Arabella's POV

I was in the store with Henry, Charlotte, and Jasper, and weren't doing much at the moment. I was sitting at the counter with Henry, resting my head on his shoulder and he was massaging my knuckles. It was just a relaxing day with not much to do.

"Yo, yo, yo! Kiddos! Check out this new invention Schwoz just made for me!" My dad announced as he walked out from the back.

"What is it?" I asked getting up from my seat.

"Uhhh..."

"I wanna see!"

"Check it!" My dad said and showed us a fancy pen. I leaned my elbow on Henry's shoulder and titled my head with confusion.

"Uh, I don't think Schwoz invented the pen." I tell him and he gives me a look.

"She thinks it's just a pen." He chuckles, "she thinks it's just a pen!"

The other three began to awkwardly laugh with him.

"So did we!" Jasper and Charlotte laughed.

"We all thought it was just a pen." Henry remarked.

"Well, it also happens to be." My dad shook the pen and it glowed blue at the top. "A nose hair trimmer."

"What?!" Henry and I gasped and he stuck it up his nose. The four of us were impressed by the trimmer.

"Woah!"

"Listen to it trim those nose hairs!"

"No way!"

"I'm impressed!"

"And it also happens to fire small poisonous darts." My dad added and shook it again, causing it to glow red with a small dart on top.

"No." I smile with disbelief, before he aimed at a plant and shot the dart. The plant immediately died from the poison.

"Wow!"

"Woah!"

"I was growing that plant!" I objected.

"Yes! That is gold!" Henry exclaimed.

"And you can reuse the darts so, ya know sustainable." My dad shrugged, "good for the Earth and all that."

"Now, I gotta revive my plant friend." I mentioned, before using my powers to bring the plant back to life. "Thanks, dad."

"No problem, sweetie." He winked at me and I rolled my eyes, before I saw a couple outside and my eyes grew.

Oh...no...no....not her. Please not that thing.

"Oh no." My dad with shock, before panicking and I walked out from behind the counter. "No, no, no, no! Why is she here?! Why?!"

"Dad, why is she here?!" I asked with irritation and Henry rubbed my back, bringing to his lap.

"What do you mean?" Jasper asked.

"Her! Lacey, my ex-girlfriend!" My dad exclaimed with panic, trying to hide himself as she walked into the store. "Oh, god, she's-"

"Ray! Arabella!" Lacey beamed and I gave her a fake smile.

"Hey! Lacey!" My dad awkwardly greeted as she walked further in with the man. "Oh, oh my gosh you're here!"

"Calm down." Henry muttered, rubbing my arms. "It's just a woman."

"No, she's a monster!" I muttered back, before standing up and approaching Lacey.

"Ray Manchester!" She laughed and the two hugged, "oh my god! How long has it been?"

"Gosh, uh, uh, eight years." My dad shrugged.

Eight years since she ruined my life.

Lacey sighed, "eight years, well, you look exactly the same."

"Thanks."

"Just older." She remarked.

"I forgot you were so funny." My dad chuckled with irritation and they both sighed.

"Where's that adorable daughter of yours?" Lacey asked with a fat smile and my dad turned around, grabbing my arm. "Oh my gosh? Arabella! You've gotten so big, I remember when you were just a little girl."

I grinned at her, "yeah, that's what happens when you grow up."

She smiled at me and rubbed my arm. "It's wonderful to see you again, how's that bunny of yours?"

I growled at her and my dad gripped my arm tighter. "You gave it away, remember? To foreigners!"

She pretended to be confused, "I don't recall that happening, must've been a dream or you didn't take good care of it."

"You wanna see me take care of something-" I snapped, but my dad pulled me back and she leaned back with a smirk on her face.

"So, Ray, Airy, wanna introduce us to your-"

Henry cut in and walked around the counter and I immediately went up to him with him taking my hand.

"Right, uh..." My dad trailed off, "Lacey, this is Henry."

"Hey." Henry greeted.

"That's Charlotte." My dad introduced.

"Hi."

"And that's-that kid." My dad pointed at Jasper and I leaned my head on Henry's shoulder, looking down uncomfortably. "And this is Lacey Lumbar, my ex-girlfriend."

