Find A Family

"I like that one,"

"No, not him, he's too mean."

"But his wife's so pretty..."

"He owns the bank remember, they're no fun! I want fun parents!"

The trio always did this, on days when things got to rough. Jesse, Olivia and Axel would go someplace high up, somewhere they could see everyone. Then they'd try; try to imagine what it might be like, to have a complete family.

Olivia huffed, her little cheeks puffing out in frustration, "Fine, who would you pick Axel."

Eight year old Axel hesitated, looking curiously down at the throngs of people passing below. "Hmmm, that one!"

"Ewww," Olivia giggled, "Not the butcher! He's always so messy. Beside's Jesse doesn't like the butcher."

"Oh I forgot about Rueben, sorry Jesse!"

Jesse was absentmindedly feeding Rueben a carrot, "It's okay guys. You know, you don't have to pick parents for all three of us."

"No!" Axel shoved him lightly, "We stick together, Orphans code, got it! Now," he eagerly leaned against the bridge railing, legs swinging wildly into open air, "Who do you like?"

Jesse looked through the bars, eyeing every kind of couple of every kind of demographic- he sighed.

"What's wrong Jesse?"

"I don't see anyone."

Olivia paused, "Well, what about her?!" she pointed.

Jesse eyed the black haired woman with a large brimmed hat. She was pale, with dark stunning eyes and ruby red lips. She was pretty, but...Jesse watched as she walked towards the park, her hips swaying in a sassy saunter and her little yippy dog at her feet, "No, too stuck up."

"Him?" Axel pointed.

There was a round heavy man, with a big rotund belly, and a large grey beard. His eyes sparkled with a smile, and his arms looked great for hugs. But the middle aged male staggered through the street, a bottle in on hand.

"Too drunk."

"Is there anyone?"

Jesse rested a cheek on the rail, and accepted a warm snout kiss from Rueben, "No one," he said softly. "I don't see a family for me."

"Oh."

The trio fell into silence, all silently accepting that this might be their way of life. Unless, "Why don't we make our own home?" Jesse piped up.

"We're too little," Olivia pouted.

"We won't always be." Jesse's eyes sparkled, "We can't find a family, let's make our own!"

"We could have a tree house," Axel smiled, "I always wanted to live in the trees! We can stock it full of dynamite!"

"And redstone!" Olivia squealed.

Jesse stuck out his hand, "Deal?!"

"Deal!"

"Hey guys whatcha doin?"

The trio jumped in surprise, and Rueben made a little squeal of irritation. It was Lukas, looking a little out of breath, faced flushed from the heat, "Whatcah doin?" He repeated.

"Making a family," Olivia piped.

"Olivia!" the boys groaned, Axel looked at her, "It's our secret."

"You didn't say that," she argued.

"A family," Lukas asked confused, "How come?"

"Well we don't have parents like you," Axel huffed.

Lukas titled his head, "I think you're lucky, you don't have parents to boss you around." He tugged on his over sized jacket, "They tell you what to wear, and when to eat, and make you wear stupid coats 'in case it might rain' and other silly things."

"You look tired," Jesse said, unhappy with Lukas's statement.

"Yeah, I was running. There is a game of hide a seek starting in the park I don't want to be late, but I thought I stop and see what you guys were doing."

"Lukas!"

It was Petra and Aiden. Aiden rolled up on his scooter, a bandage across his nose from last week's wipe out. Petra wore a muddy pair of overalls, her pigtails high upon her head.

"Come on, we're gonna be late," Aiden whined.

"Yeah, I wanna play already," Petra said, already running for the park.

"Lukas hurry!" Aiden scootered after her, "Or you're gonna be it!"

Lukas did a quick wave to Jesse and started running before he paused, "Hey...you guys want to play?"

"Really?"

"It's more fun with more people."

"But they're your friends," Jesse said slowly.

"Aww, I like you guys to, and your pet," Lukas kicked a pebble, "They won't mind. Gill likes Olivia," he blushed, "But you didn't hear that from me."

"Okay!"

The Trio got up, chasing after Lukas, "Aiden I brought Jesse, Olivia and Axel!"

The brunet shoved off the tree from which he had been counting, "Yes! Now I'm not it! Jesse you're last, you're it!"

"Can I use Rueben?!"

"Yeah, yeah," Aiden dashed into the woods, "Just start counting."

Jesse leaned against the tree, the thought of a family momentarily pressed from his mind, "One, two,-"

"I hope you find your family," Lukas whispered in his ear, Jesse froze.

He peeked open an eye, watching Lukas smile back at him before dashing off, "Axel this way, I gotta good spot!"

Jesse closed his eyes and continued counting. "Three, four,"

"After this we should watch clouds!"

"Yeah! Whoever finds the most bunnies wins!"

"Five...Six..."

"Jesse?"

Jesse shot open his eyes, spotting Lukas hovering over him, "Dude you feel asleep."

Jesse yawned, "Did I?"

"Is cloud watching that boring to you?"

"No, it's just Petra's winning on the bunny count, why should I bother?" he smiled.

The blonde laughed, and sat down next to him, "You were counting in your sleep."

"I was dreaming of innocence," Jessed laughed, "We were playing hide and seek."

"Pardon?"

Jesse rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, "Do you remember the day you invited us to play hide and seek the first time?"

Lukas thought about it, then his eyes lit up, "Oh yeah, you guys were on the bridge, searching for parents, I remember!"

"You told me...I hope you find your family,"

"I'm sorry! Did I offend you?"

"Naw," Jesse looked across the hill, where Petra and Aiden bickered over a cloud and whether it was truly shaped like a bunny. Maya was laughing, her and Gill catching up on the count, while Olivia tried to diffuse the argument and Axel fanned the flames...

"You think you'll ever?" Lukas asked softly.

Jesse smiled, "I think I already did."

EthanDaCabbage Requested:

Could you do something about them all as children? Like, their childhood? I dunno, just wondering...

Author's Section:

I hope this is what you were wondering! I hope you enjoy!

See you soon guys!