Chapter Text
A week before Laura & Remington’s wedding a tall brunette woman walked into the agency. It hasn’t changed, she thought to herself with a smile as she looked around the reception area.
“Good morning – can I help you?” the older woman sitting at the front desk asked her. The younger woman looked at her with a cheeky grin and replied, “Yeah – you can get out of my seat.”
“I beg your pardon?” Mildred, retorted, both confused and a little annoyed. The younger woman laughed and put her hands up to placate her. “I’m Bernice Fox, well Bernice Randall since I got married actually - I used to be the secretary here. You must be Mildred,” she introduced herself with a smile which Mildred returned, “Yes I am, nice to meet you – I’ve heard so much about you. Oh Miss Holt and Mr Steele will be so happy to see you,” Mildred greeted her as they shook hands.
“Are they in?” Bernice asked.
“Miss Holt is – Mr Steele’s out at the moment but he should be back shortly,” Mildred informed her.
“That one still Laura’s office?” Bernice asked as she nodded towards one of the red doors.
“Sure is,” Mildred replied with a smile.
Bernice thanked her then went & knocked on the door. “Come in,” she heard her old friend’s voice as she opened the door to see Laura sitting there talking to a young teenage boy. He looked about thirteen or fourteen she guessed, with dark, almost black hair and blue eyes – in fact he looked a lot like a younger version of…
“Bernice!” Laura exclaimed excitedly interrupting her thoughts, “Laura!” Bernice responded just as enthusiastically as they hugged each other affectionately. Although they had kept in touch as much as they could, they hadn’t seen each other since Bernice’s wedding in New York a while back. Bernice had been very happy to hear Laura and ‘Mr Steele” had decided to take the plunge and was honoured when Laura had asked her to be her bridesmaid, with her sister Frances being Matron of Honour.
Harry observed the two women, thinking the two of them were acting a bit like school girls greeting each other, as an amused lopsided grin crossed his face, which reminded Bernice of someone too. Bernice then looked from the boy to Laura and asked with a laugh, “Laura – is there something you haven’t told me? I haven’t been away that long have I?” as she nodded towards the boy. “He looks an awful lot like someone I used to know.”
Laura laughed too as she realised what her friend was getting at. She hadn’t told Bernice about Harry yet, preferring to tell her in person. “Bernice – I’d like you to meet Harry O’Casey and his resemblance to Mr Steele is no coincidence – he’s his son. Harry, this is mine and your dad’s good friend Bernice Fox, well actually Randall now - she was our secretary before Mildred,” Laura introduced the two of them, unable to hide her smile at the surprised, curious look on Bernice’s face. Harry stood up to politely shake her hand. “Hi Bernice – nice to meet you,” he said in his English accent that was so much like his father’s.
“Nice to meet you too Harry,” Bernice replied with a smile as she shook his hand. Bernice looked at him with his tall, lean frame similar to his father’s and then stated with a laugh to Laura, “Oh my God – there’s two of them!” as Laura smiled.
“Harry’s mom was Mr Steele’s first girlfriend when he was a teenager. You might have heard of her - Kate Kelly, well that's her stage name, her real name is Kate O'Casey,” Laura explained.
“Kate Kelly – the rock star?” Bernice stated in shock as both Laura & Harry nodded and grinned.
“Oh my God – I’m away for a few years and look what’s happened!” Bernice laughed with a shake of her head.
Just then Remington walked into Laura’s office. “Ah Miss Wolf – lovely to see you,” he greeted Bernice with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, using his old nick name for her as he planted a kiss on her cheek. “That’s Mrs Randall to you,:’ she replied with a laugh as she gave him an affectionate hug.
Although the man who had adopted Remington Steele’s identity had driven her crazy sometimes during her time at the agency, she couldn’t help but like him and she was glad he and Laura had finally come to their senses and got together.
“You’ve met my son Harry?” he asked with a proud smile as both she & Harry nodded. “Yes I’ve met Junior,” she laughed as Remington & Harry flashed her their identical lopsided grins.
“Well I’d love to catch up more but Harry and I have a suit fitting to get to,” Remington announced.
