I blinked awake the next morning from the sound of shuffling cloth. The warmth that would normally lay in front of me was absent, my turning my head to face the direction of the shuffling sound. After a few more blinks of the eyes I cleared the sleep film enough to see Daniel finish putting on his undershirt. The unexpected sight had my eyes widening in embarrassment and I buried my face in the blankets to give him better privacy. The sound of my movement must have caught his attention as I heard a little gasp from where he stood.

"S-Sam?" he softly called. "I-I'm sorry, I thought you were asleep."

I wasn't sure what to do, opting to bury my face further with the blankets. My cheeks felt oddly warm and I didn't want to think about the possibilities.

"Um, I was...just trying to get an early start to the day so I could sort out breakfast and run to town before too long," he awkwardly said. "I thought I could maybe get dressed in here quick if you were still asleep. I-I didn't mean to, er, make a scene."

I slowly retreated my face from the blankets, peeking up over them to a bashful larger man nervously rubbing the back of his neck. By now he was fully dressed, the way I'd usually see him.

"...You didn't...see anything, right?" he finally asked, looking to the floor.

"N-No, no, nothing at all," I answered into the blanket, hardly able to look at him.

"I'll...take your word for it," he replied, sounding uneasy. "Uh, I'm gonna go start breakfast. It's still pretty early so the shops ain't open yet. Any special requests?"

"...W-Well--"

"You know I'm gonna make you eat somethin' whether ya like it or not."

I sighed.

"...No special requests," I said. "I'm content with anything you make."

"I'll keep that in mind," he said, walking over to the door. "There's still a bit of time before we'd usually get up if you want to sleep a little longer, though if ya'd like to get up now and help me with breakfast I'd certainly appreciate the company."

I felt my face warm up a little from those words and his tender smile as he looked back to me before heading out into the hallway. Though I was still tired, by now that was more a personality trait than a state of being. I released a lengthy yawn before sitting upright, stretching, and helping myself out of bed. At least if I got up now I could spend the morning eating with my family instead of at my desk, especially if there were more than a single person working the kitchen.

...And I did quite enjoy cooking with him.

I quickly grabbed my new set of clothes and traded them for my nightwear, folding and setting it aside for later. With my comb in hand I tried to go after my hair but had only the usual luck; a mop of ash-brown cowlicks. Once I looked my usual I quietly slipped out of the room and into the hall, the staff on the other end of the hall eyeing me nervously from my periphery as I made my way down the stairs.

I met up with Daniel in the kitchen. He seemed quite happy I decided to get up early and help him with breakfast, our working together to assemble the biscuits and cream gravy he was so fond of.

"It's a bit of a chilly morning and I'd kinda like something a bit filling if I'm gonna be going into town in this," he said, cutting cold butter into a bowl of flour. "Y'all seem to like it, too, so I hope ya don't mind."

"No, not at all," I responded, stirring some sausage in a hot skillet. "I'm sure Saffron will like it, too. So far she's been far from a picky eater."

"...I'm still real bothered by the compound thing," he said, his tone suddenly severe. "Surely something like that, you'd hear about it in the area, right? I'd guess it'd be like a jail, and yet..."

"...I never heard about one, either," I recalled, lowering the heat in the pan and sprinkling in some flour. "I know Huot has a small jail -- that's where my father is kept -- but Saffron is a child. Do they...keep children in jails? I've never heard of such a thing, but every town is different, I guess."

"This might seem kinda dumb to bring up, but those in jails typically have some kind of dress code or uniform to distinguish them," he continued, pouring milk into the bowl. "Saffron came here with not just normal civilian clothes, but well-worn civilian clothes, as though that's all she'd lived in for weeks. They also smelled...salty, like ocean water."

He took a big wooden spoon to the mixture, stirring the milk into the dry ingredients.

"...We've lived here for, what, eight or so years?" he recounted, glancing out the window to the backyard. "Not only have I personally never heard of this compound, but even with all my times going in and out of town not once had I heard anyone mention anything like it. Just...something about this."

Ah, 'Something about this'. I knew what this meant.

"Well, all we can really do is hope Saffron starts feeling settled and comfortable enough to talk about it," I said as I poured in the milk and started stirring. "She's already starting her recovery. I could've sworn her sclerae even looked lighter yesterday."

"Heh, I think she'll recover real well," Daniel chuckled, flattening the dough on a flour-dusted board. "'m'sure you know how much just being in a better environment can help on its own."

I smiled, thinking back to both my earlier years in Hagali with Esmé and to the more recent years here in Huot with Daniel. A change of scenery really could do a lot, putting physical distance between yourself and your problems.

We spent the rest of our time cooking with some idle talk and banter, something to lighten the mood a little bit as to not dwell so much on endless possibilities. Those things would come up when she was ready, when she was comfortable. The two of us put together helpings on several plates, Riv getting up early from the smell and commotion and offering to help carry things upstairs. He took two plates and, after a nudge of my nose against the top of his head, he was off. I grabbed two plates and Daniel took one with an armful of filled glasses, both of us heading upstairs for what we hoped was our last meal spent in their bedroom.

