Only Teardrops (Xenon)

[Deleted]

Mid April, 2026

It was early afternoon when Xantha walked into the police station. She already looked like an utter mess, her eyes red and puffy and her hair messy. Her clothes were frumpy and it was clear to see she hadn't slept all that well. She'd spent almost all of the night at the care facility that her mother had lived at for the last few years. She'd gotten a call the previous evening that her mother was expected to pass away very soon. She'd been keeping in touch with the care home for over two weeks now, following the steady decline of her health and hoping against all reason that her mother would recover. She hadn't, clearly, and over the course of the previous night she'd passed away at long last. Xantha had not been able to sleep, in stead dealing with the people in the care home as she cried and tried to get everything set up for the funeral. Part of that meant getting the news to Xena of course, but Xantha didn't want to send a letter to her sister. She didn't have an adress for the school, nor a dorm number for her sisters room. The only way she knew how to contact her sister in a speedy fashion was.... through their father.

So she'd gone to the police station to force her father to be the bearer of bad news since she had no way to tell her sister herself. This wasn't the sort of news she was planning to send over mail either way, as the letter could get lost or arrive too late. She didn't want her sister to miss out on the funeral service. All in all it meant she had to ask, or rather tell, her father what happened and that he had to get the word to Xena. Time to put her pride aside. She stepped up to one of the officers, trying to keep her voice steady despite herself. She hated being seen as weak, but for once she knew she wasn't strong enough to keep up pretences, even if she tried. It wouldn't be fair to her mother either, as the woman had always done everything within her power to help out. She took a deep breath. "I'm looking for Officer Willowmoore?" She said, her voice quivering as she tried to keep it steady. "Can you tell him his daughter is here to see him?" She asked, but refused to elaborate, biting her lip as she felt another bout of tears threatening to break free. She didn't want to have to do this, but she knew nobody else could or would do it if she didn't. It was a lot, but her father didn't care enough and her sister was too young. In the end, this was her responsibility.

@xenon

[Deleted]

Zee quickly adjusted to his new role and location smoothly, despite a few bumps in the road with his family, he was grateful none of his team had seen the slip-ups. Tonight Zee was typing away at his desk answering emails and strategizing for the upcoming weeks meeting with his officers. Normally he didn't get visitors at this time of night, so when the secretary knocked on his door and said his dauhter was there to visit him, he was caught slightly off gaurd. First off, he knew Xen was in school, at some far away fairytale land, while Xantha hated his guts. Either way, this would be interesting.

The man sprang up from his chair and stretched his legs before nonchalantly walking over to the door. His head cocked to the side with a slightly confused look when Xantha was standing before him, he offered a small smile and waved her in, knowing she wouldn't want a hug. The smile was already pushing it with his daughter. "Hey, Xan." he greeted, "What's going on?" he asked her curiously, well aware she wouldn't be there visiting him for tea time.

When he looked at his daughter's face he couldn't help but think she appeared troubled. Far more troubled than the first time seeing her at the station, or in her rundown apartment after the neighbor girl's domestic violence case. She looked sad, drained. His heart dropped to his stomach, having a feeling he knew why she was there...he hoped she didn't have bad news about her mother.

@xantha

[Deleted]

It said quite a lot that Xantha had introduced herself as his daughter more than something along the lines of 'crotch spawn' since her feelings towards her father were negative at best. She missed the role he was supposed to have played in her life, but never had. Or at least he hadn't in quite a few years. It was difficult for her to see him both as her father and the man that had abandoned her in her hour of need. This time she wasn't here for herself so much as for her sister. She couldn't let the funeral go through without at the very least telling her sister that their mother had passed, but she couldn't do that without her father. It made complicated matters even more complex. She found it hard to breathe around him, not sure if she wanted to yell at him or crawl into his arms to cry her eyes out. It was a difficult conflict, so she did neither, as default.

