Hera dumped the groceries onto the counter and let out a heavy sigh. She slowly picked up the notice that had been taped to her door. It read what she already knew. Pay the bills and debt by the end of the week, or the home would be shut down. But seeing the notice in bold letters made it feel all too real. This wasn't just a possibility anymore. It was happening. The city officials deemed her unable to care for these children.

She tossed the paper into a drawer hoping no one would see it, but soon she'd have to tell them the bitter truth. She looked up from the counter and saw Sabine staring awkwardly at her. She quickly wiped away a tear. "Oh, Sabine! How can I help you?"

Sabine was about to take out the paper from the drawer herself, but wasn't sure of it. "Well," she started but found it hard to continue. What was going on? "I was wondering if I could invite Ezra and his mother over? The other day you mentioned that they could come over."

"O-of course. Just not for dinner, we don't have that much to eat," Hera responded. She began to put away what groceries they had.

"Okay, thank you. Can I help you with anything?"

"No, I'm fine. Thank you."

Sabine raised her eyebrow and went to the phone. After a lengthy conversation she hung up. "They're on their way!"

Hera smiled slightly. "That's good." The response was cold, but she couldn't help it. She went upstairs and gathered up all her paperwork.

· · ·

An hour later, Mira and her son Ezra, showed up at the home. Though Ezra had already been here, well just on the outside, he was still in awe with how much nicer it was than his own home. He could tell his mother was feeling the same way. She stood glancing over the home and the neighborhood filled with lush greenery and plants adorning the yards on the street.

Before either could ring the doorbell, Sabine opened it up with a grin. "Hey! Come on in!" She noticed she got paint on the door from her hands and promptly began to wipe it with the sleeve of her shirt.

"Thank you for inviting us. This is a very nice place," Mira stated.

"Well, it's not my place, but it is very nice," Sabine replied awkwardly. She felt horrible as she thought of her old home. She ran away. Was it worth it? Did she take the extravagant and far nicer house she grew up in for granted? Maybe, but this place felt more like home than that house ever did.

Sabine invited them in and gave them a brief tour of the house. It was fairly empty at the moment. The other kids were out enjoying their summer breaks, and Rey the oldest, was at work. They sat in the backyard as a soft summer breeze filled the air.

"So, tell me Sabine, how long have you been here?" Mira asked setting her purse down. She wasn't trying to be snoopy. If anything she was pleased her son was finally making a friend. Those twins from his school invited him over once, but that seemed to be the end of it.

Sabine shifted uncomfortably in her chair. "A few weeks now. I left home because I felt like they were neglecting me."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Mira said sympathetically. "Did you and Ezra go to the same school?"

"I graduated school before summer break," Sabine replied. She failed to mention that her parents put her in one of the finest private academies. She cringed. She hated that place and the dull uniforms. "I don't ever recall seeing Ezra there."

"Oh," was all Mira said. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the breeze and the sound of nearby wind chimes.

Ezra cleared his throat breaking the silence. "So, Sabine, have you started any new art projects?"

"I've just done a few sketches here and there. Haven't done much painting though," Sabine replied sadly. She looked up from her cup of water and then at Ezra. "Would you like to see them?"

"Yeah! Of course! Is that okay, Mom?" Ezra asked turning to his mother.

She smiled and nodded. Ezra smiled in return and then ran off with Sabine. Mira got up and went to find the kitchen. Hopefully no one would mind if she grabbed a glass of water for herself. She glanced around and spotted no one.

She looked in a few cabinets and finally found a cup in one of the upper cabinets. She then took the cup to fridge and filled it up with water. She turned around and was startled by the sight of Hera entering the kitchen. "I'm sorry! I should've asked before-"

Hera waved her hand as if brushing the topic away. "There's to need to apologize. It's fine. I just came in to try and figure out something to make for dinner."

Mira nodded and sipped her water. "If you don't mind me asking, how's it going with the banks?"

"What?"

Mira put her cup down. "When you and Sabine came over you mentioned how you were in well, debt, and I was  wondering if the situation has gotten any better."

Hera glanced over to the drawer where the notice was hidden. "Um. . .no not really. Actually," she looked down. "I have to tell the kids they're leaving. I can't pay the bank back and the city thinks I can't support for the children."

Mira stood in shock unsure of what to say. "W-where will the children go?"

"Other foster homes I suppose. It's up to the city sadly."

"You've been able to take care of them for a while now I'm guessing. What makes them think you can't take care of them now?"

Hera sighed. "The bills and the debt."

"How we're you paying them in the past?"

