Another Knife In My Hands

“Yeah, sorry Steph, sounds like we doomed you to being small and wearing platforms and heels to do something about it.” Lalnable laughed.

The twins chuckled, both done with their meals.

Steph giggled as well. “At least people won’t make fun of me for wearing high heels, daddy!”

That made them burst into laughter, “Jeez, your kid is savage!” Brene exclaimed.

“She gets it from her mother.’ Lalnable said sadly, shaking his head, though he was grinning.

Steff speed laughing after a few seconds, “What’s wrong? You sounded upset.”

She nodded, “Alright. Well once we finish up here, I think it’s about time Brene and I head home.”

Brene nodded, “We need to, sorry little Stephy. Maybe later you can come visit us and see Granny Snake again. I bet is been a while since you’ve seen her.”

“Okay…” Steph agreed, slid out of her seat and pulled Brene and Steff into hugs. “I’ll miss you.”

Brene and Steff hugged her back, “We’ll miss you too, little Stephy. But we’ll visit plenty alright?” Brene smiled.

“Alright!” Steph agreed, beaming.

“Here.” Brene said, giving her a little stone flower, Steff giving her a little ice flower.

Steph gasped. “They’re so pretty!” She cried. “Thank you!”

“They’re magical too. If you put the two together like this.” Steff smiled, holding the two back to back. “They call us, so only use them when you or Hector and Five or Lalna and Nano are in trouble alright?”

“See you Stephy, bye Hector, bye Five.” Steff smiled, waving them goodbye as the twins left the restaurant after paying.

“Goodbye Brene! Goodbye Steff!” Lalnable called after them, Five ran up and gave them both hugs, and practically dragged Lalnable up to do the same.

They chuckled, hugging them back, “We’ll see you later, alright?”

"Alright!" Lalnable agreed.

“Yeah, sorry Steph, sounds like we doomed you to being small and wearing platforms and heels to do something about it.” Lalnable laughed.

The twins chuckled, both done with their meals.

Steph giggled as well. “At least people won’t make fun of me for wearing high heels, daddy!”

That made them burst into laughter, “Jeez, your kid is savage!” Brene exclaimed.

“She gets it from her mother.’ Lalnable said sadly, shaking his head, though he was grinning.

Steff speed laughing after a few seconds, “What’s wrong? You sounded upset.”

She nodded, “Alright. Well once we finish up here, I think it’s about time Brene and I head home.”

Brene nodded, “We need to, sorry little Stephy. Maybe later you can come visit us and see Granny Snake again. I bet is been a while since you’ve seen her.”

“Okay…” Steph agreed, slid out of her seat and pulled Brene and Steff into hugs. “I’ll miss you.”

Brene and Steff hugged her back, “We’ll miss you too, little Stephy. But we’ll visit plenty alright?” Brene smiled.

“Alright!” Steph agreed, beaming.

“Here.” Brene said, giving her a little stone flower, Steff giving her a little ice flower.

Steph gasped. “They’re so pretty!” She cried. “Thank you!”

“They’re magical too. If you put the two together like this.” Steff smiled, holding the two back to back. “They call us, so only use them when you or Hector and Five or Lalna and Nano are in trouble alright?”

“See you Stephy, bye Hector, bye Five.” Steff smiled, waving them goodbye as the twins left the restaurant after paying.

"Goodbye Brene! Goodbye Steff!" Lalnable called after them, Five ran up and gave them both hugs, and practically dragged Lalnable up to do the same.

“Yeah, sorry Steph, sounds like we doomed you to being small and wearing platforms and heels to do something about it.” Lalnable laughed.

The twins chuckled, both done with their meals.

Steph giggled as well. “At least people won’t make fun of me for wearing high heels, daddy!”

That made them burst into laughter, “Jeez, your kid is savage!” Brene exclaimed.

“She gets it from her mother.’ Lalnable said sadly, shaking his head, though he was grinning.

Steff speed laughing after a few seconds, “What’s wrong? You sounded upset.”

She nodded, “Alright. Well once we finish up here, I think it’s about time Brene and I head home.”

Brene nodded, “We need to, sorry little Stephy. Maybe later you can come visit us and see Granny Snake again. I bet is been a while since you’ve seen her.”

“Okay…” Steph agreed, slid out of her seat and pulled Brene and Steff into hugs. “I’ll miss you.”

