NAT'S POV

Walking up the cobblestone walkway, Sam and I share a smile. The house is small and cozy with fresh paint and a cared for lawn in a neighborhood of family homes. Perfect place for a little girl.

A tall, good looking man answers the door, dressed casually in nice jeans, a button down and no shoes.

"Are you Lenny Danish?" I ask, dreading this more than a little, but my hope for Andy pushes me forward.

"I am. Can I help you?"

"Do you know a Destiny Winters?"

He momentarily falters, telling me we have the right guy.

"What is this about?"

"I'm sorry to tell you this, but Destiny was murdered yesterday morning" I state, managing to keep my voice even with a lot of effort, though there's no hiding the way my hands shake at my sides.

Grief shadows his feature.

"How? Why?" He stammers, looking between us for an answer that doesn't exist and wouldn't help if it did.

"She was shot in a driveby."

He blinks, not seeming to understand.

Neither do I.

"Are you.. are you cops?"

"No. I was there when it happened and I.. I promised her something before she passed away" I hedge carefully, wishing like hell I didn't have to do any of this.

"Okay..?" He drags out in obvious unease.

"She was with her daughter and I promised her i'd find her father. I promised her i'd find you" I clarify quietly.

He flinches like I struck him, stumbling back, gripping the door for support.

"What? I-I have a d-daughter?"

I nod grimly.

"Destiny gave me your name before she passed."

"How old is she?" He asks, looking torn between fear and elation.

"Eight."

"Did she get hurt? Where is she? Does she know about me?" He throws questions at me rapid fire.

"She has a couple scrapes but otherwise she's fine. She's at the police station, and I have no clue if she knows about you" I answer patiently.

"Take me to her" he requests suddenly, slipping on a pair of sneakers in record time, grabbing his keys off the table to his left.

My heart lightens a fraction.

"Can I ask about your relationship with Destiny?" I venture carefully as I lead him to my car.

His gaze grows distant as he gets into the passenger seat.

"We were high school sweethearts. We met the first day of our freshman year and dated until the last day of our senior year. We loved each other, but I got into UCLA and neither of us thought long distance relationships worked. Thinking back now.. she had to have been pregnant when I left. She said goodbye and didn't tell me. All those years.. I can't get them back. I missed her first cry, first smile, first steps, first words. I missed so much. God she must hate me" he remarks thickly.

I shake my head, aching for him, for Andy and for Destiny, who did what she thought was right and was on her own for so long. Too long.

"No. She doesn't hate you. She's probably confused and I have no idea what she knows, but she doesn't hate you. She's a sweet, scared little girl who just lost her mom. She needs you now" I stress gently.

"What's her name?" He blurts.

"Andy."

Devastation washes over him in a single, heartbreaking wave.

"She named her after my dad. He died when I was little and I always told her I wanted to name my child after him" he chokes, not even trying to hide his tears.

My inhale is sharp and painful, echoing Sam's curse.

He's out of the car before we fully come to a stop in front of the police station, crossing the parking lot in seconds, his strides long and purposeful.

Sam and I follow, catching up to him at the front desk. I ask to speak to the detective in charge of the drive by.

Two minutes later a middle aged man approaches us and Lenny looks like he's about ready to jump out of his skin.

"I'm detective Roberts" he greets, offering his hand.

We all shake it, introducing ourselves.

"What can I do for you?"

"This is Andy's father" I supply, motioning toward Lenny.

"I see. We've been looking for you. Would you like to see her?" He asks, almost hiding his surprise that a 'civilian' found someone he was looking for before he did.

Lenny nods, suddenly looking nervous and ten years younger.

Detective Roberts leads us to the squads break room where Andy is sitting all alone, slumped in her seat, staring blankly at the pile of vending machine junk food on the table in front of her.

She looks up at the sound of our footsteps and recognition sparks her eyes when she sees me. She tries for a smile, but she doesn't really pull it off.

"Hey honey. How are you?" I ask gently, sitting next to her.

"I'm ok" she mumbles, looking away.

No she's not, but hopefully one day she will be.

"What do you know about your dad?"

"Mommy told me that he's out saving the world and that's why he's not around" she repeats Destinys words, her big eyes all innocent and... sad.

Lenny jolts in a mixture of surprise and pain.

"Andy sweetie.." I hesitate, not exactly sure what I'm doing here. "This is your dad" I introduce, motioning for him to come closer.

"Daddy?" She practically pleads in the faintest whisper that hurts my heart.

"It's me baby. Daddys here" he promises gruffly, kneeling in front of her.

Surprising everyone, she launches herself into his arms and bursts into tears.

He holds her close, running gentle fingers through her hair, whispering soothing words as his own tears fall, silent and graceful, holding both grief and happiness.

I catch Sam and Roberts gaze, nodding to the door, wanting to give them some privacy.

"What now?" I ask him once we're in the hall.

"We'll have to check him out and make sure he's fit to raise her, but I think if we can get in front of a judge today he should at least get temporary custody until we can have a hearing and permanently place her with him."

Thank God. I didn't want her to spend another night here. She needs real food, a bed and as much love and support as possible.

We thank Robert, saying a quick goodbye to Lenny and Andy.

Lenny stops me before we can leave, finding my eyes, his red with shed tears and glistening with unshed ones.

"Thank you" he chokes, so much said in those two words.

I nod in understanding, swallowing back my own tears as he pulls Andy back into his arms.

Sam and I are silent until we're almost to my apartment.

"That was a truly beautiful thing you did Nat" she finally whispers.

My next breath is painful.

"I promised" I point out simply, forcing a shrug that I don't feel.

"You granted a stranger her dying wish, gave that little girl a father and that man his daughter. You reunited a family" she argues fiercely.

I fall silent once more, having no idea what to say to that.

She understands, letting it go.

"Let's order something for dinner and watch some movies. Not worry about anything for a few hours" she proposes, trying for levity. And that's exactly what we do. We order Chinese food, watch movies and avoid the heavy topics weighing on our minds, but Alex never strays too far from my thoughts.