Alone
Daria Morgendorffer walked downstairs and turned to head toward the kitchen of her family’s home when she heard voices.
“I can’t believe your parents left you alone in the house for two weeks over the summer.” One of her sister’s friends said.
:That would be Stacy.: Daria thought with a sigh as she walked into the room, remembering Quinn asking if her friend could hang around for a few days.
“Not alone exactly.” Quinn sighed with a half smile and nod at Daria.
“Hi.” The pig tailed girl said with a bright smile.
“Isn’t it against fashion club rules to be nice to losers.” Daria groaned as she started pulling items out of the fridge for breakfast.
“Sandi is in Europe with her parents and Tiffany talked her parents into sending her to fat camp.” Stacy shrugged.
“Which means that we can do what ever we want for the summer, even being nice to fashionless losers.” Quinn teased.
“Really does that mean you’ll be nice to Jane when she comes over later.” Daria asked with a smirk as she started breaking eggs into a pan.
“Sure, and if you throw some extra ham in that omelet I might even remember her name if you share.” Quinn said as she stared with hunger at the various chunks of ham and cheese that Daria was tossing on top of the eggs as they slowly cooked.
“I’m making a really big one so there should be enough for all of us.” Daria said.
:I shouldn’t take it the wrong way, she meant it as a joke but does she really think I would let her go hungry just because Mom and Dad don’t like the idea of her cooking since the pancake accident.: Daria thought and then shuddered.
“Thanks.” Quinn blushed but she started taking out plates and silverware and then grabbed a pitcher of juice out of the fridge and moved it all to the table.
“Could you grab an extra plate, Jane could be here any time and I want to be prepared.” Daria said as she closed the omelet with a practiced flip.
“Sure, I take it that’s why you put on the coffee.” Quinn sighed.
“Of course. We’re going to try to come up with some kind of grand adventure to do the last few weeks of summer.” Daria shrugged.
“You look normal.” Stacy blurted out suddenly.
“Stacy!” Quinn gasped and covered her face.
Daria looked down at the baggy shorts and t-shirt she had slept in and sighed.
“I am normal, I’m just not like you. Or anyone else for that matter.” Daria said with a half smile.
“Sorry, it’s just you’re not wearing …” Stacy started then wisely stopped.
“It’s ok, I’m not wearing an ugly green jacket and a skirt.” Daria almost laughed.
“I wear what I want and if that means some people aren’t going to like me then SO BE IT.” Daria ended loudly.
Quinn and Stacy both just looked at each other nervously.
“Pump up the Volume, Christen Slater.” Daria said and then sighed as she quickly cut the omelet and slid portions onto each of the four plates.
“It was a movie.” Daria added.
“Ohhhhh.” Stacy said now understanding that Daria had been quoting a movie.
“Is it bigger than a baby’s arm?” Quinn started giggling as she remembered a line herself.
“That’s the one.” Daria said as she took her seat.
The three girls started eating and the front door slamming shut shocked all of them.
“HEY MORGENDORFFER.” Jane Lane said as she moved through the house.
“In the kitchen just let me call the police to tell them not the come shoot the forth person in the house.” Daria called back.
“What is this, food and you share with the enemy before me.” Jane mocked being hurt and offended.
Quinn pushed the extra plate a little to bring it to Jane attention and she quickly sat and dug in.
“Now my faith is restored.” Jane said between bites.
“What are you two going to being doing today?” Daria asked Quinn and Stacy who both suddenly looked caught.
“Quinn as much as I would like to let you throw a party or whatever I promised Mom and Dad that nothing would be going on while they’re gone.” Daria sighed.
“I know.” Quinn said and anyone could see the gears spinning in her head.
“We’re just going to watch some TV.” Stacy said quickly.
Daria’s eyes narrowed.
“A fashion program.” Quinn muttered weakly.
“Ya, a new one.” Stacy added.
“I think they’re lying.” Jane grinned as she continued to eat.
“Of course they’re lying and I would hate to think Quinn would throw away the large amounts of freedom and trust I have allowed her throughout the last week for something stupid.” Daria said trying to channel her mother at Quinn and Stacy.