"Sorry to get y'all up so early, but I wanted to make sure everyone could get fed before Reverend had to start work and before the shops are open too long," Daniel said between bites. "Order should be done and ready for pickup. Once I get home ya can put them in and be free to wander about the house, okay?"

"...Okay," Saffron quietly affirmed from between us.

"Just make sure not to sleep with them in, else your eyes'll probably be dry and sore when ya get up again," he went on, petting her messy hair. "Just think-- in just a short time ya won't have to be cooped up here anymore."

Such mundane news was enough to call forth a little smile from our newest child. I'd imagine if one spent so long being stuck in small spaces, news of anything else would be more than just a welcome change.

We finished our breakfasts, Daniel and I stacking the dishes and hauling them downstairs to get washed. It was about the time I'd need to be out front, his volunteering to take care of dishes so I could get situated. He let me go, but only after a bump of his nose against mine. I smiled and rolled my eyes, letting him have his way before heading out toward the lobby and my box-like desk.

I acquired my previous day's work from the small safe and set it in front of me in wait for Morissey, watching out the large lobby window in the meantime. It was a nice, bright day, though a little on the cold side for this time of year. We'd gotten a bit of a chill over the past couple days as evidenced by the dew all over the yard catching the sunlight.

I had spaced off by the time my employer arrived, the closing of the front door making me jump in my chair.

"Good morning," Morissey said with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

"Ah...good morning," I responded with my hand on my heart, trying to catch my breath. "Please don't apologize, I'm just...nervous and easily startled."

His smile twisted into a look of concern as he advanced toward my desk. I think he had more of a clue about the origins of my habits than I wanted to admit.

He looked to his left at the still-empty table.

"Still sick?" he asked, recalling my story from yesterday morning.

"A-Almost well again," I replied, trying to stay vague. "Everything should be back to normal by tomorrow morning and you'll be able to meet them. I'm s--"

"Please, Reverend, don't apologize for something like this," he cut me off, putting his hand on my shoulder. "As much as I'm interested in meeting another member of your family, by no means should you prioritize that over their wellness. I can wait."

The past few days had been wearing at me a bit-- my concern over Saffron's condition, Morissey's apparent ignorance of her status, and what all of this would mean for my income from here. I made only a modest living with my usual paper-pushing and managerial work, and with things like clothing needing purchasing I wasn't looking forward to putting in a ton more hours just to keep up...

...especially given Saffron's state, where she really needed the support of all of us.

I said nothing from there and simply handed him my finished assignments. He exchanged them with his own folder of work to be done, my setting it in front of me.

"Something bothering you?" he asked from above.

I could already feel my ears creep back as I searched my head for what to say. As I pivoted my ears I thought I could make out the slightest shuffling noises from the hall, though I figured it was probably Daniel wrapping up the work in the kitchen.

"I take it that's a 'yes', then," Morissey said, bending down to better face me. "Please tell me what this is about. You're more quiet and jumpy than usual."

"...Just...what I could expect from my future paychecks," I whispered. "...With another child in my home, how many hours would I have to put in with extra work to offset the financial deficit? I...I-I don't like thinking about everything in terms of money, but..."

"I did say I'd be taking care of you, regarding this," he replied with a tilt of his head. "I do mean what I said. You're the kind of person to worry, but really...please have some faith in me here."

There was a tone of desperation in his whispers I don't think I could have ever imagined. Such an oddity caught my attention and my eyes met his-- the normally stoic, maybe placid face was now one of concern. Perhaps, like my situation, there was more to his than I was privy to.

...Much more, if it was anything like the few tidbits he'd shared with me in private a few years back.

"Morissey?" was all I could muster, my own head tilting in confusion from what I saw and heard.

His own large, round ears dipped back and his mouth stressed his frown. Those bright, fiery eyes now seemed pleading, asking for my cooperation without any words spoken. I blinked, not knowing what to think, but he held his ground like this with his eyes slightly wincing.

I could only get the feeling that he was trying to avoid verbally speaking further, though this only confused me more. Nevertheless, I relented and nodded, Morissey closing his eyes and sighing. Just as something was wearing on me, it seemed something was doing the same to him but this wasn't the time or place to talk about it. He seemed content enough that I was willing to let him do as he said, putting my faith and confidence in him.

It's...funny how things change over time.

"...Thank you," he whispered before standing back up and shoving my finished work under his arm. "I'll see you tomorrow morning, and with luck maybe I'll meet this new child of yours, too."

He turned around to walk back to the door, looking back to me once with a little, almost thankful smile before leaving the premises.

...That was really not what I expected.

---

Shortly after Morissey's departure Daniel took his own, wasting no time to get to town as soon as the shops would open. He was gone for barely twenty minutes, if that, and returned with a small tin case just like mine and a small bottle of saline.

"Be just a minute," he said to me in passing with a comforting smile.

