Bracing herself, Michelle assumes quite the defensive position as Ted speaks, up, even if a little relief translates to her face the more he elaborates. "I'm sorry--" She almost interrupts. "I'm sorry, but I needed to ask. She's--" She waves a hand in the direction of the stairs. "This is so unlike you, Ted. And she looks--" Barely legal. "How old is she anyway?"

Is Beard coaching college students now?

"Look, I'm sorry, I really am." Michelle states, aware she ought to sound a little firmer. "But I'm bringing my son to stay with his father and he hasn't even warned me that he's in what I'm guessing is a relationship with a girl who's-- What? Ten years older than our kid?"

Arms folded over her chest, Michelle slowly nods, trying to remain calm as she lets Ted spill his heart out with many of the things she is well aware remained unsaid between them. The thing about Jake... it had been a disaster and she has to accept it. She's almost glad to hear him speaking his mind for a change. For as long as their marriage lasted Ted always tried to be accomodating.

But this? Him suddenly going through a... Mid-life crisis?

"I know. I know that you've got a point," she offers, holding out her palm as in a sign for him to stop. "The thing about Jake was a mess and I already told you how sorry I am about it." She is trying to sound patient, even though Ted will sure detect that tone that comes almost like a warning. "But you were not coming to Kansas and I was-- I didn't know how to bring it up. I wasn't in a deadline, Ted." She was running from facing him and the bomb she had set up herself. "But this? You were going to wait until we were here to tell me?"

What would she do then? Forbid him from seeing Henry? Of course not.

"How serious is this? Does she even know?"

Michelle closes her eyes at Ted's accusation, aware that he's got a point and a right to lash out at her. She doesn't argue with him, aware that he's got a very valid point and she messed that one up.

Jake. Had became a calming presence in her life, had given her back a sense of normality she and Ted and lost completely. Jake had turned exactly into what she had needed, how could she let that chance go? Even if that meant screwing things up... Their happiness and a little stability was worth it.

Meanwhile, what is Ted doing with his life? Working for a school and dating a girl that's barely out of it?

Huffing out a breath, she shifts the way she stands on her spot, still unnable to look at Ted in the eye. "She's young, Ted. And you are tying her up to something that's unbelievably hard." She's tempted to tell him that she knows from experience, but is aware of how cruel that would be. She's sure he is well aware of how his human self has already plenty of baggage. But sharing the weight of what it is like to protect a werewolf?

Michelle herself had been positive that she could help him endure that curse. It crushed her heart to realize she was not strong enough, their marriage was strong eough. "What happens as she starts growing older and realizes she's missing out on things girls her age are doing?" Poeple her age go out and party, they don't just tie themselves into long lasting relationships. "Have you even asked her if she wants kids of her own?"

Comparing his little girlfriend to an 'enviromental protestor' manages to steal a snort out of Michelle, who smiles despite herself before she rubs at her nose, blinking back tears that are not just the product of her allergies. She's worried sick now and knows she's reached a limit in this conversation. Is it worth it, reminding Ted just how unstoppable his optimism can be sometimes?

What if he's putting far too much faith in a relationship with this girl? His neck is on the line every time he makes these decisions with someone who's not part of the family. One thing is Beard, another... Some girl that makes him feel less lonely. Him, the father of her kid. Who she's still loves in some way, as family.

"Okay," she finally agrees, even though it's clear she's far from content with the state of things and a lot has been left unsaid. "Maybe--" She considers things for a moment, but asking him to talk to Jake like he used to? Before they ended their relationship. Perhaps it's too much. "Have you talked to anybody about this aside from Beard?"

That goes without saying. Of course Beard knows.

The mention of Dottie steals a more heartfelt smile, even though she is well aware that his mother's visits were often easier when she was there to support Ted. It's--

Surprisingly strange to think that is now somebody else's resnponsibility. Some girl's.

"Yeah, it's honestly surprising," she agrees, letting the conversation shift into something lighter.

At least if this Kate's family supports it... Well, they must have met Ted. It's easy to tell there's not even an ounce of anything questionable in a man like him. They must have figured their kid is in good hands.

"How about someone professional? Is anyone helping you with that again?"

She's well aware of the time they've spent upstairs. Of how they both raised their voices a little, even if years have trained them into keeping arguments down. But Michelle's well aware that it's not fair to leave that kid-- his girlfriend alone with Henry. Not when they all know the weight behind the situation.

Simply nodding, Michelle steps off the wall, gesturing at his bathroom for Ted to get his allergy meds.

She wants to tell him that they need more of these chats, to keep on communicating. But she's avoided it herself before and their relationship has shifted into something differet by now. Old habits are just hard to shake off sometimes and the need to keep trying to fix some things still ligers there.

By the time they make it downstairs, Henry and Kate are sitting on the couch, legs crossed and Lucky between them as they both pet him. They're talking quite excitedly, both beaming at each other. "And that's why Hawkeye is my favorite Avenger," Kate explains. "He reminds me a lot of your dad. They both inspire people into becoming better. It's pretty cool."

