Duffy kept laughing, worrying her friends. Molly smiled as she ate her ice cream in delight. Pepper looked at Duffy.
"You okay, Duffy?" Annie asks.
Duffy giggled. "F-F-Fine!" she replied with her teeth chattering.
"Okay, no more cookie dough for this one until further notice." July labeled the hyperactive girl.
Pepper took the bowl off her, agreeing with July.
"Aww..." Duffy pouted.
Pepper looked at her. "We don't want ya bouncin' around!" She says.
Duffy sighed. "Fine."
Pepper nodded and sat next to Molly. Annie made her bowl up after there was enough room for her to join in.
"What kind did ya get, Annie?" Kate asked.
Molly smiled and ate her ice cream happily. Annie showed her strawberry ice cream with chocolate sprinkles. Pepper ate her own ice cream.
"Ooh...!" Molly thought Annie's ice cream was really pretty.
Annie smiled softly.
"Oooh, I think I ate too much..." Kate mumbled, patting her belly.
Annie smiled a little still.
"Now what would you girls like to do?" Grace asked as she saw they finished their ice cream desserts.
"Can Mr. Warbucks really find out about our parents?" Molly asked, curious of that ever since she found out about it.
Annie looked at Molly, then Grace.
"If you're interested." Grace said softly.
"I don't know who mine were, but I miss 'em!" Molly piped.
Annie hugged Molly. Pepper shook her head, she didn't want to know.
"Whenever you're ready." Grace told them gently, then saw how Pepper was still touchy about the subject of parents.
Pepper felt being looked at and shuffled a little. Grace wondered about her, but smiled at the other girls who got excited. Pepper put her bowl to the side.
Goldie looked up and sort of glared at her father. "What now? You wish I wasn't born, don't you? You wish I was born a boy, right? You wished that you could dump me in a workhouse!"
The door had been shut, but not locked.
Rooster frowned a little "Hush up a minute, I want ta talk to ya..." he says, trying not to show any weakness or hurt by what she was saying.
Goldie sniffed. "What...?" she tried to settle herself, not being afraid.
Rooster almost nervously sat on a chair looking at his daughter. "I wanted ta apologize..." he says quietly. "I know I haven't treated ya right, but I was so mad at ya mother..." he then adds.
Goldie looked at him, not moving from her spot, feeling safe after she forced herself in that position. "What do you remember about my mother?"
Rooster looked at her. "I loved her, but then she ran off and left ya with me... I never forgave her and took my anger out on you... I'm sorry, Goldie." he says.
Goldie sniffled. "She just left...?"
Rooster sighed looking down. "I loved her so much, but I didn't want children at first, I did threaten her but actually I wouldn't have done it, but she left and I got mad." he says quietly.
"Oh, Daddy..." Goldie started to feel sorry for her father now.
Rooster looked at her, his face showing a weakness that he would only show those he truly loved. "I'm sorry..." he says quietly.
Missy bit her lip and covered her mouth. She herself hadn't realized how bad he had had it.
Goldie sniffled. She saw her father was very sincere and stood up, shakily. She then walked toward him and held out her arms and hugged him, patting his back with a lone tear rolling down her cheek. "Daddy..." she nearly whimpered in the hold.
As the father and daughter made up, there were sirens heard outside with some angry shouting. Rooster hugged her back and then looked worried. Lily went outside about to shout at whoever it was. Missy stood up and went to get Goldie, and maybe try to help Rooster. She couldn't hate the man anymore.
"Missy!" Goldie cried for her, still against Rooster for protection.
Missy went up to them and put an arm around Goldie too.
"Lily St. Regis?" one man in a sharp suit asked the blonde woman.
"Yeah, who's askin'?" Lily says in her squeaky voice.
"We work for Oliver Warbucks, you and Daniel Francis 'Booster' Hannigan are under arrest for the kidnapping of Goldilocks Hannigan and Missy Bennett-Warbucks." the man said firmly.
"It's Rooster!" Goldie said quietly, though only Missy and her father could hear it, but she heard the guard get it wrong.
Missy looked at Goldie, not able to help smiling. Rooster was nervous, he didn't want to go back to jail. Goldie looked at her father nervously too, she didn't want him to be taken from her now. Missy looked at the father and daughter. She stood protectively in front of them. She would try and get the guards to listen at least. She was kind of acting as a shield.
"Don't know what ya on about." Lily says, trying to cover her tracks.
