A/N: Back to the dinner party now...

Bonus - Week 16 - UDC 10

Patina

The part about Harry Burrows having had bad timing made him want to drag both Noah and Chelsea outside to ask questions to get a better understanding, but as Mike watched them interact with Pete, he realized there was no need. There was context here in front of him, plain as day. This was a family that was being knit back together, that had been separated... because of Colic? In any other setting, it wouldn't have made sense to remove a child from his guardians, especially when Colic was a temporary problem.

Another thing was the part of this where Pete apparently didn't think anything of not telling people when he was hungry. Had some of his placements been that bad, that being hungry was normal?

The anger at the entire situation must have shown on his face because Walt was suddenly tapping him on the shoulder again as a silent reminder about composure. He glanced up at him and found understanding, because of course Walt wasn't actually amused in the middle of all this. Of course he wasn't, and the teenagers watching Pete interact with the toddlers weren't, either, by the looks of them.

Infest

When Noah pointedly asked the three of them about the base tour during dinner, Nick wasn't sure why he was even brining it up... until Pete started talking a minute about the F-14's and Mike's face lit up with wonder, almost as if he were seeing him for the first time. Taking that in, Nick nudged him and directed Pete back to his plate. It was one thing to start a discussion, but to do it before dinner was over... wait, why was Charlotte winking at him?

"Pete? Dad said you surprised him, and Rotor and Blaze hadn't known who had flight-tested for Grumman before."

"He surprised the rest of us, too," Jaime pointed out. "How do you know Josiah Carpenter? Aside from school, I mean. It's been months and he still hasn't said."

Pete shrugged. "Carpenter's were my best attempt at a placement with a Naval family."

"That's true," Alan spoke up. "He was with them the longest of the three."

Was it Nick's imagination, or was Mike nodding along with that statement? Pete wasn't looking in the man's direction, because Bart, on his other side, had leaned over and whispered something at him, too low to pick up. Pete's response caused Bart to frown and glance up at him, his expression a mix of things Nick couldn't immediately identify.

Corner

After dinner, Helen watched as Dean caused her husband, Mike, Noah, and Alan to disappear to the backyard to talk amongst themselves while she helped Sheryl clean up. Charlotte had offered to help, but they'd both rebuffed her and directed her to the living room where the boys were helping Chelsea entertain the twins. She caught Nick trying to go out the back door and glared at him. "You can ask your father later."

"But Ma-"

She glared at him. "This was a lot, or Mr. Tomkins wouldn't have done that. Right, Sheryl?"

"Exactly that." Sheryl pointed towards the living room. "Go on, Nick. They're probably giving Mike the names of the pilots who let Pete do pre-flight checks with them and a better understanding of what happened on the tour."

"He already seemed to know about the Carpenters," Nick mused. "Did you catch that?"

Sheryl nodded. "Because Alan probably got him to talk to at least one of the failed placement families. I would have, in his shoes." A laugh sounded from the living room and she smiled. "Now stop trying to adult before you're ready to and go join them. Clear?"

Nick nodded. "Ma?"

"Git, Nick."

He got.