8 hours ago
![[Image: jackson.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1]](https://i0.wp.com/thefirstage.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/jackson.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1)
Jackson grinned at her and nodded. "Okay, let's go."
They went up stairs past the foyer up stairs to find Nox sitting on floor holding Lily in his arms with the holographic images. He didn't look sad or afraid. But something was wrong. The Blackthorns taught them all to read people and Nox was different, he wasn't the same as he'd been when he'd come home.
Jackson let go of Marta's hand with a squeeze to say it wasn't her fault he was letting go. Jackson sat down next to Nox and leaned against him a little to offer Lily a finger to hold, she was cute. Nox responded by putting his arm closer to him. Jackson hadn't been eager to close to anyone once they were free of the Blackthorn's grip but now with the rest they all clung to each other, and they clung to Nox and he to them. Like the puppy piles in bed kept them all happy and Jackson enjoyed being close to his family even though it reminded him of what he'd done. The bad things he'd done.
"You okay?"