I would like to take time to point out that this is NOT the Mulligan family from Adventures in Odyssey. It's completely AU and the only aspect that is the same is the same last name.

Enjoy!

0130 13th Street

Hunts Point, New York

15 year old Nick Mulligan walked tiredly into the kitchen of his small, cramped house. He hadn't slept a wink last night because his most recent foster parents had been arguing. Very loudly.

Nick Mulligan had gone through 8 foster families so far and he didn't expect to stay in this one for much longer either. His 'mother', Elaine, was addicted to drugs and smoking and he had the sneaking suspicion that his 'father', Charles, had done time for murder. Or maybe it was attempted murder, Nick didn't know. All he knew was that is was something really bad.

Nick bent down to pick up one of Charles' beer bottles. He looked at it scornfully before throwing it against the wall in anger. Nick heard the crash and saw the bottle break into a dozen sharp pieces. The broken shards of glass, he thought, represented his life. His life had been broken for as long as he could remember. Just like the glass.

Nick sighed and sat down on the kitchen floor.

Just then Elaine sauntered in.

"'Morning Nick." She yawned and took her cigarette pack out of the drawer.

"You know those things destroy your lungs, right?" Nick commented.

"Oh Nicky!" Elaine lit one, "Those are just rumors made up by people who don't want the cigarette companies to make money.

"Yeah...sure." Nick replied, "And don't call me that."

"But seriously now." Elaine handed Nick a cigarette, "These little things ease your suffering! They put you in a good mood! And what's more!" Elaine leaned close to Nick, "When you smoke on of these, it solves all your problems!"

"Hmmm...really?" Nick really wasn't sure what to think. Sure, after Elaine smoked a cigarette she was always happier. Really the only time Elaine wasn't happy was when Charles was home. Fortunately that wasn't very often.

"Yeah, but what about the addictions they cause?" Nick asked,

"They cause addictions because they make you feel so good." Elaine replied, "Try one! Trust me Nick, it will ease your pain."

Nick eyed the cigarette in his hand.

"And while you're at it, try one of these." Elaine held up her bottle of drugs.

"I think I'll pass on that." Nick pushed it away. No way was he going to get sucked into that! True Elaine WAS happy most of the time. But all of it was artificial. No, Nick wanted real happiness in his life. But the idea of smoking to ease his pain sounded appealing to him.

Elaine left Nick in the kitchen alone with the deadly cigarette.

Nick eyed it again and made his fateful decision. Why sit in sorrow when he could ease is pain for just a few minutes?

Nick lit the cigarette and put it to his mouth. At first he coughed loudly as the smoke entered his lungs. But after a few minutes, he felt...better for some odd reason. Maybe the fact that smoking kills was just a rumor. Whether or not it was, Nick knew he wouldn't stop smoking anytime soon.

Nick finished and threw his cigarette away, then made his way into the 'family room' where Elaine sat watching TV and drinking beer.

"Ya know Nicky? I bet your folks smoked." Elaine slurred her words together. Nick knew she already had too much to drink.

"What would make you think that?" Nick asked thoroughly curious,

"Well how else would their house have caught fire?"

"Um, I'm not sure. Oven trouble?" Yes, Nick was well aware of the fact that his parents had died in a fire. He just didn't know how or where.

"Do you know where there house was when it caught on fire?" Nick tried, maybe Elaine would slip. Every time he'd asked her where he was born she always refused to tell. 'Afraid that he'd leave them' she said.

"Oh, it was a no body town called... oh what was it called?" Elaine tried to recall the name. "Oh! I know!" She dug into her pocket and pulled out a small photo. She flipped it backside up, "Odyssey! That's it! Odyssey."

Nick was flabbergasted! She held a piece of his unknown past right in her hand!

"Hey, uh, mind if I take a look at that?" He asked coyly,

"Oh, no you don't. Charles says you don't need to know where you came from so you can't leave."

"Oh, what he doesn't know won't hurt him right?" Nick said, "It will be out secret! Just think of it. For the First time in our lives, we'll have a secret that Charles doesn't know about!"

"Hmmm, that does sound fun." Elaine gushed, "Alright! Our secret!"

"Great!" Nick snatched the photo out of her hands. "Hey, uh, how about if I took this photo back to my room and looked at it! It would...um...make the secret that much better."

"Of course." When it came to getting the upper hand on her husband, Elaine would do anything. It was one of her many weaknesses and Nick knew it.

Nick ran back to his room and locked the door.

First he stared at the back of the photo. It read:

L. M.

Age 24

Odyssey, 1980

"Who is L. M.?" Nick asked aloud, "But more importantly, where is Odyssey?"

Nick flipped the photo over and looked at the beautiful red head. If this was part of his past then was this person...no...it couldn't be his mother, could it? It could be his sister but the photo was taken 15 years ago and the lady was 24 at that time. Who was it then?

Nick knew there was only way to find out and that was to go to Odyssey. There was no doubt in his mind now. He HAD to go to Odyssey. There would most definitely be answers to all his questions there. And he had a lot of questions!

Nick's mind was made up. He had to run away to Odyssey now. There was no time to loose!

I hoped you liked it! That's how I picture Nick started smoking. I couldn't quite grasp how is accent should be so I just decided not to try. Please review! Please please please! I really want to know what people think!