"Sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage and I promise you something great will come of it." -Unknown

David walked into the front door of his house as he got home from work to hear yelling. He didn't find it too unusual because his house was always loud and chaotic, but after hearing what was being yelled he decided to investigate.

"Just stop, Derek!" David heard Emily snap, "Leave me alone. I already told you I can't tell you."

"Why not?" He heard Derek say back

David saw Spencer, Penelope, and Jennifer sitting at the table doing their homework. He greeted them and kissed each of them on the head and then went to go check on Derek and Emily.

David walked into Emily's room, "What is going on in here?"

"Some bastard raped Emily when she was thirteen, but she won't talk about it." Derek explained

"Because I can't. The only reason Derek knows is because he was spying on a private conversation." Emily countered. She had been forced to sign a non disclosure agreement. She didn't want to, but the guy's parents threatened to have her arrested if she didn't.

David looked at Emily, "If your scared of him that's okay, but it's only been three years. That's still within the statute of limitations. We can still go after him."

Emily shook her head, "You don't get it. I can't talk about it. And we can't do anything. I signed an NDA."

"What's an NDA?" Derek asked

"Non disclosure agreement." David added with a sigh. There really was nothing that anyone could do. His daughter had been hurt and he was powerless.

Emily sighed, "I wish I hadn't signed it, but they offered me money if I signed it. It was a lot of money too. I couldn't turn it down. Not when I was thinking about my future. I never thought I'd ever find a family, so I figured that I could use the money for college. Or for an apartment when I turned eighteen and aged out."

David had a moment of realization, "Wait. You were thirteen. The non-disclosure agreement isn't valid. You were just a kid. You weren't old enough to sign any kind of legal binding contract."

"If I come forward, do I have to give up the money?" Emily wondered. She didn't want to give up the money. She wanted to keep it.

David shook his head, "No, but how much money did they give you?"

"Fifty thousand dollars." Emily replied nonchalantly

David and Derek both gasped at the amount of money that Emily said she got. Derek was shocked because he'd never had that kind of money in his life. His birth mother didn't even make that much in a year. David was mostly wondering how rich the family was.

"Okay. So first thing tomorrow we're going to the police and then you'll tell them everything." David explained

Emily nodded, "Yeah. I will."

Meanwhile in the living room with Jennifer, Penelope, and Spencer. Jennifer plopped onto the floor and just started crying. Penelope sat down by her twin and hugged her in an effort to comfort her, but Jennifer just cried harder. She'd been holding in all her emotions recently and now they were flowing out like an avalanche.

"Jennifer, do you want me to get Papá?" Spencer asked

Jennifer shook her head. She didn't want to see David. She hadn't talked to him since he told her that her mother doesn't want her and Penelope to call him Papá. She didn't understand why David cared what her mother thought, and she was furious at her mother. Why couldn't the woman just let her be happy?

"What's wrong, Jenny?" Penelope wondered

Jennifer didn't say anything. She couldn't find the right words to say to express how sad she felt, so she just continued crying.

Penelope and Spencer both just hugged Jennifer in an attempt to comfort her. Penelope hated seeing and hearing her twin sister cry. Spencer just hated when anyone was sad. He wanted everyone to just be happy.

David left Derek and Emily alone in Emily's bedroom. He passed by the living room on his way to the kitchen to cook dinner, however he stopped when he heard crying. He headed over to the huddled up group of his three youngest children.

"What's going on here, my loves?" David asked

Spencer looked up as he shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know, Papá. Jennifer just started crying, but she didn't want me to get you."

David gave a nod. He knew what this was about. He told Penelope and Spencer to go play and that he'd take care of Jennifer. Spencer got up and left immediately, but Penelope lingered as she looked at David, who gave her a nod and assured her that Jennifer would be fine.

Eventually Penelope left, at which point David picked Jennifer up off the floor and cradled her on his lap.

David sighed softly, "Jennifer, I know that you are disappointed that you can't call me Papá, but it's not me that has a problem with it. I like being called Papá, because for me it's about whatever you feel comfortable calling me. However your mother…."

"She's not my mother." Jennifer interrupted as she sniffled.

"Okay. Sandy...I think she just feels a little threatened by your bond with me." David explained, "If and when a judge terminates Sandy's parental rights, I'll let you and Penelope know because then you'll be able to call me Papá with no issues from your biological mother."

Jennifer sniffled as she nodded, "Okay." She hugged David tightly, "I love you, Papá. I just wanted to call you that one more time."

David smiled as she hugged Jennifer back, "I love you too, bellissimo."

"A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty." -Unknown

Hope you enjoy. Comments are greatly appreciated.

What would you like to see happen next?