Missy waved to her 'daddy' and left with Rooster. She couldn't help but give him a mock glare as soon as they were out. "My sides are off-limits." she says, trying not to reveal her ticklish spots.
Oliver watched them leave, then went back to work.
"Why?" Rooster raised an eyebrow at her with a smirk.
Missy wasn't watching his face so didn't notice the smirk. "Th-they're just off-limits..." she says.
"Oh, I've been breaking rules practically since the day I was born..." Rooster wiggled his fingers, coming closer to see about the off limited body parts.
Missy looked at him and let out a yelp, but not a bad sounding one. "No!" She gasps stepping away trying to defend her sides. She had amusement in her voice though.
"Oh, I see the law..." Rooster chuckled, understanding why she was hesitant now.
Missy saw he had stopped for now and warily, but surely let her guard down about protecting her sides. Rooster laughed, then decided to not tickle her now. Missy smiled, relieved and turned to lead to where everyone most likely was. Rooster now felt nervous about meeting the little girls. He wasn't very kinder toward them at first and he didn't even know them.
"Don't worry, Rooster, they won't hurt ya again." Missy says softly.
"I understand, little girl..." Rooster said to Pepper, sighing.
Molly looked up to him a little quietly and calmly, but said nothing. Missy held her arms out to Molly. Pepper looked at him and then away and scowled. Rooster smiled at Molly, she was adorable. The youngest orphan girl went to Missy and went to hug her, she still looked at Rooster, unsure what to do with him. Goldie was glad at least Molly was trying to accept her father's change of heart.
Missy picked Molly up. She kissed the girl's cheek and squeezed gently. "He's good now, sweetie." she whispers.
Annie looked at Rooster, watching him carefully.
"Promise?" Molly looked at the man from the young adult woman.
"I won't hurt you, little girl..." Rooster tried to soothe her in the best fatherly way he could.
Goldie looked with Annie to make sure this was going be good as promised.
"Why don't ya go up and say sorry for kicking him... and yes, poppet he's good." Missy whispers.
Annie was watching carefully.
Molly was placed back down on the floor and she walked up to Rooster, feeling like a munchkin compared to his high stature. She then tried to calm down and settle herself and cleared her throat. "I-I'm sorry for kicking you, sir... I thought you were bad..."
Rooster sighed, but smiled, coming down to her height gently. "It's okay, sweetie... I owe you an apology for trying to hurt you and your friends..."
Missy watched a sweet, but amused smile on her face. Annie saw Rooster did seem good now and went up to him. Molly then hugged Rooster, feeling better around him. The man smiled and picked her up gently, holding her close. He smiled at the other little girls and beamed at Annie, feeling a trust in her now. Maybe things would be better this way, he was still going to try to change himself, he just hoped it would be up to expectations.
Missy smiled and sighed almost dreamily. "I wanna adopt Molly..." she says under her breath.
Annie reached a hand up to him.
Rooster looked down at the curly-haired girl. "Hello, Annie, I'm sorry for pretendin' to be your old man, and scaring you and Goldie like that the last time, but I hope we can become friends now."
Goldie smiled, hoping Annie would grow to accept her father. Molly was being the same and wanted to be adopted by Missy and since he was friendly now, Rooster as well, hoping that they could all live happily ever after together. Missy took Molly off him as Annie reached her hand up. Annie took Rooster's hand and shook it.
"Nice to meet you, Annie." Rooster said, making it seem like they had never met before, so they could start over.
Molly smiled happily, but then yawned, prompting the other girls to do so. It then started back to Molly as she yawned again, making the trail happen again.
"Cut it out, Molly!" Goldie falsely scolded the youngest girl, but smiled to show she was joking. "Yawnin' is catchin'!"
Missy smiled. "Come on, bed time" she tells the girls.
Annie yawned and smiled.
"B-B-But!" Molly cried.
"Girls, the deal was that you stayed up until Goldie and Missy would come back safely." Grace tried to settle them as it was late for them to be up at this hour.
"I'll sing you all a lullaby..." Missy promises.
