A/N:OK,now I'm aiming at an even more dramatic turn in my story.It's very emotional,with some humerous parts in it but as the story grows and I may change it to a 'T' rating,things only get better and more profound...for those of you who like that sort of stuff.If not,well,just enjoy the story anyways!I'd do repiles,but this ch. might be rather long and I don't want to hold suspense up or whatnot,so here's chappie four!

Continueing...

The very brink of summer was upon the small but lively town of Brooksdale,Laurice noted as she stepped out onto her front porch with just the verytips ofher long,flowing brunette hair sweeping over the creaky wooden boards.Sighing softly,the just barely seventeen-year-old sipped her green tea and gazed out into the lush thicket that lead to the rolling hills with dotted trees and bushes scattered about here and there.

"Madame,will we be needing anything more for the child's bedroom?"Mr. Herrimen inquired his creator promptly,as he was already jotting everything that had been taken care of down on his small,spiral notepad,"I mean,will Michael be requiring anymore that hasn't already been provided...providing it doesn't eat up all of our finaces of course."

Laurice was still too caught up in her reverie to pay too much attention to what her six-foot-tall hare-like Imaginary Friend was saying,however,an impulse to place her hand onto her rather enlargened stomach was quick to follow after whatever he had said went in one ear and out the other.

"Madame?"He asked her when she still didn't respond,creasing his brow a bit,he strengthend his voice by going on,"Madame Laurice...?"his eyes narrowed on her vacant stare and he almost shoved the pad in her face to remind her when she turned to look at him with surprised eyes,"Um,have you heard a word I've been saying or have you just been humoring me?"

The young adult smiled with a hint of playfullness,"Well,it seems like you're in a huss over things that have already been taken care of,"but as soon as she saw how serious he was,she continued on reassuringly,"Don't worry yourself so much,Julian is getting the place to make our dreams of owning a real Imaginary Friend's Adoption Agency finally come true."

There was a long pause,as Laurice really recalled what she had gotten herself into.Her and Julian had become very close in recent months and the result of it all wasn't exactly something expected,but she knew that with the kind of education they both had and the disciplinary it would need to take with Mr. Herrimen around,that they would be able to pull it off as it was the last day of High School and a new beginning was afoot.

One her way to School...

It was nothing unordinary about the path she was taking,Laurice had tooken it since middle school,but the thought that this would be the last time she saw the rows of buildings and the rest of the scenary that she had grown quite accustomed to slightly saddened Laurice,as she was coming upon the all too deep crimson brick-building just a few feet ahead,

Well,here we go,she thought somewhat eagerly,as the thrill of excitement surpassed that of nervousness and she soon found herself racing pass the building and on towards school,The last piece before the big finale.

They had set it up,that they'd meet outside the High School doors like they always had,just a few hundred yards from their old school and discuss when they planned to meet up after school to gather their things and go out into a bigger city to start what they had dreamed was a new start of life and new place to make a foundation for something she thought was worthwhile and for something she thought he thought was worthwhile.And as far as she knew,nothing at all had changed.

But as soon as she arrived onto the well-sheered blades of grass,she only saw an anxious croud of people huddled together in the center of the yard.Scanning around simultaneously,she soon spotted the familiar bushy mop of shoulder-lengthed red hair and the purple blouse and navy skirt,she had come so accustomed to seeing.Giving in deeply,she made sure her knap sack was high on her shoulder and made a quick dash over to her old friend to see what was going on and why,

"Hey,"she breathed avermently,as she panted her way over to Gloria,"What's going on?Are we having another lecture over how important it is not to vandalize the school's statue of the guy who supposively founded Brooksdale or...are you crying?"

She observed her friend starting to tear,but as soon as Gloria heard her best friend's voice,she hastily rubbed her knuck underneath her both eyes and taking hold of a perplexed Laurice,pulled her out of the crowds of now groaning and chattering kids and over to the egde of the sidewalk.

"I really don't know how to put this into words,Laur,"Gloria began to tell her somberly,her emerald eyes forcing a lock between the two of them,"But Julian and Gertie Sanderson ran off together just last night,they picked up their diploma's and skipped town just yesterday."

"They what?"

She stared blankly at her friend,as her whole world around her started to fall to pieces before her eyes.Just this Morning,she had been brimming with the feeling that everything from then on was going to be okay and that her,Julian and their still unbornson Michael would be moving to Seattle into the large mansion that they had hired to be built for them and thus be able to start a new life together.Everything.From when Julian had first kissed her those few years ago to when he had proposed to her and they had been engaged to be married rightbefore they left,shattered into oblivion.