"So, nice to meet you guys." She waved, but she gave me a glare when she spotted me and I looked away again.

"Can I steal Ray and Bella real quick?" Henry asked Lacey, letting me go and I moved away. "I'm sorry, just gotta steal them."

"Sure."

Henry pulled us away.

"What?" My dad asked him.

"Does she know that you're Captain Man?" Henry asked my dad.

"No, don't be dumb, she thinks I'm just a regular guy." My dad replied, before walking away and Henry looked sad.

"I'm not dumb." Henry mentioned and I rubbed his back.

"I know, baby." I muttered and Henry took my hand.

"Does Lacey not like you or something?"

"She hates me." I say and walk away. "I have no idea why."

"But you're so amazing." Henry reasoned and I scoffed.

"Well, she thinks I'm so awful." I remarked to him and shook my head. "Since the day she met me, she's hated me."

Henry was in disbelief and rubbed my back, "don't listen to her, you're the most amazing person out there."

I blushed, but sighed and he wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

"Oh, right!" I heard Lacey say, "Ray, I'd like you to meet my husband."

I smiled with excitement.

Yay.

"The names Reynolds." The man greeted with a British accent and put his hand out for my dad. "Roger Reynolds."

"Well, it's great to met you, Roger Reynolds!" My dad remarked with small jealousy and chuckled, "are you a railroad repair man?!"

"Ray, do you know that Roger works for the British Secret Service?" Lacey mentioned.

"How would I know that?" My dad asked.

"True." Roger said.

"Woah! You really do?" Charlotte asked and her, Jasper, and Henry left my side.

"So, you're like a spy?" Jasper asked.

"Like a really life James Bond?" Henry asked.

"I wouldn't say I'm exactly like James-" Roger paused, "well, yes!"

The three of them praised him until they noticed mine and my dad's faces and stopped. Henry came up to me and put his arm around me again.

"I want to leave..." I muttered and leaned into Henry's side.

"It's okay." Henry assured me, "if she makes any rude comments about you, I'll step in."

"So Ray, is this what you do, you work in this junk shop with your little daughter?" Lacey asked my dad and I glared at her.

"Uh, no." My dad smirked and I watched him back away toward a bunch if small toys. "I own it. I own this junk shop."

"So, Roger." Charlotte began as she and the boys approached Roger and I stayed behind Henry. "We wanna hear some of your spy stories!"

"Yeah! Tell us what it's like being a spy!" Henry beamed and I whacked his arm.

"No, we don't!" My dad scoffed and went up to a basket of bolts. "Gaaaa! This is a place of business, okay?! We should be uh-we should be working! Not-uh, story listening to!"

"Ray, listen." Lacey began, "you seem to be doing great. And your daughter seems okay too."

"Yeah, we are." My dad shrugged, "doing great and okay!"

"Then stop acting jealous." Lacey mentioned and I clenched my fists, but Henry gripped my arms.

My dad began to chuckle, "jeal-jeal-jeal-"

"Jealous." Jasper finished.

"I know what she said." My dad sternly told him before Henry went up to him.

"Ray, just calm down man, it's not worth it." Henry assured my dad.

"No, no, uh, what makes you think that I'd be jealous of uh, Reginald Rumplethormp over here?" My dad asked her.

"His name is Roger and well, it's just that he goes on exciting spy missions, defeats criminals, and saves people while you work here surrounded by things that people have thrown away." Lacey explains and I growl at her as she gestured to me. "Like that."

"Watch it!" Henry snapped, "Bella is a beautiful person."

Lacey rolled her dull eyes and Charlotte and Jasper rubbed my back for reassurance. Lacey's gonna break me even more than I already am.

"Okay, alright, well then, let me let you in on a little secret about this guy, Lacey." My dad offered and I saw him get out his gum tube. "Guess what this does!"

He poured a gum ball in his mouth and the four of us started to protest and move him away. I grabbed his mouth and forced him to spit it out and he huffed when he did.

"I'm not jealous! And my daughter is not something people threw away." My dad yelled.

"Yeah, my dad's not jealous, you know why?" I asked Lacey and she gave me a snotty look. "Because he saves people too."

Jasper, Charlotte, and Henry went to protest, but I shushed them.

