Disclaimer: I do not own Outnumbered, nor it's characters.

Standing on the doorstep of his old home Jake waits patiently for someone to answer, no surprise it's Karen who is sent to the door, with mum and dad probably thinking Jake was a cold caller. "We don't want to buy anything." Karen says before shutting the door abruptly on Jake's face. The door opens again as Karen realises just who it was she slammed the door on. "Jake!" she cries, wrapping her arms around him, Jake smiles, patting her head, he's definitely going to be safe here. Karen clings to Jake for a ridiculously long time before the two head inside.

Mum and Dad are in the kitchen going through the list of do's and don'ts for 15 year old Ben before they leave for their annual date night. they don't notice Karen entering with her older brother in tow. "Mum." Karen calls. Sue ignores her. "Mum." Karen tries again to get her mum's attention. "Not now Karen," Comes her mum's reply, "Can't you see we're busy." Karen huff, "But mum." She whines. "Oh Karen, for God's sake, what is it?" Sue snaps turning in Karen's direction, "Can't it wa-" she cuts herself off when she notices her eldest standing behind his younger sister. "Jake?" She questions. "Hiya." He answers meekly. "We weren't expecting you back so soon Jokester." His dad says, and with the use of his childhood nickname Jake feels more at ease now, safe and sound, in his own home. "I, uh, I missed you guys I guess." He mumbles, he isn't exactly lying, despite the wavering tone of his voice, he does miss the chaos of home, but he isn't telling his parents the real reason he came home early. From behind their mum Ben makes gaging noises and pretends to shove his fingers down his throat, "Lame." He blurts out before heading into the front room. "Oi, Ben, we weren't finished discussing the rules for tonight." Pete calls through to him. "Yeah, but Jake's here now so it's ok." Comes the absentminded reply. Karen follows her older brother into the front room. "Oi Karen, I was watching that." Ben yells from the other room. "Yeah, well we're watching this now." Karen retorts. "We'll see about that." The sound of small scuffle can be heard from the front room, but neither his parents nor Jake make a move to intervene, this is normality in the Brockman household. "I'm going to put my stuff up in my room." Jake says heading out to the hallway, his parents following close behind him.

He reaches the staircase and waits whilst his mum and dad put on their coats. Pete leans on the banister, "You don't mind keeping an eye on your brother and sister do you?" He asks. "Well I wouldn't let you leave Ben in charge, from what Karen told me last time, it's a wonder the house is still standing, still we really needed a new kitchen anyway so maybe he did you a favour." Pete and Sue laugh, "You know," His dad says, "that's exactly what Ben said." Sue gasps, "Oh Jesus, Pete look at the time, we'd best be off, Karen, Ben, be good for Jake and Ben, no videos games after ten o'clock." A groan can be heard from the front room. "Bye, have fun!" Jake tells his parents as they rush out the door. It's been a while since all three kids have been left on their own, without adult supervision, due to Ben's natural curiosity - which last time he was left alone resulted in him wanting to find out what really happened when you put metal in the microwave - and Karen's constant attempts to challenge authority, they both require a babysitter regardless of how old they are. Jake's the adult now, though he doesn't feel like it, an adult wouldn't run away from their problems like he has and an adult would ask for help in a situation like this. His brother and sister seem content in the front room, so he heads up stairs to drop his stuff in his room, he will join them later.