considering Fred loved that book, but in his mind, it seemed fitting that he read it to her. And so he did. At least, he did until she finally fell asleep. At which point, having been up a lot the night before, he did the same.

When Fred got back she discovered the two sleeping. Sophia in her bed, and Wes in the chair. The chair, she knew from experience, was uncomfortable to sleep in, especially when you wake up, and yet, she couldn't bring herself to wake him. She had a feeling he wouldn't want her too, either.

Meanwhile, over in the offices of Wolfram and Hart, some very important business was going on in the CEO's office. "Are you sure Angel isn't going to mind you redoing his office?" Faith questioned.

"He hasn't redone it since he got it. It's been in need of my help for far too long," Cordelia explained. "It's just too stuffy and... Angel."

"I thought you loved Angel?"

"Well, yeah, but that doesn't mean I love his taste. Although, the man can pick out clothes."

"I know. The Christmas gift he got me is now my favorite shirt that I own."

The women's discussion was interrupted by a knock on the door. They looked over and saw a man, probably around their age and casually dressed, standing in the doorway. "Is Mr. Angel here?" the man asked.

"No, he stepped out," Faith replied.

"Oh. Maybe one of you can help me. I am looking for an employee, or two, of his. Perhaps you know where they are."

"Who?" Cordy asked.

"Either a Wesley Wyndam-Pryce or a Winifred Burkle."

Cordelia and Faith were now very interested, and suspicious of why he would want those two specifically. "Supposedly they have something of mine."

"Which is...?" Cordy questioned.

"That would be Sophia, my daughter."

Cordelia and Faith were speechless; it was a first time for both of them.

TBC

A/N: That's all for now. Hope you enjoyed it. Think you know what's gonna happen? Up next, Wes and Fred discover/meet Sophia's father, and then go to Gunn and Lindsey for legal advice, as Sarai offers some not-so-legal advice.

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