"My lord,I'm so sorry Laurice,"Gloria chocked back a few stale sobs,as she came over and wrapped her arms protectively around her still uncertainly perturbed friend,as her words still didn't register quite clearly,"It's going to be okay,"she whispered hoarsely,"It's going to,Laur!"

She gaped in shock,as Laurice pushed her back and with a very unerving,capricous look,she fled from the school grounds she had become so used to going to everyday and sped off down the dusty dirt road that would take her a few blocks to get to Julian's house and then,only then would she see of the words of her old friend were true.

It just can't be true,her mind raced at an alarming speed,as she rapidly made the last turn onto Julian's block,He would never walk out on me like my Father did,he's not like that!I love him and he loves..."No."

The vacant driveway that should at least have still had Julian's Father's new green packer there said it all,from the time they had gone out to not too long ago,Julian and Gertie Sanderson had always had a close friendship and a one point in the tenth grade even a small affair.Naturally,when Laurice found out about his senseless cheating she had dumped him and made it a point to keep her word.But after a while and after some very sorrowful apologies,she had let it slide after he had really began craving for forgiveness.Nothing like it had happened again,but here they were about ready to leave and he had run off with Laurice's sworn enemy of the last six and a half years.

Only when she seemingly rooted-to-the-ground legs start to move almost by themselfs,did Laurice quickly cross the yard and head up straight for the door,did she see the small note that cofirmed her worst fears,Laurice, I know my parents will be out of here to quickly to read this,so I thought I'd write it to you.You know how much you and Michael will always mean to me.But frankly,my love has always been with Gertie Sanderson.I never got the nerve to tell you and I was a lowly coward for it,please don't take it the wrong way.I leave to you the mansion and everything else so you can live out you're dream.Because that's what 'you' truly wanted,not me.I always will love you,don't ever forget that.But my heart wasn't into the so-proclaimed plan as much as I lead you to believe.I hope you have a wonderful life and I will try to get in touch with you someday to see how our son's doing.

Take care and god speed,

Julian Foster.

At that instant,instead of allowing tears to well up in her eyes and take control of her completely,she only placed a firm hand to her forehead and with a heavy and fragile soul,headed back to finish out the rest of the day and hopefully make it home in time to figure out what to do next.

A few days later...

The first day of summer was unusally mild,as Laurice and her family arrived at the Train Station that would take her,her new infant son Michael James Hyland and Mr. Herrimen to the spot where they would begin it all and Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends would take place.

"Are you sure you have everything?"Her Mother prodded her skeptically,as her and Joe were finishing up putting the last contents of her belongings in the cargo hold,"Because if not,you may need to postpone you're move,"she frowned at her youngest Daugther who seemed to betoo caught up in a tide of thoughts and emotions to pay as much mind as she should have been to her family that was only trying to help her though her crisis,"Laurice Hyland,are you listening to me young lady?"

"Foster,"Laurice corrected her Mother under her breath firmly,tossing a small gunny sack into the hold and turning to look at her Mother with completely earnest eyes,"Mother,my name is Laurice Hyland-Foster and my son is Michael James Hyland-Foster,Mr. Herrimen is going to be co-owner of Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends,"her tone and eyes softened,"And all I want for you to be is proud of what I feel will make me whole,Julian abandoning me like this is...devasting.But,I have to focus on what's best for me and my son,truely,I believe this is the best for us."

Her Mother only stared in quiet admiration for her Daugther's independent andnoble stand for herself,as well as her child,"I know,"she said all of a sudden,throwing her arms around her tightly,"I just want you to be happy,Laurice.And what you're doing...is so just simply amazing."

"I love you."Laurice whispered to her soulfully,as she exchanged warm glances with her older siblings and after being Candace carefully handed her back Michael,she nodded to Mr. Herrimen who had kept himself busy by arguing to the conducterthat the inside of the box cars were far too unsaniatary for them to travel in,"I'll write as soon as I can guys!"

Waving her arm wildly in the air,with her four-day-old son who had acquired a truff off red hair from Laurice's Father and the same cool icy eyes of his Fathers (only they were more blue-green),Laurice was fast to hold on to what she had.It had been very differcult to manage without the support of Julian,who she partly forgave,but she somehow realized that her true dreams belonged out beyond the horzion and into a new plain.

Um...I know most of you might have been expecting more,but it more familitarys are sure to come you're way soon!Well,not so soon,as it'll probably be well near a month before I update again.As,of course,I have with the previous 3 chs and don't worry,this is the last 'grieve-fest' Laurice is going to go through herself and I'll be adding a bit more humor here and there as well.But,until that time comes to pass,I'll be seein' y'll!lolz!

LP