To Riordanlover16- I don't really know what I call this kind of story. "Recovery from tragedy" works, like deep deep tragedy, mess you up tragedy, what's the worst I can write tragedy? :) I misjudged something a couple of chapters back; if you like parenting stories, you'll like the next update ^_^

They stopped for lunch after the bookshop. Bradley woke up then, grizzling and fussing. Louisa coddled him, fed him again under the blanket at the restaurant table. Leo picked one of the books while she did, reading out The Gruffalo.

Leo realised she was all shopped out and ordered them an Uber home, piling the bags in the trunk. A lot of bags. He paid again, waving away her final attempt at passing over her twenty dollars. She later snuck it into his wallet, though he noticed when he opened it and gave it straight back.

It was relief to be home again. Home was safe. Home had Jessica and Harvey. Home had Super-Sized McShizzle Security™. Home also had Mikey, Connor and Dylan.

They cornered her in her room, demanding in whispers and glares to know what had happened, how had breakfast gone, where had all that stuff come from?

Louisa shushed them, gesturing to the baby she had just put down in the cot. Mikey grabbed her arm and shook it madly.

"What, what?" she puzzled.

"Tell me everything!"

"We went shoppin'."

"Details, woman, details!"

She shooed them out, shushing them again. Storm huffed a greeting and ventured into the bedroom, her furry-feathery baby monitor. Leo was trapped under Harvey's arm while Jessica went through the bags, examining every purchase with a knowing eye. She approved of the sea-themed outfits, remarked on the sensibility of buying in bigger sizes.

Did she know where Leo was getting his money?

Maybe she was in on it.

While they had been out, her friends had been preparing for the afternoon. Leo had given them orders to get in popcorn and sweets and other snacks because he had a film they could all watch. He promised it was a great film, one of the best ever, but he kept it secret until the title screen popped up.

"Kung Fu Panda?" Dylan remarked. "Your best film ever is Kung Fu Panda?

"I said one of the best ever, thank you. And yes, it's a classic." He clambered to his feet, remote control in hand, and plodded to the big armchair. "Scoot," he requested. Louisa, having commandeered the popcorn bowl, scooted and he plonked down next to her, snatching a handful of her popcorn.

"Are we really watching Kung Fu Panda?" Dylan pressed, looking round.

"I wanna watch it," Louisa countered, resting her feet on the coffee table. She had odd socks on, Leo noticed. One purple, one black with ghosts on it.

Dylan shrugged, no further arguments. Connor had closed the curtains and switched the light off, the only light coming from the TV.

Leo tallied this up as a win. She agreed to his film. She was sitting next to him. She wasn't ripping his arm off and beating him with it for eating her popcorn.

Po was still conquering the stairs when their hands met in the bowl. Both of them startled, unseen in the dimness of the room. Leo motioned for her to go first, hoping she couldn't see how red his face had become. He pushed a hand through his hair, just in case there were any stray flames there.

When Po began his training, Louisa's head fell on his shoulder.

"Thank you," she whispered. "I will pay you back."

"No. Ssh, Kung Fu Panda's on."

Her head stayed there until the credits rolled.

As if on cue, Storm stuck her head out of the bedroom and whickered.

"Oh, he's awake?" Storm whinnied. Louisa sat up. "Why didn't ya come 'n' get me?" She got up and left Leo in the armchair to go and check on Bradley. Leo, having got used to her being wedged next to him for the film, suddenly felt he was missing part of himself.

It didn't last long, Mikey appearing before him.

"Hi!" he beamed, swinging onto the arm and shoving his feet in Louisa's vacated spot. "Ooh, warm. It looked nice and cosy over here."

"Very cosy," Connor agreed.

"Too cosy," Dylan warned.

"Popcorn," Leo said blankly. "I was hungry."

"Uh-huh," Mikey said with a grin. He sat with his head up, eyes aimed down at Leo. "So, you paid for everything today, mmmm?"

"Yeah, I—"

"How did you do it?" Dylan asked. "Is it drugs?"

"It is not drugs, it's—"

"Leo's too sensible to be a drug dealer," Connor reasoned. "Lou would kill him if he was."

"I wouldn't—"

"Buried treasure?" Mikey quizzed excitedly. "Demigod treasure? Ooh, did you sell secrets?"

"Sell secrets? What—?"

"Boys," Jessica called sternly. "Leave him alone."

"Yes ma'am," they chorused. Leo, once again, marvelled at this woman. Of course she had been the one to raise Louisa— no-one dared cross her twice.

Jessica's expression softened as her focus landed on Leo.

"Thank you," she said, "for today. She's not been that… relaxed since she got back, so thank you." Leo started to say something, Mikey getting the giggles and talking over him.

"It was his pleasure, I'm sure." He winked at Leo, snickering some more. Leo felt his face warm up again and folded his arms.

"Haven't you got homes to go to?" Harvey asked, somehow polite and pointed.

"It's more fun here though!" Mikey whined, throwing his hands down in protest.

"You just like tormenting Leo."

"It's not tormenting. This is how we show love." Mikey nodded solemnly. Connor rolled his eyes and Dylan groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. Jessica cleared her throat, hands on hips, and they took the hint.

Mikey sprung from the armchair, announcing he needed to see his nibling one last time. He dashed for the bedroom, kicking the door open with a "GREETINGS!" The other two went and got their shoes.

Jessica motioned to Leo. He huffed, but stood up to see them out.

Connor shook his hand.

"Well done," was all he had to say. Dylan shook his hand next, though his grip was much tighter.

"I've got my eye on you, Tinkerbell."

"It's Leo."

"Not yet, it's not."

Then Mikey, booted from the room where Louisa was feeding Bradley by Storm. She stomped after him, headbutting him along.

"I'm going, I'm going!" he assured. Storm tossed her mane and bit at his sleeve. "I know you're swearing at me," he pouted. "I may not speak Horse, but I know you're swearing at me." Storm thumped her hoof, head upraised indignantly.

"Don't call her a horse!" Louisa shouted from the bedroom.

"She's being mean to me!"

"You tried to kidnap Bradley, of course she's bein' mean ta you!"

"It wasn't a kidnapping! Just an impromptu babysitting!" He turned to see the others bearing down on him. "What?" he smiled angelically. "I would never."

"Get out," Jessica ordered. "You've eaten enough of my food as is, so get."

"That's fair," Mikey nodded. He whisked about and found Leo, grinning. "We shall see you again!" he declared. "Hopefully for a wedding, but we'll work out the details later." He winked secretively and then crashed into Leo, hugging him as fiercely as before. Leo wheezed— Mikey and Louisa hugged the same way.

Then, they were gone. Noise and bustle went with them. The apartment felt strangely empty.

Leo exhaled slowly, rubbing his ribs.

"Ow."

"Yeah, he's a hugger." Jessica smiled. "You survived the Entourage. Congratulations."

"Is that what you call them? Entourage?"

"When she's being nice," Harvey chipped in with a laugh. "She has plenty of other names for them, you'll hear them soon enough." Leo thought of Mikey's departing words.

"I'm sure I will. Wait, what wedding?" Jessica and Harvey stared at him. "Are you two getting married?" Jessica turned to Harvey. She folded her arms and arched a brow.

"Are we?"

"Uh…" he replied brilliantly, flushing crimson.

"We are," Jessica decided. "But that's not the wedding Mikey meant."

"Whose then?"

"Yours."

"Come again?"

"Don't think we'll get Lou into a dress though," she mused. Leo's heart skipped a beat and he spoke a few octaves higher than usual.

"Come again?"