It had been a few weeks since the boys had come back from Cape Suzette, and they were enjoying their time with their significant others; while Atticus and Mo were hanging out in Louisiana, Cherry and Lionel were hanging out at Thor's place while the Moltenscar family was having a cook-out.
"So, does anyone remember or know why Atticus and Mo left town?" Thor asked for random exposition.
"Uh, I think they were gonna do research on Mo's nature powers or something like that," Cherry replied before smirking. "Either way, I'm sure that they'll have some fun alone together while I hang out with you boys."
"Well, that's fine with me!" Lionel exclaimed as he joined them.
"Hey, Lionel, hope you're hungry," Thor smiled. "We got burgers and hot dogs for days."
"I hope it'll be ready soon," Cherry said. "I could go for a burger right now."
"Patience." Thor reminded.
"Sounds awesome," Lionel replied. "And yeah, I could eat."
Phoebe soon came out and placed a boombox on the table as the three "big kids" came by as she carried her favorite doll in her arm.
"No Britney Spears." Thor told his little sister.
"But she's awesome." Phoebe smiled.
"...Fine, but just one song," Thor then said. "I'm worried about that girl's influence on kids your age."
Phoebe soon began to dance to "Hit Me Baby One More Time" with her doll.
"You weren't kidding," Lionel remarked. "I guess that is valid reason to be concerned."
"Oh, it's always so nice to have Thornton's friends over," Moxie smiled as she came by with buns. "Thornton, dear, if you help me with the buns, I'll bring out my homemade lemonade."
"Sure, Mom, that sounds great." Thor smiled back as he came to help his mother.
"Such a sweet boy," Moxie beamed before looking at Cherry and Lionel. "Hello there, dears."
"Hiya, Mrs. Moltenscar," Lionel waved. "Pleasure to see you."
"Hello there, Lionel," Moxie smiled. "I hope you like burgers and hot dogs. I just need to decide what to make for dessert."
"Sure, I love burgers n' hot dogs!" Lionel replied. "And apart from pie or ice cream, I'm not too sure."
"How about pie and ice cream?" Thor asked, nearly drooling.
"Ah!" Cherry yelped from the drool and soon took out a random umbrella as she stood underneath Thor.
"Ooh, I'm sure that would be just fine, Thornton," Moxie smiled. "I want your friends to be happy and comfortable here."
"We appreciate that immensely, Mrs. M." Cherry replied.
"Oh, but of course!" Moxie beamed.
Zolten soon turned over the burgers and hot dogs.
"Any adventures for us that you know of?" Thor asked Cherry.
"I dunno unless your uncle tells me, Thor." Cherry shrugged.
Just then, a car pulled up nearby, and Drell and Hilda came outside.
"Well... Speak of the devil." Lionel remarked.
"Kids, we got a new mission for ya!" Drell announced. "But first... May as well partake in the bounty and all that!"
"I had to say it..." Thor pouted bashfully.
"It's okay, Thor, it had to happen eventually." Cherry reassured.
"Hello, Drell." Moxie smiled warmly.
"Hello, little sister," Drell replied. "Hope you made enough for me."
"I always do," Moxie rolled her eyes before hugging Hilda. "Hey~"
"Hi~" Hilda smiled as she hugged Moxie back.
Shortly after Drell got plenty of food to eat, he cleared his throat. "Where was I? Oh, right; mission," he replied. "You three are gonna need to go to a place called Fawcett City so you can help out this orphan named Billy Batson." he showed a trading card-sized picture of the youngster.
Cherry took the picture to take a closer look with Lionel and Thor.
"Fawcett~" Phoebe randomly giggled as she tried to feed her Raggedy Ann doll.
"Billy Batson..." Thor repeated. "So, uh, do we have to help him get a family or something?" he then asked his uncle.
"Oh, no; that'll work itself out," replied Drell. "But something big will happen to change Billy's life forever. And he's gonna need help to guide him through it."
"Oh, um... Okay then..." Thor nodded.
"So are you gonna tell us or do we have to figure it out on our own?" Cherry asked the warlock.
"Look, just keep close to him." Drell advised.
"Yep, we're gonna have to find out on our own." Cherry groaned.
"I've heard stories of this task," Hilda smiled. "I don't doubt you kids will enjoy it."
"Gee, thanks, Hilda," Cherry rolled her eyes smarmily. "I guess we'll get packing as soon as possible."
"Already taken care of," Drell said as he handed the group three briefcases filled with clothes. "Now c'mon, time to get a move on. You're burning daylight!"
The three groaned only slightly as they grabbed their luggage and went to get going.
"And you be a good little girl for your parents," Drell said as he knelt down to Phoebe's height and gave her a lollipop. "I bet you got those two wrapped around your tiny little finger."
"You bet I do, Uncle!" Phoebe beamed as she accepted the lollipop.
Drell soon pinched her cheek playfully and hugged her.
Phoebe giggled before hugging him back. "I love you~"
"I love you too, dear." Drell replied.
"Do you approve of this?" Cherry asked Hilda. "We got a lot of responsibility... With him... The Justice League... I don't know if I'm ever gonna be able to keep up."
"Hey, you should be fine," Hilda remarked. "Besides, you made it through high school, didn't you?"
"I guess you're right..." Cherry replied as a portal appeared to send them on their next adventure.
