Atlanta and Troy shared a look and silently tried not to get the giggles. Or in Troy's case, jostle a still dozing Barry too much.

"I have to warn you. I told Barry he could have one of your bedtime stories," Atlanta told him as they got off the elevator. "You might get ambushed tomorrow."

Troy shrugged best he could with an arm full of Barry. "It can wait for next time otherwise. I think I better ask him to remind me where we were up to anyway. He'd hate to miss the ending."

"Hm. He was looking forward to it." Atlanta said with a sigh. "It was how I convinced him to get ready for bed so early!"

They reached Barry's bedroom door. Troy waited as, by the light of the hallway she negotiated the messy floor. (Barry was halfway through making a quadruple loop the loop for his hot wheel-y scaled electric corgi cars. While he was very good at putting his toys away, if Barry was building something? be it lego or miniatures, it would spread out and would take over whatever flat surface he'd started it on). She turned on Barry's bedside lamp and pulled back the covers. Atlanta then cleared an easier path for Troy and he followed her in.

"There we go." Troy grunted, gently setting the boy on his bed.

Before he could say anything like, 'Night champ' However, Barry squirmed and wriggled. And woke up.

"Troy? 'Lanta?" he asked, sitting up.

"I'm here." Atlanta told him. Barry put his arms out to her and Atlanta hugged him again. "we're just putting you to bed, bear."

The hug was a trick however. Barry wouldn't let go when she tried to stand back up.

"but I Wanted to stay up." Barry whined in her ear. Then as she disentangled herself, wined more. "Atlanta, that's not fair! I wanted to stay up?"

"I know you did, buddy." Troy tried. "don't worry, you'll see everyone in the morning."

"But I'm not tired!" Barry Pouted and sulked, kicking away the covers.

"Say goodnight to Captain Tempest." Atlanta said firmly.

"He'd probably wake up for a glass of water anyway, right?" Troy shrugged. Atlanta gave him a 'Don't give him ideas' look. And turned back to barry.

"Come on Mister, it's way past your bedtime. Say goodnight to Troy."

Barry wasn't happy. but did as he was told and reluctantly settled.

"Night night Troy." And added hopefully, "See you tomorrow?"

"Sure. Night, Barry-boy." Troy wished and ruffled his hair. Then stepped back to the doorway to let Atlanta at the bedside again.

"Did you clean your teeth?" she double checked as she helped Barry out of his dressing gown. "and got everything ready for tomorrow?"

Barry pouted at her but nodded.

"Alright Barry? Come on, into bed please. you'll see them in the morning."

Barry sighed like she was asking the world of him.

But complied, tucking his legs under the quilt and opened his arms for another hug. "All right Atlanta. Love you?"

"Love you too." She hummed, squeezing in that one last squish. She Stroked his hair flat again, then nudged him back.

"Goodnight Barry." She Whispered tucking him in with his fish. "Sleep tight."

"I will. Night Momma." He mumbled back.
"Sweet dreams, dear."

There was noise from Troy but she ignored it. Barry snuggled down. Kissing Barry's forehead one last time Atlanta turned off the lamp. The Glow in the dark stars on the ceiling (and along the walls where Atlanta had borrowed to make the starfish on an underwater mural of Stingray along the sea bed) lit her way out of the boy's bedroom.

Or would have if her 'boyfriend' wasn't blocking the way.

"Did he just-?" Troy started. But Atlanta shooed Troy out. Turning back in the doorway, she watched Barry sleep for a moment. Then closed the door. Atlanta took a breath. And had to face Troy.

"Atlanta, It sounded like-!" He started, then lowered his voice. "Barry- he called you 'Momma'? Right?! I wasn't just hearing things?"

"He did." She confirmed. In her best No arguments voice.

Troy goggled at her, stupefied. "And you're - that's okay? You're okay With that?"

There was no hesitation on Atlanta's part. Which in itself made her pause.

As she'd said when once asked about romance; Troy, (or at least the Troy at the time of the interview), was not the marrying kind.

And Troy for all his fondness of Barry had been more than surprised and baffled when the orphan had started to take a more permanent feature in her life. Much as he loved having the kid around. He didn't take it badly. but of all the team, Troy had been the one who'd taken the longest to adjust to the new arrangements.

Troy was Not… jealous as such. Not in the sulking way he had been about Johnny Swoonara or Jacus Jordan of the Navy. But clearly Troy had had trouble letting go of the drop of a hat good time fun they used to have, both together and out with their friends. Or he was troubled with Atlanta putting (another) someone else above him. Even though he'd shown, like tonight, he still wanted to help her and still be a part of her life; this new life with Barry in. Maybe he'd been worried her Devotion to him was tested?

She supposed it was in a way.

