For a few moments, Jack just stared at the three of them through his screen. His first instinct was to tell Ulric and Mira that they were crazy, they were too young, there was no way they were ready to take care of a baby, they should give him to someone who …
But who was there?
Jack didn’t have many memories of his early years, but he did remember what it had been like for him in the foster care system. Shuffled around constantly as the social workers tried to find a family who would accept a blue, big-headed child. Always alone, often scared, never having anyone he could bond with or turn to for comfort. He hadn’t even had a minion-fish, the way all the other blue people seemed to.
How could he ask his son to leave another child to the same fate?
“He’s lucky to have found you, then,” Jack said at last. “But have you two thought about this? How long are you going to be able to keep him there?” He paused, then asked Ulric, “… Are you thinking of bringing him back with you?”
Watching Ulric lift up Joey, Mira slightly raised a brow before smiling. “Oh! Yeah, babe. You want me to take him, or…?” Joey was probably missing his fish friend. The two were inseparable, after all. Almost like Sammy and her while growing up. Really was her only friend.
Knowing that Jack was staring at the three of them, Mira turned back to the screen. The way he’d been quiet made her a little nervous, figuring that he was still pretty shocked seeing they’d taken in a baby. She finally relaxed, nodding and quirking a smile after he spoke. At least this didn’t start like the time Sara had found out.
“We have. I mean, we couldn’t let him go without anyone, y’know? Just…I know what that’s like, so…” Mira shrugged again, reaching out her finger to touch his small blue hand, smiling at the little guy. “He needs us.” Though, biting her lip at the second question, her eyes widened just a bit, looking over to Ulric.
Bring him back? Ulric holds Joey closer briefly, expression serious as he nods. “Yeah, I am. He’s… kinda part of the family now, you know?” He looks over to Mira, nodding a second time. “Won’t be too long, just want to get his Minion.” he explains quietly. That at least would keep Joey occupied.
They would have to discuss going back someday; he just hoped she’d say yes. Until then, there was still this, her meeting his dad.
Jack sighed quietly. He understood those words, “part of the family”, all too well. When you bonded with someone like that, especially a child, sometimes there was no way to let go.
And, now that the initial shock was starting to wear off, Jack found he rather liked the idea of having a baby around again. He and Katelynn had talked about having more children after Ulric, they just hadn’t gotten around to it. They’d both been getting on in years by then, and with two rambunctious, hyper-intelligent kids already, they’d eventually decided it was better to wait and hold out for a grandchild.
Which, Jack thought dryly, was pretty much what Joey would be.
“We’ll have to talk to your mother about this,” he reminded Ulric. “And I know she wants to meet you as well,” he added to Mira. “But … yes, I think it’ll be okay."
Jack Maple 