Hey there, dudes and dudettes! It's time for yet another suspenseful chapter of JAS! This time we're gonna focus on the girls, and see where their search lands them. There's gonna be some rough and soft moments as April and Alya find themselves connecting with two important people in their respective lives. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my OC's.

Chapter 25: Reunited with Daddy

April and Alya were currently hiding in one of the empty rooms. This was after they were nearly spotted by someone. And right now, April was checking her mother's phone and saw the message from Harry.

"I gotta text from Harry. He and Theo found my Mom." April said to Alya as they hid in a room.

"Really? That's great. But... just your Mom?" Alya asked.

"I guess so..."

"I hope they find my Mom and Dad too..."

"They will... we will..."

April looked back at the phone again, and her heart sank when she read the next message Harry sent to her.

Be careful. One of Reagan's men said they saw you, so now Reagan's searching for you too...

"And... now the bad guys know we're here..." She sighed, "I knew this was a bad idea from the start."

Alya looked at their surroundings, "I know... but there's no turning back now. If we get caught... then... I can't see a good outcome..."

"Me neither..."

The girls continued to sit in the empty room for what felt like hours until they decided to make a move again. They made their way out of the room and down the empty hallways again.

Nobody was in sight, but that didn't mean the coast was entirely clear. One of the bad guys could pop up out of nowhere and catch them.

And if that happened... then that could possibly be game over for them.

To protect one another, the girls held on to each other. As they walked, Alya could only think about her father. Thinking of the horrifying screams of pain they had heard not too long ago that sounded so familiar to him.

If that really was him...then those people were doing awful things to him.

And the thought of that devastated her.

"I know my Daddy isn't the nicest of people..." She said, more so to herself than to April, "But he tries his best... he really does. He's the best Daddy I could ever ask for. Why are these people punishing him for his past mistakes?! Why are they hurting him?! He doesn't deserve it!"

April who hear her friend starting to sob as she stopped to hug her, "It's gonna be okay. We'll save him... we'll save everyone..."

"How do you know we can do it?" Alya tearfully asked, "We're just kids! We could get killed!"

"I know... I have my doubts too. But like you said before, there's no turning back now. We just gotta do everything we can... we'll figure something out."

"I hope so..."

With that, the two pressed on. For about five minutes they walked and dodged any of the villains that seemed to be coming their way. There were plenty of rooms, and the girls wondered if any of the adults were in them.

After climbing a set of stairs... they heard footsteps.

"Someone's coming..." April looked around before seeing a door, "Quick, in there."

The two slipped into the dark room and shut the door. They listened closely just the footsteps walked by.

"I think... I think the coast is clear." April whispered.

"Oh really? Cause I think you girls need glasses."

April and Alya jumped at the sound of that voice before they were suddenly grabbed from behind. One look above and they could see who it was.

Hammerhead Rex.

Speaking of, he kicked the door open and carried the girls downstairs, where he approached... the man the girls paled at seeing again.

"I caught them, boss. I figured if I hid, they'd hide too." Rex explained as he dropped to children to the ground.

Reagan smirked, "For once you're using your brain, Hammerhead. Nice work."

April and Alya held onto each other as the master criminal approached then. The look on his face told them that he had plans... not so nice ones either.

"Well now. I figured that you brats would come to save your parents..." He said, "But now you're gonna see why that was a big mistake coming here."

"W-W-Why don't y-you leave us alone and g-give us our parents back?!" April stuttered.

The villain laughed, "You even have Dumb Donald's stutter. And he's not even your father."

"Yes, he is!" The twelve-year-old shot back, "He is my dad!"

"Oh really? Even though it was Rudy who fucked your mother behind Donald's back, and as a result, conceived you?"

"I don't care about that! Donald is still my dad regardless."

Reagan just snorted, "You mean it doesn't hurt deep down. Knowing that you're the daughter of a pimp. And you can't bring yourself to interact with him because of the hurt."

April looked down, not wanting to answer that. Alya could sense that her friend was uncomfortable, and began rubbing her shoulders for comfort.

"And you..." Reagan smirked at Alya, "I believe we still have some unfinished business, my darling. I still have some revenge to unleash upon your father."

"Please don't hurt him..." The girl pleaded, "Please... I know he's not always a good person, but-"

"I know he's not a good person! He's a good for nothing lying scamming sleazeball of a bastard. He screwed me over. He screwed me out of a good deal, he screwed me out of being the best pimp in New York. So I just want to get even with him."

Alya frowned, "But he's not like that anymore! He's changed."

