He fiddled with the coin in his hands; aged and weary but still of some value. One penny. One penny that could change his life. One penny that could make or break it.

Not like it wasn't fragile enough already.

His life, not the penny.

He warmed it up in his hands as he glanced around him, noting the setting of the sun between the trees of the park. The nostalgia. The very place where Mina and him had rested after their bike ride those many years ago. Those fleeting moments when he'd remembered feeling pure, unfathomable bliss. The laughter in their voices, the habitual smiles on their faces. Oh, she'd certainly changed him.

So many years...

Well, it felt like years. It felt like the end of an era.

Chance was a fine thing, indeed. Sure, he'd calculated the pros and cons, the millions of possibilities had spun around inside his head many a time. Except there'd always been something holding him back. This time, there were no strings attached.

Liberation was always painted to seem like such a joyous occasion.

Yet, he hadn't anticipated the sadness.

Wow, he seriously he needed to get a grip. He'd literally just walked out on his mother, stuck up his middle finger and shown her exactly what she'd missed out on. Surely that was something to celebrate?

The coin in his hand was scorching now, burning a hole right through the centre of his palm. It was now or never.

Penny in the air...

He watched it twirl and flip in the air until it finally dropped back onto the ground, sealing his fate. Tails.

What the hell did that mean..?

Ryan sighed, rubbing his heated palms against his knees before standing up to leave. Heads or tails, it didn't matter. He'd decided his fate the minute he'd walked out the door of his childhood home. His future was finally beckoning him to do something. Make a change.

And he desperately needed a change now, more than ever.

"He's back..."

Mina stopped herself from nodding off at the whisper of Chloe's words. The two of them had settled for waiting by the window in Chloe's room that looked out onto the garden.

Sure enough, Mina could see Ryan slip back into the house almost unnoticed and struggled to read the expression on his face. She turned to Chloe who was a mixture of emotions. They'd managed to distract themselves somewhat in the hours that he'd disappeared, fooling around with Candi-Rose's make-up, getting absorbed in a film, playing board games... until they could no longer hide their worry.

Mina could see it clear as day on Chloe's face; she was petrified.

And her heart went out to her.

"Chloe..."

She watched as the girl hastily wiped away her tears and shook her head, muttering something about being silly.

"You're not silly."

Chloe glanced up at the strength in Mina's voice. The strength she held for her.

"You have every right to be scared, to be angry... to be confused. Whatever happens next, just remember that this is good. You and Ryan both need this. And once you've spoken about it, once you've found out what's going on then... the ball's in your court."

"What if she's broken him again?"

The rawness of Chloe's tone brought a tear to Mina's eye. It was all Chloe had known of her brother growing up, and she didn't want to return to that dark place again where she couldn't connect with him. No matter how hard she'd tried.

"Then me and you will mend him. Just like we did before."

Chloe smiled partially reassured by Mina's words and she hugged her just as Ryan arrived and placed himself in the corner of the room. Mina stood up and made her way to leave. This was Ryan and Chloe's story and it had begun a long, long time before she'd even been on the scene.

Except Ryan's choice would affect her more than she knew.

She couldn't read him like she usually could. Usually, Chloe could spot when her brother was scheming from a mile away. She could see the hurt behind his poker face and the glimpses of amusement when he thought no one was looking.

Now he was a blank sheet.

"I'm sorry."

He glanced up, confused. There were tears in her eyes, and she looked like she felt. Guilty.

"I pushed you to do it. I should've thought about how it would be for you. Seeing her again, after all these years..."

"Chloe, it's not your fault. It was my choice. And I'm glad you asked me to see her, really I am."

He went and sat on the bed as he rubbed his palms together as Chloe inspected him closely. There was something different about him now. Something she couldn't quite put her finger on.

"Has she really changed then?"

Ryan glanced up from the ground and shook his head adamantly before turning to Chloe. His face seemed calm but his eyes were a little teary. He rubbed his hands over his mouth.

"She still hates me. And she made me feel like shit."

