It had been almost two months since Telos had been back with Melpomene, and while Alan had spent so many hours wondering what they were like together (what were they doing? did he smile up at her in the sweetest way? did she sleep in the same bed with him? was he a baby that cried a lot?), he also felt more like himself than he had since before he'd lost his Muse. No longer was he drowning in misery and unable to do anything but mourn the life that he could have had.
Instead he was helping his friends, and going to work, and volunteering free group guitar lessons for kids. He was back to being the Alan who had something to give to the world, and not the one who needed everyone else to look after him.
It was better, but that didn't mean he didn't wake up some mornings and long for the warm body of Melpomene beside him.
But it was better.
Today he was on his way to the Fox and had figured it was a good time to drop in on Stoots in his workshop.
The door was (unsurprisingly) locked, and Alan knocked, hearing the sounds of movement inside. "It's Alan," he called out. "And coffee!"