Chapter 12 - Diana…

"So you mean to tell me we're allowed to stay as long as we help you do your housework, do errands, and so on?" Ethan questioned, surprised the blonde allowed them to stay.

"Yup, I'm always busy studying and other things that I don't have time to focus on things like housework. Plus it gives you guys a place to stay, Mallory already agreed." Natalie looked towards Mallory exchanging smiles.

"Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt to stay. It sure beats that old dusty store." Ethan agreed to the contract. Everyone then looked over at James.

"Can't believe I'm saying this but… sure, why not? Watching Ethan get mauled by your cat has got to be the best thing that's ever happened to me in a long while." James said laughing at the memory of last night, forgetting his pain caused by the vicious cat. Mallory and Ethan suspiciously eyed him for a few minutes before shrugging it off.

"Guess it's settled! Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get to class. Don't poke your nose in places where it shouldn't be and don't destroy anything. If something happens, use the home phone to call me." Natalie said handing Mallory a slip of paper with her number on it. And with that, Natalie headed off to her campus.

"What now?" Ethan asked, looking towards the other two.

"Wanna read her diary?" James said grinning. Mallory soon after came up to him and kicked James in the gut.

"OUCH! WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!"

"In case you don't remember, we SHOULDN'T be poking out noses around where they don't belong!" The blue-haired girl quoted Natalie. Little did she know, she already had the book in her hands and was about to open it.

Ethan gasped, "MALLORY! Tsk, tsk tsk! Who would've guessed Marionette's number one female maid would break her new master's rules! What would Diana say?"

"Don't you dare bring Diana into this, our creator's wife has nothing to do with this! Plus, we've already broken that rule, along with many others! You and James have more than I at least," Mallory retorted as she opened the diary.

"You're hopeless." Ethan sighed.

"Hmph! Coming from you!" Mallory huffed out. The two began reading the diary together while James laid limply on the floor, Buttons sitting on top of him.

"I wanna read it too," James weakly muttered out, raising his hand into the air. Buttons only purred at the feeling of James talking.

Meanwhile, back at the puppet store, Rowen was busy creating new puppets. He knew the others won't be coming back, at least not for a good long while. So he had already started preparing a few more puppets. Suddenly, he heard his shop's door open and the bell ring.

"ROWEN!!! ROWEN, WHERE ARE YOU!?" A loud and obnoxious female voice yelled out.

"What is it you spoiled brat?" Rowen said standing up from his workstation. He had recognized the obnoxious female's voice.

"You should be kinder to your sister-in-law! Diana wouldn't like it if she heard you, now would she?" The brunette pouted, trying to push Rowen's buttons.

"She's long gone now. So what brings you here?" Rowen somberly stated.

"As you know my daughter's birthday is in a few months. I thought it would be nice to give her something for her 21st birthday. Since you make little… uh... dolls? I thought it would be perfect to get her one as a servant."

"They're puppets." Rowen sighed out. "Sure I'll make her one, any preferences? Looks, details, type of skills?"

"Hmm, I think a female doll with pink hair and green eyes will do. It sounds cute enough, oh, and make her one of those maid-type ones too! I want her to be strong as well, kind of like that blue-haired doll you used to have." Rowen rolled his eyes at the brunette's request.

"Sure, I'll have her done before your daughter's birthday. Now can you please leave my store, Kathryn?" Kathryn huffed at this. Soon she left the puppet maker to his work.

'Finally, peace.' Rowen thought to himself. Only to hear the yelling and fighting occurring at the front of his store where all his creations were located at. Rowen sighed at this.

In the small town of SpringValley, a place where a husband and his wife would open up their prized store, Enchanted Marionette, lived a happy couple. Diana Briar, the wife of Rowen Briar, was a kind and loving woman. She was like a mother to all, everyone loved and admired her. Rowen Briar, a creator of living puppets, was the wonderful husband of Diana. The two loved each other and got along very nicely. They weren't just husband and wife, but also best friends.

"Rowen, I just received a new request! It's from Mr. Wilson, He said he's going to have a grandson soon!" A red-haired girl in her mid-twenties said, excitedly running up to her husband who was currently sitting down at his workbench.

"Really? That's great news! What's the request?" The brunette, who's also in his mid-twenties, asked.

"They asked for a male, black-haired doll, green left eye, and a blue right eye. They put in a special request, they want him to be a multitask puppet." Diana read off the request to her husband.

"A multitask puppet? Diana you know those are very difficult to make. They require a lot of time and effort." Rowen said, a bit unsure on whether he should accept.

"C'mon just do it! His grandson won't be due until a couple of months, plus he's an old friend of ours." Diana said staring into Rowen's eyes with a pleading look.

"Fine, I'll do it." Rowen huffed out in defeat. Soon months had passed and the puppet was done. The puppet's name was Samuel Wilkes and he was delivered to the hospital after Allen's birth. Allen Holland was a brown-haired boy with very dark brown eyes, almost black.