"Annie! Pumpkin!" Called her father, his arms outstretched awaiting her hug.
Her father looked older, more tired. He had gained some weight, had worry lines around his eyes along with dark bags. "You look so good Pumpkin! I've missed you so much!" He said as Annie was engulfed in a bone crushing hug.
"I missed you too dad," Annie giggled in his grip.
"How are you? Do you need anything?" He asked a slight worry etched into his voice.
"I'm okay dad, I don't need anything," Annie said as she pulled away from her father, taking in his appearance, his brown hair a complete mess, his blue eyes tired. "You should head off to bed dad, you had a long day."
Her father shook his head as a smile graced his lips, "look at you, going through huge changes and more worried about your old man over yourself." Tears welled up in his eyes, "you are such a beautiful, kind woman Annie, I'm so proud of you."
"Okay stop, because if you start crying, I'm going to start crying and you don't want me crying," Annie giggled as she gave her father one last hug, "get some rest dad, we have tomorrow to catch up," Annie smiled to her father.
"I know, Iknow," he grumbled, giving Annie one last squeeze before releasing her, "Goodnight Pumpkin, have a good night."
"Goodnight dad, sweet dreams," she smiled.
As her father left the room she heard a scoff come from Kyson who stood in the living room doorway. "Always manipulating those around you, does it ever get old Annie?" He said as he stalked up to his room.
Annie sighed as she made her way to the kitchen. Annie opened the door to the fridge seeing a plate of her favourite pizza set aside for her. Annie immediately knew who had set it aside as the other three wouldn't have done it, a small smile spread on Annie's lips as she took the plate up to her room.
*~*~*~*
Annie woke up with a big stretch, it was three in the morning. Since her mothers death, Annie hadn't slept well. She knew why but she always pushed those feelings aside. She didn't need to think about her mother's death, she needed to think about something else, anything else.
Annie opened the book beside her bed and started immersing herself in a different world.
Soon the hour struck 9 am and Annie stretched as she stood up from her bed, setting the almost finished book on her bed.
Annie opened the door to her room and made her way down the stairs to the kitchen. Inside stood her step mother plating up three plates of breakfast.
"Oh Annie! That's right your back! I'm sorry I didn't make you any, we also don't have anymore left, used the rest of the bacon and eggs.. sorry," Margaret let out an apology that wasn't truthful.
"It's alright Margaret, I don't usually eat in the morning anyways," Annie shrugged as she grabbed a glass of water and drank it.
"Perhaps since your mother is no longer with us- bless her soul, you could start calling me mother," Margaret spoke as she set the plates on the table.
Annie stilled in her spot. Annie didn't want to be rude, but how could she tell Margaret that she was seriously overstepping?
"Margaret dear, it's a bit soon to say such things," Annie's father stepped into the room, giving a kiss to Annie's forehead before placing a kiss onto Margaret's lips.
"Maybe, but I want her to think about it."
"I appreciate the offer, Margaret," Annie said kindly.
"Where's Annie's plate?" Asked her father.
"I um-" Margaret started.
"Don't worry about me Dad, I don't eat breakfast," Annie smiled, saving Margaret from a half-hearted explanation.
After years with Margaret, Annie knew what kind of woman she was. She knew Margaret never truly cared for Annie, if anything, she didn't like Annie in the slightest. Could be because Annie was a reminder of the life her father had before Margaret, or maybe because Annie was youthful and kind. Annie wasn't sure, and she didn't quite care.
Margaret was never a mother to Annie, and Annie didn't mind in the slightest.
"As long as it's okay with you Pumpkin," her father smiled at Annie, "if you choose to eat breakfast with us, just let Margaret know and she'll make you a plate."
Annie smiled at her father's kindness towards her, she loved her mother but she was always a daddies girl. "Thank you dad, I appreciate it, but I'm okay."
"So I was thinking we could go out, do some shopping. I'm sure you would want some new bedding, hot pink Princess bedding doesn't seem to be your current interest," laughed her father.
"Sure dad," Annie smiled.
"Could I come too Dad?" Kyson asked.
Her father seemed to bite his lip in nervousness, "well I was thinking just Annie and I, I hadn't seen her in three years after all."
"But-" Margaret started.
"Maybe another time we can all go together Kyson, but today I think it should just be Annie and I," smiled her father. "I promise."
Kyson nodded his head, the defeat evident in his brown eyes. Kyson turned his gaze to Annie, his eyes steeling to hate, "have fun with dad," he gritted out.
If one weren't looking at his face, you'd think it were an innocent line one said to another. But as Annie saw Kyson's hatred filled face she knew the words weren't innocent. But words of vemon in hopes that they would ruin her day with her father.
Annie gave Kyson a small smile, "thank you Kyson, I will. Sometime soon we all will go together."
Kyson huffed as he turned and walked towards the table to sit and eat his breakfast, Margaret joining them.
A light hum of conversation started around the kitchen table as Annie smiled at the picture infront of her.
Annie left the room to get ready for the upcoming day.