Author's Note: Hey guys, sorry, I had to put a little author's note in here. Just to let you guys know, I'm so happy that you are reading and reviewing, and would love for you to continue to do so! On another note, I know in the previous chapter, Tracy had a "brilliant idea", and I'm going to get some angry messages for not putting anything about it in this chapter. Don't worry, it's coming eventually! Oh, and this chapter does include Mr. Pingleton, but you'll have to wait for the reason that he was in jail…

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"Penny," Mr. Pingleton breathed, upon entering his house for the first time in a few months. "I missed you."

She stood stiffly in a crisp white blouse and her signature plaid jumper, backed up into a wall like a frightened animal. Her eyes held an anxious look, and everything about her posture suggested uneasiness. She took a step forward to accept an awkward embrace with her father. It was odd – it felt as though she were hugging a stranger.

"Michael," Prudy said, regarding her husband coldly. "You're home."

"And glad to be," Michael smiled. He held his arms out to his wife to offer her some affection, too, but she stood back, arms folded. He tried to remember at least one reason he had married this cold, empty woman, and let out a sigh.

"Look, I know this has been hard on all of us, and I'm sorry. I really didn't do anything wrong." (This brought a look from Prudy.) "But my boss offered me my old job back, and everything will be back to normal soon, I promise."

"Normal?" Penny murmured, about to laugh. "By our standards, or others'?"

Surprised by her reaction, Michael thought furiously.

"Soon, they'll be one and the same. I know I've been a bad father, and not the best husband, either. I'll try to make it up to both of you. For now, let's go out and have dinner together – talk about things, ask some questions. I know you have some," he said, sadly, to Penny. He was so ashamed of himself, at times like these – the way she looked at him in that confused, disappointed way just broke his heart. "What do you say?"

"No," Prudy snapped, walking away.

Penny was slower to react, but hurt him just as much. "Sorry, I've got a date," she mumbled, going up the stairs.

Michael sat down on the couch, resting his elbows on his knees and cradling his chin in his hands. He had a lot of work to do. Prudy was in the kitchen, also working; on dinner. Penny was working on her makeup, getting ready to go to the drive-in with Seaweed and her friends.

Thinking in silence, Michael was alone in the living room, left to replay his past and struggle with how he would fix his present to prepare for the future.

"Dinner's on the table," Prudy said sharply. "I'm going out."

She gathered up a few bags and left.

Michael sat down at the table and stared blankly at the stew sitting there for him.

Trying to sneak out, Penny tiptoed down the stairs, but the rustle of her casual but crisp summer dress. She cringed as she realized that her dad was looking at her, and quickly averted her gaze so he wouldn't think she had seen him.

Of course, she couldn't know that her father was almost opposite of her mother, and that he only wanted to feast his eyes on the happiness radiating from his daughter, whom he had not seen for a very long time. He would have loved nothing more than to meet the person who made Penny so happy (that would be Seaweed), and learn some things from them. Sadly, though, Penny could sense none of this and guessed that he was about to stop her from seeing the love of her life.

"My little girl," he sighed, longing to hug her and spin her around like he had done when she was little.

"I'm not little," Penny snapped, "and hardly yours."

With that, she stormed out of the house, slamming the front door behind him.

Not exactly the warm welcome Michael had been hoping for.