Posted by Civilian Molly Holloway (CEO - Holloway Heavy Industries) in [Holloway Heavy Industries HQ, ERC - Holodeck 3] Should Private Matters Be Kept Private?

Posted by Civilian Lucas Elliot Holloway (Chairman - Holloway Heavy Industries) in [Holloway Heavy Industries HQ, ERC - Holodeck 3] Should Private Matters Be Kept Private?

Posted by Civilian Molly Holloway (CEO - Holloway Heavy Industries) in [Holloway Heavy Industries HQ, ERC - Holodeck 3] Should Private Matters Be Kept Private?
Posted by… suppressed (7) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Picking up her uncle’s copy of the OED Times every evening during his stay at Sacred Heart had become routine. With Lucas’s discharge from the hospital, the habit remained, only this time, in the morning. It was a small part of her day, but one that Molly enjoyed immensely. She would take the public transit downtown, walk to the small café across the street from HHI’s main headquarters and get a cup of coffee. If the pastries were particularly fresh that day, she’d take one for her uncle. She’d then stop by the street kiosk and grab a copy of the day’s newspaper.

More than anything, it served as an excuse for Molly to share a little bit of family time with Lucas, right before the start of the busy work day. Time that she would otherwise not have, and she cherished every second of it.

That morning was no different. As usual, Molly’s eyes roamed mindlessly around the stacks of magazines displayed for sale, while she waited for her coffee to be made. There were some tech and business magazines, but most of them were nothing more than endless gossiping that Molly found to be nothing but a waste of paper, no matter how replicated and recycled it was. Until her eyes found an unexpected topic on one of the covers.

Pictures of Lucas Holloway and a woman who Molly recognized as Dominique Bruner, the company’s long time COO filled the space. In the main one, the pair could be seen walking downtown with their backs towards the camera, and a red square zoomed in on their held hands. The other showed the couple, this time at a table having what it seemed to be a romantic candle lit dinner at one of OED’s most famous restaurants. The titles screamed to whoever laid eyes on the large print: Romance in the highest ranks of Holloway Heavy: Is Lucas Holloway back on the dating scene? Who is Dominique Bruner, the company’s COO. We tell you all about it on page 4!

With an abrupt movement, Molly grabbed the issue on top of the pile. Dropping the credits on the small counter, she tucked the magazine between the pages of the newspaper and headed to work. Her mind clouded by anger and hurt, not even noticing that she had left her coffee behind.

In an assertive step, Molly burst through the top floor’s front doors. No one dared to say a word, but rather immediately stepped out of her way, as the younger Holloway stormed into Lucas’s office.

“What the hell is this?” She said, slamming the magazine on the surface of her her uncle’s desk right as the door slid shut behind her. Molly hadn’t even taken her coat off, and truth be told, had no intention of doing so. The rage flowing through her veins was threatening to burst, but she kept it under control as she waited for Lucas to look up at her. “What is this and why was I the last to know?”

Molly

Lucas Holloway, one the Federation’s wealthiest and most powerful individuals, raised an eyebrow and considered his niece before his eyes panned down the magazine she had just slammed down on his desk. When he saw the cover, the shipping magnate closed his eyes and let out a slow, deep sigh. He had always known this would be a tough conversation, considering Lucas’ previous relationship with Molly’s mother… but he was honestly hoping he could have told her himself before those goddamn vultures over at the Daily Scoop got their grabby little mitts on photos. As his eyes returned to Molly’s, Lucas took a long, slow breath then said softly.

“Because Gracie, those bastards over at the Scoop have nothing better to do with their time besides trying to cause trouble. I never intended for you to find out this…”

With her brow furrowed and fire in her eyes, Molly opened her mouth to speak, but Lucas was quick to keep going.

Lucas raised a quieting hand as Molly tried to protest. “… I never intended for you to find out this way. It’s wrong and completely unfair. I wish I could have told you on my own terms.” He looked strained and truly disappointed in how his beloved niece and surrogate daughter came to find out the fact that he was seeing someone Molly knew quite well. Lucas would never, in his wildest dreams, do something to hurt Molly but unfortunately… the editorial staff at the Daily Scoop took that away from him.

