"Penny," Michael gasped, his eyes bloodshot as he ran up to his daughter as she entered the house. "Thank God you're home. I was so worried. I thought you'd up and left me, too."

"What?" Penny cried, paling.

"Your mother left me," Michael moaned, collapsing onto the couch. "When she went out last night, she never came home."

Penny gasped. What had happened to her rational mother? Shocked, she sat too.

Now that he had someone to take care of – all by himself – Michael's face took on a look of resolve. "Penny, tomorrow I'm going to work. Then, I'll figure out how to cook dinner… somehow… and do laundry." He nodded, reassuring himself. "For now, let's talk."

Penny looked at him blankly.

"I know I haven't been there for you, but I will be now," he vowed. "I was a businessman, and always had to travel. I was honestly married to my work. But now, you're my number one priority."

Shifting, Penny looked away.

"Penny, I'm not who you think I am. I'm not a bad person," he insisted, stopping to clear his throat. "I'm just a man who was too ambitious for his own good." He twiddled his thumbs anxiously. "I wanted to be rich. I would provide for my family; see the world; save the world." He shook his head with a small, bitter smile. "Turns out my family missed me, my company was corrupt, and nobody wanted my help."

Her face softening as she realized her father's real feelings for her, Penny fought back the urge to go hug him. She wanted to hear the rest of the story.

"The company I worked for balked, so I ended up taking all the blame," he sighed. "Tax evasion, and who knows what else… plenty of time done for that. I still wanted to make something of myself though – start over, be a hero – so I started helping out some blacks with their civil rights. That meant more trips to jail." He looked at Penny. "Now you know why I was gone so much. It wasn't because I didn't love you. Oh, Lord, did I love you. Do you know how many times I sat in a cold cell for doing the right thing? And every time I thought of you, it made things all right. I should have been here all along, with the people I love."

"Dad," Penny said, leaning forward to face him. "Why couldn't I have known this before?" She got up, and caressed her father in a warm hug. It felt good, saying that – Dad.

"I love you, Penny," Michael sighed, enjoying the hug he had never gotten. "From here on out, I will be the best dad you could imagine. Anything you want, you've got it," he promised, suddenly eager to please his daughter.

"Okay, Dad," Penny laughed. "Really?"

Michael shrugged. "Sure, why not?"

"Well, in that case, I have someone I want you to meet," Penny said, taking him to the car. "Just follow my directions…"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was hard to believe that Penny could see Seaweed as much as she wanted to now. It still hadn't sunk in yet. Nothing really had.

Michael stopped the car and followed her to the door of the house.

"Who is it?" Lil' Inez asked, from inside, as they knocked.

"Penny."

"Oh, hey, girl," Inez greeted her, opening the door swiftly. "C'mon in. The party's still goin'." She paused to look over Michael. "So, who's this?"

"My dad," Penny said breezily, hiding a smile.

"All right…"

Leading her father through the small, cluttered, but cozy house, Penny's face lit up when she made it to Seaweed, who was dancing and mingling with friends. Seeing Penny, he walked over, looking surprised to see her.

"Hey, sugar," he said, giving her a light kiss. "What's up?"

"Seaweed, I'd like you to meet my dad."

"Ah. Mr. Pingleton," he said respectfully, putting his hand out. "Pleased to meet you, sir."

"Dad, this is my boyfriend," (and the love of my life, she added silently), Seaweed."

Michael took Seaweed's hand and shook it, impressed with the boy's manners. "Call me Michael," he insisted. "And the pleasure is mine, young man. I see how happy you make Penny…" He gave her a sideways hug. "It's amazing."

Seaweed nodded, pleased.

"My mom's gone, Seaweed," Penny said softly, trying to keep her voice neutral. She missed her, sort of, but also felt freed. "Which means no rules, and no limit to the time we can spend together." She took his hand and squeezed it.

"Sounds good to me," Seaweed grinned.