Worry and anxiety ate away at him from the inside. Sunny hadn't looked very good. There was so much blood...
Sign jumped. He'd almost forgotten about Milo. He crouched down, smiling.
"Yeah, kiddo? What's up?"
Milo looked in the direction Bob and the others had gone, a childlike concern in his eyes.
"Whehs Papa goin? Why da bwoo wady an her fwen wook so sad?"
Sign bit his lip. How in the world could he explain what he'd seen in a way that wouldn't scar Milo forever? He took a deep breath, putting his hand on Milo's cheek and turning his head to meet his eyes.
"His fr- um, his... papa... was hurt. The blue lady and her friend were friends with him. So Papa went with them to make sure he's okay."
Calling Sunny Bob's "papa" felt weird. Unnatural. Wrong. Like a betrayal to... He shook it away. She did it to herself.
(Or did she? Was it only her fault? She only did what she thought was right. And didn't you do the same to him?)
He ignored the thoughts, focusing on Milo's worried face.
"Don't worry, Milo. Papa will be back soon."
Milo looked back, starting up a small, quiet, worried hum that he didn't seem aware of.
"Papa's sad. He sow happy faces when he tahted to me, but he jus make-ded pwetendin."
Milo looked back up at Sign with a strangely mature look.
"Why he make-ded pwetendin, Dada? Why he no happy see me?"
Sign felt his heart twist in his chest. He hugged Milo, holding him close and ignoring the ache that the action caused in his healing neck and shoulders.
"Oh, Milo, he's happy. He's so happy to see you. He's just... having a really hard time. His mama, she... Well, she wasn't very nice to me or him. She made herself not be his mama anymore. But he still loves her. So he... He's having a hard time being happy right now."
Milo curled his little fingers into Sign's hoodie, frowning.
He looked up, a sudden determined look in his shining grey eyes.
"I wanna make dem not sad. I wanna make dem happy."
"That's sweet of you, Milo, but you can't. This isn't something that can be fixed easily. If it could, Bo- Papa wouldn't be as sad."
Milo frowned and shook his head fervently.
"No! I make dem happy! I make Papa happy! I make Gramma happy! I do it cuz I a big kid!"
Sign felt his heart breaking. This hurt to hear.
"She's not your grandma, kiddo. Not anymore."
Milo shoved himself away, shrieking angrily at the top of his lungs.
"YES SHE IS!!! SHE STILL HIS MAMA ISIDE A HER HEART!!!! AN I MAKE HER HAPPY!!!"
Sign grabbed Milo's arm before he could run off, sensing that was what might come next. Milo instantly calmed down, though he glared grumpily at Sign. Sign pulled him back into a hug, kissing the top of Milo's head.
"I know you do, kiddo. I do, too. But this is something we have to let them figure out on their own. That's the only way for it to be fixed."
Milo crossed his arms, grumpy.
"Bu dat tould take foevuh!"
Sign brushed Milo's fluffy, curly hair from his eyes and smiled sadly.
"Yes, it could. But it's better than forcing it."
They sat in silence for a long time, Milo in Sign's lap. An idea hit Sign. He looked down at Milo, smiling.
"How would you like to meet more of your family, Milo? Do you wanna meet my siblings? Your aunts and uncle?"
Milo looked up at Sign, suddenly excited, his earlier anger forgotten.
Sign chuckled, gently moving Milo off his lap to stand up. He ruffled Milo's hair before holding out his hand. Milo took it instantly, and Sign felt a warmth in his chest that he'd almost forgotten how to feel. A feeling of love so warm and so strong, he was surprised he'd gone so long not feeling it. He squeezed Milo's hand, letting a smile spread across his face that made Milo giggle.
"Well then, Milo, let's go say hi to your aunt, Octavia."
She had been for quite a while now. At least two weeks, if she was remembering correctly. It ate away at her, worrying her nerves. They should have been home by now. Should have left this place behind, been happy together in their little cottage on the flower-crowned hill.
She couldn't stop feeling this nagging in the back of her mind. Steven's words dug pits in her mind and heart. How he didn't think he belonged with them outside the circus. How he felt like he didn't have a place with his own family.
How he loved Bob enough to leave his family.
(But isn't he an adult? Isn't he old enough to decide for himself? If he wants to stay here, live here, who are you to tell him no?)
She sighs. It seemed like her original argument to keep him here was fading. He was happy, he was loved, and most importantly, he felt it. Who was she to take that away from him?
A knock on her door snaps her out of it. She looks up, then forces herself to her feet. She glances towards Steven's suit, hanging in her closet. She hated lying to Bob. He had done nothing to deserve what she wanted to do. Separate him and her brother. He didn't deserve it. He was so sweet and kind to Steven, so loving towards him, so kind and friendly to her. Neither of them deserved to be forced apart.
The knock comes again. She closes her closet to hide the suit, just in case, then opens the door.
She stared. It was Steven. He smiled a little awkwardly, tilting his head. Her eyes went right to his neck. It was bandaged, but above it, his chin was burned. Bad. It looked like it would still hurt too much to move. She looked up, asking her question with her eyes. He looked sheepish.
"Right, uh... That was Sun. I... kinda brought it on myself by-"
He suddenly stopped himself, glancing back. She followed his gaze as he continued.
"Actually, I'll tell you about it later. I've brought someone to meet you."
He stepped to the side, and Octavia was suddenly tackled by a little brown and blue blur. She stumbled back, startled, and looked down. A little boy hugged her legs, his hair a dark brown, except for a small patch of blueish white at the base of his part. She took special note of the golden halo and ice blue wings. He looked up at her with silvery grey eyes that reflected the warm, yellow light above, making them appear almost bronze in color. His vitiligo and spattering of freckles made his small, plump face all the cuter. She felt her heart melt and looked up at Steven. He smiled warmly.
"Meet Milo. My son. Mine and Bob's."
"Since yesterday. Bob found him first, found him in the cemetery, I think. Neither of us know where he came from, but he knew us as his parents the moment Bob mentioned our names, so he's ours now."
Octavia looked down at Milo, stroking his curly hair. It was slightly damp, most likely from the snow and the storm outside. His smile was contagious, but she felt her heart twist.
(Yet another reason for Steven to stay...)
Milo suddenly reached his arms up in her face. It took her a moment to realize that he was asking to be picked up without using words. She hoisted him up, smiling at him.
"Well hello, Milo! How are you?"
He stared at her silently for a moment. She glanced at her brother, confused, when Milo suddenly tapped her nose with his finger.
He dissolved into giggles, burying his face in her neck. She felt her heart swell with joy and pride, but at the same time, it hurt. He was so cute, so innocent... Steven would never leave now. She looked at him now, trying to hide her sadness behind a gentle, welcoming smile.
"Why don't you two come inside?"
She looked at Milo with a playful grin.
"I've got some paper and pencils. You wanna draw?"
Milo gasped, excited. She put him down and let him run inside, then held the door open for her brother. His smile, though warm and happy, held that hint of awkwardness that she was feeling.
"Thanks, 'tavi. I was hoping you would be fine with this."
"Of course I am! You're my brother! He's your son! I could never stay mad at you, and I could never be mad at him. Now come on, you've got some explaining to do about that burn."
He laughed, and she did too, and he walked past her. As she followed and closed the door, a thought pierced her mind like a knife, stabbing straight into her heart as she realized the truth of it.
(I can never make him leave now.)
