WtBB-Ch.1

I was writhing on silk sheets, the sensation of cool lips on naked skin driving me nearly to the point of madness, when the shrill ring of a phone sounded. There was no phone in the room in my dream, and it brought me awake instantly.

It's common knowledge that calling me before noon on a Saturday morning is an automatic death sentence. So when my phone rang at nine forty-five, I was a little bit pissed. If it was Bert, so help me God, I was quitting.

I spent a good half-minute fumbling for the phone, finally succeeding in getting the damn thing to my ear and mumbling something that might've been a greeting into the mouthpiece.

The voice threw me, at first. It was male, and had a French accent. I couldn't help but look at the window to make sure it was daylight. Then, I realized that I didn't really recognize the person.

"Sorry, could you repeat that?" I muttered, less than cheerfully.

"Of course, Madame," the man replied in a chipper tone. "This is Francois du Lac, on behalf of Cherise and Phillipe duCharme, in Paris."

"Okay...Who are they?" Brilliant questions, that would be me.

"My apologies, I assumed you knew," Francois said. "They were the couple that adopted your daughter."

"Yes. I'm afraid there has been an accident, Madame. Cherise and Phillipe returned custody of the child to you in their will," Francois said.

"Unfortunately, yes. They were in an automobile accident nearly a week ago," he answered. "The little girl, Julienne, is on a plane to St. Louis as we speak. I called to inform you of the matter. I shall take a flight tomorrow, so that we can finish some paperwork and have things settled."

My heart was pounding so hard that I thought it would choke me, but somehow my voice sounded calm. "When is the flight arriving?"

"The plane should land in a little over an hour," Francois supplied helpfully.

He gave me the name of the airport, and the flight number, then we hung up.

I stared at the phone numbly for a few minutes, my mind trying to catch up to what was going on.

My daughter, who I had given up for adoption seven years ago, was being returned to me. The thought made me panic instantly. How was I going to raise a child, with my life?

I had given her up seven years ago because I held her, looked into the tiny face of this perfect little person, and knew I wasn't enough. I hadn't graduated college yet. I didn't have a job. I still lived with my parents. And her father had dumped me because I wasn't Aryan enough for his family.

Now, my life was a preternatural minefield. I had lycanthropes and vampires coming out of the woodwork to try and kill me half of the time. How could I hope to raise a child, protect her, in the midst of the chaos that was so often my life?

"Ma petite...our dream was interrupted," Jean-Claude purred, his voice gliding down my spine like the touch of mink fur.

Normally, I would've enjoyed the sensation, but right now I was too agitated. And what was he doing still awake this late after dawn, anyway? "Curb the voice, Jean-Claude. Something's come up," I told him abruptly.

"Do the police require your assistance?" he questioned silkily, but his voice was just a voice now.

"No. It's nothing like that," I said. "I just...I really can't talk right now, Jean-Claude. I'm not mad at you, it's just..." I stopped, took a deep breath. "It's a family problem, and I really don't want to talk about it."

"Ah. My apologies, ma petite. I hope it is nothing too serious," he said, the seductive lilt having dropped completely from his voice.

"It is. Nothing life-threatening...but, it's pretty bad," I said. "Listen, can I give you a call in a few days, after I've got my head on straight and don't feel like I'm going to cry on the phone?"

There was a beat of silence, then he answered. "Of course, Anita. I will tell Jason to pass the word not to disturb you for the next week. And Nathaniel, as well, since he comes in with Cherry and Jason most nights after work. Do what you must, ma petite. If you need me, I will be here."

That was almost enough to make me burst into tears on the spot. "Thanks, Jean-Claude. I'll call Richard myself, after I get home. I've gotta go pick someone up from the airport though, so I need to hang up."

I sat on the edge of my bed for a few minutes, still trying to process what was going on. Looking at the clock jolted me, and I headed for the closet to get dressed.

What does one wear to pick up a daughter they haven't seen since birth?


