Disclaimer: Joss, Fox, Universal Own em’. I’m just playing. No money being made.

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A/N: Yet another plot bunny that hit me when I should be writing my other stuff. I can't help it. I get to a point where I'm struggling with one of my plot lines and another will rear it's head. This is an Alternate Universe story.

What would have happened if River hadn't attended the Academy. This is my idea.

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Little Girl Lost

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Chapter One

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“But Daddy...”

“Hush, River,” Gabriel Tam snapped, “This discussion is over...”

Tears welled up in sixteen year old River Tam's eyes. She had so wanted to take the offer of attending Londinium's prestigious, Royal Academy of Ballet.

“Gabriel...”

“No, Reagan. No daughter of mine will stoop to prancing about a stage for a living.”

“You're a hypocrite!” River screamed, “You go to the Ballet all the time!”

Gabriel Tam's face clouded with fury, “Bi zuie! Those women are one step above whores. You will not...”

“What about Companions?”

“They are different,” Gabriel replied coolly.

“Then why did you contract with several? Are they better in bed than Mom?”

“What?” Gabriel thundered, “I did no such thing...” River rolled her eyes.

“Don't deny it, Gabriel,” Reagan nearly whispered.

Gabriel Tam's face went red with fury, “River. Go to your room. I will be contacting the Academy for gifted students. You will attend that.”

River's eyes went wide with fear, “No...”

Gabriel glared down at his daughter, “Yes. You seemed more than excited to attend two years ago...”

“I didn't like it. And you can't make me go!”

“You'll go where I tell you!”

“No!”

Gabriel began to raise his hand. His wife stilled him, “River... please go to your room.”

Bursting into tears, River ran up the grand staircase. Slamming the door to her room shut. The paintings in the main hallways rattled in their frames from the impact.

Even twenty meters and floor away, River could hear her parents scream at each other over the sound of her own sobs.