I was mostly asleep when Frank's office door opened up again. I heard him sigh, leaning down to pick me up into his arms. He gently set me onto the couch, covering me with a blanket. He walked into the kitchen and I vaguely heard the sound of him getting medicine. He started to walk past me back to his office when I reached out and hold onto his hand.

"Daddy?" I asked quietly, looking up at him with sad eyes.

He kneeled down beside me, stroking my cheek gently.

"What's wrong, baby?" He asked worriedly.

"Please don't work, I don't want you to hurt yourself," I said sadly.

He sighed, kissing my forehead.

"I'm sorry for snapping at you earlier," he apologized.

I gave him a gentle smile, my eyes sad.

"Daddy, what was the paper the man handed you?" I asked.

Frank sighed, sitting me up and sitting beside me.

"I think we need to have a serious conversation," Frank stated sadly.

He reached into his pocket, pulling out the paper and handing it to me. On the top is said 'Eviction Notice' with a paragraph below it. I skimmed over it, reading something about how we have one week.

"What is this?" I asked.

"My family's business is starting to decline, it has for a while now," he explained quietly. "We don't have as much money as we used to, my whole family is running out of money."

I stared at him, still not understanding on what this has to do with the piece of paper that made daddy so upset.

"We're gonna go and find a new house to leave in, okay?" Frank asked.

I felt my heart shatter as I shook my head.

"I-I don't want to live anywhere else," I stuttered.

"Baby, we don't have a choice," he said.

"N-no! I don't wanna move!" I exclaimed. "I like it here!"

"Princess, I'm sorry," he whispered.

Tears filled my eyes as I shook my head. This was my home, I love it here, I don't want to leave. This is my castle, I need to be here.

"I know of some apartments we can afford," Frank said. "The two of us can go look at them to--"

"No," I interrupted. "I'm not leaving."

"We don't have a choice, baby boy," Frank said sadly.

I shook my head. "I'm staying right here, daddy."

Frank sighed, standing up while I cuddled Pippi to my chest.

"You can either come with me, or you can stay home alone," Frank stated.

I thought about what happened when I was home yesterday and immediately shook my head. He helped me to stand up, leading me up to our bedroom. I sadly grabbed a black pinafore with a pastel blue shirt underneath. I wore white thigh highs and black high heeled boots to match.

"It won't be so bad, princess, just wait and see," Frank said, kissing my cheek.

I shook my head, grabbing Pippi before we left the house. It was silent in the car other than the soft rhythm of the music and my quiet sniffling.

"Should you be doing so much with your hurt head?" I asked quietly.

"Don't worry about it, little one," he replied.

We stopped by three different places, all of which I detested. The two of us got to the last one, which was an hour away from our house. The apartment was small, only having one bedroom and one bathroom.

"What do you think?" The landlord asked.

"I hate it," I stated.

"Gee, that's what you've said about all of them," Frank said.

"Because I hate all of them," I said.

"Can we have a moment?" he asked the lady.

She nodded, stepping out of the apartment. Frank turned to me in disapproval and I looked down. He lifted my chin up to look at him and I bit my lip nervously.

"Baby, you have to be serious about this," Frank said. "I just need you to be a big boy for a little bit, okay?"

I shook my head as my eyes watered and my lip quivered. He kissed me softly, stroking my cheek comfortingly.

"I know it's upsetting but there's nothing we can do," he said.

"I don't wanna move away," I whispered.

He pulled me into a hug, stroking my hair gently.

"Just give this place a chance, okay?" He asked.

I pulled away and looked at the small apartment we stood in. It was on the top floor of a three story building in a suburban city an hour away from our home. The kitchen was tiny and outdated, with light brown cupboards and white appliances. In the corner there was enough space for a little table. A connecting room was to be used for a living room, but it seemed to be big enough for probable just a couch, a coffee table, a chair, and a tv. Down the hall was a bathroom with a simple sink and toilet, also containing a tub shower with plain white shower curtains. Across the hall from the tiny bathroom was a bedroom. It was also small, fitting maybe a bed and a dresser or two. All in all, this place was tiny  and outdated and I hated it.

"No," I stated, crossing my arms.

We would have to sell most of our furniture and I'm not even sure if the stuff we will keep would fit.

