Small as it may be, the sound of Louis' answering laughter warms his heart.

The bird lets itself be pushed back without resistance, though it does offer a tiny plock-plock of mild protest. After nudging Louis one last time, it trots back to the foot of the bed -- where the frame is already acquiring some impressive scratches and beak marks -- to climb down to the floor.

"Do you, ah," says Gaeta, nodding to the bed. "Want to have the coffee over there? It's ready."