A/N: Just as a quick note, I am not a foster child, nor a foster parent. I understand it can be a touchy subject, and the experience of being in a foster home is different for every person. If anyone reading this happens to be a foster child (or parent), please know that I mean no personal disrespect.

"Please just let this day be over."

Leo stared down at a bright, happy little ball of sunshine, whose name was Lily. Said ball of sunshine simply smiled back, her eyes wide in curiosity.

"You're Leo? The one who gets to come home with us? Why is your hair so long in front of your eyes? Are you-" She reached up her arm towards his hair, only to be cut off by Leo slapping it away.

"Leave me alone!" He shouted, only realizing afterwards what he had done. "Crap….…..." He glanced in desperation at Lottie, who stood beside Lily, although Lottie couldn't see it.

"Leo….." The voice who spoke next wasn't Lottie, but Oswald, or as he was known to Lottie and Lily, Glen. "Please don't do that, alright?" His tone was even, but rebuking.

The group was seated in the very park where Leo and Elliot had had their first real discussion together. Admittedly, Leo had enjoyed their conversation, if only slightly, moreso than he was this one. "Whatever, can't promise anything." Leo muttered, crossing his arms. "Can we just get this over with?"

Glen had insisted that they meet at the park, then Leo would come home with them. "Get what over with?" He questioned, ignoring Leo's earlier comment.

"You know what I mean." Leo snapped, "The routine. You introduce yourself, I pretend to care, we go 'home', and as soon as I cause an issue you kick me out, and this whole cycle of crap starts again." He shrugged, and added, "That's just how it works." Despite how optimistic Leo had acted with Lottie over the phone, he was now chalking that up to nothing more than an emotional moment with severe lack of judgment.

"Well it's not this time." Glen frowned, "I won't just kick you out for causing trouble."

"He really won't." Lottie assured, "He's dealt with me for….4 years now?" She glanced over at Glen thoughtfully, before nodding her head. "Yeah, I guess it's been about that long."

"And me too!" Lily piped up, tapping Lottie's shoulder. "Don't forget about me!" Her bright eyes shone, "I've been here with you the whole time!"

"How could I forget?" Lottie laughed, ruffling her hair. "But anyways, trust me when I say, your experience here will be different than any other foster home, I promise."

"Doubt it." Leo mumbled, "I've seen more of it than you have." He pointed out. Lottie had confided in him that Glen was her only foster parent (and now adoptive parent), after finding out that Leo was a foster child. "You don't know everything about me. You've only known me for a month."

"Ah, nope, longer than that." Lottie corrected, "Don't forget how we met."

"Ah, that's right, I forgot about that." Leo admitted, "But that's irrelevant. I really just want to get this over with. Who knows, maybe I'll break my record for shortest stay in one house?" He smirked, as if this idea gave him an odd sense of pride.

"Glen is really patient." Lottie insisted, "Right, Glen?"

"She's right." Oswald affirmed softly, a small, sad smile on his lips. "I promise, I'll do everything I can to try and make our home feel like home to you."

"Whatever you say." Leo shifted his backpack from one shoulder to the other, and mumbled, "Can we just go now?"

Lily bounced on her toes, singing to herself "Leo's coming home with us!". as she skipped ahead of everyone else to Oswald's car. Her curly hair slapped against her neck with every step, just as bouncy and jovial as she was.

Leo slid into the backseat, hoping to be alone, but Lottie grinned and quickly clambered in next to him. "C'mon, don't think you can hide back here all by yourself!" She teased slyly.

"Yes, I can, and yes, I wanted to." Leo replied bluntly, pulling out his phone. Hesitating for a moment, he sent a quick text, then turned it off.

Oswald glanced in the mirror, and said, "Please behave, you two. Lottie, don't tease Leo too much. Leo, don't ignore Lottie."

"Oooh, who're you texting? Someone special?" Lottie teased, leaning against Leo's shoulder . "C'mon, tell big sis Lottie all the juicy info!"

"None of your business, that's who." Leo deadpanned, shrugging her off. "Just a friend. Besides, you're being really annoying."

Lottie drew back, her smile fading. But that only lasted for a moment, as Lily, in the seat in front of her, turned around, and asked, "Can I show Leo around when we get home?"

Lottie's smile grew once more, and she ruffled Lily's hair. "Sure! We'll all give him the grand tour, how does that sound?"

Lily cheered in delight, and Leo just rolled his eyes, unseen to everyone else. "Great, I get to get dragged around again." Leo pulled out his phone once again, this time texting a different contact.

"Help me, Idiot."

A moment later, his phone screen lit up with a new text notification.

"Stop calling me that, and what's the problem?"

Leo glanced over at Lottie, who was still grinning, before responding.

"I'm suffocating in a sea called Lottie's antics."

"Wish I could help, but I've got fencing. Just…..ignore her?"

Leo scoffed slightly at the suggestion, but felt a slight moment of intrigue at the mention of Elliot fencing. "That actually sounds interesting." He admitted to himself, after a moment of thought.

"Easier said than done, but I'll try."

Leo tucked away his phone, just as Oswald spoke up. "We're here."

Lily hopped out of the car with a squeal of excitement, waiting for Leo to come out (who took as slowly as possible, to prolong the "grand tour" that Lottie had suggested). "Come on, I wanna show you the whole house!"

"Maybe we ought to start with his room, and the bathroom." Lottie suggested, placing one hand on Lily's shoulder. "Alright?"

