Robin woke up relatively late. She cringed, remembering the events of the past night. Robin had to hand it to her, Loretta was an animal. There was nothing she valued more than a tough woman, but this? This was truly terrifying.

She slowly picked her head up and was relieved to see Loretta wasn't there. The coast was clear! Robin sprung out of bed and ran for her boyfriend in the kitchen.

"Barney!" Robin bumped into him and then stopped short seeing Loretta look up from her cooking to smile sweetly at her. What sort of mind games was she playing?

"Robin? Why aren't you dressed?" Barney questioned. She looked down and turned as white as her sleeping gown. Her pajamas? Rookie mistake!

"Dear, you're making this all too easy," Loretta mumbled.

"What'd you say mum?"

"Nothing wuv-wuv! Robin, could I talk to you for a sec?" Barney smiled at Robin, thinking his mom must love her.

"You've got to stop being so jumpy Robin. You are going to scare Barney!" Loretta said. Robin found something truly repulsive in this; Loretta was sure getting her kicks. But Robin promised herself she wouldn't let Loretta see even an iota of discomfort from her.

"Are you kidding me?" She commented, back from space. Loretta scowled slightly. "You're threatening me, or course I'm jumpy!"

"Darling you must understand that I'm only looking out for Barney's best interests. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen," Loretta winked and walked back in to finish cooking.

But before Loretta made it all the way out the hall Robin yelled, just loud enough for only Loretta to hear, "I'll tell Barney!"

Loretta turned around sharply. "Who will he believe, Robin?"

Robin's face began to burn hot with embarrassment. She wiped furiously at her cheeks with the back of her hands. Robin accidentally locked eyes with Loretta for a split second and she knew everything would come spilling over if she stood here any longer. She dashed into a random room and slammed the door.

She gasped when she saw another woman in the room with her. Not another Meg! But Robin wishes it was another Meg when the figure turns around to reveal a dark skinned man.

"James?"

James' fingers went limp causing him to drop his chalk. Robin would have laughed at his half-whitened face, if only it wasn't his.

"Robin!" James grabbed her wristed and pulled her forward. "You shouldn't have seen that!" he spat angrily.

"What are you doing?" Robin felt a tear drop to the floor and realized she was crying, terrified.

He looked at her, not even trying to mask the pain in his eyes, for a long moment.

"Well?" Robin stammered. "Why are you doing this!" …. "Stop! Stop! J- Just STOP!" she screamed, pushing his chalk and dies off the vanity, and just going mad in general.

"Oh bloody!-" Robin collapsed onto the floor in a tantrum of tears and moans. Her shoulders heaved up and down and James sat down next to her silently reassuring her.

After Robin had calmed down a reasonable amount she looked up at James expectantly. He sighed deeply and began to explain- or rather try to explain- what he was doing.

"When I was young, I used to dream that I was a girl. It really scared me and one day I exploded- kind of like you just did- and told my mom, and she didn't care or freak out or anything, she just said 'it's okay, you were never made to be like everyone else; you be whoever you want here, okay?' Mom even called me Jamie when I wanted. She taught me how to put on make-up and sew... I- I guess coming back here made me feel safe enough to do it again, my … my boyfriend lets me do it and-" He sighed again, "Robin you won't tell anyone, will you?"

"No, never Jamie- if I can call you that, I wouldn't do that to you," Robin spoke softly, "Does Barney know?"

He looked up at her dubiously, "Of course! He's only my brother, Robin." The way he spoke was so Barney-ish that Robin couldn't believe she ever doubted the two were brothers. "And you're my almost sister, you can call me Jamie."

A familiar moment of silence passed. Finally James quietly said, "Mum really likes you."

Robin scoffed, "Are you serious?"

"Hey! I know you think she hates you, but she does this to everyone we bring home. It's a test Robin; don't let it get to you." And with that he stood up and walked out.

"Knock, knock," Robin opened the door a crack and peered in.

"Come in," Loretta sighed.

"I can come in? Have I passed then?" Robin teased.

"What?"

"You can't fool more anymore Loretta; I know who you really are- a lovely person!"

"So you've figured me out then. How?"

"I had a bit of a run in with James."

"Oh? I hope you didn't give him any trouble…"

"No, of course not."

"'Right then, turn off the lights, will you dear?"

Robin blew out all the flickers of light left in the room and settled under her rough cotton sheets. "And Loretta?"

"Hmm?"

"…My dad was never there for me as a kid, and I just wanted to say, it's real amazing that you were for Barney and Jamie."

"Of course, dear… And don't hesitate to ask if you need anything when you're my daughter. I'll be there for you too."

Tears sprung to Robin's eye for the third time that day. She barely choked out, "Thanks."