Even with all the hardships and pranks Richie played on Sarah, she still kept her head high and continued on with her duties, but knowing full well that if Richie was going to keep up with this and keep her present in the mansion, he would have to bend a little with his demands so that he doesn't go overboard, and she doesn't get in trouble for him getting sick or anything over an overdose of sweets or junk food.

Though the next morning….was something that she never….expected.

After Miss Richards left the mansion shortly after Sarah arrived, Sarah being the caretaker that she is, actually prepared herself this time. With a little Help From Coco, she managed to get some protective gear, namely baseball catcher gear, to put on just after the miss's left.

"good morning Sarah," came the mischievous, malevolent of the little eight year old tyrant.

Which in her response, with calm and demur attitude, "Good morning to you too, young master." She gave a smile as she put on her gear.

Richie snickered at the get up, "what you dressed for? Football practice."

"this is a Baseball Catchers gear, and I prepared for anything you can throw at me today, so I am willing to take your worst. Dodgeball, street hockey, cowboys and Indians, give it to me because I am ready."

Richie rolled his eyes, "Calm yourself down before you start losing clumps of hair from stress kitty, I am not going to have you do anything strenuous today, you can do your chores today, and if I need you for anything…I will call."

Sarah just looked at him skeptically, "uh huh, why do I get a sneaky sinking feeling of suspicion?"

"Believe what you will…I am feeling a bit generous today. Though I will admit maybe, sometime today I will ask you to do something but I haven't quite decided on what yet. In the meantime you can just go ahead and do your chores as if it was any normal, fun filled day that is named your life."

Sarah gave a stoic look as she spoke with a hint of sarcasm, "wow, I feel so thrilled." Removing the gear she then went to the kitchen to start her chores.

Seeing Sarah walk off, Richie did mean that he was going to let her do her chores today, but when her false sense of security is dropped, that's when he was going to go for the attack.

Throughout the day, Sarah did what she was asked of by the miss's, while Richie was out of her way for the remaining time. Yet, she couldn't shake this feeling that, he was up to something.

It was a little after lunch time, when Sarah was cleaning the kitchen. Lost in her own thoughts, she didn't hear the light knocking from the entry way of the kitchen, which then got louder taking her out of her thoughts to look up at the direction of the sound.

Looking up she saw Blake at the entry way with a small smile on his face, "Afternoon."

"Afternoon for you too," she answered, stopping her cleaning for the moment to turn her attention to him, "is there something I can help you with?"

"Oh nothing, I was just, checking. To see if everything was alright, Richie…hasn't done anything as of yet has he?"

"As far as from what I am told by him, I am just to do my chores today, though I can't help but wonder that maybe he is…up to something." Sarah looks at him, "you know something I don't?"

"Nope, I don't know anything."

"That last statement just makes it all the more suspicious."

"But it's the truth."

"Forgive me, if I am a bit skeptic…even through there were times you have looked out for me, I know that you still confide in your creator."

"I forever will or until he no longer needs me."

"You make it sound so….easy to say that."

"What do you mean?"

"Until he no longer needs me" how can one say that as if it is just, a job to be there for your child."

"That's why we exist…because there are children who need someone to confide."

"But from how you and your creator act, that's not confiding or being there for your child, you are just a show off, just to prove who made the best imaginary friend." Sarah spitefully said

Blake was a bit taken back from such outburst, and the admission of what kind of imaginary friend he was, sure he admitted that there were a lot times Richie needed him to show off and prove he was the best, but to actually have someone say that to his face, with distaste, made him…cringe, and wonder about himself of what he was truly there for.

Of course there were some of those, very rare occasions, when he did see Richie at his weakest

point.

Richie had a very rich lifestyle, but hardly any interactions with his parents. He knew his father had left a long time ago, leaving his mother to handle with all of the paperwork…and to manage a big mansion with the job she has, she almost always works a double leaving Richie alone a lot. Which was why he was there at first…after a while, Richie enjoyed the attention that the kids were giving him after seeing his imaginary friend….after that, Richie really didn't mind showing him off often if not all the time just to see how great he was.

He just wanted to be there for him, even if it meant to show off to kids, as long as it made Richie happy.

Seeing Blake deep in thought, she looked at him solemnly before speaking again, "I am sorry for saying that."

"No its alright, I suppose it does show it can be a little show offish from the way we act. But to honest, it wasn't always like that…"

"Oh?"

Just as Blake was going to say something, Richie came into the room, "hey Sarah, mom called me earlier and said she needs you to do some grocery shopping."

