Autohr's note: To the incredibly rude guest reviewer I just saw, I am going to nip this in the bud: I am not. Doing. Your stupid. Horrorland story. No. Shut the hell up about this stupid Goosebumps OC. It. Isn't. Happening. Ever. I have zero interest in it, so stop asking for it,.

Marie awakened several hours later to the sound of knocking on the door. She smiled, knowing it could be only one person. Floating out of bed, she gave Harry another kiss before floating down the stairs and opening the door to meet Patricia.

Her old friend wrapped her in a bear hug the moment the door was opened, "It's nice to see you too, Patricia." The robot armed girl set her down.

"I got a little worried with how antsy you were getting last night. You manage to find someone guilty enough to take the edge off?"

Marie smiled brightly. "That and much, much more... I've encountered a magical force powerful enough to rid me of the Skull Heart's incesive chatter once and for all.

Just as those words left her mouth, Marie noticed that her friend stared at her with a blank look. Growing worried, the Skullgirl was about to ask the cartoon-like girl is she was alright...But before she knew it, Patricia suddenly started to laugh hysterically. As the girl known as Peacock continued to laugh, Marie gave her friend a very annoyed glare as it was almost like she knew that Patricia didn't belive in her.

Peacock slowly stopped her laughter while wiped away a tear from her eyes and it was there she noticed that Marie had a serious glare on her face. Now, she began to realize that her friend wasn't joking with her and that of course, made Patricia stare at her friend in disbelief and shock at the shocking information. "Wait...Are you for real? You mean, that dumb Skull Heart's crap is really gone forever...Just like that?"

Marie nodded her head in affirmation. "Correct. The heart is silent as the grave, and entirely under my control." Patricia grinned broadly.

"Well hot damn, the world's at your fingertips now, ol' pal!" Patricia gave her a pat on her shoulder, before stepping inside and catching a whiff of Marie's home cooking.

"Heeey, smells good in here!" Marie smiled.

"Yes... I prepared a meal for my new little housemate..." Patricia blinked, then grinned slyly.

"Ya find a guy ya like, Marie? Well, lemme give him the classic 'You hurt her, I cripple ya' speech." Marie giggled.

"Oh, that won't be necesarry... Come. I will show him to you... But do be silent. He's most exhausted and needs his sleep..."

Patricia smirked and was prepared to try and make her blush with one of her more inappropriate jokes only to stop when she saw a tiny bundle in Marie's bed. She was doubly confused as her friend rushed over when they saw said bundle tossing and turning. Marie carefully scooped up the child and gently bounced him in her arms.

The little boy yawned as he opened his eyes and smiled at the nice grey-haired lady that took him in her hom, while cuddling closer to her bosom. "G-Good m-m-morning, M-M-M-Marie..." Marie only smiled while nuzzling his tiny little cheek with her own. "Good morning yourself, little one...Did you have a good night's sleep?"

Harry nodded sleepily, while rubbing his eyes with his tiny hands as he tried hold in his yawn. "Yeah...I-I-It was n-nice..."

Patricia blinked as she realized that the 'man' Marie had mentioned was in fact a young child. She was only slightly surprised though. After all, Marie was essentially the defacto mother figure at the orphanage.

After several minutes of gentle coaxing, Marie had managed to completely wake Harry from his slumber. Slowly rocking him in her arms, she whispered to him as she carried him over to her old friend. "Patricia this is Harry, I'm... looking after him from now on."

Patricia stepped forward, looking the boy over. "Huh... Awful small, ain't he? Yep... I see what's happenin' here... Poor little squirt..." She rubbed Harry's head with a small smile. "Just call me auntie Patty, Harry!"

Harry only looked at her timidly in a shy way and hid his face in Marie's bosom. Patricia took off her hat as she scratched her hair in an awkard way, while having her eyes completely focused on the little boy in her friend's arm. "Damn..He's quite a shy one...Ain't he?"

Marie nodded her head with a small smile. "Yes... I'm afraid we'll have to keep the rowdiness to a minimum with this poor dear..."

They both noticed Harry's confusion as he looked at Patricia's robotic arms. Patty chuckled and scratched the back of her head, "Yeah these are pretty crazy, huh?" Marie smiled sadly and carefully explained.

