A piercing pain and a familiar voice snapped Buster from his thoughts. He looked down at his paws. His left palm had begun to bleed, the warm liquid dripping on to his carpet, a result from the cup he shattered just minutes before. He cursed silently to himself.

"Mr. Moon?"

Buster looked up and over the desk, he saw Porsha looking around.

Buster ducked under the desk to get a grip on himself. The last thing he wanted was for Porsha to see him like this. Still fearing her father, still suffering nightmares and jumping at ghosts that linger in the darkness. He took a few deep breaths, remembering what he had been told by

Marcus and Rosita and smoothed out his fur and shirt. He winced as he remembered the cut on his paw.

"Mr. Moon?"

Now or never, Moon, Buster thought to himself. With one final inhale, he crawled out from under his desk and put on a bright smile. "Porsha! Good to see you!" He said, leaping onto his chair. "Be careful. I accidentally dropped a cup so there's glass back here."

Porsha eyed his bleeding paw as it dripped onto the desk. Buster noticed her staring and chuckled nervously. "Sorry about that, afraid I was a bit clumsy." He then leapt back off the chair and darted to the table where the coffee maker sat and grabbed a pawful of paper towls, which he made into a temporary bandage before turning his attention to Porsha. "So, what can I do for you."

Porsha rubbed her arm, nervously. "I gave you another panic attack, didn't I?"

Buster frowned, worrying about what gave it away before forcing another smile on his face. "No, of course not!"

"You don't have to do that you know. Lie. I've seen that look before. In Jerry. When my dad-" Porsha bit her lip. "When my dad would treat him especially bad. I'd be going to see my dad and Jerry would mistake me for him and get really paranoid for a sec."

Buster frowned at this information.

"I'm really sorry, Mr. Moon. I'm sorry I bring you so much pain."

Buster stopped her. "Porsha, you never bring me pain. I am the one who should be apologizing. You are not your father, as I've said and it's not fair to you that I still panic." Buster said, feeling as though he was failing at assuring her. He didn't want to ever hurt her, intentionally.

"You know he wasn't always such... such a jerk." Porsha said.

Buster raised his paws to stop her. "I don't doubt that, Porsha, I-"

"It's just, after my mom passed, he just became really aggressive. She was really the only one who could control his anger."

Buster remained quiet as she continued.

"I was 6 when she passed. I remember Daddy didn't really cry. At least, not in front of me. He started leaving me with nannies and stuff. Hardly ever saw him, he was always away, working. Didn't really have time for me. But I was okay. He bought me gifts and stuff, which was nice." Porsha sank to the couch. "But... really the only thing I wanted was him." At this, she leaned forward and began to cry.

With no hesitation, Buster was up and beside her, patting her shoulder and holding her close. The size was a bit of an issue before Buster was able to lay a comforting paw on her arm. "I tried so hard to impress him. But NOTHING worked. I started singing so that maybe he'd put me in his show, at least then we'd be able to spend time together. As actual father and daughter, you know? I didn't even know who Clay Calloway was! Daddy asked me to pretend to know him so that I'd guilt trip you into getting Calloway."

Buster frowned, angered at this. Not with Porsha, but the fact Crystal had used her to get to him.

"I thought that if I joined your show, Daddy would FINALLY notice me..." Porsha sniffed, her head still buried in her paws. "Guess he did. But the only thing he noticed is that he has 'a loser for a daughter'."

Buster eyes widened at that statement. He then leapt on to the coffee table in front of the couch and grabbed her paws. "Porsha, look at me." He said.

Porsha brought her paws down and her eyes met the koala's. "You are NOT a loser. You are a strong, gifted young lady. I have no doubt Mr. Crystal was a good guy at one time and this may hurt to hear, but losing someone does not mean you are allowed to neglect your other loved ones. Do you understand?"

Porsha managed a slow nod as he continued.

"I know your mother's passing must have hurt him, but he shouldn't have just thrown you to the side. Store bought presents are okay, but a parent's love is the greatest gift of all. Believe me, I know. And sweetheart?"

Porsha stared him, as if she'd never been treated with such love before and that look broke Buster's heart. "You weren't shown that love. And sadly, it's easy to see. I know you love your father, but he wasn't your dad."

Porsha began to sob again, leaning her head into Buster's shoulder. Buster wrapped his arms around her, which proved a bit difficult as they couldn't reach all the around, but his embrace managed to do the trick.

"I wish my dad could've been more like you, Mr. Moon." Porsha cried. "I wish you had been my dad."

Buster frowned, holding the wolf close.

Another kid needing a father-figure in their life.

Another kid needing a guide.

Another kid.

It was never his intention to have children or a family. But in a span of 2 years, it seems that plan was down the drain and he became a father anyway, to Ash, to Meena, Nooshy and even sharing the title with Marcus to Johnny. Now Porsha was needing him to be her dad and frankly?

He was honored.

