Stephanie carried her to her room and made her stay in there. Aurora actually listened to her. Stephanie had had absolutely ENOUGH! She stomped down the stairs and immediately caught Murphy. She sat her down in a corner and asked her why did she brake the action figure. Murphy didn't answer her. "Murphy, why did you do all of this?" Stephanie asked again.
Still not a peep from her. "Murphy, answer me!" Stephanie said sternly.
Still not a thing. Stephanie could see some tears swelling up in her eyes. She was trying so hard not to cry but for a six year old what can you expect. The tears started to stream down her face. Stephanie picked her up and held her. "Murphy, why are you crying?" She asked.
"I don't have anything from daddy." she said as a tear came down.
It broke Stephanie's heart. Stephanie had just noticed that Paul didn't even give something special to her.
Meanwhile, Paul was sitting in his hotel room a mess. He was looking and fidgeting with the heart locket. He knew that all four of his girls were asleep right now and had no clue of what was going on at home but he hoped that they were being good for Stephanie. He opened the locket and saw those angels of his. A tear swelled up in his eye. He had never taken it off this whole time and he made a promise to himself that he wouldn't. He couldn't sleep. He couldn't stop thinking about them. He kissed the picture and closed the locket and remembered a time where all of them got along. But that was before Murphy got into mischief all the time and before she picked on Vaughn. He didn't know what changed that.
Murphy, his little trouble maker. The things she did always made him chuckle. Which always got him into trouble with Stephanie and little Vaughn. He knew that if he ever got her something that I mite get broken but he still need to give her something special but he just didn't know what. He had a couple of ideas but those ideas would have Stephanie furious. He loved how she would try at least everything. His favorite thing to do is wrestle with her, lightly though. Some days she would attack him and catch him off guard and almost take him down.
Vaughn, his little taddle tale. The things she did always got him into trouble with Stephanie. Don't want to tell her to not tell Mommy because she'll run straight to her if you don't catch her, Mommy's pal through and through. But he knew that her heart still had room for him.
Aurora, his big sweet heart and pal. It always killed him just thinking about how she always is dormant when he's gone. Stephanie always told him and let him talk to her but she sounded like she was half herself. He tried his best all the time but he knew that she would be more happy if he was home more. She told him all of her secrets and he never told Stephanie if it wasn't serious. Some times she would just run in and say hi and then try every way to stay and bug him while he worked in the office at home. A daddy's girl through and through and truthfully he liked each and every one of them to come and bug him, make him smile and make his day.
They mean the world to him and right now he was ripped up inside to not be with them. Right now he could be forced to play Tea Party with them, even though they could be asleep. Do arts and crafts with them. They had really good art skills for their age. Play house with them and kick their imaginary husbands butts. Just the thought of some boy hurting them made his skin crawl. That lucky bastard better run if they even lay a finger on them. Paul kept with his thoughts and had almost tears in his eyes. He absolutely hated this! He laid down the line. This day forward he wouldn't be gone for more than at least two days. He got up and laid down and at least tried to sleep but failed.
Stephanie got all of them ready for bed and tucked in. She walked into her bedroom and climbed into bed. Then suddenly she heard a little knock on the door. Stephanie lightly said "Come in."
Aurora appeared with a tear in her eye once again. "Mommy, can I sleep with you?" She asked.
Stephanie pulled back the covers on Paul's side and Aurora ran and jumped in. She cuddled up to Paul's pillow and smiled. Stephanie pulled the covers over her. Aurora couldn't sleep because she didn't have her action figure thanks to Murphy. Stephanie looked at her affectionately and stroked her hair as she fell asleep, still had a death grip on the pillow. At least she was content Stephanie thought. Stephanie had just realized that she had called her mommy again. She hasn't done that for a year. It warmed her heart.
In the morning, Stephanie awoke with Aurora cuddled up to her and the pillow. She smiled. Stephanie stroked her hair once again and tried to wake her up. Aurora wined every time she tried. Stephanie decided to get up and let her sleep but right as she did Aurora sprung up and ran to her room. Stephanie got dressed and had trouble waking up both Vaughn and Murphy. To bad that they share a wall. They must have been arguing all night until one of them past out. Stephanie was surprised that they didn't come out of their rooms and fight last night and also that she didn't hear them. Vaughn was first to stumble out with Ellie wrapped in her arms. She ran down stairs and sat at the table the best she could. "Get up and get dressed Murphy. You better be on your best behavior today!" Stephanie said as she was walking down the stairs.
Of course Murphy still didn't hear a word she said. Stephanie mite as well said pick on your sisters, break things, and get into mischief!
Stephanie started breakfast with Vaughn constantly bugging her with questions. Like when is daddy coming home and Why? Why? Why? She had just started the "Why?" stage. One of the most annoying and cute stages. Murphy quickly and quietly sneaked up on Vaughn and scared her. Vaughn screamed one of the most loudest screams she had ever heard. Which made Stephanie jump and burn her hand a little. Stephanie sucked in air and shook her hand. She rushed over to the sink to run cold water on it. "Murphy Claire Levesque, why must you always got to bug your sister's?" Stephanie said annoyed.
