#rivervale_lodge

Connor wags his tail. "Will the people be coming here?" Head tilting to one side.

"Most of them aren't, but some might..."

"Ann Marie has been sorting them out."

"Ann Marie is a nice lady." He agrees. "I don't have a vest yet, but I will help if I can."

"A vest?" She scoots over on the loveseat, making room beside her.

Jack says "He's gonna be a support animal.. uh as Buddy"

"Ladybird said I could learn how..."

"Oh.. huh. That could work."

His tail stills a moment though, glancing at Dagmar and Gerd. "But I'm not s'posed to be Buddy that much."

"I like helping at the store, too, though."

Gerd looks at him "When it comes to the poool we're gonna do this right and see if we can learn how to dog paddle as a boy and boy paddle as a dog.. but mostly I want Connor to have fun"

"Well... I think it's important that you spend time as a boy. You have to be Connor first."

"I have fun all the time here." A sidelong glance over to the sleeping chief. "I told her she should send me away because I was bad and would keep being bad." His chin wibbles a little. "Do you think she knew I meant it? Really, really, meant it?"

"When you first came here, you wanted to be Buddy all the time. But... like, Connor is sweet, and caring, and very special. I'm really glad I got to know Connor."

"Chief ain't gonna send you away."

"You're part of the family. Like I am."

"I want to know about New York.. you know. And maybe more about the lady in the pictures. And I want to be good... and I want them to be proud of me. But I don't want..." He looks a little conflicted. "I like being here. It's a family, too."

"I don't have any sisters in New York, except for when they come chasing." Thoughtful. "Or going to see fancy-box-boys."

"I think it's good to want to know about where you came from. And you can also want to stay here. Like... like I said, the other day? About my birth-mom?"

He nods.

"I love her. I really do. And it was hard, with Tove, because - well, I have a mother."

"But... but she's sick, and she can't care for me right, and she hurt me. So... I love her, but I can't let her hurt me, either."

"It's hard, to let people love you after you've been hurt by those who are supposed to. But it doesn't make you bad or wrong for struggling, yeah? It's not bad to want to be loved."

He fidgets uncomfortably. "There was a nice lady, at the other place. She wanted to be a momma to me. And I... couldn't. And I think that hurt her." His ears droop. "How did you let someone else take her spot? I don't understand. I don't mean anything bad about Miss Tove, she's AWFUL great, I like her lots and lots. But... your mama."

"I'm sorry she hurt you."

"My mother... " A frown, considering. "She's sick, and hurting, and wasn't able to be what I needed to be safe."

"Tove, and Jaymes... they made a place where I can be safe. And that's a special thing."

"I still love my mother, I don't think... it's not... it's not like a pie, where you cut up your heart and give out pieces."

He nods, sitting on the floor and leaning against her legs. "I like pie. There should be enough for everyone."

"Yeah. But that's the thing about people... like.. there's room."

"And when you love a couple, maybe, like.. like... somehow, it's easier to love even more."

"I was so scared before - of being hurt, of being thrown away... I didn't let anybody in. I was alone."

He looks over to Gerd, and back up to Dagmar. "You're strong." Including both of them.

"But then... by accident, sort of... I let people in. I let in Kerri, and Jaymes, and.... and like, before, I'd made so many walls I was trapped in, couldn't move..."

"Mmm. Strong in some ways, but not in others."

Gerd says "I had more help than I knew, little guy, but thanks"

"Stronger, now. Because I'm not alone, and I'm not so trapped in that box I built."

"Would you want another mom and dad?" He tilts his head at Gerd.

Gerd pauses "In a way I ahve a dad.. or at least, an Uncle who acts as my dad..and has been doing the heavy lifting of dad you know? I think I missed a lot of good years when we could have been even closer because I didn't want to let my first dad go. Because I felt it would mean I didn't love him. but it's like Dagmar says... there's room" A pause "As for a mom.. harder in some ways. Tiffany is definitely more of an Aunt "

His nose wrinkles up a bit. "I have an aunt..."

"Took me a lot longer with Tove."

"But maybe she needs time to get to know, too. ...do you think she'd mind if I had OTHER aunts? Or uncles? I don't HAVE any Uncles." Then he looks worried. "Or do I? I don't even know."

"I don't think she would mind if you had other aunts, nope."

"Oh, well, I think you might. You have the uncle that wears pink hats, and the one that drives a truck, and the one who pays you in twinkies..."

"I think you're frree to call My Uncle Vali Uncle Vali if you want" Gerd says "If he gives you lip, let me know i'll drop him in the lake..splooosh"

"You think so?" His eyes widen. "And no one would be mad? Or feel forgotten? Or think I wasn't loyal?"

"Maybe we could write a special oath? Oaths are magic, you know. And we could swear to be family."

"You obviously are loyal - you love your father, and wouldn't do anything to hurt him."

"Take it from Dagmar, she knows about families.. taught me a few things" A nod

"Would that mean that my dad is your dad too?" He scratches his head, somewhat befuddled.