Hello. Oh look. I didn't fall off the face of the earth for ages this time. In this chapter there are quite a couple of surprises. I might be crazy for… well, you'll see for yourselves. Enjoy.

"Mike said we should just wait here. He needed to… well. Another ward I guess. He didn't tell me why but he'll obviously be back here before he leaves. But we kind of thought you'd be in there for longer."

As on a given signal just as he had said that the door of the room I had just come out from and Dr. Tricia came out. When she saw I was still here she gave a slight sigh and opened her mouth to say something. But I was quicker.

"Go away." I shouted not even minding about who could or would listen to me. "You're just like everybody else trying to use me to get what you want. I never want to see you, ever again."

"What's wrong Kenny?" Trenton asked. "Dr. Tricia?"

"She only pretended to care for me so I will let her brother adopt the baby."

"Now that's not true." She interrupted and only annoyed me more for ever second. "I did care for you. And it was only a suggestion. I didn't even know if that was the way you wanted it. But if it was I figured you might to get to know him and you wouldn't… somebody who you didn't know at all."

"GO AWAY."

"What's going on here?" Just as I shouted Mike was back right by me. "What's going on? Kenny?"

"Nothing. I want to go home. What about that new kid you went to check on?"

"Not now. How did it go Kenny?"

"Good."

I could tell how distressed Mike was about this new kid. Otherwise he would have noticed the tone in my voice when I told him. Now he just mumbled something about telling the others. We drove Trenton to school and then went home where I continued with unpacking my things. Which was easier now I was alone in the room. I was curious by nature and would have liked for Mike to tell us everything about this new kid arriving. But he seemed to have made up his mind everybody would get to know at the same time for some reason. And therefore we couldn't know until all of the others knew and we gathered in the living room.

"I had a phone call while at the hospital…" Mike spoke out loud for everybody to hear it. "…And it turned out a child, a girl just arrived there after being left outside the social services tonight. And…"

"She'll be coming here won't she?"

"Yes Kim." Mike bit his lip and sighed. "She will."

"When?"

"Today?"

"What's her name?"

"How old is she?"

"What is she like?"

Questions were haling over Mike's head while he held out his hands to try and put an end to it so he could answer to a single one. At last succeeding and took a deep breath before he started answering the questions.

"Her name is Sofia. She is not arriving today, she needs to stay at the hospital for now. She is six years old. And I didn't meet her much. She was asleep when I was there. Nothing is a hundred percent certain yet because they're trying to find out who she is and who her parents can be. But as she was left alone outside the social services tonight it seems there's nobody who wants her for the moment at least. She does at least have a pneumonia, but there might be something more than that. They'll keep her in the hospital at least for two weeks. More questions?"

"Who will she have to share room with?"

"Oh…" Mike hesitated. "Ehm… Well… by then Kazima will have left. You leave this weekend right?" Kazima nodded. "So Carmen maybe…" Carmen didn't look too pleased about that sharing, but had been in care long enough to know about sacrifices that had to be made and only nodded. "Thank you… So… Kenny…"

"How did it go for you at the doctor's?"

"Oh…" I hesitated. With everything around what Dr. Tricia had said and a new girl arriving I had almost forgotten everything else and had to think for a second before I knew the right words. "Well… She did do an ultrasound and…" I bit my lip to try and build up the tension- something the younger kids at least thought would be fun. "…It's a boy."

There was some spread cheering in the room and I saw Tyler pull up a ten pound bill from his pocket and hand it to Jody- I should have guessed that they would bet about this. But I didn't really feel like cheering.

"I'm going to my room." I told Mike when things calmed down and conversations about the new girl and God knows what else started filling the room. "It's been an… eventful day…" With that I didn't wait for Mike to ask if I was okay or feel my forehead or whatever. I turned and as good as I could hurried up the stairs and to mine and Tee's room and my bed.

Right then the thoughts about what Dr. Tricia had said felt like they would haunt me for every second until I had come to a decision to whatever this whole mess was. And I just felt so down, darn pregnancy hormones. I turned in my bed so if anybody came into the room they wouldn't be able to see my tears. But somewhere in the movement I must have fallen asleep.

