"There there. It's alright baby- Barry. It's alright Barry." Atlanta soothed. Barry nodded. While she was glad he hadn't worked himself up into a real state, Atlanta hated seeing him in any kind of upset. She thought she heard the porch door click. She certainly heard her father's hover chair. She was about to ask her dad to give them a minute.

But then Barry Pulled back and sat up suddenly.

"Can I... call you something?" He blurted out.

"What?" Atlanta blinked.

Barry wiped his face. Nearly on his sleeve then remembered the tissues. And said again. "Can I call you something? like 'Mom'?"

"But NOT mommy. And I'm not sure how I feel about mom." He insisted before Atlanta could say anything. And explained,

"See I don't want to call you mom, Atlanta. I mean calling you Atlanta is cool. Especially as the other kids don't get to call their mom's by their first names. But that's what you are? You're my lo-co-parent-ess right? So you are a mom to me. I was thinking about it a lot actually. before today I didn't know a good time to ask..."

Again Atlanta was too stunned to speak. Or say anything intelligent.

"Oh?"

"Yeah. But my mommy was my mom. 'mom' I mean. And I don't want to replace her." Barry reasoned. "But can I call you something? something like it instead? If that's okay?"

"Okay." Atalanta started, trying to get her brain to kick into gear. She couldn't stop smiling though. "Like 'aunty'? or something along those lines?"

"Urm. Maybe? That could work." Barry shrugged, but he'd become all tense and fidgety again. even Stuttering a little. "But. I was thinking. More … it-It would be nice to say stuff like "Atlanta is my... Foster mom?' but not if you don't like it! obviously."

"We can certainly Try it out?" Atlanta said, softly. "Barry, I'd like that. Really I would. Especially If that's what you want too."

Barry Nodded. "or adopted mom when the papers are done? Please? Rather than just a guardian. But not Mom on its own. If that makes sense?"

"Sure. If you feel comfortable. Yeah. Yeah, that sounds kinda nice huh?" Atlanta reassured him. And tried. "Hi this is Barry, my foster son. I'm his Foster-mom. I'm his adopted mom. Barry's my adopted son. something like that?"

Barry grinned. "Yeah, like that? I like it."

"I like it too." Atlanta Beamed. And Barry relaxed. A lot. Poor thing must have wound himself up for a good while…

"Oh no." Atlanta said suddenly.

"What?"

"I'm afraid that deep sea monsters gonna get you again." She replied, and scooped him up into a cuddle again, Sans' tickling. If only so as not to blub or cry. because her heart felt so full.

"Atlanta I was being serious!" Barry complained, laughing, and giving Atlanta back the biggest squidgy squeeze of a hug.

"Alright alright." She relented and let him loose.

"Can I call you something like mom then?" He checked clambering back to his seat.

Atlanta nodded, absolutely fizzing with delight,

"sure. If not mom, then What did you have in mind?

Barry Sighed as if she'd asked him another rather tricky maths puzzle.

"Gee I don't know really." he lifted her arm to deposit himself into a hug again, Wiggling around in her arms to get comfy on the couch.

"I know you call commander shore father more then you call him dad when you're talking to him." Barry continued. "but 'mother'. Sounds yucky. It's too formal and weird. Mother."

"Hmm." Atlanta agreed and wrinkled her nose. Not at the word itself so much as how British Barry sounded. Or like the lead child in a horror movie? (one of those old ones Fisher would call a classic but she knew privately he'd be too scared to watch alone!)

"Mother." Barry tried again. "Nuhuh."

"No." Atlanta agreed. "It's too formal for us, isn't it? Any other ideas?"

"I wrote out a list somewhere. But I think I left it in my locker." Barry started. "Er.. Mama was on there. And mam. Mammi, that was maybe? Memaw. Maylu. Mum, mummy. I got a book from the library, it had words for family in a bunch of different languages! Oh and this is 'mother' in American sign?" Barry said, looking up at her. spreading his hand wide, he touched his chin with his thumb.

"I knew 'father' already from you and Marina. but this was in that book too. I don't know what foster mom is though. Or son. I'll ask Mrs Gertude. But I can call you mother by sign because at least that doesn't sound bad."

He made it again as he spoke. Atlanta laughed a little at that, copying it and agreed. but what Barry said Stunned her. A real knock for six this time. Or more hit by a train.

"But I like Momma. That was one of my favourites. Momma." He said, turning back to his fish. "Momma," he said again, trying it out aloud. "Moh-mah? mom-ma. It's not too babyish is it?..."

"n-No." Atlanta Breathed. "Momma…could work. If you like?"

"I like it. What do you think, Momma?" Barry grinned, turning to face her. Then frowned.

"Atlanta? I don't have to use it if you don't like Momma."

"No. I do." Atlanta insisted. "I- l'd like that. a lot."

A big traitorous tear slipped out, so quick it had already run down her face and fell on her collar before Atlanta could halt it.

"Oh shoot-!"

Another fell. And Atlanta couldn't stop them or how her throat closed up.

"Is it that bad?!" Barry bolted up and started calling out for the commander. "Sir? Sam? Mo- Atlanta's crying! Sam-!"

"Shh shh. Barry it's alright. No no. no, don't shout him. Come sit back down." Atlanta soothed.

"But You're crying though?" Barry worried, Panicked by the Sudden tears. He thrust her his handkerchief and Her own back at her, as well as a wad of hastily pulled Tissues from the box on the coffee table.

"I am. I'm not sure why. I'm an easy crier Barry you know that. I'm okay." Atlanta insisted, making a half attempt to save her mascara. She was Surprised her father hadn't come dashing in. She could have sworn she heard his chair…

Barry Sat down but remained unconvinced.

"Are you sad? Because I said 'mo'- what I did." He asked.

"No. no Not sad Barry. Well I am but-"Atlanta said. And despite herself and her tears, laughed. Talking might make it worse, but she couldn't sum it up other than to say, "Happy sad."

Barry gazed up at her, baffled, and patted his adult's shoulder until Atlanta had got control back.

"Okay. It's okay Barry. You took me by surprise is all."

"because I called you that word?" Barry asked, struggling to understand.

"Momma. You can say it sweetheart, it's okay."

"Really?"

"Yes. Yes dear of course you can. I was crying because- well It's silly but." Atlanta took another breath.

"That's what my mother was to me, Barry. My mom." She said Quietly. "That's what I used to call her. Momma."