Summary: When Maria makes a mistake, Striker... doesn't take it very well.

Maria usually followed whatever rules or orders her daddy told her, but she was no stranger to getting into trouble every now and then. When that did happen, Striker scolded her, of course, yet he never raised his voice at her. Still, he had to let her know he wasn't happy and she understood what she did was wrong.

However, the moment he saw the broken plate at her feet... she did not anticipate the outburst that followed.

Maria Violet Wilde, what did you think you were doing?!

I'm sorry, daddy! It was an accident, honest!

How many times have I told you to be careful with handlin' things?!

But I didn't mean to-

Don't interrupt me, young lady! Yer lucky nothin' else broke! Do you have any idea how much that plate costs?!

But... but I...

ENOUGH! Just leave the room and don't come back till it's time to go home, ya hear?!

Maria didn't dare talk back to her father as she ran out of the room sobbing. This never happened before; daddy never yelled at her. Yes, he'd been angry before, but not like this. At least, not in front of her. Still, she knew it was her fault. If she hadn't been so careless, that plate would still be up on the shelf in one piece. She tried her hardest to show daddy she could handle things by herself... and she failed him. That's why he yelled. Why can't she do something right for once?

The creaking sound of the barn door brought Maria out of her thoughts and she scooted into a corner of the hayloft hoping no one would find her.

"Maria!"

It was daddy. The impling didn't make a sound, not even as his footsteps came closer. Unfortunately, the sound of the steps on the ladder signaled her hiding place had been spotted. She glanced up and saw that he didn't look angry anymore, more like scared out of his wits.

Striker sighed in relief. "There you are, baby doll! I've been looking all over for ya!"

"Y-you were?"

"'Course I was. Did ya really think I wouldn't come looking for my baby girl?"

Maria didn't answer, she just curled up into a ball sniffling. Striker climbed up and sat next to her.

"Maria... about what happened earlier..."

"I'm sorry! I really am!" Maria sobbed. "I just-" She stopped when he placed a finger on her lips, shushing her; he looked... sad.

"No, sweetie. I'm sorry." Striker took a deep breath. "I'm so sorry I yelled at you. I know you didn't mean to break that plate. I'll admit I'm still a little disappointed that it happened; you should've been more careful. Still, it was no excuse for the way I acted."

Striker sighed, running a hand down his face as he remembered his outburst. The look on his daughter's face when he yelled still haunted him; she looked so terrified and hurt. The worst part? It wasn't until she ran away in tears that he realized he'd... he'd scared her. He wanted to go find her straight away, but he still had to face Joe and Lin about the accident. Luckily, they weren't too upset about the plate-at least, not as much as he had been-but they were quick to tell him he should go talk to her. In fact, they were the ones who told him to check the hayloft first.

"Are you still mad at me?" Maria asked meekly.

Striker wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "Aww sweetheart, you know I can't stay mad at you. And don't be so hard on yourself; everyone makes mistakes, even me. Hell, I'd be lyin' if I told ya I never broke anything before."

Maria, feeling a little better yet desperate for affection, hugged her daddy for the first time that day crying softly; he gladly returned the gesture.

"Aww baby girl, don't cry." Striker whispered stroking her hair. "It's okay, everything's okay."

It took a while, but Maria eventually stopped crying. She looked up at him smiling meekly, her eyes still glossy.

"Ready to go home?" She nodded; he smiled back wiping a stray tear on her cheek with his thumb. "Alrighty, let's go. How about we order pizza for dinner?"

"Can I have pepperoni, daddy?"

Striker chuckled, "Sure you can, sugarplum."