Laura's Revenge

Part Thirteen:

"Accountability, part one"

After Sidney Bradley, John's other long lost illegitimate daughter, came into the picture, she not only became accustomed with her dad and sister, but she also became a target for Lyman and his goons, as did Gloria's friend Grace. One-by-one, Gloria, Sidney, Grace, and Freddie were ambushed by masked assailants. Luckily, they survived, but they quickly gained the knowledge that someone was after them and was trying to send a clear message. However, John has yet to be ambushed, even though, one would think that nobody would dare attack him due to his hulking physique, towering height, and herculean strength, but one may never know with Lyman and his cronies. Freddie, Grace, and the Bradleys went to the major crimes division in order to give Sharon and her team an ultimatum to either speed up the investigation or they'll take matters into their own hands. As she and her team split up from the murder room, Sharon was pulled into her office. The question that remains is: Who pulled Sharon into her office? Is this another ambush? Find out!

Warning: May contain parental discipline. Rated 'M' for a reason. Don't Like, Skip Ahead or Don't Read!

(Flashback to part twelve)

Meanwhile, at the department, Sharon was inside the murder room, going over what they had about Lyman and some of his henchmen. So far, she and her team found that Lyman's goons had prior arrests and wrap sheets out the wazoo. As soon as they all split up, Sharon headed back to her office and just as she opened the door, an arm grabbed her and yanked her inside.

(Now)

Sharon was a bit shook up by being pulled into her office and still had her back turned, when a hand came onto her shoulder. Her heart began racing and chills ran up her spine. Despite her tough personality, she was a little scared. Nobody she knew, would ever do that to her or so she thought.

"Sharon?" the voice said.

"Please, whoever you are just-" Sharon was cut off when the figure turned her into its direction.

"Sharon, relax, it's only me." the voice sounded familiar.

Sharon slowly opened her eyes and saw that the person who pulled her inside her office was John. Relieved and annoyed at the same time, she gave him a look.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you." John chuckled.

"Frighten? You almost made me have a heart attack and you almost made my skin turn white as snow. Don't do that! I scare easily, at times." Sharon lightly slapped his arm and laughed a bit.

"Mom, you should've seen the look on your face." Gloria teased.

"Ahhh! Gloria, don't sneak up behind me like that." Sharon put her hand over her chest.

"What's the matter, Capt. Raydor, you look like you saw a ghost?" Sidney added.

"Oh God! Sidney!" Sharon was startled after she turned around and saw Sidney standing right behind her.

Laughter could be heard from under Sharon's desk.

"OK, guys, come out of there. Let's not give Sharon anymore scares than we already did." John motioned for the two who were laughing to come out from under Sharon's desk.

Freddie and Grace came out from under Sharon's desk and stood beside the Bradley trio.

"You guys are terrible!" Sharon joked, before sitting down at her desk and getting a more serious demeanor, "Now, if I may ask and hope for no more surprises, how did you five get in here and more importantly, what are you here for?".

"Mom, take a closer look at Grace, Sidney, Freddie, and me." Gloria started.

"Oh my God! What the-What the hell happened to you guys?" Sharon was horrified by the bruises and gashes she saw on the four of them.

"We were ambushed by masked assailants after Gloria was ambushed the night before. I was walking to her house when suddenly two masked men attacked me, but I managed to seemingly overpower them. I called Gloria and we agreed to meet half way and talk about it as we walked back to her place. Well, we were ambushed again and she got more bruises and the upper hand of the assailants. After that, we went back to her place and I spent the night." Grace explained her ambush incident in a nutshell.

"Oh my God. Sid, where did yours happen?" Sharon turned to Sidney.

"At home. I barely stepped out of my shower when I heard footsteps. Of course, I made my presence known to whoever it was, because I wasn't going to back down. Well, that was when I was attacked and practically beaten to hell. I managed to gain the upper hand and send my attackers on their way. However, one of them turned back to me and said, "Tell your sister Gloria and your dad John that I say, 'Hello!', Sidney!", before he left. After that, I packed some things, headed to Gloria's palce, and also spent the night." Sidney shuddered after reliving the horrible incident.

Seeing this, John put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Freddie?" Sharon turned to Freddie.

"Mine also happened at home. I was looking everywhere for my phone, because, well, I have a terrible penchant for misplacing and/or losing it. Anyways, just as I found it and was about to respond to unanswered text messages, I heard a noise outside of my house. Acting on instinct, I grabbed a baseball bat, walked outside, and like Sidney and Gloria, I made my presence known. When I figured that whoever it was, wasn't going to reveal themselves without a fight, I went inside and got my gun. Once I stepped back outside, I was ambushed by two goons with masks on. Ski masks to be exact. Anyways, I fought with them until I shot both of them and they ran off like scared mice. However, one of them did taze me. After that, I packed my stuff and did was Sid and Grace did, spent the night at Gloria's place." Freddie took a deep breath.

"So the only one who hasn't been ambushed is you, David." Sharon turned her attention to John.

"Don't jinx it, because you never know." John said.

"Can any of you kids give me descriptions of your assailants?" Sharon handed Gloria, Sidney, Grace, and Freddie clipboards and pens.

Gloria and company did just that and handed the clipboards and pens back to Sharon.

"Thank you. OK, so my team and I are going to input this information into what we already have and see if we could get the identities of these suspects. In the meantime, you guys be careful and make sure to keep all doors and windows locked. Plus-" Sharon was cut off.

"That's what we came down here to discuss with you." Gloria told her.

"Oh?" Sharon raised her eyebrows for a brief moment.

"Yeah, we were hoping to get back into the game of-" Grace was cut off.

"Let me guess, you guys want to go back to doing it your way even after I put a lid on your vigilante justice sprees and interrogations?" Sharon had a motherly tone in her voice.

"Yes, we are." Gloria nodded.

"Well, the answer is still a big N.O., Gloria." Sharon shook her head.

"That's not fair!" Gloria slightly raised her voice.

"Look, I'm sorry you're upset, but I believe that you all should leave the investigation to us and only give us details. In other words, don't interfere." Sharon stood her ground.

"Seriously?" Sidney chimed in.

"Look, you guys are not, I repeat not Curtis Sliwa and the New York Guardian Angels and that's the end of it!" Sharon folded her arms.

"Ooof Madone!" John interjected.

"You too?!" Sharon turned to John and got a surprised look on her face, clearly not expecting him to protest or sound like he was.

"Well, I'm on their side, Sharon. No disrespect or anything." John shrugged.

"I know, but obviously, someone is trying to send a clear message and it more obvious that my team and I do our job to find the perps and lock them away. Then, find Lyman and lock him away for good. However, patience is going to have to be an order from you guys." Sharon firmly told them.

"Che Cazzo?! (What the hell?!)" Gloria said in her Italian tongue, as she slapped the desk.

"What?" Sharon turned to her daughter.

"She said the Italian version of 'What the hell?!'." Sidney translated what Gloria said.

"Look, I know you all are disheartened and disappointed, but I am not going to let you or anyone interfere with an investigation, especially vigilante style. End of discussion." Sharon held her own and clearly didn't care whether they liked it or not.

"Come l'inferno, laeremo a te e alla tua squadra di trascinarti! (Like hell, we'll let you and your team drag on!)." Gloria mumbled under her breath.

"What was that?" Sharon asked.

"I said like hell, we'll let you and your team drag on." Gloria reverted back to her English tongue.

"I know investigations drag on a little bit, because, not everything can be solved over night. Plus, that's where we need patience from-" Sharon was interrupted.

"Patience, my ass! These thugs aren't going to stop the ambushes." Gloria raved.

"Gloria-" Sharon was cut off, again.

"Capt. Raydor, with all due respect, Gloria is right. What do you and your team want us to do? Wait it out until we all get killed one by one?! Because, these creeps and that Lyman guy won't wait until your team speeds up the investigation and they realize that law enforcement is onto them. They won't wait. They'll possibly murder us. They don't care! Killers don't wait and/or care." Sidney added.

"Sid and Gloria have a point, Sharon. We can't just lay down, roll over, and play dead after they hit us, well some of us. We hit back and harder. That's the justifiable way to deal with losers like Lyman and his team. We get them with all we got and even if it does cost us our lives, at least we will go out fighting and in the blaze of glory." John chimed in.

"So what do you say now? You want us to wait it out until we're killed or what?" Gloria got eye-to-eye with her mother.

"You all know that I don't want you to end up killed, but what good will it do to get vigilante justice?! Yes, the ambushes were wrong, yes, what happened to Olivia was wrong, yes, what happened to the Moran family was wrong, yes, what happened to Dr. Eli Smirnov was wrong, and yes, what happened to Nick Morrisey, Jane, and Wendy was wrong. It was all wrong, I understand, but what you guys will be doing won't be any different. Being vigilantes will sink you five down to Lyman's level and you don't want to do that. Well, scratch that, you do want to get vigilante justice, but he's not worth dying for." Sharon had a very solemn tone in her voice.

"Sharon, I did vigilante justice beforehand and survived, so, I'll be fine and plus, Gloria and everyone else in our bunch are just as brave and will have me as their protector." John retorted.

"I know, John, but Lyman and his creeps aren't worth dying for. I mean he has a bounty on Freddie's head. Remember when one of his creeps spray painted Freddie's name on the hospital where Olivia currently is?" Sharon reminded him.

"Yes, I do, but we will be careful in the meantime. We have been so far." John said.

"Really? You and Gloria were raped, you were tickle tortured, Freddie was nearly sexually assaulted, Gloria was ambushed twice, Sidney was ambushed, and Grace was ambushed, so, I wouldn't say that you were being careful or anything." Sharon bluntly pointed out.

John and the others were backed onto their heels, as they knew that she spoke the truth, even though, they'd never openly admit it. Why would they? They each had too much pride, dignity, and egos.

"Exactly! I rest my case. Now, do me a solid and please, don't interfere, because he isn't worth it." Sharon had a more softer tone in her voice.

"Yeah, but is it worth sitting around and waiting for his goons to kill us?!" Gloria argued.

"Gloria, your mom is right. Lyman is not worth dying over." Grace chimed in.

"Who the hell's side are you on, Grace?!" Gloria retorted.

"What?" Grace looked confused.

Gloria let out a long sigh, before doing a facepalm.

"Well, we're still going to be on the look out. It wouldn't hurt. I mean obviously we're not going to agree on the vigilante justice thing, so, let's agree on us being on the look out while you and your team do your thing. Sound fair?" John suggested. Clearly, he was trying to keep the peace between Sharon, himself, and the others.

"Fair enough." Sharon reluctantly agreed.

"Alright. So, we'll uh be off, then?" John opened the door and motioned for Gloria and the others to follow him.

"I'll stop by later on to check up on you guys." Sharon said.

"OK. We'll be there." John replied.

Gloria and everyone else piled out of the room, not even saying a word to Sharon. They were disappointed that Sharon wasn't on their side, even though, she actually was, but didn't believe in their type of justice. However, Gloria quickly turned back and looked at Sharon.

"I love you mom, but you'll live to regret this decision." Gloria coldly said to her mother, before turning around and leaving.

Sharon sat there completely stunned. Gloria's words hit her like a ton of bricks and ripped her heart to pieces. In a way, she couldn't understand why Gloria seemed to hate her so, but in another way, she couldn't blame Gloria's residual anger. After all, it was Sharon who gave up her responsibility as mother to Gloria for Jack Raydor and it was Sharon who never informed John of her pregnancy and the birth of their daughter. Now, it was Sharon who was holding her daughter back from doing what she wanted to do and it was Sharon who was still in love with Gloria's dad. As Sharon sat there, Andy walked into her office with a look of concern on his face.

"Sharon?" Andy stood in front of her desk.

"Yes, Andy?" Sharon looked up at him.

"You OK? You seem a little stunned and sad at the same time." Andy pulled up a chair and sat down.

"I'm ok. Just can't understand why my own daughter seems to hate my guts, but I'm fine." Sharon rested her head on her hand.

"Oh, Sharon, Gloria doesn't hate you." Andy tried to reassure her.

"Andy, you haven't seen the way she talks to me. Then again, who could blame her?" Sharon shrugged.

"What do you mean?" Andy asked, clearly confused.

"Andy, I gave up my responsibility as a mother to be with Jack." Sharon started.

"Sharon, you weren't ready for motherhood. You were young and plus, you did what was best for her. At that time, you weren't ready to raise a child. Now, I know it isn't my place to say anything, but if you ask me, she needs to appreciate and accept that and not throw everything except the kitchen sink at you." Andy firmly told her.

"Andy, no mother should abandon their child. I mean who knows how the Moran family treated her, because I have this odd feeling that she has this residual anger from childhood abuse and/or trauma. It didn't just brew over night. It is years in the making. Plus, I didn't tell John about his own daughter. Knowing John, he would've happily raised her and I could've visited from time to time or had joint custody, but I never told him and you know how that makes me feel? It makes me feel just awful and to be honest, I was expecting John to resent me for that, but he has such a big heart that he doesn't. I believe that among his other traits is what attracted me to him in the first place." Sharon got a smile on her face and even blushed when she started talking about John.

"Sharon, you and John were broken up by then and didn't have any contact with each other. Plus, through no fault of your own you did what you felt you had to do and what's done is done. You can't go back in time and reverse it and you can't fault yourself for the rest of your life. In time, Gloria will warm up to you and if you want to know about her life with the Morans', ask her sometime. You know, just have a heart to heart talk with her. Maybe she just wants space and to get justice for the injustice of what happened to her adoptive family." Andy tried to reassure her.

"I know, but-" Sharon was cut off.

"Just give her time and space and once this whole thing blows over, maybe she'll come around. You can't rush these things, Sharon." Andy put his hand on her wrist.

"What if she doesn't have time?" Sharon asked, fear starting to manifest itself in her eyes and through her veins.

"What do you mean, Sharon?" Andy raised an eyebrow.

"What if Lyman's henchmen kill her before I have that chance?!" Sharon looked as if she was going to cry.

"Don't think that way, Sharon. Don't think that way. You both have time." Andy stood up, walked over to her, and put his hand on her shoulder.

"I sincerely hope so." Sharon whispered.

Outside

John and company decided that they were going to meet up back at Gloria's house, after they each go off to blow off some steam. As soon as John got inside of his car, he saw that it was almost low on fuel, so he decided to take it to the gas station. While driving to the gas station, a silver car followed close behind him. Once he reached the gas station, he was just about to pay at the pump and fill up his car when suddenly out of nowhere, a masked man came up behind him and attempted to garrot him to death. John tried his hardest to fight back, despite the fact that the life was being choked out of him.

"Die you bastard! Dieeeeee!" the masked man said as he tightened the garrot around John's neck.

John's face started to turn blue and his eyes began to water. However, he continued to fight for his life and was determined to unmask this guy. Then, almost on cue, just as the guy was about to tighten the garrot any further, a gunshot rang out and he fell over dead. Relieved and trying to catch his breath, John rubbed his neck and turned around slowly. The shooter was revealed to be...his own father Frank.

"Are you OK, son?" Frank put his gun back into his pocket and walked over to his son.

John continued to gasp for air, before he started coughing and his eyes began watering. He looked as if he was crying, but in actuality, he was just trying to compose himself.

"Son, you're ok now. It's all over." Frank knelt down beside John and rubbed his back.

John continued coughing and heaving, before he started to vomit a litte bit. Then, after a moment of taking a few deep breaths, John looked up at his father.

"Son?" Frank looked into his son's eyes.

"D-Dad...t-thank you. H-How did you know I was in trouble?" John hugged his dad.

"I sensed it. In case you forgot, we Bradleys can sense when one of our own or someone near and dear to us, is in trouble. Now, why would that prick over there want to hurt you? What's happened, John?" Frank was curious.

"Oh, dad. You don't even know half of it. It is all too complex to explain here, so why don't we go to my house and talk it over?" John got up on his feet.

"What's so complex?" Frank was thrown off.

"Dad, remember Sharon O'Dwyer?" John started.

"Yes, I remember Sharon. Your first real girlfriend. Why do you ask?" Frank folded his arms.

"Well, I ran into her. She goes by Captain Sharon Raydor now." John was trying to think of a way to explain Gloria and Sidney to his father without sounding too weird about it.

"Wow! I bet it felt good to relive those nostalgic times. Anyways, how did you just happen to run into her?" Frank asked.

"That's the part that will sound all complex. You see, I didn't know this, but after Karen and I divorced, after I broke up with Connie, and before I met Elaina, Sharon and I had a drunken one night stand, as she was mad at Jack Raydor and I was lonely. After that, obviously we never saw each other again until the other day and I found out that I had fathered a child with her." John was dreading his father's reaction.

"You what? Fathered a kid with her?" Frank was stunned, but sounded angry.

"I won't even tell you the rest, because I knew you'd react this way." John cringed at his father's reaction.

"John David Bradley, tell me the rest." Frank tapped his foot in the way a parent would as they were waiting for their child to explain something.

"Look, I know I have some splainin' to do, but can't I do it at my house instead of out here in front of God and everybody? Then again, I am a grown man and don't really have to explain it like I used to have to do when I was a kid, but I am still cringing your total reaction." John hesitated to tell his father the rest.