The disbelief was obvious in Molly’s gaze. “You wished you could have told me on your own terms!? I’m sure you had plenty of opportunities! Or did you guys started seeing each other yesterday!? Did you not think this was going to happen!?” The hurt in her tone blended with the anger in her words.

After another deep breath, Lucas continued. “Alexis and I have been seeing each other since the night I left Scared Heart. She is a brilliant, talented, and yes… remarkably beautiful woman that I have known and worked very closely with for over a decade. We have discussed the challenges to our relationship at length and know that things aren’t always going to be sunshine and rainbows… but we do love each other very much.”

Molly’s breath caught in her throat, each of Lucas’s words stabbing her more than the next. Their family… the dream she had sustained ever since she was a child… it had first been taken away by her mother’s untimely death and now by Lucas himself. And for whom? For someone half his age, that Molly was sure was in it for nothing but the family’s money! Lucas had never married Mary, or anyone else out of the commitment for her. Or so had Molly always perceived it as such. And now… he wasn’t even committed to her anymore. Did he really still love Mary? What did that mean for Molly? Closing her eyes, she shook her head, trying to disband the reality shattering around her.

“Besides… Alexis and I are grown adults, Molly Grace…” Lucas said with a bit more force. “… and we do not need anyone’s permission or blessings to enter or remain in a relationship!” Lucas’ tone snapped like a whip with the last few words. Taking another slow, calming breath, Holloway added. “Gracie… I loved your mother very much.” The hurt in his eyes at the loss of Molly’s mother was evident. “Mary was an incredible woman that… had she lived… I know I would still be with today. But…” He looked genuinely sad, his voice cracking. “… but that’s not what happened. I…” Lucas took another slow breath. “… I know this won’t be easy, for any of us… but I would ask that you girls support me in this and give Alexis & I the time to see where this goes. I love you and Erin very much but… after all these years, I think it’s time to let my heart love again.”

Lucas

Hurt, anger, betrayal… the emotions mixed in Molly’s gaze as she tried to hold back tears. “She’s my age, uncle Luc!” She pointed at her chest as the words were spat from her mouth, her voice trembling, louder than she had intended. Molly could only hope they hadn’t been heard outside. “How could you do this to mom?” She paused, glaring at her uncle for a moment. “How could you do this to us?” And with that, Molly threw the newspaper on the desk. “Here’s your news.” The words were uttered almost in a growl. And with that, she turned around and left. If he wanted to talk, he’d know where to find her.

Molly

Lucas slowly rose as Molly stormed from his office. He knew, without a doubt, she needed time. Pulling out his TextCom, Lucas sent a short message to Bruner.

=A= My Love… our little secret is out. I’m so sorry. The Daily Scoop has us on the goddamn cover. Molly is pissed. I’m going to try and calm her down. I’ll call once we’ve talked. Love you, Lucas =A=

The response was almost instant. =A= I was afraid of that. Internal Security warned me that the day before yesterday that they spotted someone tailing us to dinner but they beamed out before they could intercept. Lucas, I’m so very sorry. I’m sure Molly is even more pissed at me than you. Do what you need to… don’t worry about lunch. Spend time with her. I love you. See you tonight, Alexis XOXO =A=

“GODDAMNIT!” Lucas boomed, his the bottom of his fist slamming hard against the ballistic-rated crystoplast window behind his desk. A few tears fell from his eyes as he heard the door open behind him. “Mr. Holloway… is everything alri…” But Lucas cut her off. “Jenny…” His voice cracked slightly, not turning to face his Assistant. “… clear my schedule till after two. I’ll be out of the office.” The sad tone in her voice told Lucas she had heard part of blowup between the two Holloways. “Of course Sir… I’ll be here if you need anything.” She left and closed the door. Drying his eyes, Lucas grabbed a jacket ad headed out. Once outside the foyer, he tapped in the TextCom a request to locate Molly, which came back simply:

=A= Molly Holloway is in the Executive Recreation Center on Level 42… Holodeck #3 =A=

With that information, Lucas hoped on the Lift and minutes later walked into the ERC and straight to the door for HD#3… pressing the admit key, he stepped inside.

