Oh man. I didn't put up a single chapter during all of April. And this chapter has taken me weeks to finish, so I only posted one single chapter (for game on) in may. Before, at the end of May when I had this chapter almost finished, suddenly my computer was acting up and Internet wasn't working on it.

Anyway, it's fixed now. But now it's June. Which means my birthday is the 28th…

But here we go, writing this I haven't finished the chapter yet. But when I do and someone will read it I hope everyone will like it.

I can be there in half an hour if you're there.
-Johnny

A while after I and Johnny had been sending text messages back and forth, I was standing by the doors of Pottiswood's mall, right by the café. And I was starting to wonder whether it was like Johnny to be later than what he had said at first, or if I should be worried.

For the billionth time I looked over the bulletin board by the doors, one of the notes there had a few pictures from an empty flat and had caught my eye, that also had three pictures on it.

Hello anyone who is reading this.

My name is Philippa Murphy and I live on Rigsby Avenue 187. I will however be moving away very soon, around New Year's.

Until when I move away I need some help with cleaning my apartment. As I am more than 80 years old, and being so old it is hard to move around- and clean in all corners and behind all kinds of furniture. Moving into a senior home, I will also not be needing to bring with me everything I own now.

If you or someone you know want to come and help me you should know that I have a small dog, a mix in between Maltese Yorkshire Terrier and Papillon. Her name is Diamond and anyone who comes around understandably has to be okay with her just as well as with me. She's also the judge to anyone who comes in through the door.

It being so long since I worked and made my own money, I can't exactly pay you any big sums of money. But I'm certain we can agree on some paycheck that will be enough. I can promise you two things, I can always be your friend to make you smile and laugh. And just like any old grandmother, I will never let you leave my home hungry.

If you're interested you have got my phone number and some pictures on the bottom of this letter.

Sincerely
Philippa Murphy, accompanied by Diamond the Maltese Yorkillon.

"Emma?"

I had been so into reading Philippa's note, and wondering about Elm Tree House's teenagers and which one of them would like some extra job I hadn't noticed that Johnny had showed up. When he came, spoke my name and grabbed my arm I jumped high.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."

"It's okay." I gasped and pulled up my phone to photograph. "I was reading this note and wondering if there are some teenagers back at the dumping ground right now who might like some extra money. So just let me shoot a picture… It's nice to see you again. What café was it you would think we could be going to?"

"I was thinking this one." He gestured to one to my right, that had windows out towards the parking lot. "Like I said, they have the best fresh bread and breakfast sandwiches…" I looked over what they had and pulled up my wallet. "Don't worry. I'll pay for it." I opened my mouth to protest. "Maybe, if we ever meet again you will pay for me."

If we ever meet again…

I had to say it felt quite nice, the thought that even after today I and Johnny might be meeting again. But decided to put my concentration into right now and ordered sausages with baked beans, eggs, mushroom and toast along with lemonade.

"You were quite hungry I can see." Johnny came to sit down with a tea and a grilled cheese sandwich. "Whoa, not so fast! No one's going to take that food from you."

I stopped and froze for a second, I knew very well that when I was very hungry I had a way with taking so big bites I almost choke. Thankfully, because of Johnny's comment I took a pause and then continued slower.

"Sometimes…" I had barely even swallowed when I started talking. "…I'm just reminded of what my parents used to tell me."

"What?"

"They used to always remind me that no one was going to take the food from me. But I might choke if I keep eating so fast."

"Did you? Choke?"

"No…" I gave a short laugh. "However, I did break teeth."

We both silent, I didn't know what was going on in Johnny's head. I was just so hungry after not being able to stomach anything, or having anything to eat the past few days I just couldn't take a break.

"What was it that you said?" Johnny asked when I slowed down to make the food last longer. "Have one of the kids run away and disappeared?"

"Yes... He's only little so we were all worried something might happen to him when he was out there alone. But luckily, he came back safe and sound yesterday."

Johnny only watched me for a few seconds, and just like I hoped he didn't ask more. I wasn't sure how much I could or should tell him so it was a relief when he changed the subject to somebody else that I hadn't known.

"When Sophia- Luce's little sister came to live at the dumping ground… anyway. I don't want to go into detail but some things happened and she ran away. I don't remember for how long she was missing but during the whole while all of the dumping ground was… worried and really, upside down… Although, the great thing is that George would never have come to work there… George is nice, don't you think?"