Well… Come on! I was using up energy for two every day, twenty four hours a day. I was tired! And I had the right to be.

Right then I hadn't been able to push away what Tricia said for a single moment. But the thing was during the two weeks after I arrived back at the dumping ground and before Sofia arrived there wasn't much time to think about what Dr. Tricia had said and asked about. There were still boxes everywhere through the hallways from when Yazzy had moved into the attic and things had to be moved (while I was back in Oaklee) and on Monday after I returned kids returned to school. And I and Tee dreamed about how we would want our room as if it would change the world or something. While at the same time everybody fussed around me and my pregnant body so I'd never get a moment to my own. And while Kazima left (she had found a place close to the school for people who had come into great Britain from countries like Somalia) and Alfie spent as good as every day out with his sister (all he had to do now was actually move in with her) and Johnny was about to leave too. I did forget what Dr. Tricia had said for hours at a time.

Well, that was until I laid in bed about to fall asleep when thoughts started spinning in my head.

I did know Elijah had to be given up for adoption. That had been the plan all along. I was fifteen, lived in a children's care home, and there just simply wasn't a chance I could take care of a baby. But now I knew his gender and even name it just all seemed more real. And while it was right there I tried to push away the knowledge that she might be right- I could talk to her about her brother adopting at least. Nothing would be decided in a second and it would mean it wouldn't be a total stranger I would be giving my most precious to.

But of course, in the dumping ground there was never one problem at once. No matter how big it might seem…

Mike POV

"Hey Jessa." When my youngest care worker came into the office the same day as I was supposed to get Sofia from the hospital I had a feeling that there was something wrong. "What's on your mind today?"

Ever since I met her that night when she, Derek and their children arrived Jessa Kent had always seemed shy and careful. Afraid to say a word too much and frightened someone would be angry with her if she did something wrong.

Maybe her father had had a worse temper than what I had ever seen.

"It's okay." I said as if I was talking to a scared up child. "You can tell me. I can see there's something on your mind."

"Well… the thing is…." Jessa seemed more and more nervous and nervously wiped her hands towards each other in her lap. "I never wanted to be a care worker. I only did it for my dad's sake and I needed a job to save some money. I still don't have much but I found another job… in London. At a library, and I need to get away. Away from here, from my dad… it all… but… I also know there are loads of children living here now and I feel bad for leaving this all for you and May-Li."

During the last few sentences Jessa had sounded steadier on her voice and held her head up more than I had ever experienced her sounding and looking before. And there was something worth of happiness and pride in all of that. And there wasn't a single part of me that would have been able to tell anyone no in that kind of moment.

"Of course." I smiled at her. "Don't worry about us. We'll manage somehow. And for the moment we also have quite a few teenage children who either already live here or have just moved out. They can help out a bit too. When were you thinking about leaving?"

"Actually…" Now Jessa kind of slouched again and bit her lip. "…I haven't really gotten to know any of the children well or anything. And I have booked a train ticket to London… I was thinking maybe I could…"

"When's the ticket for?"

"Actually…" Jessa almost whispered her answer as if she was afraid of anyone else hearing. "It's for four this afternoon."

Oh… Well that was a bit soon.

"Of course…" I forced my voice steady and like this couldn't have bothered me less. "Something tells me you're not the person for leaving parties?" Jessa smiled and shook her head. "Do you need to get some things at home first?"

"No." Jessa's voice had completely gone back to that light, whispering tone that broke my heart for every word. "I brought everything here… As you know I still live with dad and… I brought all the things I need in one backpack I bought a while ago and… What are you doing?"

"I…" I pulled up my wallet from my jeans' pocket and pulled out the fifty quid I had in cash and handed it to her. "…Am doing what any decent… dad would do. Here take it…" As if she was afraid I would pull it away from her if she did any sudden move she slowly reached for it. "…And if you want. Unless you want to say goodbye to some of the children." Jessa shook her head. "Go now."