"He saved me, ya know?" I began and wrapped my arm around Charlotte, "he saved her." I touched Jasper's cheek. "He saved him."

"Saved you from what?" Lacey asked, "I know your story, but what about them? And what about this fella?"

She gestured to Henry and I grinned. "That's my boyfriend, ya know, the thing you'd thought I'd never get, but I did."

She just looked at me and I continued. "My dad saved them from, uh..."

"Life on the streets!" Charlotte chimed in.

"Yeah!"

"Yeah! Tell them kids." My dad encouraged.

"My dad adopted the two of them." I told Lacey.

"That's right." Charlotte agreed.

"He's our daddy now." Jasper said and kissed my dad's cheek, which made him uncomfortable.

I snickered quietly and my dad groaned. "Mmmm, yeah, yes indeed! And, I don't just run a junk shop. Okay? I got another job, that's really cool..."

Henry, Charlotte, Jasper, and I went to protest, but my dad continued.

"I'm an inventor!" My dad exclaimed and we agreed with him.

"I invent like really awesome stuff." My dad mentioned.

"Like what?" Roger asked.

"Like this." My dad showed them his pen. "Look, pen!" He shook it once. "Nose hair trimmer." He shook it again. "Poison dart shooter." He aimed it and it shot Jasper right in the arm.

"Ow! Daddy, why?!" Jasper cried.

"Pull it out! Pull it out of him!" My dad panicked and we quickly pulled the dart out of Jasper's arm.

"Anyway, these are my kids and that's Bella's boyfriend." My dad casually introduced as I tossed the dart to the floor. "And I'm a really awesome inventor and I live in a nice house."

It's a blast living in a basement half a mile below the surface.

"Well, I'd love to see your house before we leave tomorrow." Lacey suggested.

"We don't have dinner plans tonight."

"It's true." Lacey agreed with her husband.

My dad perked up, "oh! Well then!"

"Daddy! No!" I snapped and he gave me a look.

"I'm pretty sure my amazing fiancé would love to meet you." My dad smiled and my eyes grew.

"Fiancé?" I asked him and he looked back at me.

"Yes, you know, Mary, the one who agreed to marry me?" He questioned and I caught on to what he was saying."

"Yes! Her." I nodded, "my soon to be stepmother."

"Bella will call her right now."

I stood there until Henry, Charlotte, and Jasper nudged me and I took out my phone to call Mary and ran to the back.

——

I called Mary and told her what was happening and she was hesitant but agreed to do so. She likes the idea of being with my dad and this is her chance to do so, I just hope my dad doesn't mess this up.

"Bella!" I turned and saw my dad, Henry, and Charlotte walking out of the elevator. "Did you call Mary?"

"I did and she agreed to do it." I told him.

"Okay, great." He smiled, "now, would it be alright to have her dinner at her house?"

"Why?" The three of us asked he and Schwoz looked at us.

"Because, ya know, we need a house." My dad remarked, "my dumb ex-girlfriend and her snotty husband are having dinner at my house tonight and the main problem with my house is that I don't got one!"

"Dude, if you're serious about doing this whole dinner thing, then why don't we just do it at Char's house?" Henry suggested.

"Uh, because, no." Charlotte denied.

"Hey, Ray." We turned and saw Schwoz working on a device. "Peek-a-boo." I watched as a laser shot Schwoz and he flipped three switches, before his body dissolved.

Woah, okay.

The four of us were surprised and started searching for Schwoz.

"Where did he?" I began.

"I see you!"

"Ahhhhh!"

I grabbed Henry's arm and we turned to see Schwoz behind my father, who was now on the couch.

"Wow!" I smiled.

"What? Dude, how did you do that?" Henry asked Schwoz with shock.

"Well, you remember the science fair where Charlotte's project got ruined and I turned it into a teleportation device?" He asked us and I nodded.

"Yep."

"Yeah."

"Yeah, it's kind of hard to forget something like that." Charlotte bitterly mentioned.

She's still scarred from that experience obviously.

"Look, I made a better one!" Schwoz gestured to a smaller version of his device.

"Wait, so this can move anyone, anywhere?" I asked Schwoz.