"He is… It's just strange how… things happen- maybe there's a reason, maybe it's all a coincidence… I mean, that was why we met here today. That would never have happened if Tracie hadn't hurt herself so bad. Or we wouldn't have met again…" I finished my last bite and put the cutlery down. "I haven't even been thinking about trying to contact Tee or anyone else I know but then- there you were. And then the fact that it had been you out of all was a pure coincidence… This was nice… I hope we can meet again some other day."

"Yeah…" Johnny agreed. "That would be nice. Hopefully it won't take anyone going missing or empty cupboards or anything else sad before we meet again though. Maybe something… for Christmas. Tee is at university now, but she's coming back here for the Christmas holidays so it would be nice for her to come along too."

And I was so reminded what I had been doing at that moment I had run into Johnny at the store. It wasn't long ago but it hadn't passed my mind more that we were quite a bit into December and I still needed to buy most Christmas gifts. At least one for each of the kids I needed at least. And the few I had I hadn't even planned for which of the kids they were for.

"It would." I stood up slowly and reached for my jacket while Johnny did the same on the other side of the table. "Is there a toy store around? Or maybe a secondhand store? Or something else that might be good for getting Christmas gifts for the kids?" I thought quickly for a second, going through in my head what kids were living at the dumping ground right now. "Some of the kids' birthdays are soon too. So I'm going to have to get extra gifts for them of course… Giving gifts is really one of my favorite things to do. Seeing the look in people's eyes when they knew they had a gift but not what it was yet. And them shining with new excitement when they liked what I had given them."

"There are a few stores around here…"

"You don't think anyone will mind second hand things for Christmas or birthday do you? I mean, at second hand stores there are usually things that are like new anyway."

"You wouldn't have to tell them the things are from second hand though…"

"I'm the worst secret-keeper ever. I feel so bad for it I end up telling whoever I kept it from myself… Even if I so have to wake them up in the middle of the night to do it."

"You sound like you've actually done that a few times."

I gave Johnny a meaning glare, but end up laughing shortly instead of scowling just as we enter the toy store. And the thought that kids in care gets a lot of things broken and secondhand hits me.

I was by no means rich; I wouldn't be able to buy them all new phones or computers or tv's even if I wanted to. But I always thought that those are kinds of gifts when you want to either give or get, are those someone have put time and thinking to get what you would like. And I wanted to give each of the kids something meaningful rather than something expensive that had me worrying if I could pay this month's rent or not.

While Johnny stopped by some shelves with paint and brushes, wondering out loud if he could find something for Tee there, I kept walking and scanning the shelves with my vision when I suddenly noticed something I recognized. A nightlight or stuffed animal that I had watched something about on TV. For two teenagers that had PTSD after a car crash that killed their mum. It was a blue turtle and it looked like a regular stuffed animal really at first sight. But it could be turned on like a night light and soothing sounds that sounded differently as the ocean's waves.

My first day back at the dumping ground passed by, how I'd been wondering about why there was only one bed in David and Shawn's room, and how Shawn had told me about David and the trouble he had had sleeping.

David had now moved to sleep in the same room as Wheezy, or at least he would when Wheezy came back home, but I couldn't imagine a more suiting Christmas gift for him. And I knew after the memories and all of the nightmares I had about the plane crash. Not depending on his age, David had trouble sleeping…

And Jim. Who constantly had to worry about when or where he'd have another seizure? Maybe it could help, maybe a little bit if he had one of these soothing turtles and that could help him sleep better.

"I think I'll get two of these…" I said and chose two. "…blue for David and… green for Jim." I put them in the basket. "Jim loves anything ocean- themed, especially pirates so it shouldn't be too hard to get anything for him… but then there's his birthday the thirteenth, and Violet's. The twins- Nathan and Qwyn obviously have the same birthday at New Year's Eve, and Peityn- one girly little girl is January the second." I smiled a bit to myself when I remembered how she had tried to trick me her birthday was soon when I first started working at the dumping ground and how far away it had seemed, and how close it was right now.

"How old are everyone?"

"Jm's eight and Violet's nine. Peityn's six… Nathan and Qwyn are turning sixteen and moving away soon… I guess I should get them something for that…" Johnny nodded agreeing. "They're a bit old for nightlights. But I might scan the Internet and see if I find something more too." I left the nightlights behind and walked on.

"Isn't Brielle still living at the dumping ground?"

"Yes she is. Why?"

"Well… you've forgotten her birthday. It's on Christmas Eve and if I remember it right she will be fifteen."

I guess with so many kids, plus care workers it just wasn't so easy to remember all of them at once!