"Patricia was hurt very badly a long time ago, but a good man by the name of Dr. Avery saved her."

Patricia grinned broadly and gave a thumbs up. "Yep! These eyes here on my arms? I see out 'em! How neat is that, eh?" Harry looked curiously at the eyes, and Patricia took the opportunity to playfully set her hat on his head before producing another one for herself. "As a token of our new friendship, I offer ya my old hat!"

Both girls giggled as the hat swiftly fell over Harry's eyes and Harry carefully placed it on the bed. Peacock lightly ruffled Harry's hair, "Ok, so maybe it just a hair to big for you right now, but you'll grow into it. Especially with Marie's cooking to help you grow up big and strong."

Harry looked at her curiously while having picked up his beloved teddy bear, Baloo, from the bed and hugged it close. "Y-You r-r-really think so, Ms. Patricia?"

Patricia smiled widely as she patted the little boy on the head. "Yup, without a doubt, you adorable little shrimp!" The cartoon-like girl's wide smile turned into a teasing pout. "And hey...Didn't I tell you to call me, Auntie Patty. You see, calling me Ms. Patricia makes me feel like an old hag..."

Harry looked down timidly in fear as he hugged his teddy bear; afraid that the cartoon-like girl would beat him up for his rudeness. "I-I-I'M SORRY!"

Patricia slightly jumped back at the unexpected reaction from the little boy and tried her best now to calm him down. "H-Hey, come on now, little squirt...There's no reason for those apologies...I was just joking with you, that's all!"

Marie pulled Harry close with one arm and smiled sadly at her friend. "You'll have to be careful with what you say with Harry, Patricia... He's...suffered." She said softly.

Patricia caught on, then slowly approached with her hands behind her back, a sly grin on her face. Then, she slowly reached forward and lightly poked at his nose with her finger. "Boop." She said.

Harry blinked at the sudden action, and Patricia gave his nose a slightly longer poke. "Boooop." The corners of his mouth turned up very slightly. "Heh. Now watch me do my nose." She poked her own nose, and a bicycle horn sounded off. Then she did it again. A slide whistle noise. Then again. A wacky thud sound. She continuously poked her own nose, and with each poke came a different goofy noise. And Harry was eating it up, his fear forgotten in favour of his hysterical giggles. Patricia finally took a bow. "Thank you, you're too kind." She said proudly.

Marie smiled fondly at her friend. She just knew how to make kids smile...

While Harry continued to giggle at the cartoon-based girl's super funny nose noises, Patrica's hat suddenly started to shake and move on it's own. Before either the little boy or Marie knew it, a litte bird-like creature that was dressed in similar clothes to Patricia had crawled out from the hat, while looking very grumpy and tired as it sipped it's coffee from it's tiny -sized mug.

Letting out a yawn, the little bird grumpily jumped from the hat and landed on Patricia's shoulder, while giving her a very annoyed glare. "God damn it, boss! Do you mind keeping it down with those noises already?!" The little bird continued to drink it's coffee, while complaining to the cartoon-like girl. "There are some of us here in this hat who are trying to have their beauty sleep!"

Peacock frowned at the bird and poked his beak, causing the sound of a braying donkey to sound out. "Hey, Ave, you're a cartoon character. And what's a cartoon character's main job?"

"Ugh... To make kids happy. But what's that got to do with..." He paused as he noticed Harry. "Oh. Oh! Uh..." To save face, he did a little dance, complete with a cane.

Harry gasped at the sight. "Birdie...?" He asked softly. Avery grinned. "And not just any bird! A peacock! Only the flashiest birds around! I'm always center stage with these babies!" His little tailfeathers emerged.

Harry broke out into a fit of giggles as the tiny bird gave his tail feathers a little shake. Marie smiled and turned towards the door only to remember that Harry was only wearing a towel. "Ah... Patricia, apologies for the sudden request, but would you mind conjuring some clothes for Harry? He's a little... underdressed at the moment."

Patricia blinked as she realized that the boy didn't even have a wardrobe to pack when Marie brought him home. She frowned for a moment before grinning as she decided to appeal to her friend's weakness for cute things and conjured some footie pajamas.

