The First Day

Disclaimer: I own everything…Oh wait. Strike that. Reverse it. I don't own anything, none of the characters are mine, etc.

Okay, here's my first offering to I hope it works, I'm pretty technologically impaired. It'll probably be three parts (maybe four?), each dealing with one day with Ryan and the Cohens as he settles in. Reviews, especially with constructive criticism are appreciated!

When Sandy opened the door, he saw exactly what he was expecting to. Marian Engel, a social worker, and behind her, a blue-eyed, tow-headed, scrawny little boy, looking out apprehensively from bangs that shielded most of his eyes and clutching a backpack tightly with both hands.

Kirsten walked up behind Sandy. After almost a year of thought, they had decided to become foster parents. For Sandy, so he could have yet another outlet in which he could direct his self-imposed need to change the world for the better. For Seth, so he could have a friend, brother, and playmate; also, to give him a glimpse of life outside of Orange County, where all children weren't as lucky as he was. And for Kirsten, so that – well, mainly because she felt that was what her family needed, but also, just slightly, to piss her father off.

And now this kid that they had spent so long preparing for had finally arrived.

"Hi Marian," said Sandy jovially. "Good to see you again. And you," he added to his new charge who looked about ready to make a run for it, "must be Ryan. My name is Sandy, and this is my wife, Kirsten. Come on in."

As they stepped into the foyer, they heard a shriek, followed by footsteps clamoring down the stairs. "Is he here? Did he come? Why didn't anyone tell me?" Ryan looked up to see a boy, about his own age with curly brown hair and a huge smile plastered across his face, approach him. "Hi, I'm Seth. You must be Ryan. Mom and Dad said you'd come today. But they said you were five, like me. But you don't look five, you're too short. How old are you?"

Ryan glared at him, putting masking his previously apprehensive look with a glare. "I am five. I turned five in June." Seth shrugged. "Okay, if you say so. Have you seen your room yet? It's so cool! Hey, Dad, what time is it? Is it time for Power Rangers yet? Do you like Power Rangers, Ryan? I do. My favourite is—" "Seth!" Sandy exclaimed. "Seth," added Kirsten, "let's get Ryan settled first, okay sweetie? Then we can have some lunch, and then you guys can play, alright?"

"Fine," replied Seth with an exaggerated sigh. "Come on Ryan, I'll show you your room." "Alright," replied Ryan uneasily, sneaking a glance back at the adults. Seth led Ryan up the stairs, while Sandy and Kirsten stayed behind with Marian.

"You guys are lucky," said Marian as soon as the boys were out of earshot. "Ryan's a really sweet kid."

"He looks terrified," said Kirsten.

"He's had a pretty rough life, for such a little kid. You guys get a copy of his file," Marian explained, handing Sandy a thick folder. "It's basically the same stuff we went over when we met last week. Dad's in jail, Mom's an alcoholic and a junkie with a string of abusive boyfriends. This is his first foster home. It can be scary, and he's probably tired – I was told he didn't sleep at all last night. He's nervous.

"

"We should go see how the boys are doing," added Kirsten after a pause. "We don't want to leave Ryan alone with Seth too long. Once he starts talking, he can be kind of intimidating."

They climbed up the stairs and entered the room Kirsten had spent the past week redecorating. Seth was seated on the bed, babbling happily about horses, while Ryan stood in the middle of the room with an expression of complete awe on his face, taking in his new room.

It was the biggest bedroom he had ever seen, bigger even than his and Trey's rooms in their old house put together. There was a king-sized bed, a desk, dresser, couch, and bookcase, all decorated in a racecar motif. There were posters on the walls, books on the bookshelves, even a racecar rug by the bed.

"Do you like it, Ryan?" asked Kirsten cautiously. "Marian told me you liked cars."

Ryan pulled his gaze from the books and glanced at Kirsten for a moment before lowering his eyes to the floor. "I – It's great. I really like it. Thank you," he said softly, almost in a whisper.

"Great!" replied Kirsten, wringing her hands. "We can go shopping tomorrow, and pick out some clothes, shoes, underpants. And we can buy you some more stuff for your room. We should get you a stereo."

Ryan didn't reply, but nodded slightly, still staring at the floor.

Sensing Ryan's discomfort, Sandy interjected. "Well, I'm starving. Rosa should have lunch ready now. Why don't we head back downstairs and get something to eat?"

"And I should get going," said Marian. They made their way to the kitchen as Marian said her good-byes to Ryan and the Cohens, promising to be stay in touch within the next few days.

Sandy led the way to the kitchen, where Rosa had just finished setting the table. She looked at the family as they entered, giving Ryan a smile when she noticed him. "Rosa," said Sandy, "this is Ryan. Ryan, this is our housekeeper, Rosa."

Ryan looked up from his inspection of the floor long enough to glance up and catch Rosa's smile. He smiled shyly back for a split second before sliding his gaze to his feet.

