A/N: Hiya guys! It's Cha-Cha here :D Bringing you my first Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends fanfic! ^^
I miss the show so much ;A; But anyway, enough about me. Here's the fic ^_^
DISCLAIMER: If I owned Foster's I could die without any regrets… but I don't. =(
XXX
Summary: One day, Mac meets the only other come-back kid. And she's not just any kid - she also has a secret that she's eager to show him. Not the usual OC fic. Reviews welcomed :D
Somewhat Admirable
"This place hasn't changed a bit."
The large, gothic-style house looming above the treetops was exactly as it had been six years before - the same deep orange walls, the same large willow tree she'd spent hours climbing with her imaginary friend.
The girl stood before the house clasped her hands together and held them to her chin, her face holding anxiety.
"I hope he hasn't been adopted yet… Gah, I should've come back sooner!" She sighed and hugged herself, shivering. Her school skirt was just a tad too high for her liking - but her parents were insistent that she tried at this school, and tried hard. If that meant wearing the ridiculously short skirts from the regulation uniform, so be it. Much as she hated it, she knew her parents were right; after all the crappy schools she'd attended in the past, she was determined to give it a chance, even if wearing the stupidly revealing uniform was a part of the deal.
"Harry… Please still be there…" Emily Carter took a step towards Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, shaking all over - then stopped as she heard frantic voices approaching.
"Hey, Bloo, you're going too fast!"
"Shut up, I'm on fire!"
"You're gonna fall off!"
Emily turned around - and was knocked down by a blur of blue and a skateboard.
"Ouch…!" She tried to sit up, groaned, and flopped back down again, scrunching her eyes up.
"…I think I killed her."
"What? Bloo! This is terrible!"
"Re-lax, Mac. She's a babe, she'll forgive us. And besides - she's blonde."
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"Well, blondes are supposedly dumb, right? If we fool her, she'll never know."
"Shut up, you shrimp," Emily growled, sitting up. She opened her eyes to see a little blue blob jump back, hiding behind a kid in a red T-shirt.
"Yikes, the blonde's got attitude!" She glared at the two, before standing up and brushing herself down. She winced as she bent over - she could already feel a bruise snaking down her back.
"You little creeps should apologise, you know," she grumbled, rubbing the back of her head. "I mean, do you two normally knock people down while riding skateboards and then run off?"
The kid looked guilty, while his imaginary friend merely looked pissed.
"Um, we're sorry," the child said. "C-Can you forgive us?" She nodded, folding her arms.
"Well, I can forgive you, kiddo. You're sweet. Him, on the other hand…" She leaned sideways and threw a questioning glance at Bloo. "Just because I'm blonde doesn't mean I'm an idiot; that's a dumb stereo-type and shouldn't be lumped in with every blonde you meet! How do you know it's even my natural hair colour?"
"What's a stereo-type?" Bloo asked his creator, confused. "Besides, if you're not stupid, why would you dye your hair blonde? It doesn't make any sense."
"Okay, first, little guy, a stereo-type is when you assume that someone acts a certain way because of how they look. It's not cool and you shouldn't just go around jumping to conclusions like a frog on a lily-pad." The imaginary friend merely looked perplexed.
"That's the creepiest example I've ever heard."
"And second," she said, ignoring Bloo's comment, "Blonde is a stereo-type, so you shouldn't think that just because my hair's blonde I'm a dumbass. Because I'm not. Got that?"
"Um… I'm sorry that we've been so rude," the boy said, his face burning. "Um, would you like us to walk you home because you're hurt?"
"No, I'm all right. I'm actually heading somewhere else."
"Really? Where?" The imaginary friend asked excitedly.
"Well, I was heading over to Foster's, obviously." Emily blew up at her fringe, frustrated. "But then two little weirdos kind of pushed me over."
"How old are you?" Bloo questioned, excited. "I've never met a lady like you before! You look like you're still in school, but… you're so old." She tilted her head back, frustrated.
"You kids really don't have any manners, do you? Don't you guys know it's rude to ask a lady her age?"
"W-We're sorry!" Mac blushed, throwing Bloo a warning glance. "S-So, um, you were saying you were heading to Foster's?"
"Yes, I'm here to see my old imaginary friend. If you'll excuse me…"
"B-But you don't understand! We're heading back there too!" Emily blinked and peered at the two, as if she was only seeing them for the first time."Does your friend live here?" She asked Mac. He nodded.
"Y-Yeah, Bloo lives there. And, well, I stay there too, sometimes." She stared.
