Nod hadn't cared when Ronin got up. Ronin always got up before he did, but when the general came back in to say goodbye and he was in his armor, Nod started to cry. He was screaming or trying to cling to Ronin. He just sat up in bed when he saw him and cried.

"It's okay chickadee," Ronin picked him up and carried him into the living room where Orla was waiting, "I'll only be gone the morning."

Nod sniffed and buried his face against Ronin's shoulder, holding onto his armor.

"Good morning sweet pea," Orla ducked her head slightly to catch the boy's eyes.

"I'll be home for lunch," Ronin made the sign for lunch, "I won't be gone very long."

Nod toyed with the buckles on Ronin's armor, cooing and chirping sadly.

"Would you like some breakfast sweet pea?" Orla held her arms out to him.

Nod shook his head, hands tightening around Ronin's buckles.

"I bet Miss Orla would let you stir the batter for pancakes," Ronin tried, bouncing the boy a little.

"I'd even let you pour your own syrup," Orla coaxed.

Nod cocked his head towards her slightly, but didn't make any move to let go of Ronin.

"I'll pick up something good for lunch on my way home," Ronin kissed the boy's forehead and shifted him into Orla's arms.

He whined and pressed his face against Orla's shoulder.

"Maybe we'll take a nap this morning," Orla rocked slightly with Nod and patted his back.

"He's probably tired," Ronin nodded, "he didn't sleep very well last night."

Nod had slept better than the last few nights, but he had still woken up crying more than once.

Ronin said goodbye and left Nod sniffling and whimpering in Orla's arms. He paused outside the door and listened, but Nod didn't start screaming.

He let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding and left for his first meeting of the morning.

"Was he under his blanket all morning?"Ronin frowned at the lump on his couch.

"He crawled under it after breakfast," Orla nodded, "he cried for a while, but no screaming. I think he might have fallen asleep for a while too."

"I guess that's better than him in hysterics," Ronin sighed.

Ronin had really been hoping that Nod would be alright with Orla if it was just for a morning, and they would be able to get back into their normal routine, but it looked like Nod was going to be unhappy with him leaving for a while.

"I think he's alright," Orla said, "he ate, and he fell asleep, so he's not that upset. At least not the way he was. It will probably take him a few days of getting used to you coming home at the same time to feel better about you leaving."

That was the plan, to give Nod as much consistency as possible. Ronin was hoping it would only take a few weeks for him to be able to get back to working full days, although Finn had done a very poor job of disguising his glee over doing less paperwork.

"Then I'll see you tomorrow morning," Ronin said.

Orla said goodbye and patted Nod's head through the blanket. The boy grumbled and wiggled, pulling the blanket more tightly around himself.

"So how was your morning buddy?" Ronin sat on the couch beside him.

Nod rolled over under his blanket to face the back of the couch, and Ronin had no doubt that he was pouting, even without being able to see his face.

"I have twenty incident reports to get through and fifteen disciplinary cases," Ronin rubbed the boy's back, "I can read them to you, and you'll sleep for the rest of the day."

The grumpy growl that came from under the blanket summed up Ronin's thoughts on what he would be spending the rest of the afternoon doing.

At least he would be home.

"But first lunch," Ronin patted the boy's head and pushed himself up, "I got some of those sweet rolls you like to go with it."

Nod didn't respond right away, but after a moment he chirped and stuck his hand out of the blanket, wiggling his fingers.

Ronin paused. While Nod still wasn't talking, he seemed to be understanding more and more of what was said to him. Ronin supposed that was how it had been when he first started talking as well. He had shown a decent understanding for a while before he had actually said any words.

Nod twittered impatiently, and Ronin went to get him a sweet roll. Maybe lunch would put the boy in a better mood.