"Do you like grilled cheese Ryan?" Kirsten asked as they took their places at the table.

Ryan nodded as Rosa put a sandwich on his plate. "Thanks," he said softly. He looked at his lunch. It didn't look anything like the grilled cheese his mom used to make, or his brother made when his mom "didn't feel up to cooking." The bread was brown and had some weird stuff that looked like seeds in it, instead of his mom's generic brand white bread. The cheese was real instead of processed slices, and the sandwich was cut on the diagonal instead of straight across like his mom made it. He took a tentative bite, chewed, and tried to swallow through the lump forming in his throat. The thought of his family, and how he might never see them again, almost made him cry. He blinked back tears and forced himself to take a drink of milk.

"Do you like it, Ryan?" asked Kirsten, noticing his disinterest in his lunch and interrupting Seth's constant chatter about his sailing lessons. "There's tomato soup and salad too. Or we could make you peanut butter and jam."

"No -- no thank you. It's fine," replied Ryan. And as if to convince both Kirsten and himself, he took a huge bite.

After lunch, Ryan was taken on a tour of the house and beach, unpacked his bag, and spent the rest of the afternoon in the pool with Seth, while Sandy and Kirsten watched from the patio.

"Ryan and Seth seem to be getting along really well," commented Kirsten, listening to the boys' shrieks of laughter as they chased each other in the pool.

Sandy agreed verbally, although inside he was less optimistic. He noticed the way Ryan refused to lay a hand on Seth, even when Seth jumped on Ryan's back to hold his head underwater. He noticed how gingerly Ryan handled the pool toys, as if he was terrified he might break one. And he noticed how Ryan glanced over at Kirsten and himself every few moments, to reassure himself of their whereabouts.

Later in the evening Kirsten suggested a movie, despite Seth's complaints that he wanted to show Ryan the new Super Mario Kart game he had just gotten for his Super Nintendo. Ryan's energy had been flagging ever since he and Seth had gotten out of the pool just prior to dinner. Now, although it was barely seven o'clock, he looked as though it was taking all his energy to keep his eyes open but still vehemently declined Kirsten's suggestion that he head to bed early. So they ended up in the living room, munching on popcorn and watching "The Lion King". Kirsten spent more time watching Ryan than the movie, whose head would drop down every few minutes with sleep, only to be jerked up a moment later, eyes wide, blinking, and struggling to focus on the television screen.

She ushered the boys to bed as soon as the movie was over, designating Sandy to help Seth prepare for bed while she waited outside Ryan's door for him to finish changing into his pajamas, heeding his whispered assurances that he "could do it himself". She felt equally useless as she followed him to the bathroom to watch him brush his teeth and wash his face, then back to the bedroom where he climbed into bed. After submitting to a goodnight kiss first by Kirsten, then Sandy, he pulled the covers over his head as Sandy turned off the light and closed the door.

As they were nearing the end of the hallway, the sound of a muffled sob reached them, coming from Ryan's room. Sandy and Kirsten looked at each other, then headed quickly to Ryan's door. Opening it slowly, Kirsten cautiously stepped into the room. "Ryan? Are you all right?"

As soon as the door had opened, the sobs had suddenly stopped, and from the light from the hallway Ryan could be seen wiping his eyes. "Oh, honey," exclaimed Kirsten as she sat on the edge of the bed and cautiously pulled Ryan into her lap. He didn't resist, but all of his muscles were tensed and he sat as far forward and away from her as he could. "It must be scary, coming into a new house, a new family, and leaving everything else behind," Kirsten prompted, hoping to incite Ryan into verbalizing his own thoughts. But Ryan only climbed out of Kirsten's lap and back into his own bed.

"No, it's fine," he said. "I'm alright." He then turned over, so that his back was facing Sandy and Kirsten.

Sandy jumped in. "Are you sure you don't want to talk about anything, kid?"

"No," came the voice from the bed. "I'm tired. I'm going to sleep."

Sandy and Kirsten exchanged a glance. "Okay," Sandy consented. "But if you need anything, come get us. You remember where our room is, right? Or get Seth, and he can come get us."

"Mm-hmm," mumbled Ryan, obviously feigning sleepiness.

Sandy and Kirsten left, and headed to the living room.

"Well," said Sandy, "no one said it would be easy. For anyone."

"I know," replied Kirsten. "I just never really thought about it before. I mean, he wouldn't even let me hold him, Sandy. And he sounded so unhappy, but the minute we walk in the door, everything is fine. Did you see how fast he hid how upset he was?"

"Yeah", answered Sandy, "I did. But honey, you've got to realize this is a process. It's only the first night. It's going to take everyone a while to get used to things. And Ryan's probably not used to that kind of affection, especially from people he just met. He's had a rough life. Give him time."

Kirsten put her arms around Sandy's neck and faced him. "I hope you're right. Because I just got the feeling we're in way over our heads."

TBC