	St. Louis, Missouri 2002 I was writhing on silk sheets, the sensation of cool lips on naked skin driving me nearly to the point of madness, when the shrill ring of a phone sounded. There was no phone in the room in my dream, and it brought me awake instantly. It's common knowledge that calling me before noon on a Saturday morning is an automatic death sentence. So when my phone rang at nine forty-five, I was a little bit pissed. If it was Bert, so help me God, I was quitting. I spent a good half-minute fumbling for the phone, finally succeeding in getting the damn thing to my ear and mumbling something that might've been a greeting into the mouthpiece. The voice threw me, at first. It was male, and had a French accent. I couldn't help but look at the window to make sure it was daylight. Then, I realized that I didn't really recognize the person. "Sorry, could you repeat that?" I muttered, less than cheerfully. "Of course, Madame," the man replied in a chipper tone. "This is Francois du Lac, on behalf of Cherise and Phillipe duCharme, in Paris." "Okay...Who are they?" Brilliant questions, that would be me. "My apologies, I assumed you knew," Francois said. "They were the couple that adopted your daughter." Oh, God. Please let me still be dreaming. "Were?" "Yes. I'm afraid there has been an accident, Madame. Cherise and Phillipe returned custody of the child to you in their will," Francois said. "They're dead?" "Unfortunately, yes. They were in an automobile accident nearly a week ago," he answered. "The little girl, Julienne, is on a plane to St. Louis as we speak. I called to inform you of the matter. I shall take a flight tomorrow, so that we can finish some paperwork and have things settled." My heart was pounding so hard that I thought it would choke me, but somehow my voice sounded calm. "When is the flight arriving?" "The plane should land in a little over an hour," Francois supplied helpfully. "Where?" He gave me the name of the airport, and the flight number, then we hung up. I stared at the phone numbly for a few minutes, my mind trying to catch up to what was going on. My daughter, who I had given up for adoption seven years ago, was being returned to me. The thought made me panic instantly. How was I going to raise a child, with my life? I had given her up seven years ago because I held her, looked into the tiny face of this perfect little person, and knew I wasn't enough. I hadn't graduated college yet. I didn't have a job. I still lived with my parents. And her father had dumped me because I wasn't Aryan enough for his family. Now, my life was a preternatural minefield. I had lycanthropes and vampires coming out of the woodwork to try and kill me half of the time. How could I hope to raise a child, protect her, in the midst of the chaos that was so often my life? The phone rang again, and it made me jump. Jumpy, who, me? "Hello?" "Ma petite...our dream was interrupted," Jean-Claude purred, his voice gliding down my spine like the touch of mink fur. Normally, I would've enjoyed the sensation, but right now I was too agitated. And what was he doing still awake this late after dawn, anyway? "Curb the voice, Jean-Claude. Something's come up," I told him abruptly. "Do the police require your assistance?" he questioned silkily, but his voice was just a voice now. "No. It's nothing like that," I said. "I just...I really can't talk right now, Jean-Claude. I'm not mad at you, it's just..." I stopped, took a deep breath. "It's a family problem, and I really don't want to talk about it." "Ah. My apologies, ma petite. I hope it is nothing too serious," he said, the seductive lilt having dropped completely from his voice. "It is. Nothing life-threatening...but, it's pretty bad," I said. "Listen, can I give you a call in a few days, after I've got my head on straight and don't feel like I'm going to cry on the phone?" There was a beat of silence, then he answered. "Of course, Anita. I will tell Jason to pass the word not to disturb you for the next week. And Nathaniel, as well, since he comes in with Cherry and Jason most nights after work. Do what you must, ma petite. If you need me, I will be here." That was almost enough to make me burst into tears on the spot. "Thanks, Jean-Claude. I'll call Richard myself, after I get home. I've gotta go pick someone up from the airport though, so I need to hang up." "Bon heur, ma petite. J'taime," Jean-Claude murmured. "I love you too," I said, then hung up. I sat on the edge of my bed for a few minutes, still trying to process what was going on. Looking at the clock jolted me, and I headed for the closet to get dressed. What does one wear to pick up a daughter they haven't seen since birth?