“That was good!” Joshua exclaimed as the credits for The Incredibles rolled up the theater room’s TV screen, larger than the entire living room wall in Dani’s house. She’d held Joshua on her lap, her head on Diesel’s shoulder while they watched the movie, Michael sitting on the floor between their feet. Like a family.

We could be a family. It was still a heady thought and she fought not to get her hopes up. But why not? The boys had no one else. She could keep them. Care for them. Make them happy. We could make them happy.

She and the man at her side, who’d been lightly snoring for the last half hour.

“I’m glad you liked it,” Dani said, laughing when Joshua bounced on her lap. The little boy had been stuck to either her or Diesel like glue ever since they’d returned from the meeting at the Ledger office.

Michael had been quieter, reading a book while they watched the movie. He’d joined them physically in the theater room, but it was clear his mind was elsewhere. The only one he paid attention to was Hawkeye, who had only left his side when he’d been taken for walks outside by one of the agents on duty.

Michael’s fingers had raked through Hawkeye’s soft fur almost constantly, stopping only to turn the pages of his book. Which didn’t happen often, as Michael stared at the pages unseeingly.

He’d had a therapy session with Meredith while they’d been gone and Dani figured that was the root of his preoccupation. The boy had lost his mother. Had suffered so much before that. She could remember the pain of losing her own mom. The grief that had clutched her insides, clawing until she’d wanted to die, too.

Michael’s mother had been abusive to him, but kids still loved their parents, even through abuse. It didn’t make sense, but it was true nonetheless.

For now they’d give him space and let him grieve. But not too much space. She leaned over and ran her hand over his hair, smiling when he looked up at her in question. “It’s late,” she signed. “I’m going to put Joshua to bed. You should be going to bed, too.”

Eventually she’d get these children on a proper schedule. But these were not normal days, so she cut them all a little slack.

Michael shook his head. “I’m not tired,” he signed back with one hand, choosing to put the book down rather than give up his hold on Hawkeye.

“You can read in bed. Meredith brought your lamp from your room at home and put it on your nightstand.” So he’d have a night-light, but she didn’t add that part. It was enough that Michael knew what she meant.