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While Sherman and the three women went out. Jenny and Kenny took the big truck for a little test drive. Kenny could give her a little more instruction on off road driving to go along with Alice's performance driving.

"I'm impressed, you are a quick learner." Kenny said as Jenny got the thing a bit sideways in the loose gravel of the dirt road training area.

"I have a very thorough and exceptional instructor. This is a little more fun than the car, since this can handle jumps." Jenny said. Also it was an automatic transmission so she could keep both hands on the wheel and just mash the throttle.

"So why do you think Sherman is going to let you drive?" Kenny asked. It was a sneaky way to try and figure out what they were doing.

"Because I can't shoot a gun. But really, I am supposed to be in charge. They are my support, not the other way around. You and Jim, don't have to worry, it's just an expensive shopping trip for the boss." Jenny said and let out a squeal as her stomach went up in her throat as the ground gave way. They got about four feet of air under the wheels from the jump.

"Then why doesn't he just go?" Kenny asked and got a kick out of the rooster tail of dirt they kicked up when the truck landed. "Don't forget to let off a little in the air or you will over rev the engine."

"Will do. He isn't going, because he was not invited. A colleague of his was, so the three of us are going as that person's staff. It's complicated." Jenny said as they dove down into a ditch and hopped back onto paved road.

"Wonder if there are any female off road drivers..." Kenny said mainly to himself.

"What are you imagining me doing, or do I want to know?" Jenny asked.

"Hey now, I'm not like you. I was just thinking maybe we should get you into racing too." Kenny said with a laugh.

"I really need to stop doing that." Jenny said as they headed back to the shop.

"Embarrassing yourself or speaking without thinking?" Kenny asked.

"Both. One of these days I am going to say the wrong thing to the wrong person." Jenny said.

"As long as I have known you, you have done all right. Maybe said the occasional inappropriate thing at times, but never anything that has got you into real hot water." Kenny said. "Just be careful, Jim is still on a high from you asking him to be a part of your wedding. When he heard you were going with those two for something dangerous, you would have thought he was your real pop."

"I can't be a good child all the time... Kenny, he has been the dad my real dad never will be. If not for him and my grandparents... I wouldn't be here. With my grandparents gone, Alice and Jim are all the family I have left." Jenny said.

"A lot of people would miss you if you were gone. My two boys love it when you baby sit them, in fact the oldest told me yesterday we should go out so you can come play with them." Kenny said.

"Maybe you should go out. Are they going to come with you to the track?" Jenny asked.

"I was planning on it, they love watching Alice drive fast. And this time they would get to see you drive fast too. Carrel was going to help watch them, and she wants to see the look on Ron's face when he finds out you are the one in the Lotus." Kenny said.

"It should be a whole lot of fun." Jenny said and pulled the truck back into the bay they had been working on it in.

"So what do you think?" Nodrog asked.

"I think Alice is rubbing off on me, I really want to keep it now." Jenny said as she got out.

"How did she do?" Jim asked.

"I think when they get back we need to strip this thing down and make her a dirt racer. Except you can navigate, I do enough for Alice." Kenny said.

"Hell if we are going to do that we should just quit and do that full time." Jim said.

"Quit and do what?" Sherman asked as walked into the shop. "Samantha needed to change so we left mom with my brother's girlfriend while we came back."

"They think Alice and I should race full time and quit working here." Jenny said.

"I see it looks like you took a little joy ride in it all ready." Sherman said.

"Well, yeah had to check for bugs." Kenny said.

"I have ridden in some of your work, I am sure there are no bugs in any of it." Sherman said, they all turned as Alice, Samantha and Carrel came into the shop.

"Ooo... who's new toy?" Alice asked.

"It's for their little trip later this month." Jim said and put an arm around Carrel.

"Maybe they will let you keep it." Alice said as she put her arms around Jenny.

"Don't you have enough four wheeled toys?" Samantha asked.

"But it won't be mine..." Alice said and they all laughed.

