Eventually though she did get back to them, trying in vain to fix her hair to a more controlled style and trying to adjust her clothes so they looked neat.

"I'm so sorry...what is it you wanted to talk t'me about?"

"I wanted t'ask about fosterin' Zack here...lettin him...stay at the farm...with me and my family...." he explained.

The worker looked at the pair in disbelief, blinking a little before nodding.

"Well...certainly we can talk about that....Zack why don't you go an' get ready for bed ok..."

Zack nodded a little, breaking away from Luke and heading up the stairs quietly - he wasn't quite so worried now that all the other kids and gone to bed. Before he went up there however, he looked back at Luke and said quietly.

"Thank ya sir..."

With that he ran the rest of the way up.

Luke bit his lip nodding after him. "You're welcome son." He hadn't meant to call him that...wasn't sure why he did or why suddenly it felt so natural to say it.

The lady watched them both with a smile, shaking her head a little. It was amazing how much one person could do in each others lives. Not only did Zack look happier than before, but it also seemed that Luke did as well.

"Well...if you want t'come through I can get things started..."

"Yes ma'am," answered Luke politely. He felt his hands getting sweaty and wiped them on his jeans, a little worried that he would not be suitable.

The lady nodded and led him through once again to her office, pushing back strands of hair until she gave a frustrated sigh and just let it down from the ponytail she had it in, shaking it out gently as she sat down at the desk and started searching for Zack's file.

"Just bare with me a minute...i'll find his file and tell you anything you need to know.."

Luke bit his lip nodding, his hands fidgiting. He knew his family would likely have something to say about it, but right now he didn't want to think about that. He just wanted to think about Zack.

Before long the lady was running through the notes in Zack's file with Luke, telling him things the boy was allergic to, what he liked and disliked...all the little things as well as who his parents actually were should they ever come looking for him.

"If you're still interested...we can start the paperwork...you won't be able to take Zack home with you until we've done the appropriate checks and things though so you'll have time to discuss this with anyone you need to..."

Luke nodded. "Yes ma'am......zactly what kinds of checks on me will ya be doin'?" He had a feeling that criminal history, income and such would play a part and he was sure that the fact he had little money and was on probation would not help things much.

"Well the usual...criminal history, family income, saftey of the home and the like...but we'll also take into account your social standing within the community and how well you get on with him...at the moment we've got no one else to compare you to so..."

She said with a smile.

Luke nodded glad that that, at least, was in his favor. He stood up and shook her hand. "Thank ya again."

She did the same with a nod.

"No, thank you....what you've done for Zack already is amazing.."

"He's an amazing boy," answered Luke with a smile. "I'll look forward to your call." With that he left, getting in the General and heading for home, not sure of what his family's reactions would be but feeling confident that there would be some reactions.

Meanwhile back at the farm - Bo and Jesse had returned from the jobs they had been doing on other people's farms. It was a good distraction for the both of them and one of the rare times they were actually allowed to be together without Bo having to run off at the sound of Rosco's sirens. It had been a nice, but exhausting day and now Bo was flopped on the couch, reading a magazine while Jesse showered up.

Luke soon pulled up, feeling more alone than he had the entire day, but his eyes twinkling with the thought that maybe, just maybe, he wouldnt be alone much longer. Quietly he slipped out of the General and opened the front door going inside.

Bo glanced up as the front door opened, noticing instantly the change in Luke with a slight smile. Trust Uncle Jesse to be right as always and to help Luke find his own solution.

"Well hey Cuz..."

Luke smiled, a smile Bo hadn't seen in a while. "Hey yourself." Whistling he went to get himself a glass of water.

Bo bit his lip, seeing the smile, but didn't say anything. Quietly he went back to reading his magazine, getting the feeling that whatever Luke had been searching for he had found...and what he had found was going to be something gaurenteed to shake up the way things were around the Duke Farm.

Eventually Luke put his glass in the sink and came over to join him. "I got somethin real important to talk t you and Jesse about...real important..."

Bo looked up at him, closing the magazine and putting it on the table as he sat up, just as Jesse came into the living room in fresh clothes.

"What's real important?" The old man asked, seeing the change in Luke already just as Bo had had, hiding a smile behind his beard.

"I ... I uh...I done somethin t'dy...an'...I don't know if it's gonna work out...an I know I shoulda asked ya first but..." he hesitated before continuing. "Well... I met someone..."he began, stuttering nervously.

Bo watched from his position on the couch, rather amuzed at the fact that his usually calm and collected older cousin was stumbling over his words. He was going to say something about it when he caught the look that his Uncle had given him quickly, warning him not to say anything.

"And no it ain't a girl..." he answered to Bo's amused look, adding before Bo could say something to that open door, "No it aint that neither...today at the orphanage...I met a little boy...Zack...he's the cutest little thing...and smart...he's so smart..."

Jesse watched him with a small smile hidden behind his beard. Like Bo was thinking it had been a long time since they had heard Luke banter with Bo and it was even longer since he had stayed in one room without zoning out every 5 seconds.