Lucas Holloway, Chairman HHI

The warm sunlight of late fall was the first thing that reached Lucas’s eyes. The second was the large amount of plants around him. There was a pleasant breeze, and the bright orange tones of the leaves it swayed would be immediately recognizable. The flowers, the trees, the lazy waters of The Pond would be all too familiar, and the schist bridge not far ahead would make it abundantly clear where he was – Central Park, New York City.

Lucas knew this particular area of New York City quite well. He remembered bringing the girls there when they were little, remembered the smell of the flowers in spring and the vibrant color of fall. Central Park was one of the few places Lucas Holloway could just be… some guy. Some guy reading a book on the Green, some guy playing catch with his little girl, some guy walking hand in hand with a beautiful redhead that looked at him like he was the only guy in the universe.

The pace of the Big Apple had never changed. If anything, it had only increased with the passing of the centuries. But Central Park was one of the few places where one could still enjoy a leisurely stroll. Where life’s pace could slow down enough for one to enjoy a moment of peace, which was exactly what the few people passing by seemed to be doing. Couples, families, alone or with their dogs, everyone seemed to be taking a breather from their otherwise busy lives.

The simulation was incredibly detailed, so much so that Lucas wondered if Gracie had purchased the program back home. He strolled along, thinking of all the beautiful days he had countlessly walked these paths… and the far too few nights that he & Mary had blended into the darkness for equally too few moments just to themselves.

Up ahead was Gapstow Bridge. The old stone structure had always been Molly’s favorite, and the one place they couldn’t leave without visiting on their walks in the park when she was younger. This time it was no exception. For once, her bright red hair blended with the bright reds and oranges of the autumn leaves, making the younger Holloway quite hard to find. The only thing giving away her location, being the group of ducks swimming below, and the occasional piece of bread falling in the water.

He’d never told Molly, but her favorite place in the park was also his… but for a completely different reason. Gapstow Bridge was where he & Mary first kissed, where she first told him she loved him, and where he’d sat the night she died after he’d finally got Erin to sleep… sobs wracking his body… wondering if he could ever move on. A Northern Cardinal, Mary’s favorite bird… landed in front of that broken, sobbing man and just sat there… staring up at him. It was then that Lucas heard Mary’s beautiful voice on the summer evening breeze. They need you, my Love… more than ever… go home, please. Lucas Holloway broke down once more… and the Cardinal didn’t move. It watched as Lucas stood, then the bird landed on his shoulder for just a moment and then flew on.

Molly Holloway was leaning against the parapet, holding half of a replicated loaf of bread in one hand that she was peacefully sharing with the ducks. Sometimes, she’d eat a piece herself. When the open doors broke her immersion in her surroundings, her eyes shifted to see who was the newcomer. Only a few people had her access codes, still, her hand fell down to her side looking for her handgun just in case. When Lucas walked in she sighed softly and resumed dropping bread chunks into the water, yet this time her movements were noticeably more forceful.

Molly Holloway, CEO Holloway Heavy Industries

The elder Holloway walked over the bridge, arriving next to Molly. After a moment, he said softly. “Penny for your thoughts?”

Lucas Holloway, Chairman Holloway Heavy Industries

Molly sighed. Deeply. Her eyes locked on the bread in her head. Then, with a swift, yet angry motion, she hurled what remained of the loaf into the water. The ducks to flapped their wings in distress and flew away a few feet in fear, but when they realized what the new object was they quickly made a run for it.