He greeted her as positively as he was able, it seemed. She lacked the energy to shoot him a destructive glare as he asked what was going on. The fact she was here had to mean to him that it wasn't good. She didn't care about him enough to stop by to catch up. They didn't have that bond and she wasn't that kind of social. Yet the situation demanded she come see him and she was too exhausted and worn out to be mean at this moment. She looked at her father, everything about her just radiating exhaustion as her puffy red eyes turned on him. "You need to contact Xena. I don't know how to reach her..." Xantha said, her voice a strange mixture between exhausted and pained. "Mom died last night." She said, feeling her voice break but wanting so bad to hold herself together. She took a deep breath, biting her lip as she tried so hard not to start crying again......

@xenon

[Deleted]

Zee wasn’t prepared for the information. Nothing could have prepared him. His ex wife had officially passed on. As crazy as she was, he couldn’t help but feel a tinge of sadness in his gut. The air was caught in his throat for a second as he sighed through his nose. ”Xantha,” he said quietly, ”I’m truly sorry to hear that news..” Zee told her, already preparing for verbal backlash. He was quiet for a second as he considered her words about being unable to contact her sister.

So badly he wanted to hug her in that moment. The fatherly instinct in him wanted to hold her in his arms and tell her that she’d be okay. He knew he couldn’t lie to her like that again though.

Zee swallowed, pushing the thought of telling Xen the bad news aside for a second. ”Are you okay?” he asked her softly, eyes searching her face. She looked completely devastated, he could tell she had been crying by the puffy eyes and her demeanor. This was not how he expected to spend his night, but in his work he should have known to always expect the unexpected.

@xantha

[Deleted]

He sounded so genuine when he said he was truly sad to hear her mother had passed. While a part of her screamed not to believe him she didn't have the energy to scream at him or waste any energy on his words. Genuinely or not, it changed nothing. It could have made things easier, if she had the energy to make up her mind that it meant something to her that he was genuine this time around. She just stood quietly, half shrugging. "We all knew." She managed feebly after a moment, although nothing suggested she'd been prepared to deal with the pain. In no way had she been prepared to deal with the loss of her mother, no matter how long it had been coming. She could barely allow herself proper time to grieve, as she could at most use the days she got of work for dealing with the bureaucratic part of her departure. To visit the funeral before she had to get back on the stage and pretend that nothing was wrong and smile without a care in the world for the sake of an audience. Acting, she supposed it was, but it hadn't been something she'd been prepared for. Her acting wasn't up to par for a performance of that magnitude.

He asked if she was okay and while it was obvious she wasn't, the snappy retort didn't leave her mouth. It wasn't something she had the energy for. In stead she only made a strange movement that got caught somewhere between a shrug and a headshake. "No." She clearly said and she looked at him, feeling the tears in her eyes again as she wrapped her arms around herself. "My mom died." She said in a sad and slightly bitter voice. "I guess I'm practically an orphan now." She said in a dry tone of voice, as the hurt and pain overtook her senses for a moment. "Maybe if your places had been reserved I still would have had a parent now." She said and the bitterness was clear in her voice. "You're nothing but empty broken promises, hot air, meaningless words, and stupid questions. Do I look okay dad?!" She was starting to get going now and she could feel the years of anger finally reach a boiling point. Luckily the door behind her was already shut but for his sake she pulled the shutters closed before she looked at him, a total mess of fury and utter despair. "Do you have any idea how much it hurt? How much it still hurts that I'm not welcome in your home? That I don't get to be part of your perfect little family? At least mom was there for me! She gave me everything she could and she was there to support me." Xantha said, tears in her eyes and her voice shrill and hoarse. "Who was there when I got rejected for my auditions and needed a shoulder to cry on? NOT YOU! Who was there for me when I felt lonely during Christmas? Again, not you! And who comforted me through the pain of caring for somebody I knew was dying because nobody else could or would? Once again, NOT YOU! Mom was there for me, even as she got so sick she could barely take care of herself. She was still there, trying to make sure I'd be okay because we both knew that you were off living your perfect life, content with letting me starve on the streets! So no, I'm not okay. I'm not planning to be okay for your sake. You might be my father by blood but that was your mistake and NOT mine!" She took a deep breath to compose herself a little bit. "So do me a favour that you've owed me for many years now and just make sure that I can be there for my sister and that she can at least help bury our mother. After that you can buy her a nice hot cup of chocolate milk while I run off, back into the oblivion of forgetfulness you prefer to have me in. I don't need you, but Xena does and if you let het down the same way you did me.... I will do whatever I am capable of to make your life a living hell." She looked at him furiously. "And you can trust me when I say I know what that looks and feels like."