As if securing himself officially into the title, Buster gave her a tight squeeze. He had adopted yet another kid, it seems. Porsha had joined his family.

Porsha hugged him, a whispered thank you sounded from her lips, as if she understood Buster's silent oath.

Finally, the young wolf leaned back and wiped her tears. "I'm sorry, again."

"For what, kid?"

"Causing you to panic."

"Don't worry about me, kid. My crew is giving me some lessons in how to deal with it and according to them, I'm doing well."

Porsha managed a small smile before letting it falter. She then reached into her purse and dug out a small hand mirror. Which she popped open and showed Buster.

In place of the mirror was a photo of three wolves. Crystal, he almost didn't recognize. The wolf was dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and shorts with a large smile on his face. Beside him was a beautiful wolf with markings similar to Porsha's, in a gorgeous Hawaiian dress. And in the female wolf's arms was little Porsha herself.

Buster smiled at the image as Porsha replaced the mirror back in her bag. "I keep that to remember her." She said.

"She's as beautiful as you are." Buster said.

Porsha blushed.

"I'm sure she was amazing, kid." Buster said.

"I'm not my dad. I won't ever be like him. If I have kids, I won't just toss them to the side. I'll love them. I'll be like Rosita and balance it all."

"You won't have to balance it by yourself." Buster assured.

"I know. Because I know you'll be with me right?"

"Every step of the way." Buster smiled as he gave her paw another squeeze. "I'm glad you joined our scurvy crew, Porsha."

Porsha smiled as she hugged him tightly, lifting him off the table and twirling him around. "You're the best, Mr. Moon."

Buster smiled asbhe returned the hug. "Right back at you, kid, I love ya."

Porsha stopped and held Buster back. The koala winced. "Too soon? I'm sorry, I'm kinda used to saying to my crew and-"

Porsha didn't let him finish and hugged him again. "It's been so long since someone's said to me and meant it." She said, tearfully.

Buster smiled in relief as the stood embraced a moment longer before Porsha sat him on his chair.

"I better get going. Meena invited me to lunch."

Bustsr smiled. He loved his original kids, always willing to help another one out. "That's great! You go and have a great time."

Porsha smiled. "See you tomorrow?"

"Bright and early, kid!"

The wolf smiled again as she gave a small wave and headed out the door. The showman smiled as he heard the excited chatter of the girls downstairs as they exited the theater.

He then slumped in his chair, exhausted but content. It'd been a long day and it wasn't even one in the afternoon!

He then remembered that he had promised Rosita he'd come for dinner. He groaned as he turned back to his computer. Not even half way through the script. He'd better get busy.

The rest of the afternoon seemed to fly by. Buster finished the script and then sailed downstairs to prepare a few props. His cut had dried and he had managed to find a bandage for it, but other then that, the injury was the least of his worries. It made things a bit difficult though, stinging a bit as he used his left paw. The scars left over from Clay's electric fence had also started to sting.

Time ticked away a little too quickly for Buster's taste. A text from Clay Calloway around two thirty let Buster know he agreed to be in the show. Another text, this time from Marcus let Buster know he and his gang were performing daily check on Ash's apartment and had not seen Lance.

Finally four o'clock rollled around and Buster slumped on his couch, completely exhausted. The dark circle under his eyes more visible. He debated whether or not he should cancel his visit with Rosita, but he couldn't bring himself to let her down.

He groaned as he pushed himself up and noticed the tray of butter cookies Meena had made still sitting on his desk. "I can't just show up empty handed." He said, to no one in particular. He looked at his father's photo upon his desk. Almost no one in particular. He tapped his finger on his cheek and decided there wasn't enough cookies to satisfy 25 piglets. So, he rushed upstairs to his bedroom and took a detour into the small kitchen Nana had installed for him. Small in stature but made for a taller animal, Buster had learned to adapt as he often did.

He quickly dragged the stool he kept by the cabinets and hopped up to open the fridge. By chance, he saw that he had bought cookie dough. That or Rosita put it in there. She, Ash and Gunter had a habit of stocking his fridge and pantry. Grabbing the dough, he preheated the oven and began preparation.

By 5, Buster had made enough cookies for the family and quickly ran to his bathroom for a quick shower, noticing he had dough tangled in his fur and a bit of paint from some last minute projects.

Once through, he packed the cookies and ran downstairs.

It proved a bit difficult, but the determined koala managed to balance himself and the cookies and start off for Rosita's.

Luckily her apartment was not far and soon he found himself in front of her door. A quick knock and he suddenly heard the excited squeals of many kids. Then the door opened and Buster was suddenly buried in a sea of piglets.

Once through, he packed the cookies and ran downstairs.

It proved a bit difficult, but the determined koala managed to balance himself and the cookies and start off for Rosita's.

Luckily her apartment was not far and soon he found himself in front of her door. A quick knock and he suddenly heard the excited squeals of many kids. Then the door opened and Buster was suddenly buried in a sea of piglets.