Lucas knew that sigh, knew that look of exasperation. It really was remarkable how many of Mary’s little personality quirks her eldest had developed over the years. Though she had only been truly upset with him a handful of times, Mary Holloway was not a woman to be crossed… which was where she & his brother first went sideways only a month after Molly was born. For Mary and Lucas, it had been three years later after Lucas had kicked his brother’s ass all over their flat after he’d learned Peter had nearly put Mary through a wall… in front of his niece. Peter’s pride… and fear that Mary would show the police the back-shaped imprint in their bedroom wall… kept him from pressing charges, but it took two NYPD officers to pull Lucas off his brother. Not before Lucas broke Peter’s nose. Later that evening, after dropping Molly off at Mary’s folks’ place, the pair had walked quietly to this same bridge. When she’d whirled on him, the difference was startling. Mary had yelled at him for the first time, livid that Molly had to see him go after her own father like that. Tears flowed from fiery eye as she snapped. “You’re better than that Lucas! Better than him!” Lucas didn’t know what caused the outburst… till Mary kissed him. That was the night they both admitted how they felt… beginning a ever escalating affair until the day she’d died.

With another sigh, this time more pronounced, Molly finally turned to face Lucas. “I thought I had been clear.” She said dryly, her gaze returning to the ducks now fighting over the soggy bread. She observed them silently for a moment. “All my life…” Her voice faltered, but she cleared her throat and continued. Her eyes still trained on the ducks. “All my life I wished that you could have been my father.” She scoffed softly shaking her head. “I used to entertain that idea for hours… especially after mom died. When visits were over and we were back home with dad, as he downed as much booze as he could withstand… I used to think about it, you know?” Molly finally turned to face Lucas, the pain visible in her gaze. “I used to wonder what it would be like to have you instead of him. Would you play with us? Would you let us do all the things dad didn’t?” A sad, wistful smile played on her lips. “And more importantly, would you not be angry at us all the time?” Molly sighed, this time in a more defeated fashion. Her eyes glanced at the water underneath them without really seeing it, but her gaze was quick to return. “I knew you wouldn’t hurt us… I knew you’d be more lax than he was… more caring…” Ultimately, Molly knew Peter had cared, but he had been thrown into a very hard situation on his own, and had resorted to solutions that had only made things worse. Still… that didn’t excuse his violent outbursts, but to Molly as an adult, the context made them easier to understand.

It truly broke Lucas’ heart to see Molly hurting like this but, like his dear Mary, Lucas knew better than to interrupt a Holloway woman when she was pissed. He had known from moment one with Alexis that this would be complicated. So he waited, patiently, for Molly to finish what she had to get off her chest.

“I wanted you to be proud of me.” Molly finally said in a softer tone than before, almost as if she was embarrassed to admit it. “I still do…” Her eyes no longer met Lucas’s. Instead, she stared at her hands holding the parapet. “I wanted you to see me as your own… even though I knew that Erin was the one you saw that way instead.” She closed her eyes for a moment. “But then we left… we left and you were gone. And then the unthinkable happened…” The hurt in her light brown eyes returned as she met her uncle’s gaze once more. “I found that photo… of you, mom, and me… and I really thought we had a family.” Molly smiled softly. “I might not have been biologically yours but… I finally had what I always wanted. Even if mom wasn’t around anymore…” She shook her head and her expression turned considerably somber. “I was stupid and naïve.” There was an air of finality to her words. “I thought we could rebuild what we could have had all those years ago… I thought we could make up for lost time… even if Erin doesn’t give a crap! Maybe you could finally see me that way… as a daughter more than a niece. Even if I was just the consolation prize…” Molly closed her eyes, holding back tears. “Boy was I wrong!” She let out a bitter laugh and there was a sardonic tone in her words that hadn’t been there before. “It turns out since mom isn’t around anymore, you can just pick up the first floozy you find!” Hurt had given way to anger in Molly’s gaze. “She’s my age, uncle Luc! Please! Can’t you see it?” Frustration seeped into her tone. “She could be my sister! How am I supposed to live with the fact that the most prominent father figure I have in my life has traded my mother… has traded our family, for someone that could be my sister!?” This time she couldn’t stop the tears from falling, but she was quick to wipe them away with the back of her fingers. “You know… maybe Erin is right. Maybe Robert is the one I should be looking up to. After all, he was there when no one else was… he chose us and he actually meant it.”