"Are you another one of Madame Foster's grandkids?" she asked. He shook his head.
"No, I'm not… But I come to visit Foster's every day." Her eyes widened, and her mouth stretched into a huge grin.
"No kidding! You're a come-back kid, too?"
"Too? You mean my Mac has been… copied?" Bloo stretched his arms out dramatically.
"I believe I was the original," she said, pulling a face. "Anyway, if you guys are coming, keep up with me. I've done enough hanging around today."
"Er, yeah," Mac said quickly, the two hurrying after her with their skateboard. "S-So… What's your name?"
"I'm Emily Carter… I go to the high school nearby. How about you and your friend, kid?"
"I'm Mac, and he's Bloo," he explained. "…So… What's your friend like?" She let a smile wash over her face.
"You might not have seen him around - he's not exactly the most noticeable."
"Oh? Is he a small friend then?" Mac asked eagerly. She shook her head.
"Nu-uh. He's quite tall, really. But you guys wouldn't really tell him apart, to be honest. He's also not really into fun and games like you kids are. He's cool, and smart, and everything that I could ever dream of!" Her cheeks flushed with pride. "I love him."
"That's the same with me and Bloo… We're everything the other could hope for." Mac felt good talking to someone who felt the same way as he did towards his imaginary friend. It was a warm feeling - that someone understood how it felt to hold such a strong bond.
"Uh huh. Well, you and Bloo are completely different to me and Harry. The bond we share is just as great - but in a completely unique way." A small smile crossed her face.
"We're home!" Bloo called, opening the door. Emily entered, staring round with wide eyes. Everything was exactly as it was five years ago - the odd friend wandering around downstairs, a few passing each other on the staircases.
"Does Frankie still live here?" Emily asked, a small smile on her face. Mac nodded.
"Uh-huh. She works here now, as a caretaker."
"I thought she would. When I used to come here, she just looked out for the other friends and made sure everyone was having fun, as well as taking care of a few chores here and there when Mr Herriman got too frazzled." Emily sighed. "It feels like a lifetime since I last came here."
"I didn't know that someone else used to visit their friend the way I visit Bloo," Mac said, staring up at the girl. She seemed so glamorous, with her honey-blonde hair and dark eyes - but something seemed different about her, something dull and bored and hurt. He'd never met anyone like this girl - it seemed like there was a whole lot of crap weighing her down, but she didn't seem frustrated and cruel like Terrence had always been. She just seemed sad, distant… worn-out.
"We're home!" Bloo called as they entered the house. "We bought an old lady with us too!"
"Who are you calling old, you little shrimp?" growled Emily. "I oughta teach you some manners, punk."
"Welcome back, Mac, Bloo," Wilt said from the top of the staircase.
"Wilt!" Wilt's eyes widened and he bounded down the stairs.
"Hey, Emily… is that you?" He stared at her, taking in the appearance of the small girl he used to play with. She nodded, before giving him a hug.
"Uh huh! I've really missed you!"
"But… Why haven't you been back sooner?" Wilt looked confused. "I mean… it's been six years."
"I-I know," she gabbled, anxious-eyed. "But, um, you see, the thing is… Well, we moved away, remember? I really wanted to come back and see you guys but since we moved to Ohio it was too far to travel, and… Well, we recently moved back here but it's been tough settling in, so… Well, now is the only chance I've had since I arrived back here to come to Foster's and see you guys."
"I see… I'm sorry I asked. It's just, Harry's really missed you, you know?" Her face brightened.
"He's still here? He hasn't been adopted?" Wilt shook his head.
"He's been called to the office on a few occasions - but he was sent back to his room every time."
"That must've been really hard on him…" Her eyes filled up with tears. "I mean… he must've been lonely enough once I left without other people rejecting him…" Wilt hushed her and gave her a hug.
"Emily, please don't cry! I'm sorry, I really am, I never should've said anything-"
"Stupid Wilt," she mumbled, wiping her eyes. "It's not your fault, okay?"
"A-Are you alright?" Mac asked nervously. She nodded, sniffing.
"Are the others here?" she asked. "Eduardo and Coco… They haven't been adopted too, have they?" Wilt shook his head.
"Nope. They're in the main room at the moment." He turned his head to the doorway. "Eduardo! Coco! Emily's here!"
"Co-co-co-co-co-co?" Coco's voice came in reply.
"No, I'm not kidding! Emily really is here!"
"AHH, SENORITA!" Eduardo's voice erupted from the room and in a flash he was rocking her backwards and forwards, with Emily giggling hysterically. Coco followed, making excited sounds.