"Fine. Let's go back to your place. I'll follow you." Frank got back into his own car.

"I have to get gas first." John said, as he went to the pump and started filling his car up.

After he was done, he took the receipt, got back into the car, and seemingly headed off to his place. Frank started his car up and followed him. However, John wasn't going back to his place, he was going back to Gloria's place and was leading Frank there. Once they arrived to Gloria's place, Frank got out of his car and looked around, utterly confused as he knew it wasn't John's house. He walked over to John's car and knocked on the window. John unlocked the car and opened the passenger door.

"Who's place are we at?" Frank got into the passenger side and shut the door.

"Well, dad, that's where it will get to be surprising. We're at the house where Sharon's and my daughter lives. Her name is Gloria. You'll love her. Look, I know that you strongly disapproved of an illegitimate child and all, but to be honest, I never knew about Gloria or Sharon's pregnancy until the day I encountered Gloria almost by accident." John was still a little nervous about his dad's reaction.

Frank just looked at the house and waited for John to tell him the rest.

"She was attacked by an assailant and left for dead. I saved her life and stayed by her side until she woke up in my arms. However, I didn't know it was her, as she went under the alias 'Laura Moran', as she had been adopted by the late Moran family after Sharon chose to give up motherhood to be with her now estranged husband Jack Raydor. Anyways, likewise to how I acted when Jane and Wendy were harmed by Razor and his men, Gloria is doing the same, as her adoptive dad Dr. James Moran, her adoptive sister Lindy, and her adoptive niece Luna were killed by Razor's cohort Victor Lyman and his goons. I'm helping her, because Lyman has targeted me and one his men ran over Olivia, causing her to go into a coma and they killed Nick, Olivia's boyfriend." John took a few deep breaths after saying all of that.

"That's too bad about, Nick. He was a good kid and I hope to God Olivia will be OK. She just has to recover. I don't think we can bear losing anymore loved ones. Also, now that you said the name Moran, I believe I know who you are talking about as I heard about it on the news. However, let me get this straight, your biological daughter you had with Sharon is the same girl whose adoptive family was slained?" Frank was trying to put the pieces together.

"I know dad. Don't remind me. Anyways, yes, she is the same girl. Moran apparently gave her the unofficial name 'Laura Moran', because on documents she is still named Gloria Bradley. She was originally named 'Gloria Raydor-Bradley', but apparently, 'Raydor' was dropped from her name, which is good if you ask me. Jack Raydor has no bearing on her." John paused and cleared his throat, "So, upon finding out that Laura Moran was my daughter Gloria Bradley, well I was happy and shocked at the same time, but if you ask me, had I known about her birth then, I would've gladly raised her, since Sharon couldn't. She is a lovely young lady and when you meet her, you'll love her.".

Frank just sat there, completely stunned and trying to wrap his mind around it all.

"Aren't you going to say anything?" John asked.

"What can I say? I'm trying to absorb all of what you said." Frank was massaging the sides of his head.

"Well, you have more to absorb." John prepared himself to tell his father about Sidney.

"I-I do?" Frank asked.

"Yes, because remember when I mentioned my ex-girlfriend Constanzia and when I was a sperm donor for a while?" John started, again.

"Yes, I do. Why?" Frank kept massaging the sides of his head.

"Well, after I had broken up with her due to the fact that she cheated on me with a man named Lorenzo. Anyways, I found out that she got my sperm from the sperm bank and impregnated herself with it. Apparently, she wanted invitro fertilization and got pregnant that way. She had a baby girl named Sidney who oddly enough beared my last name, as she knew from the moment she saw Sidney that Sid was my child and the sperm she had gotten was mine. Of course, being bitter about our break up, she never told Sidney that I was her real dad and that Lorenzo wasn't until she was on her death bed. Well, two weeks ago, I ran into Sidney when Gloria was in the hospital due to being raped and stabbed by Lyman's goons. Sidney and Gloria met and have bonded almost immediately and are now part of our blended family." John told him in a nutshell.

"So, you have two kids out of wedlock? Well, one out of wedlock and one as the result of being a sperm donor?" Frank was still trying to put two and two together and get the story straight.

"Yes, dad. Look, disown me if you must, but I love those girls and I-" John was cut off when his father put his hand over his mouth.

"Disown you? I'm glad that you found them, because, hey more relatives, the better and it is good to find long lost loved ones." Frank smiled.

John said something, but it was muffled due to Frank's hand being on his mouth.

"Huh? What was that? Oh, I forgot I muffled you." Frank took his hand away from John's mouth.

"I said so you're not mad at all?" John told him.

"Mad? I'm happy that you found your long lost children. I really want to meet them, John." Frank reassured him.

"Thank you, dad." John hugged his father very tightly. It was clear that he had wanted his father's approval for a long time and he was relieved that his father didn't get mad over the fact that he had two children out of wedlock. If anyone knew Frank Bradley real well, they'd know that he was highly critical of people having kids out of wedlock and just against it. John was relieved that his father didn't judge him and/or disown him.

"Well, we're wasting time sitting here. Let's go inside." Frank got out of the car, assuming that Gloria was home.

John followed his father and knocked at the door.

"Hi, dad. Who is this you brought with you?" Gloria answered the door.

"Gloria, is Sid here?" John asked.

"Yes, she is. Now, who is he?" Gloria pointed at Frank.

"I'll introduce him to you and Sid once we get inside." John told her, before walking inside.

Frank followed his son inside and looked around.

"Hi, dad. Who is he?" Sidney walked over to her father.

"Sidney and Gloria, this man is my father. He is your grandfather, Frank. Dad, these two are Gloria and Sidney, your granddaughters." John introduced his father to his daughters and vice versa.

"It's nice to meet you, grandpa." Sidney shook her grandfather's hand.

"Nice to finally meet you." Gloria shook her grandfather's other hand.

"Well, I'll darned. You two girls are very beautiful. You have Bradley written all over you. I'm glad to be blessed with more grandchildren." Frank hugged his two granddaughters with every inch of his being.

John had a smile forming on his face, as he was happy that his father didn't condemn him and reject Sidney and Gloria.

Moments later

After she arrived and got acquainted with Frank, Grace, Gloria, and Sidney were on Sidney's laptop looking up haunted houses, abadoned places, and paranormal rituals when they stumbled upon one that caught their eye. The place looked like an old mansion-like house that has been abandoned for decades. John walked past them and looked over his shoulder, as he was going into the kitchen.

"What are you girls looking up?" John asked.

"Haunted places and paranormal stuff." Gloria said in a matter of fact way.

"Of all the things to be looking up." John shook his head and laughed a little, as he was filling a cup with water.

"Did you ever hear of suicide bridge?" Sidney called out.

"Yup. I've been there a few times. Do not go there." John shuddered at the mere mention of Suicide Bridge.

"What about Suicide Forest in Japan?" Gloria was curious.

"That's one place you should never go and get lost, especially at night." John shuddered, again.

"Why?" Gloria was a bit thrown off.

"Yeah, dad?" Sidney asked.

"They say that once you go in there, you'll never come out...either the same or alive." John told them.

"Ooh, how about this one?" Gloria said.

"What's this one?" John raised an eyebrow.

"Uh...hangman's hideout." Sidney pulled up the image and story along with it.

"Yeah, old friends of mine used to hang around up there. In fact, Grace and I have been wanting to go up there for a while now." Gloria nodded.

"Been? I still want to. In fact, why don't we go sometime this weekend?" Grace merely suggested.

John shook his head and took a sip of water, only to spit the water out and nearly choke to death once he processed what Sidney said.

"Dad?" Gloria peered over her shoulder.

"Did you just say hangman's hideout and did you just say that you knew people who used to go up there?!" John walked over to them.

"Yes, dad. We did." Gloria replied.

"Why?" Sidney was a bit confused at her dad's reaction.

"Don't go up there! Stay away from there!" John slightly raised his voice.

"May I ask why?" Gloria put her hands on her hips and sported a very confused look.

"It's dangerous! People your age, Grace's age, and Sidney's age were murdered up there!" John looked as if he was about to become hysterical.

"Dad, that's-" Gloria was cut off.

"DON'T GO TO HANGMAN'S HIDEOUT! I FORBID YOU GIRLS TO GO UP THERE! IT'S BAD NEWS! VERY VERY BAD NEWS! SO STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM THERE! YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING!" John raised his voice.

"OK, dad, don't lose your temper. Chill the hell out." Gloria put her hands up.

"Don't tell me to chill the hell out, because I know danger when I see it and hangman's hideout is it! I don't want you girls anywhere near there!" John waved his finger at them.

"But, Mr. Bradley-" Grace was cut off.

"No! I don't want you girls anywhere near there! God knows what can happen! Plus, Grace, I know your dad, because we served together and if anything were to happen to you, that'd be the death of him and I would never forgive myself if anything happened to any of you!" John shook his head and waved his finger, again.

"Alright, dad, relax. We'll stay away from there since it bothers you so much." Gloria tried to reassure her dad, only to end up sounding snarky instead.

"Please, for the love of God, please." John sounded as if he was pleading.

"Dad, we'll stay away from there. We promise." Sidney put her hand on his shoulder.

"OK, thank you. Thank you." John breathed a sigh of relief.

Later on that night

Gloria, Grace, and Sidney were up in Gloria's room talking about Hangman's Hideout and how they still couldn't understand why John had flipped out over the mere mention of that place. They all could agree that there was something about that place that might've triggered something in John for him to respond the way he did.

"Look, you guys, there must be something about Hangman's Hideout that really bothers dad." Gloria started.

"Yeah, but, what? That's what I'd like to know." Sidney sat in the same pose as the thinker statue.

"Whatever it may be, I still want to go up there." Grace stood up and paced back and forth.

"You're kidding, me!" Gloria folded her arms.

"Look, your dad trying to scare us won't give us the opportunity to learn for ourselves." Grace pointed out.

"Then again, Grace has a point. I mean dad can't hold us back from learning things." Sidney started to agree with Grace.

"I don't know you guys. I mean what if what dad said was true?" Gloria was still a bit hesitant.

"Well, I texted Meadow and Erica and they are down for it. Their dads kind of did the same thing that your dad just did." Grace threw her phone to the side.

"Wait, aren't you going to tell your dad?" Sidney turned to her.

"When is this going to happen?" Gloria raised an eyebrow.

"My dad doesn't need to know. Plus, tomorrow will be a good time." Grace said in a nonchalant manner.

"Grace, that's a little sneaky. I mean he will find out eventually." Gloria replied.

"No, he won't unless your dad finks on us." Grace shrugged.

"That is a possibility. He'd have every reason to." Gloria nodded.

"Well, are you two down for it or not?" Grace asked.

"I need time to think." Sidney said.

"I'll do it. Only if we get back here before my dad does and Sidney, don't you dare say a word to dad." Gloria glared at Sidney, narrowing her eyes.

"Do you honestly have me carved out as a snitch, Gloria?" Sidney gave her the 'really?' look.

"Well, you may crack under pressure." Gloria merely suggesting.

"Look, it's your decision and choice. If dad finds out, it won't be by me, because he has some kind of sixth sense of finding stuff out or so I think. Plus, if he does, you'll suffer the consequences. However, I don't think you'll do it for fear of dad's reaction." Sidney folded her arms and had the 'I bet you won't do it' look in her eyes.

"Do you think I am not conflicting with myself on doing it or not? I mean, Grace does have a point which I wholeheartedly agree that I am not a child and dad can't hold me back just, because he is scared. However, seeing how dad flipped out at the mere mention of the place, I kind of am scared of how he'd react if he were to find out that I went up there after he told me not to." Gloria was clearly conflicted. She wanted to go up to hangman's hideout for a number of reasons and one of them was to show her father that he can't hold her back due to his fears and that she wasn't a small child or teenager. However, she knew that her father warned her and nearly had a heart attack at the mere mention of the place, so she didn't want to see his reaction if he were to find out that she, Grace, and her other two friends went up there despite his warnings.

Just as Grace was about to say something, there was a knock at Gloria's door.

"Come in?" Gloria said.

John walked in with a man who had salt and pepper hair and kind resembled Captain Knauer from the remake of "The Longest Yard".

"D-Dad?" Grace looked like a Deer in the headlights.

"Mr. Barret?" Gloria also looked a bit stunned to see Grace's father.

"Just thought I would touch bases with my old military friend Adam Barret and have him visit." John started.

"Really dad, you didn't-" Gloria was cut off.

"So, hangman's hideout, huh? So, that's where you, Gloria, Meadow, and Erica have been wondering off to and yet, you had me believe that you girls were at the mall?!" Adam folded his arms and glared at Gloria and Grace.

Gloria and Grace knew their dads were onto them, especially Grace's dad as they had been lying to him. They knew that they couldn't possibly give an excuse or explanation.

"Maybe I should contact Meadow and Erica's fathers, too. After all, I believe that John and I served alongside them." Adam tapped his foot on the floor.

"Look, Mr. Barret, we like hangman's hideout and like Grace was saying earlier..." Gloria paused mid-sentence.

"Psst! Leave me out of this!" Grace whispered into Gloria's ear.

"Like I was saying, Grace said earlier and I wholeheartedly agree that just, because you're afraid of hangman's hideout shouldn't be a reason to hold us back. Plus, how will we know unless we go up there ourselves?! Also, if I may ask, what's up there that bothers you and my dad so much?" Gloria completely ignored Grace and stood her ground.

"Oh, did Grace say that?" Adam couldn't or didn't want to believe Grace would say such a thing.

"Kind of." Grace muttered, while cringing and dreading her dad's reaction.

"Well, Gloria and Grace, John and I are going to hold you two back from going up there if it means saving your lives." Adam started.

"You keep saying that, but what're you saving us from?!" Gloria asked, but ended up sounding a bit confrontational.

"Should we tell them, John?" Adam turned to John.

"Might as well." John nodded.

"OK, I don't get any of it, what are you guys trying to save us from and what's up there that you don't want us to see? Like what goes on up there?!" Sidney, like Gloria and Grace, wanted to get to the bottom of it all.

"Girls, there's a serial killer that lurks up there, especially at night. He is called 'the hangman' hence the name of the place hangman's hideout. He is extremely dangerous." Adam pulled up a chair and sat down.

"He's probably the same hangman that terrorized Los Angeles from when we were kids going into our teen years. He wears a tattered red flannel, blue jeans, a skeleton mask, skeleton gloves, a felt hat, and boots. He is dormant during the day, but once it is sun down, he comes out and it is not good to be a person up there at night. I mean look what happened at that bunker in Silver Lakes where that girl Bodhi Potter and her boyfriend were killed or think of Richard Ramirez a.k.a. 'the night stalker' or the most infamous Jack the Ripper. All of whom are very dangerous. Regarding the bunker, Bodhi's mother told her many times not to go up to that bunker, but she did anyways and paid the ultimate price. Well, with hangman's hideout, it is kind of the same thing, because whoever goes up there, doesn't come back either the same or alive. We know this, because he was around when Adam and I were teenagers and plus, a few teenagers who were around our age at the time, were never seen again after they went up there and others were found dead up there. Hanging like Christmas decorations, only they were corpses." John shuddered and cringed after remembering hearing about that incident.

"Oh my God!" Gloria put her hand over her mouth.

Sidney and Grace were bug-eyed after hearing about this firsthand.

"Now, do you girls see why we don't want you up there ever ever ever again?" Adam asked.

"Yes, because you don't want us to end up like those kids did back then, but times have changed." Gloria still stood her ground, despite being shaken by what her dad said.

"That doesn't matter, Gloria. The hangman doesn't discriminate. He kidnaps, tortures, and kills whoever is on his turf. Please, heed our warning. The hangman is nothing to joke about!" Adam rebuffed her.

"Yeah, he doesn't care whether you're young, middle aged, or old. When he sees prey, he jumps for it! Baby, it's not worth losing your life over it. I know you kids like going up there, but please for the love of God, don't go anymore." John looked as if he was about to cry.

"Now, please like he said, stay the hell away from there. You may not understand now, but sooner or later you will." Adam nodded in agreement with John.

"OK. Alright. We promise on our honor." Sidney, Gloria, and Grace said in unison and very glumly, too.

"Good girls. Well, it's getting late. How's about we call it a night?" John looked over at the clock.

"C'mon, Grace." Adam motioned for his daughter to follow him.

"Coming. See you guys tomorrow." Grace said, as she followed her father.

"Now, I think it is high time that we get to bed, too." John said, before walking out of Gloria's room.

"Yeah, I guess. Goodnight, Gloria." Sidney walked over to the door.

"Night, Sid." Gloria replied.

Outside of Gloria's room

Just as Sidney was going into the room she was staying in for the night, John went downstairs and was greeted by Frank, who was seemingly on his way to go back to his place.

"You alright, son?" Frank asked.

"I hope so." John sighed and sat down on a nearby chair.

"Son?" Frank had a quizzical look on his face.

"Dad, have you ever heard of the place hangman's hideout?" John ran his hand over his face.

"You mean the Valley of the California Ripper?" Frank's eyes were the size of plates.

"Oh my God. I forgot it was called that." John put his hand on his mouth, as his eyes also got to be the size of plates.

