Prologue

[Past]

"Hayley, no fair. I know you're cheating." Alyx exclaimed to Hayley while pouting.

"I am not cheating. I'm just amazing at hide and seek." Alyx crossed her arms and huffed a piece of her curly blonde hair fell onto her face.

"Whatever. One day I'll know your secret." Hayley let out a hearty laugh. Alyx's upset mood over Hayley was clearly cheating in hide and seek as her dad came into the room.

Alyx sprinted into his arms and squealed out in happiness as he spun her around.

"Daddy! You're home." The older gentleman's soft green eyes lit up as the skin around them crinkled slightly. He always looked forward to coming home to his baby girl and wife. After a long day on the job catching bad guys, coming home was a breath of fresh air.

"Hey, there, sweetie. I missed you so much." He lightly booped her nose and brought her down to where she was standing on her own two feet.

"Wow, my little princess is getting tall. I need you to stop growing, okay?" Alyx rolled her eyes and grabbed her father's hand.

"Daddy, I'm going to get big one day. I'm going to be as tall as a skyscraper-like you!" Her dad let out a laugh.

"Sweetie skyscrapers are much taller than I am. I just wish you could stay little forever, but you'll always be my little princess." She led him to a small table that had a few toddler-sized chairs around it.

"Take a seat in my office, Daddy." She motioned him to sit, which he obliged quickly. It was a sight to see this giant man sitting in a tiny chair. His knees up, practically touching his chin.

"So this is your office now and not a tea party table?" Little Alyx cleared her throat and sat up straight.

"That was when I was younger." Her dad hummed.

"That was a week ago." He said, amused. Alyx's eyes couldn't roll harder, or else they would get stuck.

"Exactly! I'm an adult now." Alyx's dad just played along.

"Right... An adult. So, that means you can help pay bills now, right?" You could see the confident demeanor change in Alyx.

"Well... Um... Maybe not an adult, adult." Alyx's dad laughed and shook his head.

"So, what brings me into your office today, princess?" Alyx went back to a stiffened back and crossed her arms.

"You shall address me as Chief Alyx while in my office." Alyx's dad was very amused at this. His daughter always changed her aspirations of what she wanted to be, and this week she just so happened to want to be a police chief.

"Okay, Chief Alyx, why am I called to your office?" Alyx picked up a stack of papers behind her and cleared her throat.

"I have compiled a list of reasons why I should be allowed to get a dog. You can review them with momma." She slid the papers over to her father, who had an eyebrow raised at this. He took the stack of papers and started examining each reason. Somehow she came up with a hundred.

"You'll help take care of it, eh?" Alyx's confident exterior started to crumble as she got excited.

"Yes! Daddy, I swear! Please!" She sat back down in her chair and cleared her throat. "I mean yes, sir, I'll help take care of them." Alyx's dad hummed.

"I guess I'll talk it over with the... Boss." They soon heard a little knock and looked over to find Alyx's mother leaned up against the doorway, looking at them both amused.

"Dinner's ready, you two. Come on." She waved them towards her. They got up quickly, well Alyx did; her father's six foot five stature took a little longer to extend.

"Come on, daddy." Alyx went over, grabbing her dad's hand, in her mind, dragging him downstairs to the kitchen.

"Momma, you forgot to set a place for Hayley again." Alyx huffed at her mother.

"I'm sorry, sweetie, I forgot your imaginary friend always joins us." Alyx rolled her eyes and pulled out the chair for Hayley to sit down.

"Momma, she's not imaginary. She's sitting right beside me, can't you see her?" She looked at her mom expectantly.

"Daddy, what about you?" He looked over at his wife for help, but she turned to go into the kitchen to grab the food.

"Well, honey. Your mom and I can't see your friend, but I believe you when you say she's there." Alyx just sighed sadly. Why can no one see her friend Hayley? Hayley reached over and brought Alyx's hand into hers, giving her a reassuring smile.

Soon Alyx's mom returned with dinner. Alyx's dad gave his wife a small kiss on the cheek, giving thanks for the food, which elicited an "Ew" in return from Alyx.

Alyx observed her parents laughing and smiling. She appreciated this moment dearly as it would be the last one she ever had with all three of them together.