Marcello frowned. "Which that I said before?" he asked. "I talk a lot."

"About us being sorta brothers" Maalech said shyly.

Marcello blinked, and then his smile widened. "I've never had a little brother," he said. "And Meg's sort of taken it upon herself to parent both of us, and I think I'm a little young to be your parent...so...it seemed to fit."

"I've never had a brother really. Or family I liked. Things are so different here." Over the months it seemed that he had worked very hard to deny that he was transformed, he was clinging very, very hard to the thought that he was only brought here. And that he would stay forever.

"I liked my family all right," Marcello admitted. "But..." He shrugged. "Meg's special. She's the kind of person who can make you feel good about yourself even when you feel terrible."

"She really is" Maalech agreed. "Which is why I don't want her to feel bad about me going away for a little. I mean, she takes care of everybody, but who takes care of her?"

Marcello smiled slightly, and patted the boy's shoulder. "She has Donal," he pointed out. "And we all take care of her in turn. I'll talk to her, how's that?" he asked. "I don't think she would let you go if she really needed you here."

"She probably need some peace and quiet most of all." Maalech smiled a little gratefully at Marcello. "I just don't want her to think I don't like it here. There's just so much else out there!"