He disappeared down the hallway, his heavy footsteps fading with the distance. A few minutes later a small stampede could be heard coming my way, Daniel re-enterting the sunlit lobby with Riv and Sura close behind him. I looked up from my desk from all the commotion as they stood there in wait, gently coaxing a fourth person out to the lobby.

Some seconds later a dark foot would step forward, then another, and that warm silhouette of rusty orange would venture out into the lobby to join the others. She turned to face aside the brightly-lit window and look to me, her eyes now masked with lovely golden concealers.

"...Th-Thank you."

That big, tearful smile she gave us was something I would never forget.

---

That night Daniel and I retreated to our bedroom, ready to turn in for the night. The high energy of the day, what with Saffron's first time out in the lobby with the rest of us, had us both quite tired coming down from it all. Seeing such a nervous, sweet kid start living a normal life reminded me of Sura and Riv during their own first few weeks. They'd both come so far in such a short amount of time that surely Saffron would, too, and she wouldn't have to be alone during this delicate matter.

As Daniel made his way to the dresser to retrieve his nightwear I was also reminded of early this morning. I started feeling awkward all over again, my face warming up in a strange way and making me turn aside. The movement seemed to catch his attention and my expression seemed to keep it.

"Uh, you okay?" he asked, putting his nightwear under his arm.

"Fine, I'm just fine," I responded, though maybe a bit louder than I meant to given the twitch of his ears.

"...Alright," was all he'd say with a little sigh, tilting his head slightly. "I'll be right back."

I stepped aside to let him pass and resume his usual nightly routine. With the door closed behind him I quickly changed my own clothes and set aside tomorrow's uniform atop the dresser, folded neatly. Since I was already standing there I did the same for Daniel, setting his work clothes next to my own.

Hearing his footsteps drawing closer and finally stopping I grabbed the door and let him back inside, though he looked a little nervous. Somehow I could tell he was thinking about the same thing I was.

"You...really didn't see anything this morning, right?" he asked, a nervous and solemn tone I wasn't so used to coming from him.

"...Just a little bit," I replied, his eyes first widening before pressing closed. "I'm, um, kind of curious about what's gotten you so worried about it."

He sighed.

"Well, there's...really not much worth seein' under my shirt," he quietly said. "It ain't the same as your situation, but it's still something I'm...rather shy about."

He kept walking over to the bed, reaching out to grab the comforter.

"...Could I see?" I finally asked, giving in to my pervasive curiosity.

He froze for a moment before turning back around to face me, his ears slunk back.

"...Y-You've seen me," I reminded him, one of my hands tugging at the other arm's sleeve.

"...Yeah, I have, for my job," he said. "I don't want to disappoint you."

The pained wince of his eyes had my ears falling back and head tilting.

"You've never once disappointed me," I said. "I-It's fine if you'd rather not, I just...thought I would ask."

He turned back around to face the bed, pausing in thought. Before I could step forward to check on him his arms began moving in front of him, his hands soon pulling his nightshirt off his person and exposing the warm tan fur on his back. With the shirt in one hand he set it on the bed, slowly rotating himself to face me once more.

He was built stocky, sturdy, and rectangular; overall proportionate but with a sort of softness to his midsection. His upper arms were fairly thick like the rest of him. In many ways he was my opposite-- his strong and stout to my small and scrawny. What probably caught my attention first was some noticeably longer fur on his chest, about where my head would rest at night.

"...Like I said, nothin' worth seein'," he quietly said, rubbing the back of his neck.

It bothered me to see him so uncomfortable giving in to my strange request.

Maybe if...

I looked down to my own shirt, a little sigh allowing me to prepare myself. With my hands at my button line I undid each one.

"Sam?"

I kept going until each button was unfastened, taking a deep breath before opening my own shirt and exposing what all I tried so hard to hide away. From the corner of my eye I could just barely make out his looking back to me in confusion before I balled up the shirt into my hand.

"Wh...Why'd you..." he started to say as I walked closer.

I stopped just in front of him, looking up at him for but a moment. He seemed unsure as to what I was doing, though in fairness I was just as lost and letting my heart decide in place of my head.

I looked back to what was straight in front of me, coming closer and wrapping my arms around him. My head rested upon the soft patch of fur and I closed my eyes.

"Um...I'm...s-sorry about that longer fur," he stuttered. "...Most people trim that kind of thing, but I've, uh, n-not really had a reason to so I never bothered."

"...I like it," I replied, my face against that fur and my arms' grip tightening.

Slowly his own arms came over my shoulders and around to my scarred, maimed back, his hands spread apart to both my upper and mid back to hold me against his front. Normally the mere thought of doing this would terrify me, my hatred and near-phobia of being seen less than fully clothed, but I just...couldn't feel that like this. Not with him.

I hadn't felt this comfortable while this vulnerable in years, back when Esmé held me the very same way.

"I think you're wonderful exactly as you are," I whispered.

As though that was what he needed his snout soon buried itself to rest in my messy hair. Soon we were both swaying in place, content with each other's warmth.

---