I feel absolutely horrible for neglecting this fic. I've been so busy trying to get my SPN story finished I haven't written anything for my Primeval school series! And that last chapter of PH was kinda sucky, IMO. I feel awful. So, to make up for it I'm gonna focus on PH and PP for a while. Enjoy this little story, and please forgive me! I haven't forgotten about you! Reviews are love :D

Lester smiled as he ushered the kids outside. He had the strangest feeling that today would be rather fun, especially as he saw the excitement on the children's faces. They didn't know what Lester was planning, but they were sure it was something fun. And they were right – as least, Lester hoped so. He could see a number of ways this could end up in tears, but he tried to think positively. After all, it was just a game of hide and seek, right?

"Alright," Lester said, gathering the eager boys and girls around him "We're going to play hide and seek."

Most of the kids squealed in joy whilst the others looked at each other in nervousness. Connor, Sarah, and Nick looked less than thrilled with this announcement. The rest were ecstatic, bouncing up and down. Stephen was the most excited – everyone knew he was the best at hiding. To make the other, less enthusiastic kids more interested in playing, Lester added a little extra to the game.

"Whoever is the last person still hiding gets to pick the book for story time today."

The three reluctant players perked up instantly. Being able to choose a book was a coveted prize, something every kid wanted to be able to do. Being chosen to have that honour was the greatest thing any kid in preschool could ever get. Stephen almost exploded with excitement he was sure he was going to win. But now all the other kids were eager to play. Everyone wanted to win.

"Alright, get hiding!"

Lester turned away and closed his eyes, covering them with his hands for good measure. He started counting, smiling as he heard the shuffling and squeaks of the kids trying to find places to hide. The door to the classroom opened – Lester felt the sweeping gush of air hit his face.

When he reached ten, Lester opened his eyes and turned around. The children were nowhere to be seen. They were learning – they weren't leave hands or feet sticking out anymore. He decided to look around the playground first, starting to walk around. The sound of rustling by the bushes that edged the fence drew Lester's attention and he walked quietly over.

Pulling away some of the branches, he saw Abby crouched down low, her blonde hair sticking up in places and run through with twigs and leaves. Connor was sitting beside her, tugging his t-shirt from where it was stuck on a branch – the rustling noise. When Abby saw her teacher she squealed in surprise, falling back on her butt and staring at him, her mouth a perfect 'O'. Connor jumped at the sudden noise, whipping his head around to face Lester. The teacher held out a hand and helped Abby and Connor out of the bushes. When she was free Abby huffed.

"I wanted to win," she grumbled.

"But now you can help me find the rest of them," Lester offered, the deal taken up by Connor with a huge grin. Abby sighed, but smiled.

"Okay."

Abby ran off to check the far side of the playground, Connor following her as he always did. Lester shook his head – those two were incredibly close, and he couldn't imagine either of them being separated.

He moved towards the large tree, checking around it. Last time they'd played, Nick had hidden behind the tree and had been found first; the reason he was so reluctant to play. But he wasn't there this time. But giggling from above him signalled to Lester to look up. When he did, he gasped in shock.

Danny and Becker were in the lower branches of the tree, looking down at their teacher with Cheshire Cat grins. When they realised they'd been caught, the boys glared at each other.

"Your fault," Danny pouted, pointing at his friend.

Becker poked his tongue out, "Was not. You laughed."

"Did not."

"Boys!" Lester called, quietening them "How did you get up there?"

"Climbed," Becker shrugged, sneaking a cheeky grin before having the decency to look a little guilty. Danny on the other hand was just annoyed that he'd lost.

"Get down," Lester told them, reaching up to help them climb down. The lowest branches were just out of reach for the teacher, leaving Lester wondering just how they kids had gotten up there. Although, he thought, where there's a will there's a way. And Danny and Becker had certainly wanted to win.

Danny nearly jumped in Lester's arm, sending the man stumbling backwards a good few steps. He put the boy down gently, recovering from the shock. It took him a moment to realise that Becker was trying to get down without him. The kid was sliding off the branch, holding on with both hands and trying to swing to the ground. Lester leaped forward and caught him just as Becker let go. The boy's weight was enough to knock him to the ground this time. Becker grinned at him and clambered off Lester to go to his friend. Lester shook his head – those kids were going to be the death of him.

