Stolas thought that things were going well; better than well in fact since the ending of the debacle of Blitzo and co's trial set up by his ex-wife and his ex-brother in law. What had been revealed in that trial... Honestly; he never had any illusions that they had any positive opinions about him at all... But to hear from Stella's own mouth; how little she actually valued their daughter as a person...

And for Octavia had to be there to hear it herself... Especially how casually Stella said it when the seal forced her to speak the truth and how she phrased it...

They were both out of their lives and all the better for it. Not only that but seeing Emberlynn gave him the reality check about how it looked like with how he acted towards Blitzo. They were truly better off apart romantically or physically for both of their benefits...

Still it was all in the past and they were spending the time together...

Right now Stolas had taken them both out on a father-daughter camping trip; camped out on a fire with S'mores with the van that he had rented for an authentic experience. Toasting them out on the fire with them smiling...

However Stolas couldn't help but notice there was a bit of a strain to Octavia's smile. Come to think of it; Stolas looking back did notice strains in her smiles recently from time to time.

"Via... Are you alright? Is something bothering you?" Stolas asked at once which caught her off guard.

"What do you mean Dad?" Octavia asked as Stolas gave a frown.

"Something in your look... Looks like you are forcing yourself to smile... Something on your mind..." Stolas asked as Octavia had a bit of a panic and shook her head as she put on a more strained smile.

"Nothing's wrong Dad... Nothing at all..." Octavia then said with Stolas frowning even deeper. Something was definitely bothering her and she didnt' want to admit it.

"I won't insist my dear owlette but if you want to speak about what's on your mind... I will hear you out..." Stolas then said as Octavia then sighed with her head down. Stolas then looked intently as she was slagging.

"Sorry Dad... It's just that... Lucifer dammit... I have been trying not to be an ungrateful brat as you have been trying so hard since we kicked Mum out but..." Octavia then said looking frustrated as she was trying to get her words out. "I'm... I'm... Upset with you Dad a bit..." Octavia then admitted as Stolas' mouth fell wide open.

"What did I do Octavia?" Stolas asked urgently hoping to fix whatever mistake he had made.

"Things in the house starting to feel less and less like home when the blowout with Blitz started happening... A day out became an excuse to flirt with him as your boy toy which was gross to fucking watch... I thought we sorted that out... Then the divorce and you were too busy being angry with Mum to listen as I tried remind you about the Stars... Then I thought it was sorted out but... The trial; you went there to pretty much take all the blame... Take his place to get executed... You would have been gone forever because of him like you promised me wouldn't happen... I would have been left without you and I would only have a mother and uncle who only saw me as a possession..." Octavia then admitted with tears coming from her eyes as she was full on crying with Stolas speechless as he took it all in.

He really had been a bad father; not thinking about his precious owlette... HIm trying to take responsibility for IMP being in a kangaroo trial because of him only caused him to make another mistake he didn't think through...

Which Blitzo reminded him as he shouted at him not to do this:

"You have a daughter and... Who else would take care of her? Because I sure as fuck wouldn't trust your bitch of an ex-wife to do so and Moxxie and Millie could take care of Loona for me..."

Stolas then put her into a hug as she managed to say "I really am an ungrateful bitch..."

"No Via. Not at all. You are right to think that way; this is completely valid. I have been a bad unthinking father... I am trying to fix things but I needed that to make me realise just how badly I screwed things up with you. I am sorry and I can't apologise enough. Please feel free to share with me if you are still thinking like this; don't worry and don't feel guilty about it as I was the one who screwed it up... If you ever need time to yourself then just tell me..." Stolas told her softly as he let her get all the tears out of the way.

Minutes passed as Octavia smiled up at him; it looking more genuine and he returned it. "Fuck... The fire is dying out..." Octavia muttered looking at the fire as Stolas let go and got up.

"Not to worry... Let me get more fuel..." Stolas then said going to the van and opened the door. he grabbed a pile of coats and dresses that had belonged to Stella. He then put it onto the fire to burn.

"Mum's stuff definitely lasts longer in the fire than Uncle Andrealphus' stuff did..." Octavia commented as Stolas sat back down next to her and he chuckled in response.

"AAAHHH! I feel more parts of me dying out..." screamed Stella sitting down a small fire underneath the bridge where she was staying with Andrealphus; them kneeling down and Andrealphus glared at her direction. "I just got the feeling... Parts of my soul being burned away..." Stella cried out as Andrealphus was busy cooking a pan over the fire. The pan was old and completely rusted while he had draped over him an old jacket that had so many holes in it that you could make a case that it wasn't a jacket anymore.

"Can you quit being dramatic as the rats are almost cooked..." Andrealphus then yelled at her.

Thanks to Rebel Falcon for helping with the TV Tropes page and to anyone who does help with the pages; I do appreciate it. I do see valid points brought up and will address them in the story and thanks again.