"Frances, please come help me make dinner. Your father's almost home with his friends," Peggy called.

"Fine," the fourteen year old girl said, getting up from the couch as she set her sketchbook down. "Why do we need to make dinner? Can't we just order pizza?

"He has some friends from work coming over, remember?" Peggy Asked.

"New job or old job?"

"His new one, Frances."

"Oh, okay."

After the two had finished cooking dinner Frances returned to the couch and continued to draw.

Peggy sat down next to her. "What are you drawing?" She asked, trying to connect with her stepdaughter.

"Nothing," Frances said, moving away from Peggy.

"Frances, we're never going to be able to get to know each other if you keep pushing me out," Peggy said.

"What if I don't want to get to know you? Dad and I were perfectly fine by ourselves until you showed up!" She said.

"I'm not trying to replace your mother, I just want to know you," Peggy said.

"Piss off," Frances said.

"Fine," Peggy said, "at least be nice while your father has guests over."

About a half hour later John arrived home with his friends from work. Upon hearing the door open Frances, with her sketchbook tucked under her arm, sprinted to her room.

"I'm home!" John said walking in the door. Behind him were five people.

"Hello," one said, "I'm Aaron Burr."

"I'm Hercules Mulligan."

"I'm Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier de Lafayette. But you can call me Lafayette."

"I'm-," one started to say before Peggy cut him off.

"Alex?" She asked.

"Peggy!" He exclaimed.

"How do you two know each other?" Asked John,

"He married my sister," Peggy stated.

"Ah, Okay."

Peggy turned her attention to the little boy grabbing onto Alex's hand like it was his lifeline.

"Are you Philip?" She asked. The boy, Philip nodded. "How old are you?"

"I'm four," Philip told her proudly.

"Do you want to play with someone while the adults talk about boring stuff?" She asked. Philip nodded.

"Hey Frances?" She yelled out.

"No," Came her response.

"Frances get out here right now," said John.

There was the loud sound of a door slamming and a girl ran up to them. "What?" She asked, annoyed.

"We need you to entertain-," Peggy started.

"Philip!" Frances said, "it's been a long time since I've seen you."

"Hi Franny!" Philip said.

"Ya wanna go play?" Frances Asked.

"Yeah!" Philip said, excited.

As Frances and Philip walked towards Frances' room you could hear Philip ask, "do you really have a pet turtle?"

"Yep!" Frances replied, "his name's Dave. You can hold him if you want." Peggy was surprised. Frances never let anyone even close to her turtle, much less touch it.

Over the course of the night Peggy heard Philip's excited yells and laughter. Not knowing what to talk about, she politely excused herself from the table and made her way to Frances' room.

She put her ear up against the door and listened to the two talking.

"What does Dave like to eat?" Philip Asked.

"Oh, lettuce, cucumbers, salad, little boys who won't be quiet," she joked.

Philip laughed, "really?" He asked.

Peggy opened the door a crack so she could see in. Frances shook her head. "No."

At that moment Peggy decided to reveal herself. "Hey," she said, "do you two want anything?"

Frances turned to her cousin. "Pip, ya want anything?"

"Apple juice!" Philip said smiling.

Frances turned to Peggy. "Apple juice?" She asked.

"Sure," Peggy said, "do you want anything?"

She shook her head. "I'm good."

"Okay," Peggy left to go get Philip his Apple juice."

When Peggy came back with the apple juice Philip walked up to her with a crayon drawing of a turtle. "Do you think Daddy will like it?"

Peggy nodded. "He loves everything you draw," she reminded him.

He grinned. "I'm gonna go show it to him!" The overly energetic four year old said as he ran past her.

Peggy looked at Frances Who was sitting on the floor drawing in her sketchbook. "Here's the apple juice," she placed it beside her.

Frances nodded.

"Are you sure you don't want to eat anything?" Peggy asked her, concerned. Frances hadn't eaten at all that day.

She nodded her head. Peggy grabbed her stepdaughter by the arm and pulled her up. "At least come talk to people. Put your sketchbook down for five minutes and come talk to your father's friends."

Frances rolled her eyed but followed Peggy. She walked to the kitchen and stood as far away from everyone as possible, leaning against the wall.

Alex noticed her and tried to bring her into the conversation. "Frances, was it?" He asked.

She nodded but gave no verbal response.

"What do you like to do?" He asked, not giving up.

"Draw," she muttered, barely audible.

"Frances, speak up," John said.

"I like to draw," she told them.

"Do you like do do anything else?" Asked Aaron.

She shook her head. "No."

"Are you sure?" Hercules Asked, "you have to like something else in the world."

"Why would I like the world?" She asked before running off.

John looked ready to run after her but Peggy restrained him. "Let her have some time alone," she said, "believe me, she needs it."