Mac had always had a really good heart;for the most parts.He had always stood up for what he thought was right and pretty much knew when to put his foot down and say when he had had enough.But this time was different,when he looked at Duchess,he didn't an evil mastermind.He saw a lonely yet stubborn yet almost...sad Friend in need.

"Uh,Mac?Oh...Mac?"Bloo finally started to notice his friend's transfixed expression,then he said a little louder,"Hey,man!Didn't you hear me,hellooooooo?"

"You guys!"A familiar shriek of joy rang out from behind them,Mac felt his whole entire body being enraptured somehow,was it joy he was feeling,joy for doing what they did?Then he realized with mock amazement,it was Ed and Frankie and CoCo and Wilt,as well as Bloo who were nearly squeezing the life out of him.He managed to pull away.

"How did you guys break the spell and Frankie where have you been!"He questioned them almost demandingly he realized,then he took a moment to think up what he really wanted to say before they said anything at all,"Are...are you guys all okay?"

"We were going to ask you the same thing."Wilt repiled in his usual light-hearted way.

"Co...CoCoCoCoCo!"CoCo agreed at her usual rapid yet incoherent chirping.

"Eduardo soooo happy to see Senior Mac and Bloo!"Ed added with his overly-done charm,Ed had grabbed both of them again for one more quick and tight embrace.

"They're acutally right,"Frankie agreed calmly,giving each of them a confirmed nod and then she began to say to Mac in a low whisper,"They were holding us in seperate cells, guess Duchess got her greedy hands on them somehow.But anyways,were all fine.Now,I know you're probably wondering about Nicolas.Well,he's-"

"Oh,gosh!I forgot about him!My own son,where is he?Is he alright!"

"Yes,yes.Mac,he's fine."Frankie told him gently,trying to keep him from freaking out.

"Then,Frankie,where the heck is he!"He asked her seriously,narrowing his eyes with the intense firmness and impaitentness directly into her eyes,"Where is he?Tell me."

"Sleeping!"Ed told them suddenly,pointing to the top of his back,where a soundly sleeping Nicolas was snoozing peacefully curled up onEd's big over-sized head.

"Little guy couldn't take all the excitement,"Frankie remarked teasingly,winking at Mac.

"Guess not,"Mac laughed a little too,reaching out to pick his son up,when Ed lowered him carefully down to him.They were all about to head for where Mac supposed was the EXIT,when the thought about whether to just leave Duchess here or not resufaced.

"Mac?What's wrong?"Frankie asked him curiously,when she saw him holding back.

"Not this again!"Bloo cried out frankly,throwing up his blobbish-blue arms in frustration,he then moved closer to Mac to get an a straight awnser as to what he was so interested in that they had to hold the whole gang back from getting out of there.

"We can't just leave her like this,"Was the only thing he said,that was when he turned and walked over to her.

"What?"She snapped defensively,"Come to ruin my life even more!You might as well,there's nothing else for me to do now."

"No,I'd like to try to help you,if that's alright,"He told her meekly,stepping a few feet closer,"That is.If you'll let me."

"What'd you mean?"She went on saying as if she was still being accused,"You want to help me?You?Mac?Now?"

"Now...?"Bloo protested in his weakest,highest voice.

"Yes,now."Mac nodded surely and turned to Bloo,"Right?"

"Well,uh..."Bloo started to say dubiously.

"Look,"He started to say not only to Bloo but to everyone,"Whether or not we have a big fancy place to house Friends or a junky,old boarding house,it's our job to help Friends in need ALL Friends in need.Now look,is this what Madame Foster would want?To see us doing what were doing?To just leave a Friend in need...?Well,is it?"

"No..."They all said as one a guilty,low voice.

"Hey,I know what's she done,I know it's terrible!And,yes,a part of me does want her to pay for what she's done.But then I'm no better then she is if I want revenge and sink to her level.And if we just leave her,were sinking to another bad level.And...and I,I,I just couldn't live with myself if we did!"

"So...what's you're point?"Bloo asked him dryly.

"My point is,we can't just leave her here all alone."

