The living room was quiet all except for Damien's snores that were filled with an occasional whimper. Around Damien was his homework, separated into neat piles, while the stack of bills were tucked somewhere else in a location far from Dakota's prying eyes. Upon Damien's shoulders was a fuzzy green blanket adorned with a faded cat design. 

Then a knock fills the room. A pleasant knock that soon setted a smooth rhythm against the door. And in response, Dakota's soft footsteps walked towards the door, quitely in an attempt to not wake up Damien. Dakota opened the door, allowing a small figure to enter the living room. The figure shivered in the chilly morning air while their gaze swept around the room, eventually landing on the shivering Damien. 

"He did it again…" they said, pouting in dismay. Dakota gave a wry laugh as he shot a glance at his sleeping older brother, “Dami been down lately… so I think seeing you will help him a little!”

The figure glared at the younger boy, "Dakota… your voice."

His eyes widened as he covered his mouth with both of his hands, "Sorry about that," then he gave her a sheepish grin, "Thanks for coming Ava!" he whispered.

Ava gave Dakota a soft smile. She was a small girl, with mousy hair stuffed into a ponytail. Her outfit, a white buttoned up with a skirt.

"Welcome and if it helps…" she lifted up the bags in her hands, "I also brought some things to make breakfast with." 

Dakota's eyes grew wide at the sight. "Is that b-bacon?!" He yelled, so loudly that Damien stirred in his sleep. 

"Da-dakota! Quiet!" She whispered, "Or Damien would wake up!"

“Sorry again...” Dakota covered his mouth again but then suddenly burst into a grin, "Can I help with breakfast? I really want to learn how to cook too!"

At Dakota’s loudness Ava sighed to herself, realizing then that any other attempt to quiet Dakota down would be useless. “You can help, but only after you get dressed.”

“Really?”

Ava sighed once more as she looked at the eager young boy, “Yes… but first could you lead me to the kitchen? It's been a while since I've been here."

“You're right... it has been a while… but now you’re here and things are going to get better! Follow me! The kitchen is over here!”

Ava raised an eyebrow at the statement. But then decided not to question it. With one last glance she smiled at Damien before following after Dakota. 

After their departure, the living room remained empty, yet soon more things started to fill it. The clattering of pots and pans. The stream of sunlight falling from the windows and Dakota’s humming that floated upon the air. Then finally a sweet aroma drifted from the kitchen, tickling Damien’s nose in the process. With a jerk he is awakened. And it takes him only a moment to realize that he had fallen asleep at the small living room table. His neck throbbed with pain while his mouth was dry. Yet he was somewhat warm. He touched the blanket upon his shoulders and smiled. Must have been Dakota.

Another wave of clattering came from the kitchen, knocking Damien out of his thoughts. Someone was cooking, but who? If not Dakota, then...could it be…

Damien shook his head, refusing to think of such a possibility. 

Yet why was he getting up? 

“Dad?” Was all he could say as he got up from the table, his legs aching due to sitting on them for too long. He tumbled toward the kitchen, the clattering of pots and pans guiding him with their song. They brought back memories of his father’s smiling face, of his annoying cackle of a laugh, and of his delicious home cooked meals. If his dad was back, then… then... 

He turned the corner. The smile that had formed on his lips vanished. His dad was not here and in his place was a girl.

 "Ava…" Damien muttered to gather his bearings. Ava, with her short yet slim stature, the complete opposite of a muscular tall build. Ava, wearing a frilly apron covered in flour, the complete opposite of a clean work uniform. Ava was here and not his Dad. He had to face it, to crush the little tendril of hope that had slowly begun to curl around his heart. His dad was gone and in his place was a, “good luck”. Damien clenched his fist in an attempt to contain his anger, his tears and something else from escaping. Stupid… to think that he’ll be back.

   “Damien?”  Ava said as she stared up at the taller boy. She reached for his hand but withdrew it as the realization dawned on her. "He left again… didn't he?" 

