Chapter 3: A Permanent Home

King Dice was mostly asleep, but then heard the door to his room open. "Shh," a voice said softly. "Okay, go up and wake him gently."

A mostly-muffled giggle was heard next before it become quiet, which made the half-asleep man wonder if he was just imagining things when he felt the bed move a little, indicating someone was trying to climb up. He pretended to still be asleep as the person crawled up before stopping near his head. He sensed them look at him curiously before a hand gently patted his face. "Mr. Dice?" Came Monica's voice in a whisper.

He smiled, his eyes still closed before he suddenly opened them and moved, catching the child in his arms. A surprised squeal left her as she squirmed to get away, but he had a secure hold on her. "Well, well, what do I have here?" He chuckled in her ear, making her try to protect that ear with her shoulder. "A cute little angel who woke me up. Well, there's only one thing to do with her."

Monica burst into giggles as gentle fingers wiggled into her sides. King Dice chuckled as he tickled the child, blowing raspberries into her neck as he tickled her knees and feet, making her laugh even harder. When tears began to bud at the corners of her eyes, he stopped the tickle torture and lifted her up into a hug. Giggling, the child rested her head on his shoulder, nuzzling her head close to his neck. "Morning, Mr. Dice," she said happily.

He chuckled again. "Good morning, Monica," he said before looking to see a white tail hopping away. "Ah, that's how you got in."

She giggled. "Hopus told me I should wake you up. It's almost nine o'clock."

He looked at the time and sure enough, she was right. "I must have been more tired than I realized," he said. "Well, at least the casino is closed today, but I believe Chips' judge friend will be here soon."

"What's a judge?" Monica asked.

"Someone who oversees legal proceedings," he explained. Seeing she still looked confused, he elaborated a bit more. "You know how I was working on my paperwork yesterday?"

She nodded. "Well, sometimes I have things that require the law to look over to make sure everything is being done right," he continued.

"So you don't get in trouble?" She asked.

"Yes," he said with a smile before Pirouletta came in and she smiled at them.

"I was wondering where Monica went after getting dressed," she said.

The child giggled. "Hopus told me to wake up Mr. Dice," she said.

The dancer smiled. "Well, we best get to breakfast. Dice, isn't Chips' judge friend arriving at ten?"

"Yes," the owner of the casino said before gently setting Monica on the floor and getting out of bed himself, his purple pajamas looking a bit wrinkled, but smoothing out as he stretched. "Go with Aunty Pirouletta and I'll be out shortly."

"Okay, Mr. Dice," the little girl said with a smile before she hugged his legs. "I love you."

Dice froze at those words and Pirouletta gasped softly before a smile came to her face and the child went up to her. "Come, sweetie," the dancer said before leading the child out, but she glanced over at her boss and smiled at him.

The sound of the door closing made the man snap out of his stupor. The child loved him? As that sank in, he smiled and vowed that he was going to adopt that little girl the moment the judge gave him the papers. His heart warmed at the thought.

Monica had only been with them for two days and yet...it felt like she had always been there. He really hoped the judge would grant the adoption. Monica didn't deserve to be an orphan and he was going to make sure she was never an orphan again.

Dressing quickly, he joined the others for breakfast and they just finished up when the doorbell rang and Dice went to answer it, welcoming the judge in warmly. "Good morning, Your Honor," he said, surprised it was a lady judge.

She chuckled. "Wasn't expecting a lady, hmm?" She asked with a smile.

Thankfully he was quick with a witty reply. "I wasn't sure what to expect," he admitted. "This morning has been full of surprises."

The lady judge chuckled. "I'm Judge Fairlight," she said. "You must be the casino owner I've heard so much about from Chips. King Dice, correct?"

"Yes, ma'am," he said. "Shall we go to the living room?"

He would have suggested his office, but something made him want Monica to be there for this. "Yes," the judge said.

"Can I offer you any refreshments?" King Dice asked politely.

"No, thank you," she replied politely.

The sat in the living room and the judge pulled out some papers from her briefcase. "Chips gave me the details on the previous...adoptions, shall we say?...that Monica has been through."

The dice-headed man nodded, looking a bit disgusted. "I don't understand how they could do that to such a sweet little girl," he said. "She was so thin and starving when she snuck in here two nights ago that she devoured a whole plate of cold fried chicken and still looked hungry."

The judge looked saddened. "She probably had gone without food for a while," she said softly. "But...how did you get her to not run away?"

"Well, I had to chase her as she was intent on getting away, but after I caught her, she seemed...confused. Yes, confused. Like she was expecting me to hit her and when that didn't happen, she seemed unsure."

Judge Fairlight nodded. "A clear sign of abuse," she said. "Is Monica here now?"

"Yes, she is," he said before seeing Monica run in and Hopus was right behind her and he was chasing her as the child giggled and ran for Dice.

"Save me, Mr. Dice!" She cried out dramatically, jumping up at him as she laughed. He quickly caught her and pulled her into his lap, making her giggle and snuggle into his hug as Hopus gave a playful groan.

"Rats! She's quick," he said with a smile.

