Thanks to x snow- pony x, Justice237 and CharlieSmarts12 for reviewing.

I'm sorry it's been a while since I updated. And you'll come to the chapter but if you want to here are some updates about how writing is going for the moment. The two shot "fire in my head makes fire in our hearts" is finished, so are three one shots and then the multi- chapter story "Unpretty hurts" A couple of the other stories are now very close to their endings. So that's more stories down, leaving more time to work on this story and the other ones left.

And that's it- if you could bother to read through the whole A/N, here comes the chapter. I hope you like it.

I thought about it back and forth. And at last I realized that I was okay with Matt Dunn to come to Ashdene Ridge to meet Mike. And also do like The McDonald's and walk around the house and see if he got along with some child in particular. Even though it hadn't quite worked out with the McDonald's it could still work out for him.

And the few days between when I found out he was coming and when he actually came there were rumors and whispering through the hallways of Ashdene Ridge. Once about what kinds of children Matt would like, twice about how one would get him to notice Floss, to notice Harry or Michael or whoever else wanted to be fostered.

And then talking about if he would be able to foster and actually do it for real- not like his husband who had disappeared in an instant when they started talking about children. Since that word had gotten out somehow- I hadn't told them about it knowing it would end up like this.

Then at last, Yazzy who thought homosexuality was wrong and made disgusted noises whenever he was spoken about- which happened often.

"…And no one. I mean no one. Go jump off the roof or eat something you're allergic to on purpose or anything else to harm yourself. I know that's what happened with Jeremy, Jake and Jess. But I still don't want that to happen to anyone else. So to anyone who plans to do something like that- NO." There was a ring on the doorbell. "And I'd also like to if none of you came to give him tea or buscuits or anything like that. Just be yourself and this will end in just that way it's supposed to be." We could hear Duke opening the door to Matt. "Now, all of you. Do what you want."

"Then I'm going to the attic…" Yazzy almost shouted. ":..The less I have to meet this guy…" He turned up in the doorway to the kitchen but Yazzy. "I wouldn't ever want to get fostered. And especially not by a fa*ot."

That was when Matt cleared his throat from behind her.

If I would have talked so rudely about someone and noticed they were right behind me I would have wanted to sink through the ground in embarrassment. Instead, Yazzy held her head high and gave a throw with her long hair as if she was many times better than us. Then she turned and stomped past Matt and out of the kitchen.

"I'm sorry about that." Duke said. "That's Yazmin and she has got… some opinions. It would be nicer if she kept them to herself sometimes." He kept his vision at me for a second or two- Yazzy had quite some opinions about teenage pregnancy too. When we turned back to Matt he just shrugged slightly, and in difference from Duke he seemed to avoid looking at me.

"No need to say you're sorry. Don't worry about it. Believe me- I've heard it all before."

Nobody said anything. But I think we all understood- except for maybe the youngest ones knew what he was talking about. He already seemed to have let go of it when he gazed around the group abd ended on me.

"There are a lot of kids here…" He nodded, but then looked a bit sad. "…Anyway. You seem to be healthy and well and everything… So why don't you just do as Mike says and… get out of here and into your rooms. Leave your doors open and I'll take a walk around the house…"

I was the first one up from my chair. Then both not tried and glancing at him I hurried out of the kitchen and went to the room. Right after me were Harry, Michael and Floss whom stopped in the hallway but I wasn't thinking about that right then and barely breathed until I was in my room and closed the door after me.

"Can I come in?" Soon afterwards the door opened carefully and Minnie tip- toed in. "I thought you might want to be alone. I can go if you want to. And… I don't think I want to keep the door open here…" She closed it afterwards but I showed her to open it again. "But I don't want to get fostered and I don't think you do either."

"I know. But we could both still be nice and greet Matt if he walks by."

Minnie smiled and didn't protest when I opened the door wide. Matt soon walked by, smiled slightly at us and then continued down the hallway. We could hear Harry, Floss and Michael meeting up and then going downstairs.

"I think I'm going to go check what they're doing. Maybe there's still a chance to save Matthew Dunn for what's coming."

I was actually planning to go and find them even though I never got there. When I left my room Trenton came through the hallway and I continued after him instead- he was my best friend after all. My best friend who always kept cleaning and tidying in the kitchen…

"You're always cleaning and tidying in here."

"I know… I just like it being clean that's all."

I sat down on one of the chairs while Trenton was as usual cleaning, then cleaning again, and again.

I could have sworn he was getting more and more exact for every time.

And then suddenly we could hear footsteps towards the kitchen and Matt came in.

"Excuse me… But can I have a glass of water?"

The tension in between Matt and I was thick, Trenton gave him a glass of water and Matt avoided even looking at me at all.

