Come the following morning both Daniel and I sprang up and out of bed, eager to get a quick and early start to the day. Since he wanted to be dressed and decent enough to leave just as the shops were opening the two of us set forth to get dressed, combed, and to the kitchen in as little time as possible. Together we sorted out everyone's breakfasts, he beating eggs and coating thick slices of bread as I crushed and simmered a small pot of blueberries on the stovetop.

If there was one thing I always enjoyed, it was doing even mundane things like this with another person. I fondly thought back to my time at the inn in Hagali, how Esmé and I would work together to dress or undress the beds, exchange the towels, and wash inhuman amounts of laundry in seemingly no time at all. During more laid-back days we'd even tear after each other with pillows or towels, playfighting while we worked just to make things a little more interesting and fun.

And, I mean, it's not like the patrons could tell the difference.

Even today, something as simple as getting up early with my partner and putting together a filling breakfast for our groggy, hungry children was perhaps an odd comfort, but a comfort nonetheless. As I'd pour a generous scoop of sugar into my small pot Daniel would hand me the small containers of cinnamon and cloves, and as he'd return to the icebox to retrieve the milk I'd ensure the toast in his skillet was flipped on time. As we worked I glanced out the small window to gauge the day's weather, and fortunately it looked like it would be agreeable for this morning's errands.

"Looks like it'll be nice today," I remarked as I turned back to the simmering berries and gave the pot a stir.

"Hope it stays that way," Daniel replied, stacking two finished slices of toast on a plate. "Don't care terribly for gettin' rained on, 'specially when my hands're fulla clothes."

His manner of speech seemed stronger when he was still a bit sleepy and I couldn't help but smile and laugh a bit to myself.

"What's so funny?" he asked as I topped the toast with a big scoop of blueberry sauce.

"Just noticed over the years your accent seems to come through a bit more when you're tired and I just think it's endearing," I replied, returning the spoon to the pot and giving it another stir. "Maybe I'm biased, but it's just something I find pleasant."

"Well, certainly could be worse," he chuckled, adding another two slices to the skillet. "Not used to people likin' it, usually they think I sound dumb. Definitely prefer your outlook."

He added another small pat of butter to his pan.

"Though, at the same time, ya could prob'ly say I'm also biased," he finished with a sly little grin.

Before I could formulate much of a response I felt something behind me, slightly wrapping around the middle of my tail. Without so much as a second thought I gave in to little gesture and returned it how I could, our tails entwined as we continued making breakfast. After a night spent wondering about what lay ahead as far as our children's lives were concerned I admit I needed the reassurance, and somehow I think he knew that despite my not saying a word.

In fairness, I think we both had a lot on our minds, and I hoped that what little I could offer could reassure him all the same.

It wasn't too long before breakfast was situated and a short trail of groggy children would follow their noses to the smaller of two kitchens. Sura seemed particularly interested in the rather simple breakfast, perhaps remembering back to when she, too, was first enrolled. It was funny to think about how far she'd come, though still rather shy and a bit on the thin side. Despite those things she seemed so much happier, her big brown eyes no longer clouded by her history.

All three children sat at one side of the table while Daniel and I prepared our own helpings and took a seat. Though few words were exchanged between bites they all looked quite happy and ready for the weekend. As I looked down to my plate, ready to pick up another bite, I thought I saw someone walk by and shift the light in the hallway, but looking back up brought nothing unusual to my eyes.

Odd.

I returned to my breakfast, wanting to waste as little time as possible before starting my workday. Seems I wasn't the only one to think this with how quickly Daniel's plate cleared. I was lagging behind a bit, but he waited until I was finished before getting up and putting his spent dishes in the sink.

"Riv, would you mind taking care of dishes this morning?" I asked, putting my dishes in the sink as well. "Daniel needs to run some errands right away and I need to get out to the lobby and start my workday very soon."

"Uh, sure," he replied.

"Sura, would you be so kind as to help?" I asked further. "Someone to dry them after washing, and maybe Saffron could put them away?"

I turned to Saffron who happily nodded, though such a response surprised me.

"I can do that, yes," Sura responded after swallowing a bite she'd taken.

"Thank you all so much," I said, quickly washing my hands and drying them on a small towel. "While you might not be looking forward to it, this is something I'd like to ask of all of you in the future as well. It helps keep the place running if we all pitch in."

They all looked to each other and shrugged. I suppose there were worse outcomes.