Going the extra mile, she made them cat themed, with a hood with cat ears and a tail attached to them. Marie gasped in surprise at the black and white pajamas. "Aww, it's a tuxedo cat, so cute!" In a flash, Harry was dressed and was amazed at just how soft and warm his new clothes were.

Taking a last look on his new clothes, Harry looked up at Patricia in a childlike wonder. "A-A-Are these really for me?"

Growing a gigantic cheeky smile on her face, the cartoon-like girl only responded with crouching down to Harry's level and ruffling his messy black hair with her hand. "Yup! They sure are and you better belive it, cutie-shrimp! If someone deserves those clothes more than anything, it's definitely you!"

Feeling the tears growing from his eyes, Harry jumped into the very much suprised Patricia's arms and hugged her as tightly as his little baby arms could hug. "T-Thank you! Thank y-you s-s-so m-much...A-Auntie P-P-Patty..."

Patricia was taken aback for a moment, before she let out a small chuckle and smiled warmly. "No sweat, kiddo..." She hugged him back and patted his back. "Here... Bet Marie wants to get a better look at ya." She held the boy out to her best friend with a toothy grin.

Marie clapped her hands over her mouth and let out a soft squee at the sight of his new pajamas. Snickering, Patricia leaned back and watched as Marie snatched Harry up and cuddled him tightly while nuzzling his little face.

Harry giggled before hugging her neck, almost causing Marie to squee. Meanwhile, Peacock and Avery let out soft 'aww's before Avery pulled out a tissue, "It's so cute it'll bring a tear to your eye." Peacock chuckled and reached up to rub his head.

"You're just a big softie when it comes to this kind of stuff."

Avery just pouted a bit, but said nothing, even leaning into the head rub a bit. Patricia chuckled. "So whattya say we go meet the gang, huh?" Marie sighed.

"Please do tell them not to be too rowdy this time. Last time they were in my house, I ended up trapped in the garden with only my posterior showing."

Patricia laughed while patting her friend's shoulder in a way to assure her everything was going to be fine. "Oh, come on! It was only one time and you know how the guys can get, right! It's in their nature to be rowdy, just like me!"

Marie only sighed and looked at her cartoon-powered friend, slightly irritated. "I'm serious this time, Patricia. I do not want to experience that embarrassing and humiliating moment again. Both you and I know it."

Peacock only shrugged in respone. "Well, at least It wasn't worse than the port-a-potty and wedding."

"Patricia..." Marie said in a low tone, eyes glowing an ominous blue.

Peacock let out a sheepish chuckle as she rubbed the back of her head. "Hey, I'm just messin' with ya. Yeah, they can get a little rowdy, but they're good guys. I'll tell them to tone it down a little, don't want to scare Harry." Avery grinned before leaning over to lightly poke her nose.

"Now who's the softy?"

Patricia snorted. "Puh-lease, Marie was all pouty and grumpy for days after that! No fun at all! Gotta keep the bff happy!" Marie shook her head in amusement at her friend's attempt to save face.

Marie smiled as she stepped past them. "You two get settled in the living room, and Harry and I will put on a pot of tea." Marie was nothing if not a welcoming hostess to her guests. Peacock shook her head in amusement as Marie cooed over Harry all the way to the kitchen.

"Yeah, sure! Whatever you say, "mom"..." Patricia ended her sentence with a little tease, which got her friend to slightly blush in embarrasement, which got the cartoon-like girl to burst out a laugh. "Hahahaha...Oh, man...You're just sooo easy sometimes, Marie!"

Marie only rolled her eyes in amusement at her friend's teasing. "Yes, yes...Very funny, Patrica...Very funny."

Patricia only chuckled before she eventually leaved to the living room to be with Harry. "That's so who I am...The funny one of us two!" As the cartoon-powered girl was about to leave, she suddenly remembered something and decided to inform her friend about it. "By the way, Marie! You wouldn't happen to have some soda or coffee I could have instead of tea? Now that I think about it, I don't exactly really like tea..."

Marie tilted her head. "Hmm... Coffee it is then, I suppose... I can't gurantee it will be any good however. Tea is my specialty." She hugged Harry close.