“Harry is going to be Remington’s best man at the wedding,” Laura explained.
“Well we’ll no doubt catch up again before the wedding,” Bernice stated with a smile. “Oh most definitely Bernice,” Remington assured her with a smile. He then gave Laura a kiss goodbye before he and Harry took their leave.
Laura and Bernice then headed out for an early lunch to catch up some more – and they had a lot to catch up on. ”So why didn’t you tell me about Skeezix Junior ?” Bernice demanded once they’d sat down at a table. A cheeky dimpled grin spread across Laura’s face. “I wanted to see the look on your face when you saw him for the first time,” she laughed.
“The resemblance is uncanny isn’t it? Are you sure he’s not a clone?” Bernice asked with a laugh.
“Oh no he definitely has a mother,” Laura stated as she filled Bernice in on how Remington and Kate’s paths had crossed again and all that had happened since, including them finding out about Harry.
The waiter then came to take their order., “Can I bring you the wine list ladies?” he asked. “You go ahead Laura if you like but I’ll pass,” Bernice stated, trying to sound casual. Laura looked at her friend questioningly – she had never been one to pass on a glass of wine. In response to Laura’s look Bernice’s smile got a bit wider as realisation suddenly hit Laura. “You’re not..are you?” she asked excitedly as Bernice nodded happily.
“Oh Bernice that’s wonderful news – congratulations!” Laura hugged her happily. “How far along are you?”
“Just a few months. Can you believe it – me, a mom?” Bernice laughed.
You’ll make a great mom,” Laura reassured her with a warm smile.
“So how about you and Remington? Are you going to have kids of your own?” Bernice asked.
“Well we’d definitely like to one day,” Laura replied without hesitation. “He’s a great father to Harry. I guess I always knew he’d be a great dad - never knowing his own, he’s determined to be the kind of father he never had. But we might wait a little while - after all we’re still getting used to having a teenager in our lives and we’d like to have a bit of time for ourselves for a while as well I guess.”
“Want him all to yourself for a while hey?” Bernice asked with a cheeky wink. “And since we’re on the topic - how is he.. you know? Have you had your teeth rattled?” she asked the question she’d been dying to know as her grin got a bit wider which was mirrored by Laura.
“Ooh yeah,” Laura replied with a satisfied sigh. “And then some,” she added cheekily as Bernice grinned. “So your ‘itch’ has been well & truly scratched then?” she asked, recalling a conversation they’d had some years before, not long after ‘Mr Steele’ had come into their lives. “Hmmm,” Laura replied with a mischievous grin and then added with a devilish twinkle in her eyes, “Problem is every time he scratches it, it just gets itchier so he’s got to keep scratching.” At that they both dissolved into giggles. “Oh I’ve missed you Bernice,” Laura admitted once they’d managed to get their laughter under control. “I’ve missed you too Laura,” Bernice agreed as she gave her hand an affectionate squeeze.
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A couple of hours later Remington returned to the agency after dropping Harry off at a school friend’s place where he was staying over for the night. “Afternoon Mildred. Is Laura back from lunch yet?” he greeted Mildred before noticing the older man sitting in the reception area. “Not yet chief – I think her and Bernice have got a lot of catching up to do,” Mildred replied with a smile. “Oh indeed they have Mildred, indeed they have,” Remington returned the smile then nodded towards the man sitting in the reception area. “Prospective client?” he asked as he didn’t recall there being any client meetings scheduled for that afternoon.
“Not sure boss – he asked for Miss Holt and when I told him she was out he said he’d wait,” Mildred replied with a shrug of her shoulders. Remington looked at the man for a moment or two - he appeared to be in his early to mid-sixties, with chestnut brown hair peppered with some grey. He looked vaguely familiar but Remington couldn’t recall meeting him before. Curiosity getting the better of him he walked up to the man and greeted him. “Good afternoon sir – I believe you’re waiting for Miss Holt? She should be back shortly but perhaps I can assist you – I’m Remington Steele,” he introduced himself as he extended a hand to the older man who rose and looked him in the eye.
“So you’re the guy my little girl is marrying hey?” the man announced as a look of both shock & confusion crossed Remington’s face. “I beg your pardon?” he asked.