Aurora came in and Murphy started on her, which Aurora was having none of it! She pushed Murphy away, which got her into trouble with Stephanie. Aurora was still pretty pissed off with her but still Murphy didn't get the signals. Murphy started to tug on Aurora's hair, which then Aurora slapped her hand away but still Murphy kept pushing her buttons. Murphy started to poke her repeatedly and Aurora just snapped. "LEAVE ME ALONE!" Aurora shouted right in Murphy's face!
She sounded just like her mother. It didn't even phase Murphy. She just smiled deviously. Stephanie quickly turned around and saw Aurora still face to face with Murphy. To Murphy it was all a joke. Aurora was getting madder by the minute because of the smile on her face. The anger just kept building and building and Aurora knocked Murphy down and started to hit her. Stephanie rushed over and pulled them apart. Vaughn of course tried to help mommy. She went after Murphy and started to shake her finger at her and proceeded to say "NO Murphy!"
Murphy just shrugged Vaughn off. She knocked her down and Vaughn started to cry a little but quickly stopped because she ran off to tell Mommy. Stephanie put Aurora in her room and proceeded to scolded her. Aurora was trying her best to defend herself but Stephanie was still having none of it. Vaughn ran in yelling "Murphy pushed me! Murphy pushed me!"
Stephanie finished scolding Aurora and then went to go and put Murphy into time out yet again. Vaughn stuck by Stephanie's side and helped her with her hand. Vaughn kissed the spot where Stephanie said it hurt. "There Mommy, a kiss to make the boo boo better." Vaughn said sweetly.
Stephanie smiled, gave her a hug and a kiss on her head, and then told her to go and play with Ellie. Vaughn ran off and got Ellie and then ran back to Stephanie. Stephanie shook her head and put her hands on her hips. Stephanie couldn't have some peace and quiet, she had a little puppy always following her around. She loved her little pal but she needed to calm down and rest. She had to much on her.
Stephanie continued to cook and serve it on the plates. She brought Aurora hers and took Murphy into the kitchen. They all ate almost peacefully. Of course Murphy kept picking on Vaughn. Stephanie separated them but Murphy kept trying her hardest to get under her skin. Stephanie was getting frustrated.
Meanwhile Paul had canceled all of the stuff he had to do tomorrow and finished up all he had to do today. Paul had decided to come home early. He didn't tell Stephanie or the girls. Of course he wanted to surprise them. He hopped on a jet and went straight home. He quietly opened the door and shut it slowly. He went straight to the kitchen where he knew Stephanie would be. He tip toed over to her. Vaughn noticed him and yelled "DADDY! "
"Honey, Daddy isn't going to be here until tomorrow." Stephanie said without turning around.
Paul wrapped his arms around her hips and rested his chin on her shoulder. Stephanie jumped. She turned around and saw him and gave him a kiss. "Hey Babe!" Paul said.
Stephanie gently smacked him. "That was for scaring me!" Stephanie said.
Vaughn was jumping on his leg with her arms up in the air. He picked her up, hugged her, and then kissed her. He put her down and went straight to Aurora's room. She was laying on her bed when she noticed that someone was in her room but she thought it was Stephanie so she didn't look up. "Hey, how's my pal?" Paul said.
Aurora sprung up and ran to him and yelled "DADDY!"
He picked her up and swung her around. Aurora hugged him as tightly as she could. Aurora told him all about what Murphy had done. All he could do is laugh. But then she told him about her action figure. He tried to put her down but she wouldn't let go. He walked in Murphy's room and she also yelled daddy. He gave her a hug and asked why did she do that to the action figure. Murphy just ignored him and hugged his leg. He continued to try to walk down stairs with Aurora still clung to him and with Murphy clung to his leg. Stephanie and Vaughn went to greet him again. Vaughn ran up and got his other leg. All four girls giggled. Murphy kept swatting Vaughn and Vaughn kept wining and smacking her back. Paul surprisingly and successfully same it down the stairs. He walked over to Stephanie and wrapped his free arm around her and said "I'm finally back with all of my girls. Hey, you two down there. Stop fighting!"
Murphy and Vaughn stopped fighting and still clung to him. He just remembered that he had finally got Murphy something. He went to his suitcase with all of his daughters still on him. He bent down and put it on the table. He pulled out a blanket with a family picture on it and gave it to Murphy. She cuddled up to the part of his face and ran and put it on her bed. Vaughn kissed his cheek and told his about how Murphy put the hold on her. Stephanie was still kinda mad at that. Stephanie gave him a small glare. He looked at Stephanie and said "okay, I will talk to her."
He looked at Aurora and told her that she needed to let go and that he would play with her and her sisters later. She agreed and went back to her room. Paul went to talk with Murphy. Murphy was happy with her blanket. "Hey Daddy." Murphy said with a smile on her face.
"Hey Murphy. Now Murphy you can't be wrestling with your sister's, not quite yet. But you can get me and attack me but not them." Paul said.
"Ok Daddy!" Murphy said.
He opened up his arms and she ran and hugged him. "Hey, why don't we go to the park with everyone. Doesn't that sound like fun?" He asked Murphy.
Murphy started to jump up and down and started to loudly say YES!