Brene and Steff hugged her back, “We’ll miss you too, little Stephy. But we’ll visit plenty alright?” Brene smiled.

“Alright!” Steph agreed, beaming.

“Here.” Brene said, giving her a little stone flower, Steff giving her a little ice flower.

Steph gasped. “They’re so pretty!” She cried. “Thank you!”

“They’re magical too. If you put the two together like this.” Steff smiled, holding the two back to back. “They call us, so only use them when you or Hector and Five or Lalna and Nano are in trouble alright?”

“Yeah, sorry Steph, sounds like we doomed you to being small and wearing platforms and heels to do something about it.” Lalnable laughed.

The twins chuckled, both done with their meals.

Steph giggled as well. “At least people won’t make fun of me for wearing high heels, daddy!”

That made them burst into laughter, “Jeez, your kid is savage!” Brene exclaimed.

“She gets it from her mother.’ Lalnable said sadly, shaking his head, though he was grinning.

Steff speed laughing after a few seconds, “What’s wrong? You sounded upset.”

She nodded, “Alright. Well once we finish up here, I think it’s about time Brene and I head home.”

Brene nodded, “We need to, sorry little Stephy. Maybe later you can come visit us and see Granny Snake again. I bet is been a while since you’ve seen her.”

“Okay…” Steph agreed, slid out of her seat and pulled Brene and Steff into hugs. “I’ll miss you.”

Brene and Steff hugged her back, “We’ll miss you too, little Stephy. But we’ll visit plenty alright?” Brene smiled.

“Alright!” Steph agreed, beaming.

“Here.” Brene said, giving her a little stone flower, Steff giving her a little ice flower.

Steph gasped. "They're so pretty!" She cried. "Thank you!"

“Yeah, sorry Steph, sounds like we doomed you to being small and wearing platforms and heels to do something about it.” Lalnable laughed.

The twins chuckled, both done with their meals.

Steph giggled as well. “At least people won’t make fun of me for wearing high heels, daddy!”

That made them burst into laughter, “Jeez, your kid is savage!” Brene exclaimed.

“She gets it from her mother.’ Lalnable said sadly, shaking his head, though he was grinning.

Steff speed laughing after a few seconds, “What’s wrong? You sounded upset.”

She nodded, “Alright. Well once we finish up here, I think it’s about time Brene and I head home.”

Brene nodded, “We need to, sorry little Stephy. Maybe later you can come visit us and see Granny Snake again. I bet is been a while since you’ve seen her.”

“Okay…” Steph agreed, slid out of her seat and pulled Brene and Steff into hugs. “I’ll miss you.”

Brene and Steff hugged her back, “We’ll miss you too, little Stephy. But we’ll visit plenty alright?” Brene smiled.

"Alright!" Steph agreed, beaming.

“Yeah, sorry Steph, sounds like we doomed you to being small and wearing platforms and heels to do something about it.” Lalnable laughed.

The twins chuckled, both done with their meals.

Steph giggled as well. “At least people won’t make fun of me for wearing high heels, daddy!”

That made them burst into laughter, “Jeez, your kid is savage!” Brene exclaimed.

“She gets it from her mother.’ Lalnable said sadly, shaking his head, though he was grinning.

Steff speed laughing after a few seconds, “What’s wrong? You sounded upset.”

She nodded, “Alright. Well once we finish up here, I think it’s about time Brene and I head home.”

Brene nodded, “We need to, sorry little Stephy. Maybe later you can come visit us and see Granny Snake again. I bet is been a while since you’ve seen her.”

"Okay..." Steph agreed, slid out of her seat and pulled Brene and Steff into hugs. "I'll miss you."

“Yeah, sorry Steph, sounds like we doomed you to being small and wearing platforms and heels to do something about it.” Lalnable laughed.

The twins chuckled, both done with their meals.

Steph giggled as well. “At least people won’t make fun of me for wearing high heels, daddy!”

That made them burst into laughter, “Jeez, your kid is savage!” Brene exclaimed.

“She gets it from her mother.’ Lalnable said sadly, shaking his head, though he was grinning.

Steff speed laughing after a few seconds, “What’s wrong? You sounded upset.”

She nodded, “Alright. Well once we finish up here, I think it’s about time Brene and I head home.”

“Yeah, sorry Steph, sounds like we doomed you to being small and wearing platforms and heels to do something about it.” Lalnable laughed.

The twins chuckled, both done with their meals.

