AJ was sat on a bench beside Bianca watching the game of 'Stuck in the mud' that had started up. The park was echoing with cries and whoops and jeers. Everyone was running around playing chase, except Erica who was standing to one side under a tree watching the silliness with a tranquil smile on her face.

Miranda and Gabby had both grabbed Marissa's arm and pulled her into the game, although they were all disappointed that AJ didn't feel up to it. Instead he decided to keep Bianca company.

The game was fun to watch. Ayesha and Ian hadn't quite got the hang of it. Ian refused to stand still even if he was tagged and just kept tearing around, trying to dive under people's arms whether they were out or not. Ayesha would basically do whatever Gabby was doing. If her best friend was tagged she would stand as still a statue beside her until they were both rescued. Right now, Bianca's cousin Reggie was 'it'. He was fast and almost everyone was stuck-in-the-mud, but AJ was proud to see his mom was outsmarting him; she hadn't been tagged yet...

AJ looked up at Bianca. She was watching the game with a big smile on her face but her eyes looked sad and he noticed she was reaching down to rub her bad leg. He felt sorry for her, she could no longer play and have fun with them, she could only sit and watch.

In an attempt to cheer her up he reached out and took her hand.

She turned to him in surprise, but then gave him a grateful smile.

"Thanks," she said, "Thanks for keeping me company."

"Well I like you." said AJ matter-of-factly. It was the truth.

Bianca's grin got bigger.

"I like you too!"

AJ licked his lips. The news about the new house had left him with many questions; now seemed the right time to ask them.

"Are you going to adopt me?" he asked.

Bianca's eyes widened.

"What?" she gasped, but then grew serious when she noticed AJ's expression. "Do you want me to?"

"I think you'll make a cool, mom." said AJ. "You're really nice and you're really brave. Your family is really cool too"

"Thank you AJ." said Bianca. "I think you're pretty amazing as well. You are the most thoughtful boy I think I've ever met. It's just maybe a bit soon to talk about adoption; we have to move into our house first and settling in together. But one thing is certain, buddy, right now - adoption or not; you are already a really important part of my family."

She pulled him into a hug and AJ let her, a small delighted smile on his face.

"What do I call you now?" he asked as he leant against her side.

"How about you keep calling me Bianca?"

AJ nodded, a little disappointed.

Bianca must have noticed.

"Mind you," she said after a moment, "If you really want to feel like a part of the family you could copy my sister; if you want you can call me Binks."

"Binks?" said AJ trying it out for size. "That's kinda cool."

"Just like me then." said Bianca giving him a goofy grin and making him laugh.

…

Bianca was now chatting with her mom.

The chasing game was still going on, but AJ still didn't feel up to running about. Instead he sat in the grass by the bushes playing with some toy cars he'd brought with him. He got busy designing himself a racing track with leaves and twigs and scrapping in the mud, only it was getting more and more complicated as time went on. There was a bark ramp over a tree root, a lump of wood covered in beech nuts acting as a pit stop and AJ was considering asking for some water, so he could turn a ditch he had gouged out of the soil into a water hazard.

Just then he noticed a shadow pass behind him; he realised there was a lot more noise as well.

He turned to see people coming back from the game out of breath, although Jackson, Miranda and his mom were now starting a game of Frisbee. The shadow had been cast by Spike, who was watching him, a plastic Tyrannosaurus Rex clasped in his hands.

AJ didn't know what to make of Miranda's little cousin. Whenever he went to stay at Kendal's house Spike would follow him like a shadow, always watching him and copying him. AJ tried to be nice, but he also found it a bit annoying.

"I've got a dinosaur." said Spike proudly.

"Um, cool." said AJ, not too sure what to say about that.

He turned back to his race track; maybe if he ignored him Spike would go away. AJ lined two of his cars at the start line, his red Ferrari and a yellow pick-up. After all his hard work, it was time to start the race.

Rather than loudly announcing the start countdown like he wanted, he whispered it to himself, self-conscious about being watch by Spike. With a toy in each hand AJ drove his cars around the course, commentating as he went. The Ferrari skidding on the slippery leaves, the pick-up bouncing through the dry water hazard… suddenly Spike was there roaring, his plastic dinosaur attacking the cars while knocking over the ramp, demolishing the pit-stop and completely destroying a section of track.

"Look what you've done." cried AJ, upset about the destruction of all his hard work and the wrecking of his game. He grabbed the dinosaur from Spikes hand and threw it into the hedge. "You ruined it! You're so stupid!" he screamed, furious. Before he could stop himself he pushed Spike hard, knocking him to the ground, making the little boy cry and run to his mommy.

