Two messy braids swung back and forth as the little girl skipped down the slushy sidewalk, one man's hand holding her from running too far ahead. Scotlynn fidgeted with her braids the entire morning, almost pulling one of them loose. "Quit tuggin' your hair so much, you'll mess it up," Bon said.

"You didn't do it right," Scotlynn complained, messing with the hair tie.

"Sor-ry, I'm a bit out of practice from Girl Scouts." She stuck her tongue out at him, Bon sighing as she ran off to her--his room. After letting her cool down for a few minutes he knocked on the door carrying a laundry bag over his shoulder. "Get your coat, we're goin' downtown today."

And there they were in downtown London making their way to a run-down laundromat. Scotlynn had never seen a building so grey. Grey like the clouds filled with English rain, or grey like the locket chain she held in her pocket. 

Grey like the fish scales she was sure she'd never see again. 

Bon opened the door for her, only two other people inside. Both of whom were too old to be familiar with Bon's face to give him any trouble. Scotlynn hid behind Bon's leg, his leather jacket caught in her fists. Tossing the laundry bag on a machine Bon grabbed his wallet and pulled out a bit of change, Scotlynn standing on her tiptoes to see. Noticing her weight on his arm, he glanced down at her. "Here," he said holding his hand out. "Take this to that machine over there, you see it?" He knelt down to her level and pointed out the blue box on the other side of the room. "That right there will give you special gold coins in exchange for these, understand?" Scotlynn looked at the money in her hand and thought they would work just fine. But, Bon seemed to know what he was doing. "Go on, now, it ain't hard."

Slowly, two little feet carried the girl to the blue machine Bon had pointed out. Scotlynn had to look upwards to see it completely, and she took a step back. Looking back at Bon he stood there patiently, nodding his head with a little smile. Helping him out would make him so happy, she was sure of it. After all the trouble she had caused, maybe this would win back his affection, and she could stay. Carefully she held each coin up to a slot, standing on her toes to reach it. One slipped out of her fingers and rolled across the floor, Scotlynn quickly chasing after it. 

It collapsed on its side right by a neighboring laundry basket, the owner folding a white sheet. Swallowing thickly, Scotlynn grabbed the coin off the floor and hurried back to the machine, under the watchful eyes of the launderers. This time it disappeared perfectly into the slot, and Scotlynn waited for something to happen. It took a minute for her to turn back to Bon, who pointed at the red button next to the slot. After pushing it with two tiny hands, the machine buzzed, scaring the poor girl before a number of gold tokens fell out of a hole and into a plastic cup. Bon came up behind her and took the tokens out of the cup, a good amount for a whole day. "Thanks, kid. Nicely done." He ruffled her hair, her messy braids swishing as she turned to face him. He had already turned to his machine and opened the lid, pouring clothes in. 

Scotlynn felt her heart swell with pride.

Despite knowing all her dirty clothes at the orphanage were sent to the maids to clean in the laundry room, Scotlynn had never seen the action herself. She had never seen a man do the job either as a matter of fact. He sorted out two piles, one filled with black shirts and dark jeans while another had a few white shirts and large white sheets like their neighbor. If he just threw everything into one pile, the job would get done faster, Scotlynn reasoned. But, of course, Bon must have known what he was doing. 

She placed her fingers on the machine next to him, once again standing on her toes to get a better look. Bon had grabbed a cardboard box from a shelf and pulled a yellow spoon out of it. "What's that?" she asked pointing at it.

"Soap," he answered.

"What kind of soap?"

"Laundry soap."

Scotlynn could clearly see a brand name on the box, but reading it was useless. "How long will this take?"

"I dunno," Bon shrugged. "I think it takes half an hour to wash 'em, then ya' got to dry 'em, an' that might take longer, ya' know." He measured out one spoonful of soap and put the box back on the shelf. He closed the lid and pressed a few buttons, the machine beginning to rumble like an earthquake. Scotlynn stepped back again, watching Bon leave the machine to find a chair to sit on, closing his eyes. 

This was not the adventurous afternoon Scotlynn had in mind. 