"What in the goddamn hell are you all doing over there?! Didn't I tell you once to stay away from there?!" Frank waved his finger at John.

"Dad, calm down." John put his hand up.

"Calm down?! Calm down?! You're putting yourself in danger by going up there and taking a chance of being killed and you're telling me to calm down?! You want me to be calm when your body comes back either hacked to pieces or brutally maimed?! Huh?! You want me to be calm when you are in a body bag after the California Ripper has murdered you, huh?! You want me to be calm when all of that happens?! Do ya?!" Frank looked as if he was about to have a heart attack, as his face got redder and redder.

"Dad, please, before you lose your temper, let me explain." John tried to reason with his father, but ended up sounding like he was a teenager trying to explain a bad situation.

From the top of the stairs

Sidney and Gloria couldn't help, but watch from the top of the stairs.

"Holy Hell! Did ya see that, Sid?" Gloria's eyes got big for a brief moment.

"Uh huh." Sidney nodded.

"And I thought dad's reaction was terrible." Gloria added.

They quickly went back to their bedrooms, before they could be noticed.

Back with Frank and John

"Look, dad, before you blow any more of your top, let me just say that it is now called 'Hangman's hideout' and apparently, Grace and Gloria have been hanging out there. I told them that they are not allowed to go out there." John explained.

"John, you and I both know that just telling the girls not to go won't stop them." Frank folded his arms and lowered his glasses to the edge of his nose.

"Dad, I trust Gloria and I know that she won't do a stupid thing and sneak off. She knows what'll happen if she does and I find out in time." John tried to reassure his dad, but instead, sounded snarky.

"What'll that be? Grounded for a month?" Frank didn't believe John.

"Nope. I think she'll take her first trip over here, just like I did many times." John patted his knee.

"In all fairness, you deserved it those many times and the other times were restraint." Frank waved his finger at John.

"However, I don't think she'll make a stupid move on her part. I trust her." John stood his ground.

"OK, if you're sure." Frank sounded a bit unsure and like he didn't trust that Gloria would actually listen to her father, "However, if she doesn't, be prepared for a lot of I told you so's or a funeral!".

"Dad, I trust her and you should, too. Plus, I remember how you told me to stay away from Hangman's Hideout that was formerly known as the Valley of the California Ripper." John still stood his ground.

"Yeah, I remember alright." Frank nodded.

"Well, I'm going to turn in for the night." John stretched, before he stood up from his chair.

"Yeah, I'll be back in the morning. Night, son." Frank opened the door and walked out.

"Night, dad." John went upstairs in order to turn in for the night.

That very next day

It was 6:30 in the morning. John had awakened in order to get breakfast going. However, he went to Sidney and Gloria's rooms in order to get them awake for breakfast.

"Gloria, time for breakfast." John knocked on Gloria's door.

No answer.

"Ah, she's probably still sleeping. I'll go to Sid's room." John whispered to himself, before he went to Sidney's room.

Meanwhile, in an alley not too far away

"Wait a minute, Gloria. I-I'm not too sure about this." Sidney suddenly sounded hesitant.

"Look, it was your idea and Grace's idea to go up there and I agreed. I mean look, dad can't hold us back forever." Gloria told her.

"Gloria, it's one thing fighting dad tooth and nail on this, but it is another thing sneaking behind his back and actually doing it." Sidney pointed out.

"Look miss goody too shoes, you don't have to go! In fact, don't even bother, if you're going to be this way!" Gloria barked.

"Gloria, all I'm saying is what if dad is right and there is an actual killer named 'The Hangman'?! Will we know what to do in time if he tries to capture one, if not all of us?!" Sidney asked.

"Sid, we've been through these type of situations before. Of course, we'll know what to do and when to do it. Now, Grace, Erica, and Meadow should be here at any given minute, so if I were you, I'd either shape up or ship out!" Gloria gave her an annoyed look.

Suddenly, as if on cue, a car pulled up and it was Meadow, Erica, and Grace. As with Sidney, they too, looked a bit uneasy about going through with the plan.

"Wow! I'm surprised you three actually showed up." Gloria remarked, as she got into the backseat.

"I'm surprised you showed up and that you talked Sid into doing so." Grace commented.

"Shaddup!" Gloria slapped her.

"What's the idea?!" Grace rubbed her face.

"Hey, Moe and Shemp when you two are done screwing around, would you mind introducing us to Sid?" Erica said.

"My error. Erica and Meadow, this is my older sister, Sidney. Sidney, Erica and Meadow." Gloria introduced them.

"Hi." Erica shook Sidney's hand.

"Nice to meet you." Meadow shook Sidney's hand.

"Nice to meet you and Erica as well." Sidney smiled.

"OK, yeah, all nice. Now, let's go." Gloria clapped her hands.

"I cannot believe we're actually doing this. I mean imagine our dads catching us." Meadow chuckled.

"Uh, let's not think about that scenario. It doesn't seem like it'd be a pretty scene." Grace said.

"Yeah, my dad nearly woke up to me leaving." Erica shuddered.

"Erica, what part of 'don't go out through your loud garage' did you not understand?!" Gloria asked, sounding very frosty.

"Can I help it, if my dad sleeps near the front door in order to catch me in the act of sneaking out and can I help it if he has a sixth sense, like Radar O'Reilly from "M*A*S*H"?!" Erica sassed.

"Look, we can bicker all day, but then, what fun will we have at Hangman's Hideout?" Grace asked.

The girls quickly stopped bickering and headed straight for Hangman's Hideout. Oh, not a wise choice, girls!

Three Hours later/Back at Gloria's house

It was now 9:30 in the morning and Gloria and Sidney still hadn't come down for breakfast. John found this to be quite unusual, because they would usually be up at this time. Just as he was about to go check on them, there was a knock at the front door.

"C-Come in." John said.

"Hi, son." Frank walked in and shut the door, before he looked around, "Where's Gloria and Sid?".

"I think they're still upstairs. I mean they haven't come down for breakfast and whenever I make breakfast the kids are always downstairs. Well, atleast in my house the girls were, before, well you know." John started to get a sad look on his face, as if he was remembering a tragic event.

"You don't think they've snuck off to-" Frank was cut off.

"No, certainly not." John shook his head, before he went upstairs again.

Once he was upstairs, he knocked on Gloria's door.

"Gloria? Gloria, come on, it's 9:35. Breakfast is being served. Come on." John said.

Still no answer.

"Well, if you're not going to come and get the breakfast, then I'm going to come in and get you to the table, even if I have to drag you down the stairs." John believed that Gloria was acting like a typical stubborn teenager, despite not being a teenager.

Still no answer or movement.

"OK, have it your way. I'm coming in!" John said, before opening the door.

He got a horrified look on his face when he discovered that the room was empty.

"Well?" Frank called up the stairs.

"Dad! Gloria's not in her room!" John sounded panicked.

"She might've snuck off." Frank suggested.

"No, dad, she would never disobey me!" John shook his head, before he went off to Sidney's room and knocked, "Sid, it's breakfast! Come on down, so you can eat and then we could search for your wayward-".

There was no answer from Sidney's room.

"Sid?" John knocked, again, before opening the door and discovering that like Gloria, Sidney was gone, too.

"John, what's going on?" Frank asked,

"Sid and Gloria are not in their rooms! Maybe they're at the gym working out." John suggested.

"John, are you sure they didn't, well you know." Frank gave him a slight hint.

"No, they wouldn't do something that stu-" John was cut off when his phone buzzed.

"What is it?" Frank pulled up a chair and sat down.

"It's my old army buddy Adam. Remember him?" John said, as he opened the text message in order to read it.

"Yes, I remember him. What's the hubba? Why's he texting you now? What does he need?" Frank sounded a bit curious.

"He asked me if I have seen Grace. It seems as though as he cannot find her. Normally, she'd put up a note if she was leaving while he was sleeping." John suddenly got a worried look.

"John, do you think Grace might be with Gloria and Sid?" Frank's curious tone turned into a worried one.

"Oh, they're probably all at the gym or hanging out somewhere." John tried to brush off his dad's concern.

"John, what if they're not?!" Frank slightly raised his voice.

"Look, dad, you're worrying over nothing. I'll go to Gold's Gym right now and check." John grabbed his leather jacket and car keys and headed out the door.

Back with Gloria and the others

Gloria's phone started ringing and oddly enough, her ringtone was Godzilla's Theme from the 2002 film "Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla" by Michiru Oshima.

"Who is it?" Grace asked.

"It's my dad." Gloria rolled her eyes.

"Maybe you should answer it." Sidney merely suggested.

"The Hell if I will." Gloria pressed the reject call button on her phone and turned it off.

"Look, Gloria-" Sidney was cut off.

"Sid, are you on board or not?! This is the last time we'll talk about this!" Gloria bit back.

"Of course I'm on board with it, but blowing off dad like that is well kind of rude and mean." Sidney firmly told her.

"Sidney, you would do the same thing if dad dialed your number. You're only telling me it is rude, because he dialed mine. Watch, you'll reject it when he calls you. Now, I am not going to have this conversation any more. It's either you're going with us or you can walk the 20 or 30 miles home! Your choice." Gloria gave her an ultimatum.

Sidney decided to stick with going to hangman's hideout. After all, it beats walking by a long shot. Who would want to walk 20 or 30 miles home?

"Gloria, you need to lighten up on Sidney a little bit." Grace chimed in.

"What're you buttin' in for?!" Gloria poked her in the eyes.

"Ouch! Look Moe, take it easy." Grace rubbed her eyes.

"Name's Gloria. Not Moe." Gloria reminded her.

"Well, you're like Moe from "The Three Stooges" at times." Grace remarked.

"Look, Sidney was on board last night and now, she thinks she suddenly has a change of heart." Gloria sighed.

"Well, talking about it is one thing, Gloria. Doing it is another thing to me, because I never did anything sneaky like what we're doing, before. I never snuck around anyone's back. It wasn't ever my thing to do." Sidney explained or at least tried to.

"Well, Sid, this will be your first offense and first time sneaking around. Everybody has to have their first time eventually." Gloria nonchalantly told her.

"Ah crap!" Erica said in an annoyed way.

"What?" Gloria turned to her.

"My dad's calling me." Erica told her.

"Press the reject call button." Gloria shrugged.

Erica pondered for a moment, before doing so and turning her phone off as well.

"Now, my dad's calling me!" Meadow glanced at her phone.

"Well, Meadow, you're driving so Erica, hang her phone up and turn it off." Gloria said in a commanding way.

Erica, without giving it a second thought, did so.

"Thanks, Erica." Meadow gave a thumbs up.

"Uh oh. Now, mine is calling." Grace's eyes got to be the size of plates when her phone started ringing and she saw that it was indeed her dad.

"Figures, because you're the only person I know whose ringtone is the opening theme of 1931's "Dracula". I believe you know what to do." Gloria rolled her eyes, again.

"Just did it." Grace said, as she rejected her dad's call and turned her phone off.

"Uh oh." Sidney said.

"Uh oh, what?" Gloria turned to her.

"Dad." Sidney showed Gloria her phone.

"I was wondering why I was hearing the annoying yet catchy Mothra song from "Godzilla Tokyo: S.O.S.". You know the drill." Gloria told her.

"Yeah, yeah. Although it feels wrong." Sidney almost regretted turning her phone off after rejecting her dad's call.

"Well, it looks like we're here." Meadow stopped the car in front of what appeared to be a weathered wooden sign saying: "Hangman's Hideout" on it.

"Thank God." Gloria sounded almost relieved that they had arrived.

"I can't believe we're actually doing this." Erica chuckled.

"Just think if our dads did catch us." Grace laughed.

"Ohhhh, don't put that scenario in our heads." Gloria and Sidney said at the same exact time.

"Oh, c'mon, we'll be hanging around and then we'll be back home or at Gold's Gym before sunset. They'll probably come looking for us, find us at Gold's Gym, and it'll be our secret." Grace laid their plan all out.

"Sounds good to me. How about the rest of you?" Gloria liked the plan.

Sidney, Meadow, and Erica looked off to the side, before they nodded their heads in agreement.

"Well, I don't think we'll enjoy anything in the car, so let's get out." Gloria said, before opening the door and getting out.

Meanwhile at Gold's Gym

Just as John arrived, he was met up by a frantic Adam. This was not a good sign to him.

"What is it, Adam?" John didn't like Adam's frantic mood.

"Grace isn't in there. I had informed Briscoe and Curtis and they had previously checked here and neither Erica or Meadow were seen here." Adam tried to calm and compose himself.

"Ah shit! Son of a bitch! Son...of...a...bitch!" John sounded like Sonny Corleone.

"John, you don't honestly think they went to-" Adam didn't want to say the next part.

"We better hope to God that they didn't, but so far, it is proving that my dad was right." John massaged his temples, as he tried to gather himself.

"Briscoe and Curtis are going to be looking around the city for a little longer then head to, well you know." Adam sighed.

"We better do the same thing." John said, as he got into his car, "I'll head north and you head south.".

Adam gave a thumbs up, before getting into his car and heading south.

Back with Gloria and company

Gloria and the girls were walking around hangman's hideout without a care in the world. To them, this was routine and for Sidney, this was a love/hate experience. Love, because she had never explored before and so far, she seemed to be enjoying herself and Hate, because to her, it seemed wrong to be doing something sneaky behind their father's back, after he specifically told them not to come up to this god forsaken place. However, she quickly brushed off the negative feeling and let the positive feeling take over.

"Wow! I cannot believe our dads are seriously scared of this place." Erica remarked.

"I know. You know, we should do this more often!" Meadow added.

"After all, our dads can't hold us back forever, right Sid and Gloria?" Grace shrugged.

"Exactamundo." Gloria nodded.

"That's right." Sidney agreed.

"You know, I'm starting to think that the "hangman" doesn't exist and that my dad was just trying to scare Grace, Sidney, and me." Gloria guffawed after she made quotation marks with her fingers.

"Our dad's made him up, too." Erica and Meadow said in unison.

"The usual scare tactic." Grace snarked.

"Never works." Gloria shook her head.

"Let's keep exploring. Maybe we'll find treasure up here." Sidney suggested.

"Finders are keepers." Gloria patted Sidney on the shoulder.

They then continued exploring in order to find stuff to possibly keep for themselves.

Back with John

It was now 6:30 at night and the sun was beginning to set, so, John and Adam met up near the border of San Francisco. By the look on Adam's face, John knew that it might be time to head up to hangman's hideout, despite not wanting to.

"Well?" John asked.

"Briscoe and Curtis are heading up there, so I suggest we do the same." Adam suggested.

"Agreed. If those girls are up there, they are going to be in SERIOUS trouble with us!" John had an angry, yet worried expression on his face.

"Oh ho, you bet." Adam nodded in agreement.

Then, they were off to Hangman's Hideout in order to find their daughters, before it was too late.

Back at Hangman's Hideout

As the girls continued to explore the place, a masked man appeared from behind bushes from across the way. He rubbed his hands together, indicating that these girls were to be his next victims. However, before he could head up to hangman's hideout, a car could be heard approaching, causing him to go off and hide, before anyone could see him. The girls laughed and continued to look for anything valuable to take. So far, they found nothing and decided that next time they come up here, they'll try again. They started heading towards the exit of the place.

"Ah, it's a shame we didn't find anything valuable." Erica looked down.

"There's always next time. Let's call it a day or night." Sidney said.

"Yeah, let's wrap this up and get back to town, before-" Gloria headed towards the front stairs.

"Before we find out?!" a man's voice yelled.

"Ahhhh! Mr.-Mr. Br-Briscoe!" Gloria looked like a Deer in the head lights.

"Oh my God! D-Dad!" Erica also looked stunned.

"So, I wake up to find you gone and this is where I find you, Erica?!" Mr. Briscoe did not seem amused.

"Dad, I-I-I can expla-" Erica was cut off.

"Get your behind down here and get in the damn car, right now!" Mr. Briscoe raised his voice, before he turned to Gloria and the others, "Girls, your dads are coming, too! I pity you girls. I thought you kids knew better than to do something so sneaky!".

"Look, Mr. Briscoe, we-" Grace was cut off.

"Not another word!" Mr. Briscoe put his hand up.

"Bye guys." Erica turned away, before heading down to her dad's car.

"Bye." Gloria waved.

"You are in a lot of trouble, young lady and that goes for the rest of your friends!" Mr. Briscoe scolded.

"Dad, I'm so sorry." Erica's eyes welled up with tears.

"No, you're not! You wouldn't have done it, if you are!" Mr. Briscoe was mad.

As soon as Erica got into the car, they drove off. This made the girls extra extra nervous, because if Erica's dad was like this, their dads would be, too.

"Holy crap! Gloria, I've never seen Erica's dad that mad." Meadow felt her heart go into her throat.

"If you think her dad was mad, our dad will be worse." Gloria took a deep breath.

Just as they turned away, another man came on his bike and stopped in front of the place.

"Look, we just have to-" Grace was cut off.

"Meadow!" the second man yelled.

"Uh oh!" Meadow turned around and turned pale when she saw that it was her dad.

"So, this is where you snuck off to?! How many times have I told you not to come up here?!" Meadow's dad was angrier than Erica's dad or so it seemed.