"That would be a change, me driving you some place." Jenny said.

"Maybe get a little lost..." Alice whispered in Jenny's ear.

"Okay you two, settle down." Carrel said and they all laughed again

All of them were caught off guard when Jenny's father and Mr. October walked into the shop. Alice wanted to hide behind Nodrog and Sherman from the gaze cast her direction. While he had never said as much, Alice knew he really disliked both her and Jim.

"Do any of them get any work done?" Robert asked, his tone thick with venom.

"That had better not be what you have dragged me down here for." Mr. October said with a hushed and unquestionable harsh tone.

"I have enough trouble keeping those two under wraps, I refuse to let my daughter be involved in any action with them. The fact you let them hang on each other while on duty is another thing." Robert sneered.

"I see no problem with it. Because they do get their work done, and in a timely fashion. In fact, with the exception of Jim's wife Carrel who does not work for me. They are all the most efficient employees I have." Mr. October said.

"I don't remember you having any say in what I do. In fact I believe my last words to you were never speak to me again." Jenny said clearly upsetting her father.

"You don't think we forced her to go along?" Sherman asked.

"You should know your place soldier." Robert said.

"And you should know yours. I all ready told you I asked her and Kathrin to volunteer." Mr. October said.

Jenny stepped between Sherman and her father. "Why the sudden interest in my life? You never showed any earlier. Is it because I embarrass you for being engaged with a girl? We have someplace to be, you have no say in what I do or who I do it with."

Samantha put a hand on Sherman's shoulder. "Let it go."

"She is right Sherman, he wouldn't understand." Jenny said. They all turned to leave as Jenny started off to the door.

"Don't turn your back on me young lady!" Robert yelled.

Jenny just turned to look over her shoulder. "Why? You always had your back to me."

"I worked hard to give you everything you ever wanted and this is the thanks I get?" Robert asked.

"When is it, when is my birthday?" Jenny asked quietly. She had walked back over to him.

"May 22." Robert said.

"Actually it's the 13th of April. She spent her 7th and 9th birthdays in this shop." Jim said and walked over to stand behind Jenny.

"What is my favorite color?" Jenny asked.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Robert asked.

"Its green." Jim said.

"When is grandma's birthday?" Jenny asked, frustrating her father even more.

"The 30th of June." Robert said.

"No, it is the same day as Jenny's." Alice said.

"How much was the emergency bill for the guy's nose I broke?" Jenny asked.

Without any hesitation Robert said "17,346 dollars and 72 cents. Now what is your point?"

"Do you remember Stanly?" Jenny asked.

"Who?" Robert asked.

"That's the name of the bear she insisted you bring her down to me to sew a button eye on." Jim said.

"What sports did Jenny play in school?" Alice asked.

"What is her favorite kind of music?" Nodrog asked. He has know her the least amount of time and knows most of the answers.

"Would you care to explain the point of this?" Robert asked.

"Her point is, you don't know the important things." Carrel said.

"Carrel, is right, you don't know the things that really matter from the things that don't." Jenny said.

At this point the usually calm person her father usually was, was at his wits end and Jenny enjoyed it. "So what if you did buy me everything a little girl might want?"

"You are telling me you didn't want them?" Robert said.

"What I wanted was a loving dad, I wanted you to be there when I kicked the winning goal in soccer, or be there when I lost the shooting tournament. Read me a bed time story or sing me fucking happy birthday!" Jenny started yelling.

Much like earlier in the day when she dropped Cindy to the floor. This was not a side anyone has seen of the little kitten. Alice had figured this day was going to happen, she wanted to cry. Jenny had suffered a lot during her childhood, she never talked about it, but Alice could tell. At least maybe now Jenny will finally stand up to her dad instead of running away or hiding.

"God damn it you forgot about me on more birthdays then you remembered! You were never there when I needed a dad more than anything! He tried to rape me, and you paid the bill to keep him quiet! Think how that made me feel!" Jenny screamed, her ears laid back and her tail poofed out in anger.

