What's this? A new story despite the others desperately pleading for updates? Ah. Yeah. Sorry. Not really.

"My name is Angelica Lee Andrews. You probably don't know me, and if you do, it's probably as either 'Grease Monkey' or 'Mikaela's cousin.' When I was ten, My Dad was granted full custody of me and took me to Nevada, where I recently discovered... exactly who I'm meant to be."

~oOo~

"I'll be home in a few weeks, baby. I promise."

"I know."

"I love you. I love you, and I love our kids, and I love the life we have. You know I wouldn't be out here if I didn't have to be."

"Yes, I know."

"Mama, I wanna talk to daddy!"

The woman smiled and pet her daughter's hair. The thick brown strands fell in choppy waves around her face, like they always did. She gave a whine when her mother didn't reply, scrunching up her tiny nose and clinging to her leg. "Alright, alright. Your youngest monster would like a word with you."

"Alright, put her on." A man's voice chuckled over the phone.

The little girl bounced excitedly and took the receiver from her mother, holding it beside her ear as she grinned. "Hi daddy!"

"Hey there, my little Angel! How are you baby girl?"

"I'm doing really good! I'm getting really good grades, and Mr. Ricky lets me help out around the shop, and he's gonna keep teaching me stuffs until you get back! I'mma be just as smart as you are, daddy!" She chirped in glee.

"Well, I'm glad that lazy punk is doing something right. How's your brother doing?"

"He's being a butt!"

"Oh really?"

"Yeah-huh! He gets a girly-friend now and he thinks he's too cool to play Dinosaurs with me! And I'm not allowed to borrow his cars anymore, either!"

"Aw, who needs his cars anyway? He didn't get a biker helmet, did he?"

"Nope! I Gots it though!" She giggled for a moment, then quietly added, "I miss you daddy."

"I miss you too, Angel. I'm coming home soon, though. And I got you all something from down here in Alabama. I'll be there before you know it."

"Okay daddy." She gave a little sigh. "I love you, Daddy. Come home safe, okay?"

"I will baby. I love you too. Can you give the phone back to Mommy now?"

"Okay." She returned the phone to her mother's hand and went back to the living room down the hall. Said mother spoke to her almost-husband for a few minutes longer before finally hanging up. Not ten minutes later, her cell bleeped. She glanced at the text message, bit her lip, looked down the hall towards her kids, then sent back a quick reply.

A few minutes and a wardrobe change later, she clipped her earrings into place and paused in the living room doorway. "I'm going out for a while. I'll be home late. Jason, make sure Angelica is in bed by ten, hair combed, teeth brushed. Don't stay up all night."

"Sure thing, Mom."

~oOo~

The doorbell gave a friendly chime as the button was depressed. There was a small clatter and a few thumps, then the lock clicked and the door swung open to expose a young girl. Her light brown eyes sparkled at the sight of the visitor, and she squealed. "Daddy! You're home!"

The man caught her flying tackle, lifting her up in the air and spinning her in a quick circle. "Well Hey there, Angel! It's so good to see you again!" He pulled her close as she giggled and rubbed her cheek against his scruffy beard. After a long moment, he shifted her to his hip, adjusting his duffel on his shoulder and walking inside. "Where's Momma?"

"She left a while ago. She said she'd be back late," She informed his shoulder and neck.

He carried her to the living room and released her on the couch beside her elder brother. He stood quickly to embrace his father, only a few inches shorter. "Well then, we'll wait for her together. I got you some things."

He quieted the over excited child and swung his duffle to the floor and undid the zipper, exaggerating his search for the girls favor before producing a small package wrapped in brown paper, which he handed to his daughter, then shoebox sized present for his son. After a moment of anticipation, he let them tear in.

The girl's jaw dropped when she got her bundle open, eyes widening to stare more effectively. Amidst the torn wrappings lay a silver tin, a small replica of a bright orange General Lee, and a framed picture of Uncle Jesse, Bo, Luke and Daisy Duke posed in front of the real thing, black sharpie scrawled over the bottom reading "To My Biggest Fan, Angel. Hope I see you at the rodeo! -Bo Duke." Jason gave a half laugh of amazement, looking over his sister's gifts before scanning over his own as well.

