A/N: Written for the 10,20,50,70,100 fandoms challenge, fandom 8.

And in my opinion, 11 (Matt) and 10 (Sora) is too young to be embarrassed by talk of marriage. Talk of kissing or dating on the other hand probably would embarrass them.

Once a Little Helper

Sora shook her head as she stepped into Matt's apartment. Simply put, it was a mess. Clothes strewn over the floor with carpet barely visible, dishes piled up on both the table and the sink and some putrid smell floating in from the kitchen…

The blond gave her a sheepish look. 'Dad's been pulling a lot of all-nighters, and I just got back from that gig in Chiba last night.' At the raised eyebrow, he added: 'You want to ride a bus with Yeiji?'

'No thanks,' Sora said dryly, 'but you know, my mother would hit the roof, seeing your apartment in this state.'

'So would mine.' Matt's voice wasn't as light as the slightly younger girl's. At the silence that awkwardly hung between them, he added: 'You know, I used to think she'd be so annoyed she'd move straight back in with TK.'

It was cute, endearing even, and Sora might have laughed if Matt hadn't sounded so despondent in saying those words.

'Well,' she said instead. 'Mum's with Dad for the weekend – Dad needed some company for his latest trip and Mum should be able to keep him in line – so don't be surprised if I move in with you instead.'

'Wha – what?'

Sora folded her arms. 'Well, I for one don't want you covered in rat bites the next time I see you.'

'There aren't rats here.'

'Are you sure?'

No, Matt wasn't sure. Though it was a rather farfetched idea.

'And you're not going to eat in those dishes.'

'I can clean them.'

'And where in the world is your bed?'

'Uhh…my room?'

It didn't look as though Sora was listening though, walking a little tentatively forward. 'And you were inviting Mimi and Joe over to this?'

'The others too – ' He stopped, realising that Mimi and Joe would have the most problems with the apartment. No doubt there was something buried there to which Joe was allergic to, and as for their resident beauty-queen…

And they were supposed to be giving her a farewell too. She'd be gone to New York the next week…and it had taken a good deal of degrading pleading to get her parents to stay the few weeks they already had.

'Well, I guess we better get cleaning.'

'Good idea.' Matt paused. 'We?'

'Of course,' Sora exclaimed in reply. 'I don't know how you stand it like this.'

'You know, it'll be back in this state in a few weeks.'

Sora shook her head again. 'Make sure you get a good wife when you're all grown up,' she sighed. 'In the meantime, I guess I'll be here at least once a month.'

Matt really didn't know what to say to that, except the cheesy "thanks for being a good friend". Especially not with Sora acting just his mother used to.

'How'd the gig go?'

'Pretty good. Ida thinks I can be a permanent member of the band next year. One of their guitarists are leaving, and...'