Maybe it should have felt as a relief to finally give him a piece of her mind, but she just felt more exhausted. She just wanted to forget and go to bed. Deal with the pain again in the morning. She knew the only reason she hadn't collapsed yet was the fact she was too stubborn to give her dad any sort of sign of weakness. How on earth was she suppsoed to prove she didn't need him if she broke down completely around him?

@xenon

[Deleted]

“I promise we will send her off in a proper fashion and I will pay for all funeral expenses so you aren’t stuck with them. You won’t have to worry about any of that.” he assured her, placing a hand on her shoulder before retracting it back as if she were on fire. He was afraid she’d get angry from touching her which was devastating. In that moment, all he wanted to do was wrap his daughter in his arms and break down. He wanted to come clean more than anything. He was tired of looking like a villain. The guilt was starting to be too much.

Her words were a kick in the gut, only because they were true. Zee couldn’t remember the last time he was speechless out of fear of crying. This situation was emotional and it was thrown on him like a ton of bricks, but a part of him deep down knew he should have seen it coming. His ex-wife had been terminally ill for a very long time.

Zee stepped toward his first daughter, already knowing all of the ‘I’m sorries’ in the world wouldn’t be enough, but it had to be said. “I’m sorry.” he started, feeling a pain in his chest. Fuck, he wasn’t going cry…maybe if he was lucky, it would be a heart attack and he too would drop dead. Hell, that would have been a horrible Omen for Xantha. He was quiet for a second, careful to talk slowly so he could stabilize his voice.

His eyes attempted to meet Xantha’s to show he was serious, even if he was close to choking up and releasing the water works. ”I think about you and the situation I’ve put you in all the time.” he admitted to her weakly, ”Things have changed over the past five years and I wish I could explain everything to you, but it’s hard to understand. Everything isn't as it seems, or seemed...” he promised her, careful to talk slowly so he could stabilize his voice. Zee knew nothing he could say would be good enough and he was feeling overwhelmed. "Xantha, I want to be there for you in your time of need if you will allow me to. I want you to know you won't be alone, or an Orphan, although I told you were on your own years ago. That is the worst thing that a father could do to their child and I'm sorry for treating you like you were disposable.” he said, heart beating out of his chest. Zee couldn't believe he was saying so much but he had to allow himself to be vulnerable to apologize."I don't expect you to forgive me right now, but I will help you, and do whatever it is I can do to work on our relationship if you want anything to do with me." Zee told his daughter sighing through his nose. The emotions were becoming so overwhelming he forgot he was in his office. Thankfully the door and blinds were shut because he couldn't allow his team to see him like that.

@xantha

[Deleted]

While Xantha was aware the gesture of him taking care of all the funeral costs was more than generous it still didn't do anything to soothe her mood. If anything it only set her off more. Her father knew she didn't really have anything but to stuff it in her face like that was beyond rude. He put a hand on her shoulder and must have noticed her tense up as he retracted it just as quickly. She looked at him. "No." She simply said, shaking her head. "I don't need your charity. You can stick that money where the sun don't shine." She said bluntly. Her voice was harsh and unforgiving. "I'll manage with the funeral costs on my own, just like I have done for years with the rest of my life. You don't get to come in and play the hero to buy off your guilt. You can keep that and your money with you." She said in a biting tone.

