It was a warm, spring day in New York - the perfect day for an outing. The Storms and the Rogers had decided not to waste a minute of the gorgeous weather, taking advantage of the warm, spring day with a visit to the zoo. While the rest of the gang had gone off to see the big cats, Maria had asked Johnny to take her to the petting zoo, where she could see a variety of tamer animals up close and personal.

Besides, Liv, Lucy, and Steve could handle the others between them. Maria hadn't had much time exclusively of her own with her Daddy, and had pretty much put her foot down about it today. That happened so rarely that everyone had given in straightaway. Hand in hand with Johnny, she lingered by the pens, shy of joining in with the activities all around them as she pointed at the little animals frolicking about.

Thankfully, no one had recognized Johnny or Steve so far, and their little group was able to enjoy the day in relative peace. After all, who expected to see Captain America or the Human Torch admiring the animals at the Bronx Zoo' As for Johnny, he was in his glory with little Maria all to himself, for a change. It was usually Alex who demanded attention, being the older and bolder of the two, so when Maria had tapped his side and pointed at the petting zoo, he'd been more than happy to indulge his little girl.

Crouching down beside her, the two of them watched while other children excitedly crowded around the sheep, ignoring the silent little girl and her father. "Would you like to feed them, Mo?" Johnny asked his daughter quietly.

Big blue eyes turned toward him, half-wary and half-hopeful. Maria was always going to be a little bit shy, especially when there were lots of other people about. Though she never made mention of it, the trauma she had shared with her brother and cousins in the Arctic had left its mark. She raised her hands, a little self-conscious of needing to sign when every other child there could chatter away without worries. "Won't I get bit?"

Johnny smiled reassuringly, understanding her fears and reservations and happy to put her at ease. "No, it's a petting zoo. They don't allow animals who bite in here," he assured her, one arm wrapped warmly and protectively around her. He waved a hand to try and get one of the workers' attention. "Excuse me! Could we buy some food for the sheep?" he asked, now that the crowd of chattering children was moving on to the next pen.

With one arm wrapped about Johnny's neck, Maria hugged him warmly, reassured that she wasn't going to get bitten by anything. When he started asking about food for the sheep, her eyes turned in that direction, looking at the little woolly breed that had been set apart to be petted. "Can I hug them, too?"

"Yes, of course. I'm sorry. I didn't see you there!" The young woman smiled as she came over to greet the pair, noticing the little girl signing to her father and assuming she could neither hear nor speak.

Johnny chuckled at little Maria's question and tilted a glance at the young zoo worker. "She wants to know if she can hug them, too."

The young woman, who didn't look much older than Fliss, smiled and looked around to see if anyone was watching. "I think we might be able to arrange that," she replied quietly, putting a finger to her lips as if it was their little secret.

Maria beamed, proving that she could hear the woman just fine. It didn't occur to her that she might be getting special treatment because she was small and quiet; there was no danger of her frightening the animals with any loud noises, after all. She still clung to Johnny, though, needing the reassurance of having her Daddy close by in this big, loud place.

"What's your name?" the zoo worker asked, as she crouched down near Maria. She wasn't sure why the little girl couldn't speak, but she either was good at lip-reading or there was nothing wrong with her hearing. "I'm Sarah," she said, by way of introduction.

One shy little hand rose to wave a hello back to Sarah as Maria smiled her shy little smile. Reluctantly removing her arm from about Johnny's neck, she answered the question put to her, despite the fact that she was pretty sure Sarah wouldn't understand it. "I'm Maria. You have a pretty name."

Thankfully, Johnny was there to interpret. "Her name is Maria, and she says you have a pretty name."

To her credit, Sarah focused her attention on Maria, despite Johnny having to interpret for her. "Thanks, Maria. You have a pretty name, too. Would you like to touch them' I promise they won't hurt you," she asked, regarding the sheep.

Maria's blue eyes turned to the sheep with wary hope once again, her little fingers twitching to touch their wool. Glancing at Johnny once more for a little reassurance, she raised her eyes to Sarah, nodding in answer to the question put to her, that little smile brightening her solemn face once again.

"You're not allergic to wool, are you?" Sarah asked, her gaze looking from one to the other. It was a question she had to ask everyone who came in contact with the sheep, just in case.

"Naw, we're not allergic," Johnny assured her, as he moved to his feet and swept Maria up into his arms.

"Okay, good. Sometimes people forget or they don't know and then they break out in a rash," Sarah explained, as she swung the gate open to admit them entry. Thankfully, most of the other children in the yard had gone off to feed the ducks, leaving Johnny and Maria alone with the sheep.

Hugging to Johnny as he lifted her up, Maria's eyes wandered enviously to the group of children moving toward the ducks. She knew she was never going to be like other children, and though her family and friends did not treat her any differently, it was sad sometimes to know she would never speak or laugh the way other children did. But she was on an outing, and she had her Daddy all to herself - that was cause enough to smile.

From her safe perch, she watched as they drew close to the sheep, looking down at the heads butting at her feet with her silent huff of a laugh, secure enough to take her arms from around Johnny's neck to sign. "They're funny!"

"They are, aren't they?" Johnny replied, echoing her laughter.

"Don't be afraid," Sarah said, ignoring the private conversation going on between what she assumed was father and daughter. "They won't hurt you. I promise," she said, reaching down to touch one of the sheep and run her fingers through the soft tufts of wool growing on its back. "See?"

Johnny watched from where he was crouched nearby, close enough so that she could retreat into his arms if she got scared or overwhelmed. Once again, it struck her how sweet-natured and gentle his little girl was, and it made his heart ache to know she had been treated so cruelly, but she was safe now, and he would make sure she stayed that way. "He or she likes you!" he declared behind her, offering a bottle to each of the others, in order to keep them happily engaged so they wouldn't disrupt Maria and her lamb.