"No, no! No just peoples!" Schwoz denied and pushed Charlotte, Henry, and I over to the side. "Go, go."

My hand interlocked with Henry's and I leaned into him.

"Watch. Look at the round couch." Schwoz began and messed with his machine. "Okay, first."

Two lasers shot the couch.

"Hey, Schwoz, I really like this couch, so maybe don't teleport the couch." My dad objected.

"And now!" Schwoz flipped the switched and the couch slowly disappeared. Henry, Charlotte, and I applauded Schwoz's amazing work.

"Wow.

"Incredible!"

"Woah! That's amazing!"

"So, where's my couch?" My dad asked and Schwoz looked at him. "Whatever. Let's just start planning our family dinner at Mary's house."

"Dad, I don't know if Mary would like that." I protested, "you don't know her that well."

"Yes I do." He scoffed.

"Really?" I smiled, "what's her favorite animal?"

"Lion." He said.

"Okay, what her favorite food?"

"Seafood. She lives sushi." He told me with a smirk.

"Even I didn't know that." I remarked and he laughed.

"That's because I bought the woman sushi." He told me and I smiled at him.

"You care about her, don't ya?"

"Maybe I do, maybe I don't, but can you just ask her if we can have the dinner at her house?" My dad asked me and I sighed.

"Fine." I agreed, "but if you do anything to hurt her feelings, you'll be sorry!"

"I won't hurt her." He assured me, "I'm a superhero, duh."

"Duh!" I mocked, before pulling out my phone. "I'll text her and ask her."

"Good. Bella, take Charlotte and Henry to Mary's house and destroy all the family portraits." My dad told me and I gave him a look.

"Dad..."

"What? Why do we have to destroy them?"

"Just hide them. Go, go!" He rushed us before Henry, Charlotte, and I ran toward the tubes. Henry and I stood under one while Charlotte stood under the other one. I hugged Henry and we looked up.

"Up the tube." Henry shouted and we got shot up.

Good thing Mary's working right now.

——

That night, Mary had agreed to by my dad's fake fiancé and have the dinner at her house. We all had dressed up for the dinner and I was wearing a cute dress with black heels to make me somewhat taller.

Mary was wearing a cute red dress with black heel boots. She was excited about this, but she was having issues walking in her heels. We had bought these dresses at the store along with our heels and just got dressed there, because I had to pick up Mary from her job and bring her back to her house.

"Okay, why did you wear those?" I asked her with a chuckle. "You obviously can't walk."

"Because I'm a lady!" Mary protested and I pulled her onto her porch. "And I need to learn to be a proper lady for your father."

"My father is the equivalent of a child, you're fine." I assured, "and you look beautiful ."

I walked in and I saw my dad was holding Henry down and I raised any eyebrow.

"Um...." I trailed off and my dad let Henry go as Henry fixed his hair. "Do I even wanna know?"

"Nope!" They both said and Charlotte approached me.

"It was hilarious, I'll send ya the video." She winked and I giggled.

Mary walked in and she no longer had her heels on and she smiled. "Greetings, I'm Mary Carman."

Charlotte gave her a smile and shook her hand. "Nice to meet you, I'm Charlotte."

"Hi, Mary, I'm Henry." Henry greeted Mary, "Bella's boyfriend."

"She's told me about you." Mary smiles, "a lot about you."

Henry blushed and I chuckled nervously. "Okay, that's enough."

My dad stood there and Mary smiled at him. My dad's cheeks turned red when he saw her. "Hello, Ms. Carman."

It's weird see my dad so formal. He only does this if he likes someone and he really likes Mary.

"Mr. Ray." She smiled, "how are you?"

"I'm great." He said and she stepped closer to him, putting her heels down. "Why did you remove your shoes?"

"I can't walk in heels." She shrugged, "so if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna change my shoes."

She walked by my dad and up her stairs and my dad looked at us.

"Are you sweating?" Henry asked my dad, who's forehead was sweating.

"No!" My dad quickly replied, wiping his forehead. "I'm not sweating. Why would I be sweating? That's crazy." We stared at my dad, before he exhaled. "Is it hot in here or is it just me?"

"It's you." Charlotte remarked, "it's you freaking out about Mary."

"I'm not freaking out." My dad chuckled, "I just want this to be a good night."

