"Probably best to only let him go home for a week at a time," he took a long sip of the coffee.

Jess rolled her eyes as Peter explained, "I'm not surprised. Thanks for getting him though. Virgil was telling me to check, I just got a little busy."

"I wouldn't have known if Lyla hadn't contacted me. Or told me about the 3 am thing," he shook his head.

Mig sat at the table while the adults spoke. Of course Peter would sell him up the river like this. What happened to that sacred nature of friends keeping secrets for each other? And of course Lyla woke him up. She's such a snitch.

Pete and Jess laughed for a bit, discussing their plans and such. Jess still suffering with teething, and Peter was suffering from tantrums and constant fussiness.

"His brother came by for a visit, so that was fun."

"I have never met his brother," she tsked, "Gonna have to correct that sooner than later."

"Yea, he seems like a standard little brother. Annoying, but with good intentions. He apparently remembered me from the first time we met a while ago."

After a good conversation, Peter eventually returned to his own dimension. Leaving Miguel alone with Jess.

She glanced to the giant sitting stiffly at the table. Jess crossed her arms, walking back to the kitchen and sitting next to him.

"Didn't we talk about this?"

Mig stared at the ground.

"Use your words," Jess raised his chin so he could look at her, "Didn't we?"

"Are you angry with me?"

The defeat in his voice about broke her heart.

"I'm not angry with you," she rubbed his cheek, "But you know you are supposed to take breaks and eat."

"Lyla is lying, I did take breaks and eat."

"His version of a break was patrolling, and eating was crackers and yogurt."

"I appreciate the update, Lyla. Let him talk please," she turned her attention back, "A break means time to sit and breath, and eating means a meal. Understand?"

Mig shuffled in the seat, averting his eyes.

She brought his crimson eyes back to meet her warm walnut ones, "Understand?"

"Yes, but I wasn't fixating," he insisted, "I wanted to get as much done as possible so I didn't have to worry about work when I'm here. That way when I have to go back I just have to patrol."

Jess nodded, letting him explain, "Ok, but that's still fixating. Just because your end goal is to stay here longer, doesn't change the fact that you are overworking yourself."

"But it is different!" He paused watching as she held her finger up, reminding him to monitor his volume, "It is different."

"No. You need to take full breaks and have full meals. Your health is of utmost concern. Yes, you still have to do your work and patrol. But you just do your work and then come back here for a more thorough break," she ran her hands through his hair, "Do you understand?"

Each touch of hers left him leaning into her more. In the end he laid his head on her shoulder.

"Sorry."

"No," she pulled back to look at him, "I want to hear you say it Miguel. You need breaks, sleep and food. Do you understand?"

Mig sulked, "Yes, I understand."

"Thank you," she rubbed his back as he hugged her, "I know that I'm going to have to set up a timer with Lyla now."

He groaned at that comment, but didn't argue.

"How about we play with your puzzles? Does that sound fun?"

A nod, "Where's Gunner and Virgil?"

"We went and visited daddy's family. Daddy decided to stay a few more days with them and GG. So it's just you and mommy."

"Okay," he inhaled her scent, "I want to do puzzles, and Legos, and and my trains!"

"We can do all of that," Jess assured him.

"Ok, I want to do my Taco truck puzzle," Miguel smiled, standing and leading his mommy to the front room. Kneeling in front of the bookshelf holding his puzzles and games.

Jess sat and smiled as he set his puzzle up. It was nice to see him carefree and at ease. As unconventional as he originally found all this, the proof is in the pudding.

X

"You did that with mommy?" Virgil listened as Miguel told him about his day, "Did she cheat?"

"You can't cheat at puzzles," Miguel dismissed.

"She would find a way to."

"Well she didn't cheat at the puzzle, she did at cars," he continued, "When are you and GG going to be back? I miss you."

"Aww," he chuckled, "We miss you too, we'll be back tomorrow probably. Is that OK? Think you can brave one or two more nights with just mommy?"

"I guess," he shifted, "Uhm…well have a good night with your family. Jess wants to talk to you again. Love you."

"I love you too, Bubba, have a good night."

Jess rubbed Miguel's head as he leaned into her, a minor sulk on his face, "Soon as he got home it was 'Where's daddy'? Skip me, I guess," she teased her husband.

"What can I say, it's just my charm," he teased back, "I mean, did you hear how heartfelt that 'love you' was?"

"Well, what's not to love about you? Goof. Tell mom and pops I said goodnight. Get some sleep, Babe."

"You too, Sweetheart. Goodnight."

Jess sighed contently. She couldn't stand that wonderful man, "Do you want to nurse before bed?"

"Can I? Please?"

"Of course you can," she raised her shirt, barely getting it up before the giant had latched on, "Greedy," she teased, cradling his torso, "You just want me for the milk."

He did love the milk, and she was obviously joking. But he loved her holding him. How warm and soft she was, her smell, her heartbeat. He was safest in her presence, in her arms.