Mark laid back on the bed, listening as the shower head burst on and streams of water overtook Cupcake's soft voice. "Hey babe, do you think you could grab me a towel?" he could barely make out. Rolling over until he was on the edge of the bed, he slipped his legs down to the floor. Walking out of the bedroom, he walked down to the dryer and knelt down. Pulling it open, he patted around the inside finally grabbing a soft cloth towel and yanking it out. The static always tickled him. Sometimes he would dry clothes just to get the feeling. Making his way back down the hall, he walked in just in time for it a cloud of steam to envelop him. Waving away the fog, he felt his way into the bathroom. "Hey sweetheart, actually forget that towel. I'm feeling this breeze." Cupcake stepped into the towel as Mark wrapped her around it. Making her way to the mirror she began to wipe away the previous day's makeup. "Do you think I did the right thing?"

"What do you mean?" Mark sat down on the edge of the tub and watched as the pink cat wiped her face with a small towelette.

"I mean. You saw how Nightmare reacted. Maybe I was too harsh on them. I mean, that is asking a lot to have somebody voluntarily go to prison. I don't know. Maybe I could work something out."

Mark stood up and started scratching Cupcake's back, listening as she purred softly. "Well, I don't think that's true at all. From everything you've told me, and from what I have read, he is quite notorious. It's amazing that he hasn't already been arrested years ago."

"Yeah, but you know dad. He was all about forgiveness and redemption. It's pretty difficult to get somebody convicted. Even for something like greening, he always said that everyone deserves a second chance." grabbing a brush, she handed it back to Mark who started slowly stroking her fur. "I mean, don't you remember what happened to Lowden? He should have been expelled from Toontown. Jail wasn't good enough for that guy. What do you think dad would have done?"

Placing the brush on the counter, Mark grabbed Cupcake's hand and led her to the bed. "Why are you asking me, hon?" rubbing her hand, he paused to think about the question he was asked.

"Well you did work with him for over twenty years. You guys were always together. I'm sure stuff like this must have come up at least once, right?"

"Your father was very good about keeping his affairs in order. He mostly kept things like that to himself. For such a talkative Toon, he was very respectful of others' privacy and kept things like that to himself."

Cupcake sighed. "I know. He was such a wonderful mayor. I could never live up to him. Maybe I AM over my head here." She laid down and softly purred as Mark continued to scratch her head. The room remained silent. Looking up, her face softened. Mark was biting his lip and trembling. "Honey, are you okay?"

Mark had tried. He had promised Flippy that he could stay strong, for Cupcake. But now, of all times, he could not hold back anymore. Feeling the warm oily tears flow down his face, he tried to quickly turn his head away to no avail. "Please. Please don't look at me like this." begging his wife, he did not want her to see the pain that he felt. How could he be strong for her if he could not hold himself together?"

"Oh, Marky." Cupcake pressed her face into his back and wrapped her arms around him. "Let it out, babe. Let it out." rubbing his back, she watched as he broke down into tears.

"I'm - I'm so sorry. He was your father. Yet I am the one crying. You must be embarrassed." wiping his face he watched Cupcake's face twitch. She squeezed him closer to her.

"Mark. he was your dad too. Just because you weren't blood related - actually look at us we weren't blood related either - and he loved you just like you were. I mean you were the first one he called when.. you know.." Cupcake closed her eyes and tried to breathe, listening to Mark's gears churn.

Sitting silently, Mark thought deeply. "Cupcake.. when that dog attacked you.. that could have been it. What would I do if I lost you? I can't afford to lose you." stopping he wiped his eyes again.

Cupcake rubbed Mark's back and laid down, wrapping around his body and laying her head on his lap. "Mark. I'm sorry for making you worry. But I'll be okay. I always land on my feet. Nothing is going to happen to me. I have a long, long life ahead of me."

"But what happens when.. you know? I mean, what happens to me? Do I just go on living forever?'

"Honey, this isn't like you. What's going on?" Cupcake continued to hold back tears. The sight of Mark in pain was unbearable.

Mark sighed, and decided he could not keep it in. "Ever since Flippy died, I just can't stop thinking about it. Death. Loss. Loneliness. Mortality. While Toons dying is always something I have been aware of, it's not something I ever really processed. It scares me, Cupcake. I'm scared.."

Cupcake's tears began to flow. She nestled into Mark's warm embrace and quietly whispered to him. "It's going to be okay. it's going to be okay."

Daron pulled himself up the remainder of the ladder in one swift motion. Closing the manhole cover behind him, he peeked around ensuring nobody had seen him and made his way down the alley. The dark, starlit sky on Donald's Dreamland always made it difficult to tell what time it was. Although he liked the darkness, he found it relaxing. The cold, cobblestone bricks that made up the sidewalk were smooth and cool on his bare feet. He didn't bother putting on shoes, he knew where Nightmare had gone and knew it wouldn't be far. Turning down a separate side street, he looked up at a tall tree. Walking over he brushed his hand against the oak as he circumnavigated the trunk. Stopping about halfway around, he stopped to look at a carving in the bark. "D + D + N" was scratched inside of a crudely made heart shape. Daron smiled. Looking up into the tree, he saw the feint view of a small rope. Hopping up, he used his long, lanky arms to grab hold of the end. Slowly pulling himself up, Nightmare quickly appeared.

