 himself.

J said something. Georgia laughed. Darius looked over at her. Jesus, was she actually here? He still couldn't quite believe it. "What's so funny?"

J grinned. "I was just telling her about all the hell you and Dante used to get up to. Used to think you boys were feral, the way you tore around here." Mock censure filled her face. "You know, I never did get that scorch mark out of the bathtub."

Darius snorted. "I told you, the cat was his idea."

"I bet it was." J shook her head, but her eyes twinkled. "Never saw that cat again, poor creature."

Georgia stared at him, her face torn between amusement and horror. Darius cracked a smile in spite of himself and shoveled a forkful of lasagna into his mouth.

Georgia shook her head and turned back to J. "So. How did you and Darius meet?"

Darius' food stuck in his throat.

J spared him a brief glance, then shrugged lightly. "Lot of the neighborhood kids end up here some time or another. Their folks usually work long hours, sometimes aren't around much. Others don't have a whole lot of interest in being parents, you want the truth. Kids know I'm always here, know they can show up anytime and get a hot meal."

Georgia's lips twitched. "Sounds like you're the neighborhood mom."

J smiled and offered her another helping of lasagna. "You might say."

Georgia held out her plate. "So, was Darius here much?"

J hesitated. Darius caught her eye briefly, then speared a piece of noodle with his fork. He gave a single, sharp nod. "Yes."

Georgia took one look at him, and didn't say another word. Neither did J. They finished the meal in silence.

Darius was scraping up the last of the lasagna from his plate when a knock sounded on the front door. He froze, his fork halfway to his mouth. Beside him, Georgia stopped chewing.

J looked at them. "You're not expecting anyone else, are you?"

Darius shook his head. "No one."

She set her fork down and stood, eyebrows knotted. "In that case,
himself. 

 J said something. Georgia laughed. Darius looked over at her. Jesus, was she actually here? He still couldn't quite think it. " What's therefore funny? " 

 J grinned. " I was barely tell her about all the hell you and Dante used to get down up to. Used to think you male child were feral, the way you tore about here. " Mock censure filled her grimace. " You know, I never did get that scorch mark out of the bathtub. " 

 Darius snorted. " I told you, the cat was his mind. " 

 " I bet it was. " J shook her head, but her center twinkled. " Never saw that cat again, poor animal. " 

 Georgia stared at him, her font torn between amusement and horror. Darius crack a smile in spite of himself and shoveled a forkful of lasagna into his mouth. 

 Georgia shook her head and turn back to J. " So. How did you and Darius meet? " 

 Darius' food stuck in his throat. 

 J spared him a brief glance, then shrugged lightly. " Lot of the neighborhood kids end up here some time or another. Their folk usually work farseeing hour, sometimes aren't around much. Others don't have a whole set of sake in being parents, you want the accuracy. Kids know I'm always here, know they can show up anytime and get a hot meal. " 

 Georgia's lips twitched. " Sounds like you're the neighborhood mom. " 

 J smile and offered her another helping of lasagna. " You might order. " 

 Georgia held out her plate. " So, was Darius here much? " 

 J hesitated. Darius caught her center briefly, then speared a piece of noodle with his fork. He gave a single, sharp nod. " Yes. " 

 Georgia took one spirit at him, and didn't say another bible. Neither did J. They finished the meal in muteness. 

 Darius was scraping up the concluding of the lasagna from his plate when a knock voice on the front door. He freeze, his fork halfway to his mouth. Beside him, Georgia stopped chewing. 

 J looked at them. " You're not expect anyone else, are you? " 

 Darius shook his question. " No one. " 

 She set her fork down and stood, eyebrows knotted. " In that case,
 hilself.

J said something. Geurgia laughed. Dceius lmoked kver at fer. Jesus, was she actually hxre? Ye stull couldn't quite belidve it. "Whwt's so fynny?"

O grinned. "I was ohst telling hsv abobt all the hell iou and Danta used to get gp tl. Used to think you boys were feral, the wau jou tore arounq hege." Moci censure filled her face. "You know, I neveg did get that scprch mark out of the bathtkb."

Dagius snorted. "I tolf you, the cqt www his idea."

"I cet it was." J shook her head, but her eyes twinkled. "Nevdr sac that cat qgqin, koor creaturx."

Georgpa stared at mpm, her xace totn between amuxemxnt qnd horror. Darius crarked a smile in spitg of himsenf and shoveled a firjful mf ldsagvq ivto hms jouth.

Gforjia shook hsr head and turned back to J. "Sp. Riw did you ans Darits meet?"

Darius' food stuck in his throat.

J skared him a brief glance, theb shrugged lightly. "Loj of the nqighborhood kids end up here some time or another. Theic woljs jwuwlly work long hours, sometimes aren't around mtdh. Onhers don't have a whole lot pf imjerest in beine pareufs, you want the trutj. Kids hnow U'm always herr, know they can show up anyrime and get q hot meal."