"Oh Ryan..."

"I think that's the last time I'll ever see her again, though. She admitted it at least. That she put it all on me."

"I guess that's something."

He turned to his sister. Putting himself out of the picture, he had to think about Chloe. About what would be right for her. It hurt that his mother would never be able to truly accept Ryan as her son. It was clear now that whenever she saw him, she saw her regret and frustration... and all the love she'd never given.

Chloe still had a chance.

"She still wants to see you. But only if you want to. It's your choice."

"And you think I should?"

Ryan sighed.

"It's not up to me."

He closed his eyes and tilted his head back as Chloe gazed out of the window. A few moments passed before he felt her hands on top of his. His eyes opened and was surprised to find her already staring back.

"I think... that she needs me, more than I need her. My home is here. My family is here. And after everything she's done, I think it's best that I don't see her again."

"Okay."

"Okay."

The two of them inhaled sharply before letting out a chuckle of relief. They embraced each other as tears of relief and happiness flooded out of them. They could both finally lay their demons to rest and that felt good.

"Besides, the only family I need is you. And I'm so glad I found you, after all these years!"

His smile faltered. She noticed.

"What's wrong?"

She was his sister. His beautiful, kind and funny sister. His anchor when he hadn't been himself. He would always need her but it was time now. Time to go off on a different adventure. A pilgrimage of sorts.

"I'm going to ask Mike about leaving the Dumping Ground."

Mike shut the folder he was rifling through sharing a quick glance with May-Li who'd dropped the apple she'd been eating. They both stared at the three kids in turn: Mina with her right hand curled into a stubborn fist, Chloe with her look of utter disbelief and Ryan who looked, (surprisingly, for the first time), guilty as charged.

"Say that again?"

Ryan opened his mouth to speak but Chloe butted in before him.

"It's Mum. She's made him think that I'm better off without him! She's doing it again, manipulating him."

"I'm going to kill that bit..!"

"I'm going to stop you there, Mina," Mike interrupted quickly, shooting her a pointed look.

May-Li's eyes were focussed on Ryan. She'd never seen the boy so calm and measured before. A chord struck with her. The day she'd finally managed to get over her anger. The day she'd focussed on finding love. Finding a family. Finding happiness.

It didn't matter what others thought of her. Sure, it'd hurt that her mother could never accept her identity and was constantly disappointed in her. But she'd realised that life existed outside her family issues.

And it was a big world indeed.

Ryan smiled a little at Mina's comment but gazed upon Mike and May-Li sincerely. He was serious.

"This isn't my mum talking. I just think I've done all I can here, and it's time. I'm ready."

"Are you sure about this? I mean, you really shouldn't have gone to see your mother..."

Ryan bowed his head solemnly but glanced up yet again. He exhaled as he took in the worried looks of his sister and best friend, the parents who'd been truer to him than he would've ever hoped.

"I should've told you, I know. But I won't be seeing her again. Neither of us will..."

His eyes rested on a picture by Mike's desk; a photo of him with the infamous Tracy Beaker. How often she'd wound back in this dump... but she was now living a life filled with joy. A life outside the DG.

"...I'm not leaving 'cause I want to. I'm leaving 'cause I need to. You've always told me that I'm capable of a lot. A capable of a lot more than causing trouble. I need to leave to figure out what that is. This place, it's been good to me. Way too good, at times, but I'm grateful for all of it. I want to be able to go away and prove to you that you weren't wrong to let me stay. That I can really change..."

"You can do that here!"

Mina's exclamation of frustration was hard to take, admittedly. But he knew better.

"There are too many ghosts here. Too much has happened, and as much as I'm a part of the DG... if anything goes wrong, I'm always going to be the one to get the first blame. It's sad, but it's true. And I don't blame them."

"Ryan..."

"Richard's already said he can give me the job at the stables, full-time. At least until college. I promise I'll come and visit, but I need to get out of here. And I'm not saying that 'cause I hate this place... in fact, I love it. It's the best home ever. But I need to find my own home. Do you... understand?"

