Okay, so I wanted to give Aaron something to hold on to before he has to face all the questions, I guess this chapter just ended up as a bit of filler. Let me know what you think, I love reading your reviews, they make me so happy!

Chapter 3. But for the kindness of strangers.

It was seven AM when Aaron woke up the next day and against all odds his friend and confidant was already up and about. Thinking Aaron was still asleep Morgan put the clean clothes he'd dug out for his friend on the coffee table in front of the couch.

"You look like hell" Morgan spun at the sound of his friend behind him.

"Yeah? You looked in the mirror?" All Traces of humour missing from his face as he looked at Aaron.

"It's not so bad" Aaron replied.

"Are you kidding me? Aaron you look like you've gone ten rounds in the ring. There's no way the guys at school aren't gonna figure this out, you know there have been rumours about this for years. Maybe you should just skip school for a few days."

"No, I told Spencer I would drive him to school today and that's what I'm gonna do"

"Drive? Aaron man, can you even see out of that eye? You ain't driving anywhere."

"Then you drive, but we are picking up Spencer and I am going to school"

"Alright, just let me get ready, mom made you breakfast." Sighing Morgan left and went upstairs to change, wondering just how Aaron was going to explain all of this.

After getting up off the couch Aaron got dressed in the stuff Derek had left for him, sighing at Morgan's choice in clothes for him. Picking up the blankets and pillow from the couch Aaron headed in to the kitchen where Fran Morgan was staring at her coffee cup as though it had offended her.

"Morning Mrs Morgan." Fran looked up the new addition to the small room.

"Morning Aaron and how many times do I have to ask you to call me Fran?"

"Sorry... Fran. I want to thank you for letting me stay here last night." He smiled sheepishly even though it hurt.

"I wanted to talk to you about that." She noticed the defence posture he took indicating that this was a subject he did not want to discuss, but she also knew the boy couldn't carry on like this. He was a good kid and she couldn't, no, she wouldn't stand by and watch that beaten out of him, so she carried on.

"Aaron, I know you don't want to talk about what happened last night but we are going to, so sit down."

Aaron sighed, he liked Fran and was grateful that she had taken him in last night, just as she had time and time before but she was right, this wasn't a conversation he wanted to have. Out of respect for Fran he did as he was told and sat down not meeting her eyes as he waited for Fran to continue, he didn't have to wait for long.

"Aaron you can't carry on like this, it's not healthy. He's getting worse Aaron, how long before you end up in the hospital again or worse?"

"Fran, I appreciate your concern, but I'm fine."

"No, you aren't and I can't let this keep happening. I want you to move in here with Derek and me."

Aaron was stunned into silence for a moment, out of all the possibilities he hadn't even considered she would make an offer like that, he wanted nothing more than to accept but he knew he couldn't.

"Fran, that's a very generous offer, but I can't accept it, I have responsibilities at home."

"If it's about Sean, the offer extends to him as well; do you really think I would leave him there?"

"No, But Fran… What about my mom? I can't leave her there alone with him."

Fran sighed. "Aaron do you know why you're mom stays with him? Because of you and Sean, with the two of you away from him she won't have a reason to put up with him anymore, trust me. I have already spoken to her and she agrees it's for the best."

Aaron couldn't believe this was for real, it was like all his Christmases had come at once, but he knew the Morgan residence wasn't that big.

"Fran, you don't have room for both of us"

"Of course I do, Derek and I have already talked it through, you and he will share and we'll turn Derek's gym into Sean's room" She rolled her eyes thinking about the room Derek had stolen for his own.

Aaron could feel himself welling up, thankfully Derek choice that exact moment to stroll into the kitchen book bag slung over his shoulder.

"Come on then, if we're gonna pick spencer up, we better leave now, I want to see Penelope before homeroom"