Here’s chapter four!

Note: This is post-Bebop and the characters are all 13 years older so that means Faye’s about 35 or 36 and Jets about… Uh… around 48. So yeah… Do the math. Just to let you know ‘cause I think a few of you might have been confused. I didn’t place Ed in this fic because I wasn’t sure how a 23-year-old Ed would act.

Read and Enjoy

“Are You My Daddy?”

By: Setryochi

* * *

“Are you my daddy?”

The man’s eyes quickly flashed open. He composed himself soon after and now just looked at her with his open eyes. “I’m not’jer father kid, check in the park.” He started to go back to his relaxed state but noticed the girl was still standing there watching him. “Look kid, I’m nobody’s father, I can’t even take care of myself that well, and you should go find your mom kid.” He tried to wave her away.

A tear trickled down her face. He looked older, but just like the picture. How had he managed to keep that suit? It was tattered here and there but still in wearable condition.

“Mom’s at work,” she stated simply.

“Well then go get your real dad,” he tried to brush her off again. He didn’t like the feeling he got from this small girl.

“I don’t have a dad…”

Spike opened his eyes once more to look at her. She had a curly mass of purple on her head and deep green eyes. Her skin seemed a natural pale color and some how, she looked so familiar. He watched in silence as she pulled out a picture and held it out for him to take.

He reached out for it, “what’s this…” he trailed off. His eyes widened when he seen who was in the picture. “Where did you get this kid?!” He snapped looking at her and giving her his full attention.

“I took it.”

He gritted his teeth, “Where’d you take it from?”

“My mom’s room.”

Spike’s eyes widened and his cigarette dropped from his mouth. He stared at the girl long and hard.

“Are you the guy in that picture?” she asked still looking at him almost lifelessly. It killed her to know he hadn’t ever known of her. He probably would have never known if she hadn’t found him.

“Yeah, I am, but I’m not your dad, kid.” he stated giving the picture back.

“Then come home with me and see my mom!” She jumped forward to him pleading with him.

“You shouldn’t let strangers into your house.”

“Please! If you see my mom and still think your not my dad then I’ll never bother you again! I just need to know!” She pleaded with him wanting so bad for him to be her dad.

Spike sighed, “Fine but I’ll have to come over later… What’s the address?”

* *

Spyke had replaced the picture under her mom’s dresser drawer and cleaned up the apartment. She made sure the tables were wiped down and the floor was vacuumed. She moped the kitchen and bathroom floors and put away laundry. She wanted everything to be clean and nice looking. She wanted her mom to be happy when she got home too. Since her mom seemed to have something to hide she figured him showing up might make her mom a little sad or angry. Her mom wouldn’t want to deal with the cleaning of the house.

Spike finished cleaning and felt that maybe some food would be good. Spyke looked in the freezer for something to cook. There wasn’t much in there and she couldn’t take the chicken out now to defrost ‘cause it would never get cooked. And then it would have been a waste. Maybe she could find something in the cabinets. Spyke sighed, “How can there not be anything to eat?”

She figured if she helped the chicken defrost a bit it would be better than nothing at all. So she pulled out the chicken and filled the sink with boiling hot water. She would make dinner for everyone and let her mom relax. Plus she could impress her dad with all her great skills. And maybe if everything were nice enough he’d want to stay with them. Then they’d be a family. Spyke pulled out some frozen vegetables and set the bag of mixed veggies on the table. She opened a cabinet and searched for some spices and seasonings. She would make a simple chicken stir-fry with some instant sticky rice.

She prepared everything knowing her mom would be home soon and Spike would be arriving soon after. She cooked up the stir-fry and made some rice to drape the stir-fry over. She set the table and just as she placed an extra plate on the counter in the kitchen her mom walked through the door completely exhausted.

“Hi Mom!” Spyke called from the kitchen. Spyke walked out with a glass of juice and handed it to her mom. “Here, you look like you need this.”

Faye accepted the drink thanking her and took a look around. She could have sworn the apartment was a mess when she left for work this morning. “Did you clean?”

“Yeah, I figured you would need a break.” Spyke smiled.

“Thanks,” Faye smiled down at her daughter. She sighed, ‘She’s grown up so well without him. I don’t see why she wants to see that jerk anyway, or even hear about him. He’s nothing but trouble.’ she thought to herself.

“I made dinner, Mom,” Spyke said walking over to the bar table where their plates lie. There was a big bowl with mixed vegetables and chicken, and a smaller bowl with hot rice in it. Faye could smell it and it smelt good. Faye wondered if Jet had taught her to do all this. She knew she couldn’t have, she hardly has time between the three jobs.