Harry contently rested against her, smiling as she gently stroked his back. He felt safe and at peace with her... And she very quickly picked up on that feeling. He was not in constant terror... He fully trusted her...

Marie's smile grew warmer as she felt Harry's current emotions. A far cry from his earlier terror, a mix of warmth, happiness, and contentment washed over her. A blend that she rarely got to feel from others even after reuniting with Patricia.

And this was directed entirely at her... He was much too young to understand the skullgirl though... If he did understand it, would he still have these warm, loving feelings for her? Or would he fear her like all the rest?

But luckily, Marie snapped out of her thoughts when she felt a small hand tugging on her apron. Looking down at her arms, she saw that Harry was looking at her with an adorable concerned look. "M-M-Marie...Is something w-wrong?"

Seeing the little boy's worried little face, Marie forced a warm motherly smile on her face to make sure Harry wouldn't worry about her. "Oh, everything is okay, honey. There is nothing to worry about, but thanks for showing concern for me. I'm very fortunate to have such a sweetheart as yourself to care about me that much."

Would he see her as a monster if he knew the whole story? She violently shoved those thoughts aside before they could take hold of her. All they would do was make her miserable, and she refused to let them drag her down after finally being freed from the heart's influence.

He was a sweet little thing, clearly having imprinted on her to at least a certain extent. She imagined he would accept her no matter what she was. At least she hoped so... For now, she would have faith.

Her eyes widened in shock as she found herself in front of the stove, and she lightly shook her head to clear away any distractions. After all, any sort of cooking required her best efforts. Even just putting the kettle on for tea.

Marie sighed in relief, as she began to put the tea kettle on the silver tray along with Peacock's coffee and some delicous brownies with chocolate frosting she had baked a few days ago, before she rescued Harry. "Good grief...Why am I still thinking about that. What I have done and caused Is all In the past now...So, I should be more focused on giving Harry the life he deserves and being there for him...No matter what!"

While Marie was busy with preparing the snacks, meanwhile in the living room, Peacock and Avery were watching on televison in a bored manner, as the cartoon girl was switching the channels with the remote.

"Man, I've seen these shows a million times already..." Patricia groaned. Avery turned to her.

"We could play cards instead..."

Marie's smile widened as the kettle started to whistle, and a brief check with a thermometer showed that the water was just right. A quick pour and the tea was steeping even as she carried the tray with one hand while the other held Harry at her hip. Her smile faltered slightly at the enthusiastic voices she could hear coming from the living room, she just hoped they didn't scare Harry.

She shook her head, dispelling the thought. Patricia's gang didn't fear much. But she and Patricia were among the list of things they did fear. The two of them would keep the rowdy cartoons in line.

With a smile back on her face, she carefully nudged the door open with her hips. Although she rolled her eyes when she found them all sitting at a conjured table playing cards. 'They're really playing cards after what happened last time? Patricia had to conjure up new furniture for most of my house!'

Shaking her head at the cartoon-like fools, Marie walked towards where they were playing with their cards and got their attention when they saw the tray the "redeemed" Skullgirls laid down on the table. "Here's some delicous brownies, everyone! Of course, some tea for both me and Harry...Of course, some coffee for you, Patricia, old friend...I know that coffee isn't my specialty...But I hope it will be good enough for your tastes."

Then she looked up and saw the rest of Patricia's gang was out and in on the card game as well.

She maintained her smile, but her aura shined bright in an intimidating manner. "Now, we're all going to remain calm and composed, aren't we, boys?" She asked with an underlying threatening tone.

Andy Anvil quickly waved his boxing gloves and shook his entire body, "N-no Ms. Marie, we were just playing go fish, honest. See, no poker chips this time." Marie quickly scanned the table and true to his word there were no gambling chips and neatly arranged pairs of cards lay on the table instead.

She smiled genuinely and nodder. "Very good, a nice wholesome game between friends. Perhaps Harry and I might join in next round." Patricia grinned widely and held up another stack of cards.

"Hop in when ready!"

They sat around the table, playing cards and sipping tea. Marie noted that Harry, while quiet, did not seem at all frightened by his current companions. If anything, he just seemed curious about them, wanting to know more.

