Disclaimer: see chapter 1

It was now February 3rd. Indy had yet to definitively identify Anna as his and/or Marion's daughter. Still, he was curious. He needed to know for sure. But she was only another student. He had no plausible explanation for delving into her personal life. Just another student…Just then, he had an idea. He could get to know her without revealing anything. He would assign a family genealogy report, to outline what she knew, and find out about her upbringing. He would give it to the whole class, and then nobody would be suspicious. He grinned, feeling good about his decision. He would put his plan in motion on Monday.

"Alright, class, as you know we've been studying the ancient origins of civilization, most recently we've studied the Greeks. You will now study your own origins. Finding your roots, and what has influenced your life the most. Are you related to a famous author? Is Clara Bow your great aunt? Find out and have fun. Your final paper will be due two weeks from today."

The pale moonlight drifted through Indy's study windows, and played light and shadows across the stack of family history projects. It was getting close to two o'clock in the morning, and he sat on the sofa, enthralled in Anna Ravenwood's paper.

I could tell you that I had the average childhood; that I grew up with brothers and sisters in a beautiful home with a stay at home mother and a working father. If I told you that, I'd be a liar.

My mother was born in 1906 to Abner and Katherine Ravenwood. Abner was an archeologist, constantly on the move collecting rocks and artifacts. Katherine was running the house while he was away. She loved her life, husband, and daughter dearly. In the winter of 1917, she caught the influenza virus. She died soon after. Abner was devastated.

All he had left of his beautiful wife was eleven year old Marion. He decided to give up his passion and raise her, at least until she was old enough to come with him.

He started his journeys again in 1921, dragging Marion with him. Although she was young, she proved to be a valuable assistant. When she wasn't helping Abner, she was constantly getting into mischief; bringing home animals or getting into fights.

Then she met father. He was a student of Abner's starting in 1922. Despite being significantly older than her, Marion fell madly in love with him, and him with her (Abner wasn't pleased with this).

In the summer of 1923, Abner caught wind of an artifact he'd been after for years: the headpiece to the staff of Ra, (Ra was the Egyptian sun god). The three set off to a city near Cairo, Egypt, and went in search of the artifact. They found out it was being kept in an empty chamber in one of the Great Pyramids. They found it, and brought it back to the museum Abner had worked for in Chicago. Father continued to travel with them for about three years, then continued his studies elsewhere, (at Abner's prodding), leaving a heartbroken Marion behind.

About a year after Father left, several members of an organization involved on the black market found out about Abner's find, and sought to take the headpiece for their own profit. Abner was shot and killed in his own museum office. Marion found out about this, and escaped with the headpiece, knowing that her father would have wanted it to be safe. Fearing that she would be followed, she stopped at their home only long enough to gather her things. She fled to Nepal, where she had friends from their last visit to the remote area.

She opened a tavern, and made a decent living. Then father came back. Now he was a full-fledged archeologist, just like Abner. He needed the headpiece, but she wasn't sure if she could trust him after he left her. After her tavern was burned down by a man and his cronies who were working with the Nazis who were also after the headpiece, she was more or less stuck with father. They were partners in a long and involved adventure, finding the Lost Ark of the Covenant, and their dying spark was re-kindled. When it all ended in December 1936, she stayed with him for a while. When she found out she was pregnant, she left, not wanting to upset him.

She returned to Nepal, where she found help to rebuild her Inn, and gave birth to me on September 16th, 1937. I was named for my father, Indiana, because he was a good man, at least, that's what Mom told me. From a very young age, Mother taught me to stand up for myself and others, and never come to depend on anything or anyone.

I loved to help Mother, serving drinks, tending to weary travelers, and even cleaning up. At night, Mother would talk to me about her life traveling with Abner and Father. It seems it was very difficult, but it was what she loved doing, and she told me it was all worth it. When we were through, I would often sneak up to the attic and look at all of the trinkets Mother had kept over the years of adventures. I went to grade school with the local children, and I am fluent in the language spoken there. They didn't have a high school.

I saved every penny I had to come to the states for more schooling, and Mother helped. I came here in the summer of 1954, and I continue to send a letter back home to Nepal every week.

Maybe this sounds like the biggest fish tale you've ever heard, but it is the truth, as impossible as it sounds. If you want evidence, my birth certificate only has one name in it, that of Marion Ravenwood, dated 09/16/1937.

That is my family history, at least the stuff that affected my life. Of course there's more…great great grandpa something-or-other, a distant cousin twice removed, but those people are only in history. The people and events I told you about made history.