For a second it was quiet all except for the sizzling of the bacon left on the stove. Finally, Damien nodded his head. “Yeah”

“How… how long has it been this time?”

Damien sighed, as he ran his hand through his dreads. “About three weeks.”

“That long… and now you contact me.”  She clenched her apron as tears blurred her vision. “Damien... why didn't you contact me? I could have helped! I… I.” The tears fell, droplets upon droplets dotting the floor. 

   At her reaction, all the anger left his body. He patted her head in an attempt to give comfort, to stop her fresh tears from blooming. She had no right to cry. Not for him nor anyone.  "I didn't want to get you involved. So, don't cry. Please?"

Ava was quiet as she wiped the tears from her eyes. She looked up at Damien, her eyes slightly red.  "We’re friends Damien. You're supposed to involve me! I don't mind! In fact I want to help or try to support you in any freaking way possible! I can even beat your wacky dad up! You have to tell me these things okay?” She dropped her head, her voice trailing off, “Cause if it weren't for Dakota, I wouldn’t be standing in this kitchen now…”  

“Ava?” asked Damien.

Ava sighed, “Never mind. Next time whenever you need me or just want someone to talk to just call me okay? Since you do have a bad habit of not contacting people when you need help." She shot a small glare at Damien, the tears already gone from her eyes. "You should really fix that habit Damien.”

Damien nodded at Ava, a smile unknowing appearing on his face. “I’ll try.”

Ava pouted, “Not an ‘I’ll try’ it should be an ‘I will!’ Okay?”

“Yeah.” 

“But Damien… does Dakota know about this yet? Had you told him that your dad left again?"

Damien shook his head, “No. I hadn't told him, and I don't plan on telling him.”

“Why? Doesn't he deserve to know?”

Once again Damien ran his fingers through his dreads; he had to admit he adored Ava, but her questioning was starting to bother him. “I just can't bring myself to tell him that. Let’s drop this okay?"

“Drop what?" Asked Dakota as he hopped into the kitchen. He was dressed in his school uniform. A black collared shirt with some black pants. His curly black hair smoothed down with something that looked like water.

“Damiii! Avaaaa!!” he pouted. “What were you too talking about? I wanna know!”

Damien shook his head, as he patted Dakota's head, “Maybe some other time.”

“Hmph!” Dakota pout grew bigger. “You always say that! And Ava the bacon’s burning.”

“Bacon? Her eyes grew big. “The bacon!” Ava jumped as she raced to save the bacon.

....

In the end the bacon could not be saved. It laid in the middle of the table blackened bits and all. A disappointment to all of the other good looking food that was surrounding it. Ava lowered her head, causing the bacon to become ashamed in turn. Damien took a bite of it. Not bad. He shrugged and grabbed another while Dakota and Ava stared at him in disgust. 

"Dami why?" Questioned Dakota.

"Yes, why?" Added Ava.

Damien shrugged, "Don't want to be wasting food. Besides, it ain't that bad."

Dakota shook his head as Ava sighed.

"You do you Dami. Sorry Ava. If I were faster in changing my clothes, I could have prevented this!"

Ava frowned, " No it's mine fault, if I was paying more attention, I could have prevented this!"

"Poor bacon!" They both cried

Damien shrugged his shoulders, "The food's getting cold, hurry up and eat."

At Damien's words they quickly went back to their meals. They ate their breakfast with vigor, eating everything except for the bacon of death. Damien quite liked this, since now the bacon was his and his alone.

Eventually the food was gone, and Ava started to clean up. Damien attempted to help but Ava stopped him, "I got this, you just sit down."

Damien could only nod at her sudden action. Now it was simply Dakota and Damien at the small table. Dakota tapped his brother, causing Damien to look at him. 

He gave Damien a smile. A giant toothy one. "Hey Dami?"

"Hmm?"

"Have a good day today 'kay?"

Damien smiled at his little brother. "I'll try."