Sarah looks down to Richie, then looks at the list on the counter, "it wasn't written down."

"she said she forgot, but if you don't believe me, you can go ahead and give her a call," hands her a piece of paper with a phone number on it, "here is her cell number."

Sarah looked at him carefully before taking the number and walked over to the wall phone and dialed, hearing it ringing, then heard the phone pick up. "Hello Miss Richards?...yes your son was just saying about a grocery shopping, but I didn't see it on the list….oh….oh no that's alright I can…just let me know what you need…" grabs a sheet of paper and starts writing down… "okay….yes….oh no! it's no problem…." She smiles, "thank you…okay…bye." Hangs up.

"I can't believe you didn't trust me," Richie proclaimed mockingly

Sarah just stares at him, "Can you really blame me?"

"no I guess not, but I will let it slide."

"I suppose we should all get ready to head out If we are going to do the grocery shopping."

"I am not going to dragged along on something so boring." Richie crossed his arms over his chest.

"But you can't stay here alone, even with such a minimal staffing," Sarah argued.

"then drop me off at the Fosters home for imaginary friends then, I am sure they wouldn't mind watching me for a few hours."

"I know Madame foster wouldn't have a problem, but…"

"I promise to be on my best behavior."

Sarah looks to Blake then to Richie, "Well...if you promise, then I guess it shouldn't be a problem. With Blake with you h-"

"He is going with you." Richie pointed out.

"what?" Sarah and Blake said.

"Just because I don't want to go on anything so boring, doesn't mean I am going to put my full trust in you to go grocery shopping for me and my family, my mom may have given you a list, but for all I know, you could get me something that I could be the wrong type that I could be allergic too, choke on or worse…healthy. Blake is going with you, end of story and no arguments."

"Well, if Blake wants to go with me, I am fine with it." Sarah said looking up to Blake.

Blake only smiled, "I would be honored too."

"Alright then, I am going to go get my coat, and I guess you two should do the same."

"my fur keeps me nice and warm miss, I don't need to worry about catching a cold." Blake stated with pride.

Sarah rolled her eyes slightly, "alright well, Richie you go ahead and grab your coat, and I will meet you two in the foyer." With that said she left.

After getting their coats, letting the staff know and calling Richie's mom to make sure it was alright for Richie to be over at fosters while she did the shopping, after getting the okay, Sarah, Blake and Richie started walking off from the mansion.

It was a good thing that house was in walking distance for it was getting a little cold outside, and with the seasons changing, they were a little happy to walk into the warm fosters mansion just as Herriman came up to them from his office.

"Well now Miss Sarah, It is such a surprise to see you home, and with Master Richie and Master Blake."

Sarah smiles to Mr. Herriman, "well, I am still working, we are just making a stop, since Richie here doesn't want to go Grocery shopping, his mom said it would be alright would for him to stay here till we are done."

"Why Certainly, I will call some of the friends down to watch him in your absence."

"Thank you, I promise that we won't be out long." Sarah then pulled her attention to Richie, "be on your best, and I promise to make something special."

"I am not making any guarantees, but I will try." Richie stated as he looked around.

"Well that's better than nothing," Sarah then looks to Herriman, "I will be home late tonight."

"That is alright, I will be sure to save you dinner then." Mr. Herriman stated.

Sarah nodded to him and looked to Richie before parting the mansion with Blake beside her, leaving Mr. Herriman and Richie alone.

"Well now, I do believe that Masters Mac and Bloo are available in the game room, if you wish to join them. I will ask Master Wilt to escort you."

"pfft… please it's not like I haven't been he enough to know where everything is."

"Exactly the point of an escort…I will not have you lolly gagging around the mansion"

*lolly gagging?...honestly how old is this waskily wabbit?* Richie thought to himself as Herriman called Wilt down.

Seeing the lanky long legged, red imaginary friend given then name Wilt, walking down the stairs, Richie still wasn't impressed with him. Or understand why Blake liked Sarah so much. Sure she was pretty to an imaginary friends standards, but still…just then…and idea popped into Richie's head….with the once smirk that had dawned on him days ago…now came back with another plan in mind.

If Blake ended up with Sarah, that would mean that he could spend time with Stacy…they could become good friends up till they were older…maybe even get married.

So the only thing standing in his way of this plan was this long legged friend.

As Wilt escorted Richie to the game room with that big happy grin of his, Richie took one last look at the tall being thinking…

*I think it's time to bring this relationship….to an end.*