"I've been meeting Floss, Harry and Michael." Matt drank a bit. "I really needed this. And saying that I went to do have a glass of water was the only way to get rid of them… sorry, get rid of them- that wasn't very nicely expressed."

"It's okay." I finally felt that I had to say something at all to him so that maybe the tension could lighten. "I know what they're like. What did they have with them? Tea? Biscuits? Mike told them very clearly not to do that… Well. I know those three would get fostered… It does… Wow. It just breaks my heart how many kids are stuck in… Oh. Sorry you two. I forgot who I was talking to."

I and Trenton exchanged a look again. I knew I wasn't offended and it didn't look as if Trenton was either.

I knew that even if I didn't like it as I grew older. I had lived my whole life with my mum who was a loving person.

But now when I thought about it I didn't know much of Trenton's story.

"This is my best friend Trenton." I suddenly said to say anything at all. "Trenton Strong."

"Hi." Trenton raised his hand in a slight wave before he pushed himself up to sit on the kitchen island. "I'm Trenton Strong… But sorry. Kenny already said that.. It's fine. I mean- I and many other children came here from way worse conditions. And like Minnie says it is just like one big, happy family… While not always as happy of course."

"Minnie?"

"The small, Asian girl with glasses. Did you meet her?"

"She didn't want to get fostered so it possible you didn't." I explained. And then suddenly I remembered who I was talking about. "Oh… yeah… ehrm… I… We met… I know… I'm sorry for… ehrm."

I knew what I was stuttering wasn't making much sense. And I still didn't know whether I want to bring up Ashley at all. To remind him and everybody else of little Boo was harder- I was huge! Now Matt sighed slightly and washed his cup.

"Look. Kenny. I know it's sort of… tense when I'm here and you're here and Ashley's left and you're pregnant and wow… this really is a mess. But I hope that maybe we could get along anyway. I know I'm not going to adopt your child now but… you do seem like a nice person. We don't have to meet up or anything. But I should at least be able to be in the same room as you without this tension… Because I don't think that makes any good for any of us."

Well this was a tensed silence if anything…

"Actually…" Slowly I went to looking down on my belly and looked up, and it was almost like the tension slowly eased. "…I think you're right. I'm sorry to hear about Ashley… He really did seem like a nice guy. You both did."

I had heard myself talking as if on the other side of a thick wall.

Then suddenly, I was back and Matt reached his hand for me to take. I took it slightly and shook it.

"Enough about Ashley. He turned out an asshole, and instead of telling me he never wanted to be a dad he left without a word and I never saw him again… Or at least it seems that way, it's only been a few weeks so far but… There was nothing wrong with me, therefore I shouldn't feel bad about this…" I and Trenton exchanged a look. If it was only that simple. "I know it's not that simple. But I was always positive in some way and I hope it's contagious."

"Anyway… I'm going upstairs… It was ehrm… nice to meet you Matt. I agree with you. We should at least be able to be in the same room without it being awkward and.. ehrm… you seem nice to and… well. I just have to think, maybe I should talk to Minnie some- we share room. Trenton knows where to find me if you need anything."

I raised my hand in a slight wave, but decided to leave the room and walked up to my room. On her bed sat Minnie with her huge box of gel pens. She smiled at me when I came in, but that was about it before I sat down on my bed and took my own pencils and started drawing.

It wasn't that I was doing anything in certain that day. I was drawing for a while, then got up when Boo was driving me crazy with all his kicking, then went downstairs. Matt and Trenton were still in the kitchen but I decided not to bother them. I went for a walk and then ignored Yazzy's disgusted mumbling when she came downstairs to go outside

"Where has the world gone?" She mumbled to herself. "Fa*ot in one corner, sl*t in the other."

I ignored what she had said about me and passed her, went upstairs and hoped that Little Boo would be asleep and still about now when I sat down to draw again. Or I would have been drawing if I hadn't fallen asleep…

"You're tired a lot."

When I stirred and woke up and rubbed my eyes Minnie was still sitting on her bed. Lamby sitting right next to her and gel pen in her hand and all around her.

"Yeah." I sat up and rubbed my belly. "Well, that's understandable. Since all the energy I have goes towards both me and little Boo. And then, when I'm so bag I can barely even walk or sleep. And everything else that comes with being pregnant. It really isn't so strange if you think about it."

"I wasn't thinking about that. I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it…" I glanced towards the clock- five in the afternoon. "…It should be dinner soon. I'll go downstairs and check."

When I came down the stairs and closer to the kitchen I could hear Matt and Trenton's voices. I could feel a small smile grow on my lips and Mike too it seemed when he came out of the office and came with me.

