She doesn't know, truly, what she'd been expecting. But a quaint, quiet, hole-in-the wall establishment wasn't it, either. Even as she sits down and surveys the room, looking every bit the uncomfortable, out-of-place predator she is, she begins to relax.

"I don't."

At least, not breakfast - or any truly scheduled meal for that matter. She ate when necessary and when convenient, and had never been one for restaurants and eyes lingering on the back of her neck.

Public appearances and being 'normal' was something Gavin had been encouraging her to experience.

In spite of her cold response, the woman's hand slides across the table to find the menu. She opens it, eyes scanning the choices in silence.

KING WAYLAND

Emma waits, guarded, uncertain, in disbelief for everything that has transpired. Despite every attempt, every missed call, every purposely dodged interaction, he stands in front of her asking her to stay.

And then he steps close to her to bring her in, his lips finding hers. His whispered word is brushed against her skin even before he ever makes contact with her. It echoes, bearing the weight of a promise.

She reciprocates his kiss slowly, as if her limbs are numb and she is too heavy to move, too cold. But he is warm, breathing life into her where his hands might touch her skin, encouraging her to let him in.

So she does, slowly, and then all at once.

THEO BECKETT

Something was better than nothing.

And then he holds out his hand.

Emma sucks in a breath, the urge to run weighing heavily. It is suffocating, overwhelming, terrifying. Letting people in was hard, but letting them go was harder.

She could count on one hand the amount of times the people she loved the most had killed her slowly.

She knew he would, too.

Emma reaches for his hand, ignoring the ache in her chest that threatens to consume her.

"I'll try."

THEO BECKETT

"You are."

Without a shadow of a doubt, he was. Not only was he going against every instinct Rocket had drilled into them in the past, but he was looking to her with his hand extended - but not literally - to ask her for something she had been looking for her entire life.

She just hadn't realized how bad she wanted it until she'd met Gavin.

And then, like someone had pinched off the flame to a candle, that future she'd seen and been hopeful for was snuffed out.

But here was a lighter.

Here was.. something.

That's all she knew how to call it.

"But so am I."

THEO BECKETT

"A future with me?"

Emma's breath catches and she shakes her head. That can't be what he means.

But the strain in his voice is heavy. She watches him, looking for his eyes.

THEO BECKETT

Emma blinks, brows coming together in confusion, maybe disbelief.

"What are you trying to say?"

Skrelp bumps against the glass gently then uses its tail to extend and press against the glass. She watches it, but it's as if she is the one behind glass.

"Given up on what?"

THEO BECKETT

"So why are you chasing me?"

He knows what she is, who she is, what she has been and what she wishes to become. He hadn't stayed with Gavin- with Cillian because.. why?

Why was here now?

"What do you want?"

THEO BECKETT

"I didn't run from Gavin."

Not in the end, anyway.

Theo doesn't move away from the glass even after he's finished. He remains to play with the Skrelp.

THEO BECKETT

"He didn't want children."

Rocket was no place for children, not then and not now. Perhaps it never would be. What she wanted was something unachievable. Something so far out of reach it came with its own grief.

"It is too far out of my reach."

THEO BECKETT

"I want to change. I.. think I want a family some day, Theo. That is what I want."

THEO BECKETT

Hadn't that been the point, at least a little bit? The similarities they shared were planted there intentionally.

"Neither of us were enough or had enough to give him. What makes you think we have anything to offer each other?"

Emma isn't laughing, her face is pinched in an expression of grief.

THEO BECKETT

Her chest tightens and there is an urge, a need, to look away. But she doesn't.

"I'm not capable of.. of being whatever it is you're looking for from me."

THEO BECKETT

Yes.

But she doesn't say it.

Yes.

But she can't say it.

"I've never been good at taking my own advice."

Emma has her arms crossed, but she raises them so that she's almost cradling herself. Rubbing her arm to soothe the stress.

"I can't do this again."

THEO BECKETT