He then apologised and Xantha paused. Well this better be good. At first she figured that the pause in his voice meant that was all he was going to say in terms of an apology, which was about what she expected. He always let her down so why would today be any different? He felt bad about what he'd done but it was all too difficult to explain so he wasn't going to bother to try. Surprise, surprise. More lies and half truths there, but she didn't really expect anything else at this point. He was going to be there this time, he said. Things were going to be different and she didn't have to be alone in it this tine around. It was a big thing to say, so naturally she didn't believe him one bit. The only redeeming factor in what he said was that he seemed to be more emotional than she'd expected. She narrowed her eyes at him. It all sounded too good to be true, so it probably was. She took a deep breath, sighed and shook her head. "It's fine." She said eventually. "You made your point when you walked out. And then again when you took Xena and told me I wasn't welcome. I've been on my own for years and if it wasn't for Xena, I wouldn't even have been here. The best thing you can do to prove you're sincere is actually stop trying to buy your way out of this one. It's unseemly and doesn't make you seem genuine. I can't even tell if you're trying to buy out your guilt or if you genuinely care about me. So do what you owe me, get Xena to mom's funeral and if you actually want to be there, sit pretty in the back and keep your mouth shut. Don't get involved beyond what my sister might ask of you, don't volunteer. Don't pay a dime. Maybe at the end of the service I'll consider your attempt genuine and I'll give you my phone number so you can text me every once in a blue moon to check in." She sighed, far too tired to even be doing this, but it seemed the easier way to get rid of him. Give him the spark of hope she'd been forced to give up so long ago. "But just keep in mind you gave up your right to be part of my life and you don't get to control any aspect of it. I don't want you in my life if the only purpose is to free yourself from guilt. I don't owe you even that much and you deserve every single moment of guilt you feel." She then looked him straight in the eyes, wary like a wild animal trying to figure out how to handle a new situation. "Still willing to try, officer Willowmoore? Or are you going to give up when it gets difficult again?" It was intended to hurt of course, because she still felt plenty hurt and bitter towards him. Yet she was sort of extending an olive branch to him this time. Maybe things could be better, but it was too much for her to hope for currently. Or at least it was without some form of evidence.

@xenon

[Deleted]

Zee hated how he felt in that very moment. But he could also imagine how Xantha felt for over five years. He felt like a failure as a father, a coward. Things were so complicated when in reality he knew it didn’t have to be. Aimee made things hard before but he had a feeling that she would ease up if he fought her on it a bit more nowadays. They were in a completely different place mentally. Persistence beat resistance.

The last thing Zee wanted to do was ruin his marriage. Something he cherished more than he could, or should ever, explain to Xantha. He wanted to be there for her now more than ever. Where it could potentially make a difference in her life. In reality, not paying anything was a great deal.

Nodding at his daughter with a calm expression after she addressed him as ‘Officer Willowmoore’, he wasn’t going to let his own name upset him. “Yes, I want to try Xantha. And if that’s how you prefer it to be, then sure.” he agreed easily with a curt nod, ”I offered because funerals are expensive. I know you don’t need me, or my money, you have already proven that.” He told her, not trying to sound harsh but it could sound a little harsh, it was always how their exchanges went as she got older. He continued, “I just wanted to be sure you understand that you will be left with any unpaid medical bills or debt she has, so I’m just trying to help make the process a little smoother for everyone.” Zee informed her, leaning against his desk as he spoke, feigning calmness. Truthfully, he felt like he was going to break into a million pieces. As much as he wanted this conversation to be over, he didn’t want to see Xantha leave. He wanted to comfort her in her time of need.

