February 7th 2003

Holly was in New York visiting a ten year old Sasha. Not only did she miss her but she wanted to feel close to Robert. Sasha had been asking more questions about her father lately and Holly did her best to change the subject. She wanted to tell her everything about him but knew she couldn't.

Sasha knocked on her door. "Mother? Can I come in?" She asked Holly.

Holly slipped the picture of her and Robert back where she kept it. "Of course my darling."

Sasha walked into the room and sat down next to Holly. She worked up the courage to ask her mother about her feelings. "Mother do you now like to talk about my father because it hurts?" She asked.

Holly didn't know what to say to her, talking about Robert was so much but in the long run it really was to keep her safe.

Sasha noticed her being reluctant to answer. "Can you at least tell me that you loved each other? That I wasn't a mistake?" She asked trying to hold it together.

Holly pulled her daughter into a hug. "Of course you weren't. We loved each other. I just can't talk about him, I can't go into reasons why either."

"He's the president, isn't he?" Sasha was trying to make her mother laugh.

Holly did just that. "Oh God, no. Just know you come from a lot of love and how much I love you."

Sasha mustered up the courage again. "Do you ever think you will stay?"

This hit Holly like a ton of bricks. Since she could talk she had been asking her to. "I wish I could, so badly. Maybe one day I will have you come with me."

"Really? Would we get to spend more time together?" Sasha asked her mother.

"Of course and I will protect you, that's what I've always wanted to do." Holly gave her another hug.

"You and Nonna do that. Every night she tells me that she loves me and that you do too." Sasha replied. "Would it be childish is I brought Ralphie with me?" She asked.

"Of course not. You bring anything that makes you comfortable, but I think we should still wait a while." Holly kissed her head. She hated the thought of showing her what she did but couldn't think of another way to make it work.