Marie smiled as she whispered to him, "Those are Patricia's friends, the one who spoke to me earlier is Andy Anvil. Next to him is Tommy Ten-Tons, George Bomb, and last but not least Lonesome Lenny." Harry shyly waves to the living cartoons and they enthusiastically waved back... well the ones that had hands did.

He was relieved that they seemed friendly, and allowed Marie to carry him to a chair and sit, keeping him secure in her lap. She didn't think he was quite ready for the rowdy bunch without her holding him close.

Although it seemed that Patricia had warned them to behave as they were much more subdued than normal. Although that mostly just meant that no one had accused another of cheating and the card table hadn't been destroyed. Hopefully she wouldn't have to replace any of her furniture this time.

Thankfully, the evening went as well as could be. Harry asked questions, they answered him with a smile, everything was just fine and dandy. When the game was over, Patricia dismissed the gang and they vanished with a 'pop'.

Harry almost jumped in fright and shock at the sight when all of the members of Patricia's gang suddenly vanished. "W-What...What-What j-j-j-jus-s-st happened-"

Patricia only patted the little boy's head in amusement. "Oh, relax, kid! There's nothing to worry about! All of them are fine; I can assure you!"

Harry only blinked at the cartoon-like girl's answer in confusion. "B-But how did they j-just v-v-vanish?"

"Oh, they're back at their house inside my head." She snickered at Harry's confusion. "See, I shrink 'em down all tiny, and then..." She pulled out an x-ray machine and turned it on her head, showing that there was a small house seated atop her brain, with silhouettes of her gang visible from the windows. Harry blinked. Patricia smirked and shrugged her shoulders. "Hey, cartoon character. We just don't make any logical sense."

With a bounce of the cushion, she hopped into her favorite chair as she dismissed the card table, chairs, and playing cards as well. It was a point of pride for her to see just how far she had come since she first got her powers. Nowadays she could materialize just about anything with a little focus, instead of being mostly locked to her gang.

She leaned against the sofa with a smirk. "So whattya think, kiddo? The gang's pretty cool, huh?" Harry nodded his head.

"They're nice." He said shyly. Marie smiled serenely, glad that her new charge was quickly learning to like her best friend.

She turned her smile towards her old friend, "Thank you for keeping them on their best behavior, Patricia. I don't think Harry is quite ready to experience them as they usually are." Peacock waved it off.

"It's no trouble, Marie."

But before more words could be said between them, suddenly a telephone ring was head and Patricia took of her her hat while picking up her cell phone from it. The cartoon-like girl held the phone close to her ear and answered it. "Yes, hello? Oh, what's up, doc! Wait, what...Right now? Okay, okay...I get! Geez, take a chill pill, old man! I'll be on my way, okay! Yeah! Bye!"

As Patricia shut off her phone, she looked at her friend and the little boy apologetically. "Sorry, Marie and Harry! As much as I want to stay here and have fun with ya guys and all of that stuff...Ole' doc just gave me an important mission to take care of some terrorist bozo's that are currently holding several hostages in that new mall nearby."

She chuckled softly. "I'd come back afterwards, but ol' Benny gave me a stricter curfew after the last big incident at the football game."

Marie sighed and rubbed her forehead, she had both seen that particular incident on the news and gotten a firsthand account from Patricia of the events. While the initial fight hadn't fully been her fault she had been the one to escalate things. The devastation her boys were capable of was rather unmistakable.

"Thank you for coming, Patricia. I am very grateful you helped Harry feel safe... If he is going to see you several times a week, I am glad to know you are willing to tone down your usual antics." Marie said gratefully.

Patricia just waved it off with a grin, "It's no problem, Marie." Her grin faltered at her next words, "He... honestly reminds me of some of the younger kids, from back in the day, you know?" Marie solemnly nodded her head, she remembered all too well just how scared so many of those kids had been, but even then many of them were in better shape than Harry had been when she found him.

"Yes... He has certainly brought back memories... It hurt to see the children so emotionally damaged... But I just loved to take care of them..." She said with a fond smile, gazing down at Harry, who looked at her curiously.

Patricia reached over to ruffle his already messy hair, "Back in the day a lot of really bad stuff happened, and a bunch of kids like Marie and I were caught in the middle of it. Marie took charge and did her best to take care of everyone even as things got worse around us. Honestly, I don't think any of us would have made it a week without her."

