AN: Wanted to go ahead and get this one out there. It's the last chapter of thier childhoods. Don't worry. There are more chapters for the high school part of the story.

I hope everyone is enjoying this. I sure am. I wrote the first 8 chapters in one day. So now I get to go over them before I post them. I already went over this one. Made a few changes, but I think it came out better.

...

Two days had gone by, and since there had yet to be any sign of Caroline's parents, she was still at the Johnson's. Cave seemed to like having a friend over, and Mrs. Johnson thought it was doing both him and Caroline some good. Mr. Johnson would sit on the porch, watching the Mclain's house while Mrs. Johnson tended to the kids and such. He was going to give them a few choice words when they got home.

Caroline and Cave were now watching cartoons on the T.V. Tom and Jerry was on.

"I like Tom. He's funny." Cave said.

Caroline shook her head. "Jerry's better. He's smarter and he makes Tom look like an idiot."

Cave looked at her. "Tom's cooler."

Mrs. Johnson chuckled to herself. Suddenly she could hear her husbond's voice calling for her.

"What is it, Dear?"

He motioned over to the Mclain's house. There was a car in the driveway.

"Oh, they're home."

He nodded. "I'll be right back."

Mrs. Johnson stood on the porch and watched as her husbond crossed the street to the Mclain's house.

"Caroline." Mrs. Mclain called.

No answer.

"Caroline, get in here." Mr. Mclain yelled.

No answer.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Mr. Mclain went to answer it.

"Yes, can I help you?"

Mr. Johnson looked at the other man. "Yes, I'm Mr. Johnson, we live a few houses down from you, and I was coming over here to inform you that your daughter is safe over at our house. Not that you seem to care."

Mr. Mclain looked at him, anger evident in his face. "Excuse me?"

"Well, it's obvious you couldn't have been too worried about your daughter since you clearly left her alone for an extended period of time. Luckly for her, my son noticed and brought it to my wife's attention."

Mr. Mclain had made a fist and was shaking. "Who are you to tell me what to do or not do with my own damn child? It's none of your business!"

Mr. Johnson was having a hard time restraining some of his anger. "Someone has to look out for that sweet little girl. She's too young to be left alone like that. She's only 6 years old!"

Mr. Mclain snorted. "She's been doing just fine for two years now. She doesn't need your help."

Mr. Johnson was really pissed now. "Your telling me that Caroline has been being left alone for long periods of time since she was 4? What kind of parents are you? What could you possibly have to do that you can't take your child with you?"

"That's none of your damn business! I'm done listening to you. I'm going to go get my daughter and don't EVER bother any of us again."

Mr. Mclain pushed past Mr. Johnson and headed across the street.

Caroline and Cave were now drawing with crayons. Cave was drawing a large cave with a man standing in front of it. Caroline was drawing a white horse with a horn on it's head.

"What is that?" Cave asked.

"A unicorn." Caroline said.

"Is it supposed to have a horn?"

Caroline giggled. "Yes."

Suddenly Mr. Mclain came bursting through the living room. "Let's go, Caroline. Now."

Caroline just looked up at her dad. "But, I don't want to go. I'm having fun."

"Caroline Nicole, let's go. NOW!"

Caroline slowly stood up, and followed her dad. As she walked out the door, she turned back and looked and Cave sadly. "Bye." she mouthed, and her and her dad walked back home.

Caroline had been forbidden to ever go back over to the Johnson's again. She had cried. She liked it over there. It felt like a real family. A week later when her parents told her they were leaving again, she felt so empty. They never stayed home long. They left her some money and told her to go to the corner store if she needed something.

"And remember, do NOT go to that house."

Caroline nodded sadly.

"Good. We'll be back on Sunday."

Caroline nodded. It was only Tuesday.

...

After a couple of days, Caroline was really lonley. She thought about going over to see Cave, but she knew she wasn't supposed to.

"If I go, I'll get in trouble, but I don't like to be here."

Caroline wasn't sure what to do. Then an idea came to her.

"Maybe, if I come back before Sunday, they won't know I left."

She ran to her room and grabbed some pajamas and her favorite doll. As she ran out of the house she had another idea. Going back inside, she grabbed the money her parents had given her. Running to the Johnson's house, she knocked on the door. Mr. Johnson answered.

"Caroline. It's nice to see you."

"Hi, Mr. Johnson. Can I stay here? My parents are gone again, and I don't want to be by myself."

Mr. Johnson looked at her hopeful little face. "Sure."

Caroline's face lit up. "Thank you!"

Mr. Johnson watched her go into the living room and place her stuff on the couch. "Johnathan's in his room if you want to go play."

Caroline nodded. "Ok. Thanks Mr. Johnson."

He nodded. He went into his bedroom, where his wife was reading a book.

"Who was at the door?"

"Little Caroline." he said.

"Caroline?" She sighed. "Her parents left her alone again I'm guessing."

Mr. Johnson nodded. "She wants to stay here. I told her she could."

Mrs. Johnson shook her head. "Poor girl. Are you going to talk to them again?"

Mr. Johnson shook his head. "If I upset them too much, then they might lock her inside or something worse. No, it's better that she come over here, even if they don't know about it."

Mrs. Johnson nodded. "She's always welcome here."

...

Caroline walked into Cave's room. He looked up.

"Hey, Caroline!" He walked up and gave her a hug. "I didn't think you'd ever come back."

She smiled. "Well, I'm not supposed to be here, but I don't like it at my house. So I have to go home before Sunday."

Cave nodded. "Ok. I don't want you to get in trouble."

Caroline pulled out the money her parents had given her.

"Here, this will help you get that cave thing you wanted." She handed him the money.

"But that's your money."

"Well, I want to give it to you."

Cave smiled and took the money. "Wow, thanks. But why?"

Caroline smiled. "Because your my friend."

...

Over the next few years, Caroline would stay with the Johnson's off and on. She only got caught a few times, and she always managed to convice her parents that she'd only been over there for a few hours. They complained at first, but after a while the stopped caring if she was there or not.

By the time Cave and Caroline reached junior high, they had made new friends, and over time, Caroline began spending more time with her two best friends, Brittnay and Amy. By the time high school came around, she had stopped spending nights at the Johnson's all together, but still remained friends with Cave. Junior year would prove to be a year of life changing experiences.

...

Like I said, this is the last chapter of thier childhood's.

Let me know what you all think of this story so far.

If you read, please review. I might give you all a piece of cake. ;)