Author's Note: Alright, sorry about the change, but I've seriously gone through about ten other stories in the time between the other one and this one. I'm pretty sure I got it right this time, but I'm pretty picky, so enjoy this one while it lasts... I think this is it. And there still isn't any slash. Sorry, hope I didn't get your hopes up...
Disclaimer: I do not own South Park. Matt and Trey do. I'm just some random picky person with WAY too much time on her hands.
The Cousin, the Aunt and Uncle, and the Fat Ass
Prologue: A Little Family History
It was a quiet Saturday evening at the Broflovski residence. (Meanwhile, at the Broflovski residence in South Park, it was a little more rowdy, but we'll get to that later.) Lily and her dad were watching TV in the front room. Lily sipped a glass of iced tea, and her dad sipped a bottle of beer.
"So kiddo, anything new and exciting happening at school?"
Lily looked over at her dad. He was making small talk in attempts to connect with his daughter. It was sweet that he would make the effort, but she would have preferred if he didn't.
"Daddy," Lily said gently. "You don't have to bother. Just, be one of those fathers who goes on and doesn't care about the dirty details of his kid's life. You've raised me by yourself, and that means enough to me on its own. You don't actually have to get involved." She smiled at him.
"Whew. Thanks sport."
Lily grew up without her mom, and her dad had raised her single-handedly. Her mom left them years ago, just after Lily was born.
Daniel Broflovski and Holly Stewart had known each other since high school. Holly was the popular cheerleader type girl, Dan was the nerdy, studious kid, but he was a total guy. The only reason they ever talked to each other was because they were neighbors and took the same bus. Eventually, they went out on a date, and they became boyfriend and girlfriend. Naturally, it didn't last long. They were the typical on again/off again couple. That went on through college until they eventually got married.
The marriage lasted until Holly got pregnant. She had always had commitment issues, but she held up pretty well until things got really heavy. Once she gave birth to Lily, she decided to run off.
"I'm sorry Dan," she said fleetingly. "I just can't do this. These last few years have been fun, but I just can't so this anymore. It's a joke that has grown feeble and just isn't worth it anymore."
Dan wasn't too happy with that. "Wait, you're just realizing this now? After we had a daughter together?"
"Yes, I thought it would work, but I was wrong. Look, I'm sorry, I just can't. I need to see the world, I need to find myself!"
"But what about all those times between our relationships? Huh? She couldn't have found herself then?" Daniel exclaimed every time he told that story.
Lily rolled her eyes every time she heard that story. She was a little worried about growing up without a mom, but she was happy with her dad. Sure, she missed out on a lot of girl stuff, but what she heard about her mom, she knew it would be just as dysfunctional as it was now. Lily didn't really think about it much anymore, though It was just the way it was, and it wasn't on her mind.
While Terrance and Phillip were busy farting away on the TV, the doorbell rang. Lily and her father looked towards the door.
"Could you get that please, Lily?"
Lily sighed and got up. When she opened the door, she frowned. The woman at the door looked oddly familiar. She was sure they had never met, but there was just something about this woman that Lily just couldn't place.
"Hello little girl. Is your daddy home?"
Lily scowled at being addressed like a two year old. It was really starting to bother her. What was with this newcomer?
"Uh, yeah. Erm, come in, I guess." Lily led the woman in and cleared her throat. "Dad? This lady wants to talk to you."
Dan looked over at the girls. When he saw them standing next to each other, he turned off the TV and stared at them.
"Dan?" the woman asked. Lily stirred. They obviously knew each other.
"Holly?"
Her mother. That's who this woman was. What the hell was she doing here though? Had she come to start over? Was she willing to be the mother that Lily never had? Could this be the beginning of a new, more fulfilling chapter in Lily's life?
Obviously not.
"So, you're back?" Dan sounded happy, but there was an irrepressible bitterness in his voice.
Holly smiled, relieved. She obviously didn't hear the sharpness to his tone. "Yes. I finally realized that 'I' am back here. With you. I always have been."
The reunion was a little corny for Lily's taste, but it was something at least.
"Well, that was quick! The eleven years just flew by!"
Lily watched her father's face darken. Holly thought she could just waltz right back into their lives, and everything would be great. But Dan had other plans. He wasn't going to let Holly off that easily
This caught Holly by surprise. "Dan... Please, don't be like this. I know you're not too happy with me, but you're glad I'm back. And besides, it's not like I cut off contact completely."
"You might as well have!"
"I came to visit..." Holly protested.
"Once! Twice, if that first time counts. You happened to be 'in the neighborhood' that one time two years after you left. And then five years ago. Did it even cross your mind how this potentially could have affected our child?" Dan wasn't yelling, but Lily knew that tone, and so did Holly. Dan was generally fairly easy-going, but Lily always wound up grounded the longest when this particular tone was used. Clearly, he was far from happy.
"Of course! I never stopped thinking about her!" Holly turned to Lily. "Oh, you grew up to be such a good-looking young woman. I'm so sorry."
Before Lily could respond, her dad cut in. "Well, of course she's good-looking. She's gorgeous! She looks exactly like you. As if it wasn't hard enough, I was reminded of your absence every day. And in the face of our own child, no less!"
"Lily," Holly beseeched. "A girl needs her mother. Especially at your age, and in the years to come. What do you say?"
Lily looked over at her father, and he let her answer. Her happy feelings were short-lived and right then she was solely following logic.
She sighed and said "Yeah, a girl does need her mother. Mom, you weren't there for me. I'm happy with just daddy. Do you for seriously expect me to accept you just like that?"
"Sweetie, you don't understand," Holly began.
"No, I think she has it dead on!" Dan snapped.
"Don't be like this. Look, Danny, please, just give me a chance. I've matured, I'm a changed woman! You know how much fun we had. We're meant to be," Holly pleaded.
For a split second, Dan's hard expression softened. He was considering his options. "Um, can I just talk to Lily for a second?"
Holly's face brightened and she looked pleased. "Of course! Take your time."
Lily followed her dad into the next room. She didn't know what to think. She had no idea what her mom was going to be like. She wasn't sure what she had been expecting, but it wasn't this. Lily had changed her opinion a few times over the course of the conversation.
"So here's the plan," Dan instructed. "I need to talk to your mom, alone. We need some time to sort things out. I want you to go to Colorado. I've prepared a package with bus schedules to Uncle Gerry's. You know, in case of emergency."
"You mean?"
"Yeah. The package is in my dresser. The tall one, second drawer from the bottom. Follow it, and take a watch. The busses run all night."
"Dad, isn't this a little extreme? I mean, I don't mind Uncle Gerry's, but shouldn't I stay here? Do I really have to leave?"
"Look, this is grown up time. I'll call and let them know you're on your way. Pack quickly and don't take much. You'll be fine." Dan kissed Lily on the forehead. "Here's 200 bucks. Go, now!"
"OK!"
Lily ran up the stairs to her room. The only extended family she knew about was her dad's big brother, Gerald. Lily was older than her cousins, even though her dad was the younger brother. She was born when her parents were young.
It was kind of hard to believe that she was being told to run away from home. Lily was still convinced it was extreme, and she really should be involved. But she wasn't about to argue with her dad.
Why couldn't they have just been a nice, normal family from the start?
(Because then we wouldn't have a story.)
Author's Note: Alrighty, I KNOW it's corny, cheesy, and whatever. But I promise it WILL get better. Sorry about all the OC's and if there are any errors, let me know. I'll change them. Unless they mess up my story.