Ian was walking around downtown after getting a hot dog from a stand, along with some groceries from the market. Suddenly, he heard a loud barking behind him and was knocked to the ground as a large dog tried to get at the hot dog as well as the other stuff in his bag. When he wouldn't surrender it, the dog bit him a couple of times before his owner was able to call him off. Ian would have done it sooner with his powers but the dog was so determined that any magic shot in his direction did nothing.

"Hi," the dark eyed man who wore a matching gray vest and pants along with a white shirt said as he pushed the dog away and leaned over Ian. "Sorry about that. He's usually a good dog, but he's really crazy about hot dogs. They make him behave badly. You're gonna be all right, though." He gave Ian some blood and sat him down on the curb after picking up his torn grocery bag and the food that was all over the place. "I'm so sorry again," he told him, repeating his apology. "I just…my boyfriend cheated on me and it's…it's been sort of hard. Really hard, actually. I got this dog as a way to cope and I haven't quite got him trained yet."

Ian looked the guy over. He wore a matching silver vest and gray slacks set, had every dark hair in place, and a neatly trimmed patch of beard on his chin. If he wasn't so mad, he might call him attractive.

"Yeah, well, I'm having a shit time of things with my family too, but that doesn't mean I'm letting a dog or anyone else take it out on other people," Ian huffed. "You gonna take me to the hospital or not?"

"Here, have some of my blood," the young man urged. "That'll keep you stable until we get to the hospital."

"Are you a weirdo or something?" Ian asked him.

"No, I'm a vampire," he replied firmly. "Now, I suggest you take my blood."

Ian did so reluctantly and then let the guy help him to his silver SUV so they could go and have him checked out. The dog settled nicely in the backseat next to Ian and didn't try to antagonize him anymore.

"Did your parents buy this for you?" Ian asked as he looked around the car.

"No, I did," the guy replied. "I'm Ethan, by the way, and you're welcome for saving your life."

"Well, since you put it in danger in the first place, I don't think I should have to thank you," Ian spat. "You rich people think you're entitled to gratitude for everything. Even being a decent person." He punched him in the face and then turned to stare out the window without saying another word to Ethan as he started the car. Even when they reached the hospital, he didn't say anything.

As he watched Ethan fill out the forms to get him admitted, Ian almost regretted giving him the black eye he had. He had to admit that he had really nice eyes, even if he hated everything else about him.

When they were finally called, Ethan asked Ian if he would like him to go in with him, or if he wanted to see the doctor alone.

"I can handle it," Ian replied coldly, hitching his shoulders. "And I can zap myself home afterwards. I don't need anything more from you."

"All right," Ethan nodded. "Whatever you say." He then left Ian and went on his way, wondering if he'd ever see him again."

He went to the cafeteria to get a coffee, and then thought about leaving, but decided that he couldn't just leave the annoying warlock alone in his condition, a favor that Ian was not happy to see done for him.

"I don't need help from some rich kid," he said, pushing Ethan away. "I don't know how many ways I can say that. Go home to your mansion and your money and leave me alone."

"Fine, I will," Ethan shrugged. "Goodbye." He left him alone in the room while Ian stuck his tongue out at him before heading back to the doctor to get checked over and get the okay to go home.

"Is that a piano I hear?" Helene asked Malachai as she listened to the discordant notes floating up from the basement of the house. "When did we get a piano?"

"I zapped it in because Lucy told me that besides painting, they'd try and get him into music," Malachai explained. "I think it's a good idea. Find some calm tune that he likes to play and we'll never have to worry about the house burning down or something like that again."

"Oh, I hope so," Helene nodded. "I really do. Cause he burns things when he's unhappy, and of course, as his parents, we want him to have good experiences in life and not just bad ones."

"Right," Malachai nodded. "Exactly."

It was then that Percy came into the room and made a request. "I would like some attention," he said bluntly.

"What?" Helene asked.

"I want some attention," he repeated. "I know that you had to help Sarah because she was little and William because he sets things on fire when he's angry, but what about me? I want hobbies that I do that you can come cheer me on about. I want help meeting new people. Can you do that for me? Please? It's not too much to ask."

"Oh, of course it's not!" Helene agreed. "And we're so sorry you feel neglected. You've been an awfully good sport about everything and I suppose it's about time you get rewarded for that."

