Columbia happily exited the mall with Brian's arm around her shoulder.

"Finish it before we reach the car alright? I don't want Frank's truck to smell like a bakery." With the now half pretzel in her hand, she nodded. "Okee Dokee." Columbia sat on the curb in the same lane where Mandy and Frank were waiting.

Frank smiled and put his arm around her. "Are you tired baby?" "Yeah." Mandy cleared her throat. "Sorry." He looked down and removed the hat from her head. "Don't be sorry dear. Would you like to me to wake you up when we reach the castle? I'm not carrying you." "Oh yes you will." Mandy hummed. "And risk ruining my nails? I will not Rocky!" She smiled. "Shake my shoulder when we get there then."

"Alright." He turned his head as Brian knocked on the side door. Frank rolled his eyes and unlocked it with his keys.

"Haha. Knocked ou.." Columbia looked at Mandy. "Shh!" Frank hissed. "Please don't wake her." "Oh. Sorry." "Thank you." He started the truck and backed out of the parking lot.

"Rough day?" Brian asked in a lowered voice. "Unless you consider sexual harassment humorous." Frank drove down the street. "What!?" He huffed. "An older man insisted Rocky to take her top off."

"Ew! Must have been in his sixties." "Probably seventies!" Columbia turned to him.

"It doesn't matter how old he was. The point is you don't speak like that to a girl. Even if it is implied as a joke." Frank pulled into the castle driveway.

"I wouldn't! If a man spoke like that to me, I would kill him!" The groupie unbuckled her seatbelt and picked up her shopping bag. "Thanks for driving me Frankie." She kissed him on the cheek.

"You are most welcome Columbia. We'll be right in." He handed her the castle keys.

"Is she asleep?" Brian whispered. "I think so." Frank felt her forehead.

"I'm awake." Mandy opened her eyes then yawned. "What's up?" "We're back at the castle dear. Come on." "Awesome." The girl grabbed her hat as Frank grabbed the bag of snacks and cosmetics.

"Formal dress is to be optional." He opened the door and took off his heels.

"Sounds good to me. Where did Columbia go?" "Oh. She's probably in her room changing into her pajamas. In the meantime, Rocky?" "Yeah?" "Come with me for a moment dear. We'll be in the bedroom momentarily Brian." "You got it." He carried everything upstairs.

"Can I borrow a pair of sweatpants?" "Of course you can Rocky." He walked over to the elevator and Mandy followed, knowing what was going to happen. "Cool." She noticed Frank taking her right hand and bringing her a table. She hopped up. "So uh, What's your next creation going to be?"

"That's a good question Rocky." He felt her chest with the back of his hand. "I have to think about that." Frank motioned her to lay down.

Mandy blinked and looked at the ceiling, wanting to sit up. "I mean I was told that technology where you are from is more advanced. Perhaps you can create a robot or something."

"Who told you that? You're not wrong." He rolled his eyes and lifted her shirt off of her head. "Dr..Cosmo." Mandy shivered. "What..are you doing? It is so cold in here!" Mandy turned around and saw him put on his gown. "Must you do that for everything? I'm not toxic." "I know Rocky. But green is my second favorite color next to black." He put on his pink gloves. "What about pink?" "Mm. My fourth probably."

Mandy groaned as her cell phone started to ring in her pocket. Frank rose an eyebrow.

"Ugh. I have to take this one. It's my mom." "No problem dear. Go right ahead."

Mandy sighed. "Hello?" *"Hi Mandy! How are you sweetie?"* The girl sighed. "I'm alright thanks. How are you?" *"Well your father is being his typical needy self as usual. But all is well besides that. So."*

"So what?" Mandy huffed and turned the conversation on speaker.

*"Have you found yourself a handsome young man yet?"*

Frank widened his eyes as he picked something up off the floor and blushed.

"Yes mom." Mandy smiled. "As a matter of fact, I have." She giggled as Frank pecked her on the cheek. "I gotta go mom." *"Oh honey I'm so happy for you! That's the main reason I called. Your father returned from a business trip yesterday and would love to see you again. It's been so long since you were home!"*

"Of course he would." Mandy rolled her eyes. "I'm a bit occupied tonight though. I'll call you back once I talk to him." *"You're on speaker Mandy. We can all come up with a plan right now."*

"I'll call you back." Mandy quickly hung up. She shut her eyes. Frank helped her lay down on the table. "Great."

