Meg said gently "Remember, Bill, she's 15.  She's going to have temper fits.  Given what she CAN do, toilet papering their house is nothing.  She COULD have done a heck of a lot worse."

"Don't get me wrong I'm glad she didn't put their car into orbit like she wanted to. But regardless of what could have been done retaliation was not the best decision."

  Meg nodded, and said "I know.  But she IS fifteen.  She's allowed a couple screwups.  You get some too still."

"I know I know its just hard fathering a girl a year younger than you. I don't want anything to go wrong, but I don't want to go overtight like my father either."

  Meg smiled, and said softly "All you have to do, Bill, is remember to make sure she knows you love her.  She's got something she hurts over, and when I hear the ballet music at night, and I can scent the salt of tears.  So make sure you're very loving, because she's got something she isn't telling me, yet."

"And she has a full ballet leotard. She hasn't mentioned it to either of us either...Has she mentioned this boy she's found to you? The one she's been calling every day?"

  Meg asked, very gently "Did you know she knows the WHOLE CHOREOGRAPHY to Swan Lake and the Nutcracker?"

Bill sighed, why could he never get a straight answer when it came to this girl? "no I did not, I knew she had a leotard, and she went dancing and she used to dance in public, thats as much as she's let slip"

  Meg nodded, and said "I know she knows ballet.  And she asked me why it is that she got stuck with a very buxom figure."

"Well I have no idea. I'm not curvy. Why is that an issue?"

  Meg chuckled, and explained "Some careers do NOT do well with lots of curves."

"So ballet is one of them? That might explain it, she wanted to do ballet proffesionally, but couldn't cuz she was so curvaceous?"

  Meg nodded, and said "Correct.  Ballerinas are generally ALMOST as flat as boys.  Not to mention they're short.  They get over five foot six, they don't get the leading roles at all.  Bella is six four, Bill.  She's got two strikes.  She might have gotten by if she was just tall, but she's tall and buxom.  She's gorgeous enough to be a model, but SHE wants, I believe, to be a ballerina."

As the talk turned to Bill and Darren's timelost child Jack remained quiet an arm around Penny's waist. "Uhh Meg? You think I could talk to you about something? In private?"

  Meg tilted her head, and said "Sure.  Bill, Darren, if you'll pardon?"  She gestured Jack and Penny toward her suite.

'Actually its something I'd rather discuss the two of us." He said as he turned to Penny. "I'll be right back." Before kissing her gently on the forehead before following Meg downstairs. As they entered the house he frowned taking a moment to compose his words. "So, I-well, I want to get Penny a ring. An engagement ring. I know she'd be happy with any old thing, but to me it, it has to be special. It has to be worthy of what we share. Unfortunately I'm in a bit of a predicament when it comes to finding employment. So I was thinking since you have your own business and you seem to be the best financially off, if you had any, odd jobs, or anything that I could maybe do?"

  Meg smiled, and said "Yes.  I can give you a job, Jack.  And it will be a bit of work, but you're more than able to handle it.  Mom's working on a project for me.  And she's got it about done.  Want to be my gardener?  I'll have a big yard, and I want someone I actually TRUST doing the exterior yardwork.  Just mowing and trimming the bushes, but I've got the funds to pay you well.  Now, I'll ask you something.  Do you want it to be a custom, special ring?  Because you know I can do metalwork.  And I can get you very rare metals from meteorites."

"I could do that. Seems simple enough....That would be absolutely amazing. Something as unique as she is."

  Meg smiled, and asked softly "Just find out her ring size for me, and tell me via wormnet.  Then I'll take a little trip, and bring you back a ring that will never be matched.  In the meantime, I'll have Mom show you the house."

"I'll see how subtly I can find out. I'd rather this be a surprise. Thanks Meg, words cannot express how much I appreciate this. Penny, is very special, even though she doesn't always realize it."

  Meg smiled, and said "More than welcome, Jack.  Now you go give her a kiss, and tell her I'm going to take her shopping as a present for finally figuring out you two are a couple.  We're going to get her some party stuff, and a little regular jewelry.  We can find out her ring size that way, and then you two can enjoy a nice night out, okay?"

He smiled at her. "That I can do. Thanks again Meg." Holding the door for Meg if she was following he headed back upstairs to Bill and Darren's place. Opening the door he stepped over to Penny  wrapping both arms around her as he kissed her gently on the lips. "Meg wants to take you shopping. After you and I are going to enjoy a nice evening together. Sound good?"

  Penny nodded, and ran her hands up his chest to frame his face, drawing him down for a kiss.  "Okay.  I love you.  Don't let the guys drag you too far off, okay?"  She kissed him mentally too, reminding him that she was never going to be totally away from him again.

"I love you too. Don't worry, nothing can keep me away from you for long. You have fun okay?"

 Penny nodded, and placed her hand on Meg's, giving Jack a timid smile.  He knew she was worried about being out of reach, and still tried to reassure her.

----->> Off shopping with Meg