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[m_pinocchio]

Today doesn't feel any different than any other day. He gets up early, gets his coffee, and instead of drinking it in the kitchen he takes it outside to the Compound steps, sits down on them and listens to the Island come awake

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[flowers_on_skin]

The girls were in their stroller, which was a strange enough occurrence and Eostre was singing as she walked along the path and saw Mike, sitting on the compound steps. She knew what day it was. She'd always kept a count.

"Another year older," she said, as she walked up to him, the girls giggling and screeching for their daddy. "I'd say it was a bloody miracle but I, of all people, should know better."

[m_pinocchio]

"I think it's a miracle," he says with a small smile, setting down his mug and lifting Flo into his arms, kissing her forehead. "A little one." When he thinks about the fact that he's still here, it's moderately surprising.

"I like when you sing. Usually means you're feeling good."

[flowers_on_skin]

"That's because you're you, and humans see miracles everywhere." When she thinks about it, she kind of likes that idea for her girls. That they'll see miracles everywhere.

It'd be some way to grow up.

"Usually means everyone else is feeling bad," she joked.
Eostre had long been aware of the fact that she couldn't actually carry a tune.

[m_pinocchio]

"Have to keep things interesting," he says, settling Flo on his knee. She says something long and only half comprehensible and grabs for the chain around his neck.

He smiles up at her and shakes his head. "I don't care what you sound like. I still love it."

[flowers_on_skin]

"Stops you from seeing the world as it is," countered Eostre, lifting Mack out of the stroller setting her down in the grass and then she sat down on the step next to him in a flurry of wide skirts.

"It's a steep learning curve."

[m_pinocchio]

"Does it?" He raises an eyebrow at her, the corner of his mouth curving slightly upward. "Even if that's true, I'll take it over 'as it is.'"

He starts to move without thinking, catches himself and hesitates, and then makes some kind of decision, reaches up and tucks a stray lock of hair behind her ear, his fingertip just brushing her cheekbone.

[flowers_on_skin]

His skin caught hers and she smiled, just barely, a soft, sort of sad look.

"I'm tired," she said, finally. "I'm tired and I miss you. Let's not do this anymore."

[m_pinocchio]

He looks back at her, the way her hair shines in the morning sunlight, and part of him is stunned into silence, and part of him starts to slowly untwist. He swallows hard and on his lap, Flo looks up at him with a quizzical expression.

"I never meant to hurt you," he whispers. "I swear I didn't. I was so stupid."

[flowers_on_skin]

"I know you didn't," she said, nodding. "I know that. You were careless. All three of you. But it wasn't about me, and it shouldn't have been about me, anyway. It wasn't anything to do with me."

Her jaw tightened and she closed her eyes. She took a deep breath through her nose and then turned to look at him, tears standing out in her eyes.

"I just...I have to figure out where I fit in again. But I will. I'll get there."

[m_pinocchio]

The tears make him hate himself, only for a fraction of a second, but before it fades it's there and it's violent. He's never wished so badly for a rewind button.

"I love you," he says, hand reaching up again and cupping her cheek. "That's where you fit. I'll always love you."

[flowers_on_skin]

"I love you too," she says, quietly. "And I'll figure it out. I just need you to be patient with me while I do."

[m_pinocchio]

"Whatever you need," he says, leaning in and brushing a kiss to the corner of her mouth. It still aches, maybe will for a long time, but they're sitting here in the sun with their children on their laps, and it's hard to argue with that.

"Don't even know how much patience I owe you by now."

[flowers_on_skin]

Her mouth twitched, part smile, part moue. She had missed him. She'd hated going to bed lonely on the nights when Abby stayed with Tim.

"Patience and prayers." She tousled Mack's bright hair into spikes. "We should take them swimming or something. I can make a cake later."

[m_pinocchio]

"I'd like that," he says, looking down at Flo, who's working his tags into her mouth. Absently he tugs them away again, ignoring her grabbing. "All of it." Just to really be with her again. Her and them. A family, which is still an idea he's not entirely used to.