[attr="class","beck"]"i figured."

it's a nice thought: a family, a home they could live in where they could be safe and happy.

"you were about to get married, after all."

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe

"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

[attr="class","beck"]"i don't think so."

the final seaweed wedges into place; his hands lift out of the water moments after, though one remains close to the surface of the glass to continue to play with the skrelp.

"but it will be if you keep running."

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe

"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

[attr="class","beck"]no, she didn't, but —

"you're running from me."

and he has a feeling she'll keep running; not just from him, but from everyone.

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe

"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

[attr="class","beck"]"you make me want to try."

his hand presses against the glass, meeting the skrelp on the other side.

"i didn't feel that with cillian. maybe i had just given up."

maybe he had been scared to. but it's too late to do anything but reflect.

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe

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

[attr="class","beck"]"a future together..."

no, that's not it — there's more; and after a breath, he wills it out of him.

it escapes hushed.

"...outside of rocket."

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe

"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

[attr="class","beck"]his eyes find hers, gaze holding, and after a moment, he nods.

"tell me i'm crazy."

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe

"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

[attr="class","beck"]it's faint, almost fleeting, but it's there, and sometimes, it's enough.

he'll hold onto it even if it is only...something.

a hand reaches out for hers.

"then stop running."

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe