Posted on Monday, 17 September 2001

April 1982.

'You're what! I don't believe it! You can't be Anne, you've always been so good. Surely there is some mistake!' Mr. Elliot screamed at his seventeen year old daughter.

'There is no mistake Dad. I went to the doctor's today, I am definitely pregnant.' Anne said, remarkably calm about it.

'Who's the father? I don't suppose you know do you!' Mr. Elliot said cruelly.

'Of course, I know.' Anne said, starting to loose her cool. 'It's Fre...'

'Frederick Wentworth! Anne, what were you thinking!' Her step mother erupted.

'I'm sorry, Rusty. I... well Frederick I really love each other and well... I was foolish I suppose.' Anne said sorrowfully.

'That's all very well but it doesn't solve your little problem does it Anne. Does he know?' Rusty said harshly.

'No. I haven't told him and he's ...' Anne said quietly.

'Going off to fight in The Falkens in a few days. I know that Anne, you've been telling us for weeks.' Rusty said half sarcastically and then said, 'Well, you can't keep it, you know, so there is no need for him to know.'

'But Rusty, he might be killed out there! Besides I can't have abortion, I won't!' Anne cried, totally horrified.

'Anne, you will listen to your mother!' Mr. Elliot cried.

'She's not my mother and she never will be!' Anne yelled furiously.

'Anne, calm down,' Rusty said more kindly. 'You don't have to have an abortion. We'll send you off to see Mary and once you've had you baby you can have it adopted and come home.'

'Rusty this is the twentieth century. I mean girls...' Anne said, shocked at the thought.

'Not girls like you Anne! It would destroy your father's career if it ever got out and what about you! What about your great career?' Rusty cried.

'Yes, I suppose so. But it seems so unfair and I'm sure... well never mind. I suppose it is the right decision.' Anne said grudgingly.

'Of course it is. You are only young Anne and inexperienced in the world. Trust me, it will all turn out for the best, you'll see.' Rusty said, almost triumphant.

'I hope so. I really hope so Rusty.' Anne said quietly.

December 2000.

'Happy Birthday to you, Happy birthday, dear Justine, Happy Birthday to you!' Was the rousing chorus from Justine Hampton's family and friends as her large chocolate birth cake was brought out. There were eighteen blue candles on it and as she blow them out someone shouted,

'Make a wish!'

'What did you wish for?' One of her friends said.

'Can't you guess, Pipa?' Rob, Justine's boyfriend said.

'Oh, yes. I know now.' Pipa said, smiling at Justine.

'Well, don't say or it might not come true.' Later, after going out to a club with her friends, Justine lay in her bed staring at the ceiling. She had always known; even before her parents told her when she was about six, that she was adopted. She had always considered her adoptive parents, her parents and loved them and her younger, adoptive brother as if they had been her real family. In almost every way they were her real family but she had always wondered what her other, rather mysterious parents were like. She loved to lie on her bed and wonder if they were married, what they did, did they have children and who they were.

She knew her mother had been eighteen when she was born and she knew that father had been in the Navy but apart form her mother's maiden name; which was Anne Elliot, she knew nothing about them. Now she was eighteen and doing her second year of A levels, she was determined to find her real parents.

August 2000.

Anne Elliot sat looking out of the window of her Chambers. She thinking of that day, eighteen years ago that she agreed to give up her child. She wondered how her daughter was getting on, what she was called and what she looked like, when there was a phone call. She picked up the phone and said,

'Who is it James?'

'It's a Miss. Justine Hampton, Miss. Elliot. Shall I put her through?' Her clerk said.

'I wasn't expecting a call form anyone called that, James.' Anne said, surprised. 'She says that's it very important, Miss. Elliot. She sounds quite anxious.' James said.

'Oh, all right, James. Send her through.' Anne said, sighing. James knew her weakness of having too much sympathy. A few minutes later there was knock on the door and Anne said,

'Come in,' The door opened slowly and a nervous, pretty girl of eighteen step in.

'Miss Elliot?' Justine said quietly.

'Yes,' Anne said, surprised and getting up put out her hand, 'You must be Miss Hampton.'

Justine shook her hand saying,

'Yes. You look surprised, Miss. Elliot.'