His expression softened at the thought of having to tell his younger daughter the news, “Xen will be there,” Zee assured her solemnly. What kind of monster did she think he was that he wouldn’t tell Xen of her own mothers funeral? Well, he did abandon her… ”Let me know the details when they’re set in place and I can pull her out of school for a week.” he said simply. “Xantha, listen, I’m not trying to buy you out or over compensate from my guilt. I do feel guilty but it’s not like that. I know it’s hard to believe me after deserting you. I don’t blame you for not trusting my word.” He told her, feeling the need to at least get that off of his chest.

@xantha

[Deleted]

It was annoying, not to mention condesending to presume she didn't know that funerals were expensive. To presume she wasn't aware of the medical bills or de debts her mother had built over the last five years. It did enough to further sour her mood and she crossed her arms as she half sat on one of the cabinets and looked at her father. Just because she lived in a dump didn't mean she didn't have her finances in order. She rolled her eyes at him. "Oh wow, I never imagined. You're being patronising." She told him bluntly to the point of simply being rude. She felt he earned it though. "I'm not fifteen anymore." She reminded him. "Which means that I don't need your fatherly advice, your patronising reminders that I have plenty of debt waiting for me or for that matter, any advice on how to fix that. If I wanted help, I'd ask for it." She said with very little patience. She wouldn't have asked him through, knowing she couldn't trust him to be there for her, no matter how much he told her things were different now.

For just a moment it seemed as though he was finally accepting the practical side of their interactions as he at least promised her that he'd make sure that Xen could be there. Pulling her out of school sounded fine to her and it felt for a moment like she could breathe. He'd always been there for Xen, so it made sense that he'd actually keep his word and take care of her in this as well. At least she could count on his love for sister. It just hurt he'd left none for her. Then he supposedly explained himself and said he wasn't trying to buy out his guilt. She glared at him. "Then stop talking about it." She told him simply. It didn't help that he was constantly trying to apologise. She sighed then and shook her head reluctantly, not able to accept that she was willing to even share a little with him. Truth was she missed her mom and once upon a time she and her father had been very close. She'd trusted him more than anything and she hadn't gotten close to her mother in the way that she had been until after he broke her heart. "I'll be fine, okay? I have some friends that'll be there for me. You met one of them." She motioned vaguely. He hadn't liked Emrys much but that didn't change that he was important to her. "I can trust them to help me out in case of emergency. I won't starve and if I get stabbed I'm sure they'd be willing to stitch me up so I won't bleed to death. Granted, only my roommate and the guy you met know where I live but none of them care. It's perfect because they have nothing to lose and they don't meddle. It's mutual benefit without the risk of getting hurt. Maybe we can work on building something similar again but you're going to need a lot more patience. No trying to be my father, as you did a shit job and you got fired from that position. We'll see what works as long as you can start respecting my wishes rather than trying to be a parent to me. I choose to be an orphan. I owe you nothing and you would do well to start remembering that before offering help I needed three years ago. This time it's your turn to deal with the cards you're dealt and I feel I'm being plenty generous. You have Xena to thank for that."

@xenon

[Deleted]

"I'm not trying to upset you, I'm only trying to help.." he told her after she got offended over him explaining funerals being expensive. Zee's patience was starting to dwindle with her. He, too, was feeling sadness and blind sided by the information of her mothers death. Feeling blind sided was admittedly more of a personal problem on his part, but he was still trying to comprehend the situation. Xantha's tone was similar to what he remembered when she was younger and they'd bump heads. It was much different these days when she was an adult. He couldn't send her to her room or make her listen to him and that was a weird feeling, even if he hadn't done that in many years. 

Xantha continued telling him that he was fired from the dad role years ago, explaining that she had people in her life she could depend on. That information was reassuring in a sense but he couldn't help but feel a kick in the gut feeling like a deadbeat dad. She continued by telling him what she wanted from him. It sounded like she wanted him more as a friend, than a Dad, but he wasn't going to say it out loud. He gave that privilege away years ago. Zee nodded wordlessly, because that was what he felt she wanted most from him in that moment. Not mansplaining, or more meaningless apologies. Sometimes the best apology for a person was a change of behavior, and Zee knew that personally.