Being a teenager though, among stuffed animals and school things I wasn't so certain there would be things for any teenager here. So maybe there wasn't anything for neither Brielle, nor Nathan or Qwyn. I must have known what kinds of gifts I was getting for them so Brielle was the hardest one… although maybe she wouldn't be. I did know she loved most Disney movies, especially Lion King.

And as if it was meant to be, just like everything was spinning in my mind I had it right in front of my eyes.

"Look at this one…" I grabbed a jigsaw puzzle from a top shelf. "Brielle will like this one for her birthday or Christmas. Although, I don't know if she actually likes jigsaw puzzles? Do you know?"

"I don't think we ever spoke about it… but it seems like something she would like. And she does love Lion King." The puzzle had a picture of Simba being held up, watched from the clouds by another big lion and surrounded by other animals from the savannah. "Plus, you'll have to get both birthday and Christmas gift for her. If it wasn't for that I haven't met anyone from the dumping ground since I moved away. I would get it for her."

"You've got some fair points." I put it in my basket. "I can't wait for Christmas… Hmm. They do have some shelves too with Frozen Merchandise. I wonder if I could find something for Ella there."

"Is she still an as big fan of Frozen as the last time I saw her and she watched it for the first, second and third time in one day?"

"I've only known her for a few months so yeah. I can only guess but she's probably watched it about a thousand times at least."

"At least. But still…" He gave a short laugh. "I never thought it would be a movie for someone as young as her but who could stop her? I think when she watched it in the beginning she loved the music more than anything."

"That might be a part of it. Besides, watching movies when you're four is another thing than when you're an adult… and it does have some great music in it… Now…" I looked down an aisle. "There is a whole part with only Frozen-things so I guess I know where to get Ella's gifts… That's that… I have one gift for Jim but then Violet's birthday too is next… And I just know she isn't going to be happy with anything I or anyone else gets her…"

I couldn't help but to feel my heart breaking at what I said about Violet. And knowing that I was really right, she would still be unhappy no matter what we gave her. And who could have blamed her with everything she had gone through during the past year.

But trying not to think about that I scanned the shelves with Frozen- things, and I couldn't help but notice one dress. I knew her Elsa dress and doll were her favorite things in the world, but this was a warmer dress- long, thick and with fur around the hood. Clearly something she could even use outside at this time of year.

"I like this one. I'm just not certain what size Ella is…" I hung the two of the sizes I had taken back on the rack. "I could just call Mike and ask but meh… I'll check tomorrow and then come back. It's available like ten ones so I doubt it will be sold. But look at this… this part of the store must be a dream coming true for Ella. Too bad her birthday isn't until May seventeenth."

"I think these shelves has been here ever since the movie came out. So even if the twins' birthday is a few months away. I don't think it will be taken away. And besides, that will give you some time to choose about getting it all or not." We smirked at each other. "What do you think Tee will think about these?" He held up two drawing books with mandalas in them. "I was thinking they might be able to help her relax a bit, in between all school she has."

"If Tee is anything like she was the last time I met her I think she'll love them."

"We'll have to meet all three sometime."

We went to pay, despite all my hours and hours of sleeping tonight, what had had me so worried with David and everyone had taken so much energy it was making all my thinking slow and dumb again.

I and Johnny kept walking, through the mall towards the grocery store and the parking lot. None of us had to say it I was turning down the road and Johnny towards his car.

Then, just inside the revolving doors we passed a store with soaps and bathroom supplies, maybe they could have something that would suit Violet. Almost right away coming into it I saw something, although maybe a bit too childish for Violet it would for certain suit someone else, I knew. It was a pale purple handbag with a unicorn on it and two bottles of shower cream- one pale pink and the other pale blue.

"I want to go into this shop… And now, Peityn is going to love this." I walked right into the store and picked it up. "She's just such a girly little girl and loves light blue and light pink. And everyone likes unicorns, don't they?" Johnny smirked. "Well, at least all girly little girls do."

I took the small purse and the bottles and looked around the store. Maybe there could be something for Violet here, and I soon found one bath bomb in turquoise, neon pink and neon yellow.

"I think I'll get this for Violet." I said, actually more to myself than to Johnny while I smelt it. "Yeah, she'll like this…" I handed Johnny the bag from the toy store so I had my hands free to go and pay. "Can you hold on to these while I go and pay?" Johnny smirked. "What?"

"Nothing!"

I couldn't help but think about how typical this was, a girl who handed a guy her plastic bags to carry, and I saw the store clerk smirk slightly as well while she packed up the bath bomb and then handed me the bag after I paid. I didn't say anything else, but took the bag from Johnny again while I tried to remember what I had bought the day we had run into each other.