"Next stop: Fawcett City, Philadelphia!" Lionel declared as he rolled on through it.
"WHOO!" Thor beamed as he soon ran in next. "C'mon, Cherry! A brand new adventure awaits!"
Cherry watched them go as she heaved a sharp sigh.
"You're not backing out, are you?" Drell asked Cherry. "We made a deal, remember?"
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Cherry nodded. "I'm not backing out... Just enjoying the scenery one last time."
Several moments passed as the three stood together after Lionel and Thor were already gone.
"...All right, I'm gone... See ya guys later." Cherry said in defeat and she soon went to go into the portal next to start her brand new adventure.
The portal closed up on one end, and once the three were through it, the other end shut as well.
"So this is it..." Lionel exclaimed. "The City of Brotherly Love! Gotta say, I am really liking this place so far."
"Any idea on where we're supposed to go though?" Cherry asked.
"We look for this kid, I think." Thor suggested as he took out the picture of Billy Batson.
"Then let's the plan," Lionel replied. "Time for a tracking spell."
Thor snapped his fingers and held out his hand, clutching the air a bit. Cherry then gave Thor the picture of Billy Batson. Thor soon took out his magic wand and waved it around the image so that they could track their target down for their new adventure. As they continued walking, Lionel poofed them into winter gear since he noticed that there was snow all around the area.
Finally, they noticed a young boy, heading up a walkway towards a house; the post box was labeled "Batson", in all caps.
"Looks like that's our man... Er, boy." Lionel noted.
"All right... Now to catch up with him without looking creepy..." Cherry said.
Thor got ready to make a snowball.
"Uh, no, no, no!" Cherry warned. "We don't wanna scare him."
"We want his attention and this is the best way to do that in winter." Thor reminded with a smile as he tossed the snowball up and down in the air, looking ready to throw it.
"No," Lionel urged. "You do that, and he'll probably get hostile. We need to wait and observe."
"Aww..." Thor pouted and dumped the snowball from his hand.
Cherry rolled her eyes and shook her head as they closely observed the boy. The boy seemed to stop right in front of the fence and stared right at the house.
"Strange. I wonder why he's not going in?" Cherry commented to herself.
"I suppose he's bracing himself emotionally." Lionel replied.
After his hesitance, Billy rang the doorbell.
"Yes?" asked a woman's voice.
"Yeah, uh..." Billy began. "...Is this Rachel Batson?"
"Who's asking?"
"Yeah, see, the thing is..." continued Billy. "...I think you're my mom."
Cherry, Lionel, and Thor listened in a bit to see what was going to happen.
A black woman soon came out the door with a small smirk. "Ya sure about that?" she then asked him.
Billy took a good look at the woman and felt awkward now. "...Sorry to bother you..." he then said as he decided to leave the woman's doorstep as this was clearly a mistake.
However as Billy walked away, some police cars began to show up, startling the trio slightly.
"You just had to take my lunch, huh?" The cop asked through the radio as Billy groaned to himself. "You save me any fries?"
LATER...
Billy soon found himself seated before the desk of one E.B. Glover.
"Foster home in Pittsburgh reported you missing two weeks ago," said Mrs. Glover, as the trio watched via invisibility.
"You sending me back?" asked Billy.
"No." replied Mrs. Glover. "They don't want you."
"Harsh." Billy replied, smirking.
"You laugh, but you've run from foster homes in 6 counties, Mr. Batson," replied Mrs. Glover. "From good people...who want you, all in pursuit of someone who arguably does not." she took off her glasses. "It's time someone looked you in the eye & told it to you straight."
Billy's face grew firm. "I don't need parents to play make-believe with. I got a mom."
"Yes. You're some detective," Mrs. Glover nodded as she took out a notebook. "73 Batsons, between the ages of 28-40, and you've crossed out every one."
"She's still out there," Billy defended. "I know it."
'This kid almost reminds me of Atticus.' Cherry thought to herself.
"There's a couple outside, Mr. Batson," Mrs. Glover advised as she gestured to outside the door where a man and a woman were. "They run a group home."
"I can take care of myself." Billy huffed.
"When you're 18," Mrs. Glover remarked. "Until then, I won't have you living on the streets looking for someone who never looked for you. Give these people a chance. 'Cuz that's what they're giving you."
The woman outside the door gave a small and hopeful smile at the boy.
"You're out of options." Mrs. Glover soon concluded.
And so, with the trio following behind, discreetly, Billy piled into the car with the two parents.
"All right, let's get the spiel," said Mr. Vasquez. "Just stay with me and Rosa, we get it. We were foster kids back in the day."
Mrs. Vasquez chuckled. "Ooh, back in The Dark Ages."
"Girl!" Mr. Vasquez remarked. "I'm young at heart! Got my finger on the pulse!"
"Yeah, that's a reference to his blood pressure because he's old," Rosa replied. "Billy, do you have any food allergies?"
Billy was just quiet so far.
"Oh, wish you did," Mr. Vasquez told the boy. "Darla's cookin'."
"Oy, guerito!" Mrs. Vasquez scolded.
"What?" Mr. Vasquez asked in defense.
"Darla, huh?" Cherry commented between Lionel and Thor. "You don't meet many Darlas anymore."
"I think a Little Rascal was named Darla." Thor smiled bashfully.
Lionel nodded. "Still, these two seem like nice people." he remarked as the car drove off.
