TRIGGER WARNINGS- THIS FIC WILL INCLUDE ABUSE, DEPRESSION, MURDER, DRUGS, ALCOHOL, AND SIMILAR THEMES. PLEASE BE WARY WHEN READING

Hey guys, please don't kill me!

*readers holding pitchforks and torches* WHERE ARE THE UPDATES

I know I haven't updated in forever, I swear I'm not ditching the story. I've just had a lot going on at home, plus schoolwork, and it's all just really chaotic. I've been working on a couple other fics and I promise that they'll be done within a month. I don't know how long it'll take for me to post them, but I promise they will be done in case I go a while without posting again. That being said, I hope you enjoy, I love you all so much and stay safe besties!

Leo sat in a black car, staring out of the window mournfully. His social worker was out of the car, talking to a lady with straight brown hair and a baby in her arms.

"Who's that?" Percy asked.

"My third foster mom," Leo said fondly. "She was absolutely amazing."

Eleanor headed back to the car, and opened the door for Leo, who stepped out unwillingly. He was fidgeting with some pipe cleaners, his hands moving so fast that they were practically a blur.

Next to Piper, the present Leo took out some pipe cleaners and began mimicking the actions of his past self.

He eyed the woman warily.

"Leo, this is Maria Cullie," Eleanor said. "Maria, this is Leo."

Maria smiled at him warmly, waving. "Hi, Leo!"

Leo relaxed slightly, even managing to wave back at her.

"I'd just like to talk to Leo quickly before he goes with you," Eleanor said, looking at Maria for permission.

"Of course, I'll just go inside. Come in whenever you're ready," she said, and walked away.

Eleanor bent down so that she was looking Leo in the eye, and gently cupped his face. "Leo, I know that you've had truly terrible experiences with your past two foster homes, but I promise Maria's different. She's fostered kids before, and they all seem to love it there. Can you please try to give her the benefit of the doubt?"

Leo hesitated, and nodded.

Eleanor smiled in relief. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a phone. "This is for you. Keep it hidden. If you need to contact me, please don't hesitate. My phone number is already listed in there. If you find that you're having a hard time, call me and I can find you another home. Okay?"

"Okay," Leo said. It was the first time he had spoken this memory, and his voice was quiet, even fearful.

Piper sighed in relief. She had been afraid that Leo was unable to speak for some reason.

Eleanor smiled at him, before standing up and taking his hand. She led him inside, and Leo clutched his bag even tighter, his eyes darting around the house.

Maria was sitting at the kitchen table, a steaming cup of coffee in front of her. She stood up as soon as she noticed Leo and Eleanor.

"Ok, so I'll be back in a couple of weeks to check that Leo's settling in okay," Eleanor said, shooting Leo a meaningful glance. "See you then."

With that, she dropped Leo's hand and left the house.

Maria turned to Leo, who flinched, as if expecting her to start screaming at him.

Piper's heart sank. Surely Leo wasn't still afraid of Tia Rosa? No, that meant something else must have happened. She chanced a glance at Leo. He was determinedly avoiding looking at the screen, instead choosing to focus on what he was building out of the pipe cleaners.

"Would you like me to show you your room?" Maria asked kindly.

Cautiously, Leo looked up from the floor. He nodded nervously.

"Let's go, then," Maria said, extending a hand for him to hold. Leo smiled then, and took her hand, having apparently decided that she was trustworthy.

They went to a small but cozy room with a single bed in the corner and a big bookcase filled with books like Divergent and Harry Potter.

Piper briefly wondered if these books were a little too grown up for this young version of Leo, but instantly shook it off, reminding herself that Leo had always been incredibly smart, even in the Wilderness School.

Leo's eyes were saucers. He glanced at Maria, as if asking for permission to look around. She smiled and nodded, letting go of his hand.

"I'll leave you to get settled in," she said gently. "Call me if you need anything, okay?"

Leo nodded. "Thank you, Mrs Cullie.

"Call me Maria," Maria said. "Mrs Cullie makes me feel old. Cullie is an old person name, like dark chocolate is an old person chocolate."

Leo chuckled slightly, before instantly pressing his lips together as if in fear of retribution. However, Maria simply laughed along with him.

"I'll call you when it's time for dinner," she said. "You can meet my husband Jake then."

Maria closed the door quietly, leaving Leo alone in the room. The camera showed one last shot of Leo's smile growing slowly, before cutting to black.

"That was a really sweet memory," Hazel said.

"Yeah," Leo said fondly, still twisting the pipe cleaners into a complex pattern, undoing it every now and then to for a new one. "She was a great foster mom."

"You said she was your third foster mom, right?" Frank recalled.

"Yep," Leo confirmed.

"Why'd you leave?" Jason asked curiously.

Leo's hands stilled, apart for a very slight shaking which was nearly unnoticeable.

"Stuff happened," he said cautiously. "I had to leave. It was better for all of us."

Piper was extremely tempted to ask him for more details, but elected not to, deciding that if it was important, it would probably show up in future memories.

Jason opened his mouth to speak, but Piper nudged his leg, subtly shaking her head at him. He seemed to reach the same conclusion as she had, and closed his mouth.

The TV turned on again.