'Well, I didn't expect you to be so young. It must be me getting old.' Anne said smiling gently and indicated for Justine to sit down.

'Young enough to be you daughter?' Justine said, not looking up.

'Yes... I suppose so. I'm not that old though, you know.' Anne said unsure of herself at first.

'I know. You're only thirty five.

''How did you know that?' Anne said, shocked.

'Miss. Elliot I know quite a lot about you, but I would like to know more. You see I'm your daughter.' Anne went deadly pale and quietly said,

'Oh dear god!'

September 2000.

'So you're starting University next week?' Anne said, as she walked through the park near her Chambers arm in arm with Justine.

'Yes, I go up the Wednesday and Uni starts on the Thursday. It's so strange me doing Law and you being a respected barrister.' Justine said.

'It must be genetic, and don't call me a respected barrister, I am not and I don't want to have an inflated ego. I have to deal with too many of those every day, Justine.' Anne said smiling at first.

'I'm sure you do, but you could never have an inflated ego Mum,' Justine said and then realised her mistake,

'Sorry Anne, I...'

'It's all right, Justine. I really don't mind.' Anne said, the colour returning to her face.

'I am sorry. It's just I was..' Justine said,

'Thinking of home and going away, and I am your real mum.' Anne said.

'Yes, I guess so. Anne, do you think I will ever meet my dad?' Justine said, rather absent mindedly. The colour drained from Anne's face and Justine cried,

'Oh God, I am doing well! I'm so sorry, Anne come back please don't walk off!' She ran after Anne and caught her arm.

'I am so sorry I had no idea that...'

'Justine, I still love him! I have loved him all this time, I always hope I might see him again but I never did. I wanted to tell him that I loved him and I never stopped. I wanted to tell him that I didn't care what my family said, that I never ever wanted to give my child up. I wanted to tell him he had a beautiful daughter who had become a brilliant, loving and wonderful young woman. I never had the chance and I never will. Justine, I think your father is dead and I have thought so for many years. I have never told anyone about what I felt and now you know.'

Anne cried, sobbing.

'Oh Anne!' Justine said, tears coming to her eyes and she put her arms round Anne's neck. Anne held her close and said,

'My Justine, my precious darling Justine. How did I ever let you go?'

March 2001.

'Anne, its Justine here.' Said the voice on the end of the phone

'Justine? It's lovely to hear from you. How are you?' Anne said, her whole face lighting up.

'I'm fine, just fine.' Justine said then there was a pause.

'Anne, I've found my father. He wants to see you. Will you come and see me this weekend and meet him?'

'Justine... I can't ... I...' Anne said terrified.

'Please, it would mean so much to me.' Justine said quietly.

'Oh, all right I'll come.' Anne said very reluctantly.

That weekend.

Anne got out her car and looked around the pub car park for Justine. She saw her walking towards her after a few minuets with a tall, board shoulder man in his late thirties. He was smartly dressed with short, slightly greying brown hair and as soon as Anne saw him she knew that it was Frederick. They saw her and Justine run out, throwing her arms round Anne's neck as soon as she reached her. Anne held her and after she kissed her on the cheek she turned to Frederick.

'Well, I guess you two know each other so there's no need for introductions.' Justine said, embarrassed. 'No, no need at all.' Frederick said, looking at Anne. She had changed, that was hardly surprising but there was something of the Anne he had know left and he still found her very attractive. 'It's so nice too see you Frederick.' Anne said, looking terribly pale.

'You too Anne, you too. Now come Justine let's get some lunch.' He said gravely at first and then he smiled at his daughter. They all walked into the pub, Frederick's arm round his daughter's shoulders. During lunch while Justine had gone to the toilet Frederick said,

'She's a pretty amazing girl, Anne, our daughter.'

'Yes she is. I'm very proud of her.' Anne said. There was then a horrible pause and then Anne said,

'Frederick I did want to tell you. I wanted you to know and I never wanted to give her up, now I know her I can't believe what a fool I was. You must understand that I was only 17 and my family...'

'You precious family couldn't have been disgraced by their daughter, especially when they knew I was the father!' Frederick interrupted her revengefully.

'Frederick! There has not been a day that I have not thought about what I had done, what my child was like and what ever happened to you. Why did you never contact me? I thought you were dead!' Anne cried emotionally.