Eloise stepped back from the lion, its stomach rumbling with hunger. Its tail swished in observation, eyeing the poor girl with a ravenous look. She hid behind a bush, crouching beneath the leaves. Surely the beast couldn't see her under the brush, and it stalked through the grass with its glowing eyes darting back and forth. The golden fur was bristled with anticipation for its next meal. The rumbling of its stomach grew louder, and Eloise gave a small gasp, quickly putting a hand to her mouth.

The lion stopped in its tracks. It sniffed the air, its paw in suspended animation. Turning this way and that, the lion spotted nothing but a few bushes. Eloise let out a sigh, then crept to the next bush should the lion get any closer. 

It did.

A twig under her foot cracked in half and the lion let out a low growl. Closer it crept, shoulders hunched and ready to pounce. Eloise clenched her fists, ready to defend herself. Gathering all her strength, she stood up straight and tall and the lion stood right over her, teeth bared. A loud roar filled the safari.

Bon stepped past her and pressed a button on the washing machine to quiet the loud buzzing. Scotlynn stood from the floor, having fallen over in surprise. The lid opened with a creak, and Bon pulled a number of wet clothes out of it. Scotlynn didn't like the smell very much. 

He opened the lid of the machine next to them, stuffing the wet clothes in. Simply turning a small dial and pushing another button, Bon turned back to the second pile of laundry while the machine roared to life.

"What does this one do?"

"Dries your clothes," Bon said over his shoulder. "Don't tell me ya' don't know how laundry works."

"The maids did it," Scotlynn said watching as Bon put in the second pile and scooped out some more soap. 

"Oh, right," Bon said. "Silly me. Here, you want to dump it in?" He held out the yellow spoon to Scotlynn and she quickly reached her hand out to grab it, knocking the cardboard box over. "Two hands, Scottie dog, two hands!" She opened her other hand out and grabbed the spoon. Carefully she poured the soap all over the white clothes turning them a lovely light blue. As she poured, Scotlynn noticed a very familiar light pink sweater. 

"That's mine!"

"Huh? Oh...yeah, I have your stuff in there too. Makes it easier, ya' know? Besides, your clothes needed washin'," he added with a smug grin. Scotlynn stuck her tongue out when he wasn't looking. After closing the lid, feeding the machine another token and pressing the button, Bon returned to his chair and closed his eyes again. 

Scotlynn didn't feel like going to Africa again right now.

She tied the floor with her buckled, black Mary Janes, and played a little hopscotch. Her braids swung behind her, once in a while hitting her on the nose. She wrinkled it, still pouting at the idea of Bon messing them up. Looking back at him, he had opened one eye to watch her, quickly shutting it again and scratching his nose. Hopscotch got boring rather quickly and she turned to running back and forth across the length of the room. One occupant had left a few minutes ago, the other one taking a trip to the bathroom. There was plenty of space for her to go as crazy as she wanted. 

Miss Atkinson would never have allowed such childish behavior. 

A rush of wind blew back loose strands of hair around her face, then she turned down another aisle and ran through the wind again. Her shoes clacked against the floor sending an echo to Bon letting him know where she was without opening his eyes. He did though, and seemed quite entertained by her levels of energy. Then again, she was only four years old. Life hadn't quite taken its toll yet. 

Rather than watch where she was going, Scotlynn stepped over a basket sitting on the floor and tripped, crashing to the ground. That caught Bon's attention. He couldn't see her, but sat up in his chair and called out. "Scotlynn? You alright?"

Wiping the dirt from the grey floor off of her knees, she stood back up and walked back to where he sat. She wasn't hurt, but rather tired of running. She leaned her head on his arm, leather pressing her face. He brushed some strands of hair out of her eyes, her braids getting even looser. 

"Your hair's startin' to look like mine, Scottie dog," he said tugging her braid.

"No it isn't!" she yelled defiantly. 

"Yeah it is, look! You look like you live in a cave!" Bon laughed to himself as Scotlynn wiggled free from his grasp. "My place ain't far from a cave, I ain't offended."

"You didn't braid it right, that's why."

"Oh, it's my fault, is it? Well then, you can always leave your hair down like, can't ya'? Who braided your hair before?"

"Miss Nancy."

"Who's that?"

