About a half an hour after hanging up the phone, and having the conversation with Don, Megan turned back to the files on her desk. Don was sitting as his desk working on the rest of his paperwork when Larry strayed into the office. Gazing over at Megan who still hadn't looked up, Don flipped a page in the file he was reviewing, Megan looked up. By the expression on Larry's face, it was in fact held tight with anticipation.

"Larry." Megan spoke as she closed the file. Her gaze connected with the clock on the wall as she turned towards Don. "I'm going to go take an early lunch. Let me know when Charlee Lucas arrives. If she was freaking out with just Colby and David in the room, she's quite traumatized enough that it could happen again." Don nodded, noting the situation that if Megan wasn't there by the time that Charlee arrived, the young girl might think that Megan had abandoned her, or tricked her to coming in to an unfamiliar place, unsure of what was going to happen.

Both Larry and Megan disappeared quickly out of the room. Once out of earshot and in the empty elevator he took her hand. "How was seeing your father again?"

"It was quite interesting to say the least. In his eyes I was just another disappointment of his wants and needs. Although he did manage to ask if I was seeing anyone." He shrugged as the gravitational pulled them down past the next floor. Larry had an expression of satisfaction. Megan half smiled; almost chuckled. A thought of Larry telling his father what had been on his mind for the past few years as well as what he deserved, was now in the picture, when his father had probably had no hope for him. "The call--Looking up at her expectantly he had a deep questioning look. Even though he already knew just by her expression.

"It's official that in almost nine months we'll be cradling a little baby in our arms." Megan looked up to see what he thought about the news. There was a certain fear instilled in his gaze. Whether it was the fact that he had just imagined himself holding a child--his child--in his arms, or that this was all slowly becoming more real. His hand was still grasping hers as he finally met her gaze and exhaled, eventually his expression morphed into a sudden calm fascination, then elated back into half-fear and another deep breath—as he had most assuredly taken all the information in at once.

However, Megan knew that she had yet to get that point; letting it all sink in, and as the years slipped by the maternal feeling was overcoming everything, even to the smallest degree. It had been long forgotten of what it had been like to feel a child constantly growing inside, or to hold one so small in your arms. And just when she felt the fear creeping in, she longed to know again what the feeling of holding her child in her arms would be like if she was granted the great joy.

Although she would yet to be convinced that her past wouldn't come back to haunt her. For most reasons she had this deep fear that she would lose this baby as well. "When did the doctor's office finally end up calling?" Larry's voice broke through her thoughts, more relieved because before he could really see that she had needed to know.

"Tricia called this morning around ten to break the news." She exhaled as the door of the elevator slid open. Megan's hand slipped easily into his as they continued to walk towards the entrance door of the building. "I told Don--I think it made more sense to why I'm choosing to leave, instead of staying."

He looked up, which deciphered into a thoughtful gaze as they walked across the room, filled with agents and law enforcement; security guards and a few other people going in and out of the building. "He seemed to take it rather well."

She smiled deviously; Larry stepped ahead and pushed open the doors. "Yeah, well I think I caught him a bit off guard. I don't think he expected those words to come out of my mouth, even if I didn't actually say the words." Taking their steps in stride, they seemed to blend into the crowd, just making their way towards the city life. "However I expected David and Colby to suspect as soon as word of action got out."

"Or perhaps they don't." He shrugged, almost in a suggestive measure. Megan narrowed her gaze toward him in inquiry. "Besides me, you've only told one other person, and the odds that either one of us would say something is positively lower then if something were to be said before we were ready to announce the life-changing experience we're going through."

"I think after we together, let this sink in, we can decide when to tell them. Besides I would like to see how many things they come up with before we tell them." Looking around, Larry pushed the walk button. "You thinking about the cafe across the street?"

He nodded once. "This might be the beginning where we clear our thoughts and make a plan." Crossing the street, he used the same manner as they reached the cafe, opening to the door first to let her get out of the sweltering heat.

"Just two?" The black haired waitress greeted at their sudden presence; gathering two menus into her hand and then led them to a table close to the back. A moment later they were seated, with their choice of drinks being ordered, and then they were alone again.

"I've been so caught up in the light of my father that I forgot to give you this." Reaching into his pocket, he slowly pulled out a blue velvet box and set it on the table. She just looked at him in amazement. "Now it's official."

"You mean it wasn't official before?" Megan raised her eyebrow in a teasing manner, "You know you didn't have to do this." her fingers popped open the lid. Inside their was a fitting silver ring with a diamond set on top, as well as small cut out of a gold star and moon sitting on either side of the band. "Can I?" He pointed out the ring already on her finger, before she could say anything.

Megan nodded, fascinated. Taking off the band as he took the ring out from the velvet box. As she took a better look there was a latch on either side; to which he carefully took the ring and placed it over the band, before putting the tiny latches in place. He then proceeded to turn the ring to the left side and snapped the gold moon into the etched design on the band; then turning to the right he proceeded to attach the star into place before gently holding her hand in his and placing the finalized ring back onto her left finger.

Observing the ring, she looked up at him, postively glowing in his eyes. "You had all of this planned out."

