Thea's gaze softened as she nodded toward the sleeping child. "Who is she?" she asked John.
The little girl, who had been sleeping, stirred awake, her eyes locking onto Thea's. "Hello, sister." she said in a sleepy voice.
Thea smiled warmly. "Hi."
The little girl's gaze remained fixed on Thea.
"You are?"
"I'm Emerson." she replied, her voice still laced with sleep. "My father is Liam Flynn."
Thea's expression froze, as if struck by thunder.
John's gaze snapped wide, matching her shocked expression. "What does she mean?" he asked softly.
"Thea, she is," John said, his voice straightforward.
Emerson turned to John, her eyes flashing a silent warning. "Uncle John, where's my father?"
"He's gone to greet a colleague."
Thea gaze never left John's face. "Is she... Liam's daughter?" she asked, her voice trembling with unspoken implications.
Her mind raced. "Liam has a child this big... She must be around 4 or 5 years old."