Pepper shrugged and walked off to where they would be sleeping. Molly smiled sleepily. The other girls went to the room they would all be sleeping in to put the 'slumber' in slumber party. Missy settled Molly down and then started to sing. Her voice wasn't perfect but it was warm, comforting and homely. Annie lay down, falling asleep to the lullaby. Molly was falling asleep instantly to the lullaby, as did the other girls. It was the closest thing to a motherly nurturing song they had ever had in their lives. Rooster yawned a little as he also found the song to be very tender for a child and was slowly affecting him. He wasn't falling asleep, but was quite close.
As soon as the girls were asleep Missy stood up and went over to Rooster. "They are so cute." she whispers.
"They really are... Is my sister really that bad to them?" Rooster asked in a hushed tone as the girls were falling asleep instantly in their new place for the evening.
"She tries her best, but she has a short fuse..." Missy explains softly. She sighed softly and smiled at the girls. She put a hand on her stomach.
"Yeah, she was like that a lot growin' up... She was tough for a little one... That little tough girl reminds me a lot of Agatha when she was a little girl," Rooster said, in quiet conversation and gestured to Pepper. "What's her name? Paprika?"
"Pepper..." Missy corrects gently and then switched off the light, but gave enough light so the girls wouldn't be scared. She then led Rooster out of the room so they wouldn't disturb them.
"Pepper..." Rooster nodded, then went out the room with her and smiled as the girls were fast asleep. He had never actually known what it was like to see a young girl sleep peacefully. "Where is the restroom?" he asked gently.
Missy gave him directions and showed him too. Rooster nodded, then went there to do some private business.
"Hi, how's Heaven?" Goldie came to see Missy and jokingly greeted her, wearing one of the new nightgowns Oliver had given her with fuzzy bunny eared slippers.
Missy looked confused but smiled. "It's okay..." she says softly. She then hugged the teen.
Goldie laughed a little, patting Missy's back. "Are ya smitten?"
Missy blushed. "What do ya mean?" She asks almost nervously.
"I think y'all are gettin' friendly like with my Daddy." Goldie glanced at her with a knowing smirk.
Missy blushed and crossed her arms nervously. She had a small smile though.
"It's true, ain't it?" Goldie smirked, now curious.
Missy nodded softly. "Yeah..." she says softly.
"I knew it..." Goldie said under her breath, then looked back up, smiling at Missy. "I never thought I'd be happy for someone to be with my Daddy and be happy that he is..."
Missy smiled softly at the girl. "You don't have to call me mama though if ya don't want ta..." she says softly.
"Thanks," Goldie chuckled. "I love ya and all, Missy, but I don't think I could get used to that since you're a good friend of mine and all."
Missy giggled.
"Mama Missy." Goldie giggled a little too, but wasn't mocking the girl for being interested in her father. "Is it true I'm gonna have a little brother or sister?"
"Yeah, Gracie if a girl or Francis for a boy." Missy says quietly.
Goldie smiled at those names. They would be lovely. "Well, either one, I hope they like me..."
Missy smiled. "I know they'll love their big sister." she says.
Goldie smiled fondly. Missy smiled. She was tense not trusting Rooster to not tickle her.
Rooster came back out, having washed up and was ready for bed after a long day. "So, where do we sleep?"
"Missy's stayed in one of the guest rooms." Goldie suggested that as possible shelter for their evening together as she already had her own room like Annie.
Missy blushed, but shrugged. "If you want to." she says softly.
"I wouldn't want to intrude..." Rooster shrugged, not forcing himself against Missy like that.
Goldie shook her head, rolling her eyes. She was totally uninterested in this. "Night!" she called, then went to her own room to retire for the night.
Missy decided to let him at least for that night.
The next morning Missy was curled up, smiling softly.
Rooster fell asleep with his arm around Missy and his other arm under his head, he had a smile on his face. It was the best night of sleep he has ever had in years. He looked down as Missy was cuddling against him, making him chuckle. "Good morning, sweetcheeks..." he greeted, chuckling.
Missy's eyes opened slowly. "Hi..." she hums happily. He was so warm.
"Did we sleep well?" Rooster asked, eagerly.
"Yeah, you make a good cuddle buddy." Missy hums sleepily but waking up.
Rooster yawned, then hoisted himself up, rubbing his eye. "I haven't slept that well since before Agatha was born..."