He shrugged happily. "Before we left LA. And although the thought never escaped me--from the moment I saw you, I knew you would always be the one I would spend the rest of my life with."

"Well I'm just as glad that you found me." Megan smirked, as from the corner of her eye she was still glowing as she took the box and placed it into her purse as the waitress came around the corner with their drinks. After she left, Megan shot him a look that radiated deep down into his soul. She took a sip of her sprite, and leaned in to share a quick kiss.

--

For the most part Charlee had been quiet, not a word as she sat in the back seat of the car, on the way back from the hospital. David who was driving, occasionally glanced in the mirror to see her gazing out the window; the latest motion included her small head resting against the back of the seat, eyes closed, body rocking back and forth with the motion of the car as they drove. The whole exam had worn her out, to the point of exhaustion. For the age she was at, she was, even in sleep-- grasping onto everything that she had left. Although the concept was there, her mother was dead, and her father could turn out to be a possible suspect, left her with nothing. And yet she was still holding onto one thing, somebody to save her.

And despite not being able to get another word from her, the look in her eyes was filled with torment and confusion; not much hope was left in her little soul as she temporarily gave into a fitful sleep, shortly escaping her fate; but not the images she had been subjected to. Both David and Colby hoped she would be able to talk to Megan alone.

Colby as well had been glancing back in the young girl's direction as she sat still in the back seat, the growing fits of movement were growing every minute. Both David and Colby exchanged glances, although the traffic of LA was growing in number. Thankfully the office wasn't too much further.

"I wish you would have told me." Her daddy had yelled from the front room. Although his voice wasn't quite familiar, or one that she hadn't remembered hearing as much since he wasn't ever really around. "I deserve to see my daughter." Charlee had peered around the corner; her mother came into view, but Charlee stayed out of sight from her father.

"After all you've done to this family, you really expect me to let you see your daughter."

"If you take her away and don't let me...then yes, I have a right to see her."

"I have custody of her Anthony. I was rewarded custody of her after you slapped me around. You remember when you came home a few many times drunk? You remember that day?--"

"Okay okay...where is she?"

"That's none of your business. She's probably over at the neighbor's house playing."

"You don't know where our daughter is?" That set a rage of fury, but then edged as he took a few steps, to which Charlee gave a silent gasp and stepped back; her heart pounding in her chest. "Charlee? Charlee come out sweetie it's daddy."

Silence was the only thing he heard, tempting him to take another few steps and perhaps take a look around. Andrea knew what he planned to do, and her words stopped him in a cold tone. "She's not going to answer you. What makes you think that she would come out for you anyway?"

"I'm her father--" Reassured that her father wasn't coming after her, Charlee took a brave step forward, leaning against the wall.

"The father that was never around, the same father that saw you slapping me senseless. She loves you Anthony but you scare her some times. You scare us both, and I think it would be best if you left."

"I want to make things right." Anthony practically pleaded as Charlee rounded the corner, but stayed hidden.

"We need you to go. Right now she just needs time. Give her time to think about it and then we can work things out. If you move too quickly she's not going to want to do this."

Charlee peered up at her father, watched him reach into his jacket and pull out a gun. "I'm afraid I can't do that. You know as well as me that if I leave, you're going to take Charlee and move again." Cocking the gun and in one swift motion, he had the gun moving up towards Andrea's head. "I need her."

"And you don't think that I don't? You lost your chance." Andrea stood firmly before wrestling the gun in his hand; twisting it, the gun waving back and forth in the struggle. Everything in that time almost seemed like a blur as Charlee moved closer. It seemed like she was a little too late when the gun went off in his hand. Charlee stood still, out in the open, far enough from her father as her face screwed up, tears swelling in her eyes as she watched her mother fall against the wall and slid down like a limp doll.

"Charlee." He sound relieved but still shocked as he had promised himself that he would never do another thing to hurt her.

Without thinking Charlee yelled, "I hate you!" at him because she knew by the blood spilling out from the gunshot that was still ringing in her ears, that her mother was dead. Her father had killed her mother, and at such a young age, she had no pity for him. It was all the same. She was hurting so much that she wanted to scream--everything--at the top of her lungs. He took a few steps forward and she cocked her head in such a manner that he had never seen from her. She was grinding her teeth, anger flowing from every part of her, the closer he got to her. And she made it known. "I. Hate. You." The tone in her voice escalated with every word out of her mouth. She stepped back, farther from his reach.

"Charlee--I'm sorry." He looked back over at Andrea, his voice wavering. "I didn't mean to."

The young girl didn't looked convinced as she scrutinized the picture. "Leave me alone! I hate you." He looked back over at Andrea, only for a split second before he realized his daughter was now running towards the back door, as he rushed after her, she gazed back to see the gun still in his hand as she slammed the back door harder than she have ever done before, enough that as she ran down the steps, the only thing she heard was a shatter of glass.

The echo of glass shattering, most definitely stirred Charlee from sleep. Her body lurched forward, pulling on the seatbelt in the car; her eyes widened like silver dollars as she gasped for air.