-1First off I wanted to say thanks for the great reviews. I'm glad people are enjoying what I've written so far.

I definitely want to thank Dude 13 and DiannatheHUNTRESS for the critique and editing. I'm hoping this will turn out as well as your fanfics have . I can definitely say I've had some good inspiration.

Anyway on with the story.

Wake up Mac…

Mac? Come on Sweetie you're having a bad dream.

Feeling himself being shaken into consciousness gently the 8 year old groaned in attempt to open his eyes. Finding it difficult, Mac tried to sit up without much success as a gentle hand pushed him back to the pillow.

"It's okay Mac you're okay you just had another nightmare"

A strange, yet familiar voice explained quietly as she ruffled his hair.

Trying to look up he realized he was too tired and had resigned him self to just resting. Other things had seemed to his occupy his mind.

Like why did this person sound so much like…

No…It couldn't have been her. Both he and she would have had the worst case of awkwardness in such a case. He had remembered the time he had actually had a crush on her.

Mac knew the voice belonged to someone he knew but feeling so sleepy he just couldn't for all his attempts to recognize who it was. After another attempt at opening his eyes Mac finally blinked them half way open and gave another yawn as a look of confusion covered his face.

"Why is it so dark Mom?"

He questioned nervously and had taken a moment or two before it had registered in his mind. Was it his mom and he had just been dreaming about her leaving him behind? A look of confusion and apprehension covered his face and apparently the female voice could see it.

Hearing a quiet chuckle from the woman, he felt himself being picked up into her arms. A content sigh escaped his chest as he closed his eyes.

"Well I hope so Mac it's only three in the morning. I told you that scary movie was going to give you nightmares but you and your dad insisted on watching it. Of course three bowls of ice cream and bag of potato chips right before bed didn't help much either huh?"

"Oh…Is that why I have such a stoumache ache…" Mac trailed off as it quickly registered.

Dad? Mac had become truly dumbfounded. Dad hadn't been around for who knows long and last time he checked neither mom nor dad were getting along to well. That was when he heard a voice he was sure he had never heard before.

"Aw come on Hon how often is it that you see "the Caterpillar Man from Mars" come on TV?"

With a startled yelp Mac was gently taken from the warm arms of his mother and into the arms of the man who he was guessing was his dad. Giving a bit of a weak giggle Mac nodded snuggling up to the one holding him.

It was truly amazing. Within his truly short life the little boy had never felt so safe and secure as he did now.

"Yeah mom us big guys aren't so scared of some big bug. If you can deal with Duchess you can handle Caterpillar men from Mars."

Getting a sigh and another chuckle his mother leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Well big guy you have school tomorrow and you know much of a fuss Mr. H would have if you weren't awake enough to pay attention in class."

Eyes wide open the boy suddenly realized what was going on. This was a dream and…

"I'm still at Foster's"

The boy whimpered as he blinked once, twice, and finally opened his eyes finding himself laying on one of the couches in the den of the mansion and realized he was just now dreaming and that was when it finally hit him.

That was when the cold hard reality had finally hit like a punch to the gut. He really had been left behind by his mother and brother. The only family he had left and they and abandoned him.

Agonizing sobs that had wracked the redheads body for 2 and a half hours finally diminished and had calmed to quiet tears. Another half hour and she had finally been able to fully calm down.

Now standing in front of the bathroom mirror the 22 year old young woman blinked at her self before bending down to splash more water on her face. It was still odd how strongly she was now feeling. She knew she was going to feel bad for the kid but this…

She had not only felt bad. She had felt as her own heart had broken when the little guy's mom had chosen to leave him behind.

Ever since the little brunette had come to Foster's for the first time he knew he would be special. He had always been glad to help when he could and seemed to bring a little something extra to Foster's. Maybe it was time for her to return the favor.

That was the thing though…How could she help Mac now? The poor kid didn't even know that in less than a week and a half he would be going to court so some judge could legally take custody from his mother and put him in some…

Shaking her head the redhead blinked.

"What am I thinking?"

She murmured to herself wiping her nose on her favorite jacket and sighing. Taking a seat on the edge of the bathtub Frankie rubbed a sore shoulder and groaned.

"I can't take him in. I don't even know how take care of a little kid. I've got some much to do taking care of…"

What? Take care of imaginary friends? What was the difference? She had thought to herself. To be honest between Mac and the residents of the home Mac was like a little angel compared to some of the houses more interesting friends.

Mac's own imaginary friend was one of those more "active" members of the household. She still to this day could never understand how Mac could imagine a friend like Bloo. Selfish, arrogant, childish, a complete wrecking ball, and that stupid paddle ball!!!

That is… Except for the few times when Bloo had realized his best friend was really in trouble. Those were the times when Mac needed him the most. That was when Bloo had set his own wants aside and took all on to help the little boy at all cost.

That was when it dawned on her.

If Bloo could set his selfish tendencies aside to help Mac why couldn't she?

But… Could she handle taking care of an 8 year old kid? That was when she had remembered.

"Oh crap! I was supposed to go back to check on him!!"

Frankie's feet had never carried her so fast in her life as she sped down the stairs to get to Mac's side. In fact the only other time someone had flown about the house so quickly was Mac himself that time he had gone off on that sugar high.

Almost leaping down the last set of steps she had to apologize profusely for almost stepping on Cocoa, Eduardo and a few of the others as she suddenly came screeching to a stop by her most wanted destination.

Allowing herself to finally take a few deep breaths the redhead attempted to calm her rapidly beating heart. Knowing in her heart the redhead realized this was going to forever change the way her and Mac's relationship would be defined.

With another swallow of breath she gathered her nerves and quietly stepped into the large den and had to focus her eyes to get used to the much darker room. Once she had her bearings the young woman slowly made her way over to the little figure that laid facing away from her on the couch partially curled up in a ball.

If she had not strained to hear it Frankie would have confused Mac's shaking for cold chills instead of what appeared to be silent cries. Poor Mac seemed to try to stay silent as his emotions had let flow again.

It had taken everything she had not to fall apart again at the scene and run a way again. She knew she had to be strong for him now. She knew what she had to do.

Kneeling down the resolute young woman gently picked the boy up into her arms who practically jumped out of his skin letting loose a startled yelp before letting loose with more noticeable sobs now.

Making sure she had a firm grim on him as Mac jumped, Frankie cradled him closer and took a seat on the couch herself unable to shake off the fact that she was getting more and more comfortable with doing this rather quickly.

"Shhhhh….It's okay pal…its okay."

She quietly cooed to the boy as she rocked him gently in her arms. Thinking of nothing else that might of helped the girl without thought began to hum a little tune as she stroked the back of the child's head. Strangely enough Frankie could not remember where she had learned the tune or from who. All she knew was someone in her past had used to hum it to her when she couldn't sleep.

Like herself, Frankie noticed that her humming had finally helped him to once again fall asleep as she, with much care brought her legs up onto the couch trying to make her self as comfortable as possible as she lay back hoping to get a little sleep herself.

As the sun began to rise once again that morning the last imaginary friend finally lay down to sleep as the storm that ravaged the house both inside and out mercifully began to subside and the clouds finally began to fade from view.