Missy smiled softly. She ran a hand through her brown locks.
"Breakfast!" Grace called throughout the house.
"Mm... pancakes." Missy hums, getting up and going down in her nightgown.
"Flapjacks!" Rooster added, coming down with her and slipping on some slippers Grace and Drake had left for him.
Missy went ahead but not too far.
Annie sat up, smiling. She woke up the others. The girls woke up, but then Molly accidentally threw her pillow at Annie. Everyone saw this and thought that she was mad as she looked serious for a moment, but then grew playful and they started a pillow fight like in most slumber parties.
Rooster walked along as he heard childrens' laughter. "I guess the girls are awake..." he said with an amused smirk.
Missy looked over and then smiled popping her head in the room. Annie giggled. Pepper was a little more mad but was having fun too. Rooster watched too, not really sure what the girls were supposed to be doing. They were hitting each other with their pillows, but they laughed and looked like they were having fun as they literally let the feathers fly.
Molly laughed and ran over to Missy and Rooster like a child excited to see her parents after being away from them for an extended period of time. "Missy! Mr. Rooster! We're takin' over the ballroom with a pillow fight! You're next if you ain't careful!" she giggled.
Missy smiled and picked Molly up and hugged her. "No, I have a shield..." she whispers to her. "When I say, get everyone to throw a pillow at him." she whispers. She let the girl go and slyly made her way behind Rooster.
Molly nodded, then went to the other girls to 'operate a secret function' in the pillow fight.
"What are you up to?" Rooster looked at Missy suspiciously with a friendly smile, but looked back at the girls as they stopped their 'war' for a little bit.
Missy smiled up at him, even wrapping her arms around him from behind. "Now!" she says simply and clearly.
Annie threw the first pillow, followed by Pepper's pillow. Duffy threw her pillow, then came Kate's, soon enough there was July's, and finally Tessie's. Molly was whirling around her pillow, then threw hers like a dangerous weapon against Rooster. The man screamed, but laughed as he was thrown by the fluffy goodness of pillows and feathers were about. The girls laughed as they made the biggest pillow fight in history.
Grace came in then and looked at the fluffy mess and gasped in shock. "Oh, my Lord..."
Missy looked at Grace and bit her lip. Annie looked at Grace nervously.
Grace sighed and shook her head. "When you're all free, come on down to breakfast... There's pancakes, eggs, bacon, and a whole lot more, you'll all eat like Queens." She wasn't even mad.
Molly spit out a feather, then licked her lips hungrily.
Missy smiled. "We'll all help clean up after breakfast." she says, releasing Rooster.
Annie nodded. "Yeah, that sounds good" she says.
"I'm going to get you later..." Rooster whispered sharply to Missy, but had an amused smile.
Missy gulped and gave a cheesy smile. "You'll have to catch me first" she says.
"Hey!" Rooster called playfully, then went to chase her as she went off.
Missy gave a startled laugh as he gave chase.
"Come on, let's go!" July called, then led the others out to get washed up and eat a very good breakfast for a change.
"Drake, you can clean this up." Grace told one of the cleaning men, then walked off.
Annie heard this and giggled. Pepper kept an eye out for Goldie.
Molly watched them leave and looked up to her older friend. "Annie... I think I found who I wanna be adopted by."
Annie looked at her. "Who, Molly?" She asks, smiling.
Molly looked back. "Your sister and Goldie's daddy..." she said, a little quietly and rubbed her arm with a sheepish smile.
Annie smiled happily. "We should ask 'em." she says.
"I hope they say yes." Molly's eyes lit up faster than when she would be able to get cookies from Agatha's place.
"Missy will, at least." Annie assures.
Molly took Annie's hand and went to get a proper breakfast like the others in the house. Annie felt even happier now.
"Good morning, lovelies, what would you like for your breakfast?" one of the kitchen maids asked as Annie and Molly came downstairs.
"What do you want, Molly?" Annie asks.
Molly hummed, deep in thought, then beamed. "Waffles with strawberry and banana!"
The kitchen maid chuckled. "Of course, sweetie, and you, Annie?"
"Syrup and pancakes please." Annie says.
"Comin' up!" the kitchen maid smiled and went off.