AJ turned to notice everyone looking at him. The worst part was the disappointment in Bianca's eyes.

AJ suddenly felt tears of his own beginning. Ashamed and angry he ran off into the woods.

…

AJ was sat on a log, trying to stop himself crying.

"Hey kid." said a kindly voice.

AJ looked up. It was Bianca's cousin Reggie. When they first met AJ had found the big muscular guy a little scary, but his smile and ready humour was winning him over.

"So do you want to talk about it?" asked Reggie sitting beside AJ on the log.

AJ wiped his tears and running nose on his sleeve and shook his head.

"Look, you'll feel better. Why don't you tell me what happened."

"It wasn't my fault." sobbed AJ. "Stupid Spike ruined my game."

"That was wrong of him." said Reggie. "But you know that you were wrong to push him."

"I know." said AJ. "I'd just worked so hard… and he made me so mad…"

Suddenly AJ started crying harder than ever.

"Hey, hey." said Reggie, putting a comforting hand on AJs shoulder. "We all get angry sometimes."

"But I don't want to get angry." sobbed AJ, the tears streaming down his face, "I don't want to be like my dad…"

Reggie sighed.

"Is that what all the tears are about? AJ you are nothing like your dad."

"But I pushed him. I hurt him just like daddy hurt Bianca, just like daddy hurt mom…"

"Are you sorry you did it?"

"Yes."

"Do you feel bad?"

"Yes."

"Then you are nothing like your dad. I think if we both go back you can apologise to Spike. It will help. Say that you're sorry, that is something your dad could never do."

AJ looked up at Reggie, his tears subsiding.

"You think they'll forgive me?"

"They?"

"Mom and Bianca and Miranda."

"I know they will."

AJ used his sleeve to wipe his face again.

"Okay I'm ready." said AJ taking a deep breath.

Reggie handed AJ a hanky from his pocket.

"What do you say we wait a couple more minutes so your face looks a little less puffy? Then your mommy will worry a bit less."

AJ gave his nose a good blow.

"Okay."

…

When they got back to the picnic area AJ felt everyone's eyes on him as he walked towards Spike. Miranda's cousin was carefully rebuilding the pit stop of AJs race track, balancing the beechnuts along the bit of wood.

He noticed AJ approach and looked to his mom. Then he stood up and held out his hand.

"I'm sorry I broke your game." he said guiltily. "I should have asked to play."

"I'm sorry I pushed you." said AJ shaking his hand.

Reggie knelt down between them.

"So are you guy's friends again?" he asked.

"I guess." said AJ slowly.

"You only guess?" asked Reggie.

"Yes we're friends." said AJ finally, giving the younger boy a smile.

"So as friends why don't we help you put this awesome track back together, Spike's already made a start? What do you say AJ, does that sound like fun?"

…

The race track was now twice the size and with Reggie's help they had a plate full of water with two bark ramps for a water hazard and Spike's T-Rex was currently patrolling a 'dinosaur hazard area' passed the third bend. Reggie had even got a couple of bowls and a book and built them a bridge.

Reggie got up and left the two boys to it and walked over to Bianca and Marissa.

"Is he alright?" Marissa asked.

"He's fine. He just upset himself getting angry like that. But we talked in through."

"Well you're clearly a natural." said Bianca putting an arm around his shoulder.

"He's a good kid."

"Yes he is." agreed Bianca. "Thank you."

"Any time. I remember what it was like being a boy that age. It's not always easy and it gets worse before it gets better. If you ever think he's in need of another 'man to man' just give me a call." said Reggie with a smile.

"I will." said Marissa. "Thank you."

They turned back to watch the two boys playing happily together. AJ had just finished helping Spike set up his triceratops in another dinosaur zone just beyond the bridge. When they were happy with the leaf border around the toy dinosaur both boys turned back towards Reggie.

"We're ready to race." AJ shouted. "Do you want the Ferrari?"

"Duty calls." said Reggie, leaving Marissa and Bianca in order to kneel back down and join them.

"Mom do you want to play?" asked AJ. "You could be a dinosaur."

"I'll watch, but thank you for asking." said Marissa with a grin.

"Binks?" asked AJ, looking toward Bianca.

Marissa turned toward her girlfriend confused, where had the nickname come from? Bianca had a great big smile on her face.

"Tell you what, why don't I be the starter?" she suggested.

Three toy cars were lined up at the starting line for the epic two lap race, as AJ explained the route; under the bridge, between twig slaloms, over the tree roots, through the water hazard making sure to avoid the dinosaurs. Reggie was teasing Spike and AJ by jostling for position.

"Are you ready..?" Bianca asked. "Are you steady..? Wait for it, wait for it… Get set, go!"

…