Hera was done with these questions. They made her feel like a failure. "I used to rely mostly on donations from whoever was kind enough to help out. We would get clothes, food, and so on. Then I got fired from my job and the donations have slowly stopped coming," she said solemnly. She remained looking down.

"I'm so sorry. Is there any way I can help?"

"Thank you, but no."

"Well, I'll be outside until Ezra is ready to leave," Mira announced heading for the backyard.

Hera nodded slowly and sighed.

· · ·

Ezra looked through Sabine's sketchbook. Well, more like she showed him only the ones she was proud of and wouldn't show him anything else. Each piece had so much meaning and heart to them. Each had a story waiting to be told.

"You're very talented," Ezra said. He paused on one of her drawings. "Like, seriously."

"Thank you. Sometimes I don't think so," Sabine replied taking the book away.

"You shouldn't think that way, because you are talented."

Sabine smiled. "Thanks. I wished my parents would think that too."

"They never told you?"

"No," she replied bluntly. She put the book in the drawer of her desk. "They didn't see art as a career path. Thought it was silly, but I don't think they started out that way. I think they let the harsh world get to them."

Ezra glanced around the room. Sabine had only lived here for what did she say? About a few weeks? But she had certainly given her room her touch. She had painted a handful of murals on the walls. "What do your parents do?"

"My mom is a lawyer and my father is a contractor or something along the lines of that," she said. The word 'lawyer' left a bitter taste in her mouth. How many lectures had she been through with her mother about how Sabine needed to be a lawyer too? How she would need to follow her mother's footsteps.

"Don't worry about it too much. Just continue to do what you love." Ezra smiled.

"So, do you have any hobbies?"

Ezra stared blankly at the wall. "Uh, hobbies? Guess I haven't really had time for hobbies. It's always been straight to school then I come home and help my mom. I don't really have time for hobbies I guess."

Sabine sat next to Ezra. "I'm sorry."

"I mean, I guess before my dad died I might've had a few hobbies, but I don't really remember," he finished with a sigh and then shrugged. "Oh well."

"I'm sure you'll find something that you like to do," Sabine replied enthusiastically.

Ezra chuckled. "I'm sure you're right."

· · ·

Rey dropped her bag onto the floor exhausted. Anakin wasn't that bad of a person to work with but the work was exhausting. Hours and hours of repairing cars and motorcycles. She rubbed her sore hands and looked at the clock. About an hour until midnight. She would've been home earlier if it weren't for traffic.

She yawned and headed into the kitchen and found Hera sitting at the table alone. Piles of old paperwork and documents surrounded her.

"You're still up?" Rey asked. She grabbed a bottle of water and sat down.

Hera looked up from the papers. "Yeah," she mumbled. "How was work?"

"Fine," Rey replied shrugging. "Oh! And that reminds me-" She pulled out some cash from her pocket. "Here's my money from today's work."

"No. Keep it."

Rey looked bewildered. "Hera, but why? I want to help!"

"It's too late now," Hera replied. She handed a paper out to Rey. It was the notice of termination.

Rey took the paper and read it over twice. "But-"

"Keep your money. Put it towards your new life," Hera said solemnly. "You'll need it because. . .because-"

"Because I'm too old for the system," Rey replied looking down. "They'll consider me an adult and I'll have no place to go."

"Rey, I'm so sorry."

"If I'm not in the system anymore can't I just stay with you?"

"I won't even have a place to live. I can't pay the mortgage. I can't pay anything!"

Rey looked down as tears formed in her eyes. "Where will you go?"

"I don't know, but I'm not worried about that. I'm worried about making sure you guys make it to safe homes."

Rey looked up. "Can I help?"

"Of course," Hera replied warmly.

The sudden sound of steps on the stairs and mumbling was heard.

"Sabine," Hera mumbled. She sighed and headed upstairs. "Sabine!"

Sabine was sitting on her bed with her arms folded. "Why didn't you tell me about this?!"

Hera felt guilt twist in her stomach. "I hoped I could fix it but-"

"I can't go back home! I can't," Sabine said looking down. "I finally felt like I had a home here."

Hera sat next to Sabine. "I am so sorry. Believe me, I wish this wouldn't have happened. I do. But life doesn't always work out. I understand you don't want to go back home, but since you're a runaway and not a foster it might be your only choice."

Sabine continued to look down.

"Is there anywhere else you could go?"

Sabine shook her head. "I don't know."

Hera sighed and felt like the weight of the world was on her shoulders, but she needed to stay strong for Sabine. "Things are going to be okay. Don't worry."

Author's Note: Thanks for reading this! I just wanted to take a moment to say sorry for the inaccuracies about the foster system, banks, mortgages, and notices. This is just for fun and I'm not too concerned about getting things right. Thanks again!