Harry felt a whole new level of admiration for this woman that he already had started to look up to. Miss Marie really was a hero. She had saved far more than just him... She had saved many other kids as well.

Marie smiled down at him and gave him a peck on his forehead, "I couldn't just stand by and do nothing. Even... even if I failed to protect everyone in the end." Patricia scowled and rubbed one of her shoulders.

"That wasn't your fault and you know it, Marie. Those Medici scumbags were the ones who caused everything."

Marie smiled viciously. "I know. And this fact made their final fate so much more gratifying..." She relished in the menories of Lorenzo Medici grovelling at her feet, Vitale being ripped apart by skeletons, Eliza screaming in agony as she was slowly burned to mere ash...

A short, but sharp, whistle from Patricia snapped her out of her memories. "You might want to tone it down a bit, Marie. I don't think Harry is ready to see you like that." It quickly dawned on her that she had shown off her more bloodthirsty side in front of Harry and her face instantly flushed in embarrassment.

Luckily he didn't really seem to catch on, looking more confused than anything. Patricia tipped her hat. "Well, I better scram now. Don't want Illeum to nag me till she bores a hole in my head." She joked with a smile.

Marie shook her head in amusement, "You know she does that because she loves you like a daughter, right?" Patricia's smile grew a little more fond and a little less cheeky as she scratched her cheek.

"I know she does, even if it's a little smothering sometimes." She had looked after Patricia since she had first arrived at Lab Eight, just after she had lost her arms.

"Well... See ya, Marie..." She hugged her friend and messed up Harry's hair. "Nice meetin' ya, Harry..." And with a tip of her hat, a hole in the floor opened up and she fell through, the hole vanishing afterwards, leaving Harry and Marie alone.

Closing the door after her friend have now leaved, Marie picked up the little boy in her arm while giving him an eskimo kiss on his tiny little nose, which caused him to giggle. "So, what do you think of Patricia, Harry?"

Harry only looked down while having a small blush on his face along with a small smile. "S-She...She...She was nice, Marie."

The "redeemed" Skullgirls softly smiled at the cute little guy in her arms and pulled him closer into her bosom for a warm embrace. "Well, that's good. I know she has her crazy and insane moments at times. And sometimes, she can really drive me crazy...But to be honest, I couldn't ask for a better friend than her."

Harry smiled, then tilted his head. "Um... Why'd auntie Patty fall into a hole?"

Marie chuckled and slowly shook her head, "She never misses a chance to use that power..." She still remembered how Patricia had scared her the first time she popped in for a visit using it. She nearly had a heart attack and almost threw her cup of tea at her!

When he didn't seem to understand she continues, "Your aunty has powers of her own that let her makes things a bit more like a cartoon. Like some of the older ones on tv, so she can make holes that take her to other places among other things." Harry looks down and mumbles, "I wasn't allowed to watch the telly."

Marie widened her eyes in slight suprise at the little boy's answer, before she gritted her teeth in silent fury when she thought of Harry's relatives. But knowing that Harry might see her furious and it could scare the poor dear for life, the grey-haired maid quickly grow a warm and gentle smile on her face. "Really? Well, that my child...Is about to change..."

As she made her way to the couch, she put Harry down on it while giving him his teddy bear, Baloo, which he hugged with great joy. "Just stay right here, little one..." Marie smiled, patting Harry on his head. "I'll be right back!"

Marie went towards her bookcase, opening the glass doors and pulling out a few of her movies with all of them being gifts from Patricia. Some of those movies were suited to her tastes, like, for example, Titanic (One of her favorites) and Braveheart. But since she knew Harry was too little for those movies, she eventually decided to pick some cartoon movies instead. Usually she hated those movies, but since it was for Harry, she made an exception.

She then saw three potential movies that would be perfect for a child like Harry...The Aristocats, Shrek and The Jungle Book. After picking up the movies, she decided to let the little boy decide which movie he would like to see the most and she walked back towards Harry, who was currently sitting in the couch patiently while playing his beloved Baloo.

She held the flims aloft, and he inspected them carefully, wanting to pick the right one. Then he saw The Aristocats and his mind was made up immediately. "Can...Can we watch the kitty movie? I love kitties, but they never let me see them on tv..."

