There was a pause as they both processed, (or in Atlanta's case, remembered) that information. Barry then moved from being snuggled to her, to wrapping her up in his own shorter arm. A one-armed Barry bear hug. It was a lovely gesture. Even if the photo frame he'd still had hold of ended up dug into her chest.
"It's okay. I'm sorry, Atlanta. I'm sorry you lost Elaine. But it'll be okay right?" He mumbled into her shoulder, trying to soothe her heart ache. Like she'd done for him. Barry had such a big heart, bless him. Atlanta was real proud of how he was such a kind boy. A kind son, even.
Atlanta Chuckled and hugged him back.
"thanks. I know." She smiled sadly. "Time makes it better, Barry. Or at least it gets easier. You grow and you get better. even on days that are really hard. and it's okay to still miss someone even if it's been a while?"
"yeah…it doesn't hurt so much now. Just a lot sometimes rather then all the all the time all at once." Barry agreed, talking about his own grief.
"Will it make you too sad?" he asked after another pause. "If I call you momma? I don't have to? I can use a different word?"
It'll be Bittersweet. Atlanta thought. But said,
"No. I won't be sad. You can call me momma if you'd like."
And truthfully added, "It'll feel like another tie to her. To my momma. If that's alright with you, honey?"
"I'd like that Atl- momma." Barry tried it. It would take some getting used to. For both of them.
"And if you try it for a while, and decide that it doesn't work? well, then that's okay too?" Atlanta told him. "don't feel like you have to use it to make me happy? Or you can't call me 'Atlanta' or something else."
Barry nodded, still Cuddled up to her. He was very quiet for a long moment again. So much so she thought he'd finally fallen asleep. Atlanta had to admit it she was pretty tired out too now.
"Momma?" Barry suddenly asked in a mumble and Tapped her shoulder. "What songs?"
"Huh?"
"What songs? you said your momma sang to you." He asked. "Like what did she sing to you?"
"Oh goodness. Everything and anything." Atlanta smiled. "we'll be here a long time if I start listing each and every song-!"
"Can you sing to me, like her?" Barry asked sleepily.
"oh. I'm Better at playing really." Atlanta dismissed. Her piano was in the other room. And she wasn't moving to set it up now. Barry didn't seem to mind.
"I like it when you sing." He wheedled. Using the same big puppy dog eyes that had gotten him that Christmas in Marineville in the first place.
"Please?" he pestered, singing 'Show me' too. This caused his foster mom to Chuckle again. And give in.
"Well. Alright. This was her favourite." Atlanta started and Hummed it.
Then sang softly, some lyrics to some old pop song. Then a different song. And another. Barry hummed along at first. Then after a few minutes began drifting off, Still Cuddled up to her on her lap.
It Might have been a little babyish to rock him gently, swaying to the music she was missing. But it worked. Even if Barry wasn't a baby. Barry yawned. His Eyelids dropped and drooped. Atlanta Brushed his fridge out of his eyes , still singing; Moving to A soft silly One from fireside camps and girl scouts,( with Elaine as the camp first aider). Atlanta Didn't think she'd remember the words but they came back to her all this time. Even as it slipped into something from a musical, Turning that reprise into a lullaby. Then rescued The picture frame he still held before it slipped from his fingers as he final fell asleep. Barry didn't stir as she shifted to place and stand the photo the on the coffee table. Nor as she leant back in the seat or as Atlanta's singing returning to a hum, Slowed then then stopped.
So she Kept him Wrapped up in her arms. Safe against her as Barry slept. Barry wasn't a baby. But he'd become hers. Her son. Oh good grief, her son? Just like she was his foster parent, his momma. Momma…
Atlanta Sighed, Emotional wrecked. and Pressed another kiss in his hair. Almost drowsy herself, Atlanta closed her eyes too. Just for a second. She might have drifted off too…
If a CLICK of a camera and a whir of film hadn't suddenly set her on the alert!
Atlanta Looked up sharply. And Caught a glance of someone's shadow, ducking back behind the partition. It was followed by the sound of some stifled giggles.
"Shh!"
"you'll wake him!"
"That's adorable!"
"Marina says be quiet."
"you're the one talking?"
"Come on out of there." She heard her dad say gruffly, "Leave them alone…Is Atlanta asleep too?"
"Not sure, sir. Want me to check?
"Absolutely not, Tempest."
Atlanta bit her tongue on a curse. She'd almost forgotten about card night! So had the crew, judging by the time. The clock showed Quarter, almost twenty, past nine. Gently as possible she lifted Barry off her, just enough to get up from under him. then settled Barry on the settee. He mumbled but didn't wake. Atlanta hastily Pulled a throw over him And switched off the small lights in the lounge, leaving just one lamp on instead. She Watched him sleep for a second.
Then Face aflame Atlanta quietly stalked out. And stood in the doorway with her Hands on hips. Marina saw her first and the nudge went around sharp, and the Whispering stopped just as quick too. Five not so innocent faces looked up at her scowling one.
"Busted." Fisher whispered. It didn't help that Phones still had his Snap-o-Matic camera still out.
"Let me guess," Atalanta said in a hush, thoughly unimpressed. "You heard the WHOLE thing?"
"The whole what?" Troy looked about. There was a consensus of head shakes. "Well no honey. Just you singing?"
Atlanta blushed again.
"Hm. When did you sneak in anyway? I didn't hear the bell go."