"Oh my god..." Samantha mutter and nearly lost what little lunch she had. Sherman put his arm around her.

"You going to be all right?" Sherman asked quietly.

"I don't know." Samantha said quietly.

"Aside from grandma and grandpa the only person who was always waiting for me no matter the reason has been Jim. Even after you dragged me away kicking and screaming. Eighteen years later when I came back he was still here and still remembered me." Jenny took a step back and grabbed Jim's hand.

"He never forgot me. He sung happy birthday to me and fixed one stupid stuffed animal after another... Jim is the dad you never were, and never will be. I know why you don't want me to go, and I hate you all the more for it." Jenny said. She had no more tears to cry, but she trembled in anger.

"You aren't worried about me getting hurt. You are worried I am going to do something stupid and embarrass you. Hell you couldn't even tell me not to go, you brought him down to order me not to go." Jenny said, anger and hate dripping from every word.

"Oh Jenny, he isn't that horrible." Carrel said with a couple tears in her own eyes.

"Yes he is, you can see it in his eyes. He doesn't care that I love Alice with all my heart and soul. Having a lesbian for a daughter is disgraceful, is embarrassing. That's why Lucy and Jade made sure to damn near yell it to the world how happy they are for me, because they know how much it upsets you. Mr. October asked me, in person to go. After he explained the risks involved and I said yes." Jenny said.

"I have only wanted what's best for you." Robert said in an equally angry tone as his daughter.

"No you have only wanted what's best for you. The people behind me and beside me are my family. After grandma died, so did all of you. This is the last time I want or will speak to you again. Don't expect an invitation to my wedding, a phone call or so much as a note from me this point forward. Lets go." Jenny said and turned around. She had covered most of the distance to the shop door before the others started to follow.

"Jenny..." Robert said.

"Forget I ever was your daughter, that shouldn't be hard considering your track record." Jenny said coldly and did not even turn around to look at him this time. They had called for a van to give them a ride, Jenny hopped in the back seat without saying another word. Kenny stayed behind to lock up the shop.

"You never told us about that... Now I know why you asked." Jim said quietly.

"I didn't tell a lot of people about it, because I didn't and still don't want to talk about it." Jenny said.

"Well that was not how I had hoped we would start out the evening. Having to deal with that asshole in a suit." Carrel said and tried to blow a few stray hairs out of her eyes.

Jenny and Alice both giggled. "Carrel is right we are supposed to be having a good time." Alice said and interlocked her fingers with Jenny's and leaned closer to her. "I would be lost without you." Alice whispered in her ear.

"And I would be lost without you." Jenny said quietly and smiled when Alice gave her hand a squeeze.

Chapter

Jenny's fight with her dad didn't make them late, maybe five minutes or so when they had wanted to be here. Ron and Lucy were waiting, but not in line. It didn't really matter since they were with Nodrog, they didn't have to wait in line. Which was made rather amusing when a few people in line yelled out to Alice and Ron to sign autographs. Cid let them in and just said a simple hello. Winston waved them over to a big table off to the side of the stage.

"I could get used to this... Not waiting in line, a VIP table." Carrel said and laughed.

"It's fabulous." Lucy said.

"Hey Sherman, I will leave the introductions up to you. Nodrog and I need to head back to get ready." Winston said.

"Not a problem." Sherman said and introduced everyone to his mom and Jennifer.

"A fairly good crowd all ready." Nodrog said as he followed Winston back to the dressing rooms. He was thankful Alice and him had brought his stuff by earlier in the day.

"You aren't nervous are you? We usually pack the house." Winston said.

"Then I am humbled that you thought I am good enough to play with you." Nodrog said.

Winston opened the door to the players' lounge and dressing room. Everyone was all ready here and ready to get started from the looks of it.

"I was starting to think you got cold feet." Freddy said and they laughed.

"Sorry about that. We had a little family emergency to handle just as we were getting ready to leave." Nodrog said and took his shirt off to put on the other.

"Nothing to bad I hope." Steven said.

