Hello. I'm terribly sorry I haven't updated in a while. Please don't hold it against me. I've been extremely busy with a musical I'm in. Anyway thanks so much to those reviewers for reviewing ages ago. Please forgive me. And now without any further interruption, here's chapter six.
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Chapter Six-Complications
"They haven't seen the last of me, not by a long shot," Kai expressed to himself as he made his way to the inn. When he did enter the inn all heads turned. He walked over to Doug and grimly requested a room. Doug was too shocked to do anything but nod.
"Well what are you all looking at!" Kai yelled releasing his anger. He huffed and puffed all the way up the stairs and into his room.
"To think," he said to himself, "that little brat has been fatherless all of his life and when I finally do return he takes chicken Rick's side! Well I'll show him! I'll show them all!"
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After his after his father left Danny took a spot by the window and stared out of it. Over the previous years he used to spend hours doing this. What am I going to do, he questioned himself. Then the puzzled seven- year-old dismally sank his head into his hands. He simply had too much to deal with. He was growing up too fast. Average seven-year-olds' lives should be carefree, but questions constantly crammed his mind. Why did all this happen? Why did Dad leave Mom? Why? Why? Why?
Rick was pained to watch his young nephew's life head downhill once again. It wasn't Danny's fault. Danny never did anything to deserve the horrendous misery that was brought upon him. He was just starting to recover from his previous conflict and Kai had to come back and ruin everything. Then an urge came over Rick, an urge to let Danny know the truth. If not anything else Danny certainly deserved to know at least some of the why's that rang within his young and innocent mind. So Rick crept upstairs to the bedroom he shared with his wife. He then knelt beside the bed and removed the concealed, loose board. Within seconds he was carefully dusting off the notebook he'd put in two years earlier. For a moment he hesitated and the question rang in his mind, is this really the proper time? But Danny's faint cry from downstairs was reassuring, and he continued in the task that he'd originally set out to do. He finally approached Danny.
"Hi Danny," Rick greeted softly. Danny responded by lifting his head. Instantly his eyes glued to the notebook in his uncle's hand. "I-I want you to have this. You deserve to know." After Rick handed his baffled nephew the notebook he disappeared upstairs again. Danny's eyes grew to the size of saucers as he began to read. His uncle had just handed him the truth in the form of a notebook, and he soaked every bit of it up like a thirsty sponge. When he finished his eyes were beginning to tear up. Then all of a sudden he raced upstairs to his uncle's room, and trapped Rick in a hug.
"Thanks, Uncle Rick," was all he could express, but it was enough to show his deep appreciation. Rick patted the boy's head in return.
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The next day Danny woke up bright and early and even before Nikki, which was quite rare. He got ready quickly and had to wait ever so long on his meticulous cousin. She had entered the boy-crazy stage, and everything about her had to be ridiculously perfect. Finally she came out with something strange on her face. It took Danny a few seconds to find out what it was.
"I-Is that makeup?" he questioned trying desperately to keep from bursting into laughter at the sight of her. She caught on at this and gave him one of her annoyed stares. She's getting more irritable every day, Danny thought to himself.
"Well," she replied trying to sound innocent, "I, um kind of got into Mom's blush." At that point Danny couldn't take it any more, and erupted into a surge of uncontrollable laughter.
"You-you look like you just got attacked by a paintball gun!" Danny expressed between fits of laughter. But instead of getting hotheaded, Nikki went ballistic.
"Oh! Does it really look that bad? Oh no! Water! Get me water!" Then strictly on impulse, she dumped her face into the creek next to the mill. At this point tears were streaming down Danny's face from laughing so hard. He just couldn't help himself. "Is this better?" Danny took a good look at his cousin, whose face was dripping wet with water.
"Uh...yeah, you look fine, but you might want to dry your face off." Nikki just rolled her eyes and wiped her face with her shirt. Then right on cue, who should show up but Aaron. When Nikki caught notice of him, instantly her face turned cherry red.