The owner of the casino chuckled. "Your Honor, this sweet angel is Monica," he said. "Monica, this is Judge Fairlight. Can you say 'hello' to her?"

The child looked at her and looked a bit unsure, shying against King Dice. "H-Hi, Judge Lady," she said softly.

Seeing the child was a bit nervous, the lady smiled gently. "Hello, Monica," she said warmly. "My goodness. Chips wasn't kidding when he told me you were cute."

A familiar chuckle filled the room as the cowboy walked in. "I wouldn't joke about that," he said before nodding at her. "Good morning, Your Honor."

She chuckled. "Good morning, Chips," she said.

Monica, seeing this exchange, grew curious, to which Chips noticed. "It's okay, cowgirl. Judge Fairlight's a friend of mine. She won't hurt you."

"Of course not," the lady said with a smile.

The child looked a bit less afraid now, but still somewhat unsure before she noticed the papers on the table. "What are those?" She asked.

"Adoption papers," Judge Fairlight said with a smile.

Monica's reaction was one they didn't expect. A betrayed look came to her face and she squirmed to get down from Dice's lap. Curious, he set her down and she faced him, tears running down her face. "Monica, what's wrong, sweetie?" He asked.

They noticed her whole body was trembling and she looked like her whole world was crashing down around her. Hopus, seeing this, quickly looked in the hallway and saw Pirouletta. "Pirouletta, quick," he said urgently. "Monica needs you."

The dancer came in and when she saw the child's state of distress, she immediately scooped her up and noted the child clung to her before she began sobbing. "What happened?" She asked.

"When she saw the papers and the judge told her what they were, she suddenly got upset," Chips said in confusion before realization hit him and he looked horrified, going up to the dancer and gently placing a hand on Monica's head, making her look at him. "Sweetie...do you think they're...bill of sale papers?" He asked gently.

Still sobbing, Monica nodded and she clung to Pirouletta. "I...I don't w-want to be s-sold again," she sobbed out. "B-Bad p-people s-sign th-those."

"Oh, no," Dice said as it hit him. "Chips, are you suggesting that Monica was made aware of those?"

The cowboy nodded and looked at Monica, who had stopped sobbing as Pirouletta was rubbing her back and speaking soothingly to her. "Monica," Chips said, getting the child's attention, her tear-stained face making his heart ache. "These papers are different, cowgirl. They're permanent papers."

She cocked her head to the side. "What's per-permanent?" She asked, her voice a bit hoarse from her crying.

"It means once they are signed, then they cannot be taken back," he said.

Judge Fairlight smiled. "Have her come here," she said gently.

Pirouletta brought the child over and the judge held up the paper. "See the writing at the top, sweetie?" The lady asked.

Monica took a look and noticed that the paper was pure white and the letters didn't start with the ones she was so used to seeing. "What's that say?" She asked, pointing to the words at the top.

"'Petition for permanent adoption'," was the reply. "This means, once signed, you will be allowed to stay here. This will be your forever home."

The child blinked before looking hopeful. "I...I can stay here?" She asked before she blinked. "But...who adopted me?"

"I'm going to," said King Dice, looking at her with a smile. "Once I sign those papers, you'll officially be my daughter."

Monica's brown eyes widened before she looked at Pirouletta. "Aunty Pirouletta, can you put me down, please?" She asked.

"Of course, honey," the dancer said, placing the child down.

The child slowly walked over to Dice, looking up at him with somewhat hopeful, yet cautious eyes. "You really mean it?" She asked. "I'm not getting sold?"

"No, sweet pea," he said soothingly, holding his arms open, silently asking if she wanted him to hold her. She raised her arms in response and he picked her up. She snuggled against his chest and he gently rubbed her back. "These papers are much different. Remember I said earlier how I had to meet with the judge to make sure all was right?"

She nodded. "Yeah. So you wouldn't get in trouble," she said.

"Well, these papers to adopt you make sure that everything is done right and that once I sign them, you'll be my daughter."

Monica looked up at him now. "What's a daughter?" She asked.

That made all of their hearts ache. "It's a little girl who has a mother or father or both," King Dice explained.

She looked curious. "So...if I become a daughter...then...who's going to be my mommy and daddy?" She asked.

Relieved that the child knew at least what those were, he smiled. "Well, I'll be your daddy," he said. "I'm not married or have anyone in my life, so...I'm afraid I can't give you a mommy."

Monica looked at him before she smiled. "That's okay," she said before looking pensive. "But...if you're going to be my daddy...then what do I call you so I don't get in trouble?"

They were confused. "What do you mean, sweetie?" Pirouletta asked.

The child looked down. "Well...I called one of the other people 'Daddy' and I got in trouble," she said. "He chained me to the stairs."

Horror filled them all and the judge lady looked ready to go find whoever had done that and put them behind bars. King Dice cleared his throat. "Monica," he said, getting her attention. "I promise you, you won't be in trouble if you call me 'Daddy', but I want you to decided what title you want to call me. You can still call me Mr. Dice, or you can call me Pop, Pops, Papa, or Father."

She looked thoughtful for a moment before looking up at him. "You promise I won't be in trouble if I call you 'Daddy'?"

