"Dad?" gasped Tooth. "I thought your parents were dead!"

"I never said they were dead," replied Jack quietly, her eyes never leaving the older gentleman on the other side of the room.

"But you said-"

"I said I came to the orphanage when I was four, I never said that my parents were dead."

"But then-"

"Tooth, shut up!" growled Aster. "If you can't stay quiet, go back to the room but seriously, shut up. Nick!"

"Darling, I don't think we're supposed to even be here right now, so we have to be quiet if we don't want to get sent back to bed," said Nick gently, glaring at his best friend. "I'm sure Jack will explain everything later."

"Jack, come sit with me," suggested her father.

"Aster, Nick, Tooth, Sandy, you won't be needed," said Mr. Rob, his voice pleasant but dangerous.

"We'll just sit over here, then," said Aster, moving to sit out of the way on the couch near the closet that held all the presents.

Nick, Tooth, and Sandy joined him on the long couch, all looking confused but staying silent so Mr. Rob turned his back on them and let them stay. Jack approached the two men as if they were going to jump up and start a fight. She perched on the awkwardly orange armchair and waited.

"It took a while to track you down," said Mr. Frost conversationally.

Jack just stared at him, her face unreadable.

"Mr. Rob's been telling me what a handful you still are," continued Mr. Frost as if his daughters silence meant nothing. "Can't say I'm surprised. I told him a good beating's the only way to get through to you."

"What do you want, dad?" asked Jack, her voice tired and dull.

Tooth was silently crying into Nick's shoulder, shocked at the admission by Jack's own father coupled with the understanding that her parents weren't dead, they gave her up. Nick stroked her arm and sat drinking it all in, learning more about Jack in a few sentences than he had in over a month of knowing her. Sandy looked ready to kill and Aster was sitting patiently, his eyes never leaving Jack.

"Your mom died," said Mr. Frost.

"I know," replied Jack, her tone still dull. "A few years back. If that's all you wanted to tell me then I think I'll just go back to bed."

She got to her feet.

"Sit down, girl!" roared Mr. Frost, causing the teens on the other couch to jump but Jack to smirk coldly.

"Ah, so what are you really here for?" asked Jack, remaining on her feet and crossing her arms.

"You are worthless."

"I already know that."

"I was right to kick you out all those years ago."

"I'm sure you feel that way."

"I wish I'd kick your mom in the stomach as soon as I found out she was pregnant with you."

"Really? You've had nearly 14 years to think up knew insults and you didn't bother trying?"

"Why you little-"

He back handed her so hard she fell. Tooth let out a little scream and Aster had to be held back by Sandy so he wouldn't pounce on the man. Mr. Rob and Mr. Frost had seemed to forgotten the group of four friends.

"Why are you here?" demanded Jack again, glaring up at the man.

"Quite frankly, to see what I'm not missing," chuckled Mr. Frost rudely. "Mr. Rob and I here go way back and when he told me he had my child here I thought I would check up on you. Now that I see you, I can tell you haven't changed a bit."

"And you're still just as much of a bully."

"You'll never be worth anything. Haven't you figured that out yet? Your own parents didn't even want you, why would anyone else? Your parents, who are biologically programmed to love you and even we couldn't stand you!"

Jack looked down for the first time, studying her feet.

"Now, get out of my sight!" hissed Mr. Frost, shoving her to the ground.

Jack scooted until a big hand hauled her up by the arm. She looked up to Aster's concerned face but didn't say anything as he pulled her from the room, closely followed by Nick, Tooth, and Sandy, who signed something intensely rude to the older men before leaving. They were silent until they reached the attic bedroom. Aster sat Jack on the bed with next to him, Sandy scooted the armchair to face them, while Tooth and Nick sat on Sandy's bed.

"Well, now you have all met my father," said Jack trying half heartedly to grin but not fooling anyone. "You can see where I get my charm."

"I thought your parents were dead," stated Nick, his booming voice low and intimidating causing Jack to unconsciously scoot closer to Aster, the only one she allowed to touch her. "Explain."

"And please, Jacky, no more half truths," begged Tooth shrilly. "We're your friends, we're not like them, and we want to help. We care about you."

"It's not personal," stated Jack, looking at the comforter she twisted between her hands. "It's really not, I swear. I just don't know how to go about explaining. It's not like I want to lie to you guys and it's not like I don't want to tell you, because I really do, I just never wanted to share before so I don't know where to start. No one's ever cared before."

"Why don't you begin at the beginning," suggested Aster. "And then do on until you reach the end. And then stop."

"Don't be cheeky," said Jack, a small smile tugging at her lips.

The four looked at her expectantly as she pushed her hair out of her eyes and took a deep breath.

"I'll tell you everything," said Jack slowly. "But can we please go to my room. I know my dad, he's not going to leave it at that and it'd be better if we relocated to a place he can't find or at least reach easily."

"Sounds good to me," shrugged Aster.

After the five of them had clambered into the loft room, pulled up the ladder and shut the door, latching it securely, they arranged themselves as comfortably as possible, Tooth and Nick leaning against the wall under the round window, Sandy sitting on the old trunk, and Aster and Jack huddled on the mattress.

"Okay," said Jack. "Here goes nothing."

*Hey! Thank you all for the reviews and concern! I'm okay, just very sore, bruised, and scratched. I pretty much managed to take all the skin off the palm of my left hand (which isn't good because I'm left handed) and I'm allergic to the adhesive on bandaids and my entire left leg is a giant purple bruise. Awesome. But here's your chapter! Have a great day!-Ari