“The name’s Holt – Jack Holt. I’m Laura’s father,” he announced as a gasp involuntarily escaped Mildred’s lips, who had overheard their exchange. He went to shake Remington’s hand but Remington pulled back his hand abruptly as he came face to face with the man responsible for inflicting so much emotional pain on the woman he loved, when he had abandoned his family years before. The courteous smile he had had on his face vanished, replaced by a hard edged expression, his jaw clenched in barely contained anger.
“You’re Laura’s father?” he asked, not quite believing it as the older man nodded in confirmation.
“Yes I am. I know this is going to be a shock for her - me turning up here after all these years.”
“Damn right it is!” Remington threw at him, worrying what this would do to Laura.
“I’ll say buster! Just who the hell do you think you are turning up here unannounced after leaving Laura, not to mention her mother and sister all those years ago?” Mildred demanded as she walked up to the two of them.
Jack put his hands up in a gesture of surrender. “Look folks- I don’t want any trouble, I just want to see my daughter and talk to her. There’s things I need to explain.”
Remington quickly glanced at his watch and realised Laura could be back at any moment. “You may not want any trouble sunshine but you just brought yourself a whole lot of it,” Remington retorted, his expression almost menacing as he glared at the older man, his protectiveness towards Laura coming to the fore. “Your daughter could walk through those doors at any minute and I will not subject her to coming face to face with you again after all these years without any warning. If you care anything about Laura you’ll accompany me into my office right now,” he added with a look that told Laura’s father he wasn’t going to take any arguments.
“Mildred – when Miss Holt gets back please do whatever you can to stop her coming into my office until I can figure out a way to break this to her gently,” Remington instructed. “You got it chief,” Mildred replied as she cast a dirty look in Jack Holt’s direction and muttered,” You should be ashamed of yourself – turning that poor girl’s life upside down and now you’re going to do it again!”
“Whilst I agree wholeheartedly Mildred we don’t really have time for this now,” Remington reminded her then he nodded in the direction of his office door and gave Laura’s father a meaningful look. “Follow me,” he instructed as Jack Holt nodded and did so.
Remington closed the office door firmly and gestured for Jack to take a seat. “So would you like to explain where the bloody hell you’ve been all these years and why you’ve turned up now?” Remington cut straight to the point as he sat down in his seat on the opposite side of the desk, his intense blue eyed gaze boring into the older man as he fought the urge the deck the guy then and there.
“That’s really between me and my daughter,” Jack replied tight lipped, but Remington was having none of it. “Well seeing as I’m becoming her husband in a week’s time I think it’s between you and me too mate,” Remington retorted adamantly.
With that Jack reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a newspaper article. “Well that’s part of the reason I’m here. I wanted to make sure Laura’s marrying a straight up guy – someone who deserves her,” he stated as he gave Remington a challenging look and placed the newspaper article on the desk between them. Remington picked it up and saw it contained a picture of Laura and himself along with a brief article about their upcoming nuptials entitled, “Famous LA detectives to wed.” He also noticed the top of the page which indicated it was from a Chicago newspaper. “Chicago?” he asked with a questioning arch of one eyebrow. Laura’s father nodded in confirmation. “I’ve been living there the past five years or so.”
“And before that?” Remington queried.
“Various places. I moved around a bit,” Jack replied non-committedly. He paused for a moment then asked, “How is she?”
“She’s doing great – no thanks to you,” Remington threw at him. “She’s a brilliant detective who’s forged herself a very successful career through a lot of hard work & determination. And quite frankly she’s the most amazing woman I’ve ever met.”
Jack regarded him for a moment or two. “And you Steele? What’s your story?”
“As you said Mr Holt – that’s between Laura and I,” Remington replied with a pointed look, not willing to get into their story with Laura’s up until now absent father.
Jack went to reply but both men stopped in their tracks when they heard Mildred loudly greet Laura to alert them, as she walked backed into the agency after her lunch with Bernice. Glad for the tip off Remington shot Laura’s father a warning look. “If you care about your daughter at all don’t move from that seat.”