Lily pouted, clearly having something else in mind. "Fine…..but my room is next!" She insisted, reaching out for Leo's hand. She tugged gently, and dragged him inside. "Welcome home!" She flourished with her free hand, and pointed to a room with a door hanging ajar. "That's your room!" She announced, pulling open the door.

It was a fairly large sized room, big enough for a bed, currently clothed in plain white sheets, and a desk, wooded and painted white. There was plenty of space besides, although a little voice in the back of Leo's mind spoke, "Don't think anything of it. You won't be adding anything else here."

Leo slid his backpack off of his shoulders and placed it on the floor, turning to face Lottie and Lily. "I'm guessing you're not going to just leave me be now, are you?"

Lottie shook her head, and pointed down at Lily. "She probably won't stop until you've seen the entire house."

"Yep!" She bounced on her toes, and skipped out, taking a glance over her shoulder to make sure Leo was following. "Here's the bathroom-" She pointed at one door, "And Glen's room-" Another door, "Living room, kitchen-" The two were connected in an entertainer style, "And up here….." She ran up the stairs, Lottie and Leo following behind at a slower pace, "My room, Lottie's room, other bathroom, and…..." With one final flourish, she turned, completing the tour, "Game room!"

Leo, who hadn't spoken throughout the entire "grand tour", finally nodded his head, and said, "Now can I go be alone?"

Lily's face fell, but Lottie quickly amended the situation. "Lily, Leo's tired, OK? Just give him some time to settle in. Tell you what, I'll ask Glen if we can have a game night, alright? That sound like fun?"

Lily nodded, and so Lottie ushered her to her room to give Leo some space.

Leo waited until they had left, and made his way back downstairs, crashing on his bed with a thump. He pulled open his phone, swiping through his contacts once again.

Nearly an hour later, Lottie poked her head into Leo's room. "Dinner's ready." She announced, "Lily wants to wait until everyone is at the table, including you."

"Be there in a second." Leo muttered, barely glancing up from his phone. "I'm not really hungry yet, OK? Tell Lily either she can wait, or go ahead without me."

Lottie frowned, but left the doorframe, leaving him to his own devices.

Leo sighed and laid on his left side, using his arm to prop himself up. He scrolled through his phone, and finally decided on once again texting Elliot.

"Hey Idiot."

Not even a second later, he received a reply, which he quickly realized was automated.

"I'm in fencing, can't reply right now."

Leo rolled his eyes and sat up, just as he heard a perky voice call out "Leo, come on!". "And I thought Lottie could be annoying…..…." He thought, standing and stretching. "Fine, I'm coming!" When Leo finally sauntered into the kitchen, he saw that no-one had filled their plates yet. "I guess Lily told them to wait. How touching. Not like it matters to me though."

Lily handed Leo a plate, smiling all the while. "Lottie said that you said to wait, so we waited!" She informed him, reaching for a bowl of mashed potatoes. She spooned a considerable amount onto her plate.

"Not so much, Lily. Save some for everyone else." Oswald scolded gently, taking his own portion.

"Oops." Lily blushed, offering some to Leo and Lottie.

Leo shook his head, and allowed Lottie to take the potatoes. He instead reached for a plate of turkey, piling a few slices onto his plate.

"You need to eat more than that." Lottie prodded, carrying her now full plate to the dining room table. "Right, Glen?"

Oswald glanced at Leo's plate, and nodded. "I know it's your first night here, so I understand if you're not very hungry, but please, try to eat a little more than that."

Leo just rolled his eyes, and begrudgingly scooped out some potatoes. He followed suit with Lottie, sitting at the table, but in a much harsher manner.

"Oh, hey Glen?" Lottie spoke up, pointing with her spoon at Lily, "Lily wanted to play a game tonight. We haven't done one in a while, and it might be fun, to help Leo settle in here. What do you think?"

"That sounds like a good idea. Have you showed Leo the game closet?"

"Not yet, but we will!" Lily piped up, "Leo gets to pick!" She decided, grinning at the idea. "We have a bunch of games!" She informed Leo with a smile.

Leo glared for a moment at Lily, and although she couldn't see his eyes, the aura he gave off, as well as his frown, was enough to make his feelings known. "Don't just volunteer people for things." He muttered.

"She's just excited." Oswald tried to amend the situation, "You don't have to if you don't want to."

"Well I don't want to." Leo shot back, "I just want to be left alone." Despite his best efforts, he was already getting tired of the situation.

"Alright, I understand. But you're free to join in if you-"

"Why?" Leo cut in, his voice shaking. "Why are you….…."

Oswald's lips tugged into a sad, melancholy expression. "Why what?" He asked, although he already knew what the answer would be.

"Why are you doing this to me?!" Leo yelled, his voice rising in anger. "Why are you trying to remind me of what a family is supposed to be like?!" He clenched his fists, digging his fingernails into his palms until it hurt. "Why do you think that you can do what no-one else has?!" A single tear ran down his cheek, and he swiped it away harshly. "You can't do it! It's impossible! You can't replace my father!"

With that, Leo stormed off, tears streaming down his cheeks. With every step, his chest grew tighter, and when he slammed his door, it grew into a knot so tight he could barely breathe. He fell onto his bed, sobbing into his pillows until they were soaked with tears.

A/N: And that's the end of chapter 7! I know I keep leaving more questions, but they'll all be answered in due time, I promise. Also the next chapter will most likely go back to focusing on Elliot's perspective for the most part, and might introduce another character! :)

as always, comments are definitely welcome, and may even help motivate me to update faster!