“Fine, we’re going to watch the Battlestar Galactica marathon on the Sci-Fi channel.” Quinn groaned and slammed her head to the table.
“And what’s the big deal about that.” Daria said frustrated.
“It’s kind of nerdy but we like and we don’t ever get a chance to see it unless Sandi and Tiffany are out of town.” Stacy admitted.
“You can use the big TV in the living room.” Daria smirked.
“Thanks, please don’t tell anyone.” Quinn said perking up slightly.
“Who would believe me?” Daria shrugged.
Two days passed and Daria found herself staring at a large police officer that was holding her sister and Stacy by the upper arms and glaring down at them in the middle of the living room.
“What did they do?” Daria sighed.
“These two decided that it would be funny to drop a soda on my partner as he passed them on a lower level at the mall.” The officer fumed and shook both the girls.
“It was an accident. Stacy was telling a joke right as I took a drink and I started laughing and well it happened. I lost control of my cup.” Quinn said and it was clear she was telling the truth.
“Just as my partner was walking underneath them.” The officer said forcefully.
“Sounds like she’s telling the truth.” Daria said nicely.
“Sure it does and I might win the lottery and take up golf.” The officer barked.
“Well what do you want, I believe her.” Daria said honestly.
“Are your parents home?” The officer said clearly wanting to deal with someone other that her.
“No, they’re out of town for a few days but I can call my mother’s boss over at the law firm and see what he thinks we should do.” Daria said and reached for the phone.
“No need. Keep them on a shorter leash.” The officer growled and then stomped out of the house.
Daria waited until he had left before turning to Quinn and Stacy, ready to chew them out but the sheer relief that showed on their faces convinced her again that they hadn’t done anything on purpose.
“I think we can chalk this one up as bad luck.” Daria tried to stay serious but a burst of laughter escaped her.
“It’s not funny.” Quinn said looking scandalized.
“It is a little.” Stacy said with a giggle.
“Ok it is.” Quinn admitted.
Jane tossed a water balloon at Quinn as she ducked into the sliding glass door that bordered the dining area and ran into the kitchen.
She slid behind Daria who was reading a book as she waited from spaghetti noodles to finish cooking.
Quinn dashed behind her holding up an oversized balloon that was twice the size of her head.
“Ok, Paint girl get ready for a bath.” Quinn said with an evil laugh as she held the balloon over her head.
“All’s fair in war Princess.” Jane mocked from behind Daria.
“Stacy snuck up behind Quinn and poked the balloon with a stick and made it burst over Quinn’s head.
Daria sighed and marked her page and set the book down on a dry section of counter and cleared her throat.
“All right you pack of water monkeys, Stacy and Jane get some towels and start drying this place and Quinn get changed. You all are going to get sick and then I’m stuck taking care of you.” Daria said and Quinn’s shoulders dropped.
“C’mon just a few more minutes.” Jane whined.
“No, dinner will be ready in 25 minutes and I want to sit on a dry chair so everybody start drying and Quinn hit the showers, when she’s out Stacy’s next, then Jane.” Daria instructed as she checked the sauce where it simmered and then opened the oven door to check on the meatballs and garlic bread.
“Yes Mom.” Quinn groaned as she headed upstairs.
Jane and Stacy quickly started cleaning up the puddles and joking and Daria was betting money that she was the topic.
The four girls sat around the table eating when the phone rang. The table was home to a friendly atmosphere and all of them were smiling.
“Let the machine get it.” Daria dismissed it.
They heard the standard greeting and then an unknown voice started speaking.
“Hello this is Atlantic Cruise lines. We are attempting to contact the family of Jake and Helen Morgendorffer. We regret to inform you that the ship The Queen’s Hand was lost at sea. Rescue teams are searching for survivors and we may need assistance in identifying the dead, please contact us.” The voice said and rattled off several contact numbers before the call ended.
Not one of the girls spoke.
Part 2
Quinn melted down in seconds and within an hour she was passed out exhausted. Daria was just numb. Jane and Stacy showed their true colors and both girls stayed with the sisters and helped them through the next few hours.
Daria sat on the couch with the phone on her lap as Stacy held a sleeping Quinn on her lap like a child.
