(Fanny’s POV for the intro story cause why not)

Fanny was rather furious at the moment. She couldn’t understand why her daddy wouldn’t let her go to Penny’s house.

“But Daddy!” She cried. “She’s my best friend!” Fanny clung to Edmund’s leg, summoning all the tears she could.

Edmund patted her head and sighed before turning back to his paperwork. “Well I don’t know her parents, so that’s a no.”

The girl threw herself to the ground and thrashed her fists. Edmund didn’t even spare her a glance before he sat down in his seat.

Fanny stopped her tantrum. She layed on the floor, face to the carpet and arms to her sides, frowning at Edmund with her eyes.

“Me and her basically have the same name too.”

Edmund raised an eyebrow, eyes still on his work. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“I dunno.” Fanny closed her eyes.

It was quiet, with the sound of rustling paper and their soft breathing in the silence.

“Daddy.”

“Uh-huh?”

“Why do you have so much work?”

Edmund paused. “Because I have an important job.”

“Mhhh.” And then she fell asleep.

***

(Back to Edmund’s POV)

The sun was hotter then hot that day. Edmund, though, was wearing a black turtleneck sweater and some jeans.

“Daddy,” Fanny said as they walked across the street from their apartment complex to the neighborhood park, “How are you not hot?”

Edmund held her hand and shrugged. Fanny was more well dressed for the weather, with her short sleeved pink flower shirt and tiny shorts. “To be honest, I don’t know.”

She frowned. “Your weird, Daddy.”

“Trust me, your not the first person to say that,” he muttered. He ushered Fanny to the swings, noticing the one child who was playing and a man sitting on a bench. “Go ahead and play.”

“Okay!” Fanny giggled and ran towards her favorite swing.

Edmund sighed and then went to sit on a bench. There was only one, so he found himself sitting next to the man. The man spared him a glance and waved.

Edmund strangely felt awkward. He never seen this man at the complex before; was he new?

Thankfully, the new man was the extroverted type.

“Hi, my name’s August. Me and my son just moved here a few days ago.” August laughed. “I think you and your daughter are the first family unit I’ve seen here.”

Edmund gave a slow nod. Unsure what to say. It was like his mind had went on shut down at the thought of talking to another adult.

August’s smile faltered. “Um? Are you alright?”

Edmund coughed. “Yes, yes. My name is Edmund.”

August’s smile came back in full swing. “That’s a strange name.”

“Also, she’s not my daughter.”

August’s smile froze on his face. His eyes narrowed.

“What.”

***

Fanny and August’s child, Kaleb, became inseparable after that day at the park.

The two men weren’t sure what had happened during their introductions, but Fanny and Kaleb were two peas in a pod and were two twins of destructive mayhem….

***

“Hey, Daddy,” Fanny said, trying to sit still as August combed her hair ponytails._ (“Such nice long hair~”)_, “isn’t your mommy coming today?”

The four of them sat inside Edmund’s apartment’s small living room for a small time to get together.

Edmund nodded. Kaleb stuffed a croissant, his fourth one, Edmund noted, into his mouth. “Your mom’s still alive? Aren’t you like 60?”

Edmund wheezed as August left go of Fanny’s hair to stride over to Kaleb and pop him on the mouth. “Kaleb Dean Wilkerson!”

“Owie! Papa!” Kaleb rubbed his swelling lip.

August gave a shy laugh; his face was red. “Sorry about that,” he said, “sometimes Kaleb can’t control his mouth.”

Fanny crawled over to put her head in Edmund’s lap. “Trust me,” the man said, “I know.”

“Daddy.”

“Yes, Fanny.”

“You still haven’t answered my question.”

“Ah, yes, she’s supposed to.”

“Then where is she?”

“Well….”

***

**_Jennifer_**

She had lied. Yes, she felt bad, but she really didn’t want to meet that girl.

Who was technically her half-sister.

If she felt weird just thinking about her, she would definitely feel weird _around_ her. Holding her. Hugging her.

She admitted it: she was scared of the girl.

So all she had to do was pretend that she was busy with something else and Mundy wouldn’t question it.

***

_(Alright, lost motivation. And I’m starting up on Denying X _♾️_ anyway so yeah! This is the finale for now. Thanks for reading and have a good day!)_