"Come in Kent," Gillian gestured from the couch. Owen had just been fed and he was content in her arms, barely awake and more than likely about to drift off to sleep. His eyes fluttered, dark lashes framing blue eyes as they fell closed again. Gillian couldn't wait to see what colour they would settle on. Her blue or Cal's grey. It would be nice to have one of each.

Kent waved a hello to her and she smiled and indicated he should take a seat next to her. He did, Cal trailing along behind them, Lewis in his arms. Their eldest was having a hard time figuring out where he stood, where any of them stood, now that Owen was home. People dropped by to see the baby all the time, and it wasn't just about Lewis not being the centre of attention anymore. It was hard for all of them, knowing what to do now that Owen was home. There was a lot of waiting around for the worst to occur so they could act as promptly as possible. Owen still wore the bruise on his leg from where his father had pinched him, trying to bring him back from the worst spell of apnoea yet.

Yesterday Lewis had got home from day care just in time for Owen's first pointless cry. At first he was the concerned big brother, asking if he could do anything to help, then making suggestions that maybe Wen was upset because his diaper nappy (he couldn't decide what to call it, seeing as his parents insisted on referring to it by both names) was wet, or maybe his tummy was empty, or maybe he needed a nap; because sometimes when Lewis got upset it was because he was tired, Dad told him so. But no, Gillian had already tried those things and she figured it was just Owen's first extended crying period and so she merely tried to soothe the baby as best she could while Lewis walked around the house with his hands over his ears and winced at the noise his little brother was making.

Gillian asked Kent how he had been since she saw him last and he nodded and signed that he was 'fine'. He asked after her and she said the same. He asked after Owen and Gillian nodded again. "Do you want a hold?" Gillian asked the young man once he was settled. She couldn't sign with her arms full of a baby, but she knew he could read her lips. He looked a little unsure. "Go on," she coaxed, already reaching out to hand the baby over. Cal took a seat on the coffee table in front of them, Lewis in his lap. Gillian shifted Owen to Kent's arms, adjusting the blanket he was swathed in so his face was clear, making sure the monitor was still close by, making sure his neck was supported and his airway was open; and yes, he had gone to sleep, perfect for guest cuddle time.

When she looked up again, Cal had a soft expression on his face, a bit like the first time they'd seen their first baby on a sonogram. And Gillian suddenly realised just how much Kent meant to Cal. She might not know all the details about Kent's family situation or his childhood, or who he was close to, but she did know, from meeting him in the hospital several years ago, that he had been lonely, and now, maybe not so much. If Cal had anything to do with that then Gillian was incredibly proud of him. By the look on his face, it there was a really good chance he had.

Gillian got up, giving her husband's shoulder a gentle squeeze as she went by. He barely glanced up at her. He had been a lot more protective since that really bad spell of apnoea. So had she. Maybe it would fade when the bruise was no longer there to remind them. She caught the wave of Kent's hand as he signed something but she left the boys to it; all the boys. She would probably get a report from Cal later about how it had gone. And she might just ask about Kent a whole bunch more too; try to get to know him.

Cal watched Gillian head out of the room and then focussed back on Kent's hand. He was gushing, bless the young man, about how sweet Owen was, how 'beautiful'. Then he finger-spelled Owen's name with a questioning gesture: Owen what? Cal slowly signed out 'Michael'. Kent nodded again; his approval.

"Dad?" Lewis suddenly perked up.

"Yeah buddy?" Cal turned his attention to the almost-five-year-old.

"Do I have another name?"

"You sure do. It's 'Guy'." He spelt it out for Lewis to see.

"What guy?"

"No, that's a name," Cal corrected him, tapping the edges of his fingers against each other. "That's your name. Lewis Guy Lightman."

"Oh," Lewis responded with a thoughtful expression. "And Owen's name is Michael?"

"Yes."

"I like that name." He brought his hand away from his chest, bending his middle finger so the tip was against his thumb.

"Me too."

"Who picked that name?"

"Well your Mum picked Owen and I picked Michael." Cal could see out of the corner of his eye that Kent was following along the conversation.
"And what was Lily's name?" Lewis asked innocently.

"Her middle name?" Cal stalled. What was Lily's middle name? His mind drew an alarming blank. He could feel it there, a block... Gillian had left the room so she was going to be no help.

"Yes," Lewis nodded, waiting patiently.

"It was..." Almost there... it was right on the edge... "Kiera."

"That's like Kiera!" Lewis responded wide eyed.

"That's exactly right," Cal agreed with a nod. "Because, remember? Kiera was Lily's mum."

Lewis turned in his father's lap to face Kent. "Kent what's your name?" He pointed to the young man and tapped his fingers on the edge of the others. Cal suspected he had been dismissed, so slipped Lewis to stand on his own feet and got up. The boy climbed up on the couch carefully next to the baby and Kent. And then Cal realised as he got to the breakfast bar, he couldn't exactly leave the room could he? He couldn't leave a deaf man and a hard of hearing boy with an audible alarm. That could be seriously asking for trouble. It was tense enough as it was right now.

Gillian smoothed a hand over the back of his shoulder as he stood by the sink. "What's on your mind?" She murmured, pressing a kiss against his temple.

Cal turned to her with a softer expression than the thoughts in his head. "Silly stuff."

"Hm."

"We should invite Em and Ajay ova for dinna sometime. Now that Owen's more... settled."

"Definitely," Gillian nodded, smoothing her fingers through the hair at the back of his neck.

"Want her here a bit more."

Gillian nodded.

Cal put an arm around her. "Want our family to stick togetha."

Gillian's face fell a little and Cal could see all the worry there from the other day. Owen nearly died. That was the closest they had ever got to him checking out on them and it brought back uncomfortable memories of Lily, without Lewis even having to bring her up. "Me too."