Going into Kneesock's home office without permission would have dire consequences, regardless if she were there at the time of entry. Anklet never really got punished for intruding, save for that one time where she knocked over a tray of papers and had to clean up as punishment. Kneesocks just didn't like people walking inside her office; just a pet peeve.

And yet, Anklet knocked on the door and asked to be let in.

"I'm not hungry Stocking." Kneesocks stated through the door.

"It's me mommy." Anklet replied. "Can I come in?"

"Is it important?" Kneesocks groaned. The Great Dine-N-Dasher court day was coming up, and she needed to ready herself for the trial. Apparently, the man had gotten a better lawyer during the storm, one such lawyer that annoyed Kneesocks on previous occasions. She needed to be a little detached from her family life if she wanted to bring resolution to this headache of a case.

"It's about Panty's family." Kneesocks looked up from her work, getting somewhat interested. "I think they're in trouble."

Kneesocks took a few seconds to consider it. Panty always was trouble, and could have easily gone back to her own ways, with Scanty and Gee being dragged along for the ride. Taking off her glasses and massaging her temples, she then ordered, "Come in."

Anklet slowly walked into the office, and closed the door behind her by twisting the knob and holding it like that until the door was closed. The office remained the same way Anklet saw it about six months ago; messy with papers stacked all over, window blinds closed and dusty, and the bookshelf with a cracked shelf still remained broken and useless. Anklet made her way through the tower of books and sat down in the black leather chair.

"I'm guessing Gee told you something." Kneesocks started, putting her glasses back on.

"Actually, it's something I learned on my own." Anklet reached down and pulled down the creases on her shirt. "I noticed, while we were at Auntie Panty's house, that Panty was on the phone a lot." She held up a hand. "It didn't sound like her usual calls…this one sounded more…" She tapped her fingers together, trying to find words she wasn't old enough to use. "…scared."

"Scared?" Kneesocks' hand touched her phone. In the past, people that Kneesocks took to court have threatened both Kneesocks and Scanty's families. If the phone call Anklet overheard was a blackmailer (Possibly related to the deal Panty just made with Volcano & Blizzard) or someone related to the Great Dine-N-Dasher made a threat (God knows why anyone would commit a greater crime to save him) the family would need immediate protection.

"She didn't sound like she got spooked…" Anklet tried to find a better descriptive word. "…worried?"

"She sounded she was about to get into trouble?"

"Somewhat…" Anklet rocked her feet back and forth. "She blushed and told him to 'not call him here.'"

"Him?"

"I could hear a boy's voice."

"Are you sure it's a boy? This caller could be using a fake voice…"

"He sounded tough, just like Mr. Clarence." Anklet mentioned her gym teacher, who Kneesocks had met before, and he did have a rather gruff voice. But the man himself had a gay lover and even outright admitted towards Kneesocks he never girls unattractive. Given his clean record, Kneesocks could believe him. "But he sounded younger..."

"And how is this important?" Kneesocks asked in her attorney's voice.

"She seemed to be trouble with his boy." Anklet tapped her fingers together. She really didn't know how to respond to her 'father' when she put on her questioning airs. Again, she looked for the right way of responding. "She blushed, she undid her tie…"

"I think I get where this is going." Kneesocks concluded. "Thank you Anklet. I'll look into this, and report back to you when I get something." Anklet slowly nodded and left the office without another word. Kneesocks didn't say anything either, she just got to work writing down some possible ideas on Panty's

She hated her father…to a degree. Kneesocks could be a very loving parent, she did attend very significant event in Anklet's life on time, but she acted way too professional around her. Whenever Kneesocks tried to say something positive towards her daughter, it came off as flat and forced. Her smile came off as being more…political and meant for taking photos, it's that the word and phrase Anklet could use.

From what Anklet learned, her parents were complete opposite even back then. Stocking used to be a slacker and someone who could just be as rude, maybe even more so than Panty. But after arriving in the states, she got more serious about her actions and acted kinder to everyone else. Anklet couldn't even recall an single outburst from Stocking that didn't last longer than a minute nor had a lasting effect beyond a hour, save for the Rubber Ball incident. She became a better person to support her daughter.

But Kneesocks barely changed. She no longer lived by her rules and stopped rolling her 'r's, but her calm professional demeanor stuck on. Events were organized way in advance, friends were scanned before being let inside the house, a court officer hung around whenever they went shopping…Kneesocks treated life like a private business with more scrutiny than Panty. And Anklet hated Kneesocks for it.

Not that she would tell her own 'father' out right. Anklet was just so confused. She put her hands in her pockets…forgetting she wore a skirt today. Exhaling, she made her downstairs, going past her birth-mother without saying anything to her. Stocking did ask how she was doing and raised a eyebrow when she didn't get a answer. Noticing the door to Kneesocks' was open, she climbed up the last part of the stairs and knocked on the door. "Kneesocks?" She asked.

Stocking could hear some a slight shuffling of papers before Kneesocks said, "Come in!" As she went in, Kneesocks' desk looked somewhat clearer than before. "I will get to this mess eventually. I promise…"

"Actually." Stocking held up a hand to stop her. "What was Anklet doing in here?"

"Something she wanted to keep private." Kneesocks quickly and effectively lied. "Sorry."

"I shouldn't interfere then." Stocking shook her head. "You in the mood for some chicken sandwiches."

"Lovely." Kneesocks blew a kiss at Stocking. "Oh…and tonight?" Kneesocks flashed a smile. "I'll wear my cowgirl costume…if you wear that nice maid outfit?" Stocking blushed and nodded her head before leaving. While the two were more reserved about their sexual life than their sisters, they did have their fantasies behind closed doors.

But seriously? Now a third cloud came over the household. Stocking suspected her sister of cheating, Kneesocks had a idea that her sister-in-law had a affair, and Anklet had the answer to her parent's questions, but couldn't remember it nor comprehend it.

The string that kept the family closely-knitted had started to unravel…