"The baby lady." Bon assumed this to mean she cared for the orphaned babies. He felt a pang settle in his heart but ignored it. Instead he took to taking a braid between his fingers and swinging it back and forth. Scotlynn didn't mind as long as she could play with the zipper on his leather jacket. 

"Do you have parents?"

The question was put so suddenly Bon wasn't sure he heard her correctly. Dropping the braid he folded his hands across his lap and gave her his full attention. "What was that?"

"Do you have parents, Bon?"

"Well..." He cleared his throat and nodded. "Yeah, 's'matter of fact, I got two of them."

"Where are they?" Her eyes never met his as she interrogated him.

"Australia. When we moved down there from Scotland they stayed there while I went 'round the world." He scratched the tip of his nose. "I guess they wanted to settle down ya' know? Movin' around too much ain't for everyone." He smiled as Scotlynn finally looked at him abandoning the zipper. 

"Where's Australy?"

"Australia," he enunciated. "it's on the other side of the world. So far I can't even touch it." Bon reached out his hand and grabbed at nothing making Scotlynn laugh. "Why are ya' askin' me all this?"

She shrugged. Bon shrugged it off as another habit of a curious child before she spoke again. "I don't have parents."

Treading carefully, Bon sat up in his chair. "Everyone's got parents."

"I don't. That's why I lived in an orphanage." 

"Well..." Bon sighed. "See Scottie, everyone on the planet has parents whether they live with 'em or only one of 'em or...." Scotlynn tilted her head as she listened. Her hands were picking at a loose thread on his jeans. "That's usually how people get here...ah....we'll talk about this some other time, like."

"When?" Bon stood up when the dryer buzzed and only glanced at her once. 

"When you're a few years older an' under someone else's care." One by one he pulled out an article of warm clothing, some of them still with a piece of lint stuck to it and tossed it into the laundry bag he brought. Soon enough it carried a mountain of dark clothes and the lighter ones replaced them in the dryer. 

"I'm hungry."

"We jus' had breakfast."

"I'm still hungry."

"I'll pick ya' an apple off the next tree, alright? After we're done here."

"Can we get ice cream?" Bon looked down at her as he closed the dryer and pressed the button. Scotlynn's arms were behind her back and she twisted left to right swinging her braids purposefully. As good as ice cream sounded and despite the fact that Bon, as an adult with money, could get ice cream whenever he pleased, he decided sugar was the last thing this particular child needed. 

"Ice cream, eh?" He crossed his arms . "Not exactly good for ya', is it?"

"You smoke," she stated again as this seemed to be her favorite argument whenever Bon tried to be responsible. 

He sighed. Kneeling down to her level he lowered his voice. "An' you know what? I shouldn't do that anymore 'cause I got this thing called asthma an' that makes it harder for me to breathe an' it doesn't feel too good. Yeah? I know what I do ain't always the right thing, ya' know?"

Scotlynn once again became utterly fascinated. "What's asthma?"

"It's--" Bon paused. "It's sort of...like tryin' to breathe through a straw. An' I know me smokin' once in a while ain't the proper thing to do an' all, but I'm the grown up an' the least I can do is make sure you--" He poked her on the nose. "don't eat ice cream for lunch." He stood again to his full height and crossed his arms watching Scotlynn jump trying to be as tall as him. "You're a bit of a shrimp ain't ya'?"

"I am not!" She pouted. Bon imitated her.

"Are so."

"Am not!"

"Small fry?"

"One day I'll be as tall as a tree, even taller than you!" Knowing that if Scotlynn wanted to argue she wouldn't shy away from raising her voice to an unacceptable level, Bon merely shrugged and let her win. 

"Alright then, then I can come aroun' an' pick apples off of you. An' you can eat them for lunch."

Scotlynn licked her ice cream as quick as she could before it could ruin her black coat. Unfortunately she wasn't quick enough. A little drop splattered on her collar and she took it up in her fingers and licked it off. If Bon saw this moment of messiness he didn't mention anything. He merely trudged on behind with his laundry bag over his shoulder and a bottle of soda in his other hand. It had begun to snow again, just enough so that a constellation of snowflakes patterned the little girl's hair. A few people were on bicycles ringing their bells as they passed while some dogs tugged on their leashes to get a good sniff. Scotlynn marched on ahead as if she were leading a marching band in a big parade. Instead of playing any instruments Bon called out a few directions every once in a while to "turn left" or "stop" at a crosswalk.