“What are you going to do Amiga?” Jane asked.
“I don’t know.” Daria said.
“What did the person at the cruise line say?” Jane pushed.
“Mostly they wanted to talk about a settlement check. They haven’t found them alive or dead yet.” Daria felt wetness run down her cheek.
“Shouldn’t we call someone, your family maybe?” Stacy said hesitantly.
“Let’s see, that would mean one of the grandmother’s who hate me or Rita who just doesn’t care.” Daria answered thoughtfully.
“What about the other one, Amy right. You said she was pretty cool.” Jane pushed gently.
“She was heading out of the country last I heard for something to do with her work.” Daria answered distantly.
“Are you ok?” Jane said moving next to the chair.
Daria shook her head slowly no.
“Hey no matter what happens, I’ll help.” Jane promised as she wrapped her arms around her friend.
“But what happens now? You can’t stay here alone.” Stacy said shocked.
“Why not, we’ve been doing it for the last week and a half.” Daria said without emotion.
“Oh.” Stacy replied looking confused.
“I need to think some, I don’t want you two to leave or anything and I hope you’ll hang out with Quinn if she wakes up before morning but right now I have to figure out what to do.” Daria said and then she got up and walked into the kitchen.
Stacy rubbed Quinn’s hair out of her eyes gently and looked up at Jane.
“I’m really scared right now.” Stacy whispered.
“Me too and that’s not what’s freaking me out, Daria is scared and that is something I never thought I would see.” Jane admitted.
“Quinn took it really hard.” Stacy added.
“We’ll see how she’s doing in the morning.” Jane said more upbeat than she felt.
Daria sat watching the moon rise in the sky and pushed away the anger and pain.
:I can’t fall apart right now.: She thought with determination. A flood of memories started to form a picture in her mind.
“We’re counting on you to take care of your sister.” Her mother’s voice told her.
“Don’t worry Daddy I have ID.” Quinn voice said.
“We’re worth more dead than alive.” Her father echoed.
:I can’t really be considering this.: Daria said. :I’m still in high school, no one is dumb enough to fall for this.:
Her hands dialed the number and she waited for his voice to answer.
“Hi, this is Helen’s daughter, Daria.” She said calmly.
“First, you’re already the family’s lawyer right so anything I say is privileged right.” She demanded.
“Ok, Here it is.” Daria started.
Quinn woke up on the couch and for a brief second she forgot yesterday but in moments it rushed back at her.
She got up carefully as not to wake up Stacy who was sharing the couch with her and stepping over Jane and moved like a zombie into the kitchen only wanting something to wash the morning taste out of her mouth before she started crying again.
Her sister was standing in the kitchen and she was making breakfast again and Quinn wanted to scream at her.
:How dare she act like everything was normal. How dare she manage to keep going without falling apart.: Quinn though angrily
“You look a little better. After breakfast we can sit down and talk.” Daria said sparing her a casual glance over her shoulder.
“Talk, TALK! Talk about what Daria? Mom and Dad are dead.” Quinn yelled.
“Talk about what’s going to happen next.” Daria said calmly as she turned the hash browns she was frying.
Quinn got confused and the anger that was raging inside herself couldn’t bring itself to bare at her sister.
“I have some ideas but I need your input and well this should wait until we eat.” Daria sighed.
“Ok.” Quinn said weakly.
“Here have some juice.” Daria said as she turned and poured Quinn a glass of orange juice and set it in front of Quinn.
Quinn sipped her juice and tried to work her head around everything but it was just to big to take in.
:I’m never going to see them again, to big. Mom is never going to ground me again, to big. I’m never going to hear daddy call me kiddo again.: Quinn thought and tears started falling.
Daria pulled the potatoes off the heat and moved around the breakfast bar and wrapped Quinn into a hug.
“I’m going to take care of you.” Daria promised as Quinn cried against her.
The four girls gathered around the table again and Jane froze when she first saw Daria holding Quinn’s hand gently as they sat next to each other. Stacy took the seat to Quinn’s right and Jane took the one to Daria’s left.
The meal was picked at and pushed around the plates before Daria figured enough time had passed then she carefully wiped the food that wasn’t there from her mouth and sighed.
