(Author's Note: Technically, this takes place in the Re-Ignition Universe, but there's nothing here that would prevent it from being in main SE Canon.)
"Mommy, the cassettes won't listen!" The little girl exclaimed to her mother, holding the orange tape-deck in her hands.
"Oh Blair, you've got it in backwards. It's okay, I've got it," Adelaide said as she took the player from Blair and re-adjusted the set. Having solved the first of many problems that were sure to occur, Adelaide smiled and wrapped the orange headphones around her daughters head, making sure they were snugly in place. "Ready to go? Nevada is going to be so much fun, I promise you. Daddy and the others are already on the plane, and we really shouldn't keep them waiting.
Taking Blair's hand, Adelaide guided her towards the plane that held her husband's private jet. As someone who had made a living selling expensive fashion, Thomas felt that his job allowed him to give the best to his wife and children, and Nevada would be the perfect place to both raise them and have a lucrative career of his own.
Walking up the steps, Thomas smiled and waved towards his wife and his youngest child. "Hey, Pumpkinhead. Were you a good girl for mommy?" Blair grinned from ear to hear and responded with a short "Mmhm." "Alright!" he said with a smile and an exaggerated fist-pumping motion. "That's what I wanted to hear. Now go sit down, and we'll be ready to take off shortly, okay?" "Yes sir!" she said, as she bounced up and down the aisles, making her way to where her brothers and sisters waited. "Thomas, you really spoil her. She's gonna be a handful when she's older," Adelaide said with a laugh as she wrapped her arms around her husband.
"What can I do? She's adorable. You know I can't resist a good woman with an attitude" he said, wrapping his arm around her shoulder.
"And….We're off!"
The clunking sound of the engine giving way was only matched by Thomas' shouting towards the back of the plane. "Honey, grab Blair, now!"
"What is it, Thomas?" Adelaide said with a worried look on her face; Thomas never shouted at her, and his panic was worrisome. As she ran to the back, Thomas grasped the planes radio frantically.
"Is anyone there? Can someone help us?" he said before realizing that where they were, no one would be able to answer them. Dammit, what am I going to do? This engine's stalling, and we're in trouble. Come on Thomas, think! Oh, I got it!
"You have Blair yet? He shouted towards the back of the plane, where a happy Blair sat, orange headphones playfully cradling her small head. He reached for the map, trying to make a guess as to where they were in the midst of the storm. "Now, honey, this is going to be a rough landing, but I'm gonna have to put this this thing in the water. Strap in and prepare for a bumpy landing!"
"What's going on, Mommy?" Blair exclaimed, having noticed the worried look on her mom's face.
"Just a little plane trouble. Hold onto mommy, and let's listen to some music. That always helps me when I'm afraid."
"Ok, mommy"
Blair awoke in a long white room filled with the smell of antiseptic and mothballs. Men and women in uniforms and medical equipment were dashing around madly. Wait, this wasn't Daddy's plane….WHERE WERE THEY! Blair said out loud, unaware that her thoughts had taken voice without her knowledge.
"Blair….Your father's plane went down…..I'm so sorry, but they're gone now."
The nurse spoke softly, unaware of how to handle breaking such difficult news to a child so young. As Blair's lip began to quiver, the nurse panicked. "Hey, I've got something you might want! How about this?" She said, handing the orange headphones to the now-crying child.
"I don't want music, I want my mommy!" Blair wailed, her screams muffled by the pillow she had curled into her chest.
"Jesus, what a nightmare. She's the only one out of eleven people to survive the crash. How does that even happen?"
"Look, Roy, there's no time to worry about that now, we just need to be sure that she's alright, and get her paperwork filled out." Her partner shot her a scathing glance, but reluctantly agreed.
As they went into the hospital room, however, they were horrified to see an empty bed, and a non-existent child. An orphan girl now roamed the streets, orange headphones around her head, and a fierce look in her eyes. Her world had changed overnight, and so would she.
