Frank went downstairs and Henry had an ice cream sundae ready to go. He smiled and said, "thanks for arranging this pop but it will have to wait for a bit, she's taking a nap."

"You didn't have to be that cruel with her punishment." Henry tried to lighten the mood.

"She actually asked to nap."

"Uh-oh." Henry put the sundae into the freezer and went to pour a drink for his son. He remembered the handful of times when he had to discipline his grandchildren and how insanely hard it had been, especially with Jamie. And he could see that Nicky was most similar to him.

"Want to talk about it?"

"Not really." He gulped down the drink.

"Francis."

Frank sighed, "I think she will mind her behavior in school."

"But?"

"But I don't see her hugging me or even willingly making eye contact with me for the near future. And I have a feeling that I'm going to have to keep playing the bad guy for some time."

"Come on son, I know that you wouldn't have punished her if she hadn't earned it. She'll come around."

"The grandfather in me fervently hopes that, but the cop in me knows otherwise."

"You sure you don't want some backup?"

"Absolutely. She didn't let me comfort her. She needs the comfort. You need to give it to her."

Father and son lounged on the sofa, nursing their drink, trying to read but constantly alert for soft footsteps on the stairs.

When Nicky hadn't shown up two hours later and it was almost time for supper, Henry decided to go up and check. He found her lying on her bed, awake but just staring at the ceiling.

"Hi Kiddo." Henry was prepared for dealing with tears and anger and complaints but he wasn't expecting to be greeted by an almost marine attention stance.

"Good evening sir."

"What's going on?"

"Lying down while someone talks to you is rude and I do not want to be disrespectful." Henry wasn't sure how to respond to that.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm in a lot of pain, sir."

"Will ice cream help? Come on, the sooner we get supper out of the way, the sooner we can dig into ice cream sundaes."

"I don't want them sir." A ten year old refusing ice cream is plain unnerving.

"Why on earth?"

"Well, ice cream is my comfort food. I wanted it sometime back when I really needed some comfort. But I'm not in that space right now."

"Then what space are you in?"

"I don't know. I don't think I've felt like this before."

"Felt how?"

"I'm sorry, sir. I don't know how to describe it yet without being disrespectful and I really don't want to be in trouble."

Henry realised that the conversation was going nowhere and just said, "We'll see how you feel after we've got some supper into you."

He went to put his arm around her shoulders but she stepped away and shook her head. "Please don't". "Alright." It wasn't alright at all.

As they came down the stairs, Frank asked, "Sleep well?"

"Not really, sir."

"Why not?"

"Too much pain, sir." And then quickly added, "I'm not complaining or being disrespectful, just trying to not be dishonest, I'm sorry."

Frank glanced at Henry with worry in his eyes. Henry understood the signal and chimed in, "come along, food generally helps."

"May I be excused from dinner?"

Henry responded, "You must be hungry. Your last meal was at school."

"Sir, my stomach feels all knotted up."

"Well, just start eating and some of it will relax. But you do need the nutrition. And then we have ice cream sundaes waiting for us."

"Yes sir."

"What's with all the sirs, my favorite GG?"

"It's respectful and helps me remember."

"Remember what?"

"That I need to be very careful about what I say, else I will get spanked, sir."

Henry did not like the sound of that but wasn't sure how to respond.

"Frank has made all your favorites for dinner."

"I'm sorry you had to go to the trouble, sir. I will clean up afterwards in order to try to make up for it, sir."

Frank sighed and just nodded. He longed to reach out and hug her but sensed that it wouldn't be welcomed.

Dinner was a quiet affair. Both Frank and Henry tried to pull Nicky into conversation but only got one word answers. She did not eat enough but Frank decided to let it go, convincing himself that the large ice cream sundae would be a good enough substitute for dinner. Nicky had stopped eating a few minutes ago but she waited till Frank finished and kept his cutlery down before asking, "May I be excused? And may I get started on the washing up?"

Henry responded, "What's the hurry? Since you're washing up, Francis clear the table and I'll get the Sundaes out."

"I don't want to eat them, sir. May I get a headstart on the washing or do you want me to sit here and wait for you to finish?"

"Why don't you want to eat them?"

"I'm feeling full, sir."

"Since when is one too full for ice cream?"

"I don't know what you want me to say, sir. I don't feel good. But if it's an order, I will do as you say."

