We rode back to Paisley Park in complete silence. Tre rode in another car so he can get home while me and Joey rode with daddy and Regan. Things weren't looking so hot between them. Anyone who has met my father knows he hates secrets and he doesn't like being lied to. Poor Regan. I'm sure she wasn't prepared for any of this and the fact that she has to tell my dad what's really going on and that she has to leave again in a few days is more than likely tearing her apart inside. When the car stopped at the door Joey and I got out and went inside to change into something comfortable and wait around until dinner. As I was listening to Stevie Wonder's Songs In The Key Of Life record that daddy let me borrow there was a faint knocking on my bedroom door. I turned off the vinyl record and went to open the door. I find a sleepy little Joey standing out in the hallway clutching his Roger Rabbit tightly in his hands. The sadness in his little eyes told me something wasn't right.

"Hey buddy. You ok?" I asked meeting him in the hall and getting down to his level on my knees.

"Is daddy mad?" He questioned as his voice shook.

"I don't know JoeBoy. Why? Did something happen?"

Joey didn't want to say at first but I knew that he wanted to tell me something.

"You can talk to me about anything. You do know that don't you?" I reminded him.

"I think.....daddy wants to send Regan away." He said as his ocean blue eyes filled with tears.

Pulling him closer to me I gave him a hug to comfort him.

"Awww buddy it's all gonna be ok. Regan's not leaving. She's still gonna be around." I assured him

"Then.....why are they......fighting?" He cried in my arms.

I listened carefully and sure enough he was right. Regan and my dad sounded like they were having a heated argument. I'm assuming it had a lot to do with what happened at the rink today. Now I was beginning to worry. Something had to be done to keep Regan from leaving sooner than promised.

"Hey buddy. Listen to me very carefully. Go in my room and lay in my bed for a little while with Roger. I'm gonna go get us some hot chocolate and cookies while we watch a movie." I told him trying to keep what I was really about to do to myself.

My face must have given away that I was lying to my little brother because he clung to me like plastic wrap.

"Please stay with me Carly? Please?" He begged.

I sighed and carried him back to my room and sat him on the bed.

"I promise I'll be right back ok? I'll make sure we have extra cookies."

Finally I convinced him that I was going to bring up some cookies and hot chocolate and he agreed to stay in my room. I ran over to my book shelf and grabbed the Madagascar DVD and put in on for him to keep him preoccupied while I went downstairs to find out what was really going on between Regan and my dad. The closer I got to what seemed to be the office door the louder the argument grew. I tip toed to the door and sat down beside the door listening to what was going on. Regan sounded crushed. He must have really said something that really upset her.

"You shouldn't have done this Regan! You know that getting yourself involved in this job is dangerous! Your body can't take that kind of stress! Do you want your condition to flare up again? I almost lost you once and I now that you're here I can't lose you again!" I heard my dad say angrily.

"Prince it's not your life to live! Stop treating me like a child! I volunteered as a friend to Maya! She deserves justice and I would think that since you are raising her child as your own you would want the same for her as well as Carlyn!"

"Regan you know I want nothing but the best for Carlyn but you should also know that I want what's best for you! Your mother left this earth believing that you were a paralegal!"

"And I am but-"

"But you lied to her and to me! You promised me that that once you felt better and we're strong enough you would take up a job in the law firm uptown! Not traipse off to Indianapolis to involve yourself in a murder case!"

"Maya was my friend Prince! What is it that you don't understand? She was the one that saved my life and if it wasn't for her being at that kickball game when I passed out that day I probably would have died on the spot!"

So there was more to their relationship than I realized. As I kept listening in I learned so much more came out before my ears. They argued for at least another five minutes before the room went quiet. I went to lean in some more and not paying attention the door flew open I crashed on the office floor.

"Carly?!?!?" Regan shouted as she turned to find me laid out.

I giggled nervously as I tried to get up slowly without my dad looking. I should have known that wasn't gonna happen because he looked over at me from the other side of the desk with a raised eyebrow.

"Carlyn what are you doing? I thought you'd be with Joey." He said to me as I stood to my feet and dusted my clothes off.

"I was.....on my way....down to the kitchen when I heard....." I stuttered hoping that he would believe me.

"In other words you were spying on us." Regan said as she smiled.

"What!?!?! Noooo! Not at all! I wouldn't dare do such thing!" I said trying to lay it on thick.

"You're not selling that Carlyn. Try again." My dad shot at me as me sat down in his chair.

I sighed as dropped the act. There was really no fooling this guy.

"Ok ok. I did come to listen in but that's only because Joey is worried that Regan is gonna leave before the end of the week."

Regan's face went pale as her eyes widened at me. I think I said too much and now I really got her in trouble.

"What do you mean leave before the end of the week?" He asked me.

Oh damn. Please Regan don't kill me. I can tell she wasn't happy with me now. I just blew it. She turned to him and sighed.

"I have to leave by Saturday night to get back to Indianapolis to try to bring Dwayne to down and if not the case will run cold and he'll get away again."

Daddy looked pissed. He stood from his desk and came around to her standing face to face.

"You still want to put your life in jeopardy. Why?" He asked her angrily.

"It's not about my life. It's about getting your child's mother justice and bringing her killer in. I have to do this. Not just for Maya. But for Carlyn as well." She said to him standing her ground.

"You turned down my engagement for a thrill. That's stupid of you Regan."

I can tell this was gonna get out of hand so I quickly jumped in.

"Daddy wait. What Regan is doing isn't so bad. I mean.....at least I know now that my mom.....wasn't crazy and abandoned me on a playground. That makes me feel better. She loved me.....she was just trying to find me. Regan isn't doing anything wrong. Give her a chance dad. Please? At least let her help catch Dwayne. She's doing everything she can to keep us together.....and to.....keep me safe. Isn't that what you want? Don't you want us to be together? Don't you want me to be alright?"

My dad's faces softened as he sighed. E came up to me and placed his hands on my shoulders.

"You know that's all I ever wanted and will forever want until I transcend from this world to the next. You are my little girl and I want nothing but the best for you. Regan may have good intentions but there's a lot that.......I can't explain. What she's doing could get her killed and I don't want that. I want her to be safe just as much as I want you to be safe."

"So why are you so mad at her for doing something that I know you would do for me too? I think you owe her an apology."

I smiled over to Regan and she was pleased with me talking my dad off the ledge. My dad was finally calm and he turned back to Regan smiling.

"She may be sixteen but she's a lot wiser than I expected. And.....I do.....owe you and apology. I....I'm sorry Mouse. Will you forgive your overprotective friend?"

Regan smirked and crossed her arms.

"Well I don't know. I probably shouldn't but......I guess I love you too much to not stay mad at you forever."

She smiled at him and he smiled back.

"I think you guys should kiss and make up!" I said excited trying to instigate.

My dad pointed to the door.

"Out Carlyn." He said.

"Seriously????"

"Go check on your brother."

"Fine! But when I come back you two should be married and stuff."

Regan and my dad laughed as I left the room and closed the door behind me. He better pull that ring out by the end of the week. Me and Joey want Regan to stay.