She hoped her paper would suffice. She swallowed a yawn, exhausted by Sunday's all-nighter. She plopped herself onto the couch, watching the children play in front of her. It wouldn't be long until their mother came home, and she could retire to her room at the other end of the house. She closed her eyes, only for an instant, before she heard a tremendous THUD. Her eyes opened wide, and she saw a wooden stool tipped over in the kitchen. She sprang to two year old Alex who was now crawling along the counter top in the direction of the cookie jar. She plucked him off it just in time to see five year old Harriet trying to draw on the family's brand-new television set with a blue crayon. "Just wait 'til your mother gets home," Anna said firmly, and the redhead hung her head and dejectedly went back to playing wit her doll. As if on cue, the doorknob rattled and Julia Cook entered.

"I'm home!" the tall blonde cried. She was fairly young, only about thirty one years old. She was slim, but by no means skinny. Her sapphire eyes twinkled with the joy of motherhood, Anna remembered the same look in her own mother's eyes. Julia's mouth spread into a wide grin, faint laugh lines beginning to emerge. The kids toddled to her, and embraced her legs, considering they couldn't reach much higher. "There are my little darlings. I hope they were good for you."

"Oh? Yes, they were great." Anna said, swallowing another yawn. She couldn't take much more of this, she needed sleep. Julia saw this.

"What do you say I give you Saturday off? Darren will be home, he can be Mr. Mom for the day." She winked, and patted Anna on the back, "Go hang out with your friends, shop, do whatever you need to."

"First thing I need to do is sleep," Anna said, stifling yet one more yawn. She treated herself to a luxurious stretch, and smiled. She liked Julia. She was sure Mother would agree with her choice of a house to board in and her job to pay for it. She was a live-in babysitter, watching two youngsters while their mother worked the weekdays from four o'clock to eight-thirty; and in return she got free board in the guest room, and a small salary. Anna thanked her host, and left for her room.

She sprawled herself on the bed, her lean frame sinking into the down comforter. Her dark hair fanned out around her head. It wasn't quite as dark as her mother's, partially due to being out in the sun all day, and probably partially due to genetics. She probably had her father's hair; thick, brown, and unruly. For the most part she kept it tied back, out of the way. Occasionally her bangs would escape, but that didn't bother her. Her mother said she had her father's flashing hazel eyes. Other than that, she was a spitting image of her mother. She liked that. She didn't entirely like the idea of looking like someone she'd never met.

In a way, she hoped she'd find him. She'd like to meet the man that won over her mother, twice; the one who had the secret, grand adventures, including finding the Lost Ark. Indiana…something. Mother never had told her what his last name was, and Anna was sure there was more that one Indiana out there. For now, finding him would have to wait. All she wanted right now was to finish her schooling, and go home to help Mother.

He had to tell her. He had to fill in the missing pieces. That was all there was to it. She was his daughter. She was seventeen, now. She had a right to know. But, then again, he had a right to remain silent. His head spun. To tell, or not to tell…If he did, it would open a whole new world for them both. If he didn't, he wouldn't interfere with her ambitions for life, and he would continue to live in the way he was accustomed to living. What about Marion? She was still in Nepal; trying to make it alone. No, she had a daughter to help her. His daughter. Crap. He stood up, and decided to abuse the wall by repeatedly banging his forehead against it. He went into the classroom, and waited for the bell to ring.

Class went by in the usual way, he lectured, drew a few diagrams on the blackboard, and they took notes. Occasionally they opened their textbooks. Finally, the bell rang.

"Anna?" he did his best to keep his composure. "Could I please speak to you regarding your paper?"

"Yeah sure; did you like it?" She asked innocently.

"Yes, yes…would you please meet me in my office after school?"

"Yeah, I'll be there."

Indy's heart raced. How would he tell her? I am your father. No, that sounded too cheesy. Hello, there, daughter of mine. No, too familiar. He'd only known her for a month. Should he discuss Marion? No, that wouldn't be right. Surely she knows Marion better that he does. After all, Marion raised her. He shook his head. What was he doing? Why was he doing it? He blew air out through his teeth. An idea came to him. He reached to an upper shelf in his office, where he kept most of his artifacts to share with the class. Buried in the bottom of a box, wrapped tightly in white cloth, was a bronze medallion-type item, with an amber crystal slightly above where the center mark would be. There were raised symbols on either side. When it was held up to the sun correctly, a beam of vibrant light shone through the crystal. The headpiece to the Staff of Ra. He still had it after all these years. Surely she would recognize this from her mother's adventures. A knock at the door. His eyelids fluttered as he released a long, calming sigh. "Come on in, the door's open."

"Hello, Dr. Jones. What's up?" she said, having no idea what lay ahead of her.

He put the headpiece on the desk between them. "Do you recognize this?"

She picked it up carefully, and ran her fingers lightly over the inscription. She turned it, noting markings on both sides. Then she held it up to the window. The midday sun was transformed into one single beam that lit the entire room. Anna's eyes widened. Her murmur was barely audible. "The headpiece to the Staff of Ra…"

"Yup."

Her voice was almost accusing, "Where did you get this?"

Here goes everything. "I'm Indiana."