It was a strange feeling, to be nervous at the thought of seeing her father. But knowing this was not Papa as she remembered him gave Dominique a brief pause before getting up from her table, taking her feather and parchment along.

Rooms one, two, three, four... as she grew closer to six, the hesitation felt as though it was melting out of her, and Dominique practically rushed past five to reach six. Eyes falling on Bill, she was relieved to see that-while he certainly didn't look the way he would have some eighteen years or so later-she still recognized him from pictures of when he was younger. Eyes lit and a bright smile on her face, the girl practically threw herself at him. "Papa! It really is you!"