Chapter Four:
Rabbits Feet
Dot woke up in a good mood the next morning. Such a good mood that she decided to surprise her brothers by making them breakfast. However, before she could get started, the phone started to ring. She rushed to answer it so the sound wouldn't wake Yakko and Wakko. "Hello." She said.
"No, it's Natasha now. I had it legally changed last month, remember?" Natasha said.
"What did you call me for?" Dot asked, sounding rather annoyed.
"Sorry about the bad pun there. I just had to do it at least once." Natasha said. "Anyway, the reason I called was to tell you that the computer found a second match shortly after you left the other day. He's a former Toon actor turned writer, who answers to the name Buster Bunny. And he's currently living in Burbank. I can get you his phone number and address if you'd like to meet him." She said.
"No thanks, I already have them." Dot said. "Ya see, I sort of spent the day with him a few months ago... Nine to be exact."
"What?" Natasha asked.
"Babs was there too...most of the day." Dot said.
"Most of the day?" Natasha repeated.
"We got separated from her for a couple of hours thanks to the crowds at the amusement park." Dot explained.
"Which means that lots and lots of people probably saw just the two of you that day, right?" Natasha asked.
"Right." Dot replied.
"This is too much Dot." Natasha said. "Why were you spending the day with them in the first place? You never spent time with them before."
"We were talking about a movie script he wrote." Dot said. "He wanted me to play the lead role if he ever got the project off the ground. I agreed to do it, and that was the end of it. I haven't even talked to him since then." She said.
"Well you two certainly have a lot to talk about now. You should call him right away Dot." Natasha said.
"I've got a better idea. How about I don't, and just say that I did?" Dot said.
"He deserves to know about this too Dot." Natasha insisted.
"And what exactly am I supposed to say to him? 'Hello, you're the father of my mystery baby.' I don't think so!!" Dot said, maintaining a hushed tone.
"I see your point there... But you can't just run away from this because it's awkward." Natasha said. "Would it help at all if I was there when you talk to him? You could even meet at my apartment if you want." She offered.
"I guess it would be a little easier if I didn't have to face him alone." Dot said. She paused and thought for a moment. "Ok, I'll call him." She finally said.
"Great, just make sure to call me back once everything is set though. I need to know when to come pick you up." Natasha said.
"Ok." Dot replied. "I guess I'll talk to you in a few minutes then." She said. Then she ended the call and took the phone up to her room. Once there, she fished a card with Buster's phone number on it out of her purse. After hesitating for a bit, she dialed the number and waited for him to pick up. He answered after only three rings.
"Hello." He said.
"Hello, Buster... It's me, Dot….. There's something I need to tell you." She said.
"Does this involve the words, I can't do your movie after all?" Buster asked.
"No, it's not about the movie actually. But it does involve you." Dot said. "We need to talk as soon as possible. In person that is. It's really important." She said.
"Ok, I'll come right away then." Buster said. "Where should I meet you?" He asked.
"55507 North Crown Street. It's a friend of mine's place. She lives in Maple Crest apartment complex, room number 206." Dot said.
"Got it." Buster said. "That's about an hour away from where I live. I should be able to get there sometime before eight if I leave right now. Just try to be there when I arrive, ok." He said.
"Ok." Dot replied. Then she ended the call and sat there thinking for a moment. After that she called back Natasha.
Roughly thirty minutes later, Dot arrived at Natasha's apartment with Annie in tow. Not long after that, Buster showed up. Once they had all exchanged greetings and so on, it was time to drop the bomb.
"There's someone I'd like you to meet Buster." Dot said before bringing Annie into the room.
"Cute kid." Buster said. "I take it this is about her?" He asked.
"That's right." Dot replied.
"She's yours, isn't she?" Buster asked.
"Well, no. Not exactly anyway. And, not exactly not." Dot said.
"I don't follow." Buster said.
"Well, the thing is. I didn't actually have a baby. Someone just sort of handed her to me." Dot said.
"Well that explains the not exactly. But what about the not exactly not part?" Buster asked.
"That's the part I can't explain." Dot said. "Ya see, according to a genetic test, she is mine. And, well, the same test says that she's yours too."
"Oh. So that's why she has rabbit's feet. I was wondering what it meant when you said that this involved me." Buster said in a surprisingly casual tone.
"You say that like this isn't the first time a girl has said something like this to you." Dot said. "Don't you have at least a little trouble swallowing all this?" She asked.
"Not really." Buster said. "I figure if you can tell me a story that outlandish with a straight face, you must be telling me the truth."
"But how can you be so calm about this? Aren't you at least a little surprised?" Dot asked.
"Oh, I'm very surprised." Buster said. "It's just that I'm too busy wondering how I can explain this one to Babs, without my picture ending up on the back of a milk carton. With the words, 'have you seen me,' written below it"
"I take it she doesn't exactly agree with your views on outlandish stories." Dot said.
"Ya got that right." Buster replied. "So, what's the baby's name anyway?" He asked, quickly changing the subject.
"Angelina Carolina Debbie Rosemary Beth. But you can call her Annie." Dot said, beaming with pride.
"That's some name." Buster said. "Mind if I hold her for a bit?" He asked, extending his arms a bit.
"Why not." Dot said as she passed Annie to Buster.
Annie looked up at Buster curiously as she quietly rested in his arms. Almost as if she knew him somehow. He smiled back affectionately, feeling strangely attached to the young Warner.
"Well, you're not crying yet. I guess that must mean you like me then." Buster said.
"Hay, as long as you're holding her. Would you mind feeding her too?" Dot asked.
"Not at all." Buster replied. "In fact I'd be glad to." He added. Then Dot handed him the baby bottle and he offered it to Annie. She started to drink right away. They both looked on with adoring smiles as she rapidly emptied it.