From the kitchen I sped down the hall and out to the lobby, seeing Daniel off before he departed and before I took my seat at the front desk. I bent down and opened my small safe to procure my finished assignments, setting them atop my desk before staring out the window to a world now waking. With my elbows on my desk and my hands folded under my chin I observed a slightly-cloudy sky, slowly turning from orange to blue as the sun rose from the horizon.

The opening of the front door startled me back to the present, Morissey gently closing it behind him before turning toward me. Even from the current distance I could pick up what could only be explained as excitement shone in those fiery eyes of his. Upon his eyes meeting mine his large, round ears dipped back slightly and his mouth bared a little smile. Though I'd seen this more and more with the recent years it was still something so uncharacteristic to the point of humorousness and I couldn't help but smile and giggle a bit at his expense. I could tell he knew why I reacted the way I did, but it only seemed to draw out more of those features instead of suppress them like he might have years ago.

"You seem excited," I said as he walked closer, a little smile upon my face.

He quickly glanced over his shoulder before returning his gaze to me.

"I am just eager to meet this new child of yours," he quietly said, just barely audible. "I'm also a bit perplexed by the lack of others out here."

"Daniel went into town to run some errands quick before the shops get full and the children are still upstairs sleeping," I replied, hoping I sounded convincing enough. "Though, given it's Friday, should you still want to go out on a walk this evening it's likely you could meet them when you come by."

His ears perked by my offer.

"...I would like that, yes," he affirmed as I offered him my finished work. "The usual time will be fine?"

"The usual time will be fine," I repeated in assurance, taking his offer of new assignments. "Would you be willing to bring me some work to do over the weekend, too?"

"Certainly," he said, putting the folder under his arm. "I-I'm afraid I can't hang around this morning as I have a meeting to attend very soon, but I look forward to this evening."

"Of course, I'll see you then," I said as I put the new folder down in front of me. "I hope you have a good day."

"Thank you...I'll need it," he replied under his breath, heading back toward the door in a hurry.

I couldn't really say why, but the way he responded had me a little worried. Morissey was very good at hiding his emotions and demonstrably didn't like stray concern lest he seem weak and wavering, so either he trusted me a great deal with his most guarded vulnerability or something had him worried more than usual. Or both.

I filed it all in the back of my mind. If it were something he wanted to share, should it truly be anything at all, he would do so of his own accord. With a sigh I grabbed my pen and set forth to work.

---

Daniel wasn't gone for long, maybe an hour or so. He returned with a small bag, closing the door behind him as Saffron quickly turned to him from where she sat.

"Uh, Saffron and Sura, if ya'd both come with me for a few minutes," he said, scratching the back of his head.

Both girls looked to each other. Sura seemed confused but Saffron seemed excited while Riv just tilted his head, unsure what this could be about. The two stood up from the table and followed Daniel down the hall and presumably upstairs.

"What're they doin'?" Riv asked, still sitting at his table.

"...Uh," I hesitated, trying to find the most tasteful way to explain, "Daniel went out to purchase some...special clothing for the two."

"'Special clothing'?" he asked further, tilting his head the other direction.

...I couldn't be less prepared for this than I was.

"...W-Well, uh, they need special garments for their...'development', if you will," I replied.

From the looks of it this just seemed to confuse him further.

"...B-Brassieres, Riv," I so quietly said.

At this point it was a contest whose face was redder between us and we couldn't look each other in the eye. While these things might not occur to me I had a feeling it occurred to him and he just didn't want to say. He and Sura weren't too far in age, after all, and he was more observant than he might have known he let on.

Fortunately it wasn't too long before everyone came back out to the lobby, the awkward air finally cut. I noticed Daniel's hands were free of the bag they once carried so I assumed everything was to their fit and liking. Humorously, from where I sat I also noticed Riv had a hard time looking the two in the eye, his own averting quickly in embarrassment after only a second or two.

I tried to lose myself in my work and get my mind off the awkward subject and back to the never-ending list of blanks.

---

Fortunately dinnertime was soon upon us. As I began stowing my finished work the others were on their way to the kitchen to help with dinner.

"Saffron," I called from behind my desk. "Could you please come here for a moment?"

The curious child separated from the rest of the group and walked over to my desk, her hands gripping the edge.

"I'd like you to know that every Friday evening after dinner I go on a walk around town with Morissey," I softly said. "I was wondering if you'd like to take the opportunity to meet him, maybe get the initial confrontation taken care of sooner rather than later."

She looked aside for a moment, her ears fallen back.

