“I'm getting a girlfriend soon," said Michael in a serious tone, and everyone laughed."You've got plenty of time for that, kiddo," said his father. "No need to rush.""Well, I don't want a boyfriend, Daddy," said Madeline. "Boys are dirty, and they make a mess when they eat.""I'd imagine the six-year-old ones would." Xavier chuckled. "But don't worry, they get better at it.”

“Nic's going to be an old maid," Michael said, giggling."What?" she snapped. "How do you even know what that means? You're like, four years old.""Mommy said it," Michael answered. Bernie coughed, nearly choking on her food as Peter and Xavier laughed into their napkins.”

“What about this?" I held up a battered copy of Beauty and the Beast. "It sounds romantic." Xavier wrinkled his nose."Disney... I don't think so.""Why not?""Because if anyone found out, I'd never live it down.""I won't tell if you don't," I pleaded, and Xavier shook his head in defeat."The things I do for you," He said with an exaggerated sigh.”

“We'll find out soon enough," Xavier growled. "You don't see too many V Star 250s around here""How do you know the bike model?" I asked."I'm a boy. We like engines”

“Love you,” Xavier said just before he drifted back to sleep.“Love you more,” I said playfully.“Not a chance,” Xavier said, fully awake now. “I’m bigger, I can contain more love.”“I’m smaller, therefore my love particles are more compressed, which means I can fit more in.”Xavier laughed. “That argument makes no sense. Overruled.”“I’m just basing it on how much I miss you when you’re not around,” I countered.“How can you possibly know how much I miss you?” he said. “Have you got some sort of built-in miss-o-meter that can give us a reading?”“I’m a girl; of course I have a built-in miss-o-meter.”

“Oh, man," Xavier groaned. "See what you've done--now I'm stressing.""You can't! You're the stable one!"Xavier laughed and I realized his distress had been feigned to illustrate a point. He wasn't worried in the slightest."Just relax. Go and run a bath or have a shot of brandy.""Okay.""That second bit was a joke. We both know you can't hold your liquor.”

“Actually Gabriel’s an archangel,” I corrected. “But otherwise, yes.”“Well, that explains why he’s so hard to impress,” said Xavier flippantly”