Her braids had come completely undone and a wind picked up pushing her hair in every direction. She jumped over each crack in the sidewalk and looked up just in time to step out of the way of a stampede of children. Afraid some of them were her peers she hid behind a tree and watched them storm down the street. Popcorn fell to the ground and someone spit out a wad of pink gum. None of them bore any school uniform that Scotlynn recognized, so surely they wouldn't pay her any attention. After dodging children left and right Bon caught up with her just as she reached out to pick up the gum.

"Oi! Scottie, don't pick that up, ya' don't know where that's been!" Scotlynn stood up straight and put her arms behind her back. "Been in some kid's mouth for God's sake."

"Who were they?" Bon took a glance at the fading crowd. 

"Dunno. They ain't my schoolmates, I'll tell ya' that."

"Where are they going?" Bon shrugged again.

"Beats me, Scottie. But..." He surveyed the mess they left behind. Ants were already crowding around the spare popcorn. "Looks like they just got out from seein' a film after ditchin' class."

"A film?"

"Ya' know, the movies? Oh..." He narrowed his eyes as he realized she had probably never seen one. "Uh...you know what a movie is, yeah?"

"Miss Nancy told me they're like books but with real people." Bon nodded his head slowly as he guided Scotlynn down the street. 

"Sort of. Some have real people, an' others have fake people. Cartoons, ya' know." A pile of leaves dispersed in the wind and found their way into Bon and Scotlynn's hair. Scotlynn watched Bon brush his hair back as best he could with two hands full and did the same to her own. A bit of ice cream got in her hair and the rest fell on the sidewalk. Standing there with an empty cone, Scotlynn watched more ants have their new feast. "Hey." She turned to see Bon tapping her shoulder. "Have this." He held out a half full bottle of soda and Scotlynn took it with two hands. "I wiped it off for ya'," he said with a smile. "So you won't have a cootie problem."

Forgetting her manners altogether, Scotlynn lifted the bottle to her mouth and began to chug heartily. Soda spilled down her chin and she coughed when she couldn't take in anymore. Unless she wanted to choke...she decided she should stop.

"Hey, you alright?" She nodded and wiped her mouth on the sleeve of her coat. Two seconds later, she burped. "Maybe we ought to get some real food in ya', yeah?" Scotlynn held the bottle out for Bon to take. It really didn't taste very good. He took it and tossed it in a rubbish bin filled to the brim with other various drinks. The wind picked up something awful and the snow was severe. It had to be a little after lunch and a soda was not going to do it for the grown man. Perhaps a bit of hot tea for the both of them and a very important phone call...no, the call could wait until after he ate. He held out his hand to the girl. "Let's get back to my place for now, okay? I'll find us somethin' to eat an' then we'll see about callin' someone for you."

"No!" Scotlynn pulled away from him and stamped her foot. Bon sighed. This was hardly the time for an argument. 

"Look kid, you know jus' as well as I do--"

"I'm never going back to that stinky place! The kids are mean and there's no fish and my room is haunted and there are no batteries and..." As Scotlynn poured over her miserable life she managed to work up a few tears to really sell it. Bon stood there shivering patiently. "...and--and--they threw me out!" Kneeling to her level again Bon pulled a crumpled up napkin from his pocket that he had gotten with the ice cream. 

"Blow." Scotlynn didn't move. She cried instead. Bon wiped her eyes with the napkin and closed his fist over it. "Are ya' done yet?"

Scotlynn sniffed. 

"Look, kid. As someone who actually gives a damn about you, an' gives a damn about what happens to you, I gotta call someone to pick you up an' give you a good place to stay." Scotlynn managed a few more tears and even a bit of snot. "I'm really not up to havin' a kid right now an' seein' as you're not really mine..." Scotlynn refused to look him in the eyes anymore. "How about lunch first? Maybe when you're not hungry as a bear you'll start seein' reason. 'Kay?" Scotlynn didn't answer. He reached for her hand again but Scotlynn broke out into a run cutting across the park into the snow. Using every curse word he knew, Bon hoisted the laundry bag over his shoulder and dropped the napkin on the ground running after her. 