Much as she loved Troy, Atlanta knew couldn't wait for him forever. And Barry had needed her? or at least a way out of the care system. Barry needed the Shores more than she needed Troy's ring on her finger. She'd realised that at Christmas when they'd had to say goodbye. Oh she'd cried so hard that night once everyone had gone home and Barry had gone back to The Home.

Some women want careers. Some chose to be mothers. Some want to get married and have a baby route. Some want neither. Not everyone gets what they want. Some like Elaine Shore wanted to get married, have a family and keep her career. and for a relatively short while, had been lucky enough to have both. And Atlanta was very much like her mother. Even if she'd skipped the 'get married' step for now.

But the main thing, the most important thing was Barry had a parent again. A family.

And for Atlanta? being a mother even in the most unconventional way; To be involved in Barry's life. to make him happy. and cared for. to love? It fortified her and fortified something in her. Something she hadn't been sure if she'd wanted. Or she could even have without a husband or official boyfriend. Or while caring for her dad and being in the service life.

It would break her heart to ever lose Barry now. And now To be his 'momma'? To share that with her dear departed Elaine? Atlanta felt like she could take on and fight Titan and his army all by herself.

Bring on the bad days. The check-ups, the school calls. Bring on tantrums and meltdowns and door slams. Bring on the fallen off bikes, the pressure of maths exams and the hellish supermarket trips. The grieving for his parents. Bring on the teen-age years. The young adult times. Bring on worrying about the increasingly risky role of an aquanaut Barry had set his heart on becoming. Bring it on. Bring it all on.

Let her worry. Let her worry so he didn't have to. Let her raise him up to be Selena and Captain Tomas Byrne's son, and the Commander Shore's boy and her own foster slash adopted son, in the best possible way.

Let her make sure he's safe and comfortable. with a roof over his head while he was still a child, her child, that he was loved and had people who loved him around. It'd be her honour. As his momma.

"It is. It's very alright." she said answer to Troy's question. "Least I think so."

Troy was looking at her strangely, in a way she couldn't read. And made her check redden.

"…Huh." He said eventually. "What brought that on though?"

Atlanta shrugged. "Barry and I have had a talk about his mom- well his mommy. and his dad and things. And that's what he wants to call me? Well, we're trying it. We'll see if it sticks, I suppose."

Troy's expression melted from shock to wonder. And it did funny things to her heart rate.

"Gee. Aw Atlanta I-." Lost for words Troy just Smiled at her for a moment. and with a soft laugh said, "I'm happy for you. That's really something."

"Yeah. It is, isn't it." she beamed. Troy stepped forward. Whether it was More words or to kiss her Atlanta put A hand on his chest to cut him off. And a Finger to his lips.

"But don't tell the others just yet Troy."

"Don't?"

"Please? I don't want to spring it on father." Atlanta asked, moving her hand. "Or have it go around Marineville Rumour mill before the adoption is officially confirmed."

"The commander doesn't know?" Troy asked. Atlanta shook her head.

"I don't think so? Unless he overheard-?" she started.

"That's a pretty big thing for you to keep secret from him." Troy frowned.

"I'm not going to keep it a secret! It's just very new to Barry. To us both. Real New. Like I said he's only just started trying it out. You can tell phones and Marina in a day or two. or better yet I'll tell them tomorrow? After I tell dad."

"Oh. Sure. How long has Barry been calling you that then?"

"Literally as of tonight." Atlanta replied. "And I want to tell father myself… You know how talking about my momma upsets him."

"Your mo-? Oh. Ookay." Troy said, buffering as he connected the dots. "Yeah honey. Sure. I promise. Wasp's honour. Not. A word."

He even zipped his lips to prove it. Atlanta didn't mean for that sigh or relief to be quite so loud. It must have shown on her face too, because Troy said,

"Atlanta? hey? Aw, Come here."

And she got a great big bear hug of her own. Troy really did give great Hugs. Really, they did wonders for the tension in her shoulders. (it made up for how much her stress used to revolve around just him and Stingray!)

Atlanta swiped under her eyes again after he put her down. Just in case. Goodness tonight had been an emotional one.

"Guess Barry will be calling him grandfather sooner than we thought, huh?" Troy joked as he followed her back downstairs. "or 'gramps'."

"He might. I think he'll prefer grandpa though." Atlanta grinned.

And paused in the hallway, turning back to him. And kissed him on the cheek. One that then became a peck on the lips. Only a little one. It still was a pleasant tingle through her spine. and a shock for Tempest. Seemingly to have Stunned Troy in a hallway for a third time, Atlanta left him there with a giggle and Swept into the kitchen. To where a rather vicious game of snap was already in full swing.

"Marina! Watch it, you don't have to slam your hand down so dang hard!"

"Why Father, I bet just two chips." Atlanta interrupted. "Not half my whole stack-!"

"You started without us?!" Troy complained, weighing in.

"We got bored."

"You were gone ages, skipper!"

But the commander shushed them.

"Shh! You'll wake my- the boy back up!"