Kitty followed June over and sat beside her, pulling the blanket from the bottom of her bed to drape across both of their laps. When the little girl confessed to having bad dreams, Kitty extended an arm to drop around June's shoulders and pull her into a side hug. "I'm sorry you're having nightmares, heartling. I think we're all having a hard time relaxing now that we're back here. it's going to take some time." Kitty wasn't really having nightmares herself, but waking up at every little noise and ready to go on the defensive. Her body was exhausted, but her mind would not let her sleep like she needed to.
As June started to cry, Kitty ran her fingers through June's blonde waves and rocked her slightly. "I know, June. I know you don't want to go back to him. And honestly, I don't know what would happen if he tried to come back and get you. or your mom, for that matter. I don't know enough about the law. Maybe tomorrow we can go talk to Professor Munroe and see what she can tell us." Her arm around June tightened. "All I know is that I would fight with everything in me to keep you here."
It was hard to see June cry, especially if it was because she was afraid. Kitty felt so protective of her that she would have done anything she could to make her feel safe. She didn't know everything about June's parents, only that the girl had been dropped off at the school with a note, and that Ororo fought long and hard to have her declared a ward of the school. In loco parentis, she recalled. In place of a parent. "The social worker knows you're doing well here. She sees how much you've grown and how smart you are. I can't help but think that would lean her a little more in our direction if your dad ever did come back. This is the best place for you to be, and I believe that."