"It worked itself out." Nodrog said. He was worried about Jenny, she had been through a fair amount of trauma recently. Maybe he will wake her up early for a little time together like she had done for him.

Sherman was right, his mother, Lucy and Carrel got along wonderfully. Jim was a little unusually quiet. "Are you going to be all right?" Sherman asked as the women talked and laughed like they had all know each other forever.

"It just makes me really mad, you and her are good kids... You both deserved better." Jim said quietly.

"You are here for her now, and that's what matters to her." Sherman said.

"I can't say I am thrilled with this little trip." Jim said.

"Jenny will be just fine. As much faith as she has in Nodrog and myself, we have the same amount in her. We are only there for muscle, she is in charge once we land." Sherman said.

"I hadn't heard that." Jim said and gave his glass a little twirl, clinking the ice.

"It's too crowded to say anything more on the matter. Once we land, Jenny will be in charge, this will be a new situation for me. Nodrog, on the other hand will most likely find it rather familiar." Sherman said.

"I guess I don't quite understand the three of them." Jim said.

"He saved their lives, they saved his soul." Sherman said and took a drink from his glass.

"So that is why they are all so close. I knew the two of them went to pretty far lengths to keep him from being a science project." Jim said.

"And not just in this world, but defended him from his own kind as well." Sherman said.

"I wonder if that is why Jenny tries so hard, because for the longest time she didn't have any in her own life." Jim said.

"You might be on to something with that. And why she sometimes doesn't know how to act." Sherman said

"It explains a lot." Jim said and the crowd quieted down as the band took the stage.

"Good evening. First off I would like to introduce two new members. Nodrog on the piano and Charley on the violin." Winston said and waited for the applause to pass. "Secondly, I would like to welcome all of you to our first show of the year. We are glad you came, and hope you enjoy our performance tonight."

Jenny tapped a finger along with the beat as they started up with the first tune. After dealing with her father today she really needed to be with close friends and having a good time. They had seen a very brief glimpse into a dark past she tried to keep locked away. Because she didn't want Alice or Jim to constantly worry about her.

After the third song, Winston introduced the stunning Wednesday De'Hoffer. Jenny had all of her songs on her computer. The tall doe anthro was slender, but had an incredible figure. Jenny liked her because she had an incredible vocal range and could sustain notes for what seemed like an eternity. She would have to check, because maybe this was the band she had recorded with, minus Nodrog and Charley.

Alice was a horrible dancer, so bad in fact a strip tease would leave you laughing instead of being turned on. So Jenny dragged Jim out to the floor. At least he had rhythm, Alice couldn't keep a beat, or carry a tune if you put it in a bucket.

"Your husband is a pretty good swing dancer." Jennifer said.

"And that ass told me he had forgot how." Carrel said and they laughed.

"Do you remember?" Lucy asked.

"Enough, I might not look like a fool." Ron said and stood up.

"Excuse me, but I think I will go dance with my husband before he gets tired." Carrel said and sent Jenny back to the table.

"I guess you are not much of a dancer, Sherman?" Jennifer asked and sipped on her wine.

"He is one of the worst. I had a sore foot for a week after the first and only time I tried to get him to dance." Samantha said.

"Your own fault, I told you I was no good at it." Sherman said and chuckled.

"He never could sing either. Terrible singing voice." Amber said and the girls laughed at him.

"I never claimed to be a good singer." Sherman said.

"That didn't stop you from trying. Oh how I could embarrass you right now." Amber said.

"Don't feel bad Sherman, Alice can't sing either." Jenny said.

"I thought you said I was cute singing or dancing?" Alice asked.

"The cuteness comes from how bad you are." Jenny said and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "I find your faults cute."

"To be fair, you think everything about Alice is cute." Samantha said.

"Yes I do, and I am so happy she is all mine, mine, mine." Jenny said cheerfully.

A song with Jenny and a full song with his wife, was all Jim could manage. He wasn't in as good of shape as Ron was. Which was disappointing, and something he would have to work on a little. Because he figured Jenny would want to dance with him at the wedding.

