AN: I know that it's been such a long time since I updated this, but life gets in the way when all you want to do is sit down and write all day every day. Anyway, I hope you all like this chapter. PLZ R&R!

Disclaimer: See first chapter.

Chapter 12: Trying Day And Night

Ryan sat silently on the couch across from Dr. Thomas sitting in his chair. Ryan hadn't spoken yet when he noticed the doctor scribbling some words on his yellow notepad. Apparently his silence spoke volumes to the respected doctor.

"Ryan, you need to talk to me." Dr. Thomas spoke up.

"Why?" Ryan mumbled.

"So that I can start to help you."

"Maybe I don't need your help. Maybe all I need is to just be left alone."

"That's not healthy for anyone,"

"It's worked for me so far," Ryan crossed his arms over his chest.

"No one has ever cared enough for you before like the Cohen's seem to care for you now."

"You don't know anything about me or what I've been through. You just know what Mr. Cohen told you and you think you have everything figured out."

"I know your parents weren't the best."

"So my parents were shitty. It's not like I'm the only kid in the world who got dealt an unfair hand."

"Those other kids aren't my clients, you are. You need to deal with all of this so you can try to move on from everything that has happened to you."

"You don't know anything," Ryan stood up abruptly. "I'm leaving now."

Kirsten sat in the waiting area of the therapist's office waiting for Ryan's appointment to end. She passed the time by flipping through the magazines that were set out on all the tables. The door to the back opened and Ryan stormed out.

"Hey, ready to go?" she stood up.

"Yes," he stated harshly. "I want to leave."

"Let's go," Kirsten led him outside and they silently climbed into the car and pulled out of the parking lot.

"So how'd it go?" Kirsten ventured.

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Therapists are supposed to ask thought-provoking questions."

"Can we please not talk about it?" Ryan grumbled.

"All right," Kirsten smiled at him as they pulled into the driveway. "Are you ready to meet the Nana?"

"I guess," he mumbled as he grabbed his things and walked into the house.

"Hey," Sandy came out to greet them. "You guys are here earlier than I thought you'd be. How-"

"We're not talking about it," Kirsten told him.

"Ok, no problem." Sandy looked at Ryan. "Come on into the kitchen. There's someone that wants to meet you."

Ryan followed Sandy into the kitchen as he spotted Seth at the counter and an older lady standing next to him.

"Ma," Sandy got her attention. "I'd like you to meet someone. This is Ryan, Ryan this is my mother."

"It's good to finally meet you," Sophie smiled at him.

"Hi," Ryan said softly. "I met her, can I go now?"

"I was going to start to make supper," Kirsten told him. "I could really use your help."

"You're going to cook?" Sophie asked.

"She's been cooking ever since we moved here," Sandy told her. "She's actually getting pretty good."

"Thanks to Ryan," Kirsten smiled at him. "How about it? I want to hear about your classes anyway."

"Ok," Ryan sat at the counter beside Seth and took out his netbook as Kirsten started to take things out to prepare the supper.

"What are you attempting to make?" Sophie asked.

"How long are you staying?" Ryan grumbled.

"Ryan-" Sandy started.

"I've had a long day and she's not helping my mood."

"Son, why don't we show Nana the renovations we plan on making to the house?"

"Sure," Seth got up from the counter and followed them out of the kitchen.

"I warned you," Sandy looked at his mother.

"He was very disrespectful," Sophie spat.

"And you weren't?" Seth asked.

"Excuse me?"

"Ryan was in school for an entire day; for the first time in a very long time. That was followed by a therapy session that he had been fighting us on for days. He didn't have the best day, and you didn't help anything." Sandy told his mother.

"Why is he in therapy?"

"It's mandatory for all kids in the system."

"Shouldn't you know that?" Seth asked. "You're a social worker."

"If you don't want to hear any more of what you just did from Ryan, then don't criticize Kirsten."

Ryan sat silently at the counter as he took out all the information that he had gotten at school that day. He glanced at Kirsten as she got out some potatoes, pasta, and some kind of canned sauce.

"Sorry," Ryan mumbled as he opened his student site on his netbook.

"Why don't you come here and peel and chop the potatoes?" Kirsten offered and he got up and went to the sink to start washing off the potatoes. "So how are your classes?"

"They're ok," he shrugged.

"Do you think you'll be able to handle the work load?"

"I guess I'll find out." He started chopping up the potatoes and put them in the pot of boiling water.

Supper that night was a very intense atmosphere. Sophie tried what she thought was her best to be nicer to Kirsten, but it didn't come out well. Ryan was silent the entire meal while Seth tried to fill the silence. After they all finished with their meal, Seth and Ryan helped clean up and pack up the leftovers.

"Since it was your guys' first day at school, I think we should have another family movie night." Sandy told them. "Why don't you guys go in and pick out a movie while we make up some popcorn?"

