A full week passed without seeing Chris or JD. Ezra wondered why Chris would be stalling, figuring him to be next up. With nothing to do besides wait, Ezra visited places where he could join in a few poker games. It wouldn't do to slack off just because his imaginary friends were stalling.

Lord, he sounded crazy. It was to end soon. All he had to do was wait for Chris and JD to come and then everything would go back to normal. Frowning, Ezra tried to understand what 'normal' was for him. Yes, he moved around with no real place to call home and no friends to miss, but that was it.

"Ezra."

He spun around, having been walking to his car after a late poker game. It was Chris and JD. Chris had been the one speaking.

"It doesn't have to be this way. I can make this work now that I know." Ezra insisted.

"We can't stay!" Chris growled, "It ain't gonna help anybody."

"At least you wouldn't have to go away! That's why you've been stalling, correct? If I just accept this, then no one has to be alone."

Ezra probably looked like a complete fool, energetically talking to air. The people who walked passed him gave him weird looks. He put his hands down to his sides and looked to his car. "We can talk on the way to the apartment."

Before Ezra got in, he found JD happily sitting shot gun with Chris scowling in the backseat. He tried not to smile at the brooding man and slipped behind the wheel.

"Ezra, I get what you're saying, and I'm sure Chris does too." JD looked back to Chris before continuing, "However, Chris has a point. People will really think something's wrong with you, and we don't want that. So please, you're almost to the end. Don't give up."

"Give up? Me allowing you all to leave is what I consider giving up."

"Ezra—"

"No, listen. The time I spent with the six of you, I've never had that before. Never had any friends or someone I can be honest with. Now I can see this as you being my imaginary friends or what not, but the decision is mine to make in the end!"

"JD no!" Chris shouted too late. JD had grabbed onto Ezra's arm and immediately Ezra was thrown into his memories.

~The young Ezra was having trouble breathing, watching the door as he heard his parents argue. He heard his mother yelling at his father saying she was tired of everything and always being reminded of him whenever she sees her son and says his name.

Ezra swallowed the huge lump in his throat as he heard his father yell back to his mother saying that she was acting immature and that she needed to grow up. The heated words continued with insults being thrown in and curses. His eyes watered with tears as he saw his mother rip the door open and give one look at him before walking away.

"Pack your things Ezra, you and I are going away for a while." Called his father as he crossed the room.

"Don't you dare touch my son!" his mother snapped as she came back into the room.

"Clearly you're an unfit mother."

"You're the reason for all of this! If it hadn't been for you I would've had a normal life!"

"So let me take Ezra since you clearly don't want us to ruin your life."

"As if I'd let you keep him. Who's been the one caring for him while you're out working? Who carried him for nine months?"

"Don't think I don't know you've been 'caring for him' by dropping him off at people's houses while I was away at work."

"You think you earned the money to afford this place by yourself?" Maude scoffed.

"Please." Ezra said softly that his parents almost missed it, "Please don't argue. I promise not to cause any trouble for you."

"You think either of us would be considered fit parents?" Maude said in a calmer tone, "We'd both lose. He's my son. He'll have your name, but if you don't leave, I will make sure you never see him again."

James glared at Maude and then looked at Ezra who was turning his head with wide teary eyes as his parents continued. He gave a frustrated sigh and walked out. That was the last day he saw his father.

His mother never let him ask about his father, and he never heard from him.

When he was in his room reading, his mother came in to talk to him. He sat up straight and swung his legs back on the floor.

"Ezra, from here on out, things will be difficult. If you don't want to be sent to live with relatives, then you're going to have to forget all these childish things and grow up fast. Do you understand?"

Ezra looked at the Winnie the Pooh book he had been reading and nodded solemnly.

About two years later he had gotten used to sneaking away for an hour to spend time with his imaginary friends. He didn't want his mother to find out and say that he was being childish and send him away. It was the only time he allowed himself to cry, though he knew it was risky. If his mother found him, he would be in trouble. Emotions were for the weak and he wasn't weak.

Eventually he out grew his imaginary friends and never thought of them again. He never allowed himself to cry again. ~

"I'm sorry." Ezra heard JD's voice that sounded distant. He then felt the warmth caress his body before he was cold again.

"Ezra!" It was Chris's voice this time. He sounded worried.

Why was that?

"Ezra, you need to keep your eyes open!"

Why was Chris telling him he needed to keep his eyes open?

Where was he exactly?

The moment he realized he couldn't move his body made him panic which probably didn't do anything good for him. He passed out, hearing Chris trying to call him back.