"Look, daddy, if you'll-" Meadow was cut off.

"Don't daddy, me! Get down here!" Meadow's dad said.

"Look, Mr. Curtis, we were just-" Grace was cut off.

"Grace, you, Gloria, and...who is she?" Mr. Curtis pointed at Sidney.

"My older sister Sidney." Gloria said.

"You, Grace, and Sidney knew better than to sneak off here! You girls ought to be ashamed of yourselves!" Mr. Curtis yelled.

"Bye, you guys." Meadow said, before heading down to meet her dad, as he was putting his bike in her trunk.

"Keys. Now!" Mr. Curtis held his hand out, as Meadow met up with him.

"I'm sorry, dad." Meadow handed him the keys.

"No, you're not. Get in the passenger seat." Mr. Curtis ordered.

Meadow did just that and away they went, leaving Grace, Sidney, and Gloria to face the wrath from their dads.

"Ahhh shit! I bet our dad or your dad is on his way right now." Sidney gulped hard.

"Oh God, I hope it isn't my dad." Grace was shaking.

"We hope it isn't our dad, either." Gloria felt her heart beginning to race.

"Grace Barret, you are in so much trouble, young lady!" Adam pulled up and got out of his car.

"Look, dad, I can explain. You see I told them it was wrong." Grace was clearly in dire straits and wanted to get her dad off her back.

"Sell out!" Gloria and Sidney retorted.

"Grace, you are just as much at fault as are Sid and Gloria. I thought I made my message clear and I thought Mr. Bradley made his message clear to you girls that when we say don't come up here, it means exactly that. Apparently, you girls have a rebellious streak in you and decided to defy us!" Adam was trying to calm himself down.

"Dad, I'm sorry for defying you. I'll never do it, again. I promise." Grace was still trying to get on her dad's good side.

"Grace, you're not fooling me by a long shot. You're only saying that in order to get me off your back and only because, you got caught with your pants down. Now, get in the car!" Adam opened the passenger door.

"I'm sorry, you guys." Grace said to Sidney and Gloria, before going down to her dad's car.

"You and I have some talking to do, missy!" Adam scolded, as Grace got into the car.

"Mr. Barret." Gloria started.

"Gloria, you cannot say anything that will get her off the hook." Adam barked.

"I was going to say that I take responsibility for the whole thing. I'm the one who deserves your, Mr. Briscoe's, Mr. Curtis', and believe it or not, my own father's wrath and heat. Please, see it in your big heart to forgive Grace and have them forgive Sidney, Meadow, and Erica. I'm the one who suggested the rebellion and I'm the ringleader, therefore, I take full responsibility for my actions, as rare as it is for me to do so." Gloria sounded almost willing to take the fall for everyone else.

"Gloria, that's noble of you and even though part of me thinks you're putting on an act, Grace, Sid, Meadow, and Erica are just as much at fault as you are, because they could've said no, but they didn't. Now, goodnight." Adam said his peace, before getting into the car and going off.

"Gloria, I'll take the blame." Sidney turned to her sister.

"No, Sid. I'm the one who wanted to do this, so I am the one responsible." Gloria shook her head.

"Look, you may wanna hide until dad calms down when he gets here." Sidney merely suggested.

"No, I need to take responsibility and whatever punishment he is going to dole out." Gloria let out a long sigh.

"Yeah, but I'm the oldest." Sidney told her.

"Just go with it, Sid." Gloria shot back.

Then, just as expected, John finally showed up and by the look on his face, saying that he was angry would be sugarcoating it.

"Look, d-dad, we-" Gloria was cut off.

"Can explain?! Oh, please, humor me and tell me! Oh, wait, you can't!" John's face started to get red.

"Dad, we're-" Sidney was cut off.

"What part of "Don't come up here!" did you two not understand?! Huh?! What did you not understand?! I'd like to know!" John folded his arms.

Sidney and Gloria just stood there, as they clearly had no response good enough to tell him.

"I tell you girls not to come up here for safety reasons and the way you two interpret that is to disobey me and come up here anyway?!" John massaged his temples, again.

"Dad, we're sorry. We really really are." Sidney said.

"Yeah, we just thought you were...I don't know, telling one of your stories and making stuff up." Gloria tried to sound gentle in her tone, but instead, sounded snarky.

"I NEARLY HAVE A HEART ATTACK WORRYING MY HEAD OFF ABOUT YOU TWO ALL BECAUSE, YOU TWO THINK I WAS TELLING A STORY AND MAKING SHIT UP?! YOU THINK THIS IS ALL A JOKE?!" John raised his voice.

"N-No, we-" Gloria was cut off.

John, who was Godzilla level furious, took one look at them and motioned for them to come to his car.

Sidney, not wanting to piss her dad off any further, went down the stairs and got into her dad's car.

"That went for you too! Come here!" John turned to Gloria and motioned for her to come down the stairs.

Gloria, seeing the fire in her father's eyes, shook her head.

"You're going to come here and how?!" John started to charge up the stairs.

"No, no, dad, please! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Gloria held her hands up.

"No, the hell you're not!" John shook his head.

"Yes, the hell I am! Look, dad, I would've never done this had Sidney not suggested it and knowing that you were going to flip out like this." Gloria was in dire straits, as like Grace, she, too wanted her dad to get off her back.

"Don't drag Sidney any more into this than she already is and don't dig yourself a deeper grave! You're the ring leader, because if my memory serves me right and it does, I remember that you were the one fighting me tooth and nail last night." John rebuked her.

"Dad, please, we-" Gloria was cut off, again.

"I'm very disappointed in you girls! Very disappointed!" John felt his face beginning to get hot.

"Dad, I-I didn't expect you to get this mad." Gloria remarked.

"Oh, honey, mad doesn't...BEGIN TO COVER IT! NOW, GET IN THE CAR, BECAUSE MY FACE IS GETTING REDDER AND REDDER AND I DON'T WANT TO LOSE MY TEMPER ANYMORE THAN I ALREADY HAVE!" John shouted the rest of it.

"Dad, could you take it easy before I get in the car? I mean you're going to have a heart attack and your blood pressure will go up." Gloria was still hesitant on walking to the car.

"LET IT GO UP AND GET ALL OVER THE PLACE FOR ALL I CARE AND IF I WANT A HEART ATTACK, I'LL GIVE IT TO MYSELF! NOW...GET...IN...THE...DAMN...CAR!" John pointed at his car and stomped his foot. Now, he was looking like he was going to become the Incredible Hulk. Uh oh!

Gloria ran past him and got into the car, clearly not wanting to piss her dad off any further. With that, John got into the car and off they went.

During the car ride, John was eerily silent the whole time and this made Sidney and Gloria extra nervous and scared of what punishment they'll receive from him. They started texting each other.

'Sid, I don't know about you, but dad's silent treatment is kind of scaring the crap out of me.' Gloria texted.

'You're telling me! I never thought he'd get this mad. I mean I knew he'd get mad, but not be mad to the point of not talking to us.' Sidney texted back.

'You're in the back seat, so you're lucky that you aren't getting the angry vibes and occasional angry side glances from him. Then again, angry is sugarcoating it. I mean this is fury.' Gloria replied.

'Gloria, you should seriously let me take the fall for it. I'm the eldest and clearly the adult of the situation.' Sidney sent.

'We're not having this discussion, again! I'm taking the fall. Now, leave it at that.' Gloria sent to her.

'That's very noble of you, but I still don't think it is fair that you get all of the heat for something you, Meadow, Erica, Grace, and I all individually took part in. I mean the buck doesn't stop here. I have to also take responsibility.' Sidney texted.

'For shit's sake, Sid, drop it already! You took your fair share of responsibility and now, I'll take it for the team. End of discussion.' Gloria's text got a bit wrathy.

'Yeah, but Gloria, fair is fair.' Sidney replied back.

'Fair shmair! We're not discussing this any further.' Gloria sent back.

'Come on, Gloria.' Sidney persisted in the text.

'No! It's done! It's over! It's finished!' Gloria sent, before turning her phone off.

Finally, after what appeared to be an eternity, they arrived back to Gloria's house and were once again, met with silence and a death glare from their father. However, he managed to slowly calm himself enough to briefly speak.

"Get in the house you two!" John finally spoke, the angry tone still present.

Sidney got out of the car and went inside the house, clearly not wanting to face anymore of her dad's wrath than she had to already endure, while Gloria still sat there.

"Well?!" John glanced at Gloria.

"Dad, look, I'm sorry for defying you, okay. Is that what you want me to say?!" Gloria tried to sound apologetic, but instead, came out sounding snarky.

"Did you miss something when I said get in the house to you and your sister?" John shot an angry glare at her.

"Dad, I said I was sorry for disobeying you. What more do you-" Gloria was cut off.

"Could you please just get in the house, before you make me angry, because you will not like me when I'm really angry." John warned.

"Like you're not angry already?!" Gloria sassed.

John shot her another angry glare, causing her to get out of the car and go inside almost immediately.

"Hey Gloria. What's the matter?" Frank looked up from his newspaper.

"My dad is pretty upset. Beware." Gloria said, before going off to her room.

Soon enough, John came stomping into the house and slammed the door.

"OK, Mr. Angry Man, I think I know why you're pissed." Frank glanced over at his son.

"Dad, I am really this close to flipping my lid." John was seething.

"First of all, were my suspicions right?" Frank pulled a chair out for John.

"As much as I hate to admit it, yes, they were." John gritted his teeth.

"You know what you have to do, right?" Frank looked at him.

"Yes, dad. I know how I am going punish them. Sidney is going to lose privileges and be grounded. Gloria, because she was the ringleader of it all, is also going to lose her privileges and..." John took a deep breath and gulped hard, "I hate to admit this, but she is going to get spanked, too.".

Frank, looking pleased, nodded his head.

"Aren't you going to say anything? Like put up a debate as you usually would and tell me how wrong I am and all?" John sighed.

"No. You're doing the right thing, John. Sidney will be fine without her privileges and Gloria will be fine. Maybe sore, but that'll teach her." Frank added.

"Yeah, but I don't think Sidney was ever punished by Connie and Lorenzo and Gloria's never been spanked before. I don't think. So, this is a first for them." John pointed out.

"Sidney might've been pampered by them and Gloria may have gotten the switch from Moran. Never know. Anyways, like I said, they'll be fine. They need to learn their lesson. I mean you told them not to go up there and they disobeyed you. They have it coming." Frank rubbed his son's shoulder.

"But I don't want to give them a bad experience that causes nightmares." John said.

"You're not going to cause nightmares. Don't worry." Frank reassured him or at least tried to.

"Well, I'm about to be their worst nightmare. Just like you were my worst nightmare when you punished me those times." John retorted.

"No, Sid's getting grounded and her privileges gone and Gloria is also losing privileges and getting a spanking, not a beating. Plus, what the hell is that remark supposed to mean? Do you have a problem with me, because I whooped your ass those times?!" Frank cocked an eyebrow, clearly unamused by his son's remark.

"Dad, I'm not saying that at all. I deserved to be spanked those many times. Act like a child, you'll be treated like one. Besides, I knew you would never ever intentionally hurt me and I knew I screwed up BIG time. Sure my ass was sore and sure my pride was gone and sure I was pissed with you at the moment and sure I felt remorseful, but there were no bruises and/or welts and I wasn't put in the hospital from it. I mean, you didn't beat me until I was unconscious or dead. You punished me and rightfully so. It taught me valuable lessons each time. I cannot deny it." John openly admitted, despite clearly not wanting to.

"Isn't that what you're doing with Gloria and rightfully so? Don't beat yourself up over this. Sure her pride will be gone and sure she'll be sore at you for a while or remorseful, but in the long run, she knew the rules and knew not to go up there, but still did, scaring the hell out of both of us. Plus, she fought you tooth and nail last night. Now, she must pay the consequences. She'll know that you're doing it out of love. Just like I did to you." Frank stood up and gave his son a kiss on the head.

"You're right, dad." John smiled after his dad gave him the kiss. In a way, he felt that he needed that.

"Good. Now, go and get it over with." Frank patted John on the back.

With that, John gained enough courage to stand up and head upstairs. He stopped at Sidney's room and knocked.

"C-Come in." Sidney could barely speak due to being nervous.

"Hello, Sid." John walked in and shut the door, before pulling up a chair and sitting directly in front of her.

Sidney, due to nerves, didn't speak and instead, just stared at her father.

"You know that you cannot escape any form of punishment for what you took part in." John started.

"Look, dad, I'll take all the bame, okay?" Sidney merely suggested.

"That's not up for discussion, Sidney. Plus, that's not your decision, either. I've made up my mind and I know Gloria was the ringleader of it all and I know that you were hesitant, but still went. I know it all and you know that I know." John rested his head on his hand.

Sidney didn't say anything and simply nodded.

"Now, regarding the punishment I-" John was cut off when Sidney stood up, "What're you doing?".

"Dad, get it over with. I deserve every bit of it." Sidney laid herself over her dad's knee.

"Get up, Sid. You're not getting that." John told her.

"But-But you said-" Sidney tried to plead.

"I know what I said, but listen to what I am saying now and get up." John's voice had a semi-harsh tone to it.

Sidney got off of her dad's knee and sat back down on the bed.

"However, you are being punished. Not via spanking, but I am going to take your privileges away, starting with your phone. Now, hand it over." John held out his hand.

"Dad, really?" Sidney gave him a weird look.

"Act like a child, you'll be treated like one. Phone." John's patience was beginning to thin.

Sidney, knowing John was right and she was in the wrong, didn't waste time and gave him her phone.

"That's only the first part. The second part is that you are grounded. You are not to leave the house unless I am with you." John put her phone in his pocket.

"Grounded?" Sidney raised her eyebrow.

"Yes, for two weeks unless you want to make it the whole month?" John stood up.

"No, no. I can handle two weeks." Sidney backed off.

"Good. Now, it is all forgiven, which means I have your sister to deal with." John said, before leaving her room.

"Well?" Frank peered up the stairs.

"One down and one to go." John glanced at him, before he finally approached Gloria's room and knocked.

"Come in." Gloria could barely get the words out.

John walked in and shut the door, before grabbing a chair and sitting directly in front of her. The two of them had a stare off, clearly indicating that this conversation was going to be difficult and a possible fight and protest. After a while, John let out a long sigh and decided to be the first one to speak.

"Gloria, you haven't lied to me about anything and young lady, you are not going to start lying to me now. I have a zero tolerance for that." John started, as he stared into her eyes, making sure he had her attention.

"Dad, where do I even start?" Gloria finally spoke, despite the bad feeling she had in the pit of her stomach.

"Oh, let's see, you can start by telling me what in the damn hell made you think that disobeying me by going to hangman's hideout was somehow okay? What in the damn hell were you thinking?!" John's anger was starting to show, despite trying to control it.

"It's like I said, I just thought you were telling one of your stories. Like a tall tale. I didn't realize it was dangerous. Well, I didn't believe it was and in my defense, you can't hold me back. I have to learn on my own." Gloria felt her heart jump into her throat.

"Are you serious?! You thought I was just making shit up?!" John sounded confrontational.

"Uh huh." Gloria nodded.

"That's where you're wrong on both counts. First of all, the hangman is a real killer who lurks around up there around this time and secondly, you knew that I told you and your sister to not go up there and after I put the fear of God in you two, you still defied me and went and pressured her to go with you. Am I wrong?" John was trying hard not to lose control of himself.

Gloria shook her head, as she knew her dad was right and she was in the wrong.

"I warned you girls. Mainly you, because you fought me tooth and nail last night. Was my warning not in the back of your mind somewhere?! Did you miss it or what?" John's confrontational tone turned into a more calm one.

"No, I didn't miss it. I never thought I'd hear the end of it! Plus, I really thought you were being overprotective and treating me like a baby! I'm not an invalid or a child, dad! I'm grown ass woman and I demand to be treated as such!" Gloria slightly raised her voice.

"Gloria, I'm going to ask you to lower your voice, starting right now, because I am trying to have a civil conversation with you." John made the "calm down" gesture with his hands.

"You see?! There you go! You're treating me like a baby and trying to control my life! You've been doing it all along and you're doing it again and I don't like it!" Gloria shouted.

"That's enough, Gloria! Stop shouting, sit down, and drop the attitude, right now or we could go straight to the punishment. Your choice!" John gave her an ultimatum.

Gloria, after hearing that commanding tone in her dad's voice, nodded and sat back down, not wanting to add more fuel to the fire.

"That's better. Now, be a good girl and start 'splaining." John folded his arms.

"Dad, I honestly don't have a good enough explanation other than the fact that I wanted to go up there, because that's my usual hangout." Gloria shrugged.

"That's not good enough and you and I both know that." John stood his ground.

"That's all I got." Gloria said.

"No, it isn't. Keep going." John shook his head.

"Well, I just thought that by going up there, I'd somehow prove it to you that you were wrong and that it wasn't dangerous. I just-Okay, I did to spite you. There, I said it. Cat's out of the bag. Happy?" Gloria sulked.