"Matthew." He called when we came into the kitchen. "You two have been having a fun time I can see. You've barely even moved. And you certainly haven't moved from this kitchen…"

Trenton and Matt sent each other each look…

"I didn't even notice. But we must have been in here for more than three hours and just talking…" Trenton raised an eyebrow and looked to his own watch. "I didn't even notice time passing by… But… I have to go home now." Matt stood up and shook hands with first Mike, then Trenton. "I have to think for myself for a bit but it was nice to see you Trenton Strong. I hope to see you again someday."

"This way." Mike called when Matt was turning the wrong way. "I'll show you out."

I was still smiling when I turned to Trenton.

"I bet you'll be fostered within a few weeks." I could feel the smile growing bigger. "By a certain Mr. Dunn…" Trenton shook his head. "Yes, you will. Believe me."

"Geez Kenny. Don't you understand? Everyone- including Matt. Wants the younger kids. They don't want the teenagers that are already lost cases. Jeremy is probably the oldest one who's ever been fostered from this place."

"That is not correct." Mike suddenly stood in the doorway. "And I agree with Kenny. You and Matt really seemed to get along well. The thing is with the younger kids, the one that are like Floss, Harry or Michael. They end up so pushy they scare people away…. Now…" Mike pulled up his phone from his pocket. "…How about pizza?"

Mike left the kitchen to go and check with the others, Trenton had been sitting on the kitchen counter for the last couple of hours so he wiped it off.

"Matt just spent hours in here- with you, as far as I know you were only talking. Come on. You have to admit it this time. He said it himself- he didn't notice how time went by."

"That doesn't me he'd want to foster me. Everyone wants the younger ones though. Trenton still seemed sure. "Sofia or Belle for example. They're little and cute- Sofia's even sick. That would be perfect for getting her fostered wouldn't it? Or Harry or Floss or Xavier. Maybe Michael too."

I thought threw them before I could answer. Slowly each personality, every age and why or why not they'd end up getting fostered.

Of course only the future could tell. Different kinds of people could take care of different kinds of kids and needed different kinds of people in their lives- from both sides. And then at last I remembered something.

"But Michael's a teenager. Or well, he will be in another couple of weeks. Isn't that what you just said? When you're a teenager it's too late?"

"I do know that, but as you know too. Michael, despite his age is like a child. And he always will be too. He's got some sort of brain damage so while his body will grow like any other's. His mind and personality will stay at it is for a child's. I don't know what's going to happen to him- nobody does. Like everybody else he has to leave this place by the time he's sixteen. Maybe he'll go into another home for people with his type of disability. Or maybe he can even move into his own flat but with help. Nobody knows…"

Trenton was interrupted when we both heard a snivel and a sob from right outside the doorway. Trenton looked to me with a grimace and we didn't say anything or to each other more for several seconds.

"Michael." Trenton called at last. "It's okay. You can come in here." The blonde, round- cheeked boy came through the doorway looking like a sad puppy. "I'm sorry for saying that. I really don't know why I said it. It wasn't nice and whatever happens to you in the rest of your life is none of my business… Who knows? Maybe you will start another company like Facebook or Apple or Samsung and become a millionaire. Or you can save the world. Or become a famous act…"

"I know why you said it." Michael mumbled. "You said it because it's true."

I and Trenton looked to each other. I had a good feeling that I would like to sink through the floor or run far, far away. But I too had been a part of the conversation Michael had eavesdropped too so this was just as much on me as it was on Trenton

"Michael… it's not that simple."

"I know it's true. Yazzy and Kim say it too. Derek used to say it. A lot of people at school say it. They think I'm stupid. They think I don't understand. But I do understand because I'm not stupid. I do understand what I'm like and what people think of me."

"Michael…"

Trenton tried to talk to him again. But he was too hurt to be listening to anyone right now. Especially not the one who hurt him.

"Don't explain it." Michael almost shouted with tears running faster and faster down his cheeks. "I know what you think. You're just like everybody else… everybody are just like everybody else."

Without anything else Mike had turned and ran, out of the kitchen, then we heard the front door of the house open and slam when he ran outside.

"Oh damn..." Trenton mumbled and shook his head. "This is no good. No good at all." I shook my head agreeing. "Now I've screwed it up really… First a teenager. Then…" He sighed deeply. "I know I said I didn't think he would want to foster me. But I and Matt really did get along well. But it doesn't matter now. How could I screw up this badly?"

"It's not your fault Trent."

"Yes it is… and now no one else should ever want to have anything at all to do with me."

Trenton face palmed and went to get Mike. I stayed by the table and suddenly figured something.

The way Michael was acting was the exact same that my mum would be. Always a child put in an older person's body.

Mum had ended up like that falling in some stairs. An accident that changed her life forever.

…I just had such a strange feeling what had happened to Michael wasn't an accident.

Random fact

When I'd written more than a thousand words I accidentally deleted most of it so I had about 500 words left. Therefore I had to re- write a lot of the chapter and that was soooooo annoying.

Please review, this story is so close to 100 reviews