His brown eyes fell on his daughter, swallowing and nodding his head, "Alright. Yes, I understand. I'll back off." he agreed quietly, biting the inside of his cheek so he didn't say anything else. Zee wasn't sure of what his daughter next from him but he was willing to give it a shot for her. It was the least he could do. Realistically, not having to give her money, or be overly involved in her life, was a good thing. He should've known not to expect a welcoming committee of sorts.

@xantha

[Deleted]

For not trying to upset her, her father was extremely good at it. She was still so angry with him for everything that happened but admittedly, a part of her was angry with him for not doing much to close the distance at this point. He was being so practical but she just wanted her dad, not a practical version that told her how to handle a horrible situation but the version of her dad that would hug her and reassure her and even make the false promises that everything was going to be fine. No matter how much she wanted it, she couldn't possibly admit that, or tell him that was what she wanted and needed. The mere chance that he would abandon her again was too big to take. She knew it would break her far beyond repair if he left her when she was most vulnerable and she couldn't take the risk. She couldn't trust him not to destroy what little there was left of her spirits. So she bit and snapped at him and struggled to give him the time of day.

And naturally all she got from him was silence and supposed understanding. He'd back off and give her the space she wanted. It was predictable and safe but it still hurt a little bit that he was letting go so easily. He'd never actually fight for her, would he? It was painful, but that was just a part of the reality she needed to live with. She hesitated a moment, as if she was unsure what to do. She wanted more, but she couldn't ask it. Above all she wanted to know why he didn't want her in his life. She wanted to know what moved him to try now, and if his attempt was real or just a product of circumstance. Maybe it was only because he'd moved back to London and so she'd be a faint part of his life regardless. She longed to ask a million questions but she feared the answers more. She sighed a moment. "I know I'm not the daughter you wanted or something... but maybe it would be nice to pretend for a while that I was good enough. Because I could really use a parent right now and the only one I had was taken from me. So please, just once, can we pretend I'm good enough? That I always was? We can go back to normal tomorrow but right now I just want my dad back, because I can't ask mom and I don't know how to get through this alone. Please?" She just hoped he wasn't going to pretend by saying meaningless words and claiming that she was good enough. She was pretty sure that would have her lose all her composure at this point. All she wanted was to have her dad back and she knew she could put that aside as long as he didn't try to counter her. She didn't need to argue, just to pretend. Just one night, she hoped he could manage that much for her sake.

@xenon

[Deleted]

Zee was quiet, he didn’t know what to say because he was too choked up. The look on Xantha’s face showed that she needed to be comforted. Zee knew he wasn’t her first choice for that job. But he truly, deeply, wanted to. She said that they could go back to normal tomorrow, which wasn’t what he wanted. Zee sighed before mustering the courage to quietly step forward to Xantha and pull her into his arms for a hug, squeezing her for a moment because it felt like a dream to have his daughter in his arms again.

The blinds of his office were closed so he wasn’t worried about anyone walking into his office during an intimate moment. Tears were welling up in his eyes, and it was took everything in him not to allow them to fall. He pulled away from the embrace to tell her to her face, ”You were good enough, Xantha. Please. I’m begging you not to blame it on yourself. This was my own doing and I fucked up everything.” he admitted in defeat, unstoppable tears rolling down his cheeks now. “I don’t want things to go back to ‘normal’. I love you and I’m going to prove to you.” he promised her. He didn’t care what repercussions he’d have for telling her he loved his first born daughter, or for hugging her, or making new promises. The Officer was going through a rollercoaster of emotions. He was overwhelmed with emotions.

@xantha

[Deleted]

For just a moment, Xantha had hope everything could be fine. Her dad actually stepped up and hugged her and she burried her face in his chest instantly, feeling a flood of tears escape as she hugged him back and rejoiced in the momentary comfort his embrace brought her. For that moment, everything was perfectly fine and it was almost like nothing had happened. Almost, but she could forget it for a while like this.