"Then I guess you wouldn't mind if we checked the house?" the man glanced at her, not falling for that 'dumb broad' routine.
Lily blinked rapidly. She floundered for something to say. The guards then decided to search the house for the teenagers. A couple went upstairs and started scanning around. Lily tried to run away but was easily caught. Missy looked a little nervous, but determined.
One of the guards grabbed Lily, not going so easy on her because she was a woman. Lily shrieked out angrily. Another guard managed to find the party and grabbed Rooster.
"No!" Goldie cried as one of the guards came to keep Missy and her safe.
Missy got out of the helping guard's hold and went to the one holding Rooster. "Stop... hear him out." she says.
"He's a terrible man, Miss Bennett-Warbucks." the guard told her as Rooster was nearly being taken away.
"Daddy!" Goldie cried, holding out her free hand as tears invaded her eyes instantly.
Seeing Goldie's eyes filling with tears broke Missy's heart. She stepped close to Rooster and the guard, placing her hand on the guard's arm. "Please just let him speak and explain!" She tries. She was frustrated no one was listening to her.
The guard looked down at her and decided to let Rooster say what he had to say. Goldie was hoping this wasn't going to end up being a sick, twisted trick. Missy looked slightly relieved and removed her hand from the guard's arm waiting for Rooster to speak. The guard holding Goldie was slightly wary.
"Alright, whatya got to say, Roosty?" one guard taunted the Hannigan man. "Ya gonna go 'capoodle'?"
Rooster glared at the man. He could tell by the taunting that he wouldn't be properly allowed to speak. So in an attempt to actually make them listen his free arm shot out and wrapped around Missy's neck as he broke free from the one holding him. "Listen clearly and no taunting." he growls, mostly desperate to be heard properly and not mocked.
Missy let out a shocked almost choke as she was pulled by her neck to lightly hit her back against Rooster's chest. Her dark eyes widened and she brought her hands up warily in case he tried to choke her. She had a feeling he wouldn't choke her, but better to be safer than sorry. The guards showed interest in Rooster as he was surprisingly helpful and supportive toward Missy and Goldie with what he was going to tell them and why he felt he should be free to go, even if he had intended to make the teenagers' lives miserable.
Rooster explained why he had done it, and about how everything started, but how he had actually changed since going into prison, getting released on bail, and after taking the two. He explained how he was sorry and even now he only wanted to be listened too. Missy was still and tense in his grasp. She inwardly cursed how her hormones were reacting to how close she was to him, but luckily it could be classed as slight fear.
"Interesting..." one guard said.
"Is this true?" another one had to ask.
"I bet it is... I had never once seen him this honest in all my life." Goldie spoke up, even if she might not be allowed to talk, but she was going to defend her father.
Rooster looked around at them. "It's true." he says quietly. He was reluctant to let the girl go, but he had no reason to hold her anymore. He let her go slowly.
Missy gasped in a breath, he hadn't done it too hard but her body's reaction was to hold in a breath. The guards looked long at him, then looked down for approval from the girls, allowing them to speak.
"He's right..." Goldie sniffled, still a bit scared, but wasn't afraid of her father anymore.
Rooster stood there, waiting.
Missy nodded. "He explained everything... it is true." she says, rubbing her throat a little.
"Well, if these ladies say so..." the guard shrugged, then looked back at Rooster. "What about that little lady downstairs who claims she doesn't know what we're talkin' 'bout?"
"I think she's dangerous."Goldie spoke up, quickly, she was sure by now her father was over that 'dumb hotel'.
Rooster shrugged but nodded. "Yeah, she's pretty dangerous." he agrees.
Missy showed them the red hand print, the scratches and torn shirt shoulder. "She did this to me..." she says, she hadn't looked in a mirror so didn't know if her other cheek was bruised.
"She seems tougher than she looks," one guard told the other, releasing the trio together. "We better take care of her right away."
"Thank you, sirs." Goldie said, grateful for them and had a little smirk.
Rooster put a gentle arm around Goldie's shoulders. Missy walked softly rubbing her stomach just in case the baby could feel worry yet. Lily was shouting and arguing. The guards were taking Lily away to lock her up.
One guard came to the group. "I suppose I ought to take you three to the Warbucks mansion." he said, including Rooster in their party.
