Disclaimer:: sorry, didn't realise we had to do one!

I DO NOT OWN CHERUB, UNFORTUNATLEY. I ONLY OWN THE CHARACTERS I HAVE CREATED IN THIS STORY.

ENJOY!

Chapter Ten

Over the next few days, Max and Megan fully settled in to the CHERUB way of life. They were training hard for Basic training. Megan didn't ever guess that the sheer determination Max possessed to pass first time was nothing to do with wanting to become a cherub.

True, this did have a good deal of importance, as Max now longed to be part of CHERUB. He felt that every step he took to further involve himself in CHERUB was a step closer to Lauren. Max knew that if he failed basic training he would never forgive himself.

James had been very helpful indeed. He and Kerry often sat with them at lunch or supper, which Max loved. He liked the feeling of being included by his uncle, because James could have so easily just treated him as any other cherub.

Over one particular evening, Kerry and James were reminiscing about their basic training days.

"Wait – so you guys were training partners?" asked Megan incredulously. Oscar and Grace, who had joined them, started laughing.

"Yeah, and they always argued! Dad even stamped on Mum's hand and nearly got them both kicked off! But then again, Mum did used to beat him up like every karate lesson." Chortled Oscar. James looked hurt and gently cuffed Oscar around the ear.

"Hey! We got through! And I'd like to see you do any better with Mr Large as your head training instructor." Oscar quietened down very quickly. Max looked interested.

"Who was Mr Large?" he asked quizzically. Kerry stifled her laughter to prevent her spitting out her soup. Once she'd swallowed, she burst out with uncontrollable giggles. Her face turned red and she clutched her sides. James was laughing as well.

"Mr Large," wheezes Kerry, when she eventually stopped laughing, "Mr Large was the head training instructor when James and I did basic training. He was also the head training instructor when Lauren did her first attempt…" Kerry started laughing again and her words were cut off. Max looked disheartened.

"You mean Mami didn't pass first time?" he asked, looking disappointed.

"No, no, let us finish," smiled James. "Lauren had to stop her first course of basic training because she … she hit … Mr Large…over the head…with…. a…spade!" With that, James and Kerry burst into laughter again.

"I don't get it," said Megan, confused. "Why is that so funny?" James and Kerry finally stopped laughing.

"Well, everyone hated Mr Large, because he was so horrid to all the trainees. Everyone was so thrilled someone finally got their own back on him! Lauren was in so much trouble, though." Kerry nodded in agreement.

"But it was great, because after that Mr Large turned to drinking to get over the constant pain in his back," continued James. Megan gasped.

"That's horrible!" she cried. "Mami did that?"

"No, no," James quickly hurried on, "she did do that and it wasn't nice. But Mr Large had hurt so many people over the decades that really he deserved it. Anyway, on a training exercise later on, he got drunk and had a heart attack, leaving all the cherubs to cope with being discovered. So there was an enquiry, and he tried to blackmail Lauren. Lauren and my mate Kyle told Zara, and Mr Large got fired!" Megan smiled.

"Wow," she said. "Mami must have been popular after that!" James grinned.

"Oh yeah," he smiled. It amazed him just how much Megan looked like the little-girl Lauren he remembered – apart from the black hair, of course.

"But don't you guys worry about basic training," Kerry spoke to the three ten-year-olds.

"The likelihood is that Megan and Max will be paired together, and Oscar, you'll probably be paired with Freddie or Rosie." Oscar nodded.

"That would be cool," he smiled. "But… is it really bad?" Kerry looked thoughtful.

"Yes," she began slowly, "But once you've been through basic training, you won't be scared of anything. They used to tell us that old phrase, do you remember, James?"

"This is tough, but cherubs are tougher." James replied immediately. Kerry nodded and looked at the kids.

"Don't you worry, guys. You're strong, and tough. I mean, you're all the kids of ex-cherubs. That's got to count for something, right?" They all nodded.

Max felt the steely ball of determination in his gut. He would get through basic training, and get Megan and Oscar through as well. He would do it for Lauren.