Keep It Together

A/N: Hello again! It's me, I'm back! I have many story ideas saved up so I'm going to put out a lot Foster fics as soon as get them written out. All of the chapters are already written, it's just a matter of posting them now. This isn't related to anything, though I may mention it in my next fic… It won't end in anything really permanent, it's just for the sake of writing it (and also because, for some reason, I like to torture my favorite characters). So read on if you like Mac and hate Terrence and want the Foster's gang to prevail through a difficult time… sorry. Anyway, here is a Foster's fanfiction for you.

Disclaimer: I don't own Foster's or anything else, really. The idea is kind of mine but I think other people have done it before me… so I don't really own anything. Enjoy!

Chapter 1: Changes

"Mac!" Bloo dashed for his best friend with a shout as he entered the mansion.

"AUGH! Don't hurt me!" Mac proceeded to cringe away from his best friend.

"Hey, what gives? I'm not gonna hurt you. Jeez. I was just gonna jump on you. What's with you lately? You've been so jumpy."

"Well-" Mac only had time to start before Bloo interrupted.

"No kidding. Anyway, I've got an awesome idea!"

"Don't you always? They don't ever turn out very awesome."

"Well excuse me, Mr. Grumpy. Anyway, like I was saying I've got an awesome idea! You wanna hear it?"

"Yeah, okay."

"Alright, so get this-"

"HIIIII-iiii, Mac!" Mac and Bloo's other friend, Goo, entered the room with her usual chorus of hellos.

"ARRG! Doesn't anyone want to hear my totally awesome idea??" Bloo shrieked over Goo.

"Hey, Goo. Okay, Bloo, what's the idea?"

"Hey, Mac what happened to your face? No, I mean, that came out wrong, I mean, what's with the bruise, not like 'what's wrong with your face, yer ugly,' cuz I didn't mean it like that, not at all, I just wanted to know where you got the bruise-"

"Oh, I just, uh, bumped into a door." Mac said, brushing the bruise on his right cheek bone.

"Does anyone want to hear my completely awesome idea, or what??" Bloo shrieked.

"Sorry, Bloo, go ahead." Mac said, glad the attention was off his bruise.

"Hey, speaking of ideas, I got one! You wanna go play checkers?"

"Sure." Mac followed Goo out of the room and up the stairs."

"Well fine, I won't cut you guys in when my idea is a success! Guys? I wanna play checkers too!"

-Later-

"So, Mac, what's up, I mean, not like the ceiling, I mean like what's going on, like because you seem jumpy lately, but not like hopscotch where you're supposed to be jumpy but like all on edge an' everything but not like on cliff, like kinda twitchy without the twitch-"

"Well, you know, there's just been changes lately and I guess it's been putting me on edge."

"Changes? Like puberty or something where your voice get all squeaky and cracked and then it goes all deep or it doesn't and then you get all made fun of cuz your voice is squeaky and there's the pimples and the growing and-"

"No! No, not like that! I mean, you know, we moved apartments and my mom changed jobs and you and I changed grades and things like that."

"Oh, yeah! So when can we come visit your new apartment?" Bloo asked.

"I don't think you should. It's still kind of a mess from moving and stuff. But maybe next month or something like that. You know, speaking of which, my mom won't be happy if I'm late, I'd better go."

"Kay. Byyyeee, Mac." Goo waved wildly as he best friend stood up and left the room.

"Yeah, see you tomorrow, buddy!" Bloo called as the door shut. "He's been acting really weird lately, y'know what I mean, Goo? I asked to come see his new apartment when he moved in like a year ago and he said the same thing."

"He only moved in like two months ago."

"Still! And he's been having mysterious bruises since then."

"Really?"

"Yeah! Y'know what this means don't you?"

"Well… do you really think-"

"Mac is training to be a secret spy!"

"What?"

"Yeah! It all makes sense! He can't tell us where he lives because he lives at super-top-secret base! And all those bruises are from his physical training! We can't tell anyone, they could be rival spies!"