"For Lacey or for Mary?" I smirked at him.

"I-"

Mary returns downstairs and she had black flats on her feet. "That's better."

"I just wanted to thank you for agreeing to be my fiancé, Mary." My dad smiled nervously at her and she blushed, standing next to him. "I appreciate it."

"No problem." She waved him off, "it's easy when the other person is really cute."

She blushed and my dad's eyes grew and he began to sweat again.

"Thank you." He exclaimed and Mary giggled. I grinned with Henry and Charlotte, before the doorbell rang.

Charlotte answered the door and Lacey and Roger stood there. Mary grabbed my dad's arm and my dad tensed up with nervousness.

"I've never seen your dad like this." Henry mumbles into my ear as he takes my hand.

"I know." I said, "it's weird."

"Hello, there." Lacey greeted Charlotte.

"Hi, welcome to our house." Charlotte politely greeted. "Please come in."

They walked in and my dad smiled at them. "Lacey." He shook her hand and turned to Roger. "Roger. You're here." My dad bitterly greeted him and dismissed his handshake, before walking around the couch with Mary at his side. "Glad you could make it, this is my house, my furniture, my staircase. And you know Bella, and my other adopted daughter, Charlotte, who sometimes we call Marabell, and then we have Henry, Bella's boyfriend."

"Yeah, no." Charlotte denied and I smiled, before following Henry with Charlotte behind me.

"And I'm guessing this is your fiancé?" Lacey questioned Mary, who smiled at her.

"Yes, this is my beautiful soon to be wife, Mary Carman." My father introduced and Mary and Lacey shook hands.

"Lovely to meet you, Lacey." Mary greeted her.

"You too." Lacey chuckled and Mary did too, until they both sighed together.

It's gonna be a long night.

Schwoz walked out with a maid uniform on and cleared his throat.

"Yes, and this is our maid, Schwoz." My dad introduces Schwoz.

I told Mary before hand that Schwoz was just playing a maid and actually works with my dad. I'm trying my best to not lie to her without revealing anything.

"Ah, Schwoz, what an interesting name." Lacey mentioned and I grinned.

"Thank you, in my country it means 'Pretty Mouth." He remarked and Lacey and Roger were a little uncomfortable with it.

"I see, uh, Ray, where is your other son?" Lacey asked and my dad was confused.

Oh, Jasper. I forgot about him.

"Mm?"

"The awkward boy." Roger said.

I leaned over to my dad, "Jasper."

"Oh, Jasper! He's uh, he's uh..." My dad snapped his fingers, thinking of what to say.

He's a little stuck right now I guess.

——

Dinner started and we were all at the table. My dad was next to Mary and I was sitting in between Henry and Charlotte. Lacey kept giving me dirty looks and I returned them, I don't get why she hates me. I didn't do anything to her.

"So, Bella." Lacey began and Henry grabbed my hand.

"Mmm?"

"I hear that Mary tutors you?" Lacey asked.

"Yes, she tutors me in English." I told her, "and she's also my vocal coach."

"Isn't that nice?" Lacey smiles at us, "is it difficult for you to teach her, Mary?"

Here we go.

"Not really." Mary denied, "she's very smart."

"It was hard at first, but after some time it was very easy for me and now I have an A in English." I mentioned.

"She's a hardworking girl." My dad chimed in, "and Mary has done a wonderful job."

Mary blushed at my dad's words.

"Personally, I thought it would've been hard to tutor someone with a disorder like Bella's." Lacey shrugged and I dropped my fork in shock.

"What disorder?" Charlotte asked.

"Um...no disorder." I stuttered nervously as Charlotte and Henry gave me a look of confusion. "I don't have any disorder."

"Are you sure?" Lacey asked me and I nodded.

"Lacey, that's enough." My dad cut in, "don't push my daughter."

"But I just wanted to know how it is teaching someone with Dyslexia." Lacey wondered aloud and I froze.

"Who's Dyslexic?" Henry asked.

"Uh..."

"Bella." Lacey smiled and I felt tears form in my eyes.

"Bella..." Henry began and I couldn't bare to look at him.

"How'd you know that?" I asked him.