They went into the living room and Ryan sat on the couch as he let Seth pick one out. He listened to Sandy and Kirsten conversing quietly in the kitchen as they finished fixing the popcorn. He heard Sophie put herself in the conversation as Kirsten came in with the popcorn.

"We wanted you both to pick out a movie," Kirsten said as she handed Ryan one of the popcorn bowls.

"I never really watched movies, so-"

"That's quite all right," she assured him. "Whatever Seth chooses will for sure be interesting."

"The Nana isn't joining us, is she?"

"She might."

"Is she staying here?"

"That is the polite thing to do." Kirsten sighed. "We can get through it."

"How long is she staying?"

"A few days at least," Ryan grumbled as he saw Sandy come into them followed by Sophie.

"Let me guess," Sandy joined them on the couch. "A movie based on a comic book?"

"X-Men," Seth set up the DVD player.

Sophie tried to sit next to Ryan, but he gave her a dirty look before getting up and moving to sit in the small space beside Kirsten. She made more room for him and Sandy sent his mother a look.

"So when are we getting cable?" Seth asked as the movie started up.

"They'll be here next week to set up the cable and internet," Kirsten told them. "It's the earliest they could come. I'm sure you can last a few more days without them."

"What about Netflix?"

"You'll have to live without it for now," Sandy told him. "I told you we're on a budget."

"If you're having trouble paying your bills-" Sophie started.

"We aren't having trouble," Kirsten shot at her. "We're trying to teach them responsibility and that they have to work for what they have."

"Movie is starting," Sandy spoke up and they all turned their attention to the TV screen.

A few hours later, Ryan was up in his room stationed in front of his desk going through his student site on the Netbook. There was a knock at the door and he looked up as Kirsten slowly came into the room.

"Just checking in," she smiled at him. "We didn't get to talk much earlier with Sophie hovering around."

"Where is she?"

"Getting settled in the guest room down the hall."

"So she is staying here."

"Let's not think about her right now," she sat near him on the edge of her bed. "Now tell me about school. Anything good happen today?"

"Well…" he hesitated.

"What?" she saw him take a crumpled up paper out of his bag and turn around and slowly handed it to her.

"Would you let me?" he ventured.

"You want to try out for soccer?" he nodded. "Have you played before?"

"A long time ago," he mumbled. "I'm not sure if I'm still good at it. It's just a tryout."

"I think it's a great idea," she smiled at him. "You need to get involved in school activities. So does Seth, but I think that one will be difficult."

"Ryan?" there was another knock and Sandy stuck his head into the room. "Kirsten, good you're in here too. We have a situation."

"What's going on?" Kirsten asked him.

"I just got done talking with Dr. Thomas." He stated.

"You called him?" Ryan asked softly.

"He called me," Sandy sat next to Kirsten. "He wanted to let me know how the session went today."

"What are you talking about?" Kirsten looked at him.

"Ryan stormed out of the session," Sandy told her. "He barely talked to him during the session."

"Ryan your turn," Kirsten turned back to him. "What happened?"

"He made me mad." Ryan stated.

"How?"

"I don't like talking about my parents or my childhood. I've put it behind me."

"Look you need to come to terms with what happened to you," Sandy told him. "You need to do this."

"No, I have to do this." Ryan glared at them. "You said it was mandatory for all foster kids. I don't have a choice."

"Ok that's true."

"I don't like him." Ryan stated.

"Why not?"

"They're all the same. They're all well-respected and professional-like, but they don't know anything about the kinds of things that kids like me went through."

"We need you to try-" Sandy started.

"We want you to do something, and I think there's only one way to convince you." Kirsten waved the flyer in front of her.

"What's that?" Sandy took it from her.

"He wants to try out for soccer, so I think we've found a way for him to agree to therapy."

"What are you saying?" Ryan eyed them wearily.

"We will let you try out, but first you have to agree to therapy." She held up her hand when he started to protest. "You agree to attend your sessions for the next month for as often as he thinks you need it, and you need to actually try in the sessions."

"What happens after the month?"

"We will re-evaluate after that and decide if you need to continue."

"And this is the only way that you'll let me try out?" he asked softly.

"That's the deal, take it or leave it."

"Fine," Ryan spat as he turned back around.

"We'll let you get ready for bed now," Kirsten stood up.

"We'll go shopping for your gear in a couple days," Sandy patted his shoulder, but he shrugged it off harshly. "Thirty more minutes, kid."

They silently left his room and sighed as they started back downstairs. Hopefully, they didn't just ruin the progress that they had made with Ryan so far.

AN: So what'd you all think? I hope you liked it. I will be starting on the next chapter within a couple days when I have a day off. On a side note, I can't believe that it's snowing in Ohio already! I am so not looking forward to the horrible Winter that's been predicted to happen. End of rant. Anyway, PLZ R&R!