"You mean,you'd help me even though I almost took you're best friend,as well as everyone else away from you?"She inquired warily,no surprise.But something about her eyes seemed different,almost strangely enough,hopeful.

"Well,I'm not happy about it.And if we do decide to help you,you better change you're ways.No more of this 'evil' stuff.Meaning no more evil,wack-a-doo spells,et cetra.Deal?"

It was a long pause in deed and everyone seemed to tune into the growing silence that had settled itself between them.Mac had out-stretched his hand through the bars of the already locked cage,in a careful attempt to make it,whatever it was,offical.Yet,the minutes ticked off and everyone gew anxious and impaitent.Finally,after what seemed like a whole eternity,Duchess gingerly grasped Mac's hand with a little smile.And at the very moment,everything changed/

A few weeks later...

"Just got done painting!"Griffie told Mac mirthfully,trotting off to go take the empty paint cans in the housethat were clamped in his mouth,"Hope you like the texture,I tried my beesssttt!"

Mac gave a thumbs up sign and continued down a little further to examine the rich creamy yellowish-white coating.He had his clip board his one hand and jotted something down on it with his pencil in tact,then he moved towards the front.

"How's the mail box thing going,CoCo?"He approached the bird-like tree thing,who was just finishing with the pounding of the post with the new mail box head on it into the ground.

"Co...CoCoCoCoCo!"She sang cheerfully and saluted with a foot,while picking up the tool kit to place it back inside.

"Great,"Mac told her approvingly and started off and over to the porch to examine the sign that Wilt and Ed were adjusting just above the porch enterance.Only once they got itat a right angle on Wilt's side,Ed had it just slightly off.Mac had to laugh at thier dilema,"Keep up the good work guys,becareful!"

That was when he saw Nicolas and BooBoo rolling around in the front yard together.They reminded him a lot of when he and Bloo were younger and had played alot together.First they rolling in the grass,then in some dirt...and,some mud."

"Rambunctious,aren't they?"Frankie inquired knowingly,she had been carrying out her grandmother's old camera set( the ones with the legs and curtian for the photographer) and was now examining the 2 of them playing in sheer pleasure.

"Yeah,it's a great thing that all the Friend's turned back to normal after the spell was broken,including BooBoo."Mac agreed with a beaming sensation,"Whom I'm happy for."

"Me,too.You know,when I see them out there Mac...It's like I see a little bit of you and Bloo."She told him in a small daze.

"Like...the good 'ol days?"He guessed with a shrug.

"Maybe,"Frankie laughed lightly,patting his shoulder and turning to face everyone,"Alright,time to get in for the picture!"

"Almost...ready."Wilt repiled grinningly,with one hand on Eduardo's face to keep him back,while useing afoot to just barely the sign,"Almost...got it.Uhh...there!Done!"

"Si,Wilt.You can let go of my face now,please...gracious."

They all ran to find thier places in front of the big yellow house,the Camera was on the sidewalk and Frankie had a long cord and button to snap the shot,Wilt and Ed stood in the back,with CoCo and Frankie on either side.Griffie and the other Friend's that were already here,as well as some new ones just gather around were ever.Mac and Bloo stood in the center,Nicolas on Mac's left shoulder and BooBoo on top of Mac's head.When they snapped the shot of the new and improved Foster's,it caught Mac and Bloo looking at each other from the corner of thier eyes and smiling widely.

And the sign that said in bright,red letters,"Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends,A Place You Can Count On Us."

The end.

Author LP:Other things that happened.

1.Mac and his whole entire family moved up to where they were,it was differcult,but his family loved it as much as he did.

2.Duchess surprisingly got adopted by her old Friend's child,who was 9 and wasn't snobby in the least,Sallie.

Well,I hope that was a good enough ending for those picky types.Heh,anyways.I may someday back a sequeal,no telling when however.I pretty much tied down at the moment...byez!P.S.Thank you for all you're reviews,that mean a lot to me! -sheds tears of joy- Well,anyways,once again.See you folkies!

Lavenderpaw