"I will be right there with you, and I assure you everything will be alright," I coaxed. "I know you're nervous and worried, but please give him a chance. He's been looking forward to meeting you all week."

"...You'll be with me?" she asked.

"Absolutely," I reassured. "You're safe here."

"...Okay, then," Saffron relented. "I'll go put on the binder."

I stood up and touched my nose to her crown. With where she came from I didn't at all blame the apprehension, but I couldn't picture anything unsavory taking place. Even so, an odd shift and movement from the lobby corridor caught my attention, but once I brought up my eyes for a better look it was gone.

I must have been tired. I'd gotten up pretty early and it was the end of the week, after all.

Saffron scurried off to sort out her clothing, leaving me in the lobby to see myself out. I raised my arms above my head and stretched my tired back, pulling my few muscles back into place as I closed my eyes.

A strange gust blew past me, as though I'd narrowly been missed by the swing of a fist. My ears perked and eyes quickly opened, but the lobby remained empty.

It was just me.

I didn't want to dwell on the possibilities, what this might mean, so before my head had a chance to hypothesize I left my desk and headed toward the hallway. The closer I got to the corridor, the darker the space behind me seemed to grow despite the large front window. I looked back and all was normal, a bright ray of sunlight striking the dark wood floor in the middle of the room.

Hm.

I quickly left to join my family in the kitchen.

---

A knock at the front door at six o' clock alerted me of Morissey's arrival. Saffron had been waiting close by, leaning against my side as we sat at the little table. I parted from her momentarily to open the door, met once again with the peculiar excited eyes of my usually so stonefaced employer. In only a couple seconds the child in the room caught his attention and their eyes met.

I stepped aside to let the man in and finally allow him the meeting he'd been looking forward to all week. We both walked over to meet her at the table, my putting my arm around her back and holding her against my side to help quell her nervousness.

"Morissey, I'd like you to meet Saffron," I said after a moment. "Saffron is our most recent child, finally feeling better after arriving a bit under the weather."

"Ah!" he exclaimed, extending a hand. "I'm so glad to finally meet you, Saffron, and happy to know you're feeling better now. I was quite worried."

"Y-You were?" Saffron squeaked, carefully taking his hand.

"Of course," he replied, a tenderness in his voice I wasn't quite used to. "I'd hoped it weren't something too serious. You were upstairs for quite some time."

"...Y...Yeah, I was," she stuttered, finding it difficult to meet his gaze.

"...I'm not making you nervous, am I?" he asked, his head cocked and ears falling behind. "I'm very sorry if so; that isn't my intention at all."

Saffron couldn't seem to sort out a response. With what I knew of her background I couldn't blame her as it was, but to meet face-to-face with someone she only knew as some kind of captor? I couldn't even imagine the toll this was taking, and on someone still so young.

"Well, I know words are cheap, but I assure you I mean you no harm," he said, reaching under his coat. "Maybe this could help."

From his coat he retrieved a small stuffed animal and offered it to the nervous child. It was a mouse of some kind, very soft and round with glass eyes and cute whiskers.

"Reverend seemed to like getting stuffed animals for his children, so I thought I might help with that," he said with a nervous little smile of his own. "I do hope you like it, and maybe this will help prove my sincerity a bit."

Saffron took the stuffed animal he offered, her eyes wandering from its shiny glass eyes to those of my employer. Even from beside her I could tell her eyes were welling up.

"...Th-Thank you," she finally spoke.

Morissey's expression turned to one of concern and looked over to me.

"Saffron will be alright, Morissey," I assured. "Do remember that my children are...not quite used to kind gestures from pure types outside the home. It's a bit much to swallow."

"...I suppose that's true, and I'm very sorry for that," he sighed, placing his palm atop her newly-cut hair. "I really am glad to meet you, and I hope to see you again come Monday morning along with Riv and Sura."

My ears perked. He pat her head a couple times before turning to me.

"Would you still like to go on a walk?" he asked, handing me a folder of assignments for the weekend.

"Of course, one moment," I said, hurriedly bringing the folder to my desk and stowing it in the small safe.

Once I returned I opened my arms to invite Saffron closer, her taking the invitation for a much-needed hug and nuzzle. Poor thing was rather shaken, but I couldn't be more proud of her for seeing it all through. Likewise I was very happy with Morissey's first impression and hoped that, just maybe, this could be the first few steps in the direction they both needed, even if he were oblivious to just who this child was.

I let Saffron go to resume her evening, both of us waving to her as we departed the building and closed the door behind us. As the door closed, and from the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of her tiny smile.

---