“I’m not leaving Lawndale and I don’t think Quinn should have to either.” Daria declared.
“What?” Jane said unsure what her friend was trying to say.
“I’ve decided to stay, here. Mom and Dad’s life insurance is more than enough to pay off the house and give us enough money to live off for a while, years if we’re careful. A settlement from the cruise line would bolster that for even longer and then we’ll both be old enough to leave home so it won’t matter.” Daria said strongly.
“The authorities aren’t going to let a 17 year old and a 16 year old live alone.” Jane said honestly.
“Who’s going to tell them?” Daria said calmly.
“Besides the people sitting here the only person who knows we’re on our own is Eric from Mom’s work and since he’s our lawyer he can’t tell anyone unless we are at risk of harm and if we can prove to him that we aren’t then it’s just a matter of burning off a year till I turn 18 and then I can get legal custody of Quinn.” Daria said carefully.
“What about Rita and Grandma Ruth?” Quinn asked.
“They call a couple of times a year, we just tell them that the parents are at work or on a trip.” Daria shrugged.
“So you’re planning on staying here without anyone to take care of you?” Stacy said shocked.
“No, I’ll be taking care of Quinn. I can get a job for the rest of the summer and then one after school once we go back. I don’t think we’ll need the money but I think it might be a good idea to show I’m capable of supporting us.” Daria admitted.
“Amiga, this isn’t so kind of little thing. This is pretty serous.” Jane said choosing her words carefully.
“I know. Look I have to ask you two to not tell anyone and that means Sandi and Tiffany and it really means Tom.” Daria said looking at Stacy and then Jane.
“I won’t.” Stacy agreed.
“Not a problem, can I tell Trent?” Jane asked.
“I doubt he’s going to run his mouth off to someone who might take issue with us so that should be fine but make sure he knows not to tell the band.” Daria nodded.
“So you’re really planning on doing this!” Jane said.
“I’ve already done it.” Daria said forcefully. “Monday I should have legal documents that show me as a legal adult and that I’m Quinn’s legal guardian. After that I’ll wring out the largest settlement offer from the cruise line and then we start trying to move on.” Daria said.
“So you’ll be the parent.” Stacy exclaimed in awe.
“Yes, if that’s ok with you.” Daria said looking at Quinn.
Quinn tried to think but she couldn’t and for the first time in her life she had a moment of insight.
:I’m not ready to start my whole life over again and I need someone to take care of me and I think Daria needs to take care of someone.: Quinn thought and then she spoke.
“Ok but if you ask me to start calling you Mom then I’m calling Aunt Rita.” Quinn said.
“Deal but I’ll be happy if you start calling me sister.” Daria said with wet eyes and she held Quinn’s hand tightly.
“Ok, this is crazy, but I’ll do what ever you need me to do.” Jane sighed.
“I’ll help to.” Stacy said and she claimed Quinn’s free hand.
“Ok but I need at least one hand free or I can’t eat.” Quinn said with a smile.
Daria sat and watched the sun move in the sky as Quinn and Stacy sat talking in the yard. Jane had decided to grab Trent and bring him here so they could explain everything to him.
Daria picked up the phone and walked out of earshot and called Eric again.
“You can have 25 percent of whatever they offer put if you get us busted I’ll make sure to take a long time explaining your role in this.” Daria said coldly.
“No, I don’t have any plans to study the law.” Daria sighed.
Part 3
It had been two weeks since the call had informed her of the loss of her parents and Daria groaned on the drive back to the house at 1 am.
She had found a decent job inputting water test results from a company that had been in business for ten years onto a computer database.
:At this rate I should finish around the time Quinn graduates high school.: She thought as she tried to focus and keep her eye lids from dropping as she made the turn onto her road.
Getting out of the Lexus didn’t help and she headed directly into the house and dropped off her bag and headed upstairs to check on Quinn and head directly to bed.
Quinn was sleeping and Daria wasn’t surprised to see Stacy crashed out on the floor with a mound of pillows.
:Might as well let her and Jane move in. Hell Trent to, I most likely walked right past him on the couch and didn’t even notice.: Daria thought with a chuckle as she headed to her room.