“Good I’m starving!” Faye trudged over ready to dig in. She sat down and began to put the rice on her plate. She scooped up lots of stir-fry and placed it over her rice. She dripped a little bit of soy sauce on it and picked up her chopsticks. Spyke made herself a plate and began to eat with her mom. She glanced at the clock occasionally. Faye must have noticed because she asked Spyke if she were waiting for something. Spyke said she wanted to make sure she got to see a new show that was coming on tonight. Faye chuckled and continued eating finding her daughters behavior quite strange.

A knock at the door sounded and immediately Spyke jumped up saying she’d get it before her mother could protest. Faye watched sipping her juice as Spyke made her way to the door. Spyke looked through to peak hole and grinned. She opened it partly and pocked her head through. Faye heard whispering and asked who was at the door.

“It’s somebody!” he daughter yelled back unsure of what to say.

Faye rolled her eyes, “Well I didn’t think it was a dog knocking on the door!” Faye got up and began to walk over to the door to see just whom it was.

Spike listened as they yelled back and forth. He wanted to get this over with so he could leave. He really doubted this girl being his child ‘cause he had only been with one woman and that was quite a while ago.

Faye reached the door and without Spyke knowing put her hand on the door. Spyke looked up seeing her mother’s hand curled around the edge of the door. Spyke backed away a little so her mother could pull open the door.

Faye gasped and stepped back. She pushed Spyke out of the way and slammed the door shut. “Go away!” She yelled through the door.

Spyke looked in confusion, she knew her mother would take it kind of hard but she didn’t think she’d do this.

“Mom! Please!” Spyke tried to reason.

“Please what Spyke?” Faye yelled.

“Let him in Mom! I invited him here!”

Faye looked at Spyke in disbelief. “Go to your room…” she said through clenched teeth.

Spyke stood for a second not wanting to go but her mother looked at her like she’d kill her. So Spyke walked away sadly.

Faye opened the door to see him still standing there cigarette in mouth with that confused look on his face. His expression changed slightly at the sight of his old comrade.

She plucked this cigarette from his lips and threw it to the ground.

“Hey! That was my last one!” he complained. “C’mon Faye! What’s this ab-”

SMACK!

He was cut off when she slapped him hard across the face. She slapped him as hard as she could and would have kept going. For 13 years it had built up and she just wanted to kill him for leaving her.

“How could you?” she asked harshly.

“How could I what?” he asking a little peeved that she took his cigarette and then slapped him.

“How could you do that and then leave me to go kill yourself!?” She screamed losing control. She had pent up tear streaming down her face now as all the emotions she had kept inside for 13 years were released in a dangerous storm. She wanted to beat him senseless!

Spike looked around unsure of what to say. He tried searching for something to say to her to make things better but was almost completely lost.

She decided to continue with her questions. “So what happened? I see you’ve found your answer! Why didn’t you ever come back? Why didn’t you?” She was gripping the flaps of his button up shirt and suit jacket. She shook him wanting the answers.

He looked at her startled. He had never seen her this way. All those times on the Bebop he had spent with her he had never known she held such emotions. He knew she had a short temper but this wasn’t just a temper. This was hatred and pleading at the same time.

“Faye…” he whispered. He brought his arms up to rest softly on her shoulders. But as soon as his fingertips touched her flesh she pulled away. She wrapped her arms around herself looking at him with so much emotion he thought she would explode. Instead of exploding she dropped to her knees crying.

“I hate you… I hate you…” she chanted between sobs. Her body shook and all she could do was sit there and cry.

Slowly, he crouched down in front of her. “Faye, c’mon… What happened to you?” He placed his hands on her shoulders and gently pulled her to her feet. She kept crying never looking up at him. He steered her into the apartment and sat her on the baby blue velvet couch. He looked around and noticed how small and cozy it was. Soft colors weren’t what he would have expected from Faye, she was more of a bold woman. But it seems as though she’s changed a lot since the Bebop. He would have to find out what was going on.

“Faye…” he waited for her to calm down her sobs dissolving into sniffles and hic ups.

She looked at him through watery eyes. “Why… If you were alive… Why didn’t you come back?”

He looked down at her. His eyes soft and comforting he switched positions holding her in his arms. “I had more to take care of then I thought Faye. I didn’t want to come back to the Bebop.”

She looked up misunderstanding what he was saying. “You didn’t want to come back?! ‘Cause of me wasn’t it?!” She looked at him with hateful eyes.

