His birdie was quieter after that. He led them upstairs and filled the bathroom sink with warm water, and cleaned up the mucky-muck without much to say.

"Burrrdieee?" Ronan whispered, taking hold of the big guy's cheeks, forcing their foreheads together. "Birdie?"

"Yes, Ro?"

"Angie is just grumpy. I liked the yummy drink and ice cream, but I not feeling sick enough to do sicky on Angie's feeties just yet. Can we put pwanans in his socks instead?"

Pausing, the washcloth in his hand stilling against where it'd been rubbing against Ronan's fingers, his birdie cocked a smile. "Say piranhas again, babes?"

"Pwanans."

"Gosh, you're adorable. I know Angel is...