"Hello Nikki," Aaron greeted paying absolutely no attention to Danny. "I'd be honored if you'd walk to school with me." That Aaron, Danny thought, if nothing else he's a charmer. Danny just rolled his eyes and followed behind them. When they finally reached the church Danny was the last to enter. He felt awkward as he took his seat, for everyone's eyes were glued to him and a few kids even whispered. Then Miss Dalton tapped her ruler on the blackboard disturbing the tense commotion.
"Class please!" she yelled aggravated. "It is common knowledge that Danny's father has returned to Mineral Town, but class, that's where the buck ends! Now I want no further word of this or you will report not only to me but also your parents! Understood?" Without question the class very timidly nodded. For once Miss Dalton made Danny feel more relaxed.
Class was normal for the rest of the day much to Miss Dalton and Danny's delight. Aaron didn't even get into trouble! All was well for the majority of the day, but unfortunately Danny would once again be razzed by what he found outside the church after school.
Danny was the last to leave the church, and when he stepped outside he was troubled to find that his father was waiting for him outside.
"Hi there, son," Kai generically greeted. "How was school today?" Smart Danny would never fall for that "goody" talk in a million years. He decided it was best to say nothing so that's just what he did. "Anything interesting happen?" No answer. "Make any friends?" Danny responded with one of those you're-so-stupid-it's-not-even-funny expressions.
"Give it up, Kai!" he replied with quite an attitude.
"I'm not Kai, I'm Dad to you, son, and what makes you think you can smart off to your father? Surely I don't deserve that!"
"You don't deserve garbage, you rat! And I'd rather hurl than call you Dad!"
"Ricky's got you under his spell, huh? Fine...be that way, but you haven't seen the last of me, not by a long shot!" Kai shot as Danny continued to walk away. "Before long you'll be crawling to me on your hands and knees!" Danny simply walked on. Now seems like a good time to go visit May, Danny thought so he left a note on the kitchen table at his house and headed for Yodel Ranch.
Danny was met at the door by a very cheerful Stu...a little too cheerful.
"Hey Danny! How-di-doo! You must be here to see May. I'll go get her on the double!" Stu whistled a happy tune as he disappeared into the house. His cheerful mood scared Danny a little. He was relieved when May finally came to the door.
"Oh, hi Danny!" she expressed less happily than Stu much to Danny's relief. "Please come in."
"Uh...May?" Danny questioned puzzled. "Is it just me or is Stu just a little on the cheerful side?" The question triggered a giggle from May.
"Well Danny, I guess now is as good a time as any to tell you."
"Tell me what?"
"Well...the truth is...I'm pregnant!" Danny's face instantly brightened.
"Why that's great, May!" May couldn't help but grin that radiant "mother-to-be" grin.
"Yeah...and I'd like you to be his or her godfather."
"May, I'd be honored to be your child's godfather."
"That's wonderful! Oh...and I heard you're father is back in town. I'm so sorry, Danny. Are you okay?"
"Well...it's tough. Would you mind if I told you about it?"
"Not at all, shoot." So at that moment, Danny bared his soul to her. He told her every single, little detail. He didn't hesitate though, for he knew he could always trust May. But before he knew it the clock read 5:00P.M.
"Oh my gosh! May I've got to get home! But thanks so much for listening to me."
"Anytime Danny, anytime. Don't ever hesitate to stop by." They then warmly embraced and quick as a flash Danny was off for home. He got home a little bit after his bedtime, but luckily he sneaked up to his room and into bed before anyone noticed. About two seconds after he was in bed he could hear his aunt coming upstairs to tuck him in. He quickly pulled the covers to his chin and closed his eyes. He happened to be a master at pretending to be asleep, and Karen fell for it like she did every time. She glanced at her young nephew through soft green eyes.
"Good night, Danny," she whispered tenderly. When the coast was clear, Danny sat up in bed and pondered, this the only home I've ever known, and the only home I ever will know. This is where I will stay because home is where the heart is. And with that Danny fell back into a comfortable sleeping position and got a well-needed night's sleep.
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Wow! I'm done! I've had a lot of fun with this chapter so I hope you like it. And I'm not 100% sure if that's how the godparent thing works, but please bear with me. Well thanks so much for taking the time to read this chapter and please R&R.