Tears filled up Jessa's eyes and I stood up while she did and hugged her tightly. Derek and I had went to school together and worked together and this was a girl I had met sometimes since she was a baby. Now this adult woman with her face pressed into my shirt seemed more frightened than that screaming, kicking little girl in my arms so many years ago.

"Growing up is never an easy thing to do. And breaking away from our old life's habits is scary. Maybe especially when we're young." I grabbed a tissue from a box on the desk and handed to her. "Now… Jessica Kent. I am more proud of you then I ever knew I would and don't you ever doubt that. Because you have grown up to be so much else and so much better than your father would have expected or even wanted you to be."

"I'm sorry."

Jessa wiped the tears from her cheeks and forced a smile towards me. It ended up nothing but a half-hearted grimace but I could her attempt and patted her shoulder.

"You're allowed to cry, don't say you're sorry. And if you need me, or anything then you've got my number. You know where I am and don't ever hesitate to give me a call or show up. And then it doesn't matter if you've done something wrong…" I thought back to something I had told another- darker haired young woman years ago. "…I won't leave"

Jessa made an attempt to smile again, succeeding this time. And then walked into the quiet room, coming back with a backpack. Not looking big enough to carry all the things she'd need, and a guitar case.

"I've got a friend I can live with. This is all I need for now." She smiled and I could see how she straightened her back and took a steady grip in the handle to the guitar case. "Well then…" She turned and took a few steps, then turned in the door towards me again. "Bye Mike."

I didn't dare to raise my voice in fear of it breaking, so I just raised my hand in a shaky wave and then watched her leave. A part of me wanted to beg, shout and scream until she promised me she'd stay. But I knew I wouldn't be able to stop her in any way. And I knew that little screaming baby I had cradled in my arms trying to calm down had grown up to have to break away.

I just stood there for a moment, I could hear the children around the house. Fixing with whatever and I heard someone talking about Sofia. I felt a sad smile on my lips when I knew that life only did go on in a place like this. People came and left and that was the way it had to be. And with that thought I sank back towards my desk chair and could feel my eyelids getting heavier.

RING.

I flinched awake and sat up when the phone started ringing. Then fumbled a bit with the phone and had to think for a moment before I knew what to answer.

"Ashdene Ridge Mike Milligan."

"Mike. It's Sarah."

Damn it! I knew that tone in her voice.

"Look Mike…"

Wait for it.

"I have a kid here. An eleven year old girl. And everywhere is full and of course we really need to find somewhere where she can stay."

And there!

"Sarah." I sounded more bitter and demanding that what I had planned. Of course I would never be able to deny a child a home. Even if it so meant some child would have to sleep on the kitchen counter or in a desk drawer. "Jessa Kent just quit a few moments ago. From now on and God knows how long I and May-Li will be the only care workers for… almost twenty kids. And now there is one more girl arriving that everybody will have to get to know and you are telling me there is yet one more girl who needs a place that there's no other place where she can go than at Ashdene Ridge. I'm not so sure it's for the best for any child"

"Mike…" Once again I could hear on Sarah's voice what would come next. But then she silent and sighed. "…I wish there was some other way. I'm going to do my best to find foster parents I promise. But there is nowhere else to go for either Sofia or this new girl." I leaned my head back in my chair in a distressed move.

How on earth was this going to happen?

"Well…" I suppressed a sigh. "Can you at least tell me what her name is? And will I have time to go to the hospital and pick up Sofia before she arrives here?"

Sofia was sent in by indigosky17 when I did that syoc thing with Derek and Jessa's kids and is portrayed by Mia Hays. This new character I asked Justice237 a few days ago because I wanted this storyline with one more coming in just as Jessa quits. You'll see more of her later of course. She is portrayed by Niana Guerrero.

Random fact

Yes, I might be crazy for bringing in all of these characters for poor Mike and May-Li and over-all at Ashdene Ridge. And I might also be letting people sending in characters so they will read and review 'blushes' but hey. It's a win-win situation.