Authors Note: This story came about purely by chance, during a discussion with another writer: 'adm-frb'. This will be my twelfth (published) story.

Synopsis: The story is loosely based on the original Kick-Ass movie and the story exists in an alternative universe. Damon has been released from prison and now has custody of Mindy. Dave's mother, Alice, is still alive and his father, James, is friends with Damon and shares his desire for revenge against Frank D'Amico. Mindy is a few weeks past her fifth birthday, while Dave is two and a half years older.

December 2006
New York City
Central Park

The two kids eyed each other cautiously and with more than a little suspicion.

I looked at Damon - he was smirking and I must have been too. They seemed to be checking each other out and a little concern was visible. Did they see each other as a threat? Alternatively, was it just because they were a boy and a girl with a two and a half year age gap!

Damon and I sat on the bench, just a few feet away from the two kids, as they stood on the grass facing each other. Central Park was cold, as was expected for this time of year, but it was dry and clear.

The girl was going through an especially complicated time, having been uprooted from everything that she had known and handed to somebody that she had only known for the past six months and only then for a few days of each month. I knew that this had been really hard on Damon, too. He was trying so hard to make things right for the daughter that he hadn't seen for five years. At least the escorted visits had helped them to get to know each other, before Damon was released.

As for my son? Well, being a seven and a half year-old boy that was being 'forced' - his word, not mine - to play with a 'baby girl' - again, his words, not mine - he wasn't particularly amused!

She's a baby.

Dad says that she isn't and that she's five – but that's a baby in my book. Not to mention the pink frilly dress and pigtails, with purple tights and purple shoes, all topped off with a purple 'My Little Pony' hair clip and pink coat!

I would rather be out with Marty, right now!

He may be seven, but I could take him – no problem!

One word comes to mind – 'dork'. Might just be the curly hair, but I'm not so sure! Learnt a new word the other night: 'dipshit', maybe that's what Dave is?

Daddy says that we're gonna be friends – we'll see...

Well, they haven't run away from each other screaming, nor have they punched each other's lights out.

That has to be a good start! James seems to think that this is all great fun, me – I'm just worried about what Mindy might think. I have a feeling that I might have overdone the girly thing – Mindy liked the dress, so I let her wear it, but maybe some dungarees would have been better and a little less pink – she does love purple, though.

I'll get the hang of this shit eventually!

"Well – you gonna say something?" Mindy demanded.

"Hi!" I said. "I'm Dave, Dave Lizewski!"

Mindy sniggered. "I know that, dumbass!"

"Mindy – be nice!" Mindy's Daddy suggested.

"Okay!" Mindy said with a grimace, but then she smiled sweetly before continuing. "Hi Dave, I'm Mindy Macready!"

"Good to meet you!" I replied.

"I think that was a good start, don't you?" James asked as Dave and Mindy wandered around talking together.

"They're talking and Mindy hasn't slapped him – she did that to a boy down the store, day before yesterday – poor kid only asked her name!" I replied with a chuckle.

Three weeks, I'd been out. Three weeks that I'd spent with Mindy – my Mindy. I didn't want to let her out of my sight – it scared me every time she went into a different room at home. Mindy was all that I had left of Kathleen.

For a moment, I felt the anger rise up inside me, but forced it back down – now was not the time. This was a happy time for Mindy – retribution would come later.

May 2009

Mindy had settled in well and had fully accepted Damon as her Daddy.

I may not have agreed one hundred percent with Damon's parenting, but I would only offer ideas – nothing more. Mindy was Damon's to bring up as he saw fit and she was a happy and enchanting child, who was more of a tomboy than anything else! If it wasn't for her medium length, blonde hair that was often in pig tails, she could have passed for a boy. She often ran around in dungarees and loved the rough and tumble world of boys, much more than the soft, pink, doll laden world of normal girls. Indeed, her legs and arms were usually covered in so many bruises that it was a wonder that Child Services hadn't been round accusing Damon of abusing her. Mindy, as she approached seven and a half years-old was definitely not your average little girl!

Marcus was still on the scene, but not too regularly – so as not to confuse the little girl. Dave and Mindy were now inseparable and great friends, although 'partners in crime' was probably a more accurate way of describing them and Mindy would always play the 'sweet, innocent little girl' card to the hilt! They always wanted to be together – every weekend they would have a sleepover at one house or the other. Alice loved Mindy and gave her a feminine balance to her life – Alice was also able to help Damon when it came to the more feminine side of Mindy, which was still there.

As of September, last year Alice was now home-schooling Dave and Mindy at our house. Alice had insisted, as this would provide some form of 'cover' for our other activities. As for these, 'other activities', Damon and I spent many days and nights planning our nocturnal activities. So far, neither Dave nor Mindy were fully aware of what we were doing. Yes, both kids were receiving physical training that could be seen by some as abnormal – for example: seven year-old Mindy was perfectly capable of flooring a grown man!

I had already started passing on my Marine skills to Dave, when he was about six. He was competent when it came to survival skills and how to use knives, although never in public. I started him shooting when he was seven and he was now very good, and often helped Mindy, who was now learning to shoot too.

"What are you two up to?" I asked, looking down at two very guilty faces.

"Nothing, Daddy," Mindy tried, smiling sweetly.

"No dice, Mindy!" I replied without smiling. I had now grown immune to Mindy's attempts to sweet talk her way out of trouble. It had taken a while, quite a few months, actually – she was just too darn cute!

Mindy's face sank and I saw Dave's hopeful grin vanish.

"I'm waiting – who was the clever ass, this time?"

Mindy just glowered at me and she knew that I had her. From Dave's expression, I had a distinct feeling that it was Mindy's turn to be the clever ass, who had come up with the stupid idea – they seemed to take it in turns!

"Okay! Jeez – can't a girl have a little fun?" Mindy exclaimed holding her arms out – she was also quite the drama queen.

I looked down at Mindy. "Breaking windows?"

"I wasn't trying to break them," Mindy growled.

"What!" I replied a little astounded. "Did you think the bricks would stick?"

"Maybe..."

"Bed – both of you," I ordered. "Go straight to sleep and don't even think about thinking about anything other than sleep!"

Both kids vanished up the stairs and I could hear Mindy and Dave arguing. Nothing new there, they would settle down in a few minutes. Those two somehow come up with some extreme ideas – last week it had been Jello grenades! I had received a call from Marcus that evening – a colleague had seen Mindy and Dave throwing things at an abandoned building and had decided to turn a blind eye. All the Cops thought that my daughter was cute and Mindy tended to play on it!