Steph giggled as well. “At least people won’t make fun of me for wearing high heels, daddy!”

That made them burst into laughter, “Jeez, your kid is savage!” Brene exclaimed.

“She gets it from her mother.’ Lalnable said sadly, shaking his head, though he was grinning.

Steff speed laughing after a few seconds, “What’s wrong? You sounded upset.”

“Yeah, sorry Steph, sounds like we doomed you to being small and wearing platforms and heels to do something about it.” Lalnable laughed.

The twins chuckled, both done with their meals.

Steph giggled as well. “At least people won’t make fun of me for wearing high heels, daddy!”

That made them burst into laughter, “Jeez, your kid is savage!” Brene exclaimed.

"She gets it from her mother.' Lalnable said sadly, shaking his head, though he was grinning.

“Yeah, sorry Steph, sounds like we doomed you to being small and wearing platforms and heels to do something about it.” Lalnable laughed.

The twins chuckled, both done with their meals.

Steph giggled as well. "At least people won't make fun of me for wearing high heels, daddy!"

"Yeah, sorry Steph, sounds like we doomed you to being small and wearing platforms and heels to do something about it." Lalnable laughed.

Lalnable sighed and ate another bite of his burger. “It’ll be fine. It is fine. It’s not like they don’t let me see her.” They just enforced a little bit that he should switch weeks once and a while, when it suited them, and he really didn’t mind.

Brene nodded, “Alright, but the week they refuse to let you see her, I’m snatching her away for a few days to see you. They don’t know I know you so it’s not like they’ll go straight to your house.”

“No, they’ll go straight to the police, and the police will come to my house. Other parent is the first suspect in…” He paused, a little flustered. “Most of the time it’s divorced families but Nano and I were never really together so… you get the idea. It’ll be fine. Lalna can complain all he wants and unless Nano had actually proof of me hurting Steph or doing something wrong, all she’ll do is come check on us.”

“But they can’t charge you for it, because she’d be at our place probably learning how to draw with her Granny Snake.” Brene replied. “But okay, our offer still stands about using our place as a spot to hide out in.”

But Nano had met one of the people that would be there, Steff, at Lalnable’s lab. He’d just end up an accomplice. “Thank you, but it’s pretty okay.” He assured them.

She nodded, everyone going back to their food. “You picked quite the restaurant, Five. This place is pretty nice.” Steff smiled.

“I know!” Five assured them. “Besides, about the whole manner, Nano trusts that I’d tell her if anything terrible was going on, and I don’t have to, because it’s ludicrous to think that anything would!”

Steff nodded, “Yeah, not much can go that bad.”

“She thinks I’m going to go mad scientist on Steph. That’s why she gets Five to check on me.” Lalnable explained, rolling his eyes.

“Wow, no trust what so ever huh? She should at least know you wouldn’t do that to your own flesh and blood. Not to mention she’s a child.” Steff sighed.

Steff nodded, she was there after all.

“Yeah, yeah, you and your technicalities.” Five rolled her eyes. “That definitely counted Steph was scared out of her mind!”

“But she wasn’t in any real danger.” Steff pointed.

“Psychological danger is still danger!” Five sing-songed. “She’s young, that could have had major consequences!”

“Yeah, you do have a point.“Steff nodded, she knew about psychological danger.

“Steff are you alright?” Lalnable asked quickly. “Sorry, we can… find a new topic.”

Steff looked up, nodding softly. “Y-yeah, this one is a little personal now.”

“No worries!” Lalnable wasn’t exactly appreciating the conversation either, if only because he didn’t take criticism well.

She nodded again, picking at her food. She wasn’t all that hungry anymore.

Five felt a bit of guilt swelling in her tummy when she realized what her comments had done to Steff. “Sorry…”

She looked up, a smile covering her face. “Oh, no it’s alright. Don’t worry about it.”

“Anyways, Steph is starting school in a month!” Lalnable announced. He sounded proud but also sort of sad. She was growing up so fast…

“Really? Wow, she’s growing up so fast.” Brene smiled, Steff just nodding.

“Yeah, she’s gonna be all grown up soon.” Lalnable said regretfully.

Brene chuckled, “Aww, don’t worry Hector. She’ll always be your little girl, no matter how old she gets.”

Steff chuckled at that, “Hey, you can always wear high heels.”

“Once or twice for business meetings that everyone towers over me at. But mostly just platforms.” Lalnable replied’ sighing.

