Chapter Text
Billy was hanging on the hazy edge of sleep when the door to the nurse’s office opened and Victor and Rosa entered. “Billy, Freddy,” Rosa said, rushing towards them with Victor on her heels. Billy pushed himself up into a sitting position. Anxiety turned his stomach. He had no idea what to say. Luckily, Freddy had that covered.
“Rosa! Victor!” Freddy beamed. “Man, am I glad to see you guys. Billy’s really sick.”
“The nurse told us over the phone,” Victor nodded.
“She said you passed out during class,” Rosa said, voice heavy with concern. She reached for his face, and Billy barely stamped down the instinct to shy away. A hand coming for his face was rarely a good thing, but this was Rosa. She brushed back his bangs and pressed a dry palm to his forehead. “Oh, Billy,” she tutted softly. Billy’s chest ached at the. . .the motherliness of the action.
“How are you feeling now, Billy?” Victor asked. He shrugged, tongue feeling heavy and swollen in his mouth.
“As I told you over the phone, I believe it’s the stomach flu. Billy needs lots of rest and. . .” Billy tuned out the rest of the nurse’s explanation having heard it already.
“Let’s get you home, kiddo,” Victor said. Billy flinched when a hand landed on his shoulder. He looked up, catching the sorrow and hurt and even a glint of understanding which flashed across Victor’s face.
Billy ducked his head muttering a “sorry” so soft he wasn’t sure anyone heard it.
“Man, I wish I could go home and nap instead of going to geography,” Freddy commented loudly before an awkward silence could settle.
“I think you’ve missed enough class,” Rosa scolded gently. Billy’s stomach twisted. That was his fault.
“Kidding, kidding,” Freddy replied with an easy smile.
“I’ll write you a note for your teacher,” the nurse said.
Freddy looked at Billy with open concern. “You gonna be alright?” he asked.
“Yeah,” Billy’s voice came out rough. He cleared his throat. “It’s just a stomach bug,” he shrugged.
“A stomach bug which knocked you flat on your ass—” Freddy began.
“Language,” Victor interrupted.
“—on your butt. Which scared the bejeezus out of me by the way,” Freddy stated, leaning forward to wrap his arms around Billy’s shoulders and pull him into a hug. This surprised Billy perhaps more than it should of, and it took him an extra beat to return the hug. Freddy turned his head. “Trusting them isn’t a mistake. I promise,” he whispered. Freddy leaned back, hands moving to rest on Billy’s shoulders. “I’ll see you after school, okay?”
“Okay,” Billy responded, with a touch of reluctance he did his best to mask. It was stupid, Freddy obviously couldn’t miss the rest of the school day, but Billy really didn’t want him go.
“Make sure to get plenty of rest and drink lots of water. Understood?” Freddy instructed.
Billy rolled his eyes. “Whatever you say, Dr. Freeman,” he snorted.
“Your note,” the nurse said, holding out a strip of paper to Freddy.
“Oh yeah, thanks,” Freddy said, taking it.
“Time to get back to class, kiddo,” Victor stated.
“Okay, okay, I’m going, I’m going,” Freddy picked up his backpack – one of their classmates had dropped off his and Billy’s backpacks at the nurse’s between classes – and crutch and walked towards the door. “Remember: rest and water,” he called to Billy before leaving.
It was absurd that Billy immediately felt lonely, even vulnerable, with Freddy gone. If there was one thing Billy knew it was that he could not depend on anyone else. . .but he had been breaking that rule a lot as of late. It was only thanks to the others that he was able to defeat Dr. Sivana and the sins. Freddy said they would always be brothers, and Billy did believe that when Freddy said it he meant it—he wanted to believe that Freddy would still feel that way in a week, in a month, in a year. He wanted to believe Freddy wouldn’t tire of him.
It was a wonderful vision of the future, but it was frightening as well. After all, six months was the longest he’d ever made it in a foster home. People didn’t want him around for long, and he learned not to overstay his welcome. He never wanted to be unwelcome in the Vasquez home, and maybe. . .Victor and Rosa had welcomed him back after he had run away—more than once. No other foster parents had ever done that. No one had ever wanted him back before.
“Ready to go?” Rosa asked.
“Yeah,” Billy muttered. He swung his legs over the edge of the cot and stood up on shaky legs. He stumbled backwards, steadying himself with a hand on the cot.
“Billy?” Rosa did not grab him but instead held out a hand for Billy to take if he wished. Billy hesitated for half a moment before grasping her hand. “You good?” Rosa asked, wrapping her free arm around his back. Billy nodded.
Victor picked up Billy’s backpack, and the three of them walked out of the nurse’s office together. “I’ll go get the car warmed up,” Victor said before striding down the hall at a much brisker pace than Billy and Rosa. Billy watched Victor disappear around a corner, frustration bubbling in his chest as he was already beginning to feel tired even at his and Rosa’s subdued pace.
“Billy,” Rosa began, and the seriousness of her tone immediately put him on edge. “Victor and I, we will never hit you or hurt you in any fashion under any circumstances,” she stated.
Billy’s eyes widened in surprise at the bluntness of her statement. Most people tended to dance around such issues. “I know,” he said.
He had flinched when Victor touched his shoulder because Victor had surprised him. Nothing more, nothing less. He hadn’t been lying to Freddy when he said he wasn’t afraid of Victor and Rosa, at least not really. He wasn’t afraid of them being violent with him. If he thought they were the type of people who smacked kids around he would have been long gone. When he first arrived and Freddy had darkly joked that Victor had pushed him from the bedroom window, for a moment Billy had believed him.
Billy’s heart had beat heavy in his chest, and his eyes had darted around in search of the fastest and easiest escape route. Fuck enjoying a night or two in a warm bed, Victor was a big man and Billy knew a big man’s anger was a terrible thing. He wasn’t going to stick around long enough to be on the receiving end of it. Freddy’s laughter and declaration that he was kidding had hit Billy like a cold wave.
Billy had ended up being on the receiving end of Victor’s anger, and it was terrible but not in any of the ways which Billy would have expected. As Victor had scolded Billy for ditching school and getting into fights, his hands had remained firmly planted on his hips. No matter how much Victor’s voice rose not once did he raise a hand at Billy. Instead of fear Billy had felt shame and a touch of puzzlement.
He had felt ashamed that he had failed to live up to Rosa and Victor’s expectations. He had been puzzled that they had such expectations to begin with. It had been years since he’d had foster parents who had done more than take one look at his file and dismiss him as a lost cause. For a teenager like him, most would count it a victory if he made it to eighteen alive and out of prison.
“And we won’t tolerate anyone else hurting you,” Rosa stated.
Billy frowned. “No one’s hurting me.”
“But someone has before,” Rosa replied softly. His silence was answer enough. “You don’t deserve that. You never did,” she stated.
Billy’s brow furrowed. He wasn’t quite sure he believed that. His mouth felt dry. “I’ve been a real dick,” he muttered, voice rough.
“That doesn’t make it okay,” Rosa stopped walking. She squeezed his hand. “Nothing you say or do gives someone else the right to mistreat you,” she stated. “You deserve to feel happy and safe, and if there is anything Victor and I can do to help you with that I want you to know that you can tells us.”
Billy blinked his eyes rapidly against the tears which had gathered in them. He nodded his head jerkily, throat too tight to give a verbal response. “Let’s get you to the car,” Rosa said gently, giving his hand another squeeze as they started walking again.
Victor and Rosa were not like most people. They saw his file and still they believed that he could amount to something more. They believed in him. No, what Billy really feared from them was rejection, was for them to realize their belief was misplaced and for them to give up on him like so many others had—like his mother had.
By the time they arrived at the front of the school Billy was leaning heavily against Rosa. Rosa shouldered open one of the glass doors and they walked outside. Billy ducked his face against a cold wind. Rosa stepped away from him, and Billy’s gaze shot towards her. He was puzzled to find her taking off her overcoat. “Rosa?”
“Just a little further,” Rosa reassured. She draped her coat over his shoulder, wrapping it around his shivering form. Rosa pulled him back to her side with an arm about his shoulders and led him across the parking lot to the old van, which was already running with gray smoke spilling from the exhaust pipe. She pulled open the back passenger’s side door and helped Billy up into the van.
Victor twisted in the driver’s seat to face them. “Alright?” he asked.
“Better once we get home,” Rosa nodded. She grabbed the seatbelt and buckled Billy in before he even thought to reach for it himself. Billy’s brow furrowed at the action, but he didn’t comment on it.
Rosa shut the back door before pulling open the front passenger’s door and stepping up into the van. “We’ll be home soon,” Victor gripped her hand briefly, thumb brushing over the back of her hand, before letting go to shift the van into drive. Billy sunk down into his seat as they pulled out of the school’s parking lot. The van was warm and Rosa’s coat a comforting weight. His eyes fluttered shut. He wanted nothing more than to sleep, but the shuddering of the van as it rumbled down the roads would not permit it.
His stomach turned like an unsettled sea, and Billy was a sailor who had yet to find his sea legs. Billy pressed his lips tightly together. He’d already vomited on his teacher in front of all his classmates, he was not vomiting in his foster parents’ car. They pulled into the neighborhood the house was located in. Billy breathed deeply through his nose, his fingers curled tightly into the soft material of Rosa’s coat. They turned onto the correct street. Billy could feel bile climbing up the back of his throat. They pulled into the driveway, and Billy was fumbling his seatbelt off and throwing the door open before Victor had even fully stopped the van.
“Billy!” Victor shouted, but Billy scarcely heard him over the roaring of blood in his ears. He fell out of the van, hands and knees hitting the rough concrete hard, and vomited bile onto the snow coated ground before him.
“Billy!” Rosa knelt beside him.
Billy wretched again. “Sorry,” he groaned throat burning and snow melting to soak through the knees of his jeans.
He started to slump to the side. “I’ve got you,” Rosa steadied him with an arm about his chest. “It’s alright, just breath,” she rubbed slow circles on his back.
“Billy, are you alright?” Victor asked as he knelt beside them.
“’m fine,” he muttered. He tried to stand, but his vision wavered alarmingly. He sunk back to his knees, wrapping his arms around himself as he shivered. He had knocked Rosa’s coat off in his rush, leaving it behind in the van. It was for the best. It would have been a shame if he had gotten vomit on it.
“Steady,” Victor laid a hand on his shoulder. “I’m going to pick you up, get you inside. Is that okay?” Victor said, waiting for some sort of agreement from Billy before moving. If Billy insisted against it, Victor would not force him. It was knowing this that Billy gave a minute nod. Victor lifted him with little effort, one arm behind his back and the other beneath his knees. Rosa walked ahead of them and opened the front door. Victor angled his body, moving through the doorway carefully as to not knock Billy into the doorframe or the walls.
Victor strode across the entryway and through the living room and started up the stairs. His steps were sure and his hold secure. As the steps creaked under their combined weight, Billy felt no fear of being dropped. Victor carried him up the stairs and down the hall to his and Freddy’s shared room, and Billy wondered when the last time he had been carried like this was. He assumed it had been by his mom when he was small but honestly couldn’t remember. “There we are,” Victor said as he set Billy down on Freddy’s bunk.
Rosa entered the room behind them. She headed to the dresser and started going through the drawer containing Billy’s clothes. Old instincts had Billy prickling at someone going through his things, but he pushed the feeling down. Rosa pulled from the dresser a pair of sweatpants and another of his long sleeve gray shirts. She moved towards Billy, setting the clothes on the bed beside him.
“Do you need help changing?” Victor asked.
“No,” Billy stated. The offer didn’t alarm him. He knew it was a genuine offer of help, and that there was no ulterior motive. Regardless, he honestly wasn’t comfortable accepting the help and didn’t really need it anyways.
“Okay, I’m going to bring the things in from the car,” he told Billy.
“We’ll be back to check on you soon,” Rosa patted his shoulder before leaving the room with Victor.
Billy changed slowly and with effort. His fall in the driveway had scrapped his palms, leaving them pained and resistant to movement. He got small smears of blood on his clothing, but made sure not to get any on Freddy’s sheets. When he was finished changing Billy toppled over onto his side, unbelievably tired. He wanted to curl up under Freddy’s sheets and go to sleep, but again he didn’t want to risk getting blood on them. Instead he laid on top of the sheets with his hands hanging over the edge of the bed.
A few minutes later there was a soft knock on the door before Rosa entered. “Doing al—oh mijo,” her expression softened with sympathy as she took in the battered state of Billy’s hands. She placed a water bottle with a straw sticking out of it on the bedside table then grabbed a blanket from the foot of the bed and pulled it up over Billy. “I’ll go grab the first-aid kit,” she said as she tucked the blanket around him.
Rosa left and soon returned along with Victor. She sat down beside the bed and opened up the first aid kit, riffling through it. Meanwhile, Victor set Billy’s backpack down by the desk before joining Rosa at the bedside. “Why didn’t you tell us you were feeling bad?” Victor asked as Rosa gently took Billy’s hands in hers and began to clean his palms with antiseptic wipes.
Billy’s fingers twitched in response to the sting of the antiseptic. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” he said, because an apology was the safest response – Victor and Rosa both frowned – or so Billy thought.
“We’re not upset with you, Billy. We’re just trying to understand why you didn’t feel like you could come to us with this,” Victor replied.
Billy stared at his hands laying in Rosa’s. He shrugged one shoulder. “Didn’t seem that big a deal.”
“You’ve been throwing up, running a fever, you fainted in class. That sounds like a big deal to me,” Rosa commented as she spread antibiotic ointment over his scraps. Her voice was gentle, but her words still made Billy want to hide.
“I wasn’t fainting last night,” he huffed, half tucking his face under the blanket so only his eyes peeked out. He kept his gaze focused on Rosa wrapping his hands and avoided looking at the expressions on either of their faces.
“But you were feeling sick,” Victor pressed.
“I had it covered.” Thanks to Freddy. “There was no reason to bother you guys.”
“Billy,” Victor’s voice was heavy with emotion. Billy’s gaze flicked to Victor’s face, and he was shocked to find the man’s eyes glistening with unshed tears. Victor reached for him slowly. “You’ll never be a bother, Billy,” he stated as he gently brushed Billy’s bangs from his eyes. “Whatever it is, whenever it is, you can always come to Rosa and I.”
Billy ducked his face fully under the blanket as moisture began to well in his own eyes. “We will never ignore you or turn you away,” Rosa promised raising his right hand and pressing a kiss to his gauze covered palm. Tears rolled down Billy’s face and dampened the sheets beneath him.
“Are you hurt anywhere else?” Rosa asked, letting go of his hands.
“’m fine,” Billy mumbled, pulling his hands under the blanket and carefully wiping at his face and eyes.
“Billy,” Rosa pressed.
“Maybe a few bruises, nothing’s bleeding,” he answered, peeking out from under the blanket.
Rosa nodded. She picked up the water bottle from the bedside table and offered it to him. With a touch of reluctance, Billy pushed himself up to his elbows. He drank a few sips before laying back down.
“Is there anything else you need?” Victor asked.
Billy shook his head. “Thanks—for everything,” he said.
Victor smiled. “Thanks for giving our family a chance.” He patted Billy’s shoulder. “Try and get some rest, son, we’ll be around if you need anything.”
“You’re. . .not going back to work?” Billy asked as he shifted into a more comfortable position.
“They’ll make do without us. You’re more important,” Rosa answered. She reached out to card her hand through his hair. She began to hum and then to sing in Spanish as she remained seated by the bed. Victor wrapped an arm around Rosa’s shoulders, his own voice joining hers in a seamless harmony. Billy couldn’t understand the song, but the soft tones of their combined voices soon ushered him into a peaceful sleep.
~*~*~*~
When Billy woke his mouth felt dry and stale and a headache pulsed behind his eyes. He rolled over in bed, the mattress creaking beneath him, and reached for the water bottle sitting on the bedside table. He pushed himself up so he could drink, ignoring the stab of pain which laced through his skull. “Hey, kiddo,” Victor said.
Billy looked over to find him sitting at his and Freddy’s desk. “How’re you feeling?” Victor asked, removing a pair of reading glasses and setting them down on a small stack of paperwork. Billy shrugged, sipping slowly at the water. “Feel up to eating something? Just something plain like crackers.”
“I guess,” Billy muttered around the straw. He didn’t really feel like eating anything, but he knew hunger well enough to recognize it as the source of his headache.
Victor stood up from the desk. “I’ll be right back.”
Billy watched him leave then shifted his gaze to the digital clock in the room. He had slept for a couple hours. Normally, he would be at lunch with Freddy at this time. He wondered how Freddy was doing. If he had found someone else to eat with, or if he was sitting at a table alone. Freddy’s popularity had seen a brief spike after the lunch where Billy had shown up as Shazam along with Superman, but some time had passed since then and the regard of teenagers was frugal and fleeting.
Victor re-entered the room along with Rosa. “Don’t force yourself to eat more than you feel you can,” Victor said as he opened a sleeve of saltine crackers and handed them to him.
“Are you feeling any better?” Rosa asked, pushing up his bangs to feel his forehead.
Billy pulled out a cracker and turned it over in his hand. “A little.”
“Anything in particular bothering you?” Rosa pushed.
Billy nibbled on the cracker and considered the question, reminding himself that this was Rosa and Victor and he could answer honestly. He swallowed. “My head hurts, I’m still real tired, but my stomach feels a bit better,” he stated softly.
Rosa nodded. “Eat what you can and drink some more water then go back to sleep. Your body needs it,” she instructed, brushing her hand through his hair.
Billy did as she said, eating a couple crackers before laying back down. “Need anything else?” Victor asked as he pulled up the blankets and tucked them around him.
“’m good,” Billy mumbled already feeling the pull of sleep and welcoming it.
~*~*~*~
When next Billy woke, it was to Freddy puttering about their room. Billy pushed himself up into a sitting position. Freddy turned to face him. “Sorry, man, I didn’t mean to wake you,” he said.
“’s fine,” Billy shook his head. He picked up the water bottle and drank. “You just get home?”
Freddy nodded. “A bit ago. How’re you doing?” Freddy sat down at the desk, draping one of his arms over the back of the chair.
“Better,” Billy replied. “You were right,” he stated.
“I usually am, and you would do well to listen to me more often,” Freddy said. “But just so we’re clear what exactly was I right about?”
Billy rolled the water bottle between his bandaged hands, listening to the soft crinkle of the plastic. “Rosa and Victor.”
Freddy nodded. “They’re good people.”
“I knew that. I just. . .” Billy’s brow furrowed as he searched for the words. “I just didn’t realize I meant that much to them.” Billy wanted Rosa and Victor’s acceptance and love, but he had imagined it as something he would have to work for and earn. He had never dreamed that it was something they would freely give to him.
“You’re important to all of us, Billy, more important than you probably realize,” Freddy stated. He smiled, “you know, the only reason the others aren’t in here pestering you is that Victor gave stern instructions to let you rest. Of course, this being my room as well I get a free pass to be in here as much as I want—but like, it’s totally cool if you want me to leave. Seriously, if I’m annoying you or keeping you from resting just say the word and I’ll go.”
“Stay,” Billy shook his head. “I’ve been sleeping pretty much since I got home. I’m honestly sick of it.”
“Sick of being sick,” Freddy chuckled. “You wanna hear something interesting?”
“Hm?” Billy hummed.
“Antarctica is the only continent without any reptiles or snakes,” he said.
Billy considered that for a moment. “That makes sense.”
“It’s also the only continent without a McDonalds,” Freddy stated.
“That. . .” Billy’s brow furrowed. “also makes sense.”
“Now, there I must civilly disagree with you,” Freddy said, folding both of his arms across the back of the desk chair. “See, it is my opinion that a McDonalds should be built in Antarctica because. . .” They playfully debated the merits of a McDonalds in Antarctica until Rosa entered their room around forty minutes later.
“Remember, it’s your night to fix dinner, Freddy,” she said.
“Oh right,” Freddy grabbed his crutch and stood up. “Awesome. Frozen pizza it is then,” he stated as he walked towards the door.
“You can put in a little more effort than that,” Rosa said.
“Aw, but everybody loves pizza,” Freddy replied.
“And we’ve already had it once this week,” Rosa stated.
“Alright, I’ll make spaghetti. Is that okay?” Freddy asked.
“Sounds good,” Rosa nodded.
“Of course it will be: I’m cooking!” Freddy exclaimed as he left the room and walked down the hall.
Rosa turned to Billy. “You still doing alright?” she asked.
“Better,” he nodded. His stomach felt much more settled, and he’d been able to keep down the crackers he had eaten.
“Do you feel up to eating something for dinner? I could heat you up some soup,” Rosa offered.
“That, that would be nice,” Billy answered.
“I’ll get that started for you,” Rosa said before leaving the room.
Billy had been alone in the room for only a couple minutes when movement at the door caught his eye. He looked over to see Darla peeking around the doorframe. “Darla?” he asked.
“I’m supposed to let you rest,” she moved so that she was fully visible but remained stopped at the threshold. She held a stuffed rabbit in both her arms.
“I can still rest with you around,” he replied, holding a hand out in invitation.
Darla grinned and ran into the room, throwing herself onto the bed and into Billy’s chest. Billy grunted as the air was knocked from his lungs. Darla sat back with a sheepish smile. “Sorry.”
“It’s alright,” Billy said, rubbing the spot she had hit.
“This is Knuffle Bunny,” she presented the worn stuffed animal to him. She lifted one of its paws and waved it. “Hiya, Billy. I’m very happy to meet you.”
“Hey, Knuffle Bunny.” Billy rubbed his palms together. “It’s nice to meet you too,” he said, feeling stupid but Darla was nodding approvingly.
“She has healing powers. She’ll help you feel better,” Darla stated, handing the stuffed toy to him.
“Oh, thank you, Darla,” he replied, setting the toy down on the bed next to him.
Darla giggled. “You have to hug her for her healing powers to work.”
Billy raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?”
“Yes,” Darla nodded her head. Billy smiled, he hugged the stuffed toy indulgently, pushing down any and all feelings of this being silly. “Do you feel better?” Darla asked.
“Hm, a little, but you know what would make me feel even better?” he asked.
“What?” Darla asked quickly, sitting up straighter.
“A magical Darla hug,” he said holding his arms out in invitation.
Darla beamed and wrapped her arms around his chest. She looked up at him. “Feeling better?”
“Very,” he stated wrapping his arms loosely around her shoulders. Darla giggled and snuggled into his side.
She remained there until Rosa returned with a soup mug in hand. “I’m helping Billy feel better,” Darla declared.
“I can see that,” Rosa chuckled. “But now you need to get washed up for dinner.”
“Knuffle Bunny will stay with you until you’re all better,” Darla said, letting go of Billy and sliding off the bed.
“I’ll take good care of her,” Billy promised.
“Silly,” Darla shook her head. “She’ll take care of you.”
“Right, of course,” Billy smiled.
Darla skipped towards the door. “Wash your hands thoroughly,” Rosa instructed, touching her shoulder as she passed.
“Yes, momma,” Darla replied, bounding out of the room and down the hall.
Rosa walked to the bunk and sat down next to Billy on the bed. “Chicken noddle soup,” she said as she handed him the mug.
“Thanks, Rosa,” he said, curling his hands around the warm ceramic. With the soup in front of him he realized he was actually hungry, saliva pooling in his mouth at the tantalizing smell. He eagerly gripped the spoon and lifted it to his mouth.
“Not homemade but heated from a can I’m afraid,” she commented. Billy had only ever eaten soup from a can.
He tried a spoonful. He swallowed, “it tastes great to me.”
“That’s good,” She picked up the sleeve of saltine crackers from the bedside table, and set them on her lap so he could easily reach them if he wanted to. Billy took one of the crackers and dipped it in the soup before eating it. Rosa pushed back his bangs to feel his forehead. “It seems your fever has broken,” she commented.
“’m feelin’ better,” he mumbled.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” she scolded mildly.
He swallowed. “Sorry.”
“I’m glad you seem to be getting your appetite back, but don’t overdo it, mijo,” Rosa said with a fond smile.
“What does that mean? Mijo?” Billy asked.
“It means my son,” Rosa replied as she carded her hand through his hair.
Billy froze with the spoon half raised to his mouth. “. . .oh.”
“Billy?” Rosa’s movements halted. “Is that okay?”
“Yes,” he answered quickly. “That’s—” he smiled crookedly, half a laugh bursting from his lungs. He thought about Darla calling Rosa momma just a few moments ago. He thought about Victor calling him son earlier in the day. He thought about Freddy calling him brother. He thought about how Rosa was everything he had dreamed a mother would be. “I’m just. . .so happy I was placed here, that I stayed, that you wanted me to stay.” He looked up at her. “I’m so happy I found this family.”
“Oh, Billy,” Rosa grinned wrapping her arms around him. Billy set the soup mug down on the bedside table so that he could return the hug. “I’m so happy you’re a part of our family now, mijo,” she said, arms tightening around him.
“Thanks. . .Mom,” he said holding on to her tightly.