"I now have the book and movie for Molly Moon… I'll have to think about who to give it to… But I have a phone case that looks like a camera, which will be perfect for Marley as long as she has the right phone… Then I have the ones I bought today. But I need more for Jim, Brielle and Peityn since their birthdays are close as well… And then Nathan and Qwyn too, as well as for them moving away… And wow! I suddenly heard how many gifts I still need to get… Of course I know where to buy one for Ella. Still I don't want to get all Christmas gifts today and just do it all at once. And I…" I yawned. "I slept for like thirteen hours straight tonight. But after David missing and everything I'm just still a bit worn out. So I think I'll go home and rest some, maybe sleep some more." I couldn't help but yawn again just as we exited the mall and stopped right outside the doors.

"You seem like you need it… Thanks for that text earlier today. It was really nice meeting you here today."

"Yeah," I agreed, and barely noticed the guy who would usually sit outside this mall, or outside the grocery store and beg for money. But I still didn't think much of him. "Nice, nice… I'm going this way now…" I pointed. "Bye."

"Yeah, I'm going this… way…"

However, we managed to do it right after pointing which way we were going we walked right into each other.

"Oh…"

I suddenly remembered something, some weeks after I had come into care and during the time both I and Johnny had both lived there (Johnny and Tee had left for a foster home a while later, and by the time they came back to Elm Tree House I had left) standing in the driveway and kissing as well as a twelve-year-old and a thirteen-year-old could.

None of us said or did anything. But then at last, somehow, we leaned in halfway at the exact same moment and kissed.

As for the man that sat by the wall, I heard him chuckle and whistle. The fact that it was about Johnny and I wasn't hard to figure- before we let go, and I, wanting to keep close leaned my forehead in towards his neck, I could have been standing like that forever if it wasn't for the cold wind blowing through the parking lot and towards us.

"Do you think we could give our relationship another try?" I at last, almost whispered. "After all, since we tried it last, we have both grown up."

"To say the least…" Johnny agreed, and it was almost like it shone through his voice that he'd hoped I would ask, then I saw him as he glared towards the guy that sat by the doors. "Excuse me, but do you have a problem?"

"No…" To my surprise, the man's voice was horse but not in any way rude towards us. "It's just that… being me, being like this- you can see what I mean. I see a lot of things every day. Still there are not many things that really make me happy. Like it warms by heart during a cold day to see young love during Christmas times." He ended with smiling slightly and his smile seemed to send something warm through me like nothing else before and he bowed in thanks when I pulled the little cash I had from my pocket and laid it in front of him.

"Well… we're right about that… Maybe it was a coincidence we met at the store that day and almost ran into each other. But whether this all is some sort of Christmas miracle or not… I'd like to have you in my life…" I just couldn't find a way to stop that sentence.

"Yes…" Johnny squeezed my hand while I backed away from him. "I'd like to have you in my life as well. For yesterday, today and tomorrow." I nodded.

"Yesterday, today and wherever tomorrow will take us."

Philippa looks like Maggie Smith. And her dog Diamond is actually real, and she actually belongs to x snow-pony x. And you will meet her (both Philippa and Diamond) in future chapters. Just as well as that man outside the store (he's been briefly mentioned before) who looks like Robbie Coltrane.

I found it a bit weird that Emma would be telling Johnny all the names like that. But by that point I had already written it and didn't want to change it. I remembered how Tracy always told Cam about loads of things, and then I suddenly remembered a teacher of mine explaining what confidentiality was. If she told her daughter about me she could tell her daughter that I like Harry Potter. But she couldn't tell what kind of diagnosis I have. And I decided to keep it like this.

Random fact

There are a few more things, except for Diamond the dog that are real. That nightlight with ocean noises, one blue for David and one green for Jim, the TV show it had been in is called "Sofias änglar" (Sofia's angels) which is a TV show where they (a TV team- sort of like Extreme Home Makeover. Except they didn't build a brand-new house from the start. But fix what needed to be fixed for people who has gone through something rough) and there was an episode with two tweens/ teens had some PTSD after a car crash with their mum, they had some of those nightlights to help keep them calm.

Breaking teeth due to eating too fast is real too.

Any Christmas or birthday gifts are real too, pictures will be up on my Instagram Linneagbfanfiction.

I know this chapter is boring and just a filler. But it has details that does lead us towards some bigger happenings. And I love choosing gifts for the kids and picking out what thy would like.