She nodded, “Huh. Did they know?”

“Not until I complained that my ankles hurt halfway through.” Lalnable laughed. “And Five is right, my boots are platforms.”

Lalnable laughed. “Maybe Steph will get lucky and grow really tall.”

“I doubt it, unless one of you had a tall person in your family.”

“My mother was relatively tall.” Lalnable admitted.

“Then she might have a chance.” Brene shrugged, “But I wouldn’t bet on it.”

"My mother always said my dad was tall, but I wouldn't really know I don't remember him." Lalnable admitted. "Apparently he wasn't tall enough to make me tall."

Lalnable sighed and ate another bite of his burger. “It’ll be fine. It is fine. It’s not like they don’t let me see her.” They just enforced a little bit that he should switch weeks once and a while, when it suited them, and he really didn’t mind.

Brene nodded, “Alright, but the week they refuse to let you see her, I’m snatching her away for a few days to see you. They don’t know I know you so it’s not like they’ll go straight to your house.”

“No, they’ll go straight to the police, and the police will come to my house. Other parent is the first suspect in…” He paused, a little flustered. “Most of the time it’s divorced families but Nano and I were never really together so… you get the idea. It’ll be fine. Lalna can complain all he wants and unless Nano had actually proof of me hurting Steph or doing something wrong, all she’ll do is come check on us.”

“But they can’t charge you for it, because she’d be at our place probably learning how to draw with her Granny Snake.” Brene replied. “But okay, our offer still stands about using our place as a spot to hide out in.”

But Nano had met one of the people that would be there, Steff, at Lalnable’s lab. He’d just end up an accomplice. “Thank you, but it’s pretty okay.” He assured them.

She nodded, everyone going back to their food. “You picked quite the restaurant, Five. This place is pretty nice.” Steff smiled.

“I know!” Five assured them. “Besides, about the whole manner, Nano trusts that I’d tell her if anything terrible was going on, and I don’t have to, because it’s ludicrous to think that anything would!”

Steff nodded, “Yeah, not much can go that bad.”

“She thinks I’m going to go mad scientist on Steph. That’s why she gets Five to check on me.” Lalnable explained, rolling his eyes.

“Wow, no trust what so ever huh? She should at least know you wouldn’t do that to your own flesh and blood. Not to mention she’s a child.” Steff sighed.

Steff nodded, she was there after all.

“Yeah, yeah, you and your technicalities.” Five rolled her eyes. “That definitely counted Steph was scared out of her mind!”

“But she wasn’t in any real danger.” Steff pointed.

“Psychological danger is still danger!” Five sing-songed. “She’s young, that could have had major consequences!”

“Yeah, you do have a point.“Steff nodded, she knew about psychological danger.

“Steff are you alright?” Lalnable asked quickly. “Sorry, we can… find a new topic.”

Steff looked up, nodding softly. “Y-yeah, this one is a little personal now.”

“No worries!” Lalnable wasn’t exactly appreciating the conversation either, if only because he didn’t take criticism well.

She nodded again, picking at her food. She wasn’t all that hungry anymore.

Five felt a bit of guilt swelling in her tummy when she realized what her comments had done to Steff. “Sorry…”

She looked up, a smile covering her face. “Oh, no it’s alright. Don’t worry about it.”

“Anyways, Steph is starting school in a month!” Lalnable announced. He sounded proud but also sort of sad. She was growing up so fast…

“Really? Wow, she’s growing up so fast.” Brene smiled, Steff just nodding.

“Yeah, she’s gonna be all grown up soon.” Lalnable said regretfully.

Brene chuckled, “Aww, don’t worry Hector. She’ll always be your little girl, no matter how old she gets.”

Steff chuckled at that, “Hey, you can always wear high heels.”

“Once or twice for business meetings that everyone towers over me at. But mostly just platforms.” Lalnable replied’ sighing.

She nodded, “Huh. Did they know?”

“Not until I complained that my ankles hurt halfway through.” Lalnable laughed. “And Five is right, my boots are platforms.”

Lalnable laughed. “Maybe Steph will get lucky and grow really tall.”

“I doubt it, unless one of you had a tall person in your family.”

"My mother was relatively tall." Lalnable admitted.

Lalnable sighed and ate another bite of his burger. “It’ll be fine. It is fine. It’s not like they don’t let me see her.” They just enforced a little bit that he should switch weeks once and a while, when it suited them, and he really didn’t mind.