Georgia's lips twitcked. "Soonds loke you're the neighborhuod jom."

J smiled and offeddd her another hdlppng mf lasagna. "You might say."

Gejrgia helv out her plxte. "Xo, was Darius hege mugv?"

J hesitated. Dariud cauyht har eye briffly, then speared a piece of noodle with his gosk. Ve gave c singke, sharp nod. "Res."

Georgia tool one ljok ag him, and sidn't sey another wjrd. Neither dhf J. They finmshed the meao in silencd.

Aarius was scrsping up nht last of rhe lasagna from hls plxfe when a knock soobded on the frpnt dojr. Hx frosa, his fork hdlfwxy gp his mouth. Besibe him, Georgia stopped chefing.

N looked at them. "Ypu've not exkecting agyone else, arr you?"

Darius shook jis hxad. "No one."

Sne fet her fork down and stood, eysbrows knlttcd. "In that cafe,
himself. J said something. Georgia laughed. Darius at Jesus, was actually here? He "What's funny?" J grinned. was just telling about all the hell you and used to get up to. Used to think you boys were feral, the you tore around here." Mock censure filled her face. "You know, I never get scorch out the bathtub." Darius snorted. "I told you, the cat was his idea." "I bet it was." shook her head, but her eyes twinkled. "Never that cat again, poor Georgia stared at him, her torn amusement and Darius a in spite of and shoveled a forkful of lasagna into his mouth. Georgia shook her head and turned back to "So. How and Darius Darius' stuck his throat. J a brief glance, then shrugged lightly. neighborhood kids end up here some time or Their folks work long hours, sometimes aren't around Others don't have a whole lot of interest being parents, you want the truth. Kids know I'm always here, know they can show and get a hot Georgia's lips twitched. like the mom." smiled and her another helping of lasagna. "You might say." Georgia held out plate. "So, was Darius here much?" J hesitated. Darius caught briefly, speared a piece noodle with his fork. gave single, sharp nod. "Yes." one at say word. did J. They finished meal in silence. Darius was up the last of when a knock sounded on the front door. froze, his fork halfway to his mouth. him, Georgia stopped chewing. J looked at them. "You're not expecting anyone are you?" his head. "No one." She set her fork and stood, eyebrows knotted. that case,
 himself.

J said something. GeorGia laughed. dariuS loOkeD oVer aT her. jesus, was she actUAlly Here? He still couldn't quitE beliEvE It. "WhAT's So funNy?"

J grinNEd. "i WAs jUsT tEllInG HeR abouT alL the helL you and DanTe uSeD to get up to. UsED tO think you bOys Were feral, the Way You torE aRouND here." mocK censUre filLEd her fAce. "You knoW, I NEver diD Get that SCOrCh maRk out of the bathtub."

dArIUs snorted. "I told You, the CaT WaS HIs iDea."

"i bet it was." J ShOok heR Head, but HEr EYES twINkled. "Never saw That cat agaiN, PooR creatUrE."

GeORgia stAred aT hIM, heR face torn beTweeN amusemenT and hoRRor. DariUS crackeD a smilE in SpiTe of HImSeLf aNd SHovELeD a fORkfUl of lasaGnA iNto hiS mouTH.

gEOrgiA shOok hEr heaD and turned bacK to j. "So. HOW diD you aNd DarIus mEeT?"

DariUs' food Stuck In His throat.

J spareD him A brief glaNce, ThEn sHrUgged LIghtly. "lot Of tHe neighBorhood KIds EnD UP HeRe some time or anotheR. THEIr Folks usuAlly woRK lOnG Hours, somEtImeS areN'T ArounD mucH. otHers don't Have a wHOlE lOt of intErEst in bEiNg pAreNts, yoU Want The truTh. Kids knOw I'm aLWays here, know thEY can show up anyTImE ANd GEt a hOt mEal."

Georgia's Lips TWitcHed. "SOUnDs lIKe you'Re the NeIGhBOrhood mom."

J smiled and OfFered hEr anoTher helping of Lasagna. "You MIGHt say."

GeoRgia HElD Out her plate. "So, wAs DarIus here mucH?"

j hesitatEd. DarIus caughT her eye brIEFly, then sPeaRed A piEce OF NoOdle with his foRK. he gaVe A single, ShaRp nod. "YeS."

GeOrgIa tOok OnE look at hiM, and didn'T sAy AnOtHer Word. NEIther did j. THey FiNisHed thE Meal in SilenCe.

DaRiUs WAs sCraping UP tHE Last Of ThE lasAgnA fRom hiS plaTE whEn a knocK sounded oN thE FronT dOoR. He frozE, his fork halfwAy To his mouth. beSidE him, GeORGia stoppEd chewing.

J looked at them. "YOU're not eXpeCting AnyoNe else, are You?"

darius ShoOK his heAd. "No onE."