"Just a couple of minutes ago" Her father said. "'Lanta, sweetheart, give it a rest. I was outside for a smoke anyway so I let them in."
"Must have been a Very long smoke?" Atlanta challenged. The commander shrugged, not dignifying that with a comment.
Granted He had cut down on the cigars. Atlanta hadn't asked him or any of the others too, just that they at least smoke outside or away from Barry.
But Her father had a very soppy look. One he was struggling to mask. Atlanta Wondered how much he'd heard before the other had arrived. And how much sneaking back and forth had been going on, too. because she'd certainly heard his chair she was sure of it.
Luckily for the commander, she was distracted by the captain.
"We were late back, sorry. We hit a spot of trouble." Troy apologised. "Nothing serious or we couldn't handle. but Stingray needed her propeller and flood tank checked before we disembarked and then we had to speak to the engineers."
"Which meant we held Fisher up from clocking out too. Plus changing out of uniform." Phones added then grinned. "but Wasps honour. All we heard was you singing to Barry. Just singing."
"Which was Real cute." Fisher agreed, only A little teasingly. Marina nodded and gave a soft little clap 'yes' of agreement, cautious of making too much noise, (of all people!).
" Very. " She signed/said. Then Flipping through her little keychain of flash cards Barry had given her at Christmas; Marina held up one that said 'Sweet' on one side and a picture of a cupcake on the other. She also signed 'A' followed by half a dozen w's to make "aww", and grinned up at her friend.
"Cheeky." Atlanta laughed, her cheeks feeling as red as her hair. She gave the mermaid a friendly shove towards the kitchen. "You folks. Honestly! Go on through, we'll set up the game in there."
Relieved not to get a telling off, they went to do so.
"Someone else will have to get the drinks together though;" Atlanta added. "I just need to put Barry to bed properly. that couch isn't very comfortable to sleep on."
"I'll help you." Troy said doing a one-eighty and following her rather than the others. "I could carry him upstairs instead?"
"Oh, would you?" Atlanta beamed.
"Better take the elevator then." The commander said, pressing a few buttons on his chair. There was a clunk from the other room as a ceiling panel slid back and the very basic platform and safety rail lowered into the hallway. The elevator was mostly used for when the commander needed to go to the rooftop and grab a Heli jet straight to HQ in an emergency. Most of the Shore's living space was on the ground floor for ease of his access. But on the second floor there was a second office, a utility room, another bathroom and a couple of small guest rooms. One of which now belonged to Barry.
"I'd rather not explain to a first aider if our top captain was suddenly out on the sick with a bad back."
Atlanta rolled her eyes fondly.
"Yes thank you, father. And Thanks Troy. That's very sweet of you."
"Well. it Saves waking him up then?" Troy reasoned. "I thought he'd want to stay up late though."
"He tried. Poor dear is worn out." Atlanta smiled.
"Yeah. Don't forget my two chips." The commander cut in.
"I won't." Atlanta said. Then muttered, "I was hoping you had."
As the commander explained the bet that had been going on to the others, Troy followed Atlanta.
"Hey there Mister." He said quietly, scooping up the kid. "Upsa-Barry."
That time Barry stirred. He mumbled something unidentifiable, then wrapped his arms and legs around Troy like a koala bear. and went right back to sleep.
"Why troy you're a natural." Atlanta whispered.
"he's been practising with the gym bags." Phones grassed.
"oh?"
Troy avoided that awkwardly. "I guess. let's- lets get you- get barry to bed-?"
CLICK.
"Phones! put that camera down!"
He didn't. there was another click. Phones just grinned and wound on the film. "Ah but skipper, it's such a nice shot."
"Why do you even have that on you?" Atlanta asked. Not that she was unhappy to have some nice pictures of her two boys. Abiet with Troy scowling in the second one.
Phones shrugged. "I need to use the last of the film up to send it off, and thought I'd get a few funny snaps over playing cards? or get some pretty pictures for the albums."
"Point it at the girls instead then." Troy grumbled. It only encouraged Phones to aim the Snapomatic at him again.
"aw but you look so charming, captain-!" Atlanta cooed.
"Gross." Came a small voice.
Everyone froze. Troy had gone very pale, as if handling a live sticker bomb. Barry turned his head the other way and rubbed his eyes, but didn't say anything else.
Marina put her finger to her lips. then ducked under Phones' raised arm and around the side of them. Atlanta was about to ask what she was up to, when Marina retrieved Barry's stuffed fish where it had fallen on the floor. and gave it back to him, pushing it into his hand.
Barry sighed in his sleep and pulled Finn into a death grip close to him. Marina gave his hand a squeeze and a smile, much as like she might a little baby brother or cousin-
('Maybe a nephew was more fitting,' Atlanta thought. seeing as she and Marina held one another in such almost sisterly affection nowadays? given tonight's revelations and all.)
-Then Marina retreated and waved him goodnight.
"You all spoil him." The commander grumbled, as Atlanta and Troy made their way back past the team with Barry in tow and over to the lift. Said team exchanged a look behind Sam's back, knowing fine well who gave Barry his pocket money and let hitch skateboard or skate rides on the back of his chair.
The elevator juddered a teeny bit as they cautiously stepped on to it. Then it smoothly lifted Atlanta Troy and their precious cargo. They disappeared upstairs.
Just as Fisher put his foot in it and asked,
"So, how long do you reckon until the kid is calling you pops or grandfather, sir?"
"You Shut Your Mouth Lieutenant!"