She'd have punched him rigjt in the nose if not for the fact that she saw the tears on his face first. Her father didn't cry. He didn't cry or even show emotions for that part. He was a cold and stoic man and she got all her emotional control from him and her temper from her mother. She frowned, even though she felt the beast in her heart roar indignantly at his audacity to ruin the moment. Her face was a neutral mask of stoic indifference that she could barely maintain. He was wrong of course, but there was little need to rub that in his face in a moment of emotional weakness.

She paused a moment before she managed to decide how to even react to it. She pursed her lips and brushed one of the tears off his face and flicked it away in a nearly annoyed motion. "Maybe." She conceded begrudgingly. "But I still don't want your help. When you inevitably change your mind or have it changed for you, I won't let myself be set back because of it. I'm a legal adult now and I can't depend on you, even if anything changed since I was seventeen." She sighed and leaned against his chest again. "Last chance, consider yourself lucky you caught me in a weak moment." She wanted her dad, even if she knew herself to be an idiot for even giving him a second chance when he'd done nothing to deserve it. She was just scared to be alone right now.

@xenon

[Deleted]

Zee knew he ruined the moment between he and Xantha by opening his mouth, again. For some reason, he couldn’t keep his mouth closed. It was his nerves taking over. But for a moment when Xantha allowed him to envelope her in his arms, embracing his first born once again after so long… A void in him felt like it was filled, but as soon as it had arrived, it had faded just as quickly.

Xantha wiped a tear off his face and flicked it, but he felt more stream down to replace the wiped ones just as fast. Zee hated feeling weak. Vulnerability wasn’t easy for him, especially around his children. Everything was happening so fast he couldn’t believe it. Zee wished he could come clean with Xantha and tell her everything but he knew that tonight wasn’t the night. Not the night of her mothers passing. That would be too much.

The Officer was quiet, marinating in his daughters words. The ‘Maybe’ was good enough for him. It meant he had a chance at redemption. Zee wished he had more to say to her that she wanted to hear, but at this point, he knew she preferred him to stay quiet.

She said that she still didn’t want his help. ”Okay, Xantha.” he nodded his head in agreement to her terms, swallowing in an attempt to steady his voice. ”Thank you.” he said quietly before asking in a hopeful tone, ”Would I be able to get your contact information?”

@xantha

[Deleted]

Maybe there was a little hope after all? Just maybe, she couldn't be too quick in her hope. She wriggled her nose for a moment as he asked her contact information. She took her phone out, cracked screen and all and tapped it against her palm a few times as she considered. It was worth it, maybe, to give her contact information. If he truly had changed she'd have a dad again and if he hadn't she wouldn't really hear from him all that much either way. She pursed her lips for a moment and then sighed reluctantly. "Fine. Though the primary purpose is so it's easier to coordinate your dropping Xena off for the funeral. I don't want daily text messages or I'll just change my number. I'll answer when I get to it. You might know where I live, but you don't get to visit. I don't want cards either, unless they're from Xena." She sighed as she twirled the phone in her hand a moment before walking over to his desk and scribbling her number on a piece of paper.

"If you manage to not fry my nerves before the funeral I'll increase your texting priviledges. If you truly want my trust back you're going to have to take the long way around to earn it back. No short cuts, no cheating." She pulled a face with a sarcastic smile. "Although you get credits for sticking with your mistress." She said in a sharp but sugary sweet voice. Clearly she was using her defence mechanisms in order to cope with everything that was going on, but well, it was up to him to decide if he thought it was worth it. She then walked to the door. "I'll see myself out." She paused a very brief moment, looking down at the floor before she opened the door. "And thanks.. for today." She said in a soft voice before she walked out quickly, closing the door behind her.

@xenon
fin