Chapter Text
Gray could hardly contain her excitement. Today was finally the day! After so many business trips, weekends with Mr. Valentino and Auntie Velvette, and late nights at the office, Gray's father had finally set aside a day to spend with her. Gray was so ecstatic she thought she'd explode. She could hardly go to sleep last night, and the moment she opened her eyes this morning she rushed through breakfast, teeth brushing, combing her hair, and getting into her light blue sundress, stockings, slip-ons, and most importantly her silver hair ribbon, which she tied herself instead of letting the maids do it for her. Her dad had called her a little firework for her enthusiasm, and Gray could have started glowing with how happy that made her feel.
In the car, she sat right beside her dad in the back and couldn't stop jumping in her seat as she chattered on about how excited she was to spend the day with him at the amusement park. Eventually, her dad silenced her with a gentle hand on her head.
"Paula, honey, take a breath," he said with a chuckle. "I know you're excited, but don't burn yourself out before we even get to the park."
"But this never happens!" Gray protested. "I never get to spend time with you, and we're going to a park too! We never go to the park!"
"W-well, I wouldn't say that's... completely true," he murmured, his face turning a little pink as his smile fell. "Regardless, this entire day belongs to us, and there will be more in the future, I swear it." He took the six-year-old into his arms and hugged her as she giggled.
Taking advantage of Gray's distracted mind, Vox allowed himself a moment of shame. He knew he was lying, that he'd never get another day to spend with his daughter for another year or two, what with the demanding responsibilities of his growing company and Valentino constantly calling him away for time together. And he hated himself for every lie he had to tell her, every promise he had to break because business came up or Val or Velvette needed him for something. He'd worked hard and made an unreasonable number of negotiations just to get the day with Gray, though he doubted it would last. Still, he would make it as happy as possible for her. He owed her that much.
From the front, their driver announced, "We've arrived at VVV Amusement Park, Mr. Vox."
"Excellent!" Vox exclaimed. "Remember to come back in six hours, we cannot be late for the premier of Seeking Bemo."
"Yes sir, Mr. Vox," the driver responded. "Lovely day, miss Paula."
"Gray!" Gray corrected as she hopped out of the car.
"No, no, that's not your name," Vox chuckled. "Only I get to call you that, honey. Everyone else can call you Paula."
"But I don't like that name!" Gray whined. "I like Gray! I like when you call me that."
Vox rolled his eyes and patted her head again. "I appreciate that, sweetheart, but your name is Paula, not Gray. You can't go around telling everyone your name is something it's not, otherwise no one will know who you really are."
But I like being Gray, not Paula, Gray thought as she skipped over the painted lines on the concrete. People treat me differently when I'm Paula. They're meaner, and kids don't wanna play with me. No one likes me when I'm Paula.
She kept her mouth shut about this, not wanting to spoil her day with her dad with her problems. She watched as her dad exchanged money with the ticket person, who gave Gray a small smile as she handed her a strange blue bracelet that her dad tied around her wrist.
"It's to keep track of you, in case you get lost," he explained. "It's connected to my phone, so I can track you if I lose you."
"Okay," Gray said, looking over the blue band wrapped firmly around her wrist.
"Have a great day, Mr. V!" the ticket lady exclaimed as the gate opened for them.
Gray and her dad walked into the already crowded park. Gray's eyes sparkled with joy as she took in the tall rollercoasters, the many food stands, the game stands, and the hundreds of children and parents that were also spending a fun day together. Her heart swelled as she imagined herself playing the games or riding the rollercoasters with her dad.
"Okay, honey, what are we doing first?" Vox near-shouted over the raucous crowd around them.
"Coasters!" Gray exclaimed, pointing towards a tall rollercoaster that went up about as high as his company's tower.
Vox shuddered and looked around. "Y-yeah, of course, sweetheart. How about... Velvette's Castle Tour?" He pointed to the mock-castle that housed his girlfriend's indoor ride.
"Will Auntie Velvette be there?" Gray gasped.
"No, but you'll hear her voice," Vox responded. "Let's go, sweetheart! Before all the good seats get taken!" And he pulled her towards the castle before she could think twice.
"Daddy, my arm, it hurts!" Gray cried, struggling to keep up.
