The weekend came quickly, and since Annika had the weekend off from practice, everyone was home. Even, to everyone's surprise, Scott.
Ana played on the floor with Lia as Annika scrolled through her phone on her parents bed.
"Dad's home?" She said, just letting the question hang.
Ana sighed. "Yes. He's...going through some things. Be nice."
Annika looked from behind her phone blankly. "Am I not always nice?"
"I made French Toast for everyone," Scott grinned, kicking open the door. "I even made baby sized toast, for my baby," he kissed Lia's head.
Annika blinked. "You said he was going through it not that he was in drugs. Are you doing drugs, Dad?"
Scott pushed Annika's head back, setting a plate next to her. "I am not on drugs," he said dully, "I'm just happy. Why is everyone so surprised when I'm happy?"
Annika shrugged, as Scott set down a fork on her plate. "I dunno. Maybe because I only see you like once a year."
"Well hey," he said, "That's gonna change. I've been a surgeon for as long as I can remember. I've accomplished a lot. But what matters most in this world is family." He smiled.
Annika got up, grabbing her fathers face. "Aliens have obviously taken over your brain," she murmured, "Who did you kill? It's fine. I won't be mad. Is it mom? Did you kill Mom and that's her clone?"
"Bold of you to assume I could ever be cloned," Ana snorted.
"Mom this is serious."
"Annika, the way you see me is very insulting," Scott set a plate down in front of Ana and Lia.
"Thanks. It's a direct representation of the way you've parenting me."
Scott shrugged in understanding. "Fine. So...what are we doing today? Your mother and I was planning a vacation."
Ana started to eat, smiling. "It's the weekend. Annika has school-"
"No I want to enjoy alien dad, let's go on vacation. Where are we going?"
"I am not an alien, but we were thinking an island," Scott smiled, sitting next to Ana, he scooted as close as could, resting his head on her shoulder.
"Island? Ohh. Are we gonna go to Hawaii?" Annika asked.
"It up to you all, I have...1825 days of vacation. Let's go wherever," he insisted. "Right Lia?" He picked her up, kissing her head.
Annika looked at Ana. "Did you put a spell on him?"
Scott rolled his eyes. "What about the Caribbean?"
"This is definitely gonna be my hot girl summer," Annika grinned.
"It is not. It's your...family girl summer, also you're not hot you are a child."
Annika rolled her eyes. "Wow, wow, this is insulting."
Ana grinned, stroking Scott's hair as she fed Lia some of her French toast.
He grinned. "Ana, do you like it?"
"Huh? Oh the food? Yes, of course! You know I love your food, Scott."
He grinned wider. "Good."
Annika just shook her head. Spooky. "So construction on your office huh?" Annika prodded.
Scott nodded. "Yes."
"Was this one of Mom's crazy renovations? Isn't your office like a museum."
He shrugged. "It was. But you know something? Being a surgeon isn't the only good thing in my life. You all, are the best part of my life."
Annika stood. "This is too creepy. What really happened? Don't...don't pretend like this is normal. Mom?"
Ana shook her head. "Be nice," she mouthed.
Scott sighed. "Nikka, when you get to certain age, you have two options. Keep going and never change, or reassess your priorities."
He smiled. "My whole life my only goal was being the best. But I realize now; that there's things way more important than that. Like the people you love."
Annika sat down, closing her eyes. "This is weird. But since you're in such a good mood, can I 3,000 dollars?"
"For?"
She sighed. "If I say it's a secret will you say yes?"
"It's up to your mother. She does the finances for our house, so she can tell you what you can use."
Annika looked at her mom.
"Is it drugs?"
"No."
"Is it alcohol no."
"Damn Annika that's lame as hell," She sighed, "Yeah. It's fine."
Scott laughed. "Don't encourage your substance abuse in our children."
Ana shrugged. "If it's not normal that means it's probably worse. She could building a sex dungeon for all we know."
"You two are the worst and I will be telling my therapist about this on Thursday."
Scott leaned into Ana's ear. "We could build our own sex dungeon," he suggested, with a smirk,
Ana giggled. "You would love that."
"I would love that," he smirked.
Annika mocked throwing up. "I'm just taking notes for things to tell Dr. Francs, I want you to know that."
"Don't be a narc, Annika," Scott grinned. "This family doesn't harbor narcs. Only murderers."
Ana let out a noise through her nose in surprise before laughing. "I can't believe you said that!"
Scott shrugged, kissing her head.