"No, I'm not happy. You see, here's the problem for yourself: I already knew you did it partly to spite me, okay. I knew that, Gloria, but what I don't know is why you felt that blowing me off when I called you and that it was worth scaring the hell out of me and putting yourself and others in danger was okay and worth proving me wrong?! That's what I want to know." John had a vein popping out of his arm.

"I don't have a good explanation, dad, okay. I'm just-I'm sorry, dad. I'm so very sorry. I promise I'll never do anything that sneaky again. I'll never disobey you again." Gloria was clearly at the end of her ropes. She knew her dad was rightfully angry and that none of her excuses were going to get her out of it.

"Sorry is not good enough. You know, you could've been killed or mugged, or raped, or all of the above or you could've disappeared like Jimmy Hoffa! Were you trying to be like Hoffa and disappear?!" John's anger was starting to show, again. He was trying to get his point across, but Gloria apparently was getting it.

"Dial 'H' for Hoffa, right?" Gloria snarked.

"You know, what? You're not taking this seriously, so we'll move to the punishment." John was on the brink of reaching his breaking point.

"No, no, dad, I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean to crack a joke. That-That was a mere slip of the tongue." Gloria regretted it almost immediately.

"Alright, alright. However, it doesn't change the fact that it could've ended differently. What if I hadn't gotten there in time and the hangman got all of you and slaughtered you?! I would've never forgiven myself!" John managed to keep his cool.

"I know, dad." Gloria nodded.

"I was worried sick about you and your sister. If something happened to either of you, that would've killed me. You two are my pride and joy and the thought of you two dying just gutted me." John sounded more gentle this time.

"Yeah, but we're fine. See? Nothing happened this time and next time-" Gloria was cut off.

"There's not going to be a next time, because neither of you are going up there, ever ever ever again. I'm putting the kibosh on that one. After all, you took the honor system and swore to me on your honor that after I told you the story, you would never go up there. Right?" John put his hand on her shoulder.

"Yes." Gloria nodded.

"Yes, what?" John asked.

"Yes, sir." Gloria replied.

"Last time I checked, when we take the honor system we're supposed to stick to it right? Exactamundo. Now, tell me where you did wrong." John leaned in closer.

"I disobeyed you and snuck off to hangman's hideout." Gloria sounded like a toddler confessing to stealing a toy from the store.

"And?" John looked her dead in the eyes.

"I blew off your calls and tried to lie my way out of it." Gloria reluctantly admitted.

"Now, do you deserve to be punished?" John asked.

"Yes, sir." Gloria reluctantly nodded her head.

"Good." John cupped her face in his hands, before standing up.

"You haven't said what my punishment is." Gloria looked down at the floor.

"Well, the first part is that you lost your privileges. Now, give me your phone." John held his hand out.

"Do I have to?!" Gloria pulled her phone out, but was hesitant.

"Yes, you do. Unless, you want me to put a bar of soap in your mouth for lying." John threatened.

Gloria, clearly not wanting that, handed him her phone.

"Besides your phone, you are also grounded. You are not allowed to leave this house unless I am with you." John put her phone on the table nearest to the door.

"Okay. That's not so bad. OK, we've settled it." Gloria sounded cocky.

"Nuh uh. We're not done and this is where part two comes in." John had a smirk forming on his face. Boy, it looked sinister.

"I don't like that smirk. What is part two, dare I ask?!" Gloria was starting to get scared.

"Let me just say that you won't be sitting for a week or two." John hinted.

"What the hell?! Oh my God! You can't be serious." Gloria was flabbergasted. She clearly didn't expect this at all.

"I'm as serious as the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I mean did you think that you were going to get away with this and be able to sit down?!" John gave her the 'really' look.

"Dad, that's not fair. Sid didn't get that." Gloria protested.

"Sid didn't try to lie her ass off to me and she wasn't the ring leader. Plus, she didn't fight me tooth and nail. Also, act like a child and you'll be treated like one." John told her.

Gloria knew her dad had a point, which made her guilt set in and start eating at her.

"Am I wrong?!" John asked, despite already knowing the answer.

"No, you're not. Well, let's get this over with. Where do you want me to bend-Dad, what're you doing?!" Gloria went bug eyed when her dad sat on her bed.

"We're not doing the whole bend over routine. I'm not punishing you with an implement." John said, as he grabbed her wrist.

"Then, what are we doing?" Gloria nervously asked.

"We're doing it the old fashioned way. The way your grandfather did to me. It works each time." John patted his knee.

"Oh gee, do we have to do it over the knee?" Gloria asked.

"Yes, it's the only way my message will get across." John nodded.

The next thing Gloria felt was her dad putting her over his knee. John then locked her legs with his own and put his hand over her back. She sighed and started breathing heavily, anxiously and nervously waiting for what was going to happen next.

"You know why I'm doing this, right?" John raised his hand.

"Yes, dad." Gloria nodded, finally accepting her fate.

The next thing she felt was a harsh smack to her backside, followed by more and more.

"Ow! Dad that hurt! Ow! Oooh! Ouch! Ow!" Gloria winced.

"Quit the melodrama, Gloria. I just started." John landed a few more hard swats.

"Owwy! Owwwwy! Owwwww! Owwww!" Gloria yelped. She had clearly forgotten what a spanking felt like and how badly getting one hurt. Sure, Dr. Moran spanked her and she was spanked in school, but it was never over the knee with a hand. To her it was a first, because Moran usually punished her with a belt or switch, something that meant he didn't have to have personal contact with her and something that didn't require putting his hand on her. She knew this was different and more personal, which in turn, made her feel worse for disobeying John.

John delivered more harder swats and decided that it was time to start lecturing, since that was what Frank always did to him whenever he was being punished and plus, he did that with Sara, Mandy, Olivia, and Jane, so he wanted to make damn sure that Gloria knew she wasn't immune to this whatsoever.

"You knew better than to disobey me like that *SMACK*. You also knew better than to *SMACK! SMACK!* lie your ass off and yet, *SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!* you still tried to and *SMACK!* you tried to pin it all on Sidney! *SMACK! SMACK!* You ought to be ashamed of yourself! I am disappointed in you, young lady!" John laid down nine harder swats.

Gloria yelped and had tears threatening to well up in her eyes, as those last words really stung her worse than any of the swats she was receiving. It was at this point that her remorse really started showing, despite her tough streak and inability to admit she was wrong due to her ego and pride. Speaking of pride, hers was on the brink of going.

"You knew better than to blow me off and yet, you *SMACK!* still did! I told you not to-no I warned you not to go up there due to the dangers and you, along with Sidney, promised on your honor that you wouldn't set foot up there and where the hell did *SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!* I find you?! Huh?! Where did I find you?! *SMACK! SMACK! SMACK* Answer me!" John delivered eight more hard swats, before pausing in order for Gloria to answer him.

"I...don't...know!" Gloria was breathing heavily.

"Wrong answer!" John went even harder on the smacks and started to increase the pace.

"Owwwww! Owwwwww! Oooh! Oooooh! Oooohhhh! OK! OK! I went to Hangman's Hideout! I went to Hangman's Hideout! Th-That's where I was!" Gloria closed her eyes tightly.

"Well, that's more like it. However, I trusted you when you took the honor system and now, I don't know if I should, since you disobeyed me after I had put my trust and faith in you to not do something that could've ended vastly different!" John scolded, as he started to go as hard as he could.

"Look dad, I know I messed up and had a hiccup, but I'm sorry and I'm not just saying it. I really truly am sorry for disobeying you." Gloria's remorse started to show in her voice.

"You know saying that you "messed up" and had a "hiccup" is sugarcoating it, Gloria. Let me just say that you done fucked up BIG time and like I said, things could've been entirely different! INSTEAD OF DOING THIS TO YOU RIGHT NOW, YOU AND THE OTHERS WOULD'VE BEEN DEAD HAD I NOT GOTTEN THERE IN TIME AND IF YOUR BODIES WERE FOUND, I WOULD'VE HAD TO GO TO THE MORGUE, IDENTIFY YOU AND AND SID, AND THEN PLAN A FUNERAL FOR YOU TWO AND INSTEAD OF ME SCOLDING AND CHEWING YOU AND YOUR SISTER OUT, I WOULD'VE HAD TO PUT YOU TWO SIX FEET UNDER INSTEAD AND I DON'T WANT TO BURY MY CHILDREN! A FATHER IS NOT SUPPOSED TO OUTLIVE HIS CHILDREN AND I'VE OUTLIVED THREE OF MY CHILDREN AND MY STEP GRANDCHILD!" John raised his voice, as the pain and agony of the thought of losing Gloria and Sidney was started to tear at his heart.

"I'm sorry dad and I know this is not a good time to ask, but I thought Jane and Wendy were the only dead ones. Who else has died? I know Olivia is in the hospital, but what about Mandy and Sara? I thought they were alive." Gloria was taken aback by what her dad just said.

"No, that's only a lie I keep telling myself, as I still cannot grasp it. Jane and Wendy aren't the only dead ones. Sara and Mandy are gone, too. Tragically." John sighed.

"Dad, if you don't mind me asking, how did they die?" Gloria asked. She felt that maybe if she got her dad to start talking about that, he'd let her slide.

"They-Wait a minute, I see what you're doing! You're trying to lure me into a conversation, so that I could let you off the hook and your backside wouldn't feel the wrath of my hand." John was all the wiser.

Gloria smirked and even scoffed just to show how sassy she could be and that she felt it was worthwhile.

"Big mistake on your part!" John said, as he laid down five hard smacks.

"OWWWW! OOOOHHH! OWWWW! OWWWW! I'm sorry, dad! I'm sorry!" Gloria put her hand on her backside in order to block anymore strikes.

"Move your hand, Gloria!" John told her.

Gloria didn't budge, clearly showing that she was not about to take anymore strikes to her backside or so she thought.

"I said move your hand!" John delivered four smacks to her thighs.

Gloria yelped at each smack, but that wasn't enough to make her move her hand.

"Oh for God's sake!" John, growing tired of her defiance, took her hand and moved it himself.

Gloria quickly moved it back onto her rear end, prompting John to move it off. However, she proved defiant when she put her hand back on her behind.

"You're not making this easy for yourself and I've just about had enough, so I'll do this!" John pinned Gloria's arm to her back and resumed the spanking, this time at a much harder intensity and faster face.

"Owwwww! Ooooohhh! Owwwwwww! Ouch! Ouch! Dad, please stop! Owwwww! Knock it off! Quit it! Let me go!" Gloria sounded as if she was pleading. Due to her pride and ego, she hated herself for sounding that way, but she figured that if she begged and pleaded, maybe her dad would ease up on her.

However, clearly not swayed by her begging and pleading, John ignored her and went as hard as he could, while slowing the pace. Gloria had tensed at the first few swats John had given her, but now she was starting to openly yelp and plead, something she thought she'd never do, which made her, in a way, hate herself due to the fact that now she was going to have to face facts that her pride was being taken from her at this moment. Despite hating her dad for doing this, she knew she deserved every bit of it and that she was wrong from the get-go. Yes, she had the uncontrollable urge to jump off John's lap and get as far away as she could, but obviously, she couldn't as he was holding her back, literally.

"You don't ever disobey me like that and try to lie your way out, ever!" John held her arm down very tightly and continued going as hard as he could.

"Owww! Oooh! Oooh! Oooh! Ouch! I'm sorry! Ouch! I'm sorry! Owww! I'm so sorry!" Gloria's eyes had finally welled up with tears, as the guilty and remorseful feeling was really starting to set in. Now, she was starting to feel badly for not only disobeying her dad, but disappointing him, as well. After all, that was the last thing she'd ever want to do.

"Gloria, if you're so sorry, you wouldn't have done it." John laid down about seven harsh swats to the tops of her thighs.

"Ouchy mama! Oooh! Oooh! Owwwww! Ahhhhh! Ahhhh! Ahhh! Ahia! Ahia!" Gloria grabbed his leg with her free hand.

"Stand it up." John stopped.

"Finally. Th-Thank God." Gloria stood up and rubbed her backside.

"Don't you dare rub, because we're not finished!" John firmly told her.

"Oh, come on, dad. I can't take it anymore. Enough's enough." Gloria's voice was on the verge of cracking.

"That's not up for discussion or debate and it's not your decision, either." John folded his arms.

"Dad, please no more! Please!" Gloria was now begging.

"Not your decision, now go over to the corner and stand there!" John pointed to the corner.

"OK, but why?" Gloria was about to head to the corner, but stopped.

"Because I'm going to go cool off. I cannot punish you and be rage filled. Plus, your grandfather always did this to me." John gave her a light push towards the corner.

Gloria goes over to the corner.

"Put your hands behind your head." John told her.

Gloria did so.

"OK, I'm going to go cool my jets and then, I'll return. However, if I return and find you either rubbing or that you moved, you're really going to be in for it and this time, grandpa may watch and might give it to you and he's not as merciful as I am." John warned, as he left her room and headed downstairs in order to cool off.

"Well?" Frank looked up from his book.

"I came down here to cool off, dad." John pulled up a chair and sat down.

"What happened? You were too angry or something?" Frank moved closer to his son.

"Yeah, I noticed I was too angry. You know, how you used to notice when you were too angry." John nodded.

"Well, did you do what I usually did to you when that came about?" Frank looked at him.

"Yup, I sent her to the corner and made her put her hands behind her head. Boy, did I get flashbacks!" John sighed.

"John, I get it. I punished you so badly that it harmed your psyche. I get it." Frank sounded a bit snarky.

"I'm not saying that at all, dad. I'm just saying that I remember how you used to do and it's how I am doing it now." John reassured.

"John, you don't know how many times I wanted to knock your block off, but I didn't. However, some of those times when I spanked you were restraint and a way of me refraining from knocking you silly. Maybe I went too hard at times-" Frank was cut off.

"Oh God yeah!" John chuckled a little, as he put a lot of emphasis in his response.

Frank gave him a look of disapproval, followed by a clearing of his throat.

"Sorry. I didn't mean for it to come out with all of that emphasis." John quickly walked it back.

"That's better." Frank said.

"No, I'm just saying that you know memories of being punished are coming back. It always happens to me whenever I punish the kids. I mean did it not happen to you when you punished us?" John asked.

"Of course it did. It's natural. However, that doesn't mean Gloria or Olivia or Sidney or Jane or Mandy or Sara were less deserving of it and it certainly didn't mean you or Jim or Jenny were less deserving of it, either." Frank reaffirmed.

"I know, dad. I know." John nodded.

"So, she's standing in the corner with her hands behind her head? What did you warn her with, if you were to go back and find that she had moved or started rubbing?" Frank was curious.

"That I'd really let her have it and might do it in front of you or have you go up there and we both punish her." John said in a very nonchalant way.

"Ha, ha, ha! The good old, "I'll spank you in front of your granddad, God, and everybody or your granddad and I will really give it to you this time!" threat." Frank chuckled.

"You used to threaten me with that and after finding out what grandpa used to do to you, I was always afraid you'd bring him over to help you punish me." John shuddered.

"I know, I know, but it never gets old." Frank laughed.

Meanwhile upstairs

Sidney came out of her room and decided to pay Gloria a visit. She slowly opened the door, walked in, and shut it.

"Dad?" Gloria asked, back still turned.

"No, it's Sidney." Sidney replied.

"Sid, get out!" Gloria sighed.

"Why? What happened?" Sidney folded her arms.

"Dad got to me." Gloria whined.

"Gloria, turn around, if you're gonna talk to me." Sidney was either oblivious or unaware that Gloria was spanked.

"I can't, Sid." Gloria still had her back turned.

"Why?" Sidney asked.

"Look, dad spanked me already and made me stand here while he cools off downstairs. I'm supposed to stay in this position until he comes back. If he finds that I had moved, I'll really get it." Gloria had her nose in the corner.

"Awww! Apparently, you're not dad's favorite, anymore." Sidney teased, as she walked over and slapped Gloria's backside.

"Owwwwwww! You ignoramus! Why, you!" Gloria turned around and rubbed her backside.

"GLORIA!" John, who had apparently returned just at the wrong time, raised his voice and looked as if he was about to turn into the Incredible Hulk.

"Dad, wait! Before you lose your temper, I-" Gloria was cut off almost immediately.

"No excuses! You knew my rules about moving from the corner and rubbing your backside. Also, Sidney, what're you doing in here, anyways?" John folded his arms.

"Well, dad, I was uh checking up on Gloria and now, I'm going back to my room." Sidney quickly left.

"Gloria, what part of don't move from that spot and no rubbing, did you not understand?!" John demanded an answer.

"Dad, it's Sidney's fault. She slapped my ass and-" Gloria was cut off.

"That's no excuse. You knew not to turn around and rub and yet you still did. You still broke my rules, even after I warned you. I mean just when I might have let you off the hook, I find that you broke the rules, again." John was fuming.

"Dad, I'm sorry. I promise, it won't happen again." Gloria said.

"Yeah, right." John shut the door and moved towards his belt.

"No, dad, please, not the belt! Anything, but the belt!" Gloria backed up a few feet away from her dad.

"Fine, then I'll bring your granddad up here to witness it." John threatened.

"No dad, please don't bring grandpa up here. Please. It's-It's humiliating!" Gloria retorted.