Everyone looked around at each other wordlessly. Ryan had never been this open about his feelings, ever. And everything he said rang true. The boy wanted a fresh start. He was finally ready to fly the nest.

She hadn't slept the whole night, tossing and turning in her sleep. His words repeated in her head until she felt so dizzy that she just had to shut her eyes. It was true, Ryan had never really fitted into the DG like everyone else had. But she'd never thought that he would leave.

Especially when he had her.

It was a whole other level of annoying. Only a few days ago had they gone on that date, and resolved to stay as friends. Maybe that friendship status would solidify now that he was moving away. Or maybe a few more years would pass, and he would be nothing but a previously acquainted stranger. She didn't want to think about that.

Mina sat up in her bed and glanced at the alarm clock by her bed. It was almost half-six in the morning, and as much as she wanted to close her eyes and sleep... she couldn't.

He was leaving today.

The day before had been hectic, what with Mike securing a half-way house and sorting out the rent with the owner. Ryan had gone on a shop for kitchen utensils, food and other basic necessities. Chloe had gone with him but Mina had resolved to stay behind. She couldn't face him. It hurt too much.

Two days.

Two days since he'd stated his intentions of leaving. How could he expect everyone to just accept it?

Except, everyone had. Ryan had requested that he didn't want nor need a leaving party, and that he didn't need any leaving gifts. Somehow, that suited everybody else just fine.

The one thing Ryan had truly gotten yesterday was a day when everyone just left him in peace. May-Li had cooked him his favourite meals and Mike had bought him his own games console for his new flat.

Mina had never seen Ryan so excited and content. She couldn't help her frustration at seeing him waltz back into the DG with Chloe, with all his items ready for his new home. She couldn't barely even believe Chloe's betrayal, how she'd gone from flipping out at him over his stupid decision to actually accepting it.

Mina couldn't accept it.

Her legs swung over the side of the bed and she decided to go for a shower to empty out her thoughts. They might not have been dating as such, but he was her best friend. Her rock. To see him leave would destroy her.

Her eyes felt like they'd been rubbed red and raw. A lack of sleep accompanied by a cold shower wasn't a good idea. But she felt more determined now to get to the bottom of things.

What did he even mean that he was ready to leave? What sort of zen yoga trip had he returned from, because this wasn't the Ryan she knew! This was some soppy, smiling ape who days before had gotten her own hopes up...

Then it hit her.

She'd rejected him. She'd turned down his advance because she didn't want to end up hurting him herself. But perhaps by doing that, she'd caused more damage that she'd thought. Maybe he couldn't bare to be around her anymore. Maybe he'd found his opportunity to leave without making it blatantly obvious that he was leaving because of her.

If anything, she should be the one to leave! Rocking up at the DG, like she owned the place.

Face it, she'd only gone because of him.

"You think way too much of yourself. I mean, I thought he was joking when he said you've got a big ego but..."

Mina found herself in Chloe's bedroom. The girl had already been awake and ready, and had undeniably just heard all the thoughts in Mina's head splurge out in a string of nonsensical gibberish.

Chloe gave Mina a look, a look that made Mina feel so stupid that she wanted to crawl into a hole and hide.

"It's not because of you. Or Mum. Or Me. Or this lot."

Mina sloped down onto the bed next to Chloe. Why was Ryan leaving then?

"He's leaving because he finally can. He's gotten everything he could out of this place and it makes sense now for him to leave."

Her jaw ticked. She wasn't pleased about it, but Chloe seemed to make her understand. Ryan had always been clever. Sure... he was messed up and caused more trouble than anyone else in the DG, but he had real potential to make things work for him in the real world.

And he was ready to let go of his past and look to brighter horizons.

The sad thing was, Mina wasn't.

They were all of age now. Tyler and Jody, Mina and Ryan... they could all live their own independent lives and get their own jobs and be shining examples of adults. The fact was most DG residents tended to outstay their welcome as long as they could, until they could finally accept what was waiting for them on the other side.