Marie smiled sadly as she hugged him close. "Yes, I figured as much... Well, I'm sure Patricia will want to introduce you to her shows..." She giggled softly. "I don't watch it myself much, but I knew keeping that television around was a good investment..."

Harry looked up at her before briefly glancing at the tv. "I can really watch the telly?" Marie kissed the top of his head.

"Of course you can sweetie, but there are still some rules." While Marie didn't mind him watching tv, after all there were some educational programs in addition to the cartoons, but she didn't want him sitting around and watching it all day or accidentally finding channels that he shouldn't be watching at his age.

He nodded his head in understanding and rested his head against her chest. Truthfully, he would much rather spend time with her. He felt most at ease when she was by his side and he wanted to enjoy that feeling as much as he could.

After Marie inserted the dvd disk into her Blu-Ray player, she went back to her place on the couch with Harry, as both of them began to enjoy the movie. As they watched the Aristocats, Harry found himself enjoying the movie and liked the scenes with the talking cats and the way Duchess cared for her kittens...It reminded him on how Marie had currently treated him...Like a mommy.

For Marie, however...While she did hate cartoon moves...The grey-haired maid found herself enjoying the movie. She definitely saw the film as grand fun all the way through.

When the movie ended, Harry felt elated, and overjoyed, and immensely grateful to Marie for allowing him to see this movie. He adored her so much...

Marie could feel that same mix of warm emotions flowing from him again and she smiled down at him as he reclined against her. When she sees him lightly struggling to stay awake, she gently rubbed his head, "You can take another nap if you want to, sweetie." Harry tried to protest but a soft yawn left his mouth instead.

"Aww... You see? You're just exhausted, you need your rest, you haven't had nearly enough of it... Just close your eyes, I won't go anywhere. I'll be waiting righy here for you to wake up... I won't even put you down."

Harry sleepily mumbled, "Promise?" even as his eyes started to close. Marie smiled and kissed his forehead.

"I promise Harry, you'll be right here in my arms when you wake up." Grabbing a nearby blanket, she wrapped him in it before cradling him in her arms.

When Harry finally fell asleep in her arms, she took the little boy to her room and laid him down on her bed while giving him his blankie and Baloo; to which he hugged them in a adorable way while sleeping. After giving him one last kiss on the forehead, she decided to take a nap herself as she hugged the little boy closer to her warm embrace.

He nuzzled into her as she cradled him like a baby and rocked him back and forth, softly humming a song into his ear to soothe him to sleep. When she heard his soft snores, she looked down to see him innocently sucking his thumb.

Marie placed a soft kiss on his forehead before tiptoeing her way over to a recliner, another of her more indulgent purchases like her bed. With a soft sigh, she made herself comfortable before leaning back in her seat. She couldn't put Harry down until he woke up, she always tried to keep her promises after all, so she might as well follow his lead and take a nap as well.

She closed her eyes with a smile as she gently ran her fingers through his hair to keep him at ease as he slept soundly in her embrace. Then he said something that warmed her heart. "Love you... mama..."

Before she knew it, a few tears slowly began to fall down from her red eyes and with both of her hands on her chest. Even though she knew deep inside that Harry was still asleep and he didn't really know what he just said right now...But to hear him calling her his mama...It brought great joy and happiness to the "redeemed" Skullgirl.

Pulling the little boy closer to her bosom, she nuzzled his little cheek while whispering gently into his ear. "Yes...Mama loves you too, little one...Mama loves you too..."

She felt love bubble up from within her, the love of a mother for her child. Blinking away a tear, she placed one last kiss on his temple and whispered in his ear, "I love you too, Harry." She meant every last word with all of her heart.

She hugged him as tightly as she could and closed her eyes once more. "I know you're fast asleep, Harry... But I would love to be your mother... More than anything..." She whispered to him softly as he snuggled in.

Marie spent a couple minutes softly humming to Harry even as her own exhaustion started to creep up on her. A part of her eagerly awaited another restful slumber without the whispering in her mind. She rubbed soft circles on Harry's back with one hand while the other blindly groped for a nearby blanket before throwing it on top of them as she finally started to drift away.