Good Girl Gone Bad

Twenty Three.

After making sure he and Camila snuck back out into the school halls like nothing had happened, Shawn spent most of the day with his mind wandering to the weekend. He lived in New York for a short time when he was younger – when he'd been naïve enough to think that fostering could turn into forever – and this would be the first time he'd be going back.

He almost promised himself he'd never enjoy the city again, but he knew he cared enough about Camila to want her to simply experience it, to be able to imagine her leaving home for somewhere where she actually wanted to be. It was scaring him how much he wanted to do just for her.

"Get a grip," He muttered to himself as he pushed open the door to the Ackard's home. He could tell Helen was home by her car out front and he wasn't surprised when he heard a rush of steps heading straight towards him to find out who was walking through the door.

"Shawn!" Penelope shrieked excitedly, throwing herself at him as if it had been days since they'd last seen each other.

"Hey P," He chuckled, hugging her tightly with one arm as he dumped his bag at the bottom of the stairs.

"Shawn?" Helen called from the kitchen, "Sweetheart, is that you?"

"Yeah," He yelled back, reminding himself silently to not get too used to the term of endearment. Helen and Jonathan had gone out of their way to make him feel at home since he'd first arrived, but he knew that was their job - he had to remind himself there was nothing else too it too often for his liking. He built up walls for a reason.

"Come on," Penny tugged on his hand, pulling him down towards the kitchen where she clearly abandoned her Mom, "It's so exciting Shawn!"

"What is?" He asked as Helen came into view.

"We're making brownies!"

"Wow," He took in the mixing bowl Helen had out on the countertop with a recipe book propped up on a book holder in front of her.

"It's a Monday," Helen reminded him, "We always need something naughty on a Monday."

He relaxed and smiled at her, taking a seat on one of the bar stools as Penny ditched him to head back to her perch on the other side where she was clearly helping from. "Penny," He grabbed her attention again, prompting her to look up at him adoringly, expectantly, "Don't get the egg shell in it, okay?"

"I promise I won't." She nodded vigorously, "They're gonna be so yummy!" She clapped her hands excitedly, taking a bowl of flour from Helen and pouring it into the bigger mixing bowl. "I'm going to make a special one for you Shawn."

"Thanks," He grinned.

"And we can eat it together and play horsies."

"I... can't wait," He shared a look with Helen.

"I know it's your favorite and it's my favorite too," She told him, "The Mommy horsie loves you so much."

"What a privilege," Helen shook her head knowingly in his direction, "What if Shawn wants to eat his special brownie by himself?" She challenged her daughter, brushing her hair behind her ear.

Penny stopped her mixing, turning her head to look at Helen as if she was an alien, "Best friends share Mommy."

"Best friends, eh? What happened to Cody?"

"Shawn is more fun," Penny said nonchalantly, pouring in the sugar Helen passed to her.

"Sure am," He agreed, stealing a chocolate chip from a bowl that was laid out and popping it into his mouth.

"And Cody is always talking on the phone," She added casually, "He's boring."

"Right," Helen rolled her eyes, opening her mouth to say something else when the ringing of her phone cut them off. She excused herself silently, heading down the hallway to take the call once she saw the caller ID.