"The only one you should be humiliated at, is yourself, Gloria. You got yourself into this position and now, you're going to take it like a big girl!" John said, as he grabbed her wrist, sat down on her bed and lowered her back over his knee.

Gloria let out a long breathy sigh.

John put one hand on Gloria's back and sat waiting, one hand poised to fall and land another hard swat to Gloria's backside. John was astonished with himself to be able to still spank his daughter as much as he had. It was in the moment when he started to lecture again, that he had turned into the father he should've been many years prior. In this moment, he wanted to protect Gloria, for he knew the dangers of Hangman's Hideout and that he was doing this only, because he loved and cared about her and couldn't bear to lose her, seeing as he suffered many losses in the past. He also knew that Gloria was feeling guilty for doing what she did, blowing him off, and trying to lie her way out of it. With that in mind, he resumed the punishment.

"Ouch! Ooh! Ahhh! Mmmmm! Mmmmmm! Mmmmm! Ooooh! Oooh!" Gloria grabbed onto her dad's leg and held it tightly.

"You know better than to pull the stunt you did. You knew of the dangers of Hangman's Hideout! You knew and you still disobeyed me. It's not only the disobedience I'm upset over, it's the fact that you blew me off and tried to lie your way out of it. I mean, you know lying is wrong, right?!" John went painfully harder, making painful smack sounds.

"Y-Yes." Gloria had tears of remorse starting to stream down her face.

"Yes, what?" John paused, waiting for a response.

"Yes, sir." Gloria went from tears streaming down her face to sniffling and her voice beginning to break.

"I'm very disappointed in you. Very very disappointed in you. You were extremely wrong to disobey me and try to lie your way out of it. You know, if you had fessed up, the punishment wouldn't be as severe." John went excruciatingly hard on the swats, even landing a few on top of her upper thighs, leaving red marks.

Gloria, in a lot of pain and without a doubt, finally started crying wholeheartedly and uncontrollably.

John paused and watched Gloria sob and shake over his lap.

Gloria's crying started to become harsher and she could no longer hold back the sobs that came to her mouth.

John, despite feeling a little sympathy for Gloria, applied six hard smacks in order to get his point across and show her who's boss.

Gloria yelped at each one.

"Get up." John took his hand off of Gloria's back.

Gloria slowly stood up, with the help of her dad, of course.

"Go stand in the corner." John pointed at the corner.

Gloria, who was sobbing a bit quietly, held out her hands, as if she was asking for a hug.

"Get in the corner." John shook his head, stood up, and gave Gloria a slight push.

Gloria, however, turned around and held her arms out, again.

"I said get in the corner!" John spun her around and landed a hard swat on her sore behind.

"Owwww!" Gloria yelped, before going over to the corner.

"Put your hands behind your head and face the wall." John told her.

Gloria put her hands behind her head, but quickly turned around to look at her dad with her dad puppy dog eyes.

"Don't look at me. Face the wall." John made the 'turn around' gesture with his finger.

Gloria, clearly not wanting to be punished again, did as she was told.

"Now, you're going to stand there for five minutes and think about what you have done and what could have happened, while I keep count." John sounded like a disappointed parent, in which, he actually was one.

Five minutes later

John had started to feel bad and even a little sad for causing Gloria physical and possibly emotional pain. However, he knew four things: One, he needed to put teach her a valuable lesson. Two, he knew how she felt, as he had been through this more times than he could either count or care to remember. Three, he knew that things could've ended vastly different had he and the others hadn't gotten to Gloria and the girls and Four, he knew that the physical pain on Gloria would wear off, but the emotional/mental part would take time to wear off. Plus, he was spent from getting his anger amped up like he did and he knew that she was spent from protesting to crying and feeling remorseful for worrying her dad like she did. He now knew that comfort was in order and even brushed a tear away from his eye, before deciding to call her over.

"Come here, Gloria." John had a gentle tone in his voice.

Gloria came over to her dad and dropped to her knees right in front of him.

John cupped Gloria's face with his hands, lifted her head so that way they could make eye contact, and looked into her tear soaked sad puppy dog eyes. He helped her up and sat her beside him. Gloria yelped and winced, as she sat down on the bed. John held her in the way that a loving and caring father would and gave her a kiss on the head. Gloria held onto her father as if her life had depended on it. After a few minutes of total silence, Gloria decided to speak first.

"I-I'm sorry, daddy." Gloria said, before burying her head into John's chest and crying wholeheartedly.

"It's okay, baby. I know you are." John held her tightly and rubbed her back.

Gloria continued to sob into her dad's chest.

"Hush now, honey. I've got you. It's all forgiven. I'm not mad anymore, but you still are grounded, kid." John reassured, as he continued to hold and comfort her.

Many moments later/downstairs

John was downstairs with Frank and despite trying to put on a brave face, the older man knew his son was battling himself on the inside, seeing as he went through the exact same thing after he punished John and his siblings. John buried his head in his hands. This had been hard for Gloria sure, but Gloria wasn't hurting her child. Gloria should hate John, but she didn't. However, John was hating himself and even cursing himself, as he had once promised he wouldn't be like his father, but he was anyway and for that, he hated himself even more. Frank could definitely see it and wanted to offer comfort to his son, knowing the pain his son was feeling.

"Son, I know that glum look. It's the way I looked after I punished you or your sister or your brother or even some of the grandkids. I knew what you're feeling and how you're feeling." Frank rubbed John's shoulder.

"I know that, dad, but I also know that I hurt her and that our equilibrium is off." John sighed.

"Son, you didn't intentionally hurt her okay. Sure her ass is on fire. That was the purpose of the spanking. She'll remember the fire that was lit on her ass the next time she thinks about disobeying and scoffing at you." Frank reassured.

"Dad, was I too hard on her? Should I have cut her some slack?" John looked at the ground.

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, and no and in that order. She has to understand that you and I and Sharon won't let her or Sidney endanger themselves, intentionally or unintentionally. You, Elaina, and I never let Sara, Mandy, and Olivia endanger themselves and I'm sure you and Karen didn't let Jane endanger herself." Frank sounded a bit stern.

"Yeah, well, look what happened to Jane, Wendy, Mandy, Sara, and Olivia. Jane, Wendy, Mandy, and Sara are dead and Olivia is close to death. I promised to protect them and look what's happened." John looked like he was going to cry.

"I know, kiddo, I know. With Olivia, there's still hope. However, even if we have to set Gloria or Sidney's backsides on fire, it'll save them from their own dumb selves." Frank sat closer to his son.

"Dad, I'm sorry for being such a pain in the hind quarters. I know you had three of us to deal with and I know I was the hardest. You know, it makes me wonder how you still have hair on your head and how it hasn't gone white as snow." John had a smile starting to form on his face, despite the overwhelming guilt.

Frank laughed, hugged, and kissed his son. John wasn't a bad kid and neither were his siblings. He was a wildchild for sure, but all kids have that wild streak in them.

"John, growing up is all about testing limits and having a wild streak. Plus, pushing the boundaries and getting into mischief. It's a part of life. The punishment showed you and your siblings the boundaries, limits, and consequences for pushing the envelope too far. The same applied to Jane, Sara, Mandy, Olivia, and now Gloria and Sidney. Don't beat yourself up over it. You needed to teach two stubborn girls a lesson. Yes, Gloria's was harsh and Sidney's was a bit childish and bogus, but sometimes life is all three of those things among other things, so lessons need to be that way, too. Now, compared to the horrible and ungodly alternative, a sore behind is a picnic." Frank patted John's knee.

"Dad, logically I know that, but I just don't want her to be fearful of me and even distrust me, because of this. I mean I'd never ever hurt her or Sidney. No way, no how." John looked at his father with somewhat sad puppy dog eyes.

"I know those eyes real well. You used to look at me that way whenever I spanked you and sent you to the corner. In fact, I can remember one incident real well." Frank started to reminisce about the particular incident.

"Oh dad, do you have to remind me?!" John was embarrassed.

Flashback to the incident in question

A 13 year old John Bradley was not too pleased with his father dating another woman. He felt that the many women his father dated were replacements for his late mother, Apollonia. However, this time was one time too many, because John said something disrespectful to this woman and Frank had the woman leave and planned for another night when his son didn't act out. The woman left and Frank was ready to get down to business.

"Alright son, what was that all about?!" Frank folded his arms, clearly upset with his son.

"You should know by now." John snarked.

"That snarky attitude will not get you far in life. Now, what's going on with you? Why have you been acting out?" Frank pressed on.

"Because I feel like it." John remarked.

"That's not a good enough reason and you and I both know that. Now, why don't we stop playing games and get down to business." Frank mildly suggested, despite the anger he felt towards his son at this moment.

"Fine, I don't like you being with these women! I don't want them controlling me or Jenny or Jim! Mainly me!" John said a little loudly.

"OK. One, lower your voice and two, it's not your decision on whether or not I see other women. I'm not technically dating." Frank told him.

"Oh, right. Then, you're just banging them. OK, now it's all clear to me." John scoffed.

"Get your mind out of the gutter and put it back in your head after you get your head out of your behind and put it back on your shoulders. After you do that, let's get one thing straight, I am not having sex with these women. I am just having them over to talk. I mean I thought guys were better to talk to, but women are better listeners." Frank was clearly displeased with his son's remarks.

"That's no excuse!" John shot back.

"What excuse, son? What excuse do you think I am making?!" Frank asked.

"You know what excuse you're making, dad. I seriously don't have to spell it out for you." John raised his voice.

"Again, lower your voice and talk to me like a civilized person and answer my question." Frank said in a firm tone.

"FINE, YOU'RE ONLY HAVING THESE WOMEN OVER AND SENDING JENNY, JIM, AND ME AWAY, SO THAT WAY YOU CAN HAVE SEX! WHAT?! MOM WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH?!" John yelled.

"John David Bradley, your mother is dead, okay. Your mother is dead and for the last time, I am not having sex with these women. I just have them over just to talk and reminisce about your mom. Is talking to women a sin or crime?!" Frank was on the brink of losing his temper.

"Yes, because you're disrespecting mom and her memory!" John raised his voice, again.

"You don't have to scream at me like a wild banshee. I'm right in front of you!" Frank slightly raised his voice.

"Vaffanculo!" John muttered under his breath.

"Che diavolo hai appena detto?! (What the hell did you just say?!)" Frank asked, in Italian.

"I said Vaffanculo!" John flipped the bird at his dad.

Frank, in shock and upset, did something he thought he'd never do; he slapped John across the face and hard enough to leave a red mark.

John backed away in total shock and horror that his father would do such a thing.

"John, I-I'm so-" Frank regretted what he did almost immediately.

"Get away from me! Get away!" John backed away from his father.

"Son, please-please, listen to me. I-" Frank was cut off.

"Stay away from me!" John looked over his shoulder and spotted his father's car keys.

"Son, forgive me. I forgot myself. I saw-I saw red. I-I didn't know what I-" Frank was cut off, again.

"I HATE YOU!" John shouted, as he grabbed the car keys and made a dash for the front door.

"Son, wait! Wait!" Frank took off after his son.

John unlocked the car, got inside, started it up, and zoomed away after he stepped on the gas peddle, before his father could reach him. As he drove away, he could see his father in the distance falling to his knees and breaking down. However, John didn't have a care in the world and he didn't have an idea where he was going to go. All he was focused on was getting away from his father and clearing his mind. He continued driving erratically, violating all the rules of the road until this happened:

*CRASH!* *BANG!* *BOOM!*

John veered off the road and into a few mail boxes, before the car finally rolled and landed upside down, in order to avoid hitting a squirrel. He was unconscious and remained that way until an older bespectacled man spotted him and ran over immediately.

"Young man, are you okay?" the man asked.

All that was heard was groaning and labored breathing. The man managed to somehow get John out of the car. John was covered in bruises and gashes, especially a severe gash to his forehead. Knowing that the young boy needed medical attention and fast, he ran over to a pay phone and phoned for an ambulance.

Moments later

When John finally woke up, he was dazed and confused and couldn't give a good explanation to what happened due to his memory being foggy. However, when he heard an all too familiar voice, he looked up and saw his father talking to the nurse at the desk.

'Uh oh.' John thought.

"Hello, kid." a doctor walked in.

"H-Hi, doc. Wha-what happened?" John moaned.

"You were in a horrific car crash after you apparently veered off the road and spun out of control, hitting about three mailboxes. Now, you don't smell of alcohol, so would you mind telling me what happened?" the doctor gently asked.

"Doc, I don't remember and-" John paused mid sentence when he locked eyes with his father.

After locking eyes with his son, a very relieved Frank walked into the bay.

"Sir, who are you?" the doctor asked.

"That's my son, John. I'm his father, Frank." Frank told the doctor.

"Well, your boy is lucky to have survived that crash. Lucky indeed." the doctor said.

"I'm just glad he's okay." Frank breathed a sigh of relief.

"So are we, but I need to know how he got involved in the accident as he clearly doesn't smell of alcohol." the doctor told him.

"Well, it all started when we were having a spat and then, he took off with my car. I think he knows the rest, don't ya John?" Frank gave John a very stern look.

John didn't even look at his father and ignored him.

"Your daddy asked you a question, kid. I believe you owe him an answer." the doctor sounded a bit stern.

"I tried not to hit a squirrel and I guess I just went out of control." John's memory started to come back.

"Well, that sure explains it and by examining these wounds of yours, you're one lucky kid to not need stitches." the doctor examined John and found that the gashes weren't life threatening or requiring stitches.

"So, uh..when can he be discharged?" Frank asked.

"After I fill out and sign his discharge papers. Afterward, I think you and your son need to work out your differences." the doctor said, before he left to fill out and sign the said discharge papers.

"Don't worry, we will." Frank reassured the doctor, unaware that the doctor left to fill out the papers.

John swallowed hard and looked away from his father, knowing that despite his feeling full of pride that he did something rebellious and had that adrenaline kick, he knew what he did was beyond wrong and that his stupid stunt could've ended vastly different. He knew he was in for it. It was at this moment that tears of remorse welled up in his eyes.

Seeing this, Frank put a comforting hand on his son's shoulder, as despite being disappointed in his son's actions, he was grateful that his son was alive and he knew that something was deeply hurting his son, because John wouldn't have pulled a stunt to this extent and he wouldn't have been acting out like he had been or would he? Anyways, the doctor walked back in with the papers.

"Here ya go. The boy is all set to go home, Mister...uh..." the doctor quickly looked back at the papers, then back at Frank and John, "Mr. Bradley. Now, my advice to the two of you is to work out your differences, whatever they may be about.".

"We will. Come on, kid." Frank said, before he and John walked out of the hospital.

As soon as they were outside and despite his pride and ego telling him not to, John hugged his father very tightly and started quietly crying into his dad's chest.

"John?" Frank looked at his son in confusion.

"Dad, I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry! I-I don't know what came over me! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" John was hysterical.

"John, ssssh, shhhh. It's OK, son. I'm just thankful that you're safe and alive. I'm also glad that we're reunited. However, truth be told, I am disappointed in you and your actions." Frank hugged and comforted John, while standing his ground at the same time.

"I know, dad. Before you say anything, I know I screwed up BIG time." John admitted to doing wrong, despite clearly not wanting to own up to it.

"Yes, you did and that screw up could've been worse. Now, we're going to have a little talk when we get home and afterward, your punishment will be dolled out in the way I feel is fit. In the meantime, let's get going." Frank told him.

"But dad, we don't have transportation." John said.

"Oh, yes we do. I brought my back up car. The El Camino to be exact. I mean you trashed my Mercury and the Ford is in the shop, so the El Camino is the next best thing we've got." Frank said, as he got into the car.

John got in and off they went back home. As soon as they came home, they went inside. Just as John settled himself onto the couch, Frank sat on the chair right across from him. Then, there was nothing, but a moment of total silence between the father and son. Finally, Frank decided it was time to get down to business.

"Son, let me just start off with...what the hell were you thinking?! What the hell was going through your mind? Why did you think it was okay to pull a stunt like that?!" Frank tried to remain composed, despite being angry.

"Dad, I wasn't thinking straight and in my defense, my emotions were everywhere. Look, I'm sorry and I'm not just saying that for the hell of it. I really truly am sorry." John sighed.

"Something's bothering you, because you haven't been yourself. However, just, because something may be bothering you is no excuse for your actions. I mean you and I BOTH know that things could've been very different." Frank kept eye contact with John.

"Dad, it's just-it's-I don't like you being with those women. I mean I feel like you're replacing mom and that may not be your intentions, but whenever those women look at you, I can see it in their eyes that they're not here to offer comfort, they're here to take mom's place and possibly take advantage of you and-and I don't want that to happen." John said in a nutshell.

Frank took a moment to absorb what his son just said. He had never even thought to think about any of the women's intentions or look at from someone else's perspective besides his own. He knew Apollonia was his true love and to him, no woman would ever take that place in his heart. However, he was no hurt knowing that his eldest son felt this way and he hadn't paid attention to his son's feelings, but he knew that this didn't excuse his son's behavior at all and it definitely didn't excuse the stunt John had pulled tonight.