"No it's not an order. You are excused and free to do as you please. You don't have to worry about the washing either, we'll take care of it."

"That's alright, sir. I appreciate the meal, I'd like to wash up."

Frank just nodded and watched her go into the kitchen.

A moment passed and then Henry asked, "You look like you could use ice cream sundae cheer too."

Frank got up and walked into the drawing room so that Nicky couldn't overhear. Henry automatically went to pour out a drink.

"No pop, that's okay. I want to be alert in case she needs anything."

"Ice cream then?"

"Without her? Not really."

"Let me try that one more time."

Henry went into the kitchen and removed the ice cream sundaes from the freezer. He grabbed spoons and went to where Nicky was finishing up the washing. He held out a bite of ice cream to her on the spoon, "You know you want it."

He was hoping for a smile at least. But all he got was, "No, thank you, sir."

"Come on sweetheart, eat some ice cream, let's talk. I know things are hard right now. Talking helps."

"What do you want me to say, sir?"

"Nicky, child, how are you feeling?"

"I'm well in pain and sad and scared and alone, sir."

"You're not alone, sweetheart, we're right here. And will always be." He kept the sundae down and moved to hug Nicky but she said softly, "please don't."

"Why won't you let me hug you child?"

"Because it hurts," Nicky managed, her eyes filled with tears.

"What hurts?"

"The fact that you were right here and knew what was happening and did nothing to stop it." She sobbed.

Then choked out, "I'm sorry."

"Why are you sorry?"

"For everything." And she just sobbed. Henry heard a noise and looked toward the door to see Frank walking away, clearly wiping a tear in his own eye.

Frank was about to give Erin a call when he heard her car in the driveway. He went to the door to greet her.

"Hi there." He hugged her.

"You look weary. What happened?"

"Some trouble at school."

"Oh, I'm sorry you had to deal with it. But thank you."

"I'm not sure you'd be thanking me after you hear the whole thing."

"What? I completely trust you to discipline her. You know that, dad."

"I'm second guessing myself right now."

"Why?"

"Well, she was being really disrespectful, crossing every boundary. She refused to apologize to her teacher so I gave her two swats then she got into it with me in the car and I had to make good on my threat and gave her around 10 spanks there. Then gave her 40 for the misbehavior at school when we came back."

"That sounds really lenient to me. I remember getting a lot worse for a lot less."

"She clearly disagrees."

"And how has she expressed her disagreement?"

"She didn't let me hug her and then hasn't let pop comfort her either, didn't even accept ice cream sundaes."

"Ice cream sundaes after getting into this much trouble?"

"I do what I have to do. But they didn't work."

"Dad, you were more than generous with her. This is on her, not you. I'm really sorry that you're having to deal with the sulking. I can see that it is taking a toll on you. But I am also really grateful."

Frank gave his sad smile. "How are you doing?"

"Okay till my daughter is awake. Pretty close to collapsing after that."

"I will keep a drink and shoulder ready."

"Thank you." Erin hugged him again and walked to the kitchen.

"I finished cleaning up. May I be excused to bed?"

"Would you like to take the sundae up with you?" Henry who had been lost at seeing his great granddaughter sob her heart but refusing even the comfort of touch from him tried.

"Absolutely not." Erin walked in.

"Mom?"

"You don't deserve the treat after the trouble you got into."

Nicky sighed, "Do you know what he did?"

"Yes, he spanked you. And you more than deserved every swat."

Nicky couldn't help the tears that streamed down her face. "Yes ma'am."

Erin couldn't see her child in distress and extended her arms saying, "Want a hug?"

"No ma'am."

"Nicky?" Erin was surprised. Nicky loved to be held, especially when she was upset.

"I'm not comfortable with your touch right now, ma'am."

Erin, the strong ADA floundered. Being rejected by her husband and her daughter on the same day was really hard to take.

"Okay then. Are you grounded?"

"No ma'am."

"I'm going to let your Grandpa's punishment stand this time but next time expect more consequences from me."

"I will try my best for there to not be a next time, ma'am."

"I'd like that."

"May I be excused to my room?"

"Check in with your grandfather and then yes, you may. I better see an improved attitude tomorrow morning."

"Yes ma'am."

Good night kiddo."

"Yes sir."

"I hope this settles down soon. I'm worried about her."