Brene nodded, “Alright, but the week they refuse to let you see her, I’m snatching her away for a few days to see you. They don’t know I know you so it’s not like they’ll go straight to your house.”

“No, they’ll go straight to the police, and the police will come to my house. Other parent is the first suspect in…” He paused, a little flustered. “Most of the time it’s divorced families but Nano and I were never really together so… you get the idea. It’ll be fine. Lalna can complain all he wants and unless Nano had actually proof of me hurting Steph or doing something wrong, all she’ll do is come check on us.”

“But they can’t charge you for it, because she’d be at our place probably learning how to draw with her Granny Snake.” Brene replied. “But okay, our offer still stands about using our place as a spot to hide out in.”

But Nano had met one of the people that would be there, Steff, at Lalnable’s lab. He’d just end up an accomplice. “Thank you, but it’s pretty okay.” He assured them.

She nodded, everyone going back to their food. “You picked quite the restaurant, Five. This place is pretty nice.” Steff smiled.

“I know!” Five assured them. “Besides, about the whole manner, Nano trusts that I’d tell her if anything terrible was going on, and I don’t have to, because it’s ludicrous to think that anything would!”

Steff nodded, “Yeah, not much can go that bad.”

“She thinks I’m going to go mad scientist on Steph. That’s why she gets Five to check on me.” Lalnable explained, rolling his eyes.

“Wow, no trust what so ever huh? She should at least know you wouldn’t do that to your own flesh and blood. Not to mention she’s a child.” Steff sighed.

Steff nodded, she was there after all.

“Yeah, yeah, you and your technicalities.” Five rolled her eyes. “That definitely counted Steph was scared out of her mind!”

“But she wasn’t in any real danger.” Steff pointed.

“Psychological danger is still danger!” Five sing-songed. “She’s young, that could have had major consequences!”

“Yeah, you do have a point.“Steff nodded, she knew about psychological danger.

“Steff are you alright?” Lalnable asked quickly. “Sorry, we can… find a new topic.”

Steff looked up, nodding softly. “Y-yeah, this one is a little personal now.”

“No worries!” Lalnable wasn’t exactly appreciating the conversation either, if only because he didn’t take criticism well.

She nodded again, picking at her food. She wasn’t all that hungry anymore.

Five felt a bit of guilt swelling in her tummy when she realized what her comments had done to Steff. “Sorry…”

She looked up, a smile covering her face. “Oh, no it’s alright. Don’t worry about it.”

“Anyways, Steph is starting school in a month!” Lalnable announced. He sounded proud but also sort of sad. She was growing up so fast…

“Really? Wow, she’s growing up so fast.” Brene smiled, Steff just nodding.

“Yeah, she’s gonna be all grown up soon.” Lalnable said regretfully.

Brene chuckled, “Aww, don’t worry Hector. She’ll always be your little girl, no matter how old she gets.”

Steff chuckled at that, “Hey, you can always wear high heels.”

“Once or twice for business meetings that everyone towers over me at. But mostly just platforms.” Lalnable replied’ sighing.

She nodded, “Huh. Did they know?”

“Not until I complained that my ankles hurt halfway through.” Lalnable laughed. “And Five is right, my boots are platforms.”

Lalnable laughed. "Maybe Steph will get lucky and grow really tall."

Lalnable sighed and ate another bite of his burger. “It’ll be fine. It is fine. It’s not like they don’t let me see her.” They just enforced a little bit that he should switch weeks once and a while, when it suited them, and he really didn’t mind.

Brene nodded, “Alright, but the week they refuse to let you see her, I’m snatching her away for a few days to see you. They don’t know I know you so it’s not like they’ll go straight to your house.”

“No, they’ll go straight to the police, and the police will come to my house. Other parent is the first suspect in…” He paused, a little flustered. “Most of the time it’s divorced families but Nano and I were never really together so… you get the idea. It’ll be fine. Lalna can complain all he wants and unless Nano had actually proof of me hurting Steph or doing something wrong, all she’ll do is come check on us.”

“But they can’t charge you for it, because she’d be at our place probably learning how to draw with her Granny Snake.” Brene replied. “But okay, our offer still stands about using our place as a spot to hide out in.”

But Nano had met one of the people that would be there, Steff, at Lalnable’s lab. He’d just end up an accomplice. “Thank you, but it’s pretty okay.” He assured them.