Molly looked to see the other girls and went to sit with them, there was one extra seat for Annie. Annie went and sat with them too.
"Where's Goldie?" Molly asked, noticing their friend was still not with them.
"She's still sleeping." the kitchen maid told her, smiling.
Annie gave a look. "We'll let her have a lie in." she says.
"Yeah, probably best, she's had an exciting day." Kate said in agreement.
Missy tried to escape from the man chasing her. She was having fun though. Rooster eventually caught Missy and tickled her sides after being told various times to never do so.
Missy let out a shriek as she was caught and burst into laughter. "No, no fair!" She laughs, squirming under his wiggling fingers.
Rooster laughed as he had caught Missy. Missy giggled and laughed not able to stop as he tickled her sides.
Rooster laughed and stopped a bit, looking down at her. "So, hungry?"
Missy looked up at him, her cheeks pink from her laughing and sparkling eyes, filled with the tears of laughter. "A... little..." she gasps, trying to get her breath back.
Rooster got off from her and allowed her to catch her breath.
Missy soon caught her breath back and straightened up, standing up. "That was mean." she pouts, but she looked amused.
"Hey, it's not the meanest thing I ever did." Rooster said in defense with a friendly smile.
Missy straightened her nightgown. "Come on, I'm hungry." she says, gently brushing passed him.
"I'm comin'." Rooster laughed as he followed her downstairs.
Missy smiled.
Rooster came down and nodded once to the little girls. "Morning!"
Oliver seemed surprised at how cheerful the former crooked man seemed in the morning, even if he scared them all straight, but he didn't judge at all. He just wanted to see if Rooster was the man Missy and himself said he was.
Missy hummed as she followed the smell of food. "I'm craving bacon with syrup." she hums.
Annie blinked, but gave a morning greeting back.
"The grown-ups will be sitting here." Grace told Missy and Rooster as he sat next to Oliver at a bigger table and gave the girls their own private table.
"Understood... Just surprise me." Rooster put in his breakfast request.
The kitchen maid nodded, then went to take care, making something to surprise the man. Missy sat next to Rooster and smiled. Rooster scooted close to her and respectively looked to Grace and Oliver. Grace had a friendly smile while Oliver bore a stoic face, still edgy around Rooster, but would hopefully turn around like the Hannigan man had done after kidnapping Missy and Goldie.
"Morning, Daddy." Missy greets her new father. She smiled at Grace.
"Morning, Missy." Oliver smiled fatherly toward Missy.
"Sleep well?" Grace added, smiling as well.
Like she had told Goldie she wouldn't call Grace, Mama unless Grace wanted her to. "Yep, my teddy bear snored though." she teases.
"Oh?" Grace asked, amusingly raising an eyebrow with a knowing smile.
"He couldn't help it, but his pillow was cushy." Rooster added.
"I didn't know they had snoring teddies... I don't know if I want one." Molly misunderstood what the adults were actually talking about as she couldn't help but pick that up.
Missy sent Rooster a mock glare, but then giggled at Molly's reply. "Aww, sweetie." she giggles.
Annie even understood it a bit better than Molly.
"She means that guy!" Tessie told Molly, pointing to Rooster.
"Oh..." Molly said, but then ate her food, smiling. "Grown-ups have weird mata...metaforks..."
Grace giggled a little, she couldn't help but find Molly's take on the 'snoring teddy' cute and funny.
Missy smiled. "Metaphor, darling." she says gently.
Annie looked surprised, they were sharing a bed?
"That!" Molly beamed as she got the right word for it now.
After Rooster and Missy were given their breakfast, they all continued to eat and share morning conversation after being completely awake and focused now with their full bellies until lunch time.
Missy smiled. "Mm, that was delicious." she says.
Annie was smiling in relief as her stomach was full now.
"This is the best breakfast I ever had!" Molly beamed to the kitchen maids.
"Thank you, sweetie." the kitchen maid told her and smiled at the others as she was going to take their plates and wash them for next time.
"I could never cook like this." Rooster beamed as he finished his plate.
"I liked cooking." Missy smiles.
"Cooking is good, but I always loved helping my mother bake, baking was a lot of fun for me." Grace added in.
"Baking?" Missy asks.