"Great to see you too, Eduardo!" she giggled.
"Ahh, Mi Cereza, Mi Cereza!" His cheeks were flushed pink with excitement. "Ohh, we have missed you so muuuch!"
"I've missed you guys too," she laughed as he put her down. "Oh, you don't know how great it is to see you!" She embraced Coco tightly.
"How come you guys never told us about Emily?" Mac asked. Wilt shrugged, unsure of what to say.
"Well, I guess… there was never really the chance. I suppose we were going to tell you when you agreed to be a come-back kid for Bloo. But Mr Herriman…"
"Never gave you guys the chance cause he was too frazzled over all the paperwork," Emily finished. "I'm not surprised. He had a habit of not letting anyone get a word in edgeways."
She looked around eagerly. "So, where's Harry?" She asked, perky and excited. "I can't wait to see him!"
"U-Uh, Emily, let me get him for you," Wilt offered. "Since I know where his room is, and everything…"
"Really? Thanks!" She watched him as he sauntered upstairs.
"Co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co!" Coco exclaimed. Emily hugged her again, caressing Coco's feathers.
"I never could understand what you were saying…" She let out a heavy sigh, placing a simple smile on her face. "But I know whatever you're saying, you're saying something kind. Because you've always been kind to me, Coco."
"Co-co-co…"
Mac and Bloo watched intently, wide-eyed. They'd never seen anyone treat Coco so tenderly before, nor had they seen Coco look so sincere.
"Emily! Harry's here!" She turned around, looking so happy Mac was expecting fireworks to shoot from her ears and explode into colourful showers. He looked up and saw… a normal kid, the same age as Emily, with dark, wild hair half-hidden by a soft green hat and deep green eyes that were wide with amazement as they set on the eyes of their creator.
"Huh? That's Harry?" She nodded, tears springing to her eyes once more.
"Uh huh! Harry!" She ran up to him and wrapped her arms around him. His face flushed pink as ever but he returned her embrace, caressing her hair and breathing in her scent.
"Em… Em, it's been ages!" His face stretched into a grin as tears began to roll down his cheeks. "Six years! It's been six years since you last hugged me!"
"I know!" She pulled away, shaking her head. "I'm so sorry it's been so long, but… well, since I moved and everything… I've recently moved back into the neighbourhood, that's how I got here. I'm so, so sorry that I've stayed away for so long!"
He reached out and wiped her tears away, then leaned in and placed a simple kiss on her cheek.
Mac and Bloo gaped.
"Wh-What's going on?" They gasped. "I-I mean, you guys are creator and friend, right? Why did you just kiss?"
"B-Because we're in love," giggled Emily, wrapping her arms round Harry's neck. "I told you our relationship was different. It's why I'm a come-back kid, Mac. It's because I'm in love with Harry, and Harry's in love with me. We're the closest to each other… I've waited for all these years to come back and see him again! I haven't looked twice at another boy, because I know that I love Harry with all my heart and Harry loves me too."
Wilt, Eduardo and Coco looked on, unfazed.
"Emily stopped coming here when she was eleven," Wilt explained. "But by then, they were in love - they couldn't help it. Her parents found out and were horrified, so - well, they decided moving away was the best option for Emily. Plus her parents come from a heavy scene, so… Lets just say, they forgot about the reason they moved away soon enough."
"What do you mean, heavy scene?" Mac asked.
"My parents are druggies," Emily said matter-of-factly. "Bluntly put, they're a mess. They couldn't see how much me and Harry loved each other, so they separated us and wandered further down that path. They split a while ago, so my father and I moved back here just to spite my mother." She sighed. "Not that I care, anyway - they're both just as bad as the other. But I sided with my father because, well, I'd get to see you again, right Harry?" He nodded numbly. A smile crossed her face."Hey! Why are you wearing that hat, anyway? Afraid your ears might show?" She tugged on it.
"Wait, no! Stop! Em, please, don't pull on it!"
"Aww, but why? You look so cute~!"
In a flash his hat was yanked off, and Mac and Bloo's eyes widened in shock.
Harry stood there, red-faced and glaring, with cat ears twitching irritably.
"Haha! Dude, what's up with your ears?" Bloo cackled. Mac elbowed him, flushing."Shut up!" He hissed. "You're embarrassing him!"
"Well, what did you expect?" Harry snapped. "It takes a lot of skill and concentration to create an imaginary friend that replicates a human being to the last point. The best that Emily could do for me was make me a human guy with cat ears… Lucky for me, I can hide them with my hat. Mostly." He groaned and turned to Emily, who was twisting that hat on her index finger. "Why did you take my hat off, Em?" He whined.
