Tommy entered the room to take custody of Peyton and was dumbfounded when he saw her alone, sobbing her heart out. He reached out for her and she ran into his arms. He embraced her tightly. This would never happen again HIS daughter would never know such neglect again. Jessica would hear it from him.

Tommy picked her up and went to the chair she had vacated then sat with her in his lap.

"Why do they hate me?" She asked him with a sniffle.

Tommy grabbed a tissue from the box and helped her wipe her nose.

"I don't know, but you don't need to worry about that, I love you and I will always be here for you.." he assured her.

She calmed and looked into his eyes. She had been told often that their eyes looked the same and she had always wondered why that was, but nobody had an answer.

"Tommy, Aunt Jess said something on her way out…" Peyton looked away from him "Something I don't understand."

"What did she say, maybe I can help you understand it." He offered fearing what she might say.

"She said a bad word I won't get in trouble if I say it will I?"

"No, you won't." he assured her.

"Good your…" she hesitated and it became clear even with his reassurance she couldn't say the word.

" Skip it, I can fill in the blank." He sighed.

"… father can deal with you now." Peyton finished sounding confused. "I thought nobody knew who my real parents were."

She would definitely hear it now. Tommy had to bite down on an impressive stream of pure profanity at this revelation, it wasn't Jessica's place to tell HIS daughter he was her father.

"Because…" he let out a long breath "… some in the family did know but they were sworn to secrecy until now… Peyton I am so sorry you're having the truth told to you this way but… what Aunt Jess said was true, I am your dad…I just found out a few minutes ago myself."

Words didn't describe how much it hurt to have to tell Peyton that he was her father that way. There really was no better way to do it. It hurt to look at her and see the pain of the lies that had been told to this little girl her entire young life

"You… your my dad… then who is my mom?"

"Her name is Kimberly, she left me before she knew about you. There was a lot going on then so I guess she thought it wasn't the right time for me to know." Tommy sighed "Like I said I just found out a few minutes ago."

Tommy hugged Peyton and wished he could introduce her to Kimberly, maybe then they could both get answers that they desperately needed. The problem was he didn't have the first idea how to contact Kimberly. It was as if she had fallen completely off the map after she gave Peyton to his dad to raise.

They left the lawyer's office and stopped for supper before going to his hotel room to settle in for the evening. It had been a long day so Peyton went to bed soon after they arrived at the hotel. It was close to ten at night so that didn't surprise him given her young age but he was still on California time so he was still wide awake.

He took out his laptop, connected to the internet and pulled up the secure chat program Hayley had created for the rangers to communicate remotely about anything be it Ranger related or not. He was relieved to see the four teens already on it having a conversation about homework by the look of it.

Tommy- hello

Conner- Are you okay?

Kira- nice one Conner

Ethan- he just lost his dad what kind of stupid question is that

Tommy- it's okay Ethan. I'm doing as well as I can be.

Kira- I'm sorry

Tommy- don't be

Trent- do you know when you'll be coming home

Tommy- probably this weekend

Ethan- why so long?

Tommy- it's more than just the funeral. I don't think I told you guys my dad had adopted a baby girl a few years ago. She's seven now and I just learned she is my daughter so I'm working on finalizing the documents they make me her legal guardian.

Tommy sat back in wait as the rangers' shocked reactions flowed across the screen including several censored four-letter words. Finally when he thought he could get a word in he started typing again.

Tommy- Her mother was my high school sweetheart Kimberly. She swore my father to secrecy when she gave her to him and all I can figure is that she did it to keep Peyton a secret from our enemies in hope that doing so will keep her safe. It worked too.

Hayley entered the room*

Hayley- I'll save the lecture on your language for another day rangers. Tommy it sounds like you've had quite the day.

Tommy- understatement of the week, and I still have at least one aunt to give a gigantic piece of my mind to

Kira- why

Tommy- she was supposed to stay with Peyton, my daughter, until I got there and she left her alone.

Kira- what a b*

Tommy- Kira Elizabeth

Kira- what it's true. What kind of person leaves a small child alone like that. How old is she again?

Tommy- 7

Conner- I agree with Kira she's a b*

Ethan- me too

Trent- same

Hayley- she isn't wrong. Who leaves a seven year old like that.

Tommy- I'm not saying that. It's worse than that. If I interpreted what I could get from Peyton she called me bad names in front of her before abandoning her in the lawyer's office

Hayley- d*

The conversation went on for a few more minutes before Tommy decided he'd try to get some sleep.

TO BE CONTINUED…