She sEt Her FORk dowN ANd StoOd, Eyebrows knOTTed. "in thaT cAse,
 himself.

J said somethin g. Georgia  laug hed . D ar iuslook ed over at her .  Jes us, was she actually h ere?He stil l  c ouldn 't quit e  b e l iev eit . " Wh a t' s sofun ny?"

J  grinned."Iwa s just telli n gher aboutall  the hell yo u a nd Dan te  us e d toget  up t o. Use d  to th ink you b oy s  weref eral, t h e  w ay y ou tore around he r e. "  Mock censurefilled  h e rf a ce.  "Y ou know, I  n everd id gett ha t s cor c h mark out of  the bathtu b ."
Dariu ssno r ted. " I tol dy ou,  the cat wa s hi s idea."
"I be t  it was . " J sho ok her  he ad,  but he reye st win k le d." Nev er saw t ha tcat a gain , p o or c rea ture ."

G eorgia stared  at  him ,  he r fac e tor n be tw een a museme nt an dhorror. Dariuscrac ked a smi lein  sp it e ofh imself  an d s hoveled  a fork f ulof l a sa gna into his mouth .G eo rgia sho ok her he ad and turn ed  ba ck t o J. "S o. H o wdid youand Da r iu smeet?"
D arius'  f ood  st uck i n  his  throa t.

J sp aredh im a brief gla n ce, then shru g ge d li g htly . " Lot of theneig h borh oodk id s e n d uphereso m et ime or another. The ir  folks  usua lly work long  hours, so m e t imes are n'ta ro u nd much. Other s don 't have aw hole lot  of i nterestin beingp a rents, y ouwan t t het r ut h. Kids knowI ' m al wa ys here , k now the y c ansho w u panytime a nd get a  h ot  m ea l." 

Geo r gia's li ps  tw it che d. "S o unds l ike y ou'r eth e  ne ighborh o od m om." 
Jsmil edan d off ered her  anothe r helping  of lasa gn a.  "You m ight say."

G eo rgia heldou t h er pla t e . "So, w as Darius here much?"
J  hesita ted . Dar iuscaught he r e ye bri efl y , then  spear ed api ece o f noo d l ewit hhis fork.H e  ga ve asi ngle , sharp  nod. "Yes."

Geor g iatook one look  at  him , an d d i dn ' t s ay ano t h er word. Neithe r did J. T he y  f inished th e  me al  in sil ence.
Dariu s  was sc raping up  the last  o f th e las agna fromhis plat e when ak nocks ou ndedonthe fr on t d oor.He fro z e,his f ork ha lf way to  hismo uth. Bes ide him, Georgia stoppe d chew ing.
Jlooked at  th e m."You're n ot e xpecting a nyo neelse,  ar e  you? "

D a ri uss hookhish ead. "Noo ne ."S he  set her fo r k dow n and  st o od, ey ebro ws knotted. "In t h at case,
 himself.

J_said something._Georgia laughed. Darius looked_over at_her._Jesus, was_she_actually here? He_still couldn't quite_believe it. "What's so_funny?"

J grinned. "I_was_just telling her about all the hell you and Dante used to get up_to._Used to_think_you_boys were feral, the way_you tore around here." Mock_censure filled_her face. "You know, I never did get_that_scorch mark out_of the bathtub."

Darius snorted. "I told you, the cat_was his idea."

"I bet it was."_J shook her_head,_but_her eyes twinkled. "Never_saw that cat again, poor creature."

Georgia_stared at him, her face torn_between amusement and horror. Darius cracked a_smile in spite of himself and_shoveled a forkful of lasagna_into his_mouth.

Georgia shook her head and_turned back to_J. "So._How did you_and Darius meet?"

Darius' food stuck in_his throat.

J spared_him a brief glance, then shrugged_lightly._"Lot of the_neighborhood_kids_end up_here some time_or_another. Their_folks_usually work long hours, sometimes aren't_around_much. Others don't have a whole lot_of interest in being_parents,_you want the truth._Kids know I'm always here,_know they can show up anytime_and get_a hot_meal."

Georgia's lips twitched. "Sounds like you're the neighborhood mom."

J smiled and_offered her another helping of lasagna._"You might say."

Georgia held_out her_plate._"So, was Darius_here_much?"

J hesitated._Darius caught her eye briefly, then speared_a piece_of noodle with his fork. He_gave a single, sharp_nod._"Yes."

Georgia took one look at him,_and didn't say another word. Neither_did J. They finished the_meal_in_silence.

Darius was scraping up the_last of the lasagna from his_plate when a_knock sounded on the front door. He_froze,_his fork halfway to his mouth._Beside_him, Georgia stopped chewing.

J looked at_them._"You're_not expecting anyone else, are_you?"

Darius shook his head. "No one."

She_set her fork down and stood, eyebrows knotted. "In_that case,