"Princess," Frank sighed.

I turned and walked out, hearing Frank follow and mumble an apology to the landlord. I ran down the stairs while Frank called out to me. Tears ran down my face as I broke out of the building's main doors, running to the car. I got into the passenger seat, slamming the door shut and hugging Pippi tightly. Frank jumped into the drivers seat beside me, shutting the door as he tried to catch his breath.

"You know how I feel about you running off like that," he said finally.

I pouted, looking down.

"Listen, I know this is a big change and all but I need you to stick with me," Frank said. "Just wait and see, it'll all turn out right in the end."

"This is poopy," I muttered.

Frank chuckled under his breath and I looked up at him.

"Yeah, it is poopy," Frank agreed.

I pouted even more. If he agrees with me then why would we leave? I don't want to move so far away, I don't want to leave Mikey and Pete and Bronx and Lindsey. I don't wanna leave my castle.

"How about we go to a park or something?" Frank suggested.

I merely shrugged, looking out the window. He reached over, resting a hand on my thigh and giving me a reassuring smile as he drove off.

"Don't you need to say something to the lady?" I asked.

"I'll give her a call later, you're more important," Frank said.

I blushed, wiping away some tears. 

"I love you, my sweet little princess," Frank said.

"I love you too, daddy," I repeated.

We drove off, going back to the park where Frank first asked to be my daddy. He guided me to the swing, letting me sit as he gently pushed me. Neither of us spoke, a melancholy mood in the air. This reminded me of one of those scary movies Mikey liked to watch where there was a creepy little girl slowing swinging on a swing set. It unnerved me, to say the least. I felt just so sad, so dead.

"I don't wanna do this," I said.

"Do what?" Frank asked.

I got off the swing, turning to look at him.

"Any of this," I stated. "I don't wanna see you all stressed and upset all the time. Like, I just want it to be like how we first met before you were always so damn worried."

Frank looked sad when he noticed I was slipping out of little space. He stepped forward, holding me in his arms as he gently swayed back and forth. I leaned into the touch, wrapping my arms around him.

"You're my beautiful baby boy, I don't wanna lose you," he said quietly. "How about we go home, we can have a Disney movie marathon, cuddle, and eat all the ice cream you want."

"Can I also have juice in my sippy cup?" I asked.

Frank nodded. "You can have anything you want, baby."

"I want you," I stated. "No working."

"I promise, I won't work," Frank stated. "Look, I'll even turn off my phone."

He pulled away, grabbing his phone and shutting it off before pocketing it once again. I smiled, giving him a kiss.

"Thank you, daddy," I said.

"Let's go, little one, Pippi is waiting for us in the car," he said.

I smiled, taking Frank's hand as he lead us away. The two of us got into the car, beginning to drive away. It was still midday and rather warm out with the upcoming spring weather.

"Daddy?" I asked, biting my lip nervously.

"What's up, sugar?" Frank asked.

"Did they catch who killed Ray?" I questioned.

His grip on the wheel tightened as he stared straight ahead.

"No, they didn't," he said.

"So they're still out there and free?" I asked and he nodded. "Nobody knows who it was?"

Frank clenched his jaw momentarily, his knuckles turned white from the death grip.

"I know," he whispered

It was so quiet I almost thought I had just imagined him saying that.

"If you know then why wouldn't you say anything?" I asked.

Frank ran a hand through his hair, briefly tugging on the strands before returning it to the wheel.

"They had been giving us a hard time even before anything happened," Frank started, "Catcalling Ray when we would pass them, cursing me out for no reason. Threatening us, saying the nastiest things to Ray. Then the horrid day happened when they said they found his body. I instantly knew who had done it because that was along the lines of what they said they would do to him. Of course, I thought they were just all talk, clearly not. They came to me when I was gonna report them and threatened me. They said they'd hurt my family if I turned them in. So, I didn't say anything."

"Do you ever regret not turning them in?" I asked.

"Sometimes, yeah," Frank said. "But now I'd have so much more at stake with you."

I thought about his words for a while, wringing my hands in my lap.

"Daddy?" I asked quietly.

"Yeah, Princess?" Frank replied.

I took a deep breath before saying, "I think I want to report Bert."