"Because I think your cat ears are adorable!" She sighed, giving him a hug. "Honestly, they're cute and perky and loveable… they add charm to you, Harry! You should be proud to show them off!"
"I used to," he said, a hollow sadness filling his voice. "But when you left, I put on that hat and never took it off in front of people. I didn't want them seeing me like that! It would remind them that you left!" He sounded devastated when he said that.
"Harry!" Emily threw her arms around him, frightened tears springing to her eyes. "I didn't leave by choice, you idiot! I wanted to stay with you forever! Please…" Her voice wobbled. "Please don't think that…"
"I can't help it, Em… I really missed you, you know?" He frowned, pulling away. "Why didn't you write a letter?"
"You know I have really bad dyslexia," Emily said, shrugging. "And I didn't want you reading a letter that was all screwed up. I don't want you to think I'm dumb, you know? And it's not like my parents were very understanding - if I asked, they wouldn't exactly offer help." She pulled a face. "But I'm sorry that I didn't write. I know that I should've."
"It's okay." He smiled wearily. "The important thing is that you're back now, right?"
"So, how old were you when you created Harry?" Mac asked eagerly. Emily tapped her chin.
"Hmm… I was about five, I think. So that makes you - eleven!" She wrapped her arms around his neck."Aha! I figured it out! You're… seventeen!" Bloo pointed his appendage at her in triumph.
"Hey, you little runt, why are you interested in my age, anyway? Is this another crack about me being old?"
Wilt grinned sheepishly and beckoned the others.
"Uh, well, we'll all go and… A-And help Frankie out. Is that okay?" Bloo scowled but Mac quickly nudged him. The others seemed to get the message and followed Wilt as he led them away.
"We should give them some time alone," Mac whispered as Bloo sulked. "It's their moment that they can be together. The least we can do is give them that."
Muttering, Bloo reluctantly followed Mac, leaving Harry and Emily alone.
"So…" Emily laughed sheepishly. "Ah, I feel like such a dork. Now that we're finally by ourselves I don't have a clue what to say to you." Her cheeks were pink with embarrassment.
"Y-Yeah." He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, face flushed. They turned to each other.
"Uh, Emily, I-"
"No. Lemme speak first." She drew a finger to his lips and exhaled heavily.
"H-Harry… I'm seventeen now. And… And, now that I'm old enough, I'm going to go to Mr Herriman and ask him for a job." His eyes widened in surprise.
"You are?" She nodded, determinedly.
"Of course! I need money, and I need to be with you. By doing that, I'll be fulfilling everything I want to do. When I have enough money, I'll buy a place, away from my parents. Then, I'll have freedom, to do anything that I want to, and I'll come and visit you every day. I'll hold down a load of different part-time jobs - summer jobs, weekend jobs, weekday jobs… I'll do whatever I have to, to map out my life so far. Because I wanna be with you, and everybody else, Harry." She smiled, face pink, and began to laugh nervously. "Y-You probably think I'm just talking big…"
"Nope. I think what you're doing is… brilliant! Em, you're amazing!" She blinked.
"Y-You think so? It's only an idea… a serious one, perhaps, but still just an idea at the moment. No need to sound so shocked." She giggled.
"N-uh. You're somewhat admirable, Emily Carter." Her face flushed as she watched his eyes. They were serious and staring right at her, seriously, smoothly. Her face stretched into a huge grin.
"Thanks, Harry!" She gave him a quick hug, before pulling away.
"I'm gonna go and talk to Mr Herriman now about that part-time jo-"
"Wait."
Harry reached out and grabbed her hand, squeezing it and slipping something into it. She shivered. It was cold and hard and really small.
Clasping it, her eyes widened as she pulled out a small silver ring.
"I know it's a bit soon, but…"
"You don't have to say it," she whispered.
"Well…?"
"I don't have to either, do I?" She replied. She gave him a quick kiss on the nose. "I've mapped out my life already. And you're definitely a part of it."
He smiled, fat, salty tears rolling down his cheeks. It felt like a huge weight had been taken off of him, and for that he was both relieved and immensely grateful to Emily.
Holding her hand, the two stood outside on the porch, watching the outside world rush by. The sky was a pale blue, sketchy clouds drifting through.
The sky's our map, Harry decided, a smile playing on his lips. It's going to lead Emily and I to the places we want to go to.
Our future.
A/N: Ahaha, so this is finally done ;) Happiness! Please review and tell me what you think ^_^