"Son, I'm-I'm so sorry that I never thought to look at it from a perspective other than my own. I'm also sorry I never paid attention to your feelings or anything. However, you need to know that I loved your mother more than life itself and these women will never ever take her place in my heart. I'm sorry you're feeling this way. I should've put your feelings and thoughts ahead of my own. Could you please see it in your heart to forgive me?" Frank put his hand on John's knee.

"Thank you, dad. I finally needed to hear that and yes, I do forgive you now. I'm sorry for what I said earlier about sex and all." John smiled.

"Son, I know you only said that out of anger and now, I have a feeling that you only did what you did out of anger and being overwhelmed with a lot of emotions, but that doesn't excuse or exonerate you from any reprimand for what you did. I mean you could've killed others if not yourself. I taught you better than that, as I did with Jenny and Jim." Frank stood up, walked over to John, and pulled him into a hug.

"I know, dad. I guess, I'm grounded." John sighed.

"Afraid not, son. You see your dangerous stunt, like I've said before, could've ended differently. Instead of us talking and me punishing you, I'd be at the morgue identifying your body and having to plan a funeral and I don't wanna plan a funeral and bury my son! No parent should out live their child!" Frank shook his head and slightly raised his voice.

"Well, then what're you going to do?" John asked, dreading the answer.

"Get upstairs and wait for me." Frank told him.

John stood up and went upstairs to his room. Frank walked over to the kitchen drawer and found the razor strap. Despite dreading the darned thing, as it was used on him in the past, Frank grabbed it and headed upstairs.

Up in John's room

John was dreading the punishment he was going to receive, even though, he knew he deserved it. His dread became intense when he heard approaching footsteps. Soon enough, his door flew open and in came his father with the dreaded razor strap.

'Uh oh!' John thought.

"This is going to hurt me more than it's going to hurt you." Frank shut the door.

'Oh, that all time famous saying before the punishment begins!' John mentally said to himself.

Frank took his belt off and placed it onto the bed, before he sat down.

John, despite knowing he deserved the punishment, was trembling a little and knew that his backside was going to be sore. Plus, his pride was going to be taken from him.

"I think you know the drill." Frank patted his knee.

John nodded and slowly lowered himself over his father's knee.

"I believe you know why I am doing this." Frank placed his left hand over John's back.

"Yes, dad, I do." John nodded, again.

"Now, you're going to get 50 with my hand, 50 with the strap, and 50 with my belt." Frank had his right hand poised to land the first swat.

"OK, dad. Just get it over with." John swallowed very hard.

With that Frank delivered the first harsh swat to John's backisde, which was followed by many more.

"You don't ever put yourself in danger and pull a stupid stunt like that, ever!" Frank landed about 10 hard swats so far.

"Owww! Ooooh! Oww! Oww! Ouch!" John winced.

"You don't ever be disrespectful to guests or visitors or me. I raised you better than that. You know better than to do the things you've done." Frank went as hard as he could in order to get his message across.

"Owww! Oooh! Oww! Owww! Owww! Owww! Ooooh! Ouch!" John yelped.

Frank increased the intensity of the smacks and the pace, as well.

"Owwww! Oooh! Ouch! Ooooh! Ouch! Oooh! Owww! Ouchy mama!" John grabbed the bed spred.

"Stand up." Frank surprisingly stopped.

"Ohhh, finally. Thank God." John stood up and rubbed his already stinging backside.

"I didn't say you could rub, because we're not even close to being done." Frank folded his arms.

"Ah c'mon, dad. Please, no more." John pleaded.

"That's not your decision, John. Now, be a good boy and take down your pants." Frank told him.

"Dad, please no more. Please, I'm begging you." John begged.

"Not your decision, now pants down, mister." Frank snapped his finger.

John started to take his pants down, but abruptly stopped.

"What's keeping you?" Frank asked.

"Dad, I won't do it." John shook his head.

"Take them down or I'll do it myself. Only I won't take them down, I'll yank 'em down along with your underwear." Frank threatened.

"Never!" John shook his head.

Frank began to take John's pants down.

"No, dad, please don't! It-It's humiliating" John tried to stop his father.

"The only one you should be humiliated at, is yourself, John. You got yourself into this position and now, you're going to take it like a big boy!" Frank said.

"Dad, please don't take my pants down. I'll do it myself." John said, as he took his pants down, revealing black boxer shorts with skulls on them.

"Good boy, now get back over here." Frank patted his knee.

"No, dad." John shook his head.

"John, get back over here or I'll forcefully put you back over!" Frank gave him a firm look.

John gulped, before reluctantly lowering himself back over his father's knee.

Frank put one hand on John's back and sat waiting, one hand poised to fall and land another hard swat to John's backside. Frank was astonished with himself to be able to still spank his son as much as he had. It was in the moment when he started to lecture again, that he realized that he had indeed turned into his own father, only this time, he was more caring and protective and not just punishing John to release his anger. In this moment, he wanted to protect John, for he knew the dangers of the stunt he pulled and that he was doing this only, because he loved and cared about him and couldn't bear to lose him, seeing as he suffered a huge loss in the past and plus, his other two children weren't as close to him as John was. He also knew that John was feeling guilty for doing what he did, flipping him off, and acting out the way he did. Frank also knew that he too felt bad for not listening to John, paying attention to his feelings, and putting John's feelings into consideration. With all of that in mind, he resumed the punishment.

"Ouch! Ooh! Ahhh! Mmmmm! Mmmmmm! Mmmmm! Ooooh! Oooh!" John grabbed onto his dad's leg and held it tightly.

"You know better than to pull the stunt you did. You knew of the dangers of your stunt! You knew I taught you better than be disrespectful to guests and act out and yet, you still did all of those things. You knew better than to drive off with my car, too! It's not only the disrespect I'm only upset over, it's the fact that you put many lives, including yours in danger. I mean, you know taking stuff without permission and being disrespectful is wrong, don't you?!" Frank went painfully harder, making painful smack sounds.

"Y-Yes." John had tears of remorse starting to stream down his face.

"Yes, what?" Frank asked, while he had his hand raised.

"Yes, sir." John started to sniffle.

Frank went as hard and as fast as he could.

"Owwww! Owww! Owwww! Ahhhhh! Ahhia! Ahhhhhiiiiaaa! Owwwwwwwwww!" John tightened his hold on his dad's leg.

Frank formed a wedgie on John and began smacking his sit spots, making sure each smack counted.

John's voice started breaking and his yelps started to sound a bit shaky.

Frank went excruciatingly hard, causing John's backside to turn blood red.

John due to the pain and remorse, finally started crying openly and uncontrollably.

Frank paused and watched his son sob.

John's crying started to become harsher and he could no longer hold back the sobs that came to his mouth.

Frank, despite feeling sorry for his son and bad for causing his son physical pain, applied six more hard smacks.

John yelped and whimpered at each one.

"Get up." Frank took his hand off of John's back.

John slowly stood up, with the help of his dad, of course.

"Go stand in the corner and put your hands behind your head." Frank pointed to the said corner.

John, who was sobbing a bit quietly, held out his hands, as if he was asking for a hug.

"No! Get in the corner, now." Frank shook his head, stood up, and gave John a slight push.

John, however, turned around and held his arms out, again.

"I said get in the corner!" Frank spun him around and landed a hard swat on him sore behind.

"Owwww!" John yelped, before going over to the corner.

"Put your hands behind your head and face the wall." Frank told him.

John put his hands behind him head, but quickly turned around to look at his dad with his sad puppy dog eyes.

"Don't you dare look at me. Face the wall." Frank made the 'turn around' gesture with his finger.

John, clearly not wanting to be punished again, did as he was told.

"Now, you're going to stand there for five minutes and think about what you have done and what could have happened, while I keep count." Frank sounded like a disappointed parent, in which, he actually was one.

Five minutes later

Frank had started to feel bad and even a little sad for causing John physical and possibly emotional pain. However, he knew four things: One, he needed to put teach him a valuable lesson. Two, he knew how he felt, as he had been through this more times than he could either count or care to remember. Only his father caused him physical and emotional pain from berating him to using him as a punching bag to just punishing him to release his anger. Three, he knew that things could've ended vastly different and Four, he knew that the physical pain on John would wear off, but the emotional/mental part would take time to wear off. Plus, he was spent from getting his anger amped up like he did and he knew that John was spent from protesting to crying and feeling remorseful for worrying his dad like he did and for being disrespectful. He now knew that comfort was in order and even brushed a tear away from his eye, before deciding to call John over.

"Come here, John." Frank had a gentle tone in his voice.

John came over to his dad and dropped to his knees right in front of him.

Frank cupped John's face with his hands, lifted his head so that way they could make eye contact, and looked into his tear soaked sad puppy dog eyes. He helped him up and sat John beside him. John yelped and winced, as he sat down on the bed. Frank held him in the way that a loving and caring father would and gave him a kiss on the head. John held onto his father as if his life had depended on it. After a few minutes of total silence, John decided to speak first.

"I-I'm sorry, daddy." John said, before burying his head into Frank's chest and crying wholeheartedly.

"It's okay, kiddo. I know you are." Frank held him tightly and rubbed his back.

John continued to sob into his dad's chest.

"Hush now, son. I've got you. It's all forgiven. I'm not mad anymore, but you still are in big trouble and possibly grounded, kid." Frank reassured, as he continued to hold and comfort him, "We're not going to pull a stunt like that again, now are we?".

"N-No, s-sir." John's breath was hitching.

Present Day

"Dad, did you really have to remind me of that incident?!" John was trying hard to forget about that particular incident.

"Yes and for two reasons; One, to show you that I felt the way you are feeling now and Two, because that stunt you pulled and the stunt Gloria and Sidney pulled were similar. Before you say anything, yes, you took my car without asking and nearly got yourself killed and Gloria and Sidney went to hangman's hideout after you warned them and they were very close to nearly being killed, but my worrying about you and your worrying about Sid and Gloria were at the same level." Frank told him the similarities and differences between the stunt Sid and Gloria pulled and the one John pulled many years ago.

"But dad, I was pulling it out of pure anger towards you and as a means of getting attention. Gloria led the disobedience just to...I don't know...I guess to prove me wrong." John reminded him and took a wild guess.

"John, you did the same thing of trying to prove me wrong on many occasions and now, Gloria has inherited that trait." Frank gave him a look.

"I guess you're right." John chuckled.

"A father always knows." Frank patted him on the back, "Ya know, I bet she gave you the puppy dog eyes.".

"Yeah, she did." John nodded.

"Because you used to do the same exact thing after I'd punish you." Frank took a sip of water.

"Well, spankings do hurt. Makes my backside hurt thinking about it." John shuddered.

"They hurt, but they were well-deserved and they taught you to never pull a stunt like you did ever again and I'm sure it taught Gloria the same exact thing." Frank stood up from his chair.

"Dad, where are you going?" John asked.

"Upstairs to talk to Gloria." Frank said, as he started up the stairs.

"Why?" John asked, again.

"Did I question your uncle whenever he'd go up to visit with you after I punished you?" Frank gave him a look.

"No." John shook his head.

"I mean your grandfather wasn't around to do that and even if he was, he wouldn't do that. He felt it was too unbecoming of a father to comfort their child. I mean after he'd whoop my behind, he'd make me stand in the corner and then, he'd do it again." Frank shuddered at the mere thought of what his father used to do to him.

"Dad, I don't mean to sound rude, but you've told me the stories about half a dozen times and-" John was cut off.

"It was worth those half a dozen times. I mean whenever I punished you and you'd say that it was the worst or that I was beating you, I'd remind you that if you thought I was harsh, your grandfather was worse. While I would spank you to discipline you, your granddad would've beaten, not spanked, but beaten you to let out his anger. I mean it's true when I say that his disciplinary ways were extremely harsh. I still have scars to prove it. His hand hurt, but the belt was way worse." Frank cringed.

"So, that's why you hesitated to use the belt or any object on me, before you did some of those times?" John asked.

"Yes, because I'd have flashbacks of my childhood, but I knew that you needed to be put in your place, so I went ahead and did it just to get it over with, while I reassured myself that I wasn't turning into my own father." Frank nodded.

"Dad, what he did to you would be considered child abuse now. I mean if CPS was around back then, they would've put you in a foster home and he would've been charged with child abuse." John told him.

"I know, son and sometimes I wish that would've happened, but then, I probably wouldn't have met your mom, so in that case, it was all worth the abuse I took. Plus, it was a teaching tool for me to not become the man my father claimed to be." Frank continued up the stairs.

"I guess, even though, you didn't deserve for him to treat you that way." John added.

"I know son, but I survived and you survived my hand and Gloria survived yours." Frank said, before he approached Gloria's room and knocked.

In Gloria's room

Gloria was looking at her behind in the mirror. All she saw was a red handprint along with bruises and red marks on her thighs. This spanking was severe and painful. However, she quickly pulled her pants back up when she heard the knocking after apparently not hearing it before.

"C-Come in." Gloria sighed.

"I see that you did indeed survive your dad's hand. Bring it here, kiddo." Frank walked in, shut the door and turned to his granddaughter, her tear stained face and still wet sad puppy dog eyes meeting his own. He opened his arms for a hug.

Gloria couldn't resist the comfort that was being offered, as she had suffered just moments earlier.

"Was it really that bad, honey?" Frank kissed her on the head.

"My rear end still hurts. I've never been spanked over the knee before. Usually, my adoptive father would've used the strap, belt, or paddle on me or would've made me break a switch off of a tree. This was a first for me." Gloria rubbed her behind.

"Well, in all fairness, I don't think any of his kids ever scared him like you and Sid did today. You do understand why he was more severe on you than he was on Sidney, despite the fact that she is the oldest?" Frank sat down on the bed and helped Gloria sit down beside him.

"Because I was the ring leader?" Gloria reluctantly asked.

"Exactamundo. You led the charge of disobedience and usually the ring leader gets the severe part of the punishment, which I am sure you're very aware of." Frank added.

"Oh ho, you bet I am." Gloria nodded.

"You know, truth be told, if your dad hadn't punished you, I would've certainly busted your behind for the stunt you and Sidney pulled. That's the honest to God truth." Frank firmly told her.

"You-You would've?" Gloria gulped.

"No joke. I busted your father's ass and rightfully so for the many stupid stunts he pulled. So, if I did it to him, I would've done to you, if he didn't." Frank was not pulling any punches.

Gloria was having a hard time picturing her father letting someone bust his ass for anything. He had too much of a macho and tough personality and a bit of an ego.

'Nah, there's no way dad would let someone spank him. There's just no way. He's too macho, masculine, tough, big, and he has a big ego and too much pride! Then again, so did I.' Gloria thought.

"Sure your daddy is the big, tough, macho, masculine guy with a big ego and a lot of pride and dignity, but I took that from him whenever he pulled the similar stunts you and Sidney pulled and got punished for it. In fact, there was a similar incident to this one. I won't get into too much detail now." Frank replied. Apparently, she must've said what she thought, out loud.

"But, it's just hard picturing dad letting you spank him. Anyways, I really feel bad for what I did and I just hope he finds it in his heart to forgive me." Gloria's guilt was showing in her voice.

"Well, of course he forgives you. I mean I forgave him after I punished him." Frank tried to sound reassuring.

"I just hope he doesn't disown me, grandpa." Gloria looked at the floor.

"Now, why would your dad disown you? All you did was pull a stupid stunt and nearly scare him to death and all he was upset at was you and Sidney disobeying him by pulling that stunt. He wouldn't disown you or Sidney no matter how upset he was. After all, I never once gave it a thought to disown him no matter what stupid he pulled when he was a youngster. So, if I didn't disown him no matter how many times he nearly gave me a heart attack, then he won't disown you or Sidney." Frank put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"I just hope he forgives me and talks to me, again." Gloria glumly replied.

"Oh, sweetheart, it's all forgiven now. I mean after we Bradleys punish our kids, everything is forgiven. The slate is wiped clean, the page is turned, and we start fresh under the condition that our children don't repeat any of the mistakes and errors that got them punished in the first place. If you ask me, your father is worried about you and despite knowing that you indeed deserved your punishment, he feels pretty bad and like I said, he's worried about you." Frank rubbed her shoulder.

Gloria had a hard time believing that her father was worried about her. Moments ago, he was harsh on her and left her unable to sit down due to bruises, red marks, and a red hand print in order to make his lesson stick.

'How can the same man who caused me so much physical pain and left marks, be worried about me? That's-That's unheard of. That's just-No, it's impossible!' Gloria thought.

"I know it is hard for you to believe and trust me, when you become a parent, you'll do the same thing when your child pulls a stupid stunt. However, it is true that despite his being harsh on you, that he feels guilty for hurting you. In fact, he's afraid that you'll be too afraid to be around him." Frank gave her a kiss on the side of the head.

"He's worried about me? I should be worried about him. I'm the one who disobeyed him, so I should beg for his forgiveness." Gloria looked at the floor, again.

"Gloria, believe me, you don't have to beg, because he is worried. Look, if you don't mind me asking, but where in the world did you get the idea of having to beg for forgiveness and be worried about your dad not talking to you ever again or even being disowned?" Frank was curious.

