"If I can get real cream and sugar on the train, maybe I'll make you a cup of really good coffee one of these days," Nell offered between sips. "I know what you'un mean though, sometimes a not so great thing brings you memories of something really nice."

She couldn't help but smile at the notion of this man dragging his twelve year old son to bed when he'd fallen asleep. She'd certainly lugged her fair share of siblings and half-siblings to bed when she was younger.

With her mind on those memories, his question caught her a little by surprise. "Me? No. Not anymore. Pretty much left the church - cult really - when I married my husband at twelve and had to leave all my family behind. His other wife died soon after that, and John, well John's been dead five years now, so I've been on my own since then."

Her smile was a little rueful. "S'hard getting used to having so many people around all the time. ... But kinda nice, too."