For those who haven't figured it out yet, this is no longer temporary.

Sorry it's so short been busy like crazy.

Chapter 25

Inquiries and Answers

With helping Arcade, renovations at work, high tensions at home, and Candy's shopping insanity. The first two weeks of November had simply flown by. His helping Arcade had dwindled to him calling him at least once a week, Todd was still confused by the Rabbit girl from the party, but she seemed to have hopped right into helping Arcade deal with his father's murder. Which was still an open case.. The renovations at the China Den… excuse him, the Dragon's Den as it was being rechristened in January had now just become he, Raven, Sinclair, and Nathan now…. Mostly he and Sinclair. As Raven was often busy with work…. Which Todd was still curious about, he could just assume she was a martial arts instructor or something but Todd liked to imagine Candy's mom as a spy for some reason… Candy however had simply rolled her eyes at this thought. Nathan had gone off back to his restaurant or something…. Which just left he and Sinclair. Which was his current company at this moment.

"Yo, Sinclair…. I think you should have just let the contractor put this stuff in," said Todd as he looked at the assembly required new tables.

"And pay them a hundred each for something we could do ourselves, nonsense," said Sinclair as he got the drill, "So have you had a chance to look at our new menu, just arrived today…. You know considering I'm he main cook around here I didn't even get a say in what they looked like or said."

"Are they purple," said Todd as he assembled the legs of a table, Candy had been helping with those menus.

"No actually…." Todd raised his eyebrow in surprise at Sinclair, "I was informed its violet."

"Violet," laughed Todd at Sinclair's defeated sigh, "I can see our future house, yo… It'll be all purple and she'll call it Lavender."

"Wait until she tries passing off China Rose, you think it's red but OH NO, it's purple…. Her sister Nature is the same way… actually Carmella was the only one who wasn't obsessed with a particular color…" Sinclair's smile faltered, "We all have our obsessions."

"Do you ohm, ever get any updates on the case," said Todd, he'd been meaning to talk to Candy about it, current events had made him curious.

"We used too, this December will be three years actually… but still nothing," said Sinclair, his face grave, "We all have ways of dealing with it though. I'll find something to do to keep busy, Candy escapes into shopping, and Raven becomes obsessed with the case in general…."

"Sorry I brought it up," said Todd as he saw Sinclair's eyes begin to shift as if trying to get the tears that wanted to come from braking free.

"Don't apologize for asking a question, it's ridiculous. No one ever learns anything by never inquiring….. but as we were saying…. How's this house looking your apparently mentally moving in with my daughter, huh?" said Sinclair giving Todd a raised eyebrow, Todd backed tracked on what he'd said and laughed nervously.

Todd headed passed the malls fountain to go grab he and Sinclair some dinner, on Sinclair of course. As the restaurant wasn't open, the supply of food was officially gone for the season so it wouldn't spoil over winter. So the Sub Queen was the destination for this evening's food. He yelped in surprise as two arms wrapped around his chest.

"You are going to be the death of me," said Todd, taking a deep breath as he spun around to see an amused but surprised Candy with a good amount of bags on her elbows.

"Sorry baby, I didn't know you were zoning," she smiled as he took some of the bags and held her hand, "Still working?"

"Dinner run," shrugged Todd, "Shopping spree much."

"Eh, It's hard shopping for any of my half-siblings, so if I find something I go for it… It's even harder for my cousins," said Candy, "But I still don't know what else to get you."

"I can imagine shopping for a famous singer would be hard, yo," Todd smirked, "Baby, you don't have to get me anything."

"Actually Zodiac's the easiest to shop for, Tietonia and Daisha are a pain… luckily I don't have nearly as many cousins as they have on their side of the family…. Also, I already got you something; I'm just not done yet."

"Well if that's the case we're gonna have to do some dialoguing," he smirked and put his arm around her.

Todd lay on Candy's bed looking at her current magazines, hoping for something she'd dog eared or anything really. Candy herself was currently in the kitchen with her mother talking about something that had apparently been important. He'd gotten off of work a short while after getting dinner at the prompting from Raven who'd told Sinclair to take a break and stop keeping him late. This led to another quick stop at the Sub Queen and all of them eating dinner together. Candy came in beaming and dove on the bed next to him, he smirked.

"Someone's happy, what's up babe," said Todd as he closed the magazine and rolled over to look at her, he found it cute the way her nose crinkled when she beamed.

"The New York Business Social," she said proudly, "This year they're doing a type of dance slash fundraiser, so everyone's families are invited."

"That's cool… No idea what that is but if it makes you happy," he shrugged, imagining a bunch of stuffy people in suites and ties dancing around their desks.

"Oh it's this huge yearly event that invites dozens of business owners and socialites to a charity auction, this year it's turned into a kind of formal dance as well….." She smiled at him, Todd couldn't figure out why.

"I feel there's something I should do or say, babe," said Todd, "I mean it sounds like it's gonna be… interesting."

"Todd dear, did Candy ask you?" asked Raven as she walked by the doorway.

"Oh, you want me to go to the dance thing with ya?" asked Todd, feeling stupid, Candy beamed.

"Oh no not that, we already assumed you were coming, I asked Candy to invite you and your family to Thanksgiving dinner, dear," smiled Raven, "Sinclair likes to go all out for it."

"Oh yeah… do you think the Brotherhood would want to come to dinner?" asked Candy, her excitement switching to nerves.

"Well they never turn down free food," said Todd, "But uh, they're kind of a wilder group….and your home is so nice."

"Oh sweet heart, imagine our family reunion… Then imagine all of our lovely family confined in one area with Football involved. I dare say your family can't do much more damage… That's why we even put away all the good furniture," said Raven continuing on her way to her bedroom.

"It'd be interesting," smiled Candy, "But really I'm more excited about the dance.

"I'm worried about your house withstanding the Brotherhood… or standing in general," said Todd looking at the room imagining the structure crumbling.

"If the house catches fire or blows up it really wouldn't be the first time… there was once a chemistry set and that's all you need to know," said Candy, "But the dance, are you okay with going. I wanted to ask you not assume like my parents do."

"Do you mind if I bust out a blue, ruffled, bow-tied suite… Circas sixties style, I got it out of the attic and I find it quite fetching, yo," shrugged Todd, it was the only one he owned and it wasn't even his.

"Mind? I have the perfect dress to go with that," beamed Candy running to her closet.

"Is it purple?" asked Todd, feeling he already knew the answer.

"No, oh this is great…. Belinda mocked me when I bought it," she pulled out a dress that Todd could only say was dated and yet awesome at the same time. The skirt part was a pale blue and had a large bow around the high waist, and the top half was white with bishop sleeve and white ruffles at the top.

"Yo, it's blue…" said Todd as he looked at the dress, "We are gonna be the finest couple there."

"Do you know ballroom dance, in case the situation arises?" asked Candy, beaming, "I could show you."

"Oh, I know how to dance," said Todd leaping up to spin her around, "When is this dance thing, cause I think we should send out a letter to prepare them for our entrance."

"Nah, let them be surprised," laughed Candy as they continued their rendition of a ball room dance in her room.

TO BE CONTINUED