"Yeah," Percy nodded, his dark eyes bright. "It is. Now, how are you thinking we can do that?"

"Well, would you like friends that are close to your own age?" Helene asked.

"Yes," Percy nodded. "I would love that. Ones that aren't shifty and apt to get me into trouble like Steve did."

"Yes," Helene nodded. "You need to stay away from people like Steve and John. What's become of them, by the way?"

"I don't know," Percy shook his head. "We haven't talked at all since I came here, but I assume they're still doing what they can at the Council and based on the mischief we were part of, they're going to keep them as close as possible."

"That's probably a smart move on their part," Helene told him. "Based on what happened to my mother and father, those boys can make a lot of mischief if not closely supervised." She paused. "Now about developing a social circle for you, Sarah's play group might be just the ticket since everyone is now the same age. I have no doubt everyone's realized that the children are all grown and doing what they can to bring them together so they don't feel alone."

"And you think joining this group will help me too?" Percy asked doubtfully, eyebrow raised. "I don't know. But I suppose I could try it."

"Good," Helene smiled. "We can go tomorrow, if you want."

Helene called Victoria and asked her if there was such a group joining all the kids who had aged, even though it hadn't been for a long time."

"Sure," Victoria replied. "We have the normal play group, plus Uncle Elijah and Aunt Selina's kids now. Who else from your house would want to join us?"

"Percy wants to try and get some friends of his own," Helene told her. "And I think that bunch would be a good place for him to do that, don't you?"

"Well, I don't think it would hurt to try," Victoria told her. "Bring him on over."

When Helene and Percy arrived at Victoria and Kai's house, Helene paused by the door. "Now, are you sure you wanna do this?" She asked. "You don't have to if you don't want to."

"No, I want to," Percy told her. "It doesn't freak me out at all."

"All right," Helene told her. "Let's go." They went inside and found the house full of kids. The look of them made Percy a little more nervous than he had initially been because everyone seemed much more sophisticated and attractive than he felt. But since Helene had gone to all the trouble to bring him here, he would find Sarah and stick it out. He looked at the girls and zeroed in on a pretty brown-haired, brown-eyed girl.

"Sarah?" He asked, tapping her lightly on the shoulder. "Is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me, Percy," Sarah smiled. "Hello. How are you? I bet you're surprised to see me like this."

"Not at all," Percy shook his head. "I think you're very pretty." He paused. "Can you introduce me to the other people here?"

"Sure!" Sarah nodded and took his hand. "Come with me." She did what he asked and introduced him to the other kids, but none of them really showed much interest in getting to know him since they were all very occupied with each other.

"All right," Percy sighed as Sarah led him over to Drew and Stephanie. "I think I want to try this one myself," he told her. "I'm sure you have other things you want to do besides watch over me."

"It doesn't bother me to be with you like this," Sarah assured him. But when he again told her that he would try and handle Drew and Stephanie on his own, she nodded and patted him on the shoulder. "Good luck," she told her brother.

He then took a breath and approached Stephanie, who he found very pretty.

"H-Hi," he got out before he even had his full attention. But she ignored him.

"Um…hi," he said again. She then turned and said, "Hi, could you go get me some more ice for my soda, please?"

"Oh, sure," he said, taking the glass, his courage failing him. "I thought we could get to know each other, but fetching you a drink is good too."

"Good," Stephanie smiled. "Glad you think so."

She watched him go and Drew told her, "That wasn't very nice. It probably took everything the guy had to come and speak to you. And he's new. We should make him feel welcome!"

"He looks like he's twelve!" Stephanie cried. "I don't have to be nice to every child who wants my attention."

"Who would you rather pay attention to instead, hmmm?" Drew asked.

Stephanie watched as Ian came in in his tight jeans, leather jacket, and mysterious gaze, and sighed. "Him," she said with a smile. "I like him," before sashaying off to go see if Ian needed something to eat or drink.

"Sorry about my sister," Drew apologized as he saw Percy come back with Stephanie's soda. "She's otherwise occupied. I'll take that for her."

"Thanks," Percy smiled, and then excused himself as Sarah motioned for him to come over so she could introduce him to Junior and Finn.