Elaine was not at all excited by the news she'd be moving in with Audrey and her family. Her life had already been turned upside down once because Glenda's company got sued. And now she was being pawned off onto an unfortunate family. She knew the Parker's of course, but her relationship with them was somewhat of a distance memory. She could only recall the times she had spent with them during her childhood, but they had never been a large influence on her life.

"Mother," Elaine said, looking over at Glenda. The two were on their way to the airport, in a few short hours they'd be arriving at Elaine's new home with the Parkers/Nichols. "It's interesting how we have enough money to fly to San Diego, yet we've lost everything. Where did you get a couple hundred dollars for this trip?"

"I have a bit left over, don't worry about it," Glenda smiled reassuringly.

Elaine was not worried. She wanted the truth from her mother. She wanted to know why, exactly, she was moving to San Diego.

"So you're going to be staying with Larry until you find a job?" Elaine asked.

Glenda shifted uncomfortably, "Yes, I'm very lucky to have him. He's a great man, Elaine."

"Oh yes, I know, wonderful. I just find it odd, you know?"

"No, I don't know. Why don't you tell me?" Glenda snipped.

Elaine smiled slightly at her mom's irritated tone, but she quickly removed it and put on her serious face. "Well, he lives alone in a six bedroom mansion in L.A., yet, you're sending me all the way to San Diego to live in a four bedroom house with five other people. Why couldn't I just stay with the two of you?"

"Elaine Meredith Sherwood, have I taught you no manners?"

"Excuse me?" Elaine answered, puzzled by her mother's outburst.

"If someone invites you into their home, you need to respect them. You can't just rudely impose. Larry invited me to live with him, not us. If we weren't doing this, we'd both be on the street."

"Oh, drop the act mother," Elaine snapped. "I'm not naïve. Larry is a scum, but you like him because that scum has more money than the U.S. Treasury."

"Look Elaine, my entire company just fell apart. Without Larry, we really do have nothing. I just need you to stay with Audrey for a little while. Just… long enough for me to marry Larry and have you come live with us."

"Do you realize how ridiculous you sound right now?" Elaine crossed her arms and looked out the window.

"I'm sorry honey," Glenda pouted, "but if we want to keep living the L.A. lifestyle, we'll have to make sacrifices. Mine is marrying a man I don't love, and yours is staying with a suburban family for a bit."

"I could laugh, this is so messed up." Elaine turned to Glenda, "Did you even consider what it would be like for me living with these people? I'll have to look at Audrey's face every day knowing that you told her a complete lie."

"I didn't lie to her, Elaine. I just…didn't tell her the whole truth."

"You lied," Elaine said flatly.

Glenda shook her head and continued driving in silence.

When the two arrived in front of the Parker's/Nichol's house, Glenda finally spoke, "Don't make this unpleasant, Elaine."

"Audrey!" Glenda exclaimed as Audrey greeted her at the door, "I'm so glad to see you!" Glenda pulled Audrey into a tight hug.

"It's great to see you too. I think it'd be greater under happier circumstances, but you know."

"What can you do?" Glenda shrugged and pushed her way inside.

Audrey smiled at Elaine, "You've gotten so beautiful."

"Thank-you, Audrey." Elaine paused, "I don't just mean for the complement, but for welcoming me into your home."

"Oh, you're so sweet, come here."

Audrey gathered Elaine in a hug and Elaine felt gladdened by its warm, welcoming comfort.

"Drake-Josh, come downstairs, Glenda and Elaine are here." Audrey yelled and smiled down at Elaine, "Come on in."

Elaine dragged her suitcases in the door and was greeted by the sight of a middle-aged man and her mother gazing discouragingly at varies decorations in the house.

"You must be Walter." Elaine said and smiled, "Thank-you for having me."

"Oh, it's no problem," Walter gushed at Elaine's politeness.

Elaine grinned at his feminine demeanor and then looked around, "I thought more people lived here."