He told Danny and Becker to see if they could find the rest of the kids. They raced off eagerly, probably wanting to find Stephen and make sure that at least he didn't win. Lester heard someone yelling from inside the classroom and he ran towards it.

Ducking inside, Lester relaxed when he saw it was Connor and Abby yelling with glee at having found Nick and Jenny. They were hiding under one of the tables, the white plastic covering over the table shielding them from view. They were whining about being found, Nick looking especially unhappy. Lester walked over to stop any outbursts of tears.

"Hey Nick."

The blonde looked at him, eyes shining with tears. Lester beckoned him closer and ruffled his hair.

"You know we've found nearly everyone already? Just Helen, Stephen and Sarah to go now."

That seemed to cheer him up, knowing he hadn't been among the first to be discovered. He seemed quite proud of the fact that Becker and Danny had been discovered before him.

"Really?"

"Yep. You want to help me find the rest of them?"

"Yeah! I'm gonna find Stephen," he said, determined. Lester held back a chuckle as Nick took Jenny's hand and ran off to fulfil his quest. A shout from outside caught his attention and he found himself running back out to see whether someone had been found or if Danny and Becker were fighting again.

It was the former. The boys were jumping around in delight as they laughed at Helen, who stood with arms folded and a dark frown on her face. She was covered with spider webs and dirt. Lester picked bits out of her hair, asking 'Where were you hiding?"

"Under the slide," Helen admitted.

Lester started. The slide was due to be fixed as it was wobbly and dangerous. He didn't let the kids go near it. It'd been so long that spider webs and all sorts of nasty creatures had taken up residence under it. What had been going through her mind when she'd chosen to hide there baffled Lester. Perhaps she'd thought no one would go near it because it was so dirty and scary. Even Danny had run away screaming when a spider the size of his hand had jumped at him.

"I FOUND HIM!"

It was Nick's voice that came screeching over to Lester, the boys and Helen. The four ran inside, Lester knowing just who Nick had found. And now it was official – he could not be prouder of that kid.

Stephen was glaring daggers at Nick as he danced a little victory dance at having found the hide and seek champion. Everyone else was in shock, either staring at Nick with eyes wide or in Jenny's case, hugging him and grinning. It seemed Lester wasn't the only one proud of Nick.

"Where were you?" Becker asked his friend, confused that Stephen had actually been found at all. He tended to stay hidden until Lester, frustrated, called out that the game was over.

Stephen gave his best pouty-angry-so-not-impressed look.

"I was hiding in the dress up box!" he said very indignantly, glaring at Nick as if the blonde had committed the most awful crime in history.

Lester had to hide him smile, knowing it would only upset Stephen more. He was as surprised as everyone else. He thought quickly, saying the name of the only person still left unfound.

"Sarah. We gotta find Sarah now."

Everyone nodded, except Stephen. He'd had enough of this now and decided to throw a tantrum.

"I wanted to win!" he yelled, storming off to his 'angry place' – behind the bookshelves. It was where he went whenever he felt angry at one of the other kids, where he could cool off and relax. Stephen disappeared behind them, but reappeared a moment later with a look of horror on his tear-streaked face.

Lester came over, trying to calm the boy down. He poked his head around to see what had upset Stephen even more. He gasped, trying not to smile as he saw what – or rather who – was behind there.

"I WIN!" Sarah squealed, jumping up and running past Lester. She ran around like she was on sugar, utterly hyper and grinning. Everyone stared at her, surprised. Stephen just burst into tears, Lester quietly soothing him.

"I get to pick the book!" Sarah yelled in joy, twirling in circles on the spot.

"Not yet," Lester said as Stephen took one look at her and promptly threw another fit "When Stephen's feeling happier, okay?"

Sarah nodded, too engrossed in her own victory to care much about when she would get her prize. Just as long as she got it.

Lester really had to fight hard not to grin, despite dealing with a crying, angry little boy. The game certainly hadn't gone the way he'd expected. Sure, he'd expected tears and he'd gotten them. But the rest of the kids were congratulating Sarah on her win and Stephen was calming down.

All in all, a rather successful game.