"Well, it's just that my adoptive father, Dr. James Moran, never spanked me over the knee style. He usually made me break off a switch or grab his razor strap, paddle, ruler, or belt and he'd punish me with those objects while I was laying on my stomach or bent over something, like a table or the footboard of a bed. Never over the knee with his hand. After that, he'd always threatened that if I ever pulled a stupid stunt, that I'd find myself out on the streets and not to bother coming back to him. In other words, he was saying to me, 'Go find a new family, because I have no time for you!', so to speak. The reason I know this is, because he actually said that to me once. Then, there was a time that after he punished me, he didn't talk to me for over a month. He was just that way and that's why I'm afraid that dad will be that way." Gloria took a deep breath after saying all of that, before looking back at the floor.

"No parent should ever do that no matter what stupid stunt your child pulls. I'm sorry he was like that to you, but you don't have to worry, because you have us and your dad will never ever ever do that to you. However, either your dad or I will keep rendering you unable to sit if that's what it'll take to make you realize that the rules are the rules and that you can't just pick and choose which ones you follow. Now, why don't you wait here and I'll go bring your dad up and you two can talk, because I think it's been long enough for you to think about what you have done. How does that sound?" Frank hugged Gloria very tightly and placed another kiss on her forehead, before standing up.

"That sounds great, grandpa. Thanks." Gloria smiled.

"Your daddy will be up shortly." Frank opened the door and left.

Downstairs

John was sitting on the couch, taking a sip his grape flavored water ever five seconds in order to calm his nerves and put himself at ease when Frank came down the stairs. He was in between wanting to know what all she had said and if she possibly forgave him and not wanting to know for fear that she'd never talk to him again and be too afraid of him. Frank came over to John and sat down next to him.

"I just had a talk with Gloria." Frank started.

"How was it?" John looked up at his dad.

"She's worried about you." Frank said.

John scoffed and took another sip of his water. He had just literally beat Gloria's ass and the girl was worried about him. The latter was hard to believe.

"Worried about me? I'm the one who caused her pain and she should hate me for it. I wouldn't blame her if she did, dad." John ran his hand over the back of his head and sighed.

"She was practically saying the same thing, only she said that she was worried that you'd either disown or never speak to her again." Frank told him.

"That's prepostorous. I would never do such a thing. I mean I was and still am upset for the stunt she pulled, but I'd never disown her or never not speak to her again. Where the hell did she get that idea?" John was hurt by the mere suggestion of him disowning and never speaking to Gloria ever again.

"That Moran fellow used to threaten her with that and apparently, it's still ingrained in her head." Frank put his hand on John's back.

"Nobody should do that to a child. No matter what." John shook his head.

"Well, how about you go and talk to her and make things right." Frank suggested.

"There's nothing to make right, dad. She disobeyed and lied to me, I punished her, and I feel terrible." John shook his head, again.

"John, just go and talk to the girl. I'm sure she can alleviate you of your feeling of guilt and you could tell her that it's okay to be upset over being punished. I mean I always told you that it was okay for you to be upset over being punished." Frank rubbed his son's back.

John let out a long breathy sigh and scoffed, again.

"Just do it, John. If anything, I believe she needs her dad right now and last I remember, you're her dad." Frank reminded him.

John nodded, stood up, and headed upstairs.

"Boy, do I remember those days of being a dad to a youngster." Frank said to himself, as he watched his son go up the stairs in the dad-like motion.

In Gloria's room

Gloria was in the process of trying to stay off her behind when sitting or laying on her bed. She had her back turned when there was knocking at her door.

"Come in." Gloria still had her back turned.

The door opened then closed and Gloria felt someone sit on the bed.

"Can we talk about earlier?" a familiar voice asked.

"What's there to talk about, dad? I broke your rules and you whooped my ass." Gloria said, as she recognized the voice.

"Gloria, baby, I didn't do it to be mean or cruel or however you may view me. I did it, because I love you and I don't want you hurt, sick, or deceased. I mean what you did damn well nearly killed me." John told her.

"I never said you were cruel or mean or whatever, but I just want to know if you'll ever forgive me. I know what I did was awful and I'm sorry." Gloria still had her back turned to her father.

"Gloria, I'm only going to take this conversation further if you turn around and look at me when I'm talking to you." John said in a very firm commanding-like tone.

"You're not going to disown me, are you?" Gloria turned around to face her dad.

"The thought never occurred Gloria. You have to realize that the Moran family and your family, the Bradley family are two different types of families. The Morans had their ways of dealing with children and we will have our ways of dealing children. Whenever we punish our own, it's all forgiven and forgotten, as long as the punished one doesn't repeat his or her mistakes. Your grandfather did so with me and now, I will do so with you and Sidney. I did with Sara, Mandy, Olivia, and my step-daughter Jane. My methods kept them in line and your grandfather's methods kept my siblings and me in line. Now, your great grandfather is another story. He would punish your grandfather just to take out his anger on him. In other words, he suffered child abuse and vowed to never be that way with his kids or grandkids." John sat closer to Gloria.

"Wow. I'm so sorry about what happened to grandpa. However, if I may ask, why did you take me over your knee? Why not use the belt or switch or razor strap or ruler or paddle?" Gloria asked.

"Two reasons: One, because you needed to experience the over-the-knee with hand method for the first time and Two, I needed this lesson to stick with you and be memorable." John stood his ground.

"God, who would've ever thought a hand could hurt so much? I mean you really laid into me with your hand, dad. I mean I'm red, black, and blue on my rear end and my thighs. It was harsh. I mean you-you spanked me! You REALLY spanked me!" Gloria sounded a bit whiny.

"You're damn right I did! And I'll do it again and again if that's all it takes for you to listen to me and to keep you safe. My rules are meant to be heeded, not to be broken. I will not let you or your sister endanger yourselves like that. I don't want to have to take her phone away and ground her like a child and spank you like a child. I don't enjoy doing either of those things, believe me, I don't. You may think so and your sister may think so, but I truly don't. However, if I have to, you'd better believe that I will and if neccessary, your grandfather will, too. I mean, if you thought my hand was bad, you should try enduring his hand, but I do hope that I don't have to spank you, again, because I personally don't want to resort to that method." John was speaking from the bottom of his heart, as he felt how any good parent would feel after punishing their child. He didn't like to do it as much as Gloria didn't want it to be done, but he knew he had to do it, if he wanted to teach her a lesson.

Gloria took a moment to let what her father said sink in. She still, in a way, had a hard time believing that her father truly felt bad for being harsh on her, yet she understood why he was and knew that she deserved it. After all, the last thing she truly ever wanted to do was disappoint her father.

"Honey, please see it in your heart to forgive me and know that my intentions were strictly out of love, not malice. I mean I don't wanna get a call one of these days to come down to the morgue and identify you or Sidney. I'd truly die if that ever happens. I mean I have been through enough tragedies like most and I just don't know if I'd be able to mentally handle it." John put his hand on her shoulder.

"Dad, you said something like that before. I thought Mandy and Sara were alive." Gloria was still confused by that.

"Gloria, I might as well come clean by saying that I have been internally lying to myself and making myself believe that they are alive." John looked down at the floor.

"Dad, how did they die?" Gloria asked.

"Mandy died of leukemia that suddenly came onto her. Sara didn't die..." John took a long pause, before continuing, "She was murdered.".

"Oh my God! Dad, I-I'm so sorry. I-I really don't know what to say. Did Lyman or Razor murder Sara?" Gloria's heart was torn to pieces.

"No, she was murdered by not her ex-boyfriend, but Mandy's. The rat bastard couldn't handle being dumped and he originally went after Mandy, but like the loyal sister she was and being very protective, Sara shielded Mandy and ultimately paid the price for her sister's safety. The dirtbag was later located and hauled off to prison only after I threatened to serve justice my way. However, it doesn't bring Sara back and Mandy died two years to the day of leukemia. Poor girls. Never got a chance to achieve their dreams. Then, Olivia was struck by that car and is now in a coma, which you already knew. Plus, Jane and Wendy are dead and all I really have left now is you and Sidney and just the mere thought you two dying just drove me up the wall." John sounded as if he was about to start crying just remembering how Mandy and Sara died.

Gloria didn't offer any words and just gave her dad a tight loving hug. What he just said really hit her hard and hit close to home, as she had her fair share of tragedies and she knew and understood how he felt.

"I hope you understand, honey." John held his daughter tightly.

"I do, dad. I do. Believe me. Even though, I will say that the spanking was horrible. My rear end is still aflame. I understand and know why you spanked me, but like how you probably felt, I just didn't like it. It made me age regress a little. In other words, I felt like a 4 or 5 year old child fearing that you'd never speak to me again or disown me afterward and to be honest, it scared me a little." Gloria held onto her dad.

"I know the spanking was harsh and that my hand left a lasting impression, even though, it left one without actually hurting you, but like I said I wanted it to be memorable, as I don't want to get a call from the morgue due to a stupid stunt that cost you your life or a call from the hospital telling me that you basically did something stupid and hurt yourself and I don't want my gut feeling to be right when it comes to stuff like that. I really don't. However, I do agree that I left a the hand print along with the bruises and red marks that sting a little, because I felt them hundreds of times during my tenure of being punished by your granddad. In other words, my hand and your grandfather's hand left stinging red marks and a stinging handprint plus painful bruises, but nothing else. Likewise to myself, I believe your anticipation was what made it worst. If I may ask, did it remind you of when Moran punished you?" John understood her feeling, as he had felt the same way a plethora of times.

"No, not really. It made me think of how badly I must've scared you and how I made the situation worse by blowing you off and lying my ass off, plus the disobedience that started it all. I now know how horrified you'd be if you got one of those notorious calls and I know that you wouldn't have been that harsh on me with your hand unless you really needed to make an impact. Well, I can say that you got my attention and I don't want to be spanked again, if I can help it." Gloria admitted.

"Good girl. I'm glad that you at least learned something. However, if you as so much pull a stunt like that or worse or even set foot at Hangman's Hideout again, I won't be spanking you just over your pants. It'll be over your panties, then it'd be the wedgie treatment, and then after that, it'd be spanking on the bare flesh and skin. I'm pretty sure you'd prefer to avoid that." John laughed and kissed his daughter's head, while giving her a firm warning of what would happen next time.

"Grandpa nearly mentioned a certain incident where he punished you like how you punished me. Could you tell me that story since he wouldn't?" Gloria's curiosity was piqued.

"Gloria, I have tried time and time again to forget that incident. It's way too embarrassing." John clearly didn't want to bring up that incident.

"Dad, just tell me. I won't laugh or anything. I mean how could I laugh when my ass is on fire?" Gloria told him.

"Alright, well it was when I was 13 and angry that your grandfather had women over all since your grandmother had passed on. I was afraid that he was going to replace her with one of those many women and it was because of that, that I started acting out by being rude to them, to his other guests, and to him. We finally had a blow out one day to which he slapped me across the face after I threw an 'F' bomb at him, which in turn, got my emotions all out of whack. I took his car without asking and being 13 without a driver's license put him at high risk for losing his license due to the fact that the car was registered to him and I put him at high risk of losing me to a foster home due to my reckless behavior. Well, I also proved to be a hazard on the road as I swerved to miss a Squirrel and nearly killed myself in an accident that totalled his car. I obviously survived and was taken to the hospital. Once we found out that my wounds were no in need of stitches and that they weren't life threatening, we went home. That's when we got down to business and after I told him my reasoning, he apologized for not understanding or paying attention, but he told me that I still needed to be punished which I wholeheartedly agreed, despite clearly not wanting a spanking. He sent me to my room and as soon as he got up to my room, I was punished. Then, just like you and me, he sent me to the corner for 5 minutes, then comforted me. I learned to never pull a stunt like that with his cars ever again and he learned to be more understanding of my feelings, my perspective, and me in general. So, it is safe to say that our situations were identical, but the only thing was, I did mine out of pure anger and you obviously did yours to prove that I was wrong. However, we can both agree that you were wrong to disobey me, blow me off, and lie to me just like how your granddad and I agreed that he was wrong for not putting my feelings into consideration and that I was wrong for taking his car without permission, acting out to get attention, and just simply being disrespectful. Right?" John cringed at just reliving the story. He was embarrassed by the incident and obviously has been for a long time.

"Right." Gloria nodded.

"Now, we can both agree that we survived our punishments. Right?" John asked.

"Right. Now, if I may ask, when will the bruising, red marks, and hand print go away?" Gloria asked.

"Within a day or two. I'm not that cruel, Gloria. I don't want nor mean to hurt you, but if you need an ass whipping, you better believe that either me or your grandfather will dole it out." John told her, then looked around, leaned closer and whispered, "Between you and me, your granddad is less merciful on the punishment than I am.".

Gloria chuckled, then sighed and leaned into her father. She just had to have to world's strictest father! At least he cared enough to discipline her when she's wrong, but in a loving way.

"Baby, I love you so so much. I love you to the moon and back and if anything were to happen to you, I'd lose my mind." John rubbed her shoulder.

The guilt hit her like a ton of bricks and it felt like everything, but the kitchen sink was thrown at her. John had lost his two other daughters, his stepdaughter and his step-granddaughter, had one more daughter in the hospital fighting for her life, and Gloria along with Sidney had almost succeeded in making him lose two more children. It was safe to say that the spanking was well deserved and John had every right to be furious.

"I love you too, dad. I'll try my best to not be reckless or an adrenaline junky, but sometimes, the impulse takes over and I can't control myself. I mean before you came into my life, I really had nobody except my friends who cared about me. Moran didn't really care that much about me, but I guess I loved him for giving me a home. Still, I was never this close to him. Now, I have to remind myself that now there are people who care when I am sick or injured." Gloria had a smile forming at the corner of her mouth.

"So, you're not afraid, distrustful, or resentful of me for being so hard on you?" John asked.

"No, I have no reason to be that way. You rightfully punished me for misbehaving, ignoring your rules, taking the honor system only to turn out to be a fibber, as I didn't keep my end of the bargain, and blowing you off like I did. Plus, putting peer pressure on Sidney. I get that, even though, my ass feels like someone took a flame thrower to it." Gloria tilted her head to the side for a brief moment.

"I'm glad you understand why I had to be harsh and why I was furious. Causing trouble and back talk will not be tolerated and will be dealt with a firm warning the first time, but endangering your life, the lives of others, putting peer pressure on your sister or anybody, and straight up lying or trying to lie yourself out of a situation will result in you going over my knee for a long, sound, and painful spanking every time those offenses are committed. Am I clear?" John held her tightly in their hug.

"Yes, dad. Crystal clear." Gloria nodded into her dad's chest. She didn't like being spanked, especially now since she was spanked over her dad's knee like a child, but if they got her to reconsider her actions and/or improved her behavior, then it was worth it.

"Good. I'm glad we got this settled. However, you're still grounded and your privileges are still taken." John reminded her.

"I understand, dad." Gloria released herself from the hug.

John smiled and gave her another kiss on the forehead, before heading to the door.

"Dad?" Gloria said.

"Yes, kid?" John opened her door.

"About how long are Sid and I on restriction?" Gloria asked.

"That varies." John replied.

"How come?" Gloria was confused.

"Well, Sidney only committed the offense of breaking my rules by caving to peer pressure. You, on the other hand, committed the offense of not only breaking my rules, but blowing me off, practically lying your ass off right after you had taken the honor system last night, and you fought me tooth and nail. Now, you do understand and expect that your sentence will be more harsh than Sid's, right?" John explained.

"Yes." Gloria nodded.

"Yes, what?" John raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, sir." Gloria said.

"Good girl." John smiled, before leaving her room and going downstairs.

Downstairs

"Well?" Frank looked from a book he was reading.

"We made up." John went over to the cupboard to grab a glass and over to Gloria's liquor cabinet to grab a bottle of Bourbon.

"Alcohol, again?" Frank asked.

"It usually eases me and to be honest, I didn't realize she had a liquor cabinet until I just saw it and that it was unlocked." John poured himself some Bourbon, "Want any?".

"No, thanks. I put the bottle down years ago." Frank politely declined and took a sip of his sparkling water instead.

"You know what would really go great with that sparkling water?" John sat next to his father, with the bottle of Bourbon in hand.

"John, so help me God, if you put as so much as a drop of Bourbon in my sparkling water, you'll have an experience similar to Gloria's." Frank tried to make it sound like a threat, but instead, sounded like he was joking and the fact that he was not doing a good job of keeping a straight face wasn't helping.

John chuckled and shook his head.

"Anyways, how long are you going to ground them for?" Frank asked.

"Sidney will be grounded for three weeks for caving to Gloria's pressure and Gloria, despite having a sore behind, will be grounded for six weeks for lying, disobeying me, putting herself and others in danger, and being argumentative." John told him.

"Fair enough. The girls knew better and now, they suffer the consequences." Frank nodded.

"Exactamundo." John took another sip of his Bourbon.

"Careful, son or you'll get a little drunk." Frank advised him.

"Bah! I can handle it." John brushed his dad's concern off.

As the night finished up, John and Frank agreed over and over that Sid and Gloria were punished rightfully and that the next few weeks would be interesting. They were hoping that this punishment taught them a valuable lesson and would hopefully put a halt to their (especially Gloria's) tendancies to do dangerous and risky stuff. Hopefully, they (mainly Gloria) would think twice. Hopefully. Fingers crossed.

To Be Continued...