Spike gripped onto her and pulled her close again. “No, no… I did want to come back. But if I had gone back then I would have put all of you in danger. After killing Vicious many people were happy… But there were those who thought Vicious should rule. Those people we allied with him because he was providing them generously with money if they assassinated a few people for him. After I killed him I had little time to recuperate because they found out and decided I should pay for what I had done.” he sighed.

She looked up at him still angry but understanding why he had been away. “Why didn’t you find me?”

“I didn’t think you’d want to hear from me after that.” he stated simply.

“She’s your daughter you know…” Faye stated not looking up.

Spike looked at Faye in disbelief. “How can she be Faye?”

“Think about it Spike…”

He thought long and hard, how could one night turn into the form of a girl? “Faye, how?”

“I’m not sure… I know we used protection…” she looked down.

She must have been horrified when she had found out. It partly explained why she was so emotional and let herself cry for him. He just didn’t understand how it had happened. Before he had left he and Faye shared one night out of lust. To this day he still doesn’t understand if it was just lust or something more. He was afraid at the time that it would become more than just lust. But they shared one night together and then he decided he needed to leave to see if he was really alive.

“Faye…” he whispered. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t know until after you had left.”

He felt horrible. For 13 years this woman, through all the things that had happened to her had raised a girl alone.

“What happened to Jet?”

“He visits once in a while. Spyke loves him to death. She says she wants to be a bounty hunter just like Uncle Jet when she old enough.” she chuckled, “But I wont let her do that… She’s too young and doesn’t understand.”

Spike looked down at the top of Faye purple head. He smiled halfway. Faye was a real woman. She was stronger than any other woman he’d ever known and she kept getting stronger. He wondered how she ever did it alone. When she answered the door she looked tired. She had bags under her eyes and was still wearing a uniform from a factory.

“I see, so she is my kid.” he smirked. “Only my little girl would have that kind of adventure in mind.”

Faye looked up at him tears still in her eyes. “I never told her about her father. I don’t know how she is going to react to this…”

“Faye, she knows about me… She’s the one who invited me here.” he looked her in the eyes.

Faye looked in shock, “But how, I never even told her your name!”

“She showed me a picture you kept of the gang. The back of it had all of our names on it.”

“She must have took it from my hiding spot.” Faye said more to herself than to him.

“So she found me all on her own? She was sure that I was her dad when she seen me.”

“That scheming little!” Faye gritted her teeth, “She must have called Jet and lied to him. He must have given her all the information she needed to find you.”

“Actually I was sitting on a bench in the city smoking a cigarette when she came up and ask me if I was her father. Then she invited me over.” He stated wondering if she had gotten her cleverness from him.

CRASH!

“What’s going on?”

Faye and Spike looked up from the couch to see Jet heaving in the doorway. He pushed the door open with so much force that it hit the wall and made a picture fall from the wall. Jet marched over to the couch where Spike was now standing. Jet grabbed his shirt with one hand and hauled back and punched him in the jaw with the other. “You jackass!” he yelled at Spike. Spike fell to the ground.

“Geez Jet! What’s this all about?” He rubbed his sore cheek.

“I’ve just been wanting to do that for years now.” Jet said smacking his hands together like he was cleaning dust from them.

“Why are you here Jet?” Asked Faye standing up.

“Spyke called me, she said her dad was here.”

“You named her Spyke?” asked Spike.

“That’s Spyke with a Y!” Faye exclaimed.

“Where is the little bugger?” asked Jet.

Just then Spyke cracked the door open to see them all standing around talking. Slowly she opened the door and stepped out. Jet turned around and opened his arms for a hug from her. He smiled the wrinkles around his eyes multiplying. She ran over and hugged him. Her eyes were puffy and red; it was obvious that she had been crying. She looked at Spike and then at Faye. They all looked down on her and just kind of smiled. It was strange how a 13-year0old girl such as Spyke, had to be the one that brought them back together.

“I told you, you were my daddy,” she stated letting go of Jet.

“Yeah kid, and you were right.” Spike smiled his trademark smile that seemed to make people like him. He hadn’t intentionally not been there for her. She knew now because she heard them screaming and yelling about it. She smiled weakly up at everybody.

“Where do we go from here?”

* * *

Ok! That’s it for chapter four! ^^ Tee hee! I’ll add a few more chapters to this. Or maybe just one, whatever it takes, ya know? But I’ll finish this story and I’ll make sure to finish Bebop High for ya guys! Make sure to read that if ya haven’t *sheepish grin*. Anyways, hope you enjoyed this chapter, much like all the others and I’ll definitely get the next ones out ASAP for ya! Thanks for the reviews so far!

Set-chan