"I remember you were getting pretty into rodeos and stuff. I figured every good cowboy needs three things- A good pair of boots, a hat, and a bit of skill in the saddle."

Jason held the flier for a riding camp with a surprised smile on his face. "Thanks, dad."

Three hours later, after watching the Dukes of Hazard for what must have been the millionth time, snacking on the southern goodies brought home, when Angelica had fallen asleep on her father's lap and Jason had gone to bed, Jackson Andrews stood in the kitchen, watching through the window as his almost fiancé kissed another man goodnight, waving as he backed out the drive and hurrying inside, quietly opening and shutting the door only to turn and find herself face to face with him.

"Jackson, I-"

"Don't." He pulled a small black velvet box from his pocket, holding it out for a moment before returning it to its shelter. "I won't need this after all." He looked at her sadly. "I'm sorry, Diane. But I'm afraid that tomorrow, you will be explaining to our children why their father is leaving."

"You can't do that to them! Jack, you know they-"

"I will see you in court to settle custody. And tomorrow, after you explain, I am taking my daughter with me."

Without another word, he walked down the hall to Angel's room to put her to bed.

~oOo~

"I hereby grant custody of Angelica Lee Andrews to her father, Jackson Lee Andrews. By his own volition, Jason Michael Andrews will stay with his mother, Diane Marie Fowler. Case dismissed."

Diane's face was nothing short of shell-shocked, watching her daughter, dolled up in a dress borrowed from her cousin, Mikaela, looking incredibly relieved as she moved from her seat between her mother and the attorney and almost tackled her father.

Angel nuzzled her father's neck, picking at her borrowed red velvet dress. "I'm itchy."

"I know you are, baby. We'll head back to the truck and you can change back to your Levi's, okay?"

"Okay." Added on as an afterthought, she asked quietly, "Where are we gonna go now, daddy?"

"Your Uncle Mike and cousin Mikaela are going to let us stay with them until we can find a house. We're going to Nevada."

Outside, while Angel poked around in the sleeper of her daddy's Mack Titan, Jackson shook his brother's hand, giving him a quick man-hug before greeting his niece. "Thank you for helpin' us, Mike. I owe you big."

"Don't sweat it, brother. You're family. Besides, you know Mickie loves playing with her cousin." He gave his daughter a look and sighed, shaking his head. "You know when they hit high school, we'll be beating the boys off like flies, right?"

"Curse of the family, ain't it?"

"You've got that right."

Angel shoved the door open, nearly catching the back of her father's head. "I'm ready daddy!" She hopped down from the cab, the dress slung over her shoulder as she scaled the massive vehicle. She quickly offered it to her cousin. "Here's your dress, Mickie. It's itchy."

The dark haired girl smiled and took it. "Thanks, Angie." She folded it carefully and tucked it under her arm. "Daddy, Uncle Jack, can we go to McDonalds before we leave? Pleeeease?"

"Of course we can, baby doll."

"We've got to finish packing first. We'll meet you there in half an hour."

The young girls cheered wildly, bouncing in place and hugging their daddies and each other. The men smiled and took them to their respective trucks.

~oOo~

The girl looked at her room a bit sadly. The single dresser of jeans and tee-shirts and shorts was empty, it's typically toy-coated top bare. The posters and pictures had been stripped from the race-track painted walls, leaving it a bit forlorn. The toy box had already been stashed in the back of her Uncle's truck, along with her bedding and even her little tool box. All that had been left to pack was her stuffed rabbit and the clothes she'd worn the past week.

Her father's hand rested on her shoulder, and she looked up at him from under her little ball cap. "We really gotta move, daddy?" Her little arms held the box of things tightly, like a lifeline.

"Yeah. I know it's gonna be rough, but you'll have Mickie Mouse and her friends to show you around. And you won't have to worry about me going on the road again- Joey's going to give me a job at the shop, with him, so I won't have to leave you. I'll be right down the road at the farthest. I'll always be here for you, My Little Angel."

