Well, I got this chapter up sooner than I expected. I was also hoping to cover more ground in this chapter than I actually did. I think it plays out alright though. I'm trying to develop Paige's parents characters. Also, I don't know their frist names are ever mentioned on the show. So I made them up. If anyone knows what their first names are supposed to be, let me know so I can change it.

----------

Chapter 4

That was the best night of sleep I had ever had. The next morning when I woke up I had forgotten where I was. The covers were pulled over my head. I pulled them off and glanced around at the light blue painted room. It took me a moment before I remembered where I was; before I remembered what had happened last night. I replayed the events in my mind. Was I really at Paige's house again? Where we really broken up?

I looked at the clock, 7:30 A.M. So early. I sat up and rubbed my eyes. I pulled the blankets down to my waste and I immediately felt the chill of the house. Despite my urge to lie back down and drift back off to sleep, I got out of bed. I went downstairs only to find Mrs. Michalchuk and Mr. Michalchuk in the kitchen. Mrs. Michalchuk was busy eating pancakes, while Mr. Michalchuk was nibbling on some toast and scanning the newspaper.

"Would you look at this Maggie? A five year old expert violinist." Mr. Michalchuk looked at the paper in amazement.

"Well, look at that. And he will be in concert here at the end of the month. We should buy tickets." Mrs. Michalchuk replied.

"Right, sweetpee."

I started to edge closer into the kitchen. As Mr. Michalchuk was turning the page he glanced over in my direction.

"And to what do we owe this honor?" He said. He was grinning through his teeth.

"Morning." I replied. I gave a kind of half smile.

Mrs. Michalchuk returned my smile. "Come sit dear. I have breakfast all ready. And it's nice and hot. I would have woken you up, but I figured I'd just let you sleep."

I was suddenly overwhelmed by the fact that the smell of all this food made me so hungry. I quickly grabbed a chair and sat down.

"So, Alex. It's nice to see you again. How have you been?" Mr. Michalchuk asked.

I didn't really know how to respond to this question. I could say I've been doing good, but obviously that was a lie. I could say I was doing terrible, but I felt that would dampen the mood. I decided on an in-between response.

"Oh, I've been doing alright." I said in a mild tone.

Mr. Michalchuk gave a little chuckle. "Ah, a modest one this one is Maggie."

Mrs. Michalchuk came over and placed a hot plate of eggs, pancakes, and bacon in front of me. I couldn't recall ever seeing anything prettier. Well except Paige of course. "Thank you." I said and quickly dived right in.

"Uh, she is far from fine, Bill. She's been sleeping in a woman's shelter for a while now." Mrs. Michalchuk had spoken that sentence as if I had done something wrong.

"So I've heard." Replied Mr. Michalchuk. His voice was stern but I knew he was joking. He was looking directly at me but I could tell he was speaking to Mrs. Michalchuk. There were talking as if I wasn't there. Paige's parents were always strange like that. They were a joking sort of family. Maybe it's what I liked about them or maybe it was the fact they were an actual family. I didn't know. I had only ever really spoken to Mr. Michalchuk on special occasions. He was usually busy in his den or at the office. But the few times I did speak to him he was very friendly and welcoming. He was a very relaxed man and very intelligent. Maybe if there had been more men like him in my life I wouldn't have turned out to be a lesbian. Or maybe not... I always felt Paige was extremely lucky to have a father like him. Paige was lucky to have parents period.

"Now, what are we going to do about this little situation?" Mr. Michalchuk riddled. He was still holding his newspaper. I couldn't help but let out a little laugh. He was a pretty funny man.

"Alex." Mrs. Michalchuk voice was stern. She looked at me with stare that showed she was talking seriously now, "Bill and I have been talking and we decided that given the circumstances you can stay with us until you are able to find a place of your own." I hadn't expected that. I honestly didn't know what to expect. I really wasn't the kind of person who thought ahead. I lived in the moment. Had I honestly expected Mrs. Michalchuk to bring me home for one night of food and good sleep only to throw me out the next day?

"Mrs. Michalchuk, I don't want to be a bother." I stated. Like before, it felt awkward to just accept this.

"Oh, it won't be a bother." Mr. Michalchuk butted in. "In fact, it's been a little too quiet around here without any teenagers. We need a little insanity to keep our sanity. If you know what I mean." He gave another little chuckle before going back to his newspaper.

"Now really dear. You don't think I'm really going to let you go back to the shelter, do you?" Mrs. Michalchuk stated in that tone of voice I knew there was no arguing with.

"At least let me pay rent." I suggested. Despite the fact I grew up with nothing, I was far from a taker.

Mrs. Michalchuk turned her head in disgust. "Oh, don't you dare!" She exclaimed. "We have plenty of room for you and to be honest now, you're probably a lot cheaper than Paige. You're fine dear." She gave a small chuckle.

I was speechless. I could do nothing but look at her and nod. Mrs. Michalchuk gave a smile at my acceptance.

"Would you look at the time?" Mr. Michalchuk exclaimed, " I had better get going or I'm going to be late for work." He quickly folded his newspaper and finished the last of his toast. He put on his coat, grabbed his briefcase and swung by Mrs. Michalchuk for a kiss goodbye.

"Bye dear." He said as he gave her a quick peck on the check.

"See you tonight honey." She replied back.

Neither Mrs. Michalchuk or I moved or said a word until we heard the door shut behind him.

"Well then. You said you didn't have to work today?" Mrs. Michalchuk broke the silence.

"That's right." I replied. I was beginning to feel more comfortable around her now. Talking was becoming easier. I was finishing up my last piece of bacon as I answered.

"Would like more dear?" She replied as she noticed I had eaten the meal pretty quickly.

"No, that's okay. But thanks."

"Alright," She continued to her last point, "Anyway, that's good because I took the day off. I figured I can help settle you in. I also think tonight will be a good night to make a fancy dinner. As a kind of welcome you here thing."

"That sounds great." I replied. Despite the fact I was now talking louder and clearer, I didn't have a whole lot to add to my responses.

"Good." She said. "I washed your cloths. I just put them in the dyer. They should be finished soon. I also need to run some errands. I thought you could help me out. Speed up the process."

"That's cool." I said. I was started to sound more like myself now and not some robotic polite freak.

"I also figured if you had any items or such that needed to be picked up we could also do that then."

"Ummm..." I started. I wasn't sure I should go back to my apartment to pick up my things. I wasn't sure if I was going to be welcomed or allowed. Even if I was, it would be my mother begging me to come back. I couldn't deal with that. To be honest I didn't want to go back to my mother or Chad. I loved my mother, there was no question there. I just hated her lifestyle choice. Then I thought, if I go when no one was home. I could go in quickly and grab a few things and then be done. I still had my house key. Though, I still wasn't sure if that was going to work. Mrs. Michalchuk obviously realized she had caused me to go deep into thought.

"Oh well, whatever." She said, I could tell she was trying to drop the subject. "Anyway, I'm going to go wash up. You can just sit back and relax for a little bit. Then we'll go."

"Sounds good to me."

-------

I had hoped to cover Alex moving in only a few paragraphs, but the I decided I should expand it into a chapter. I also have a good idea of where I'm going with my next chapter. It will probably be up in a day. Maybe even less.

And also, don't worry I haven't forgotten about Paige. It will still be awhile before she comes into the story as a main character, but I might have some more appearances from her here and there. So keep your eyes open.