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Gerard threateningly waved his cigarette at me as he spoke. “There's no way in hell you're going!” He says and I can feel my eyes welling up with tears.

“If I was a hippopotamus I bet I could go!” I sniffle and the tears start falling from my eyes uncontrollably. I couldn’t see the looks Gerard and Bob were giving me through my tears but judging by the tone in Gerard’s voice it had to be a pretty damn confused one…

“A hippopotamus?” Gerard says and I nod. “What the fuck are you talking about baby?” He says roughly reaching for me on the bed.

“Leave me alone.” I sniffle as I pull back from him.

“A hippo-potomus?” Gerard repeats under his breath, I guess trying to figure out what I meant.

“Come here.” Bob says pulling me onto his lap as he sat up in bed. “Who called you a hippopotamus Elle?” Bob says pushing the hair from my face.

“No one did.” I say a little confused.

“But you said-“ He goes to say and I shook my head no.

“I said IF I was.” I say and Bob smiles. “Then I could go alone right?” I say and Bob shrugs.

“If you were a hippopotamus?” Bob says trying not to laugh.

“Uh-huh.” I say wiping my eyes dry.

“I don’t know, I suppose…” Bob says weakly giving Gerard a funny look. I look over at Gerard too.

“Elle we are not doing this okay!” Gerard yells out a little agitated and I frown at him. “Stop.” He tells me pointing his finger at me scoldingly.

“Stop what?” I ask and he shook his head a little. “I wasn’t doing anything.” I protest.

“Stop with the shit okay.” He says mashing his cigarette out in the ashtray on my dresser and I roll my eyes a little. “You aint going to Point Pleasant, you aint going to Wills. Fuck, you aint going anywhere with out me or Bob.” He says and I make a face. “Elle I don’t care if you dress up like a fucking platypus, you ain’t going.” He says and I laugh.

“A platypus?” I say getting up off of Bobs lap… “What the hell are you talking about Gerard?” I say laughing as I stepped towards him.

“I'm talking about you.” He says putting one hand on my shoulder and using his other hand to lift my chin up so I’d be looking in his eyes. “About you listening to me.” He says and I bite my lip a little. “Can you do that Elle?” He says and I nod. I can listen… Just cause I listen doesn’t mean I have to agree or go along with it… does it?

“Okay go head Gerard. Im listening.” I say waiting for him to speak.

“I just…” He sighs a little as I stared at him.

“What?” I say anxiously. I mean fuck. He makes this whole damn speech about having something to say and now he wont say it.

“I want you to respect me like I respect you.” He says and I just stared at him unsure of what he was getting at.

“Well I do.” I say and he nods.

“Then respect what I'm gonna say.” He says and I take a deep breath as he spoke. I knew what he was gonna say… “I don’t want you going.” He says just like I predicted and I looked away.

“How could you ask me to just ignore this?” I say and he shakes his head no.

“I didn’t Elle.” He says and I nod insistently.

“You just did!” I cry out looking over at Bob for some support. Bob looked away. He didn’t like to get involved between me and Gerard for some reason… Fuck… I wished Lia was here. She had no problem getting between us…

“I didn’t Elle.” Gerard repeats turning my face back to his. “Are you listening to me?” He says and I nod.

“Yes Gerard I'm listening.” I say getting a little pissy with him.

“I'm gonna go get your box Elle. I'm gonna go to Point Pleasant. I'm gonna find out what's going on.” He says and I shake my head no.

“Gerard…” I say a little flustered.

“Just trust me okay.” He says and I continued to shake my head no.

“How you gonna get my box back from Will?” I say and he grins.

“Oh I’ll get it one way or another.” He says arching his eyebrow up a little and I sigh.

“Why are you excluding me?” I say looking deep into his eyes.

“I'm not excluding you.” He says and I nodded. “I'm protecting you.” He says as he stroked the side of my cheek lovingly.

“Well don’t.” I say bluntly and he frowned a little.“You can’t protect me from everything Gerard. That was obvious before.” I say taking his hand in mine.

“That’s not gonna happen again.” He says and I smile.

“Sure it is.” I say as he frowns. “You said it yourself that shit happens right?” I say and he shrugs.

“So why cant we stay together?” I say and he laughs.

“In shit?” He says and Bob laughs too.

“I don’t care where I am as long as I'm with you.” I say and he smiles at me. “Just don’t exclude me…please.” I say and he looks over at me and then at Bob. Bob shrugged a little.

“Fine baby.” Gerard says and I jump up and kiss his cheek in victory. “But we’re doing it my way.” He says firmly.

“Mmm what does that mean?” I ask him and he looks over at Bob.

“Exactly what it sounds like Elle.” Bob says sitting up on the edge of the bed.

“Fine, but are we still going to the zoo?” I ask and he laughs.

“I’ll tell you what honey.” Bob says as I climb back into bed. “I hear there's a uh aquarium at Point Pleasant.” He says and I nod.

“Jenkinson’s.” I say crawling under the blankets. “They have penguins.” I tell him and he smiles.

“How bout I take you there.” He says and I smile back.

“Well there's no hippopotamuses Bob.” I say and Gerard rolls his eyes. “But I guess that would be okay.” I tell him as I pulled him down next to me. He resisted a little at first. But then Gerard shut the light and Bob relaxed somewhat as I snuggled next to him. I shut my eyes and heard somekinda switch being flipped on and off a few times.

“Elle baby, your nightlight burnt out.” I hear Gerard say and I mumble back something like I know. “When?” He asks as he climbed back into bed next to me.

“I don’t know.” I sighed as Gerard pressed himself against me.

I fell back asleep again rather quickly too… I was surprised… Usually I can’t just fall back asleep so quick but I just had a good feeling about things now… What ever was in that box Will had of mine was gonna bring me some answers… Maybe bring me to my dad…

I wanted a dad so badly… I wasn’t quite sure why though. I mean I always wanted a family. Even more so since my Papa died… But laying there with Gerard and Bob. I don’t know…

I felt like they were my family. The love I had for both of them… Maybe I didn’t need a father after all…

Maybe all I needed was them…