She smiled at him. "I know, daddy. Come on, we gotta go meet Mickie an' Uncle Mike!"

~oOo~

"Class, I'd like you to meet your new classmate, Angelica Andrews. She's just moved here from Michigan. I expect each and every one of you to make her feel welcome."

The tiny brunette stood awkwardly beside her new teacher, feet shuffling awkwardly in her little worker boots. Mikaela waved at her from the corner, and once the teacher told her to pick a seat, she tried not to run to take the seat between her cousin and a little blonde boy. She didn't like this new school- she didn't know where anything was or what she was supposed to do and it was just so- UGH!

But she had promised her daddy she would try, and she was going to walk to the shop after school anyways, so she would try her best.

At recess, while she was carefully picking at the carburetor she had taken with her to pull apart, Mikaela sat beside her and talked to her friends excitedly. After a few days of this, she decided she most definitely didn't want to be like Mickie, but she was happy to stay in Nevada to work with her daddy and Uncle Mike.

~oOo~

It was loud. Too loud, but for once, I didn't mind. People were everywhere, standing in groups and dressed in dirty grungy clothes, most of them holding brown bottles daddy wouldn't let me drink. I squirmed through a forest of legs, my juice pouch in hand. Every few seconds I would catch a glance of that bright white sun dress and turn to chase it. Mickie had started this new game at this party, so I wouldn't feel awkward standing beside Daddy and Uncle Mike all night.

There! I darted between a couple, waving at them as I passed, chasing after the streak of white.

"BOO!"

I squeaked, turning around to see Mickie standing there, laughing, her own apparently empty juice pouch rolled up and tucked under the ribbon tied around her waist. "I scared you, Angel! That's my point!"

I growled playfully and tackled her in a hug, laughing as we rolled around on the floor. "Imma Eat your Face! Rrraarghaaar!" I snapped at the air near her face. She laughed and pushed me away, sending us rolling the other way.

"What's going on over here?" A deep baritone cut in.

Mickie squealed and lurched up, immediately tackling the legs of the newcomer. I sat on the floor for a moment, staring up.

The man had a beard, thick and long and speckled with grey, and a leather-and-denim jacket with patches on the shoulders and chest. His face looked almost burned, but he smiled down at me. "You must be this cousin Mickie-mouse been tellin' me about. It is an honor to meet you, Miss Angel."

I waved my fingers slowly. Mickie reached towards me, grinning. "Angel, this is Mad Dog Davey! He works with Daddy to keep the bad guys away!"

"Hi," I mumbled.

He offered his hand, and I reached out to shake it. It was rough, and thick, but warm. "Your uncle tells me that you're a pretty good singer. Is that true?" I nodded. "Well, we need a singer up on the stage. Would you like to come sing with us?" I shook my head. "No? Why not? You ain't afraid of none of these people, are ya?" I slowly shook again. "Come on, I'll introduce you to the band."

He tugged me along gently, and with Mickie taking my other hand, I went along with them. The stage was just a bunch of milk crates with a sheet of plywood over it, but three people were there, looking completely content. I started digging in my heels as we got closer, but Mickie just pulled me harder. The men seemed to notice us now, waving us closer.

"Miss Angel, I would like you to meet the rest of my crew. This is Lil' Jimmy. He plays a damn good fiddle." A blonde on the corner grinned and waved at me. "That's Abraham- ain't his real name, but he don't care." The dark man behind a set of Scrapyard Drums nodded to me, raising his bottle a bit. "An' there's Lex. Them's our band."

I gave another shy wave of fingers. Mickie immediately pulled me up onto the stage. I stumbled a bit, but she held me steady as she started talking to the band. Before I was completely aware of what was happening, they were playing their instruments and Mickie had a Microphone, standing beside me.

"How do I love you!" She belted out, "Well Let me see~ I Love you like a Lyric loves a Mel-o-dy! Baby! Completely! Wrapped up in you!" She waved me towards her, tipping the microphone my way. I shook my head violently, and she continued. "How do I need you? Well can't you tell! I Need you like a penny needs a wish-in' well! Baby, Completely, Wrapped up in you!" She moved closer to me, holding me beside her with one hand and holding the microphone between us in the other. "Every now an' then, when the world that we're livin' in's crazy! You gladly hold me, and carry me through. No one in the world's ever done what you do for me, and I'd be, Sad and lonely, if there were no You~!"