Molly

“Gracie honey… I know you did.” Lucas began with a sigh as he looked out at the Park Plaza Hotel glowing in morning fog. “I… I still have the drawing you made when you were three at daycare under the heading ‘My Family’.” He took a slow breath before shifting his eyes to the ducks and continuing. “You told Mary it was you, her, and Daddy Luc.” There was the slightest smirk on his lips before he added. “That’s how I got it. Needless to say, you both came by my dorm that day on the way home to give it to me. You…” His voice cracked slightly. “… you became my little girl that day. Not… because I chose you, but because you chose me. I… I’ve always been so very proud of you, Molly Grace.”

“I did what I did because I thought it was for the best… a young kid too stupid to see what I could have had, and still so goddamn mad at the universe for taking your mother away from me.” His eyes became misty as he wrung his hands, never lifting his eyes. “One of the greatest loses in my life was your sister. You girls are the only daughters… only children I’ll likely ever have. The only difference is I got to love your sister as my own from day one. But don’t ever think I felt anything but a father’s love…” He reached into his coat chest pocket and pulled out a carefully folded piece of aged paper, handing it to Molly. “… for the little girl that drew that for me 30 years ago.” The paper was a colorful drawing of a black haired man, redheaded woman and a smaller redheaded little girl.

Molly took the paper and looked at its contents. It was the drawing Lucas had just mentioned. She didn’t remember making it, but she didn’t doubt she had. It was endearing that he had saved it all these years, and yet, something felt off. Molly had wished for so long for Lucas to tell her that he saw her as his own. She had imagined what it would feel like… and pictured it as some magical moment when everything would finally feel right. And yet… here they were. He had finally said it out loud… and she didn’t feel any different. There was no change, nothing… Molly wondered if it had been her that had been so obsessed with his words and hadn’t noticed that, even though he had never said it before, his actions had always been there from the beginning, and she had simply overlooked it.

“I made that copy on the university library’s high res replicator the day after you gave it to me…” Lucas smiled, his eyes full of tears. “… the original is in a personal affects box in the family vault and that has been with me since I made it.” He paused for just a moment before adding. “It’s one of my most treasured possessions.”

Molly was speechless. Her eyes glued to the drawing. After a few moments, she folded it back and returned it to her uncle.

“As for Dominique…” Lucas continued very softly. “… she is only the third woman I have ever been seriously involved with since Mary… and more importantly, she’s the only person since your mother that I have ever truly felt a future with. It’s the only reason we’ve moved forward.” The elder Holloway chuckled softly. “And if, ease up on the floozy nonsense Gracie. I understand how Calvin once was because I was the same way in my late twenties and early thirties.” Lucas chuckled softly. “Your Uncle was far from a saint and embarrassed the hell out of your grandparents in the process. I was an ‘eligible bachelor’ and I milked it for everything It was worth. I spent about eight years trying to fill the emotional hole in my heart your mother left and… I’ll be damned if I didn’t become a bit of a playboy. That’s the reason Dominique was so mad at me after we… um… had a one night… thing… in Tahoe twelve years ago. I… I had a reputation and she wanted nothing to do with it.” Lucas was actually blushing as he turned away back toward the hotel. “That was my wake up call though… I actually liked the girl! No… not because of her looks but because of her. After a near decade of appearing to plow my way through New York high society, I had found a woman I truly adored and respected. And she thought I only wanted another notch on my bedpost.” By the tone and pace of his speech, Molly could tell her uncle was terribly nervous but he pushed on.

Dominique had been the what? Third woman Lucas had been involved with since her mother!? They had had a one night thing…!? He had a reputation!? And had appeared to plow through New York’s high society!?

