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Title:A broken child makes a fixed home.

Rating:K+ (contains thematic elements relating to domestic abuse)

Author:Rodlox.

Pairing:Diana/Marco (it slipped in there, I couldn't stop it).

Summary:"A broken child" isn't always what you'd think.

Disclaimer:I own none of the characters, save for Isadore.

Author's Note:Yet another very real bone disorder. (shocking, isn't it?) no, that's another returnee.

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The Near Future:

The birds were singing, the grass was green, and Diana was enjoying watching the girls play cards at the picnic table here in the park.

"I'm going to lose," Isadore said, looking at her cards.

Diana looked across the table at Maia, who would protest her innocence: "I didn't see anything."

"I know," Isadore said. "I always lose. Before quarantine, my daddy would let me win, but it wasn't easy for him." The verbal exchange was down pat, part of a little ritual of the girls'. Isadore's niece, her legal guardian since being let out of quarantine, was happy to let Isadore play with Maia, as the girls were so close to the same age, and had a common experience to bind them. Sometimes Diana would watch them, with or without Carrie joining in the fun; and other times Isadore's neice would watch them, giving Diana ample opportunity to go on a date with Marco.

"How're the Spruces?" Maia asked, setting down a 7 in this game they'd created between them. The Spruces were Isadore's neighbors, the Spruce children occasionally playing with Maia and Isadore when her neice was watching them all.

"Mister Spruce was arrested yesterday," Isadore said. "Miss Spruce had to go to the hospital." Maia looked up at Diana, and not for the first time left Diana wondering how much Maia knew. More than most would, that much was plainly certain. Isadore had been taken from the world with a genetic disorder that made her bones extremely fragile -- and when she'd been returned, she could impart that curse on anyone she touched, though it fortunately only lasted a day, two at the most: Diana knew that from experience: Marco had patted Isadore paper-gently on her shoulder and then he had bumped into Tom, making him need a cast until the effect wore off. "Mister Spruce won't hurt anyone anymore," Isadore said solemnly.

Children notice things, Diana knew, even if people think they don't. She bet herself that Isadore's gift had been intended to put a stop to abuse in her neighbor's house. Sometimes the ripples were big, and sometimes the ripples were more personal.

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Isadore Bell,

Disappeared 7 May 1959.

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the end.