"She's certainly shown she knows how to look after herself," Gold admitted. "But it's good to know she has eyes on her just the same." And that this seemed to be par for the course for the unusual number of children here without their families.

If admitting to being a grandfather was giving away an important detail, then Loki gave back in kind by indicating he had adopted someone.

Gold didn't know if he would ever do such a thing here. It tugged it something painful to think about. Very similar to how he could feel his anxiety beginning to pull at his insides if somebody cried in front of him.

His child was dead. But you go on being a parent even when you no longer have a child. Tears attacked something visceral in him. And part of him would probably always yearn for someone to take care of.

It was clear he was somewhere far away for a moment.