Author's note – this is something I haven't noticed a lot of and it was something I wanted to try. Jo x
So towards the end of episode 10 during series 7, Chris explained to Scout that she and Liam were going to a better home and with a better family…but where could they be possibly going? And will it all work out as well as he promises?
It was going to be sad he had to admit when he got round to it, but things were going to work out better within a few days.
When everyone had pretty much left the building he then took that opportunity to clear everything out. He tore himself away from behind the desk and got a few boxes together to set about packing when there was someone knocking on his door.
The only person he knew it could be was Tom as the two of them had planned to go out for a drink and a chat at their local after he was finished. It was only when he turned to look and see that Scout was standing there instead, with her little brother holding onto her.
He answered the door and let her in. "Why haven't you left?"
"Foster parents haven't shown up," she dolefully replied as she sat down on one of the stools.
"And there was me thinking you've come to give me a hand," he assumed as he went back to clear up.
"I can if you want me to," she offered. "It's the least I could do after what you did for me and Liam."
Chris handed her a box for her to fill up. "I can't give a reason as to why your foster parents haven't shown up to collect you," he admitted, "but if they still don't turn up by the time we've finished I can take you to their home."
Her eyes lit up. "You would do that?"
"Look," he stopped what he was doing and placed a hand on her shoulder, "I meant what I said about sticking with you through all of this. This is a promise I wanted to keep."
She nodded, smiling more positively. "So I guess I've wrecked things for you since you're leaving here."
"No." He gave her a small comforting squeeze. "I had plans to leave anyway and I already had things lined up on the cards."
****
Once they were done with packing she helped him load the car before going back to the empty room.
"As long as my problems aren't the real reason you're leaving," she wanted to make clear to him.
"No, not at all." He looked to her intently. "Your situation didn't exactly help…but it made me realise that working here has never been what I was cut out for."
"Looks like they never showed up," Scout noted sadly before looking to Liam who also seemed rather forlorn.
"Don't worry," Chris stated encouragingly. "I said I would take you to theirs if they didn't show up, remember? So let's go."
She frowned at how positive he seemed and sounded. It was unusual for someone to behave that way after leaving a job they'd been in for a few years but then again, maybe he did want to leave that much. After all it was never her place to make that assumption. She took hold of Liam and they left the room before he locked it and handed in the keys.
She felt full of nerves throughout the drive, completely unaware of where he was taking them. She wanted her new family to be nice. She wanted them to be just as nice and compassionate as he had been with them – but she was very sure that would not happen and if it did it was all some far-fetched dream.
"We're here now." His voice came from amidst her thoughts and she sharply peered to him to find his big, bright blue eyes fixed on hers. There was something incredibly sharp and intense about them, something she had not noticed before and in a way it unnerved her.
"That didn't seem long." She and her brother got out of her side of the car and he handed her their stuff before he locked up. It was only when she saw him put his car keys away and pull out another set of keys that it registered.
"Let's get you both inside then, shall we?" He noted merrily, unlocking the block's front door before leading them up to the next floor.
"Y-you are joking," she stated as Chris let them in to his flat. "You're joking, right?"
"No, Scout, I'm deadly serious." He closed the door behind them. "Your foster parents did not show up 'cause…I'm your foster parent. I applied to adopt you both."
Her eyes went wide with surprise. "I'd hoped…well, I hadn't exactly hoped, but I really wanted us to have parents who would be just like you, Sir."
He felt himself blush modestly. "There'll be no more of the "Sir" formalities. I'm looking after you now." He knew that the prospect of them calling him "dad" was going to feel strange for some time, but after deciding not to dwell on it too much for the time being he took them to the room in which they occupied when they stayed over that time. "Get yourselves settled and have a think about what you wanna do for something to eat later, ok?"
Scout set about unpacking. She still couldn't believe it – things for her and Liam were just too perfect. The one person she wanted to have in their lives happened to be him! There had to be a catch somewhere but she couldn't detect one. "I think we'll be ok now, Liam." She placed a hand on his small shoulder and gave him a gentle, comforting squeeze. "Things will be much better from now on."
****
A few hours went by before Scout emerged from her and Liam's room. She was glad to see Chris had not left and was quietly sitting down. He looked deep in thought and she couldn't work out why.
"Are you both ok in there?" He wanted to know after seeing her approach him. She nodded slowly. "You must be hungry after being in there for so long. What do you feel like?"
"I-I don't wanna put you out for us," she weakly protested.
He sat up more upright. "Scout, you and Liam are with me now. You will not put me out. Whatever you feel like I'll do it."
She peered down at the floor. "Something like a takeaway will be ok with us…" She started.
"Then that's decided." He looked to her steadily. "I'll need to go out to get it soon as I'm going out later on tonight."
"What for?" She came over more frightened. "You're leaving us on our own?"
"It'll only be for a few hours," he reassured her, "and I won't be going far – I'm meeting up with a mate for a drink and a talk."
She seemed doubtful. "As long as you promise to come back…"
"I promise you I will." He went over to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. "And I trust you enough to know that you'll behave yourselves whilst I'm gone."