She nodded, everyone going back to their food. “You picked quite the restaurant, Five. This place is pretty nice.” Steff smiled.

“I know!” Five assured them. “Besides, about the whole manner, Nano trusts that I’d tell her if anything terrible was going on, and I don’t have to, because it’s ludicrous to think that anything would!”

Steff nodded, “Yeah, not much can go that bad.”

“She thinks I’m going to go mad scientist on Steph. That’s why she gets Five to check on me.” Lalnable explained, rolling his eyes.

“Wow, no trust what so ever huh? She should at least know you wouldn’t do that to your own flesh and blood. Not to mention she’s a child.” Steff sighed.

Steff nodded, she was there after all.

“Yeah, yeah, you and your technicalities.” Five rolled her eyes. “That definitely counted Steph was scared out of her mind!”

“But she wasn’t in any real danger.” Steff pointed.

“Psychological danger is still danger!” Five sing-songed. “She’s young, that could have had major consequences!”

“Yeah, you do have a point.“Steff nodded, she knew about psychological danger.

“Steff are you alright?” Lalnable asked quickly. “Sorry, we can… find a new topic.”

Steff looked up, nodding softly. “Y-yeah, this one is a little personal now.”

“No worries!” Lalnable wasn’t exactly appreciating the conversation either, if only because he didn’t take criticism well.

She nodded again, picking at her food. She wasn’t all that hungry anymore.

Five felt a bit of guilt swelling in her tummy when she realized what her comments had done to Steff. “Sorry…”

She looked up, a smile covering her face. “Oh, no it’s alright. Don’t worry about it.”

“Anyways, Steph is starting school in a month!” Lalnable announced. He sounded proud but also sort of sad. She was growing up so fast…

“Really? Wow, she’s growing up so fast.” Brene smiled, Steff just nodding.

“Yeah, she’s gonna be all grown up soon.” Lalnable said regretfully.

Brene chuckled, “Aww, don’t worry Hector. She’ll always be your little girl, no matter how old she gets.”

Steff chuckled at that, “Hey, you can always wear high heels.”

“Once or twice for business meetings that everyone towers over me at. But mostly just platforms.” Lalnable replied’ sighing.

She nodded, “Huh. Did they know?”

"Not until I complained that my ankles hurt halfway through." Lalnable laughed. "And Five is right, my boots are platforms."

Lalnable sighed and ate another bite of his burger. “It’ll be fine. It is fine. It’s not like they don’t let me see her.” They just enforced a little bit that he should switch weeks once and a while, when it suited them, and he really didn’t mind.

Brene nodded, “Alright, but the week they refuse to let you see her, I’m snatching her away for a few days to see you. They don’t know I know you so it’s not like they’ll go straight to your house.”

“No, they’ll go straight to the police, and the police will come to my house. Other parent is the first suspect in…” He paused, a little flustered. “Most of the time it’s divorced families but Nano and I were never really together so… you get the idea. It’ll be fine. Lalna can complain all he wants and unless Nano had actually proof of me hurting Steph or doing something wrong, all she’ll do is come check on us.”

“But they can’t charge you for it, because she’d be at our place probably learning how to draw with her Granny Snake.” Brene replied. “But okay, our offer still stands about using our place as a spot to hide out in.”

But Nano had met one of the people that would be there, Steff, at Lalnable’s lab. He’d just end up an accomplice. “Thank you, but it’s pretty okay.” He assured them.

She nodded, everyone going back to their food. “You picked quite the restaurant, Five. This place is pretty nice.” Steff smiled.

“I know!” Five assured them. “Besides, about the whole manner, Nano trusts that I’d tell her if anything terrible was going on, and I don’t have to, because it’s ludicrous to think that anything would!”

Steff nodded, “Yeah, not much can go that bad.”

“She thinks I’m going to go mad scientist on Steph. That’s why she gets Five to check on me.” Lalnable explained, rolling his eyes.

“Wow, no trust what so ever huh? She should at least know you wouldn’t do that to your own flesh and blood. Not to mention she’s a child.” Steff sighed.

Steff nodded, she was there after all.

“Yeah, yeah, you and your technicalities.” Five rolled her eyes. “That definitely counted Steph was scared out of her mind!”

“But she wasn’t in any real danger.” Steff pointed.

“Psychological danger is still danger!” Five sing-songed. “She’s young, that could have had major consequences!”

