ICKLE RHYSY
The first few days were rough, Theo would admit. He spent too much time convincing himself that Holly would return. She would realize the past was just that and give him at the very least a chance to explain himself. It became clear quite quickly that she was not returning. He could almost understand her leaving him, but to have Theodore ask him every day where she was, why mum wasn’t coming home, that he didn’t understand. That she continued to stay away from Theodore. It made his heart ache to hear the questions from the small boy. He deserved her, even if Theo did not.

As weeks past, he found himself in a routine much similar to the days after Cordelia, and before Holly. Except now such a life, he found it lacking some how. He couldn’t seem to remember how he use to occupy his time before she entered his life, though he was sure it didn’t include sitting on the floor playing with with dragons and trying to keep up with his sons rapid talking. He didn’t get it. Holly had been much better at these sorts of games than he could ever try to be. All he heard was his son telling tales that made no sense. That had no logic or reason. It was hard for him to sit on the floor and play this game of pretend he didn’t believe in, but it was the only thing that kept the boy happy and from asking questions Theo couldn’t answer.

He knew better than to get his hopes up at the sound of the front door opening (he had made that mistake few too many times). Or at the sound of footsteps down the hall. He knew he would just be disappointed when he looked over his shoulder to see who was casting the shadow in the room. And disappointed he was, even still. “Are you still here Rhys?” He asked dulling, surrendering the dragon he had to his son and pushing himself up off the floor. “I thought you had left.”