Her nose began to run excessively from the cold and her vision was blurry with tears. Everybody looked the same as did every street sign. A few neighboring houses with dogs in the yards promised nothing but a phone call to the orphanage and she heavily avoided those. The dogs barked at her as she ran past and when turning a corner she slipped on the ice and skinned her knee. It stung and she stumbled getting up from the ground. Viewing her surroundings was pointless and her bare hands were turning blue. There weren't as many people outside anymore due to the coldest autumn the city had seen in years. Scotlynn, sure Bon was far away, slowed her pace and crossed the street. She mustn't get scared, Eloise would never get scared.

Would she?

Wandering past an empty lot and a convenience store, she paused at a bench and sat down, much like the night she ran away. Her backside was freezing from the thin layer of snow and her clothes were wet from falling. Her pants were torn and her knee was bleeding a bit. She cried from the pain. She cried from the cold, she cried from the fear, and she cried from the idea that the one person she thought she could trust had tried to get rid of her. 

Maybe she would die on that bench. Maybe she would freeze to death, and Bon would find her and he'd be so sad and regret everything he had ever said. Scotlynn wanted her death to be as tragic as it could so he would feel extra bad. Shivering and sniveling, Scotlynn laid down on the bench and closed her eyes. Her breath came out in short gasps and the snow fell on her pale face. She told herself it would all be worth it. He'd be sorry. They'd all be sorry. 

Then she heard footsteps.

Afraid that Bon had found her still alive, and even more afraid at the idea of a stranger, Scotlynn sat up on the bench and looked around. Someone was coming out of the convenience store with a shopping bag in his hand. He was small and looked extra small in the enormous winter coat he was wearing. Snow wet his curly hair and something was sticking out of his mouth. Scotlynn recognized it at once as a cigarette. She looked away from him so as not to draw his attention but it was just her luck that he came straight toward her. The man stopped walking about a foot away. 

He pulled the cigarette from his teeth. "Scotlynn?"

She didn't answer. The man came closer, his eyes narrowed in confusion. Glancing around and seeing she was alone he sat on the bench beside her. "What are you doin' out here?"

The little girl turned away from him so he couldn't see the mess of tears on her pink face. Angus looked around again for some sign of Bon but there was no one. The streets were very empty and very cold. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he frowned when she pulled away from him sniffing. Not wanting to be out there himself, he pressed on. "Where's Bon?"

She only shrugged. 

"Is he at home?"

No answer.

"Did you run away?"

A hiccup.

Angus shivered and looked at the ground. He saw her torn pants and bleeding knee. "What happened there? Are you alright?" Being the stubborn little girl she was, and Angus knowing he was getting nowhere, he stood from the bench. "I'll take ya' back to my hotel. How's that?" Scotlynn finally looked him in the eye. "It's much better than stayin' out here freezin' our--ah--noses off. An' I'll get ya' somethin' for your knee, alright?"

Deciding going with Angus was better than dying alone, she hopped off the bench and stood by his side. Angus looked longingly at his cigarette. "Guess I'll have to put this one out too." He dropped it in the snow, stepped on it, and took Scotlynn's hand. 

It wasn't long before they were at the hotel. Angus led her down the hallway to his room, both of them still pink and cold. Being in a much better humor, Angus began to speak again. "Ever been in a hotel, sweetheart?"

Not once. There wasn't room for a hotel at the orphanage. Scotlynn stared at her tarnished buckled shoes. "Eloise lives in a hotel." Angus glanced at her, fishing his key out of his pocket.

"Who?"

"Eloise. She's a book."

"Oh." He turned the key in the lock. "Haven't read that, I suppose. More of a comic man myself." Pushing the door open he let Scotlynn enter first and she ran right inside. It didn't look as fancy as the pictures in her Eloise books, but she supposed the hotels in London looked different than the hotels in New York. 

