Kuratu woke up at six that morning to Dennis crying. He picked him up and rubbed his back, muttering comforting words in his ear.

Amelia continued to sleep and Etienne as well. Jewel woke up hearing Dennis cry and ran to Kuratu's door but stopped herself. He's not your baby Jewel...he's Kuratu's...well, not really, but you know. Now, go back to bed or get some coffee. she thought to herself. She slowly walked downstairs to the kitchen and began to make herself some coffee.

Kuratu came down twenty minutes later, looking exhausted. Dennis was against one shoulder, still whimpering slightly. He gave Jewel a weary smile as he sat down on the couch, still rubbing Dennis' back.

"Good morning...you look very tired..would you like something to drink?" she asked him and went over to them.

'Perhaps a coffee, please,' Kuratu said, his eyes closed, rubbing Dennis' back still.

"A coffee...okay then." she said and smiled. She began to boil water and get his coffee ready. "You know that I would be more than happy to help you out with Dennis." she said and smiled.

Kuratu gave a small smile, still without opening his eyes. 'Thanks. I might need it.'

Once the coffee was done, she went over and handed it to Kuratu. "Here you go...may I hold Dennis for you?" she offered and smiled. She absolutely loved babies even if they weren't hers.

'Sure,' Kuratu said, holding Dennis out. The boy began crying as soon as Kuratu did, however, and Kuratu quickly drew him back. 'Or...Maybe I should keep him until he calms down.' He gave Jewel a small smile.

Jewel chuckled. "Okay." she said and smiled at them both. "He's such an adorable boy." she said.

Kuratu smiled down at him as he reached for his coffee, took a careful sip, and put it back on the table. 'He is,' he said. After a slight pause, he added, 'His mother was quite beautiful, too, before...'

Jewel listened to him and nodded. "I can imagine, but sadly she made a mistake and we can't hate her forever. We all make mistakes sometime in our lives." she said gently.

'I don't hate her,' Kuratu said, shaking his head. 'But...she kept neglecting Dennis. A mother shouldn't be able to do that sort of thing.'

"No...a mother must always nurture and love her child. That's our only job, yo care for the family...that includes babies." she said and smiled.

Kuratu nodded. He looked back down at Dennis. 'The problem is if she ever decides to come back for him.'

"We'll adopt Dennis if you don't want her to have him." she suggested gently as she sipped a bit of her own coffee.

Kuratu nodded. 'I can try, but it's hard to do. I'm eighteen and still a student. I'd be surprised if it goes through.'

"Like you said...you can at least try. Then be patient an wait for the result." she said smiled softly.

'Which will, with over ninety per cent certainty, be "no",' Kuratu said. 'I'm not old enough to adopt. The agencies are stringent. You need a good job, a residence, enough hours to look after them, you should hopefully be married...They'd probably say no.'

Jewel smiled and raised her hand. "Ooooh! Ooooh!" she said and giggled. "Maybe I and Etienne can adopt him but he'll still be yours.." she offered.

Kuratu looked up sharply in surprise. 'Really? Are you sure?'

"Yes, of course I'm sure. I want little Dennis to be here with us and his daddy." she said and smiled gently.

Kuratu looked down, thinking, a look of slight wonder on his face. 'We've got the grounds for it...Custody can always be transferred to be...That gives all of us more rights over him...'

Jewel smiled at him and drank her coffee in silence as she let him think.

Kuratu looked up. 'We'll have a lot to do to prepare for it. We'll need to contact a lawyer.'