"She is so impossibly cute." Buster said.
"She gets it from me ya know." Dot added.
"Isn't that the problem? " Buster joked.
"Yes, it is. And it's a big problem too." Natasha interjected.
"She's right." Buster said. "If anyone else finds out about Annie, we're both toast."
"I'm an adult in this fan fic. So I'll go to jail, you'll lose any chance you may've had for making a comeback. And we'll both end up spending the rest of our lives as forgotten scandal sheet headlines." Buster said.
"Sounds pretty harsh." Dot said. "But how are we supposed to avoid it? I mean, we can't just keep Annie a secret forever, right?"
"Don't have to. Just tell everyone she's your cousin. And if anyone asks how you got a cousin, just say something like... 'Well, I'd tell you. But I don't think the censors would approve." Buster said.
"That's a great idea! And not a bad line either. You really are a good writer!" Dot said.
"Yeah, I know. And speaking of writing, I finally got a studio to pick up my script today. It's a new place called Total Pictures. I was just about to call and tell you about it earlier, but you called me first of course." Buster said.
"Oh…" Dot said, sounding less than enthusiastic. "That's great and everything. But don't you think it might be a little dangerous to go back in front of the public eye right now? I mean, do you really think we can pull it off without anyone finding out that Annie is, not exactly not our daughter?" She asked.
"Of course we can. Someone is more likely to get suspicious if we don't do the movie." Buster said.
"This movie deal is your chance to make a comeback, my chance to become a known screen play writer slash director. And if we suddenly turned down an opportunity like this for no apparent reason, someone might wanna know why. And aside from that, I just really wanna do this movie." Buster said.
"Well, I still think it's kinda risky." Dot said. "But I wanna do it anyway! When can we start shooting!" She asked excitedly.
"There's no specific date yet. But I already got most of the cast to sign on ahead of time like I did with you. So we might be ready to start shooting in like, two weeks. I'll know for sure after the planning meeting today." Buster said. Then he checked his watch.
"Speaking of which, I'm about to be late for it in like ten minutes. I'll call and tell you what happened later ok." Buster said on his way out of the apartment. Then halfway down the hallway, he suddenly realized he was still holding Annie and rushed back to return her. After that he went out to his car and drove off.
Shortly after Buster left, Dot decided to head home as well. When she got there. Yakko and Wakko were up on the water tower, scanning the lot with binoculars.
"There she is!" Yakko called out when he saw her approaching. Then he rushed down the ladder and wrapped his arms around her like he hadn't seen her in years.
"Did I miss something?" Dot asked.
"We've been looking all over for you." Yakko said. "Where on earth have you been all day?" He asked.
"I was with Natasha." Dot said. "You mean you really didn't get the note I left taped to your forehead?" She asked.
Yakko felt his forehead, then pealed the note off and looked at it.
"Why did you let me walk around with this thing on my head all day?" Yakko asked his brother.
"Well, I couldn't see it cause my contacts fell down the sink while I was trying to put them in this morning." Wakko replied.
"You wear contacts?" Yakko asked.
"Yeah, but don't tell anyone ok." Wakko requested.
"Not a problem." Yakko said dryly. "Now lets get back inside the tower. We've got a lot of work to do if we wanna make the place suitable for Annie." He said. Then he started up the ladder, followed closely by his siblings.
The hours that followed were spent cleaning, and in general, baby proofing the tower. Annie was kept amused by volume two of Yakko sings all the words in the English language while the other Warners worked. It was a few minutes after eleven P.M when they finally wrapped things up.
"Well sibs, I think we should all congratulate ourselves for a job well done," Yakko said. Then they all proceeded to literally congratulate themselves.
"Good job Yakko. Go take a rest." Yakko said as he gave himself a pat on the back.
"I'm so proud of you Dottie!" Dot said as she hugged herself.
"Don't call me Dottie!!!!" She shouted back. Then she took out a mallet and whacked herself in the foot with it.
"Ow ow ow ow ow ow ow! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Just don't hit me again!" She pleaded.
Yakko merely looked into the camera and sighed. "Everybody's a little crazy folks." He said. "Some are just a bit crazier than others." He added. The line was supposed to be Wakko's cue to do something even crazier. But he just stood there doing nothing for some reason.
"Hay Wakko, it's your turn. What's the holdup?" Yakko whispered.
"I don't know what my next line is." Wakko whispered back.
"You don't know what your next line is?" Yakko asked, growing slightly agitated.
"I couldn't read the script cause I lost my contacts this morning, remember?" Wakko asked.
"Fine, let's just skip it then." Yakko said. Then he took out a clipboard that seemed to come from nowhere. "The next item on the agenda is reassembling Dot's old crib so Annie can use it." He announced.
"That can wait till tomorrow Yakko." Dot said. "Annie can bunk with me for tonight. Just go to bed and get some rest, ok."
"Ok. I guess we'll do it in the morning when we set up all the other baby furniture." Yakko said. Then both he and Wakko went up stairs to turn in for the night.
Dot picked up Annie, and was about to head up to her room as well. But she changed her mind and sat on the couch with Annie in her lap, deciding to linger a bit longer.
"Well Annie, starting tomorrow you'll be using my old crib." Dot said. "I would say I hope you like it as much as I did. But then, I liked it a bit too much. I refused to give it up even when I was getting too big for it. Yakko eventually managed to talk some sense into me though."
"I had to do a lot of growing up that day. And I guess I'll have to do even more now that you're here. But I don't mind. The fact is, I'm actually glad that you're here. I might not understand how you got here. But you're one of us now, and that's all that really matters." Dot said. She was silent for a moment after that. Then she looked up at the clock on the wall.
"Well, looks like it's about time we got some shuteye." She said before heading up to her room with Annie.