"That's what you think. But if you ask me... he's about the same... you've noticed that he and your mother have been fighting, and tried to hide it from you. And you're convinced that they don't love you..."

"Of course they... oh..." Alya was suddenly reminded of the night she discovered her parents spat, the things she had heard, and the conclusion she came to that they may not love her.

Could she have possibly jumped to conclusions?

Reagan caught her look, and chuckled, "Just as I thought... they're both a bunch of finks, and you know it! Your daddy never wanted you when your mother became pregnant, and your mother tried to kill you while she was high. They don't care as much as you think they do."

"You're wrong! They do care! I know they do!" Alya shot back, getting frustrated.

"Oh do they? Then perhaps it's that they don't care about each other. I know your Daddy sure as hell doesn't care about your slutty mother."

He then reached into his coat pocket, and pulled something out, "Remember when a man by the name of Arnie gave you a letter to give to your mother...?"

Alya was confused but nodded as she stared at what was a picture in his hand.

"Well... here is what was inside."

Reagan handed the girl the picture and smirked wider when she gasped at what she was seeing.

Her father was kissing another woman at the nightclub.

Not her mother...

... But some random women...

"No... no... it can't be..."

"It is... face it, Alya darling. Your father is nothing more than a greedy cheating manwhore. He may care about you, but he cares about himself more..." The criminal grinned.

Alya dropped the picture and held her head, "No... my Daddy loves my Momma... he does love her... you're lying!"

"Still don't believe me, I see. Well, how about I take you to visit your 'beloved' Daddy? I'm sure he's dying to see you."

Was he serious? Would he really take her to her father? Alya wasn't sure if she would believe him, even as he held his hand out for her.

She looked at April, who seemed just as confused and wary. However, against her better judgment, and really wanting to see her father... she allowed Reagan to take her hand.

"Good girl, darling... and April, would you like to see him too? After all, he is your dad too."

April glared at him, "NO! I want to see MY dad!"

"Very well. Hammerhead, take her to Donald. I'm sure he'll be happy to see her. And then head down to my office for an emergency meeting."

"Sure thing, boss man."

With that, Rex lifted April up again and carried her away. As for Alya, she was being pulled by Reagan.

"Let's go, shall we?"

Three minutes later...

"Oh, Rudolph! You have company."

Reagan opened the door to one of the rooms and led Alya inside. The preteen girl gasped at what she saw.

Her father was on the floor, bruised and bloody. He slowly looked up to see what was in front of him, "Alya... baby..." He moaned.

Gabe was sitting in a chair, smoking.

"You give him Hell?" Reagan asked.

"I sure did." Gabe smirked, "He wasn't so tough this time around. But I think I've done my part. Now, where's the reward you promised?"

"You'll get it when I'm ready. Now, why don't leave little Alya for some alone time with her Daddy? Head to my office. A meeting is in order."

"Right..."

With that, the two men left, closing the door and locking.

For Alya, she approached her injured father and helped him to sit up, "Daddy... it's gonna be okay. I'll help you..." She said.

Rudy groaned as he looked at his daughter, "Alya... what are you doing here... did he kidnap you?"

"No. Theo, Harry, April, and I found out where you were, and we snuck in to find you."

"You shouldn't be here. It's not safe... you should get out while you can. Don't worry about me..."

Alya frowned, "I'm not leaving without you or Mom."

"You don't understand. Reagan is much more dangerous this time. He might actually kill you."

"I know! But we know what we're doing... somewhat. Come on, let me untie you."

Rudy moved away, "No... don't bother, sweetheart. You shouldn't even give me a second thought. I don't deserve it..."

The preteen was shocked. What was her father trying to say? Why was he acting like this?

"Daddy... it's gonna be okay... please..."

"No, Alya. You need to get out of here. Find your mother, and get out while you can. But just leave me..."

"Why on Earth would I ever leave you?"

"BECAUSE I'M A TERRIBLE EXCUSE OF A PERSON!"

That outburst made Alya jump. She stared in surprise as her father started to breathe heavily before those breaths devolved into sobs.

"I'm a terrible person..." Rudy choked, tears running down his face, "I'm a terrible manager, a terrible fiance', and worst of all... a terrible father..."

"No... no, it's not true..." Alya said softly, "You're a great father..."

"But look what I've done!" The rich man cried, "Baby girl, I caused a lot of trouble as a kid! I wasn't there for my father in his time of need, screwed my best friend over, I raised you in an inappropriate environment, barely paid attention to you for that matter, derived you of knowing your mother for the first ten years of your life, fought with said mother, kissed someone behind her back, and tried so hard to hide it from you, but you noticed at the worst possible time and made you think that we hate you, which could be farther from the truth! And now, here I am being tortured by someone else I screwed over! This is all my fault!"