So enthralled with the vigorous feeding was she that the little girl only noticed they had run out of milk when the little lamb she was feeding let go of the teat and burped hugely. She clapped her hands together, barely making any sound, delighted with the whole experience. It might not have seemed like much to other children her age, but for Maria, this was like a birthday treat out of season. Setting the bottle aside, she glanced back at Johnny, half-making sure he was all right, before venturing to pet the little lamb investigating her dress.

It was right then that Johnny decided Maria needed a pet of her own, though he'd have to discuss it with Liv first, seeing as their household was quickly growing by leaps and bounds. Of course, they did have a house brownie now to help with cleanup. It was too bad they couldn't bring the lamb home with them, but he thought maybe a kitten would be more to her liking. "What do you think, Mar?" he asked, as he occupied the other two lambs until they, too, had had their full.

Giggling her soundless giggle, Maria retreated into Johnny's arms once again, hugging close for a long moment before she answered. "They're so small," she shared with him, as though it was a great secret that baby animals were small at all. "And sweet, and hungry!"

"They are, aren't they?" he asked. "A little like Bess when she's hungry, but not as loud," he said, smiling as he returned her hug, deciding to take a chance and see what she'd think of having a pet of her own she could get closer to than her tank of fish. "We'll have to check with Mom first, but what would you think about picking out a pet of your own?" he asked.

"Alex doesn't have a pet," she immediately pointed out. As much as she and her brother enjoyed their fish tanks, they didn't really count as pets. More like sentient decoration, really. "Wouldn't it be unfair if I got a pet and he didn't?"

"Oh, I think he's going to inherit Lir someday," Johnny pointed out, knowing Fliss had been contemplating that already. He also doubted Alex would deny his sister or be jealous if she got a pet before he did. Bella had practically claimed Fliss, but Lir was still a baby.

Maria hesitated, unused to asking for anything she considered might even be slightly out of the ordinary. She could ask for a drink or help with homework, but anything else seemed somehow to be presumptuous to her. Her fingers were almost tentative as she signed her reply. "Would Mummy be mad if I asked for a cat?"

"Sweetheart, you could ask Mummy for the world and she wouldn't get mad," Johnny assured her, touching a kiss to her hair. It wasn't often the two of them were able to share a moment such as this, even at bedtime, and he was going to take full advantage of every second. "Do you think you'd like a cat or a kitten?"

Maria seemed to consider this for a long moment. She'd played with Lianne's kitten, Cheri, a few times, and been thoroughly charmed by the little mischief, but she wasn't sure if she wanted a kitten. "A kitten can't protect me from nightmares," she offered, a little worried about sharing this with her father. She didn't like worrying her parents, but she did still have regular nightmares. The only difference was that she didn't come running into their bedroom every time they happened any more. "Can a cat?"

Johnny frowned a little, just for a moment, concerned to hear she was still having nightmares. Maybe getting her a tiny protector would help ease the nightmares away, or at least give her a little comfort when they did disrupt her sleep. "I think maybe. There are some people who think cats are magic, like that. We could visit a rescue and see if there are any you like," he suggested, doubting Liv would deny their little girl this, especially when Johnny told her about this little conversation.

"If Mummy says yes," Maria qualified carefully. "And if Alex doesn't mind." She was certainly a little peacemaker in their often chaotic family, never wanting to rock the boat or cause any upset if she could possibly help it. She felt Johnny's concern at her little confession, her expression crumpling with guilt and worry. "I'm sorry. I didn't want you and Mummy to worry, because you have Bess and Fliss and Alex and Lir and Bella and everyone else to worry about."

"Sweetheart," Johnny started, pushing hair hair away from her face, unable to hide the love and affection he felt for her from his expression. He loved all his children equally, adopted or not, but there was a special place in his heart for this very special little girl. "I love you just as much as I love them, and I don't want you to ever be afraid to come to me or to Mummy with anything that's bothering you. We will never be angry with you for that, no matter what time of day or night it is."

She held his gaze for a long moment, finally smiling as she wrapped her arms around her Daddy's neck in a warm hug that was as filled with her love and trust as she could make it. Though she might be small and quiet, Maria was never stingy with her affection, kissing Johnny's cheek as she cuddled into him. She might not take him up on this reiteration of permission to interrupt him and Mummy whenever she was scared, but knowing that permission was there was enough to make her smile.

"I love you, Maria," he whispered as she hugged him close and touched a kiss to his cheek, that simple show of affection tugging hard at his heartstrings. "Don't ever forget that, okay?" he asked her, as insecure as she was at times, despite their growing family.

She only needed one hand to answer him. "I love you." Though she couldn't read thoughts the way Alex could, Maria knew she'd touched her father's heart in their exchange, reading his emotions as easily as he might read a book. "Can we go back now?"

"Sure," he replied with a smile, happy to know she loved him in return. She and Alex had touched his heart from the very first day he'd met them and rescued them from the horrific life they've been living, just as Fliss had when they'd met her in the orphanage, and Bess had the day she'd been born. "Can you do me a favor though?" he asked, choosing to use his hands to ask her this question, rather than chance anyone overhearing him. "When we get to the reptile house, can you stay close" I'm afraid of snakes!"

The little girl nodded confidently. "I will protect you," she promised her father, offering one last pet to the littlest lamb as it nudged at her again. Who knew" Maybe one day she would develop an active ability that might well come in handy for protecting people. But for now, knowing how everyone felt was enough. That was how Maria knew she was loved, even if she seemed to be overlooked from time to time. Claiming Johnny's hand, she turned toward the door, wondering if they were supposed to wait for Sarah before they left.