"Dad!" It's nothing Kate could have planned, the big ad earnest smile on her face and, even better, the one on Henry's face. They both turned their heads sharply into the direction both Ted and Michelle come from. Even Lucky stands, wagging his tail in the hopes of a treat.

"It was Kate but just because I was telling her that I used to think Thor was cooler but now I like Hawkeye better," his boy explains, taking his father's bet quite seriously. Kate beams at Ted in a silent way that speaks of the huge relief she feels after facing the fear she had of spending time on her own with Henry. It's clear that it turned out to be quite successful for now.

However, that look softens as she looks at Michelle. The woman looks nothing like kind, but Kate still feels like an intruder in some way, talking to this woman's kid and not being really sure of having her approval or not.

"That's super cool," Michelle is quick to offer, trying her best to sound like her usual cheeful self.

Reaching over for the mug of coffee that's already has quite a bit of sugar in it, Kate nurses her drink between her hands, her legs against her chest as she watches the pair interact. She only lowers her coffee after Ted's spectacular reveal, the mention of her being an archer getting quite the reaction out of Henry. He turns to look at her as if he was suddenly sharing a couch with an Avenger herself. "Like a bow and arrows?!" He looks over at his father then. "Can we see?"

Kate lowers her mug, looking slightly sheepish. "I don't have my stuff here, but I know a pretty neat trick with a coin." She glances around, noticing one of the tiny green soldiers Ted keeps scattered around the house. It's at a pretty good distance, but Kate points at it. "I could take that guy down."

It takes a moment before Henry understands what Kate means, but he suddenly turns to Ted like he has the most urgent request in the world. "Dad, do you have coins?!"

Her fist closes in the air as Kate catches that quarter. She leans forward on her seat to put the mug down on the coffee table, almost mirroring Ted's posture as he cuts the piece of cake. Settling back on her seat, she sits more upright now, holding up her hand as she pinches the coin between her thumb, index and middle finger, horizontal and almost at her eyes' height.

It's strange, feeling Ted's kid leaning against her, holding his breath. She does it too, suddenly this shot feeling like something as important as any final in any tournament.

Michelle watches closely, reaching out to grab her plate and feeling her hand touch Ted's briefly. The smile she offers at him is genuine, grateful even though she still has her doubts, her concerns.

"Okay, so. It's all in the wrist," Kate says, more to remind herself than to explain it. And then quick, with a snap of her fingers and a twist of her wrist, the coin is gone, the little green soldier flying off the shelf he was protecting. Henry cries out in excitement, throwing his arms in the air while his mother puts her plate down, still enjoying that first bite of cake as she claps away.

Scrunching up her nose as she looks over at Ted, Kate's delighted to know she didn't just nailed the shot, but has apparenlty earned a point or two with Henry. "Now I feel bad for the little guy," she says just as Ted's kid turns towards her again.

"Can you teach me?"

Suddenly hearing warning sirens in her head, Kate looks first at Henry's mom, her attention shifting to Ted. "Huh, why don't we have cake now? I think-- Hummm, maybe your dad can later check if he has more quarters." Or pretend he doesn't if that's a little too much.

Grabbing Lucky by his collar, she gets him off the couch to keep him from stealing any cake as they eat.

"Maybe your dad can get you one of those NERF bows?" Michelle offers. "Those are pretty safe." There's clearly a little humor in her tone, aware she is putting Ted on the spot with the commitment of a trip to the toy store.

They both know he would do it regardless.

"Lets say they've known better times," Michelle offers, taking another bite of his cake and pointing at it with her fork. "Ted, this is divine." After taking a few more moments to enjoy his baking success, she continues. "We've also had to share a few words about the neighbors and their privacy. Didn't we, Henry?"

Ted's kid simply nods as he takes his first bite of his own piece of cake, pretending he's barely part of the conversation.

Kate aims an amused look at Ted. He got Henry a drone?

Henry simply shrugs in that non-commited way kids do, seemingly too focused on his cake and growing a little shyer now that everyone's attention is on him. Kate can understand that feeling, even though she's been on the spotlight enough times now to be used to it.

"I'm gonna be Abraham Lincoln for a play." He offered, remembering one of the last high lights from school. Something his mom and Jake are way more excited about than he is.

Michelle is quick to step in. "I'm gonna film it all and we're gonna take so many pictures," she promises, aware that Ted will regret not being there to see it himself.

That finally earns him a smile from his son, his cheeks full as he chews away. In a way, he looks like a happy little chipmunk. "Jake said that his great, great, great, great, grandfather was related to Lincoln," he comments distractedly after swallowing.

Michelle waves a hand, dismissive. "He's exaggerating."

But Henry continues. "And to celebrate he is taking me to see the Foo Fighters." A band Henry has never brough up before but that he sounds quite excited about now.