“Yeah, you do have a point.“Steff nodded, she knew about psychological danger.

“Steff are you alright?” Lalnable asked quickly. “Sorry, we can… find a new topic.”

Steff looked up, nodding softly. “Y-yeah, this one is a little personal now.”

“No worries!” Lalnable wasn’t exactly appreciating the conversation either, if only because he didn’t take criticism well.

She nodded again, picking at her food. She wasn’t all that hungry anymore.

Five felt a bit of guilt swelling in her tummy when she realized what her comments had done to Steff. “Sorry…”

She looked up, a smile covering her face. “Oh, no it’s alright. Don’t worry about it.”

“Anyways, Steph is starting school in a month!” Lalnable announced. He sounded proud but also sort of sad. She was growing up so fast…

“Really? Wow, she’s growing up so fast.” Brene smiled, Steff just nodding.

“Yeah, she’s gonna be all grown up soon.” Lalnable said regretfully.

Brene chuckled, “Aww, don’t worry Hector. She’ll always be your little girl, no matter how old she gets.”

Steff chuckled at that, “Hey, you can always wear high heels.”

"Once or twice for business meetings that everyone towers over me at. But mostly just platforms." Lalnable replied' sighing.

Lalnable sighed and ate another bite of his burger. “It’ll be fine. It is fine. It’s not like they don’t let me see her.” They just enforced a little bit that he should switch weeks once and a while, when it suited them, and he really didn’t mind.

Brene nodded, “Alright, but the week they refuse to let you see her, I’m snatching her away for a few days to see you. They don’t know I know you so it’s not like they’ll go straight to your house.”

“No, they’ll go straight to the police, and the police will come to my house. Other parent is the first suspect in…” He paused, a little flustered. “Most of the time it’s divorced families but Nano and I were never really together so… you get the idea. It’ll be fine. Lalna can complain all he wants and unless Nano had actually proof of me hurting Steph or doing something wrong, all she’ll do is come check on us.”

“But they can’t charge you for it, because she’d be at our place probably learning how to draw with her Granny Snake.” Brene replied. “But okay, our offer still stands about using our place as a spot to hide out in.”

But Nano had met one of the people that would be there, Steff, at Lalnable’s lab. He’d just end up an accomplice. “Thank you, but it’s pretty okay.” He assured them.

She nodded, everyone going back to their food. “You picked quite the restaurant, Five. This place is pretty nice.” Steff smiled.

“I know!” Five assured them. “Besides, about the whole manner, Nano trusts that I’d tell her if anything terrible was going on, and I don’t have to, because it’s ludicrous to think that anything would!”

Steff nodded, “Yeah, not much can go that bad.”

“She thinks I’m going to go mad scientist on Steph. That’s why she gets Five to check on me.” Lalnable explained, rolling his eyes.

“Wow, no trust what so ever huh? She should at least know you wouldn’t do that to your own flesh and blood. Not to mention she’s a child.” Steff sighed.

Steff nodded, she was there after all.

“Yeah, yeah, you and your technicalities.” Five rolled her eyes. “That definitely counted Steph was scared out of her mind!”

“But she wasn’t in any real danger.” Steff pointed.

“Psychological danger is still danger!” Five sing-songed. “She’s young, that could have had major consequences!”

“Yeah, you do have a point.“Steff nodded, she knew about psychological danger.

“Steff are you alright?” Lalnable asked quickly. “Sorry, we can… find a new topic.”

Steff looked up, nodding softly. “Y-yeah, this one is a little personal now.”

“No worries!” Lalnable wasn’t exactly appreciating the conversation either, if only because he didn’t take criticism well.

She nodded again, picking at her food. She wasn’t all that hungry anymore.

Five felt a bit of guilt swelling in her tummy when she realized what her comments had done to Steff. “Sorry…”

She looked up, a smile covering her face. “Oh, no it’s alright. Don’t worry about it.”

“Anyways, Steph is starting school in a month!” Lalnable announced. He sounded proud but also sort of sad. She was growing up so fast…

“Really? Wow, she’s growing up so fast.” Brene smiled, Steff just nodding.

“Yeah, she’s gonna be all grown up soon.” Lalnable said regretfully.

Brene chuckled, “Aww, don’t worry Hector. She’ll always be your little girl, no matter how old she gets.”

Steff chuckled at that, “Hey, you can always wear high heels.”