She practically shoved the mic in my face, and I managed to squeak out a few notes with her. "How do I love you, I'll count the ways." I swallowed hard, letting her keep going. How was she so calm about this? How many people were here?! "Baby, completely, wrapped up in you."

When the song was done, she held me up there for another one, then another, where she ditched halfway through to stand in front to the stage and clap for me. When I finally got down, she was grinning ear to ear, coming in to hug me. I punched her shoulder instead. "That was really mean, Mickie! You know I don't like bein' in front of people!"

"But you did really good, Angel! What are you so afraid of?"

"I don't know-"

"Then don't be afraid!" She stated. I huffed. How could she make it sound so easy? Were other people able to just stop being scared? I shoved her away when she tried to hug me again, stomping off across the workshop towards Daddy on the couch.

I clambered up into his lap and stayed there the rest of the night. Mad Dog Davey came over to thank me for singing, and apologized for making me stay up there so long. I mumbled an "It's okay, you didn't know," and he gently pat my shoulder.

"Hey, baby girl," daddy started. I looked up at him. "Do you wanna come help me make some Pizza?"

"...The really big one?"

"If you think you're up for it, sure."

"...Okay."

~oOo~

He thought he was being quiet. And, really, he was. Just not quiet enough.

I clicked on the lamp beside me. Uncle Mike spun around in a flash, eyes wide and staring and, for a fraction of a second, scared. He let out a breath when he saw it was me. "Angel, what are you doing up so late?"

"I wanna come with you."

He sighed. "Look, kid, you have no idea what you're talking about. Go inside, get back in bed. Can't believe you got out here without someone noticing-"

"I said, I wanna go with you. And 'm not a kid, I'm thirteen now. I know where you're going, and I wanna come."

"Angel, go to bed-"

"I'll tell daddy if you don't take me." I threatened. He squinted at me. "I heard you guys fighting about it. You know you're not supposed to be doing this anymore."

There was a long silence. He watched me carefully- later, he told me he was checking my resolve. Then, finally, he waved me along with him. "Come on, let's get you suited up."

I jumped up from the couch and skittered over to him, even as he kept going. He knelt down in the storage room, shoving a box aside and hauling a big metal door in the floor open. "This was a tornado shelter," he explained, gently and quietly putting the door down before sliding into the hole. A few seconds of scuffling later, a bundle of fabric was held up in the opening. I took it and set it on the floor beside me. "I... commandeered it for my armory. Your dad doesn't know this exists, and I would like it to stay that way. Got it?" I mumbled an affirmative. He snorted quietly and called me a smart ass. Next, he passed up what looked like a work belt, with a bunch of pockets, then a pistol in a holster- "Don't drop it, don't touch the trigger, and keep it pointed away from people, or I swear to God-" "-Okay, I know, I know"- before hauling himself out of the "commandeered" tornado shelter. "Let's get you dressed, I'm already running late."

~oOo~

"...And this, in turn, kick started the revolution." The bell gave a faintly shrill, tinny ring to end our teachers monologue. He stared at the ceiling in irritation before addressing the class once more. "Remember, your finals are in a few weeks. And don't forget to study!"

I gave a sigh and shoved my American History book into my bag, following the crowd out of the room. I hated school. Not like that was a strange opinion. I cast a few waves and nods to a few guys I passed in the hall, the ones who had accepted me as One of the Boys. Mikaela met me at our locker, and I politely warned her she had lipstick on her teeth.

"Shit," she muttered, flipping open her little compact and wiping the smudge of rose off her pearly white tooth. I shoved the backpack in on the floor and took off again. "Where are you going?"

"Sam's getting a car and I promised I'd go. I'll be back before the douchebag gets there to pick us up."

"That's not what I'm worried about."

"I'll be back before that's a problem, too." I waved at her with a meaningful look before ducking out the door.