Disclaimer: The Secret Life of the American Teenager and all its characters are the sole creation of Brenda Hampton. I OWN NOTHING.

Summary: AU Amy and Ricky had given up their son for adoption and went on to live their separate lives. 10 years later, John sets out to find his real parents. Can their son bring Amy and Ricky back together?

AN: Ok, so I know this is not even one of the three ideas that I told you about but it was the freshest on my mind and so the inspiration to write it was more abundant. As for my other three story ideas, I've planned to try and write all of them at the same time. All of the first chapters have already been outlined now it's just a matter of writing them out. The same for the next chapter of 'Stranger'. Please, just be patient with me – with school and work, I try to write whenever I can.

Special thanks to vampire-cookie-01, HyDrOpYrO777 and secretlifexxx for taking the time to message me. I love and appreciate hearing from my readers.

And of course, thanks to my awesome friend and beta Jazzy…

(sorry for the super long author's note)

Chapter 1: Running Away

John slowly opens the back door, peeking inside to make sure the kitchen is empty. Tip-toeing inside, he turns around to quietly close the door.

"WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?" John's head snaps back and he falls against the door from the blow of his father's hand. Adoptive step-father, he silently corrects.

"Nowhere," John whispers, reaching up to wipe away the blood from his now busted lip. John feels himself being lifted into the air. He begins to struggle, trying to break the hold his father has on his shirt collar.

"Now you listen to me, kid. This is my house and you are going to follow my rules. If I catch you sneaking into this house after midnight again, you're dead." As his father releases him, John falls to the ground and curls to a ball, anticipating the hard kick aimed at his legs.

After a few minutes, John uncurls himself and sits up against the door. A determined look forms on his face as he looks around the dim kitchen. Standing up, he grabs a bottle of water from the counter and then quickly makes his way to his room.

He closes and locks the door before pulling out a folded piece of paper from the back pocket of his jeans. He unfolds it and stares at the information on the page. John's friend, Mikel, who is 6 years older than him, was a computer hacking genius and he had spent the last 5 or so hours searching California State adoption records. John smiles slightly as he reads over the paper, two names in particular popping out at him.

Biological Mother: Amy Juergens

Biological Father: Richard Underwood

John didn't know why his parents gave him up for adoption. All he knew was that his mom had adopted him before he was even born. When he was three she had met his now step-father and they married a year later. Then when he was 7, his mom died of leukemia, and he was left to live with his step-father, who never let him forget that he was adopted and not really his son. That's when the abuse started – but tonight would be the last of it.

John opens his closet and pulls out a duffle bag and fills it with clothes. Going back into the closet, he lifts a loose floorboard and reaches inside. He pulls out a bag of money. It wasn't much – just what he's saved from mowing lawns and what he's managed to steal from his step-father. Stuffing the money into the duffle bag, he hides the bag under his bed. Getting ready for bed, he thinks about how tonight will be his last in this house.

Amy Boykevich walks into her house behind her 5-year old daughter, Melissa. "Mommy, I'm hungry!" the little girl shouts as she runs into the house.

"Ok, sweetie, let's get you a snack," Amy says enthusiastically, following her daughter into the kitchen.

"I want apples!" Melissa squeals as she climbs onto one of the stools at the island counter. Amy nods her head, grabs some apples out of the fridge and proceeds to wash and slice them.

"How was school today, sweetie?" Amy asks, placing the plate of apples in front of the girl.

"It was great," Melissa starts as she grabs a piece of fruit and starts chewing on it. As Melissa babbles about school, Amy goes about cleaning the kitchen. They then move to the living room, where Amy watches Melissa do her homework, which was nothing more than writing out particular letters of the alphabet.

Amy then returns to the kitchen and begins to prepare dinner. She has just put the roast in the oven when she hears the front door open and Ben announce, "Daddy's home!"

"DADDY!" Melissa squeals, running into her father's arm.

"Hi, princess! How was your day?" Ben eagerly asks as he carries the girl into the kitchen.

"It was great, Daddy," she answers and then continues to babble about it as Ben leans over to kiss his wife of 6 years.

"I love you," he whispers into Amy's ear before moving to place Melissa onto a stool.

"Daddy, you're not listening to me," Melissa whines.

Ben kisses the top of her head. "Yes I was, sweetie." He looks over at Amy. "And how was your day, Amy darling?"

Amy smiles. "Great as always. I have the best students – so eager to learn music," she laughs.

"That's good to hear," Ben also laughs, turning on the TV.

Amy's mouth drops as a missing child report flashes across the screen. It isn't so much the fact a child is missing that shocks her, but the familiar features of the child in the picture.

"Honey, I'm home!" Adrian announces, laughing as she walks into her house. Rolling his eyes, Ricky walks out of his home office.

"How was work?" Ricky asks after giving his wife of 2 years a kiss.

"Ugh," Adrian sighs as she walks into the kitchen. "Why did I ever think working with my father would be a good thing?"

Ricky laughs, sitting at the kitchen table as he watches his wife begin to prepare dinner. "I'm sure it isn't that bad." Adrian rolls her eyes as she chops up peppers and onions.

"How was your day?"

Ricky shrugs. "Mostly paper work. I'm worried about this one kid, though. Tommy Oliver."

Adrian's brow furrows. "Why?"

"He's been moved from foster home to foster home but his file is very vague about why. He's about to turn 15 and I'd like to sit down with him and figure out what's going on."

Adrian smiles, proud of Ricky's work with child protective services. "Can you turn on the news please?" she asks, pulling a pot out of one of the lower cabinets. Ricky nods as he grabs the remote and flips through the channels until he reaches the local news.

As a robbery report ends, the words "Missing Child" flash across the screen accompanied by a picture of a boy. This immediately captures Ricky and Adrian's attention. The news anchor reports: 10-year-old John Collins was last seen by his father yesterday morning, leaving for school. However, he never showed up at Jefferson Elementary. It's still unknown whether or not John was abducted but if you have any information regarding John Collins' whereabouts, please call 818-123-4567.

Ricky turns to face Adrian, a frown marring his face. "It kills me to see and hear news like that."

"I know," Adrian says softly, smiling sympathetically before she goes back to the pot on the stove. Knock Knock Knock. Adrian looks over at Ricky confused. "Are you expecting someone?" Ricky shakes his head as he leaves the kitchen to answer the door.

AN: Well, that's the first chapter. Hope you like it. REVIEW and let me know what you think.

-Nichelle