All Alya could do was hugged her father as he cried. She rubbed his back soothingly, the same way he would do for her whenever she was sad. She wasn't sure what to say to him. She didn't know much about everything he pointed out, aside from those last few points.

But she knew one thing... he was being too hard on himself right now...

"Daddy..." She started softly, "It's not your fault... I know you've made mistakes before... but that doesn't make you a bad person... you've changed since then... and you're getting better..."

Rudy sniffled, "Really...? 'Cause I feel like I haven't changed at all..."

"Y'know... that's exactly what Reagan said to me before he brought me here... but I know it's not true... you're trying, Daddy. And... I know you and Mom don't hate me... I was just... scared at what I saw..."

"Princess... I'm so... so... sorry..."

"You don't have to apologize... it's okay..."

After a few minutes, Rudy had calmed himself as he looked at Alya, "Thank you so much, sweetie. I think I needed that... I guess I wish I go back and change some things..."

"We all wish we could do that..." Alya said with a smile, "But... we just have to keep moving on..."

"You're right..."

Rudy sighed as he reached into his pocket, and pulled out Danielle's ring, "Your mother gave me this... I'm not sure why... but I have a good idea about it... but let's not worry about it too much. Let's focus on getting outta here, okay?"

"Okay!" Was his daughter's response.

Meanwhile...

"Dad..."

April sat face to face with her father. After she was thrown into the room by Rex, she was alone with him now. Donald looked no better than Rudy at the moment, though he appeared to have fewer injuries. All April could do was try to nurse him as best as she could.

"It's gonna be okay, Dad..." She said softly, "I'll help you..."

"A-A-April... w-what a-are you doing here? D-Did they h-hurt you...?" Donald stuttered.

"No... we snuck in here to save you guys... you, Mom, and everyone else..."

"O-Oh..."

Much to April's benefit, there happened to be a first aid kit in the room they were trapped in. So she went about treating Donald's injuries. But as she did, she couldn't help but think about the things Reagan said to her. About Donald not being her real father. Although she had gotten a good reassurance last year from Donald himself that she had nothing to worry about...

... These feelings of doubt somehow started to come back...

Donald watched as she bandaged his arm, and smiled, "Y-You're good at this... y-you should b-be a nurse..."

The preteen giggled with a blush, "T-Thanks... I always have thought about that as a career choice... um, Dad?"

"Y-Yeah, baby..."

"... I'm your daughter... right? Do I feel like your daughter to you...?"

As dimwitted as he could be, Donald understood what she said, and was still confused by that question, "What? O-Of course you're my daughter. I'm your Dad, aren't I? So that makes you my daughter."

April sighed, "It's just that... I guess I remembered how you're not my birth father... Mr. Davis is... and... I dunno..."

"I-I know that's tough and all... but I've said it before. I may not have been your dad at some point... but I'm your dad now. And I'll always love you no matter what."

Donald expected her to hug him, but she just sat there with a frown, as if she wasn't convinced. The man sighed, "Okay... for while after you were born... you didn't feel like my kid. When I found out that you weren't... I was mad. Madder than I've ever been. Not at you, though. But more than that... I was hurt... hurt by my best friend... someone that I was supposed to trust screwed me over. But as time went on... I wanted to protect you... because as far as I'm concerned... you ARE my kid... and I AM your dad... and I don't care who you came from..."

April looked at him. This was yet another reassurance that she needed, "Oh, Dad..." She smiled a little, "Thank you... I didn't know how much I needed to hear that again... it's just that... the man brought this up... he said some things..."

Her father frowned deeply at hearing that, "Forget what that man says. He just doesn't know the bond we have. We're family, and don't let anybody else tell ya otherwise..."

"I won't... I love you, Dad..."

"I love you too, baby..."

The two then shared a tender hug. As they did, Donald looked at the locked door, "W-We gotta get outta here somehow..." He said, "But I'm sure that door is locked."

April scratched the back of her head... before she felt something. Pulling it out, she could see that it was a hairpin. She smiled, "I think I know the way... Mom always said these come in handy..."

Well, both the girls reunite with their fathers, who share their problems with their daughters. Alya assures Rudy that he's a good person, and April is reassured that Donald loves her as a daughter no matter what. Next chapter we'll get back to the boys, and see that meeting the villains are having. Until then, I'll see you guys later. And as always, don't forget to review, please. Thank you.