If Molly hadn’t been speechless before, she was definitely speechless now. In her mind, after Mary had died, her uncle had simply chosen to be alone. Presumably because he still loved Molly’s mother very much, and he didn’t want anything to do with anyone else. She had been his person, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. Molly was now finding out a very different side of Lucas. One that she really didn’t want to know about, but that it turned out had been completely different than what Molly had imagined. She felt numb.

“I thought to myself… ‘What would Mary think about the man I had become?’… and I was…” He sighed deeply. “… I was ashamed. I quit the bachelor lifestyle and focused on the company and doing my best to keep up with you and your sister. I had two fairly serious relationships in the past decade but aside from that, I’ve been single. I’m a far better man today than I was.”

Molly wanted to say something. That she was glad he had changed. That she was happy that it had been her mother to do so, in a way, and that he did in fact love her still. But the younger Holloway was in too much of a shock to articulate anything.

Lucas turned back to Molly and with a deep breath, said very carefully. “Gracie… I will always… always love your mother. Mary’s love… and in turn… your love… I cherish more than life itself. And yes, I realize that Dominique is younger than I… but I have also known the woman for nearly 15 years! She’s not after our money Molly Grace… hell, the salary she’s made in the last six years has given her more money than she could ever spend in two lifetimes! But…” He very gently took Molly’s hand. “… she loves me very, very much and I love her too.”

“Look, Alexis will never be a mother figure… because that would be ridiculous. But the thing you have to remember is I was actually younger than Mary… which also creates a unique dynamic.” Lucas looked in thought for a moment before adding. “However, twelve years is not a terrible age gap… hell, you and Calvin are nearly nine years apart!” After one last pause, he asked looking out over the water. “Do you think your mother would like to see me happy… loved by someone that loved me with all their heart, or continue to nearly work myself to death and have a heart attack like my father in my mid-50’s?”

Lucas

“You were one year younger than mom! Not twelve! And don’t even dare to bring me and Calvin into this. We’re eight and a half years apart. Those three and a half make quite the difference!” Lucas’s sentence finally seemed to wake Molly up from her torpor.

Then, Molly sighed, choosing not to respond to her uncle’s final question. It wasn’t that she didn’t know the answer to it, but rather that she didn’t trust Dominique to ‘love him with all her heart’. At least not like her mother had. For a moment, she looked for something in her coat before taking out her Hackathorn Special, the firearm that never left her side. Molly had had it for over six years at this point, but she doubted that Lucas had ever seen it, or even knew that she carried it. He wasn’t stupid though. He knew her past, even if he didn’t know her present.

Lucas’s eyes snapped to the compact, powerful pistol in his niece’s hand. He took a slow breath, unsettled at the fluid manner in which the woman he… in many ways… still saw as a bright eyed, warm-mannered, friendly little redheaded girl that looked so remarkably like her mother it hurt… handled the tactical sidearm.

Lowering the pistol, she released the clip, racked the slide, and removed the previously chambered round. Her movements were practiced, fluid, like those of someone that had done them many times before. Then, almost as fast as it had appeared, the firearm was gone, back inside the depths of her clothing. The magazine back in its place and a new round in the chamber.

The shipping magnate did a double-take at the smooth, dangerous fashion in which Molly had handled the old earth weapon and was wondering exactly what the hell the woman was doing.

“Here.” Molly finally said, placing the bullet in Lucas’s hand. “I know you wouldn’t give it to Dominique if I asked, so I’m not going to. But I want you to understand that if she ever so much as hurts a single strand of your hair, there’s more where that one came from. And I don’t usually miss.” Her previous ‘obstinate child’ attitude was gone. Instead, her demeanour had changed completely, replaced by one that her uncle had never witnessed. The Molly Holloway standing in front of him was no longer the stubborn teenager that had never properly grown into adulthood, but rather the cold and calculating former operative that Starfleet Intelligence had created.