A few clothes were spread over the sofa and something was cooking on the stove. Scotlynn couldn't help but check by standing on her toes. Nothing she recognized but it smelled good. The pain in her knee acted out again and she limped to the living room to see a few guitars by the window and a man sitting in a chair looking over a piece of paper. He was wearing a grey sweater and held a can. Scotlynn hid behind Angus and turned a shade of very bright red.

Malcolm was just as handsome as she remembered. 

"Mal." Malcolm greeted Angus without looking up and took a drink from the can. Scotlynn couldn't read what it said on the side. Maybe it was soda. Angus set the bag down on a table and removed his coat before removing Scotlynn's coat, now soaking wet. 

"Wipe your feet, Ang."

"Sure thing, Mrs. Cleaver." Angus took her hand and brought her closer to Malcolm hoping he'd notice. Eventually he cleared his throat.

"What?" Angus cleared his throat again and Malcolm looked up to see a red faced, messy haired, soaking wet little girl in front of him. "What...Scotlynn, what are you doin' here?" Absolutely smitten with him, she ran for cover behind Angus again. "Ang, where's Bon?"

"No clue. Found her on a bench when I went out shoppin'. Didn't see him anywhere." Malcolm stood from the chair and finished his drink before setting the can down. Trying to get a good look at her, Malcolm stepped around Angus but Scotlynn continued to hide from view. "Thought maybe I'd let her warm up here an' fix her knee while we wait for her to say somethin'."

"Her knee?" Malcolm could see her torn pants from behind his brother and saw a wound slightly bleeding. "Aw...now how'd that happen?" Of course, she didn't answer. Malcolm knelt to the floor. "Listen, darlin'. Where's Bon? Did you leave him?" Scotlynn shook her head. "Did you wander around outside an' get lost?" She shook her head again. "Did you..." Malcolm shrugged. "Run away?"

"He kicked me out," she finally answered. 

"Kicked you out?"

"Bon said he didn't want me anymore and he wants me to go away!"

"Now, darlin', I don't know if I really believe you," said Malcolm folding his hands. "Bon's not the kind of guy. He doesn't just throw girls out of his home, no matter the age." Angus laughed. "Did Bon...maybe mention at all callin' about findin' you a new home?"

Scotlynn could feel the tears burning again. 

"'Cause you know he's gonna have to. It ain't personal, ya' know, jus'...one of those things." Scotlynn let the tears fall out again and stamped her foot. Malcolm looked up at Angus.

"Let's get her somethin' to eat an' somethin' else to wear first, eh, Mal?" he suggested. "It's the least we can do." Malcolm stood up.

"Right. You get her a towel an' a bandage an' I'll get this food ready." Angus took the little girl by the hand again and led her to the bathroom. 

Three messy plates stayed at the abandoned table while Malcolm stretched himself out on the sofa and Angus sat on a chair with Scotlynn in his lap. She had found a magazine in a wicker basket and asked him to read it. Angus agreed until he saw the scandalous cover, whereupon he asked Scotlynn to put it back and bring him a different one. 

"Why do people wear black when people die?" Scotlynn asked. Angus had reached a story of a family member passing away and the remaining family going to a funeral. The picture showed everyone in black suits and black dresses and black hats and gloves. Scotlynn thought they looked like crows. 

"Well...black is usually considered a sad color, ya' know? An' funerals are sad so..." He shrugged. "It's jus' tradition over here."

Scotlynn leaned back against his chest and picked at her bandaged knee. Her wet hair tickled his chin. Angus had given her one of his sweaters to wear while her other clothes warmed up in the kitchen. It was not unlike a dress on the little girl. "I think people should wear yellow or something. So they're not so sad all the time." Angus nodded in consideration. 

"Mm. Maybe. I guess we can leave the animal print at home...but a brighter color wouldn't hurt." Malcolm laughed from the sofa and Scotlynn hid her face behind the long sweater sleeves. 

A knock on the door grabbed their attention. Malcolm stood up first to answer it while Scotlynn urged Angus to keep reading to her. There behind the door stood Bon without his laundry bag. "She here?" Bon asked in a low voice. Malcolm stepped aside so he could see for himself. 

"Did she run away?"