Tyler couldn't leave, he had a family which he was still trying to navigate around. And he had Jody, his right-hand girl who still had a long way to go with controlling her own emotions. And then there was Mina, who'd only recently found her childhood again. Her family. She had unfinished business here.

So that left Ryan.

Besides the scheming and manipulating, he was ready to put his past behind him. Ready to discover who he could be without the mask. And that's why a change of scene is what was needed.

It was a bittersweet affair indeed.

"I take back what I said about you. You've been good for Ryan. I was wrong to try and come between you and him."

Mina sighed as she gazed down at her hands. Chloe's words came as a reassurance of her own feelings, but she knew that she was still young. The last thing she wanted to do was backtrack on their friendship. It was better sometimes, to take things slow.

To let things happen more naturally, instead of forcing a relationship where it wouldn't work.

Ryan was going off on a different path now. Mina didn't want to tie him down. Though a small part of her wished she could...

If there was anything he was good at, it was organisation. He'd ironed and folded his shirts neatly into a pile, ready to be stacked into his small suitcase. Ryan didn't hold onto a lot of other possessions - unlike the other kids at the DG, he hadn't really been one for sentiment except when it came to Chloe. He'd already put away a stack of her old letters to him and a photo framing the two of them smiling together.

Finding a ball of socks, he gazed up to where Mina was sitting on his desk, her head turned towards the window. She was distant, he could tell... her mind preoccupied with something else and despite barging into his room with the offer of help, it turned out that 'help' had been the last thing on her mind.

He chucked the socks at her as she jumped startled.

"Place them in that black bag there, would ya?"

She pulled a face before grudgingly doing as he asked. Mina glanced back towards him and couldn't help the frustration when he'd just gone back to packing in silence. Was she really going to have to be the first one to speak about it?

"Catch!"

She reacted quickly, as he threw another object at her... a scarf which she instantly chucked back at him.

"I'm not your slave!"

"You wanted to help!" he retorted loudly.

"Ryan!"

It was all too much. How could he act so casual about it all? Like it made no difference whatsoever if he left? She eyed the lingering smile that was on his lips. It was like he was enjoying this! Seeing her so wound up over him, 'course that would put fuel to his stupid ego!

"Least you're still talking to me. I was starting to get worried y'know..."

"Well, don't get your hopes up. I'm still angry."

He watched as she paced back to the window she was staring out of and sniffed a little. Ryan's smile vanished momentarily, he hadn't really meant to upset her. But what could he do?

This choice. This decision hadn't been easy.

And he knew that in the future he would be all the more grateful for it. It was time for him to start anew and find his feet out there in the real world. His independence of work was one thing but he needed to make an active attempt to find friends, try things he usually wouldn't and get himself a career. Something which would mean that he could support Chloe if she ever needed and do her proud.

He had to thank Mina for this decision. She was the one who made him believe in himself again. She made him feel again, care about the things that mattered and she could still see the vulnerable parts of himself that he'd buried away all those years ago. He knew now that his emotions were what made him human. And that they were to be embraced instead of being hidden away.

"Do you understand why I'm leaving? Why I have to?"

She ducked her head. "Yeah."

"So what's wrong exactly?"

Mina sighed and turned around to face him. If this would be the last time she'd ever get to put it out there. She eyed the concern in his eyes, why did he have to be so caring?

"It's still going to hurt. I don't see why you could've just waited a few days, this feels like you're just doing a runner the second you get the chance!"

"I guess. But I'm not going to stick around when I could be getting on with my life."

"So that's it then? You just leave and forget about us..."

"Like I'll ever forget you, Mina Kazemi!"

And he meant that. How could he forget her? After everything she'd dragged him through, after all the secret adventures they'd been on, the laughter and humour which they both shared. She was more than a friend to him, she was his companion for life.

For life.

Her eyes flickered from the ground they'd been trained on as she warily met his gaze. There was a longing there, a bittersweet emotion that she was desperately trying to conceal for his sake. A loss of control.