"Umm… okay. I have to go too, Bloo. It's dinner time."

"Okay, see you tomorrow."

As Goo left the room and headed for the front door of the mansion she pondered her friend's problem. She wasn't so sure that he was training to be a spy. She wondered if he was having family problems or something. She only hoped that if she did hold her tongue, her friend would be okay.

--

Mac entered the stairwell of his new apartment. It was dingy, dirty and a little sticky but at least his apartment wasn't as bad. Not yet, anyway. He gave the door to his apartment a shove and it slid open, scraping on the dirty floor. He would have to mop that later. "Mom! I'm back!" He called into the dingy apartment.

"Oh, good! I was almost late! You can go ahead and eat whenever you want, I picked up a box of macaroni and cheese today. Terrence is in charge, if you ask him, I'm sure he'll make dinner."

"Yeah, mom, thanks." Mac knew Terrence wouldn't make dinner.

"I love you, sweetie and I'll see you tomorrow. I want you to be in bed when I get back."

"Love you too. Bye."

Mac didn't even bother checking to see if Terrence was there or if he wanted any macaroni and cheese. Mac knew he would take it all and probably beat him up for taking so long to make it. With a sigh, Mac started up the stove and made macaroni and cheese. He didn't dare start to eat without telling Terrence it was ready, so against all better judgment, he headed for his brother's room. "Terrence?" He called, knocking quietly.

"What the hell do you want?" A voice shouted from within.

"D-dinner's ready."

"It's about time! How long does it take an idiot like you to boil some water and pour in cheese powder?"

Mac didn't answer, he simply nodded as Terrence left his room for the kitchen, hoping Terrence was in a better mood than he seemed. Terrence stomped over to the kitchen and looked around. "Well?"

"Well, what?" Mac asked, confused.

"Well, where the hell are the bowls?" Terrence shouted as shoved Mac to the floor.

Mac scrambled to his feet and grabbed a bowl out of the cupboard, handing it to Terrence. Terrence snatched it poured the contents of the pot on the stove into the bowl. "Get me fork, idiot." Terrence hissed, sending a kick in Mac's direction.

Mac attempted to move only to have his brother's shoe connect with his side. Winded, he slid over to the dish drain where the silverware he had washed last night still rested. He snatched one and held it up to Terrence. "We shouldn't have to go through this every night, y'know." Terrence punched Mac's arm hard. "You should have it by now." Another punch hit Mac's already bruised side. "You're just lucky I'm too hungry to stay here all night pounding you." With that, Terrence went back to his room.

Straining his ears, Mac could hear him lock the door, which meant that he would not be coming back out. Mac sighed in relief and rubbed his side gingerly. He pulled a couple of slices of bread out and made himself a peanut butter sandwich. After his pathetic lunch he mopped the floors and washed the dishes. The dishes were quickly disappearing as Terrence left all his dishes in his room. When Terrence left the house next Mac would have to grab the dishes from his room. He picked up clutter and stuffed packing paper back into the empty boxes that still littered the apartment. Before he realized, it was 9:00 and he got into bed in his new, tiny room.

He couldn't believe this was happening. Only two months ago, things had been so much better. Then his mother had lost her job. Money had run low. They'd never had much money but at least they were comfortable. They'd had to move to this dingy, dirty place and his mom was working innumerable jobs just so they could keep this apartment. Terrence had suddenly turned more violent after that. So while his mom went off to another job, Mac was left to Terrence to use as a punching bag. When Terrence had had his fill, Mac would clean up the apartment as best he could and then try to sleep. His only solace was at Foster's. He still couldn't believe how horrible things had gotten, though. Tears welled up in his eyes though he never allowed them to fall. Things will get better soon, he told himself, just keep thinking happy thoughts.

A/N: Okay, so whatja think? Good, bad, ugly, tell me! New chapter soon!