"Sorry, sweetheart," he said, picking her up gently in apology. "Let's get you to Auntie Velvette's castle!"
And with that they hurried off to the fake castle, the slight bruising on Gray's arm forgotten as her mind filled with fantasies and beauties that waited for her in the castle.
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"Winner!" the man behind the water balloon game exclaimed. "Choose your prize, little lady!"
Gray squealed in excitement and looked over the many stuffed toys that adorned the wall behind the man. After a few seconds, she pointed up with her water gun and started jumping. "The shark! I want the big shark!"
The man turned to see where she was pointing and chuckled a bit. "Sorry, little lady, but that shark isn't--" He was stopped by the $50 bill Vox held up with a small brow raise. Clearing his throat, the man corrected himself: "One big white shark coming up, little lady!"
Gray, oblivious to the money her father slipped the worker, squealed even more and held out her hands to take the meter-long shark plush from the worker. Once it was in her arms, she hugged it close to her chest and started jumping. Amused, Vox picked her up and walked her to the marble wishing fountain. Setting her down on the ledge of the fountain, he knelt down in front of her and took a mental picture: his daughter, his Paula, with the brightest smile he'd seen since the day she was born. Her bright blue eyes, so similar to his own, sparkled in the sunlight. Her overflowing joy made her glow, and Vox couldn't help but wish that her mother was around to see her. Maybe if she was still around, Gray would've been happier. Would've felt less alone. Even if Gray was only a baby when she died, Marla truly was the better parent between the two of them, never spending more than a second away from Gray unless she was getting treatments at the hospital. Even when she died, she'd been cuddling Gray in their special chair. For that reason, Vox could never bring himself to get rid of that chair. It stayed in his room, where he could keep another piece of Marla to himself.
"Daddy?" Gray asked, snapping Vox out of his thoughts. "Why are you crying, Daddy?"
Vox hurriedly wiped his eyes. "Ah, it's just the sun sweetheart. Has today been fun?"
"Yes, Daddy!" she responded, hugging her shark tighter. "This is the bestest day ever! I love spending the day with Daddy! I wish we could do this every day!"
Me too, honey, Vox thought. "Well, it's not over yet. We still have five hours left before the movie. So what should we do next?"
"Hmmm..." Gray looked around, struggling to decide. "I'm kinda hungry. Can we--?"
BZZZT! BZZT!
Vox's eyes widened as he pulled his phone out of his pocket, and groaned once he saw the caller ID was his assistant. "Damn it, not now. Honey, I'm sorry, but Daddy has to take a quick phone call."
Gray's face fell immediately and she jumped off the ledge of the fountain. "Noo! Daddy, you promised no calls! You promised today was only you and me! You promised!"
"I know, I know," Vox sighed, trying to figure out how to best placate his daughter. "But it'll just be a quick phone call. Ten-- maybe 30 minutes at most, and then I'll be right back and I'll get you some cake."
"But I don't like cake," Gray whined. "And you promised today was for us. Daddy, please!"
She put on her best puppy-dog eyes, hoping beyond hope that her pleas would work. Vox sighed again, his heart breaking at the sight of his daughter's obvious sadness, but he knew he couldn't ignore the call. Not with his business on the line. So he gently pat Gray's shoulder and stood up.
"Daddy, no!" Gray cried, grabbing his leg to stop him.
"Paula, stop!" he forced himself to snap, pulling the little girl off his leg. "I'm sorry, but you know I have to put my company first." He made himself ignore the way her expression of shock shattered his heart and stepped back. "Just stay here, honey, okay? I promise I'll only be a couple minutes, and I'll come right back for you. Just stay on the fountain, and once I'm done I'll... take you wherever you want. Here..." He pulled a couple $5 bills out of his pocket and tucked them into her hand. "If you get thirsty, go to the vendor close by, and don't talk to anyone who isn't wearing the park's uniform. Understand?"
Gray ducked her head to look at the bills in her hand, but mumbled a subdued, "I understand," in response.
Vox gave her a quick peck on the forehead. "I'll be near the bar, sweetheart. Behave. I love you, Paula." And he hurried off towards the shaded bar without so much as a glance as he pulled his phone to his ear, leaving behind a little girl who couldn't even say "I love you, too," before her father disappeared.