The sound of the cheering crowd came in loud and clear through their earpieces as Kendall, James, Carlos, and Logan stood panting on stage after their last number.

"Thank you and good night!" James said into his microphone. There was one more blast of music and then the stage went dark, the curtains quickly closing to cover their escape.

A month on the road had worked wonders on James, Carlos, and Logan. They were in the best shape of their lives, they were finally able to sleep through the night, and they were happy for the first time in what felt like eternity.

Kendall, on the other hand, was more miserable as ever. He tried to be happy, he really did, but it was near impossible. As soon as he would forget about Ethan and Anya, something would remind him—the news that Ethan had pleaded guilty and had been sentenced to life in prison, a bunny rabbit on the side of the road, an ache or pain left over from Ethan's beatings. He was constantly disappearing into his tiny room on the Super Deluxe Tour Bus so he could be alone. James, Carlos, and Logan pretended not to notice, but they knew that Kendall was crying in there.


"What do you want to do today, Anastasia?" Suzanne, asked excitedly.

"We could go see the Golden Gate Bridge, or go to the beach."

Anya hesitated a moment before shaking her head "no." She didn't want to go anywhere. She just wanted Kendall.

Suzanne sighed. She had done everything she could to make Anastasia happy, but nothing was working. Frankly, she couldn't figure out why Anastasia had been put into the system in the first place.

"Please eat your breakfast, Anastasia, I don't want you getting sick," Suzanne pleaded as she did at every meal. Anya picked up her fork and took a few small bites of her scrambled eggs.

Suzanne brightened, remembering the idea she and her husband had had last night.

"Anastasia, how would you like to go to a Big Time Rush concert? They're going to be playing at the arena in a few days."

Tears welled up in Anya's eyes as she shook her head no. The thought of seeing Kendall, James, Carlos, and Logan for a few hours only to be forced to return to her foster family hurt too much.


Kendall had been dreading this day since the tour began. He'd barely gotten through the first part of the set without bursting into tears. He'd even had to make some unplanned visits to the wings so that he could collect himself.

"As many of you know, I have a girlfriend. Her name is Anya. She couldn't be here tonight, but I'd like to dedicate this next song to her," Kendall said into the microphone.

"Actually, Kendall, the three of us have been thinking, and we've decided to dedicate this whole show to Anya. What do you guys think?" James held out his microphone to catch the wild cheers from the audience.

Kendall barely had enough time to compose himself before the music began:

"I don't know why you always get so insecure

I wish you could see what I see when you're looking in the mirror

And why won't you believe me when I say

That to me you get more beautiful, everyday"

While everyone knew that Kendall had written this song, only a few knew that it was about Anya. He'd seen her staring at herself unhappily in the mirror and lingering over those stupid fashion magazines at the drugstore. Sure, a few lyrics had been changed to make it more universal and ambiguous. Kendall hoped that it would help all of his Rushers feel less insecure.

"Anastasia! You got a package!"


Anya slowly made her way down to the kitchen where her foster mother was waiting with a cardboard box. Her eyes filled with tears when she saw the name on the return label.

Kendall.


Kendall sat in his dressing room and sobbed. He had planned so many things for today. First, a trip to the zoo so that Anya could visit her bunnies. Then, they would have dinner at Olive Garden. Finally, to end the day, Kendall would give Anya her present: a pair of fluffy, white bunny slippers.

Well, at least Anya would still be getting the slippers. If Kendall had timed it right, she should have gotten them today.


Tears poured down Anya's face when she saw what was in her package. How had Kendall known that she'd always wanted a pair of bunny slippers? And these weren't just any bunny slippers. They had blue eyes, pink noses, and tiny mouths that curled out into tiny smiles. They had the softest white fur that Anya had ever felt and cute little cotton ball tails in the back.

Anya read the accompanying note and then took the slippers and carefully put them in the bags she had never unpacked. She returned to the box and was surprised to find there was something still in it. She fished it out and looked at it confused. A DVD?

Puzzled, Anya put it in the DVD player that her foster parents had put in her room.

"Hey, Anya." Anya jumped as Kendall appeared on the screen. "I just wanted to let you know that I miss you so, so much, and I have another present for you." He took his guitar and began to sing.

"I don't know why you always get so insecure

I wish you could see what I see when you're looking in the mirror

And why won't you believe me when I say

That to me you get more beautiful, everyday"

Tears fell freely down Anya's face as she watched. Kendall looked so sad and upset. Why? Had somebody hurt him? Was he having nightmares about Ethan?

Finally, the song ended.

"I love you, Anya," Kendall said, his voice cracking, "We'll be together again soon. I promise."


Downstairs, Anya's foster parents were having a talk.

"This isn't right. She's not happy here," Suzanne said, "She was perfectly happy with the Knights; I don't see why they didn't let her stay with them."

"There has to be a reason," Herbert said.

"Well, whatever it is, it isn't good enough. I'm calling Child Protection Services tomorrow morning. Something has to be done."