"I promise, sweet pea," he said reassuringly.

The child took a deep breath. "Then...can I call you 'Daddy'?"

The hesitant, yet hopeful question, made him smile at her. "Yes, sweetie. You may call me 'Daddy'," he said.

The child's look of happiness lit up the whole room and she glomped the dice-headed man, who chuckled and hugged her back. "Now, do you want to watch me sign those papers to make it official?"

She nodded eagerly and he turned to Judge Fairlight, who was smiling as she handed him the papers. "Just sign the bottom lines on all three," she said.

He did so as his new daughter watched curiously, smiling as he signed the last paper and handed them back to the judge. "Thank you, Your Honor," he said.

Monica gently squirmed to be put down and he set her down, watching as she went up to the judge, looking a bit hesitant, but taking a deep breath. "Thank you, ma'am," she said with respect.

"You're welcome, sweetie," she said with a smile. "And don't worry. No one's going to take you away from your new daddy. Not ever. You're his daughter forever."

The child grinned at that before King Dice and the judge both stood up. "By the way, Chips," the dice-headed man said. "I believe you asked for a niece, did you not?"

The cowboy chuckled. "I did, boss," he said.

Seeing the child looked curious, Hopus chuckled. "What your dad means is that Chips is now your uncle," he explained. "Your uncle Chips."

The child grinned at that. "An uncle is like a daddy, only another title, right?" She asked.

"That's one way to put it," Pirouletta said with a smile.

Monica smiled before looking curious. "But then...who are my aunts?" She asked. "Aunties are like uncles, right?"

"Close," Hopus said. "Only they're women. So while Chips is your uncle, Pirouletta would be your aunt."

She nodded before looking at him. "What about you, Hopus?" She asked. "Aren't you my uncle too?"

The magician blinked in stunned surprise. King Dice chuckled. "Yes, sweet pea," he said. "Hopus is also your uncle, as are Mangosteen, Pip, Phear Lap, Mr. Chimes, Mr. Wheezy, and the two men of the Tipsy Troop while Pirouletta, Dot, and the female of the Tipsy Troop are your aunts."

"Boy, Mangosteen's going to flip when he hears he's an uncle," Chips said with a chuckle.

The lady judge smiled. "Well, all's good," she said. "Have a nice day everyone."

"You too, Your Honor. And thank you," King Dice said, seeing her to the door and wishing her a good day.

When he came back, Monica ran up to him and jumped at him, to which he caught her and lifted her up into a hug. She snuggled her head into his shoulder. "I love you, Daddy," she said cutely.

"I love you too, sweetheart," he said with a smile. "And I promise you, I will never hurt you in any way, Monica."

She smiled. "I believe you," she said.

Dice didn't know how long he stood there holding his new daughter, but he soon heard a gentle throat clearing and turned to look at Chips, who looked like he had some news. Nodding, the dice-headed man put Monica down gently. "Why don't you go tell the others that they're your aunts and uncles while I talk to your uncle Chips?" He said.

"Okay, Daddy," the little girl said before running off, making the two men chuckle before Dice looked at the cowboy.

"What did your friend find out?" He asked, having a feeling that was what Chips wanted to discuss.

"Well, apparently there was a will," Chips said. "And...Monica is set to inherit a lot of money, close to a billion dollars apparently."

King Dice's jaw dropped. "Wow," he said in surprise.

"Yeah, but here's the thing. Apparently, the orphanage director and all the people that 'adopted' Monica before were trying to get their hands on it."

The owner of the casino felt even more disgusted now. "Criminals," he ground out before calming down. "Please tell me none of them succeeded."

"No, thankfully," said Chips. "But get this, almost every person that tried ended up getting scared by something so horrible that they returned Monica right away, usually after a month."

"That explains why so many were only for a month, but what could have scared them?"

"Well...this is going to sound crazy, boss, but they said they had flowers that would chase them and flying pumpkins too," the cowboy said. "Every single one of the people that returned Monica mentioned that."

King Dice blinked. "Flowers that chased them and flying pumpkins," he said thoughtfully. "That's unusual and they all mentioned it?"

"All of them, boss."

Both men were quiet for a moment. "Could they be Monica's friends?" Chips asked quietly. "Or perhaps a couple toys of hers?"

"Perhaps," the dice-headed man said just as quietly, but it didn't seem likely.

"I'll ask my buddies to do some more digging because apparently there's a double condition to Monica's inheritance."

"Double condition?"

"Yeah. She has to live with a family for a whole year. After that, the money goes into a trust and only she can touch it, but only when she's twenty one."

"So those crooks wouldn't have been able to get their hands on it quickly," King Dice said with a nod. "Rather unheard of, but clever, I must admit."

After Chips left to go talk more to his buddy, King Dice decided that he would do some investigating himself.

It wasn't coincidence that all the people that had adopted Monica said that flowers and pumpkins had chased them. Something else was going on. Was someone watching her?

He was going to soon find out.

Hmm. Curious, no? :) Y'all can take a guess as to who might be watching Monica. :)

Please leave a review, but no flames! :)

GoldGuardian2418