He understood now. He understood completely.

Picking up the courage, he gently took her hands in his. He was leaving and she was hurting because she'd finally realised how she felt about him. How she truly felt.

"Me and you. It's always been about me and you..."

She sniffed but she couldn't stop the single tear from falling down her cheek.

"Not anymore."

"Don't be stupid."

His hands clasped hers now more confidently. They barely needed to utter the words, the words that had been spiralling into existence since the first time they'd ever met.

"There's always going to be a me and you. This won't change that."

She swallowed down her fears as he reassured her of the one thing she'd been truly afraid of.

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

And without another word, they embraced one last time as he gently placed a kiss to the side of her head. It was hard, leaving her... leaving everything that was familiar and comfortable but he was finally taking back some control.

He was finding himself all over again and it felt good to have shrugged off the baggage he'd been carrying around for years. Ryan was usually known to be selfish. Only difference was, this time it was justifiable.

They pulled apart as Mina wiped away the remnants of her tears. She inhaled deeply before letting a smile envelope her features as he returned her smile. This was good. This was right.

He watched her as she pulled out a small object from her pocket. The ring.

Frowning, he watched on confused as she reached for his hand and placed the object in the palm of his hand. What was she doing?

"Um?"

"I want you to have it. Think of it as a leaving gift."

His eyes widened. The only thing to have solidified her identity as Mina and she was handing it over to him. He could hardly take something so precious away from her. The irony of how he'd ventured to do so when they'd first met.

"I can't, Mina. Seriously..."

"Hear me out. It's insurance."

And it was. After hearing what Ryan had said, after everything the two of them had been through... he wasn't like everyone else she'd ever met. He was special. She figured now that he would be busy, what with his job and college. And he still had a lot of growing up to do.

She could tell that this might've been the last she'd see of him for a while. And she wanted to make sure he still knew that he had her.

"But it... this is what defines you..?"

"No. I don't need a stupid ring to be Mina Kazemi, I just need a purpose."

Her eyes twinkled in understanding. Ryan had been wrong to think that he would be going on his adventure alone. Mina was letting go of her past too. He glanced at the ring in his hand, surely it would still be of some value to her?

"Besides, I need an excuse to come and visit you. Since you now have something of mine..."

He smiled. How appropriate that the two of them had gone from being at opposite side in a game of chess, to sacrificing themselves for one another. The warriors turned lovers.

Ryan picked up the stack of letters which he'd planned to discreetly hand over to Mike before he left. He plucked one out and handed it to Mina; he'd only taken care to write proper messages for her and Chloe.

A beeping noise alerted him back to the present; he was due to call a taxi any moment now, he wanted to leave whilst everyone else was still in bed. The one thing that hadn't changed about the DG since he'd been here was the traditional sleep-in till 9 every Saturday.

"Sorry. I'm not going to see you out, I'll just watch from your window..."

"That's okay."

Their eyes met for one last time before he grabbed his suitcase and headed for the door. Glancing back one more time he smiled.

"Till the next time..."

Mina smiled proudly.

"Till the next time."

Placing his suitcase down in the hall, he glanced at the living room one last time. He'd definitely made some memories for life here; beating everyone at pool, dressing up as a clown in front of the Mayoress and even those moments when he and Chloe would be chatting away by the telly without another care in the world.

In between all the drama and scheming, he'd certainly found something here that he would never take for granted.

"Hey."

He glanced up just as he was about to head for the door, surprised to Mike leant against the door. He'd thought everyone else in the house was still asleep, but he'd thought wrong.

"You really going to leave without saying a proper goodbye?"

Ryan dropped the bag he was holding, before motioning to the letters in his hand.

"Notes for everyone. Have to write their own names in though."

Mike chuckled; how typical! Even though he hadn't shared some of the best memories of the boy, he could see that Ryan had definitely come a long way from the boy he was when he first arrived. He was starting to become a man.

A man who would have one of the craziest stories of resilience that he'd ever known.