Nodrog was having a wonderful time playing. This was something he really could enjoy doing more of. Everyone clicked and it was a euphoria that would be difficult to explain to those who did not understand. He had caught a glimpse of Jenny dancing with Jim and she looked genuinely happy. Wednesday had sat on top of the piano during the last up beat song they were going to play.

"Before we call it an evening, we should do one more song." Wednesday said.

"What kind of song were you thinking?" Freddy asked and leaned on the piano next to her.

"Something from our younger days." Wednesday said softly.

Nodrog scratched his chin and started tapping out twinkle twinkle little star with one finger. Which drew a tremendous roar of laughter from the audience. It was planned ahead of time, but they didn't know what he would play to keep the surprise more authentic.

"Not that young you ass." Wednesday said while still laughing.

Winston set down his instrument and walked over to the microphone stand. "Thank you for being a wonderful audience. I, and the rest of the band would like to thank the lovely Wednesday for joining us this evening."

"Thank you for inviting me. Always a pleasure to perform with you gentlemen." Wednesday said.

"We are going to leave you with one more song for the evening. A little different than our usual bit, something classical for your enjoyment. Nodrog and Charley would like to play a piece for you. Thank you again for coming out and your support." Winston said. The lights dimmed down and only focused on Nodrog and Charley.

Steven had suggested it, since he had heard both of them play this very song in the music store. Winston and Brain agreed it would be a fitting way to end the evening and allow both a little spot light to showcase their own talents.

As they did in the mall the dragon and the old man brought a hush to a rather large crowd. Jenny was really proud of herself for getting him to play that day in the mall. She had recognized Steven as one of the people who had been in the store that day. This was why she didn't care about her past, because these were the people she cared about and they felt the same about her.

And while it took considerable effort on her part, Jenny managed not to make any innuendos about or to Winston's girlfriend Jennifer. Which was rather hard considering how cute Jenny thought the fox was. Roughly a dozen or more nurse and doctor jokes came to mind, all of them sexual in some way. Jenny had to mentally kick herself a few times.

What Jenny really hoped was Alice and Nodrog would not bring up her confrontation with her father, but knew they would. Because they loved her and cared about her, she knew they would. She had a feeling that she would have to bring up some other painful memories, but it had helped Nodrog... so maybe it might help herself. If no other reason than they would understand why she hated her family so much.

The pair got a standing ovation after they finished. Nodrog would admit that was a little shocking. "That went better than I would have hoped." Charley said as he put his instrument away.

"It's hard to believe you usually play blue grass and country. I would imagine your family will be rather surprised after tonight." Wednesday said.

"I would agree, I am very glad you accepted our invitation." Brain said and shook his hand.

"I sure they will be little lady. We just might have to do this again." Charley said.

"You are welcome here any time. Have a safe trip home." Winston said.

"I will, getting a little too old for these late nights. You' all have a good evening." Charley said. He picked up his case and went to find his son and his son's wife that had brought him into town to play.

"If I am half that good when I get that old, I will be happy." Freddy said.

"Hey now, he isn't that old." Nodrog said and chuckled.

"So is it really true? My cousin has told me a few stories, she works in medical administration." Wednesday said as they sat around in the dressing room.

"They are true, I am really that old." Nodrog said.

"It's still really hard to believe." Steven said.

"That maybe the case now, but ten or twenty years down the road. You will likely have changed your mind." Nodrog said.

"Why do you say that?" Winston asked.

"Because I will have not aged a single day. Time does not affect me." Nodrog said. He got up and gathered up his other clothes. "Have a good night. I had fun."

They said good bye and Nodrog pulled the door closed behind him.

"Now I might believe him." Brain said.

"Why is that?" Wednesday asked.

"The way he said it. He isn't bragging about it, he sounds almost sad about it." Brain said.

"Actually, now that you mention it. He does sound depressed by it." Winston said.