She stripped off the dark business skirt and top and crawled into bed without changing into her sleeping clothes and drifted to sleep.
She woke the next morning to the smell of smoke and without thinking ran out of her bedroom and down the stairs toward the smell.
“Is everything ok?” She asked in a panicked tone, running into the kitchen only to find Jane trying to teach Quinn how to make pancakes.
“Um ya.” Quinn said with an amused look on her face. Stacy just started giggling. Trent who had been sitting at the table walked out the sliding glass door into the back yard with a blush.
“Daria, did you forget something this morning?” Jane said with an evil grin.
“What?” Daria said as her heart started to slow now that she realized the house wasn’t on fire.
“Like maybe to put some clothes on.” Jane said and Daria looked down and saw she was only wearing her underwear and blushed from her head to her toes before hurrying out of the room and up the stairs.
“My Dad used to tell a story about my Mom coming out of the shower to save me in the yard because she heard a neighbor’s kid yelling about a snake. Apparently she didn’t even grab a towel.” Stacy said thoughtfully.
“I’m more curious where she’s been hiding those.” Jane said and held her hands in front of her chest.
“Why do you think I always try to get her out of that jacket?” Quinn sighed as she stared down at another batch of ruined pancakes.
Trent stuck his head in the door and asked. “Is everyone dressed now?”
The three girls groaned loudly.
Daria returned a few minutes later and good naturedly accepted the teasing as she timidly took a few small bites of Quinn’s first batch of pancakes to pass Jane’s standards tests.
“Not bad.” Daria said with a smile. “Pretty good in fact.” Daria added and smiled at Quinn.
“Thank you, we’re out of pancake mix.” Quinn said sheepishly.
“That’s fine.” Daria shrugged.
“That creep Eric called; did he get a hold of you?” Quinn asked.
“Ya, we have an offer but we have to wait for them to call off the last of the rescue searches and declared them lost at sea to collect. The insurance will be next but their retirement packages are pretty healthy so I cashed them in. The house is paid off now and we got my name added to the title so no one can take it from us. And I made sure we’re both registered for classes next month at Lawndale High.” Daria said taking on the effect generated by the school principal.
“Can’t I be home schooled?” Quinn joked.
“Sounds good to me. I think I can have you ready to do organic chemistry by the time you take your SATs.” Daria said cruelly.
“Never mind Daria.” Quinn sighed in disgust.
“I can’t believe that no one has caught on to the facts that your parents are gone.” Stacy said as she looked nervously at her pancakes.
“The answer to that is easy. No one wants to get involved. My boss at work doesn’t want to question why I my social security number gets him sent pamphlets on the child labor laws. The school will be happy if they can get through the year without Mom threatening to sue them and everyone else just doesn’t care. And Eric is just greedy.” Daria shrugged.
“Gosh Daria have you ever considered that you are a bit cynical.” Jane smirked.
“And I thought she was just depressed.” Stacy said with a laugh.
“Well with her hair, who wouldn’t be.” Quinn said with a poke at her sister.
“At least it doesn’t look like I poured kool-aid on top of my head.” Daria returned fire.
Daria hated coming down to the law offices but paperwork kept needing to be signed but she made sure to read every single scrap that she signed and after removing the ones that would give Eric custody or power of attorney she moving through it quickly.
:I don’t even think he wants me to sign them, then he could be held responsible for anything we do. It’s a game to see if I’m paying attention.: Daria thought as she removed yet another inflated manpower bill claming that the firm had put in 18 people working over 500 manpower hours.
“Can’t get anything past you.” Eric smirked as he stood next to her as she went through each paper.
“I don’t even think you’re really trying anymore.” Daria said with a half smile.
“Well a quarter million is enough to keep me mostly honest.” Eric shrugged with a wide grin.
“I don’t believe in counting money that’s not in my hands yet.” Daria said as she finished the paperwork and stood up.
“It’s a done deal, just takes time to dot all the Is and cross all the Ts.” Eric promised her.
“Good.” Daria said. “I need to get some shopping done before it’s time to go to work.