Ryan glanced up at Mike, he could see the tears in his eyes and his heart twinged with guilt. After everything Ryan had done to him, it was amazing that Mike could still want to be his carer, someone who looked out for him as equally as the other kids.

Before the DG, Ryan didn't know what made care workers think they were so special but after meeting Mike... he realised that some of them, the good ones would always have your back no matter what. They could see the hurting child inside when no one else would.

"I'll be alright Mike, I promise you."

Mike nodded somewhat tearfully before looking at Ryan earnestly.

"As long as you're sure. And that's about a lot of things."

Huh.

He'd definitely found a father figure in Mike. All this time, all these years... his head and heart were shrouded in confusion. But he wasn't confused now. He was surer than he'd ever been and truer than he'd ever been. And he was embracing that like he never had before.

Ryan wasn't stupid.

He knew that living alone, independently would have its ups and downs. There were always going to be moments when he wouldn't know what to do or how to feel or think! But he had the faith of Mike, and faith in himself now to push through it.

"Well, you know kids better than anyone right? So you can see that I'm good?"

"Yes, I can. But the thing..."

"You... fixed me enough so that I could fix myself. And I did that. I'm not a kid who needs help anymore. So give my place to someone who does."

Ryan couldn't help the tears that were threatening to fall from his eyes. He could see Mike for what he was now, clearer than ever. All of what Ryan did, he would never blame Ryan for it. He'd blame himself for not seeing the problems and sorting them.

But Mike, he did enough. Enough to make Ryan see that he was worthy of being loved. He was worthy of kindness and being kind. And that's all he needed, in the end. That's all he needed to make him stand up to his mother after all those years and tell her who he was.

No matter what anyone said, Mike would always be special to him. Because no matter how hard Ryan had driven him away, he still found it in is heart to care about him.

"Look at what you're doing to me..." Mike whispered emotionally. Ryan could see the words on his lips. He didn't want him to go. But he needed to. This was his time and he needed to go so that he could prove to Mike that he hadn't been wrong in believing in him.

He walked up towards Mike as they hugged fiercely and he let his tears fall.

"Any problems, you know where I am son."

Son.

Ryan would hold that title proudly.

He glanced back at the house as Chloe joined him by his side.

"Look at you, the real Ryan. At long last."

He swallowed down his emotions one last time. This was a day to celebrate. He was finally moving on. No more tears.

"I guess I better go."

Chloe smiled.

"Write to me, okay?"

Ryan shrugged.

"I'll just text."

"No, I want proper letters. Photos, postcards, something nice for my wall..."

Just like old times.

Except this time the seats were reversed. He would be returning Chloe's favour and he was more than happy to do so. If anything, she deserved it. And he would always be grateful for her. Always.

"Okay."

They hugged quickly just as Ryan received his text from the taxi. It was here. Time to go. Chloe raised an eyebrow at him, one last time. He knew what she was going to say before she said it.

"Ryan?"

"I know."

She smiled as he looked up at the house one last time. Time to start a new leaf. He winked as Chloe continued to shoot him looks of amusement mixed in with concern. She was always going to worry about him, just like he would always worry about her.

That would never change.

But times did. And now it was his time to start again. Start afresh and do things he'd never have dreamed of doing before. Life was so much more than a game of chess, he knew that now.

He smiled freely as he walked off towards his taxi. The game was finally over.

(A/N): The ending was a little too corny for my taste, [might edit later] but essentially this is my finale to this story for the time being. I know I've taken ages to upload but I've tried to hopefully make Ryan's exit a little more detailed than was shown in the actual episode.

I'm not sure if I'll make this story a two-parter: I have a few ideas in my head but it may not be for a while yet.

Thank you to everyone who's been reading and has left a review; I'd like to thank Justice237 and Linneagb in particular for their countless reviews that have made this story all the more possible.

And to anyone else reading, please continue to leave your reviews - I take all criticisms on board and continue to try and improve my writing wherever I can.

CharlieSMarts12.