Telos had started to stir as he was passed between them, and blinked up at her blotchy face a few times before his whole face transformed beneath his smile. Melpomene nearly broke down all over again, but her need to smile back at her son dragged her through the urge to cry, though her smile was weak, winter sunlight through a grim day. "Welcome back, little bird," she said softly, closing her hand around his and feeling a little less fragile. It wasn't till she heard his phone go off, multiple times, that she looked up at Alan, catching him watching her. She gave him a crooked version of the winter-sun smile, pretty sure that none of those messages were going to be favourable.
WTF ALAN??
Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeell no!
DO NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT MARCIE OK. NOTHING. ZIP.
Are you SURE you're not having a breakdown?? Do you have backup?? DON'T DO ANYTHING STUPID AND ROMANTIC DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME