Robert pulled into the driveway and went ahead of the others to unlock the door. The house was silent and completely closed up-two things it never was when Lynette and Todd were around. Were, he thought. How strange that sounded.

                               He opened the door and let Donna and the kids in ahead of him. Donna looked around, arms braced around herself. She'd never been in a house of the dead before, she'd never even been to a funeral before Todd and Lynette's.

                              Everything had felt frozen in time. Like it was reminiscent of another era. In the hall, was a large pile of beat-up sneakers she'd recognized as Todd's. They were all there, never to be worn again. She shivered at the thought and followed the hall to the living room.

                             Jack was curled up in the middle of the floor, sleeping. Unfortunately, the pooch's slumber was short lived, as Delilah ran right to him.

                            "Jack! I missed you!" She exclaimed, kneeling down and petting him.

                            Robert disappeared into the kitchen and Donna noticed they were one short. She turned around to see Mark, hugging himself in a similar manner, beside the door.

                            "Mark, what's wrong?" She asked, walking over to him.

                            "It doesn't feel like home now." Was all he said, eyeing the living room warily. Donna looked back at Delilah, scratching Jack's belly as he yipped happily.

                            "Do you wanna come in the living room and talk about it?" Mark shook his head. She felt really bad for the boy. He didn't feel like it was home because his mom and dad weren't there. No one could fix that or bring them back for him. So, she drew upon the only experience she knew of.

                             "You know, when I was born I didn't have a mom or a dad either." She said, sitting on the floor, her back to the door.

                           "Really?" Asked Mark, allowing his arms to drop down. Donna nodded

                           "I was born and then I got left by myself outside of a firehouse in a box." Mark sat beside her, already engaged in her story.

                          "They took me to a big house with a lot of other kids who didn't have parents. It was owned by a man who was supposed to be a dad to us, but he didn't like us very much." She said, closing her left eye and pulling the skin taut.

                          "You see that pink line on my eyelid?" Asked Donna.

                          Mark looked closely. "Yeah I see it."

                           "That came from the man. He used to hit us, and sometimes he locked us in closets. There were times he didn't make any food for us for long periods of time."

                          "What happened?" Asked Mark.

                          "Well, then the mom and dad I have now came, and they signed some papers to take me home. And at first, I felt like you do right now. I thought that, this couldn't be home. It was just a house, with strange people. But you know what I learned?"

                          "What?"

                          "I learned that my mom and dad love me. And that home can be anywhere you go, as long as you're with people who love you. And you know who loves you? Robert loves you, and Delilah loves you. In Heaven your mom and dad love you. Jack loves you. And I love you, Mark."

                        "I love you too, Donna." said Mark, wrapping his arms around her neck.

                        "So will you come to the living room with me?" She asked. Mark nodded, and the slightest hints of a grin appeared at the corners of his lips.

                      Donna stood up, Mark in her arms, and headed for the living room. Robert exited the kitchen in time to see them come in.

                      "Hey, you got him into the living room." He said, surprised. "Yeah, it took a little talk, but, here we are." said Donna.

                      "So, I checked the fridge, and there's practically nothing for them to eat, so I guess I should run to the store. Do you wanna come? Or stay here?"

                      "I'll stay with the kids." said Donna.

                      "Well, I'll be back then." He said, grabbing his keys and leaving. Delilah turned her attention to Donna.

                    "Wanna see my room, Donna?" She asked. During her time with Robert, Donna had never been through the house, just in the living room mostly and twice in Robert's room, and that had been three years ago.

                    "Absolutely. If you want, you can show me all around. It's been a long time since the last time I came over." Donna replied.

                   Delilah stood up and led Donna up the stairs, followed by Mark. She took her to her room first.

                   Meanwhile, at the store, Robert had been perusing the aisles, when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around to see a woman with long, fire-red hair, and sea green eyes.

                  His friend, neighbor, and one-time girlfriend, Jean Pride. "Robert! Hey, how have you been?" Asked Jean, going in for a hug. "I was sorry to hear about your parents. How are your brother and sister?"

                 "Doing better everyday." "Aw, well, that's good, at least." She said. "Doing a little food shopping?"

                "First time completely on my own." He said, looking over his relatively barren cart. Jean giggled. "Well, maybe I can help. I seem to have knowledge that a certain little boy you might know likes oven pizzas." She said, pointing to the top shelf of the freezer before them.

                "Did that little boy I might know happen to tell you what kind?" He said, gesturing to the three orange boxes. When he did, Jean caught a glimpse of silver around his finger, but said nothing.

                 He got married? She thought to herself.

                "He likes the three cheese one best." She replied.