It wasn't hard to find the table they were at. He could hear Lucy, Carrel and Amber over everyone else still here. Several people stopped him to comment about the song he and Charley played at the end.

"I can see why Winston was so excited about this evening. You and Charley are wonderful musicians." Jennifer said cheerfully.

"You are very talented, however it is getting late and I do have a class to teach in the morning." Lucy said. Her and Ron got up and each gave both Alice and Jenny a hug before they left.

"It's so nice your parents support your relationship, Alice. What do your parents think Jenny?" Amber asked.

"They, don't like it. But we are not very close." Jenny said.

"That's a shame. I just wish my boys would hurry up. It wouldn't hurt my feelings if Samantha gave Sherman a second chance." Amber said. Alice, Jenny, Jim and Carrel all laughed at the pairs embarrassment.

"Glad I am not the only one with a mom that speaks her mind so freely." Alice said and giggled a little more.

"Actually I am giving him a second chance, but I'm not going to let him off easy." Samantha said.

"You don't have to encourage her." Sherman said.

"Oh but its more fun this way." Samantha said with a smile.

"What are you looking for?" Nodrog asked.

"My damn pills, I must have forgot them at the house." Jim said as he checked the pockets in his jacket.

"No, you forgot you gave them to me to carry." Carrel said and reached in her purse to pull out the bottle.

"I knew there was a reason I keep you around besides just your good looks." Jim said and popped out the couple he was supposed to take.

"We should probably get going too old man." Carrel said.

"Actually we should all probably get going. We do have that meeting tomorrow." Nodrog said. He had almost forgot about it himself after worrying about Jenny.

"How long will that take?" Amber asked.

"It's hard to say, shouldn't take all day." Nodrog said.

"Just give us a call when you get off, in case we are out when you do get off." Jennifer said.

"I will." Sherman said and gave his mom a hug before they headed out.

Alice had called for the van shortly after the band left the stage. The timing was almost perfect as it pulled up as they walked out the door. "Thanks for picking us up." Alice said as she sat next to Jenny.

"I think we might have to come to more of their shows. They are a talented group of guys. And Wednesday has such a lovely voice." Carrel said.

"I enjoyed dancing with my two favorite ladies." Jim said and pulled Carrel close.

"So then we all had a good time. I am sure Jenny would have danced with you if you wanted to." Sherman said with a little naughty smile creeping across his face.

"Down boy. I think you and her would have enjoyed that a little too much." Samantha said and gave him a light tap on the snout.

"Why didn't I think of that?" Jenny said loudly.

"Bad kitty." Alice said.

"Actually we should give her some kind of reward for being a little saint this evening." Jim said.

"Oh, trust me, I have a few ideas..." Jenny said and laughed devilishly when Alice gulped.

"Bad kitty?" Alice said and squealed when Jenny tickled her ribs.

"Very bad kitty..." Jenny whispered in Alice's ear.

"So I guess you will meet me down for breakfast tomorrow so we can go?" Sherman asked and ignored the two girls.

"I am a little jealous about it, I kind of want to go too." Samantha said.

"I don't think it is going to be very exciting." Sherman said.

"Going to another planet is not exciting?" Samantha asked.

"Not for the reason behind our trip. If you want to go, then I can take you with us, but you will not be free to roam around and sight see." Nodrog said.

"Just picture a giant old castle, filled with all the things you were scared of as a little girl. That's what is like, if they are going to the same place." Jenny said.

"Actually we are not going to that castle, but a smaller one in the black forest of the Quake mountains." Nodrog said.

"That doesn't sound so bad." Jim said.

"I have to agree with Jim on this one." Samantha said.

"Alright, let me ask you something. Do you like the bone jungle here?" Nodrog asked.

"No, I will admit it gives me the creeps." Samantha said.

"The Black Forest is much worse than the bone jungle." Nodrog said.

"So why are we going?" Sherman asked.

"Because one of the elder monsters lives there. One of the three Shadow Kings actually." Nodrog said

"On second thought maybe I will stay here." Samantha said timidly.