"Conflicts?" Frank felt around her stomach. He tilted his head as Mandy lightly grunted. "Only so many."

"Baby?" She huffed. "Yes?" "Did that hurt?" "Yeah. It did. But I'm sure Columbia can explain to you why." Frank turned away for a minute then kissed her on the forehead. "Oh baby. Alright. Then perhaps another time."

He helped her stand up and put her shirt back on. "Thanks."

Frank set a gentle hand on the place where it hurt her. Mandy tightened her eyes.

"I can't stand up for long." She whispered. Frank took of his scientist attire and followed behind her to the elevator. "It's just that..my parents are very..adamant..I guess is the word. They have the very basic ideals for who is the right man for me."

"Oh. So they seem a very boring and generic.." "Exactly. Especially my dad. But I want you Frank. Nobody else." Mandy looked at him, ready to tear up.

"Oh baby." He frowned and picked her up. "Don't worry baby. We'll settle this tomorrow morning. Of course, if that time is right." "I hope so." She held her arms around his neck.

Frank carried her upstairs to his bedroom where Brian and Columbia were waiting. "There you guys are! You are just in time for the ultimate battle!"

Mandy turned her head as she was lowered to the ground. With his arm still around her, Frank held a hand on her butt. "What on earth are you talking about?"

Mandy cleared her throat, ready to explain the game's overview. "They're playing as these two types of characters. Brian is an Elite and Columbia is a Spartan. That hoard of enemies they are fighting are Jackals, Grunts, and Brutes. The Brutes are the ones that look like gorillas, the Jackals are the bird-like ones, and the Grunts are the smaller ones. Incoming Wraith and Phantom, Brian!" "On it!" "Columbia, use those plasma grenades to blow up that group of enemies!" "What ones are those?" She whined. "The blue ones." "Oh. Okay!"

Frank smiled. "Oh Rocky. You are so..nerdy." Mandy kissed him on the lips grabbed her candy bar out of the bag of snacks and lay at the bottom of his bed. Frank slipped off his heels and lay beside her. "What is that giant creature with the ax Rocky?" "That is a Hunter. He's holding my favorite weapon in the entire game. A Gravity Hammer."

"Oh no. Brian?" Columbia shivered. "You just distract him. Don't shoot him, punch him, or anything. I'll throw those blue grenades at him." "Got it." She sighed.

Mandy blinked and handed Frank a fourth of her chocolate bar. "I can't Rocky." He looked at her. "Don't worry. You'll be fine. If you don't like it, I'll take whatever is left." She stood up to remove her shirt.

He pressed his lips and took a bite. "Well?" "Are you going to finish that whole thing?" Frank looked at her. She smiled. "I am actually. Not all tonight though. But we can pick up some more when we head out tomorrow." "Fine. But don't make yourself sick."

"Yes! We did it!" Columbia stood up and clapped.

"Woah! You guys beat the level! Nice job!" "Yep. Do you want to play Mandy?" Brian changed the input on the monitor. "No thanks. I'm not feeling so hot tonight." "Gotcha."

"What's wrong?" Columbia frowned. Mandy whispered something into her ear. "Oh." "Yeah. I'm going to sleep if that's okay."

"Of course it is baby." Frank changed into a grey nightgown and lay next to her. "We have a big day tomorrow."

"We do?" "Just Frank and I, Columbia. My parents want to meet him." "Oh! Spicy! I hear wedding bells!" She clapped. Frank rolled his eyes.

"Stop it! There's not going to be a wedding!" Mandy glared at her. "Frankie and Mandy sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" "I swear to god Columbia." Mandy shot up, mad. "Drop the subject or I'll.."

Brian forced her out of the room and Frank rubbed Mandy's back. She sighed and lay back down. "I'm sorry Frank. I'm just tired, and cranky." "I understand dear. It was quite a busy day today." He gently put his hand on her stomach. Mandy held her breath for a second then sighed. "Oh baby. You're a little bloated. And it's not from the candy."

"Mhm." Mandy closed her eyes and leaned her head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry."

Frank kissed her forehead and began to move his hand in a circle. "Everything will work out baby. I promise."