Meanwhile Mildred was trying to keep Laura occupied to buy Mr Steele some time. “How was your lunch Miss Holt? I’m sure you and Bernice had a great catchup hey?” she asked. “Yes it was lovely thanks Mildred. Is Mr Steele back yet?” Laura replied as she nodded towards his office door.
“Ah no – not yet. I guess he and young Harry might have got caught up at the suit store,” Mildred replied, quickly thinking on her feet.
“Well no worry I’m sure he’ll be back soon. Actually I need to grab a case file from his office,” Laura replied as she went to head towards his office. With that Mildred jumped up from her desk and stood in front of her. “Oh I can get it for you for Miss Holt. How about you go sit down in your office and relax for a while – I mean you’ve been so busy lately with the wedding preparations and everything,” Mildred babbled on in a slightly panicked voice which Laura picked up on.
“Mildred what’s going on?” Laura asked with a laugh as she went to step around her but Mildred blocked her way again.
“Nothing Miss Holt I swear,” Mildred tried to convince her but Laura wasn’t convinced.
“Has Mr Steele planned a surprise for me?” Laura asked with an excited gleam in her eye as she managed to get past Mildred and headed for his office door. ‘Oh you’re gonna get a surprise alright honey – and not a good one,’ Mildred thought desperately to herself as Laura reached the door and opening it stepped inside.
“Okay Rem what’s going on?” she announced with a laugh as she found him sitting at his desk with a man siting opposite him with his back to her. “Laura!” both men greeted her as Remington jumped up in a panic, fearing how she was going to react when she realised who the other man was, just as the other man turned around to face her.
Laura looked at him and then her face turned pale as she realised who he was. He looked older than she remembered but she could never forget the face that was burnt into her memory. The face of the man who she had adored for the first sixteen years of her life. The face of the man who had left her and her mother & sister with no warning. The face of her father..
“Daddy?” she asked in shock as he stood and nodded.
“Hello Laura. Look at my little girl – all grown up,” her father greeted her with a hopeful, proud smile as Remington watched the interaction worriedly. He observed the myriad of emotions crossing Laura’s face – shock, hurt and finally anger.
“What.. what are you doing here?” she demanded, her voice trembling with emotion.
“I heard you were getting married so I felt it was time to come back. Look Laura I know I made mistakes in the past..” Jack went to say but she cut him off, her body practically shaking with fury.
“Mistakes? Yes you could say that. Do you have any idea what your leaving did to me? And to Frances and Mother? Do you??” she yelled at him, fourteen odd years of repressed emotions suddenly rising to the surface and erupting out of her.
“Please let me explain Button..,” her father tried to interject, calling her by his pet name for her which only inflamed her anger even more.
“Don’t you dare call me that! And how dare you have the audacity to just come in here unannounced and think you can make up for the past fourteen years! Well I’m not your little girl anymore Daddy and I haven’t been for quite some time – I’ve done quite alright without you in my life so I certainly don’t need you in it now!” Laura snapped as she glared at him defiantly.
At that her father shook his head. “Your mother always used to say you were too like me but you’re as stubborn as her,” he muttered.
“Don’t you bring Mother into this – you left her and you left us. You have no right to be a part of our lives anymore. No right at all!” Laura argued,
“Look Laura please.. I didn’t come here to fight with you. I just want to talk to you and try to explain,” Jack pleaded with her but Laura was having none of it.
She went and stood by Remington’s side, needing his support now more than ever as he took one of her hands in his and gave it a reassuring squeeze, hating to see her go through this. “I have everything I need right here and I’m not interested in anything you have to say – now please leave,” she threw at her father in a no-nonsense tone.
Jack looked at her, a sad, deflated expression on his face. “I’m sorry you feel that way Laura but I guess I can understand it. Here’s where I’m staying if you change your mind,” he stated as he left a piece of paper with an address on it on the desk. He hesitated at the door for a moment before leaving then said, “I’m not giving up Laura -I want to be a part of your life again if you’ll let me.” Remington could feel Laura bristling next to him and he suspected she was doing everything she could not to break down. “You heard the lady mate – just go,” he stated firmly as he glared at Laura’s father who walked out, closing the door behind him, just as he had done years before..