"Oh," Audrey laughed as she came to stand next to her, "Megan is at an oboe lesson and Drake and Josh, well…oh," Audrey smiled, interrupt by the presence of a stocky teenage boy with an unusually big head. "Elaine, this is Josh, Josh, Elaine."

"It's nice to finally meet you, I've heard quite a bit about Elaine Sherwood," Josh said, extending his hand.

Elaine took it in hers, "I hope I can live up to my reputation."

Josh laughed nervously, remembering Drake's words about Elaine, "I don't," he whispered.

"I'm sorry?" She asked.

"Uh…let me help you with your bags."

Elaine smiled, "Awe, he is sweet, just like you said mom."

Elaine looked over at her mother who had now taken her seat comfortable on the couch.

"What did you say, dear?"

Elaine smiled at everyone in the foyer, "Would it be alright if I went and got settled in?"

"Oh yes, Josh will show you to your room," Audrey said, moving over to Walter, "And we'll go catch up with your mom."

"Alright," Elaine answered and her and Josh proceeded up the stairs.

"I can take those, really," Elaine gestured at Josh who struggled to get up the stairs.

"No, I got it."

When the two reached the bedroom and Josh put down her bags she looked around then turned to him, "Thank-you, you really didn't have to do that."

"It's fine."

Elaine shook her head, "So where's Drake. I'm curious to see the man he's grown into."

Josh snorted, "Man, if you can call it that."

"What?" Elaine smiled.

"Nothing. He's in our room, come on."

Elaine followed Josh into his room. When she walked in on who she assumed was Drake, he was absent-mindedly watching television.

"Uh, Drake, Elaine's here," Josh said and walked over to him.

"Mm-hmm," Drake mumbled.

Elaine looked awkwardly at Josh,

Josh picked up on the hint and turned to Drake, "Um, Drake, aren't you going to say hi to Elaine."

"Yea-hi Elaine," he said and raised his hand up in a pathetic "hi".

"Hello," Elaine waved at the back of his head. "Nice to see you again. Well…the back of your head again."

"Yea…you saw a lot of that because you were always pushing me down," Drake whispered under his breath.

"What?" Elaine asked.

"Uh-he said, it's great to have you here," Josh responded anxiously.

"Mm, I'm sure that's what he said," Elaine said, not attempting to hide her words.

"See!" Drake exclaimed, "Not even here five minutes and she's already causing trouble."

"Drake-she just…"

"What's your problem?" Elaine interrupted.

Drake shot up furiously and eyed Elaine. He was about to shout, but was then taken back for a moment and lost all words.

The two locked eyes before Drake spoke, not loudly, but patiently and directed towards only her, "You, in my house, is a problem."

"Well, you might want to get over that issue pretty quickly, because I'm probably going to be here a while," Elaine straight-forwardly retorted.

"I don't even know how to respond to that," Drake gapped.

"Yea, I don't either," Josh, well, Josh kind of did what Josh does

"Look, I'm not entirely thrilled by the idea of us living together either, but I figure if I don't just deal with it now, I'm never going to be able to enjoy myself here. And I don't know about you guys, but I kind of enjoy living wherever living might be."

"I kind of have to agree with that," Drake said to Josh.

"Yea, me too," Josh responded.

"Okay so, I see you guys have a Ping-Pong table over there in the corner. Are we going to play or just sit here and banter like little girls?"

"Oh…it is on!" Josh exclaimed. "Drake…"

Drake stared at Elaine for a moment before speaking, "I get the good paddle."

"Yea, you're going to need that to win," Elaine said cockily. She smirked at Drake and then walked over to help Josh pull out the table.

Drake, Josh, and Elaine didn't know it yet, but something was happening. A beautiful friendship was beginning to bloom inside that room. Inside that room where…

Boom

"Um….pretty sure that Ping-Pong ball just went through your window." Elaine said, shaking her head yes in the direction of the damage.

"Yea..." Drake nodded, looking sadly upon his shattered window.

"It did…" Josh pouted.

"Does that happen a lot?" Elaine asked.

"Yea…" Drake nodded.

"It does…" Josh pouted.