"Oh, yes," Grace smiled. "Ya know why they call it pound cake, right?"
Oliver smiled at her, but still had a questionable gaze upon Rooster like he were the future father-in-law to Rooster as he was a potential fiance and wanted to see how this would turn out. He wasn't judging the man too quickly, but wanted to make sure he really had changed enough and would keep the promises he made not just to Missy, but everyone.
Missy blinked. "'Cuz of how much it weighs?" She asks. They never taught baking. She then saw Molly and smiled.
Annie leaned in close to Molly. "Why don't you go ask them?" She asks.
Annie nodded. "Yeah, if they say not yet, then just try again later." Annie says, the last bit sounding as though she knew they wouldn't say no but was giving a fond warning just in case.
"Okay..." Molly smiled, nodding in agreement, she then hopped off the chair, landing on her feet, but almost fell, not hurting herself. She then made way to the grown-up table and waited to be noticed so she would speak up. She didn't want to be rude and interrupt, however, hopefully if she did, she wouldn't get a wooden ruler to the hands like in her home she's only known.
Annie watched, smiling.
"Oh, can we help you?" Rooster looked down at the youngest girl.
Molly looked up at them and tried to soothe herself about asking Missy and Rooster this. She took a deep breath and looked into both their eyes carefully and respectively. "Excuse me... I've been wanting to be adopted for a real long time, and I was wondering... Would it be too much trouble if y'all took me in as your own? It's okay if you say no, I'll understand, but I would really love it if you two were my parents and I could be your baby. Maybe..."
"Oh, sweetheart." Missy gushes and lifted the girl up onto her lap, hugging her. She rested her cheek on Molly's head and looked pleadingly at Rooster.
Annie hid a giggle at Missy's reaction.
Rooster looked at Missy and Molly. "You'd want me to be your new father after all this trouble I caused you and your friends?"
"I can tell you've changed, and if Goldie and Missy say you're okay, it's okay by me too." Molly smiled at the man as she was clinging to Missy like true mother and daughter.
"Please~" Missy wheedles.
Rooster smiled fondly at the girls. "Alright, Molly, I'll adopt you, as long as you don't mind a baby brother or sister with an older sister too, being Goldie."
"I don't mind at all!" Molly chirped, anxious to get adopted like she, like the other girls, had always wanted and dreamed of.
Oliver smiled fondly, Rooster was handling this very maturely.
Missy giggled and kissed Molly's cheek and in a rush of happiness kissed Rooster's cheek to then blushed.
Oliver was liking what he was seeing so far. Molly giggled a bit.
"Of course, we'll have to tell Sis first." Rooster reminded them.
The other girls didn't want to leave.
Annie looked at them. "You can come visit lots... right Daddy?" She asks Oliver.
"Of course!" Oliver beamed to them.
"We hope to see you again soon." Duffy smiled to Annie.
Annie nodded. "Yeah~" she agrees.
Missy smiled, playfully smug. It was clear she was only being playful with her tone of voice though. "She loves me too much to say no." she half jokes.
Molly smiled as she was looking at Rooster and Missy, excited about them possibly being able to take her in as their daughter.
"We can all go and drop off the girls." Missy smiles, not letting Molly go though.
Molly still clung to Missy. The girls smiled and hugged Molly briefly. Rooster smiled at everyone.
Missy stood up. "Okay, kiddos, we need to get dressed and wake up Goldie..." she says.
Annie giggled. The girls still didn't want to go, but there was always another time. Maybe tomorrow. The sun will come up tomorrow. They then went to get their clothes on out of their nighties to report back to the orphanage. Goldie was fast asleep and snug in her new bed like she was the first night she spent in the Warbucks mansion as a member of the family. Sandy was sleeping over her legs and his ears pricked up as he heard some footsteps outside of the bedroom door.
Missy let Molly down to get dressed. "I'm just going upstairs ta change." she tells the young girl.
Annie was changing.
"I guess I better too..." Rooster looked down at himself, then went to get proper morning clothes on.
Oliver watched them leave and looked at his paper.
"He really likes her, Ollie..." Grace whispered to the millionaire as Rooster and Missy left.
Oliver hummed and nodded. Maybe Rooster would be worth having around for everyone and not just Missy.