'Would you have cared if I were dead?' He said unkindly. Anne was about to reply when Justine returned.

'I bet you to have been talking about me or the past.' She said.

'Both, in away.' Frederick said, wondering what Anne's answer would have been.

Later as they were all saying good bye, Frederick turned to Anne and said,

'I'm sorry. Can I have your phone number? I would like us to talk.'

'Yes, that would be good.' She gave him the number and then said good bye, shaking his hand before she left. He watched her leave and slowly walked back to his car and Justine.

That Evening.

Anne picked up the phone and Frederick's voice said,

'Anne, it's Frederick. Please don't put the phone down I want to apologise and see if you will come to dinner with tomorrow night.'

'Frederick, I won't put the phone down and I'd really like to have dinner with you tomorrow.' She said, happily.

'Only really like to have dinner, Anne?' Frederick growled.

'Frederick, don't be so harsh on me. It's been nineteen years since we were going out.' Anne said calmly.

'I'm sorry Anne but I do have a right to be angry.' He said, crossly.

'So do I Frederick. Not only did I have to give up our child and never tell you, but you never got in contact. I really thought you were dead. You could have been dead for all I knew!' Anne cried, loosing her normal calm.

'When I got back home, I knew that your family would have worked their magic on you, and me turning up would not have been welcomed. I tried to wipe you out my life, but believe me it didn't work and I have been torment by your memory every day for eighteen years. When I knew we had a daughter, a beautiful, amazing girl who is so much like you Anne. You have no idea how it hurt me. I could not forgive you for what you had done and I still haven't.' He cried, angry and emotional.

'Oh, Frederick you have no idea how I have been tormented by what I did every day for what I did. You can never understand how much I suffered, I loved you Frederick. I truly did love you. Please, don't be harsh on me, it was so long ago and I was very young. Please don't hate me, I couldn't bare that Frederick.' She said, tearfully.

'I don't hate you, Anne, I could ever truly hate you, you are too precious to me.' He said quietly.

'Frederick, when you asked me if I would have cared if you were dead, my answer was yes, Of course I would have cared. Frederick, I have love you for so long, I have always loved you and I always will.' Anne said earnestly.

'Oh Anne... I'm so sorry I...' Frederick said, beginning to break down.

'Never mind that now Frederick, we can talk again tomorrow .' Anne said, regaining her calm.

'Yes, I'll come round about seven and we can have a quiet meal together.' Frederick said, hopefully.

'If you want to quiet you had better come around, I promise I have learnt to cook over eighteen years!' Anne said, laughingly.

'Good thing too Anne. I remember your efforts at an omelette.' Frederick said, laughing too.

'That, Frederick was not my fault. You kept tickling me!' She cried happily.

'Umm, yes. Well, I'll see you tomorrow about seven. Bye Anne, sleep tight.' Frederick said, becoming serious.

'I will Frederick, bye.' Anne said smiling and slowly put the phone down.

August 2003.

Outside a large, beautiful house Anne and Frederick were packing up their car ready to go and see their daughter presented with her degree. The house was Frederick's; he had made his fortune with his own Computer company, and Anne had been living with him for about two years. After they had a very successful dinner that March their relationship had gone from strength to strength since then. She had moved in with him in August and they had got married in December, so Justine could come. Frederick had wanted them to get their own place but Anne absolutely insisted that she would come and live in his large, airy and light barn conversation near the sea. This was partly because she felt she owed him that and partly because she absolutely adored it. Now Anne was three months pregnant and Frederick was insisting on fussy round her as if she was made glass. He was to drive them to Justine, and Anne was to be navigator, though they had both done the journey enough times to know the way. However, it was probably a good arrangement Frederick couldn't have read a map to save his life and he wouldn't have let Anne drive for a million pounds. They set off and arrived at Justine's University in the early afternoon. To their great surprise and delight Justine had got a first and decided she would get engaged to Rob who she had always keep in touch with. Anne gave her warning not to be too hasty, and Frederick after seeing how much Anne approved of Justine's choice agreed that it was all right, as long as they waited to get married. Justine was willing to take the advice and promised; with James agreeing, to wait a little longer until they were both settled.