"Ray told me." She said and I looked at my dad, who seemed guilty and Mary looked sorrowful.

"Dad..." I whined to him.

"It slipped out when we were dating." My dad admitted, "I'm sorry."

"You're Dyslexic?" Henry asked me, "and you never told me or Charlotte?"

I could see the hurt in his brown eyes and I looked at Charlotte who had the same expression on her face.

I felt my chest tighten and I couldn't breathe to well.

"Are you surprised?" Lacey said, "she keeps a lot of secrets to herself."

"Shut up, Lacey." Mary snapped, "can't you just leave Bella alone?"

"Why?" Lacey asked, "I feel like Bella has a lot to say, don't you?"

Everyone stared at me and I began to breathe with shakiness and my vision became blurry.

"Stop looking at me." I pleaded, before I got up and ran off.

"Bella! Wait!" My dad called, but I was already out the door.

I knew it. I fricking knew it. Lacey just had to come in and ruin everything. Henry probably hates me and so does Charlotte.

——

Mary's POV

"Bella! Wait!" Ray called, but she was already gone. "Lacey! Why would you do that to Bella?"

"I was just trying to get her to open up." She shrugged and her and Roger smiled.

"Open up? You crushed her." I exclaimed and Ray grabbed my arm. "She's a young girl with so much inside that she can't express, and now she feels like absolutely crap because of you."

"I'm sorry she's such a crybaby." Lacey apologized.

"Okay, that's it." Henry intervened, "she's not a crybaby. She's a human with feelings, and you had no right to say that to her."

Henry then got up from the table and went outside to talk to Bella.

"Can't you at least try to be sensitive?" I asked Lacey, "and not be such an insensitive pig?"

"Did you just insult my wife?" Roger asked me and I grinned.

"She insulted Bella, so I struck back like a cobra."

Ray and Charlotte snickered at my comment.

Nobody hurts my little girl. Nobody.

——

Arabella's POV

I sat on Mary's porch, crying my eyes out and feeling like absolutely crap. Lacey just took all of my fears and threw them right in my face and now everything I've ever loved is hopeless.

My life is done.

"Hey..."

I lifted my head up, "Go away. I don't want to talk to anyone right now."

"Alright, I'll talk, you listen." It was Henry and I'm pretty sure he hates me. He sat down next to me and I purposely looked away. "I'm not gonna ask why you didn't tell me about your Dyslexia, because you won't tell me right now, but I'll tell you this." Henry grabbed my hand and I tensed up. "Whatever you have going on in your life and you're scared to tell me or anyone, I'll be here to listen. You know why, because I love you and would never judge you. I'm here for you."

I didn't respond and just let my tears slip onto our interlocked hands.

"I'm not mad at you." Henry continued, "I could never be mad at you. I've tried and it's almost impossible for me to be mad at you. I get it, I understand you didn't want people to know about this, but it's important to know that help is important and everyone needs help at some point."

God, why is Henry so good? He's literally perfect.

I sniffled and faced Henry and his eyes were red. "I'm here for you, and I'll not leaving you because of some disorder that affects how you read."

"It's more than that." I admit, "I'm scared you'll eventually see me the way I see myself."

"How do you see yourself?" He asked, "all I see is a beautiful girl with the most amazing personality and heart."

"It's complicated and I really don't feel like talking about it right now." I sighed and wiped my eyes.

"That's fine, but can you promise me something?" Henry asked me and I place my other hand on top of his.

"Yes?"

"Promise me that you'll never change the way you are?" Henry asked me and I averted my eyes.

That's a huge promise, but for Henry, I'll do anything.

"I promise." I say.

After that, Henry helped me up and we walked back inside.

Inside, I see Mary and Lacey arguing over something and my dad was trying to stop them.

"Bella's back!" Charlotte called as we walked over to them and they stopped.

"Bella!" Mary smiles softly and Lacey rolled her dumb eyes.

"Are you okay?" Charlotte asked me and I exhaled, before nodding.

"Right now, I am." I admit and she smiles at me.

"Well, I still love my best friend no matter what." She told me, rubbing my arm.

"I love you to." I say and she hugs me.

"Great." Lacey sighs and I glared at her, before Henry pulled me back to my seat and we sat down.

