And if the way Jackson gasped softly, his eyes slowly opening when they pulled away, he had felt the same.

"I just needed to know that," Sly whispered at last. "Because I'm not sure if I am Little or not, and I just wanted to know where that would have left us if I just couldn't find that side of me. But . . . if you promise it would be okay if I didn't have that side of me, I promise to try and find out."

His answer was another kiss. It ignited the oddest of sensations in Sly's chest. In his bones: it said 'you're home'.

"You mean...