Goldie looked soothingly toward Missy as she was worried for the girl and the baby. Rooster looked his normal calm self, but was a bit nervous. Missy smiled gently at Goldie. The guard then signaled them to follow him downstairs and get into a van to be taken back to the Warbucks mansion as it got quite late. Rooster was holding Goldie securely but gently against him. Missy was almost falling asleep in the van, her head flopping sideways until it rested on something or someone. The guard took the van straight to the mansion as he was told to.
"Wait!" Goldie called as the van pulled up next to the one with Lily, she then leaned in through the window. "You and my Daddy are through, Lils!"
Lily looked at Goldie and struggled to get free. "How dare ya, ya little brat!" She yells.
Rooster blinked as Missy's head fell onto his shoulder. "Shut it, Lily." he growls.
"Hey, keep quiet in there!" the man in the van snapped at Lily.
Goldie giggled with her father about Lily's little punishment.
"All aboard!" the guard called, then took the van back to the Warbucks mansion.
Lily looked annoyed. Missy luckily didn't snore. The van was almost there and it was almost time for the young girls in the mansion to go to bed.
Annie was trying to think positive.
"Don't worry, Annie, I'm sure they're fine..." Molly tried to soothe the older girl in the way that was always vice versa.
Annie hugged Molly.
Grace came to see them. "Girls, it's very late."
"No, let us stay up!" Duffy cried.
"We need to know if Goldie and Missy are okay!" July added.
"Please, Miss Grace!" Kate whimpered.
Annie looked at Grace, hopefully. Pepper kept quiet.
"Okay, you can all stay up until the guards come back with Missy and Goldie." Grace sighed, smiling at them. She could understand why they wanted to though.
The girls cheered a bit, hoping their older friends were just fine.
"Thanks, Mama Grace." Annie says softly.
"Just no more ice cream tonight." Grace added sharply.
Duffy awed at that. Annie nodded, then heard the sound of van doors opening.
Missy woke up when they arrived. Rooster looked nervous again.
"We're here!" the guard told them as he was coming to a stop.
Goldie was looking out the window.
Missy looked disoriented "Huh?" She asks softly.
"We're here." Goldie told Missy quietly.
The van stopped and the guard came out to help the others out. Missy was helped out. Rooster helped Goldie out and looked at the mansion in awe and nervous.
"Could it be?" Kate rushed to the window.
"Is it she?" July went with her and the other girls.
"It's the chicken guy!" Molly cried as she saw Rooster, remembering that he had grabbed her specifically to get her and the others out of the way from helping Annie the last time.
Goldie flattened her dress and felt relieved to be back at the mansion. Annie paled as she heard Rooster was there too.
"Go ahead and explain to the girls, Goldie..." Missy says softly. Seeing Rooster in the state he was she grabbed his sleeve and pulled him along. "We'll go speak to Daddy." she says firmly.
Pepper was about to head down there and beat Rooster up.
Goldie nodded, then went to find the girls as they were already coming outside for the 'bad guy'.
Rooster came up and looked around with Missy's pulling and looked down at Pepper with a gentle smile. "Hello there, little one..." he tried his very best to be good and tender with a child.
"You're not hurtin' Annie and Missy again!" Molly growled, kicking him in his knee.
Pepper gave him a punch to the arm.
Missy looked shocked. "Girls..." she says, gently though and picked up Molly in case Rooster got overly mad.
Rooster was in pain, even if they were little girls. Pepper was really powerful for her age.
"Hey!" Goldie saw this and ran over, trying to hold back her younger friends. "Guys, leave Daddy alone, he ain't gonna hurt nobody!"
"What?" the girls looked at her, confused.
Pepper looked at her.
Missy kissed Molly's forehead. "Go with Goldie, sweetheart, me and Rooster need to go speak with Daddy Warbucks." she says softly. She was acting exactly like a mother.
Molly blinked at Missy, sensing trust in her, then decided to go with Goldie like the others.
"Come on, let's give 'em some privacy." Goldie told the girls and went in with them, taking Molly's hand.
Rooster brought himself back on his feet and settled himself. Pepper followed Goldie.
Missy smiled softly watching them go and looked at Rooster. "Sorry about that." she says, sheepishly.
"It's okay," Rooster grunted, but was a little better than he was before. "Should've expected it... After all, I locked them in a storage closet with Agatha."
Missy took his wrist again and pulled him along. "Come on." she says.
Rooster settled himself, then followed Missy by force, also he was a little scared to face a powerful man like Oliver Warbucks.