"Are you okay, sweetie?" My dad asked with seriousness and I nodded.

"Yes, dad." I smiled and he rubbed my knuckles with relief.

"Don't worry, I think I put Lacey in her place." Mary winked at me, "when it comes to you, I can get a little protective."

"Little?" My dad scoffed, "she snapped."

"Can you please not talk about my wife like that?" Roger asked us.

"If your wife promises not to insult my daughter, then we'll be good." My dad smiled and Mary rests her head on his shoulder with a grin.

Lace rolled her eyes at that.

"Why don't we move on from this sore subject and talk about something else?" Charlotte suggested and I nodded.

"Please." I begged.

"Yeah, uh, remember that Ray is an amazing inventor." Henry mentioned and I nodded.

"The best." I smiled.

"He's like a genius." Charlotte said and I bit my lip.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves." I mumbled to her.

"Amazing man, dude." Henry tapped his cheek.

"That's right, show me that cute pen you made again?" Lacey asked.

"Yes, that pen that turns into a nose hair trimmer." Roger smirked.

"That was so impressive." Lacey smiled and I shook my head.

She's pushing everyone's buttons tonight, isn't she?

My dad nodded, "oh, you wanna be impressed? Wanna be impressed?! Okay!" He got up, "tell you what? Before we have our butter cake why don't you just take another look at an invention I whipped up last week."

My dad smiled and walked over to the living room. My dad rolled out Schwoz's teleportation device and my eyes grew.

"Uh, dad." I protested, "I don't think you need to be showing them that."

"Yeah, you really don't."

"It's really not necessary."

"What is that?" Mary asked me.

"A teleportation device Schwoz made." I told her as Roger got up and went over to my dad and the device.

"Yes, I do." My dad interrupted and the three of us shared a look. "But, like all great inventors, I'll need my maid to assist me. Schwoz?"

"Yes, Mr. Manchester?" Schwoz asked him as he eagerly approached him.

"Help me teleport the dinner table." My dad said and the rest of us moved away from the table as Schwoz helped my dad with the device.

Henry took my hand as we walked over to them. Schwoz began to explain what happens and my dad pretended to know what he was doing.

"...and we lock it onto the dinner table." Schwoz concludes as he turned it to the table.

"I like that table." Mary comments and I chuckled.

Two lasers shot on the table and Henry instinctively moved me back a little. Schwoz flopped the switches and the table disappeared and Mary smiled.

"What the-"

Lacey and Roger were shocked by this.

"Now, look over there." My dad pointed at the hallway and Schwoz moved his hand to point near the staircase. He lowered the levers and the table appeared at the staircase.

"Oh my god!" Lacey gasped.

"Great Britain!" Roger gasped and they both ran over to the table.

"Wow, that's amazing!" Mary smiled and she went up to Schwoz. "That's some amazing stuff, Schwoz."

"Thank you." He smiled.

"You created a teleportation device!" Roger exclaimed.

"Ray, this is the most amazing invention ever!" Lacey praised.

"Yeah, thanks." He nonchalantly said and wrapped his arm around Mary's waist. "So, who wants butter cake?"

We cheered and we walked back into the kitchen for butter cake.

"Uh, no thank you." Roger denied and we turned to him. "I'm afraid Lacey and I won't be joining you for butter cake."

Henry put his arm in front of me and I grabbed it. My dad tightened his grip on Mary and she leaned into him.

"Why not?" Charlotte asked.

"Dude, it's butter cake." I protested.

"Yeah, butter cake." Henry agreed.

"I'm sorry, but I must transport myself, my wife, and my new invention to headquarters in England." Roger admitted.

"What are you talking about?" Henry asked and Roger pointed a blaster at us. Henry moved more in front of me and I gripped his arm more.

"I'm gonna show this teleportation device that I invented to the British Parliament and even to the Queen." Roger admitted.

"Oh, Roger!" Lacey gasped.

"That's right."

My dad stepped forward and Mary stepped behind Henry.

"Really, Lacey? You'd respect a man who'd steal another man's invention and pretend like it was his?" My dad asked her.

"Dude, that's exactly what you did-"

"Shut up." My dad muttered to his sidekick.

