Second Time Around

[Dr. Lilith Sternin]

Here's the new fic Stephie and I have been working on. This is only the working title, so it's subject to change. I will be continuing on my other's shortly. Let us know what you think of this one. Thanks.

<3 B

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Second Time Around
by Bethany & Stephanie


Chapter One

Boston. What a city. Only twelve minutes back in the damn place and chaos had once again evolved. As I raced toward the gate from which I exited a few minutes before, I pondered the reason I had agreed to come to Boston in the first place. I suppose it had something to do with my eagerness to get out of Seattle, if only for a week. It would give me a much needed break from the constant reminders of the past few months -- no, the past few years -- that haunted me every time I stepped out of my newly acquired apartment.

Madeline, I'm sure, was reveling in the rays of the Bahamas this very moment, spending every ounce of the alimony sent to her from the depths of my pocket each month. Meanwhile, here I was, spending this glorious, rainy day in a city I vowed never to return to nearly five years earlier; nevertheless, on a mad dash to reclaim my notes for the seminar which brought me here in the first place.

As I pushed through crowds of people filing into Logan Airport, I clutched my luggage, my focus solely on my destination and retrieving the briefcase which held my entire class plan for the following morning. Babies crying, couples arguing, teenagers blaring music from their headphones -- all fell on deaf ears and nothing phased me as I attempted to get back to that plane before it left for it's next departure. While pushing through and brushing by random people in the crowd, I found myself stopping at the slightest tug on the bottom of my jacket.

"'Scuse me, Mister." I quickly looked down, only to find the little girl meet my gaze with a large pair of tearstained, bright, blue eyes which needed only a small halo above her curly, golden locks to complete the picture. Her bottom lip trembled as she shyly continued to speak. "Do you know how to get to Tremont Street?"

Captivated by the small child, I placed my luggage down beside the bench, kneeling down so I was eye-level with girl, who couldn't have been much older than five or six. "Well, sure I do. But, tell me -- what is a lovely little girl like yourself doing in a big airport like this, all alone?"

A tear trickled down her rose-tinted cheek and she clutched on to a large stuffed animal based on that candle character from Disney's "Beauty and the Beast." She looked at me, obviously quite nervous, then moved her eyes back to the oversized candlestick. "I lost my mommy."

"You did? Well, why don't you let me help you find her?" Returning back to my feet, I held my hand out to her. "Why don't you come with me to the customer service desk?" I watched as she looked me over, quite skeptical and not sure what to make of the strange man offering her help.

After a moment's hesitation, she finally responded. "How do I know you're not going to take me to your car instead? And then throw me into your trunk and sell me overseas into white slavery? I read somewhere that strange men like you do that sort of thing to little girls who get lost." I couldn't help the chuckle which escaped my lips. I know I shouldn't have from the seriousness in her tone, but it was that same seriousness that completed her impeccable charm. "Well, I suppose you'll just have to take my word for it. Come on, let's go find your mother." I once again offered her my hand, she tentatively taking it. "Okay, but just so you know -- my Mommy's boyfriend is big and scary and if you hurt me, he'll hunt you down." As I led her towards the front desk, I couldn't help but let out another laugh. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind."

"Excuse me?" I interrupted the furious typing of the woman behind the customer service desk. She looked up from her computer reluctantly, slightly annoyed, yet a fake smile was there, plastered across her face. "How may I help you?"

"It seems this little girl has been separated from her mother. I was wondering if you could possibly page her?"

"What's the name?," the woman said coldly, as she continued her key banging, her eyes glued once again to the computer screen.

The small hand that was safely nestled in mine, released it's grip as the child put her hands on the desk, rose to the tip of her toes and peered over the edge. Her innocent blue eyes softened the woman's expression as she said quietly, "My mommy's name is Lilith Sternin."

[Sammy M. Malone]

lol keep going!

[purplefuzzycouch]

that was good! i hope there's more!

[Brian Damage]

I just read it and thought it was very good.

[CheersChild4life]

Don't stop there keep going

[BebeLilithFan154]

more please!! i shoulda guessed it...only Lillith's 5 year old would think about men that way!!