"I won't hold it against you, it is not a place even I care going. However Nightrunner said he will gladly hold council with us because he was one of the founders of the Hunters Sherman's father was a part of." Nodrog said as they got out of the van.

"I hope he won't be mad for killing my old man." Sherman said.

"Actually that might be the reason behind him wanting to see us." Nodrog said.

"You are not helping." Samantha said.

"It will be all right, besides I have to know." Sherman said and turned back to Nodrog. "See you in the morning."

"Same time as this morning." Nodrog said.

Jim and Carrel had headed up to their apartment all ready. Alice and Jenny had stayed with Nodrog.

"So glad today is over. I had a really good time at the club." Jenny said and pulled off her jacket.

"Have you been carrying that all day?" Alice asked as she eyed the gun tucked under Jenny's arm.

"Oh shit, I forgot to take it off before we left." Jenny said a bit panicked.

"You carry concealed rather well. I don't think anyone noticed." Nodrog said.

"And I thought you were just happy to see me." Alice said.

"Meow... I think he is packing the gun we want." Jenny said and took off the holster and set it down on the jacket.

"Bad kitten indeed..." Nodrog said and put his arms around Jenny from behind.

"I feel bad about tying her up like that. Then sending the two of you in to fuck her." Alice said and plopped heavily onto the couch.

"You didn't know, don't be upset about it. Besides, the sex was incredible." Jenny said and sat next to Alice. She put her arms around Alice and gave her a squeeze.

"That's no lie." Alice said and her cheeks flushed red.

"Still, if she doesn't want to talk about it, I for one will understand. Some things are better left in the past." Nodrog said and grabbed them both and dragged them to the side of the couch he was sitting on.

"It's just, I would have thought you would have told me about something like that... You were there for me in my lows..." Alice said.

Jenny leaned against Nodrog pulling Alice with her. "I was to angry at the time. Plus considering how other people reacted I was afraid you might take their side... Which was incredible stupid for me to think that way, but I couldn't help but think it."

"It's okay for you to be scared, I will never think any less of you." Alice said.

"I know, that's why I love you." Jenny said and kissed Alice's nose.

"I get the feeling that was not the only thing he did to push you so far away from him." Nodrog said.

"God no, it is a rather long list of things. Birthdays were not the only thing he forgot. Hell the only time I was his daughter was if I managed to accomplish some great feat and he proudly put me on display. Like some fucking trophy... I was never good enough, and like Sherman if I got in trouble... my ass got beaten. I forget what I did, but that was the first time I ever heard grandma swear." Jenny said and absentmindedly ran her hand through Alice's hair.

"Dad laid into my butt with his belt like he was trying to drive nails in a board, grandma yelled at him, took his own belt and hit him with it as hard as she could. It sounded like a bull whip in her hand, and he had cried out louder then I had. I didn't dare laugh, that would have made life after she left a living hell." Jenny said.

"No wonder you loved her so much. She really was the only one to take your side." Nodrog said.

"Her, grandpa and Alice." Jenny said.

"She was a wonderful woman." Alice said.

"I remember standing in the hallway just outside my parent's bedroom, I had gotten another harsh spanking for getting in a fight with my brother. It was my fourteenth birthday, which they forgot... My mind was racing, but I was rather calm. I had my comp pistol in my hand, I could hit a nail head with it at fifty yards... I stood in the hall for what seemed like hours in the middle of the night. My oldest brother found me, he had been out late with his girlfriend. I could see he was going to start yelling at me, so I pointed it at him..."

That night.

"Jesus Christ Jenny what the fuck is wrong with you?" He hissed.

"I'm sick of being forgotten. I'm sick of getting beaten for things I don't do. I hate you, I hate them, I hate everyone in this fucking house. So I am going to kill all of you." Jenny said. Her mind now focused and her heart rate slowing.

He had his hands up but took a few steps closer. "Don't you dare come any closer." Jenny said.