Molly

The elder Holloway’s eyes stared unfocused at the bullet for moment, trying to convince himself that he didn’t hear what he knew damn well he had. Then Lucas’ fist closed around the bullet and his eyes flashed to Molly’s, pain and anger roaring up within him like Molly had never witnessed before. “How dare you! I am not your subordinate, Captain Holloway…” His tone lashed out at her as Lucas turned to face her, poking her in the chest twice where her CommBadge would normally be worn, to accentuate their family name and her rank… which he spoke with the venom of a curse. “… and I’m sure as hell not one of those goddamn Intel bastards you worked for!”

In that moment, Molly would see the same distaste and anger directed at her that she had only seen once before… when her uncle had intervened with Newton at the very last second aboard the Dresden. When angry, Lucas Holloway was a chilling presence… not unlike his brother but someone in far greater control. “After everything I have done for you…” He said in an ice cold growl. “… everything that I sacrificed to protect you girls from the corrupting power that comes from growing up in a family like this!” Stinging tears leaked from the corners of his eyes as he shook with rage. “Peter’s arrogance… his recklessness and his goddamn drink stole my whole family from me!” His voice cracked as it echoed through the park, his eyes burning with pain. “Mom & Dad blamed me, Molly Grace…” Lucas rammed a finger into his own chest. “…not Peter… ME… for you girls running away. Peter was dead because he couldn’t get through his frackin’ head that HE was the reason he flunked out of school to become a subway conductor, not your mother’s… not yours! And his temper cost me the the only opportunity…” Lucas looked for a split second as though he might be sick as his voice cracked once more. “… to be… a father.”

The look in his eyes was suddenly the same as the day he knelled to talk to her at Mary’s funeral. The ghosts of a life she had never known swam behind them. “The last thing I ever said to your mother… right after I took that picture of her & Erin…” His jaw clinched as he forced himself to say it. “… was that I loved her and that I promised, at her request, to raise your girls as my own. Because…” The bullet-clinched hand slammed into his chest. “… that’s the family she had always wanted! And that she was sorry that she wouldn’t be there beside me to watch you girls grow!” Tears splashed onto the heaving chest of arguably the single most powerful businessman in the Federation. “The last words out of Mary’s mouth was her begging me to raise you girls… and to apologize to me for not being able to be with me! To be with us!”

“You have no idea what it’s like, Molly Grace…” His voice shook as he leaned against the stone side of the bridge. “… no idea what is was like, to stand there… holding Erin in one arm and your mother’s hand in the other… what is was like to stand there alone, a newborn in my arms, and watch the light fade from your mother’s eyes! The only person not in the room…” A trembling hand gently touched her cheek. “… was you, asleep on the couch in the lobby with her parents… waiting for your…” His chest heaved once more… like the next words would physically wound him and he knew it. “… your mommy to wake up. Her…” He looked away, unable to see her face as he spoke the next words. “… last breath, was your name.”

“That night…” He sniffed softly. “…walking into that room holding your hand, we became a family. And while I know I trashed any right to call you my own, Molly, you and Erin will always be my little girls.”

After a few moments, Lucas looked back at Molly and sighed, handing her back the bullet. “After all you girls have been through, after all we have been through, I would pray you had more faith in me.” Molly’s uncle suddenly looked broken and defeated. “Dominique makes me happier than I’ve been in almost 30 years. I don’t know what they did to my little girl… but I would hope to God you thought better of me than to think I would bring someone into my life that didn’t love me at least close to as much as I know your mother loved me.” He paused, holding up his hand to cut off her certainly sharp rebuke. “I will always love your mother…” He took off his watch and rolled the under side of his wrist, where the inscription LEH & MGH 6-25-2373 was tattooed in faded red and black ink. “… and had she lived, we would have been married one year and one day after Erin’s birth.”

“I know I have no right to demand or expect anything out of you. You’ve made it abundantly clear to remind me of my absence, regardless of reason.” Lucas sighed, leaning against the bridge. “Calvin and I became so close because of cruel irony. We outlived our first loves.” The elder Holloway then turned and started down the bridge. “You wanna kill someone, Captain… get it over with. Half my soul is buried along side your mother… and if the other half is going to just continue damaged and alone… I might as well join her.”

Lucas