Eric could feel Kayden's eyes on him as he walked toward the dining room. He wasn't too sure about living under the same roof as him.

Especially since he was feeling an attraction towards Kayden. An attraction that he didn't want to be there. And he wasn't even sure if he liked men!

He had never been in a relationship...or even looked at someone in a romantic way. He had been too busy trying to understand his own mind and repair the damage done by his first foster family.

Heaving a sigh, Eric greeted Susan with a little more politeness than he was feeling as he went to sit down. He ignored the chair next to him as Kayden sat down with a quiet sigh of his own.

Minutes later, Roth entered the room with Angela and Sam followed by Susan carrying a few dishes.

Eric eyed her for a moment before asking, "Would you like any help?"

A shocked silence followed his question and Eric squirmed in his seat before Kayden decided to put him out of his misery.

"Don't feel bad, Eric," Kayden stated with amusement coloring his voice. "I got the same reaction ten years ago when I asked. It's best to just let Susan spoil you."

Eric met Kayden's eyes with a questioning look which was returned with an "I'll talk to you later" look.

Nodding his head, Eric turned his attention to Roth who gave him a kind smile.

"My wife is a little funny when it comes to her cooking. I've spent the past thirty years trying to help and she's turned me down every time."

Eric gave a small smile just as Susan returned with a pitcher of iced sweet tea. He wasn't sure if he liked being kicked out of the kitchen before he even set foot in it. He was rather fond of cooking.

He felt Kayden lean into him and whisper in his ear, "Don't worry; we'll have plenty of time to cook later this week when Mom goes back to work."

Eric ignored the whisper at his ear and simply nodded, not relaxing until Kayden pulled away and poured himself a glass of tea.

Once dinner was served, Eric suddenly found himself at the center of attention.

"So, Eric," Susan began, "I'm not one to be gentle when I'm dealing with someone that's almost an adult. I've read your file but I'd rather hear it from you."

Eric squirmed under her piercing gaze and nodded.

"Why were you sent back to the orphanage when you were thirteen?" Susan's voice demanded an answer.

It was an answer that Eric wasn't ready to give. He could already feel sweat forming on his hands and a slight tremor was beginning to settle over his body. He didn't want to explain how he finally got the courage to turn in those people...or what prompted that courage.

"Eric," Susan stated in a firmer voice. "You're going to be living with us for quite a while. I'm not worried about my son. But my daughters' safety comes first. Why were you sent back?"

Fear and panic danced along the forefront of Eric's mind as he tried to speak—to say anything that would make her stop questioning him. His fork and knife clattered to the table as his hands started shaking.

"That's enough," Kayden's deep voice demanded. "If you've read his file don't force him to relive his past, Susan. You won't be doing anyone a favor."

Susan rolled her eyes. "I may have been lienent with you, Kayden, but I will not tolerate a threat to my family. A person's past has a funny way of returning when you least expect it."

Eric felt his shoulders sag forward as he felt shame wash over his body.

"Mrs. Laje wouldn't have cleared him for adoption if he was a problem child." Kayden shot back.

"You weren't cleared for adoption when Roth took you in." Susan snapped back. "It almost cost my husband his job eight years ago. Eric will answer my questions. If he doesn't, I'll send him back."

Eric flinched at her words but he was even more surprised at Kayden's reaction.

"The hell you will!" He yelled while slamming his silverware down on the table. "Eric was cleared for adoption. Our situations aren’t the same. I made myself very clear when you adopted me. If you take someone in to care for as your own, you never, and I mean never give them back. Should you choose to do so, I will flag you as unfit to adopt.”

Susan's eyes flared in rage. "You will do no such thing."

"You have no reason to send him back. His reaction to your questions should be enough proof that he faced a traumatic experience and can't talk about it yet. I have the authorization to flag you and don't think for a second that I won't because you're my mother." Kayden fired back in a sharp voice.

Susan glared at Kayden a moment longer before looking at Roth. "I want him to answer my questions. I don't trust him."

Roth let out a long sigh and met Kayden's determined stare. "Susan does have a point, son. You also had to answer any questions we had in order for you to stay here. I'll give him until the start of the school year. Until then, we should get along."

Kayden's nose twitched in anger. "You do realize what it means to adopt, don't you?"

Roth let out a tired sigh. "He isn't fully adopted. He's going through the same trial and error as you did."

Eric let out a harsh breath as he tried to understand what this meant. He looked up at Kayden and was shocked to see so much anger in his eyes.

"I don't have anything to say. To either of you. You know where I stand on the subject. I'll be getting in contact with the Japanese agency to let them know you plan to do a trial adoption before the actual one takes place. I'd hate for the children to think of this as a safe haven only to get turned away because of a past they can't control." Kayden replied in a professional voice.

Roth let out a quiet sigh. "Very well. I suppose you would be breaking the law if you let this slide."

Kayden rolled his eyes as he pushed away from the table and stood. "Come on, Eric. Let's go see a movie."

Eric's eyebrows drew together in confusion as he slowly stood and followed Kayden to the front door. He was doing his best to keep his tears at bay. Roth hadn't mentioned anything about his adoption being a trial.

He was afraid.

***

By the time they made it to the center of town, most of the movie showings were over.

"Damn..." Kayden grumbled as he rubbed his eyes in frustration before looking Eric up and down.

"What?" Eric questioned as he fidgeted where he stood, still upset about his adoption not being finalized.

"You're getting a hair cut."

Eric's eyes widened at Kayden's demanding voice. "No. I like it long and shaggy."

Kayden rolled his eyes as he dragged Eric down the mall's long hallway and pulled him into a hair salon.

Eric let out a sigh when he realized that Kayden was serious.

Thirty minutes later with hair much shorter than before, they were headed back...home...could he even call it that?

Kayden practically dragged him up the many flights of stairs and into their bedroom. When he caught Eric's questioning gaze, he said, "Sorry. I'm just not in the mood to put up with my mother's antics. She had a bad experience regarding adoption when she was a child and is constantly dumping that on every other adopted child. I love her. But she can be a pain." He pointedly ignored the fact that his own past had followed him two years later shortly after he was adopted. Not to mention the fact that he had never been cleared for adoption because of it. 

Eric let out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "Thank you, Kayden."

"For what?" Kayden asked with a raise of one brow.

"Sticking up for me."