"Told her after lunch I was gonna make the phone call an' she sprinted."

"Have you made it yet while she's been here?" Bon shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Nah, I went home to put some stuff away, grabbed a small somethin' to eat while I looked for her an' that's about when you called me." 

"Do you want me to call?" Malcolm offered. "I hate hurtin' the kid, she's a good kid. But we can't have her with us on tour, we can't jus' take a kid an' leave, ya' know?" Bon kept his eyes glued to Scotlynn who still hadn't noticed his presence. Her hair was messier than usual and his looked no better. "Get her back to your place an'...lay down the law or somethin'. Explain that it's not her fault, but that it's for her safety. And ours," he added quietly.

Bon watched Scotlynn listen intently to every word that came out of Angus' mouth. Angus seemed to be enjoying himself too, making the kid laugh and pulling faces. After all...they were all just kids themselves, weren't they? 

He thought back to his own childhood, sitting on his father's lap. Telling him stories and jokes and whatnot.

Except...he didn't remember his father sounding like Malcolm...

"...Bon? Ya' hear me?" He shook his head.

"Yeah. No, I hear ya'."

Malcolm nodded. "Good. We'll find her the best place in the world, where they can't kick her out, she won't get mistreated by little shits an' can get the best care."

"Jus'..." Bon shook his head. "Not tonight, Mal." Malcolm tilted his head. "She's been through enough for a day, I can put it off one more."

"You know you shouldn't do that."

"I know, I know, there's a lot of stupid things I shouldn't do, alright?" Bon asked in exasperation. He sighed. "I'll call first thing tomorrow mornin' or...whenever I'm awake. But for now...I'll get her back home an'...do whatever it is parents do when their child acts up."

"Discipline?"

"Yeah...that." Malcolm gave Bon a pat on the back. "Got anythin' to drink before I go?"

Scotlynn looked down sheepishly at the bed covers. Bon stood there beside her with his arms crossed. Her wet clothes were hanging in the bathroom and Angus had allowed her to keep the sweater for the time being. Since it smelled like tea and chocolate, she wore it to bed. An untouched glass of milk stood on the nightstand. A small pile of extra blankets lay next to her, Bon leaving a few for himself on the couch. 

"You've made a real circus of yourself today, haven't you, Scottie dog?" She didn't answer. "Not only ran away but ran away in shitty weather, an' lied to Mal an' Ang about how you got out there? You're actin' like the whole world is against you but it ain't. You're actin' like me an' the boys are against you an' that we want you gone. Well, that's a load of shit. We happen to care an awful lot about your wellbein' an' all an' you scared me quite a bit when you ran off, ya' know?" Bon began to pace the room. "What if somethin' happened to ya'? Huh? What the hell did you think you'd accomplish by doin' that, Scotlynn?"

Scotlynn picked at a loose thread on the sweater. 

"Are you gonna drink your milk or not?"

She shook her head and Bon took the glass away. "Now get some sleep. I've got one hell of a day tomorrow an' today was no picnic either." Bon waited for a response and getting nothing he headed for his bedroom door.

"Bon...?"

"Hmm?"

Scotlynn pointed to her Eloise book. "Will you read to me?"

"Ah, not tonight, Scotlynn, I'm exhausted from the stunt you pulled. Again, consider me not readin' to you as punishment, alright?" He started for the door again.

"Bon...?"

"Hmm?"

"My knee hurts." She picked at the bandage again. Bon sighed.

"Well quit gropin' it an' let it heal, alright? You'll be fine tomorrow." Bon disappeared behind the door.

"Bon!" He reappeared. 

"What?"

Scotlynn tilted her head. "What does 'shit' mean...?"

Bon rubbed a calloused hand across his tired eyes. "I'll...I'll tell you tomorrow. Goodnight."

And he left her there to wonder. 

He took the glass of milk to the fridge and stuck it in only to drag out a can of beer that Malcolm gave him. Taking a long drink he put it back inside the fridge and pulled out a bottle of amber whiskey from the back. Grabbing a glass from the cabinet he poured himself some then took both bottle and cup to the couch before collapsing on it, using the laundry bag as a pillow. 

Bon wasn't so sure he knew what he was doing...