Missy pulled him to Oliver's study. She glanced at Rooster. "Don't be afraid at all." she says before knocking on the door.
"What is it!" Oliver called from the other side of the door.
Rooster looked nervous again, but felt a little settled since Missy was on his side.
"We're back, Daddy, and please don't be angry when you see who's here too." Missy says softly.
Oliver opened the door and was surprised to see Rooster in his place. He though, remembered what Missy had told him and did his best to remain calm around the crooked creep. "What can I do for you all?"
"We thought it best to talk to ya first, daddy..." Missy says. She rubbed her good eye as she spoke.
"Well, alright... Let's get down to business." Oliver went into his office and allowed them in. "Just don't count your chickens before they hatch, Rooster..."
The bird nicknamed man rolled his eyes slightly at that joke as Warbucks had his back turned.
Missy sent Rooster a look. She then followed the billionaire into the office. She stuck close enough to Rooster for comfort while also being a respectful distance apart. Rooster sat with Missy as they were allowed to be seated.
Annie looked at Goldie. "Is Missy okay too?" She asks seeing Goldie was actually okay.
Goldie took a sip of tea and smiled at Annie. "I'm sure she's gonna be just fine... We also took care of that 'dumb hotel'. I feel like we won't be bothered with the likes of her again."
Oliver walked in and sat behind his desk. "So, what can I do for you?" he gently asked his guests.
"Can Rooster stick around Daddy? Please let him explain before you say no though, if ya do, Daddy..." she asks softly.
Oliver looked at Missy, then to Rooster, waiting for an answer.
Rooster then explained everything he had said before and anything else to get off his chest. He had really learned his lesson and admired the mistakes he had made to mentor himself into getting better. He also assured the millionaire that he doesn't want to force Oliver to like him, but at least give him a chance. Also for the sake of Missy and the baby.
Missy blinked once in surprise 'both the baby AND her?' She however hid the surprise and looked at Oliver.
"Well, Mr. Hannigan, if you hadn't had a change of heart, I know I'd kick you out of here faster than a pile of papers and trash, however, I see you're serious with Missy and does Missy have seriousness with you back?" Oliver looked from Rooster to the elder Bennett girl.
Missy's eyes widened. Did she? She took a moment to think but blushed and gave a small nod. She'd at least give him a chance.
"Alright, I'll give you a chance Mr. Hannigan for Missy's sake, but if I see a slip up, such as you harming another, stealing any of my treasures, or anything that would make me think differently, you're going straight back to where you came from, understood?" Oliver told Rooster sharply.
The Hannigan man nodded. "Yes, sir."
Missy smiled softly at Oliver and gave him a hug. She then waited politely to be dismissed.
Oliver patted her back. "Take care of yourself now, okay? Keep a sharp eye on him."
"I promise, Daddy." she replies. She then took Rooster back out and looked up at him.
"Good, you're a strong and smart girl, I know you'll make the right decision, welcome into our home, Mr. Hannigan." Oliver said, gentle to Missy, but still sharp to Rooster, still having trust issues with the man due to past experiences, but will see in time, he'll be acceptable.
Rooster smiled and hugged Missy, patting her back, then gently rubbed her stomach. Missy blushed smiling a little. She then tried to hide a giggle as he accidentally brushed her side withva hand as he let go to rub her small but almost defined baby bump.
"I'll help you..." Rooster said in a hushed tone, seemingly to both Missy and the baby and not one in specific.
Missy gave a softer smile. "Thank you..." she whispers softly.
Rooster smiled, then decided they should leave Oliver's office to let him get some work done.
Annie was clinging to Goldie.
"Did ya miss me, Red?" Goldie laughed as Annie was clinging to her.
"I was so worried for ya." Annie says.
"Aww..." Goldie pet her head. "I'm okay now, I promise, we're all okay."
"Sorry I kicked your daddy, Goldie..." Molly pouted.
Annie looked at Molly surprised but not in a bad way.
"Just don't do it again, tell him you're sorry." Goldie advised the youngest girl.
"Yes, Goldie..." Molly nodded.
"I ain't saying sorry..." Pepper mutters.
"Pepper..." Goldie looked at her.
Pepper scowled. "What?" She asks.
Annie frowned at Pepper.
"Come on, Peps, everyone deserves a second chance, don't they?" Goldie tried to ease Pepper about her birth father.
Pepper looked at her "I guess, but I ain't sayin' sorry." she huffs.