“You know I’m sure I could find something for you to do here.” Eric said and he rested a hand on her shoulder gently.
“I don’t want to be a lawyer.” Daria said.
“I wasn’t referring to that.” Eric said and his hand ran down her back and rested itself on her rear end and squeezed roughly.
Daria flushed when she realized the signs she had missed.
“Why mess up a perfectly good money making team with that.” She said calmly and picked up her purse and walked out the door.
“If you change your mind, just call me.” Eric leered at her.
“I will indeed.” Daria said and hurried out of the office.
She pulled into the parking lot of her work and broke down in the car.
:God how did I miss that, I knew he was a pervert but to hit on me just two weeks after my parents die and he knows I’m underage.: Daria thought as she cried.
It took almost an hour to get control of herself and make herself presentable enough to go inside but on the walk in she called Jane.
“Hey Amiga, how’d the paper signing go?” Jane asked.
“Fine, it ran late and I didn’t have a chance to go shopping so if you three are bored the list is still on the refrigerator. Quinn has one of the gold cards.” Daria said.
“No problem, I’ll drag these two lazy butts over to the store and we’ll stock up like it’s Y2K all over again.” Jane laughed.
“Jane you stocked up a can of peaches and a jar of pickles for Y2K according to Trent.” Daria picked on her.
“At least I remembered napkins.” Jane defended herself.
“Let Quinn do the shopping, you just push the buggy.” Daria laughed, honestly feeling better.
“Fine but when you’re buried up to your neck in green leafy things, don’t blame me.” Jane retorted.
Daria got home early and sat down at the kitchen table and went through the stack of mail that was mostly for her parents and sorted out the bills that needed to be paid from the usual garbage that didn’t matter.
Jane walked in and sat down rubbing her head.
“Rough day.” Daria smirked.
“School schedules came in the mail and Quinn has been on the warpath since she got a look at the classes you signed her up for.” Jane sighed.
“She’ll get over it.” Daria sighed.
Daria got up from the table and moved to the kitchen cabinets and removed a bottle of scotch and returned to the table and poured herself a glass and started drinking it.
“What are you doing?” Jane asked in shock.
“Having a drink after work.” Daria dismissed.
“But you don’t drink.” Jane pointed out.
“I seem to be picking up the mechanics of it without any problems.” Daria responded as she finished the first glass and poured another.
“Mind telling me what happened today.” Jane demanded.
Daria shrugged and took another drink from the glass and decided to answer.
“Eric hit on me today.”
“WHAT?” Jane yelled out.
“Relax, he offered me a job and grabbed my ass. I left. Not a big deal but I freaked out a little.” Daria said.
“I’ll kill him, no I’ll tell Trent and he’ll kill him.” Jane fumed.
“He didn’t do anything to bad; I should have expected it and I’ll be ready for him to try something again. He got grabby but he didn’t try to force me or anything. That’s how he hits on woman and as long as he doesn’t do it again I fine.” Daria sighed.
“So you don’t want me to have Trent kill him.” Jane groaned.
“No, … unless he does it again.” Daria smirked.
Daria found Quinn waiting for her at the foot of the stairs in the morning.
“3 advanced placement classes and double history with DeMartino.” Quinn fumed.
Daria walked past her and headed into the kitchen and took a seat across from Stacy who was trying to disappear into her chair.
“Are you trying to work me to death?” Quinn demanded.
“I’m trying to improve your education.” Daria admitted.
“But I’ll only have three classes with Stacy and only gym with Sandi and Tiffany.” Quinn complained.
“I’m not trying to separate you from them as friends but as classmates they’re dragging you down. I checked your grades last year. Every class that Sandi or Tiffany took with you showed a drop in your scores. 15 points for either one of them and 18 points if both of them were in the class with you. Now Stacy didn’t seem to affect your scores except when you work together and it gave you a 6 point bump. Keep your friends but I’m not going to let you throw away your education for them. Just blame me when they ask.” Daria said calmly, staring down her little sister.
“You’re serious.” Quinn exclaimed.
“Yes. You have a chance to prove that a drop dead hottie can be just as smart as a geeky brain.” Daria grinned.