"Come on Jenny, think what will happen. You would go to prison, or locked up in the loony hospital." He froze when she pulled back the hammer.

"I don't care anymore. After I tell them what all of you put me through, I bet they will let me live with grandma and grandpa." Jenny said.

Her brother visibly terrified of the wicked smile she had across her face. Sure it was a piss-ant little .22 but with the speed and accuracy she had. He knew he wouldn't get a chance to take it away from her. "All right, I have treated you like shit, but shooting me won't make you feel any better."

"You sound like dad. And I won't know if it will make me feel better unless I try." Jenny said. Her ear twitched at the sound of a doorknob being turned, she cursed herself and dove into her room and quickly closed the door.

"Hey there, little late aren't you?" Robert asked.

"Yeah it ran a little later then we thought. Sorry about that." Her brother said.

"I thought I heard you talking to someone." Robert said.

"Jenny, she had just got up to use the bathroom." He said.

"Oh well how did your date go?" Robert asked.

Jenny was up against her door, pistol still locked and loaded. Now her heart was racing, she was waiting to be ratted out like so many times before. Her guts twisted as they joked about him getting lucky with the hot twenty three year old girl that was three years older than him. "Fucking bastards." Jenny muttered under her breath and slowly crept over to her bed.

She put a thumb on the hammer and gently squeezed the trigger to put the gun back safe before she unloaded it. The next two days came and went, but he never said a word about their late night encounter. She hoped it was because he was scared of her.

Seven years later on her twenty first birthday.

"Oh hello, what are you and mom doing here?" Robert asked.

"It is your mother's and daughter's birthday." Grandpa said.

"Christ you are a rotten son." Grandma said and pushed him aside to look for Jenny.

Grandpa and Robert got in a somewhat heated argument.

"Where is the birthday girl?" Grandma asked her daughter in-law.

"Oh, that's right today is your birthday. I don't know where she is." The bitch of a mom Jenny had said.

"Christ you are just as worthless as my son." Grandma said and went upstairs to check and see if Jenny was in her room. It broke her heart to hear the girl crying, last week some jock had tried to rape her and they had already forgot about her.

"Jenny?" Grandma said and quietly opened the door. Jenny was sitting on the bed her cheeks bright red and damp from crying. The girl was sobbing so hard she didn't hear her come in. Grandma panicked as the girl raised the target pistol to her head and pulled back the hammer, her finger all ready on the trigger.

Grandma was thankful she wasn't wearing heals and let out a cry of pain as the hammer pinched her thumb between it and the firing pin. Jenny had flinched and turned away as she had pulled the trigger. "Oh my god you poor child."

Jenny looked up at her through unfocused and tear filled eyes. "Grandma?"

"It's all right dear." Grandma said and pulled the gun from Jenny's hand. She laid it back in the case and sat down next to Jenny.

"Is everything all right?" Grandpa asked as he walked into her bedroom.

"No, nothing is right in this god damn house." Grandma said.

"I thought we had raised our kids better than this?" Grandpa said and knelt in front of Jenny. He pulled out his handkerchief and wiped the tears from Jenny's eyes.

"Pack your things Jenny, you are going to stay with us the rest of the school year and summer." Grandma said and picked Jenny up and stood her on her feet.

Jenny was numb as grandma helped her quickly pack up her clothes and laptop computer. Grandpa and Tomas carried out two large suit cases and a duffle bag to the car. Grandma took Jenny to the bathroom and washed her face and the hustled her out to the car with them. Her son and daughter in-law didn't even know they had left.

"Tomas head up to campus so we can gather the rest of her things from the dorm room." Grandma said.

"Yes, ma'am. Happy Birthday Jenny." Tomas said.

"Thanks." Jenny said and finally had started to calm down. Grandma had to explain the sudden change of plans, but Grandpa understood.

"They really are ungrateful little shits. Call your little friend Alice, she and you can pick out an apartment to live in. You are plenty old enough to be on your own, so why suffer those fools any longer." Grandpa said.