"And as for you." My dad snarled, but Roger blasted the floor and we all backed up with my dad blocking all of us. I gripped Henry's shirt and he held me close.

"Uh-uh-uh!" Roger said, "you all stay right where you are. Now, we hate to eat and run, but it's time for Lacey, me, and my new toy to teleport ourselves to England."

Schwoz grabbed Henry and my dad and whispered something in their ears and the girls and I listened to him.

The teleportation device can't teleport two people at once and something bad might happen if they do teleport themselves.

"Uh, uh, hey, Roger!" My dad said and Roger pointed his blaster at him. "My maid just reminded me that the teleporter hasn't been perfected yet."

"It can't transport two people at the same time!" I added.

"Yeah, and if you try it, it might do something terrible." My dad admitted.

The couple shared a look, before chuckling.

"Oh, Ray, you always were a terrible liar." Lacey smirked.

"Nice try, old boy." Roger grinned.

"Old?" My dad said and I flicked his shoulder.

"It as good to see you Ray." Lacey smiled, "have fun with your dyslexic daughter."

"Good riddance." I say and Henry pinched me.

Two beams shot Lacey and Roger. Roger grabbed the levers and we tried to stop them, before he flipped the levers and their bodies began to twitch and it shined a bright light on us. We all looked away, shielding ourselves.

"Ah!"

"It's so bright!"

"Schwoz, what's going on?!" Henry asked.

"The teleporter is malfunctioning." Schwoz yelled and Roger and Lacey disappeared and reappeared on the floor, but as a combined blob and it was absolutely disgusting.

Oh, oh my, that's not normal.

"Oh, my!" Mary gasped and I gagged a little.

"Holy shizzle!" I say.

"Oh no!" Schwoz said.

"Uh, Schwoz, what's going on?" I asked him, covering my mouth.

"What is that?" Henry asked, looking away from it.

"My, my, device, it took Lacey and Roger and turned them into this one...thing!" Schwoz exclaimed.

All of us were revolted by the scene and Mary shook her head.

"If you're gonna puke, do it outside, I just cleaned the floor." She mentioned, touching her chest.

"What do we do with them? Uh, it." Charlotte asked as Schwoz went over and messed with his device.

"Schwoz, uh, uh, do, do you know how to separate them?" My dad asked, "you know, how to turn them back into two normal people?!"

"Do I?!" Schwoz asked, "no."

"What?!" Mary exclaimed, "do we take them to them hospital?! I mean-"

"Oh, come on!" Charlotte protested, "no hospital is gonna know what to do with that...blob couple."

"She's right." My dad agreed and Henry brought me into his chest. "The only place to take this, uh, them, that! Is a place where there are people who are more holy and spiritual than anyone of us!"

"A church?" Mary asked.

"Yep."

"Gaaaa!" The blob groaned and we backed up.

"Oh, geez!"

——

After my dad and Henry returned from taking the blob couple to the church, we were cleaning up and my dad and Mary were talking and I smiled at them.

"They seem to be getting along." Charlotte said and I nodded.

"Yeah." I sighed, "and look, I'm sorry for not telling you or Henry about my Dyslexia."

"No worries, I understand." Charlotte shrugged, "it's not exactly something easy to talk about."

"Thanks." I smiled at her, before she said her goodbyes and left the house.

"Tonight was an odd night." Mary mentioned to the three of us. Schwoz left to work on his machine a little bit ago. "Never thought I would see what I saw."

I smiled, "it was disgusting."

"It was."

"Yeah."

"Agreed."

"Hey, Mary." My dad began and she turns to him. "I was wondering if you maybe wanted to go out on a date? With me, of course!"

I smiled brightly at them and Henry grabbed my shoulders.

Mary grinned at him, "just us? Like, on purpose?"

"Yes, just us, on purpose." He chuckled and she glanced at me and I nodded.

"Um, sure." She smiled at him, "I would love to."

I was beaming at the sight and giggled.

"Yay!"

——

Now I want butter cake.

Ray and Mary ship names please?

Should I make an original chapter for a date between Ray and Mary? It would be called Double Date Danger and Henry and Bella would join Ray and Mary on the date.

Tell me ya thoughts in the comments💘

Happy Easter!💝💘