Athena unlocked the door and carefully ushered the boy inside. He was hesitant but entered and looked around; stopping at the top of the stairs that lead down into the living room. Evan grabbed hold of the railing as he watched a little girl play with some dolls on the floor. Athena closed the door behind her; the sound causing the little girl to look up from where she was sitting cross legged on the floor.
"Mama!" The three year old dropped the doll that was in her hands and stood up to run to her mother.
Athena placed her bag and the bag of supplies for Evan on the floor and walked down the steps to pick her daughter up into her arms; hugging her to her chest and kissing her cheek. "Hey, baby. Were you good for Ria?"
"Always." Came a voice from further into the living room.
Evan watched as a woman stood from where she had been sitting in a chair; placing a book down on the coffee table. The woman stepped closer, a smile on her face as she looked from Athena and her daughter and over to Evan. The boy had yet to leave his spot at the top of the steps; basically making himself as tall as the adults at the moment.
Athena smiled at him. "Evan, this is Audriana."
"It's nice to meet you, Evan." Ria gave a little wave to the boy. "You can call me Ria, all my friends do."
Athena had talked to Ria about Evan coming to live with them. She had gotten the okay earlier this morning about fostering the child so she had gotten the day off to get him home and settled. Ria was a twenty-four year old college graduate in child development. Athena had hired her a little over a year ago to be the nanny for her daughter. May loved her. Athena was hoping that Evan would be okay with her too while she worked. Ria had already said she was more then happy to look after the little boy as well.
Evan hesitated but gave a small wave back with the arm that was currently in the dark blue cast. Athena was worried about him. After learning the day before that his sister had tried to take him from the hospital but had to leave him behind when too many people had caught them; all the boy had done was scream more for his sister. But now he was silent. Even when Athena had asked him if he'd like to stay with her he had just given a small shrug of his shoulders. She felt bad for the boy but until they were able to actually find his sister; learn more about the siblings - Evan was not very forthcoming with information now - there wasn't much they could do.
The best Athena could hope for was someone would recognize Maddie's photo on the news and call with information. It had already been a day since her photo had started being circulated; along with the story of Evan and how he had been found; where they had apparently been staying. They had yet to get any real information other then from people who had seen both children around town.
"And this," Athena knelt down and placed the three year old on her knee. "Is May."
"Hi!" May beamed up at him as she clung to her mother's shirt.
Evan took a step down, and then another before he was finally in the living room and standing in front of Athena and May. He smiled at the little girl and tilted his head. "May is a month."
Athena and Ria both let out a laugh.
"It's also her name." Athena stated.
Evan nodded as he held his hand out to the three year old. May latched onto his hand and giggled as she wiggled off her mother's lap. "Come play!" She started tugging Evan towards her dolls.
Evan didn't move at first but after another tug on his hand from the girl he was moving past Athena and plopped down on the floor with the girl next to him. May seemed to think before picking up an Ariel doll and handing it over; picking up a Jasmine doll for herself. Evan took the doll and stared down at it with wide eyes, unsure what to do. Athena stood and turned to watch her daughter chatter quickly to the boy on what to do with the doll he now possessed.
"I think you're going to need to get that boy some Lego and action figures."
Athena looked at Ria and nodded. "I planned on taking him shopping to get him some clothes that fit and let him pick out some toys."
It wasn't long before Ria had said goodbye and Athena was left with her children. She made hot dogs and mac and cheese for lunch a little while later and had to keep herself calm as Evan practically scarfed the food down. She didn't want him to choke but she also didn't feel right about telling him to slow down; feeling like it would scare him into thinking the food would be taken away from him if she said anything. She just kept an extra eye on the boy until he was done eating. She had even been shocked when he politely took his plate and cup to the sink. She had watched his hesitate as he looked around before heading for his chair to drag it over to the sink.
That was when she had to stop the boy and tell him that she appreciated him taking care of his dishes but he didn't need to wash them. As long as they made it into the sink where dirty dishes belong that was as much as he needed to do; she would take care of the dishes herself. He seemed unsure but then silently nodded and neatly pushed the chair back into place; moving it until he was straightened and completely under the table - and then went around the whole table and made sure every chair was the exact same way, including May's with the booster so she could reach the table at meals.
It took a little time to get him to settle down to watch a movie with her and May. He was fidgety. Athena didn't blame him. He was in a strange house with someone he barely knew; had no idea where the one person who had been taking care of him was; had a broken arm to deal with. It was all just building up for the boy and Athena had a feeling that eventually something was going to happen and he was either going to break down in tears or have a tantrum.
She was ready for which ever way it went.