Sitting on a tree branch hidden among the leaves, Nightmare sat crying. Swinging her legs back and forth, she wiped her eyes and whispered to herself. Distracted by her thoughts, she did not see the older black cat take a seat next to her. "How's it hanging sweetheart? Get it, hanging?" Daron chuckled at his bad joke. nightmare looked over at him sarcastically and turned to face forward again. "come on. Can't let me have those every once in a while? It's truly a shame for dads everywhere." Daron clicked his tongue.

"Dad, what are you doing here? How did you find me?" Nightmare spoken quietly, but bluntly.

"Oh come on, Night. You think I forgot? This is where you'd come as a little girl when we would play hide and seek. You always thought you were so clever, and I would pretend not to see you. Oh boy, you would lose it. The whole tree would be shaking with laughter. Give your old dad SOME credit."

Nightmare smiled. "So I wasn't an expert hider then? There goes becoming the hide and seek Queen.." the two laughed and the tree went silent. "Dad.. you don't have to do this. Please don't go. What is dad going to do? Do you think he can take care of himself? He fell asleep in the shower last night and was in there for three hours. I was standing outside with my legs crossed forever!"

Daron reached over and started scratching Nightmare's ears. "Honey. I've done a lot of bad things. I know that it may be hard to accept, but it's true. a lot of people have suffered because of things I have done which has just led to a lot of suffering for you and your dad. You two have put up with so much for me. It's time I finally face the consequences of my actions. Even if it hurts." Daron's voice lowered as he finished his sentence. "Also don't underestimate your dad. I didn't meet him until I was your age, so he must be somewhat capable!"

"Real words of encouragement, dad." Nightmare laughed. Losing her smile, she looked down solemnly, her legs stopped swinging. "But I don't want to lose you again. I don't want to go years without seeing you again." Reaching into her pocket, Nightmare pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Daron. "You promised you wouldn't ever leave, remember?"

Opening the tarnished parchment, Daron chuckled. "Wow, you still have this. "Dear Nightmare. I promise no matter what happens, I will always be there. Rain or sun, happy or sad. You probably can't read this yet, but someday you will be able to. If I ever try and do something stupid, please give me this letter. It should slap some sense back into me."" Daron folded the paper up and handed it back to Nightmare. "You know I wrote that when you were like, two? This must have passed the statue of limitations by now."

Nightmare shrugged. "Doesn't say so." pocketing the paper she grimaced. "What if I don't want you to go? Maybe we can talk to them, change their mind? I mean I'm the mayor's assistant now! I feel like if people would just hear you out.."

"Nightmare. Please. Just listen." putting his finger to her lips, he watched her eyes widen. "Honey, I'm scared too. I promise! Even I get scared! But I've been living inside of a jail cell for over twenty years. I mean sure, I have a super cute cell-mate who I can kiss whenever I want."

"Ew. Too much information, dad." Nightmare gagged jokingly.

Daron pinched Nightmare's cheek and giggled. "I've been inside of a jail cell for over twenty years with no hope of getting out. I've finally found a way out. I knew it wouldn't be easy. When you told me you were bringing the Mayor here, well I wasn't optimistic. I'm sure she's doing the best she can, because I can tell she truly cares about you. I'm not doing this for me though. this is for you and your father."

"But.. it's jail dad. We're not talking living in a house. We're talking a small little gray, wet, stinky cell. The toilet is in the same room! Is that a way to live?" Nightmare meowed out.

Sighing heavily, Daron cracked his neck, rubbing it slowly. "Sweetheart, you're just going to have to trust me on this. I know that's rich coming from me. But I wouldn't consider this without putting a lot of thought into it. To be honest, I have considered it before. But I didn't want to leave dad alone, with you being gone and all. but now he won't have to be.. and neither do you Nightmare."

Lips trembling, Nightmare looked away from Daron. "But what if something happens to you? I would never be able to forgive myself."

"Nightmare, you should never feel bad for anything. You never need to apologize. If anybody needs to, it is me. You never had the chance to have a childhood. You never had a chance to have friends, to just enjoy life. I want you to finally have that and it seems like you're doing great so far. I always knew you would. But I just want to say I'm sorry.." Daron rubbed his legs. It had taken him twenty-five years, but he finally said it. It felt like a dam bursting from his heart, yet it felt good. The weight was lifted. Nightmare leaned over and rested her head on Daron's shoulder.

"I wouldn't have rather been anywhere else. I'm sorry for being gone for so long. I never intended to be gone so long. But the more time that passed, the harder it was to come back"

Daron looked down at his daughter and a tear rolled down his face. "It's okay now honey. You're here now." placing his arm around her shoulder he forced a smile. "Well we have one more night here. Let's try and enjoy it. I'm sure your dad is probably going to be mad we left him alone. How about we surprise him with dinner. I was thinking pizza?"

Grinning through tears, Nightmare started climbing down the tree. "Can we get pepperoni?"

"You think I'd get it without?" Daron laughed as he followed her down the rope.

"Maybe we can get some soda?"

Daron feigned deep thought. "Hmm. I guess we can do that. It's gotta be diet though." patting his stomach he shook merrily. "I'm not getting any younger."

"Fine. But I want breadsticks AND dipping sauce." Now off the tree, the pair linked arms and started skipping back towards the manhole.

"It's a deal."