“I’m not that smart.” Quinn sighed.
“No, but you could be.” Daria said firmly.
Quinn stood speechless staring at Daria in disbelief then glanced at Stacy who was smirking.
“I told you so.” Stacy grinned.
Two weeks later Daria and Quinn drove home together from the second day of school after dropping the fashion club off at their various houses.
“Thanks for offering to give them a ride home.” Quinn said as they approached the house.
“I figure anything I can do to keep you from getting discouraged from the classes and keeping you in the good graces of the fashion club helps I guess.” Daria shrugged.
“Jane isn’t mad is she?” Quinn asked.
“Nah, I think she is looking forward to getting to the house first so she can lay claim on the TV.” Daria grinned.
“So do they live with us yet?” Quinn laughed.
“I’m not sure but they are getting mail there now.” Daria shrugged.
“It feels right … like family but I do have to ask about something.” Quinn said and took a deep breath.
“Go on.” Daria braced herself.
“What are we going to do with Mom and Dad’s stuff?” Quinn said turning red as she spoke.
“I’ve been avoiding that issue.” Daria admitted.
“Hey, who’s at our house?” Quinn said pointing to a yellow sedan in the driveway.
“I don’t know.” Daria said as she pulled next to the unknown car and quickly parked and got out.
Daria walked in the door and followed the sound of voices into the kitchen and froze when she entered.
Quinn came up behind her and skidded to a halt at who was sitting at the table with Jane and Trent.
“Hello girls, I see you’ve been busy.” Helen Morgendorffer said as Jake just smiled at them.
“But …” Daria started her head spinning.
“I have to ask, how much did you offer Eric to set all this up?” Helen said with a proud tone.
“25 percent.” Daria muttered.
“He’d of done it for 15.” Helen said shaking her head.
“I wanted to inspire his greed.” Daria said honestly.
“Ok let’s get a few things out of the way, we’re not dead. We spent a week on a life raft and then three more on an oil freighter with a broken radio. We’re back and we find two extra people living in the house. Our retirement funds raided to pay the mortgage. Insurance claims and one of our daughters with enough bogus paperwork to run for congress. Who would like to explain?” Helen smiled.
“We thought you were dead, they said you were dead. We didn’t want to end up with Rita or one of the Grandmothers so we didn’t tell them. Daria got with Eric at Mom’s work and had him help with the paperwork.” Quinn said quickly.
“And played mother with every intention of doing so from here on out.” Helen sighed.
“I proud of you both.” Jake spoke quickly.
“Jake!” Helen gasped.
“C’mon Helen, we were dead and they took care of everything, including each other.” Jake said.
Quinn started to cry and she ran to her father and hugged him.
“I’m glad you two aren’t dead, now I don’t have to pack up your room.” Daria said with a dead panned smile.
Daria sat in her room later that evening after many hugs and reassurance that her parents were indeed alive and tried to figure out what she was feeling.
“Penny for your thoughts.” Quinn said from the doorway.
“Don’t quit the classes; please I know you can do the work.” Daria responded.
“Ok if you tell me what’s wrong.” Quinn offered.
“I don’t know.” Daria admitted.
“The night we found out they were dead I promised myself that I would be strong and take care of you. And I really was going to. I invested a lot of time and energy into something that is over now and I feel useless.” Daria admitted.
“I can always use an extra parent. I realized something myself early on. You needed to take care of someone. That was your way to deal with the pain and I really needed someone to take care of me, my way to deal. It means something to me that you were willing and ready to step into being my Mom. I don’t want things to go back to the way they were and I still expect my A bonus for the classes.” Quinn smiled as she took a seat next to Daria.
“Deal.” Daria said and then she grabbed Quinn and pulled her into a hug and whispered.
“They’re alive.” Over and over again.
“So do me and Trent have to move out?” Jane asked as Helen continued to look over the paperwork.
“Ask Daria, apparently she owns the house now.” Helen sighed and looked at the bottle of scotch she had brought out.
Jane gulped nervously and tried to think of a good excuse.
“Your boss tried to hook up with Daria and she got really upset about it and had a few drinks.” Jane blurted.
Helen’s eyes narrowed cruelly.