hawk_shot | for @theodorelasso

Kate's barely been able to sleep these last few days. It's a huge milestone, after all. It's been months since she and Ted started dating and, even with a werewolf in the mix, the prospect of meeting his son has been both the most surreal concept and the thing Kate has feared screwing up the most. It's just strange, being aware that they are into something serious and that would make her ~~a step-mom~~ part of this kid's family. Is she ready? Geez, according to her own mother it's surprising Kate can even look after a dog.

Remembering how Ted introduced himself to Lucky, Kate decides to bring a little something that hopefully will excite Henry even if he turns out to hate her guts. It's certainly more than just a steak. Getting out of her Uber, Kate's got her arm wrapped with Lucky's leash as she makes room to pull out the box they somehow managed to fit along in the back of the car.

"Ted? Can you give me a hand?" She calls out the second she sees her boyfriend step out of the house to come greet her.

The basketball hoop is not terribly heavy, but when a retriever is super excited to mee his own step-dad? Yeah, it becomes a bit of a challenge.

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Posted by

hawk_shot

It's obvious how it pulls at the strings of her heart. Because even though that smile of hers grows wider as it empathizes with Ted's joy, it's impossible to miss the pain that comes up in contrast. As happy as he is now with that realization, Kate becomes aware of the pain that comes with months spent away from the person he probably cares the most about in the whole world.

Kate blinks a few times, aware of how her eyes are becoming glassy. She cups Ted's cheeks, stroking them with her thumbs.

"I'm so glad for you, baby. You deserve it." Terrifying as it is and as much as it changed their plans? Just seeing how happy Ted is makes it well worth it. "I love you so much."

Posted by

theodorelasso

"I love you too," he answers softly, and leans in to give her a brief but loving kiss. "Alright, let's get this cake sorted," he says, a little louder, letting go of Kate and setting about preparing and gathering everything they need for cake and coffee (and some milk for Henry).

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hawk_shot

"Do you think Henry would like his milk in my Avengers mug?" It was a gift from Ted that Kate liked to keep at his place.

Meanwhile, Henry was following his dad's direction and explored the living room as he followed Lucky around. On his feet or in all fours, the pair played aroud, sneaking around the furniture and chasing each other, only to end up rolling up on the carpet.

Michelle tried to keep a smile on her face as she asked Henry to be careful and not fill his clothes with dog fur: it'll give his dad more work to get rid of it.

Her eyes were glassy and her nose started to feel clogged as the allergy caught up with her. But she was too focused on the texts she was sharing with Jake at the moment. On how he was asking her to try and keep calm as she faced this situation.

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theodorelasso

"Oh yeah, absolutely," Ted agrees immediately. "Alright, I'm gonna bring the cake out. Can you bring the coffee when it's done?" Flustered as he is, he doesn't quite wait for a response as he starts carting the cake and plates and forks into the living room, setting it down on the table.

"There we go," he says brightly. "Now just-- hey, you alright?" he asks, suddenly noticing Michelle's face. "I've got some allergy meds if you don't have any with you." He takes them for hay fever, but it works just the same.

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hawk_shot

The second Ted steps into the living room, Michelle puts down her phone. She's already reaching for the plates to give Ted a hand while asking Henry to come over. Their kid is too distracted rolling around with Lucky.

"Oh, please," she smiles at him, waving her hand at her own face, redder by the minute. "Normally it doesn't get this bad, but..." She shakes her head, shrugging as she trails off.

And then she sees the chance.

"Let me come with you, Ted?"

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theodorelasso

"Wh--okay?" he answers, confused and a little surprised, not entirely sure what she means. "Sure?" He gestures for her to lead the way, even though that absolutely defeats the purpose of 'coming with' anywhere. He feels like he should be worried but isn't entirely sure why.

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hawk_shot

Scooting from between the couch and the coffee table, she gets up to her feet, smiling gratefully at Ted. Just before she joins him, she turns to Henry. "Baby, wash your hands and come take a seat. We'll be back in a second."

Pointing in the way , she asks if they're going upstairs for the medicine and then takes the stairs. Just as they do, Michelle sees Kate stepping into the living room with a woden tray in hand, four mugs on it as the smell of coffee starts making itself known in the room.

She scratches her hand in that fidgety way she does sometimes and little does that have to do with her allergies.

"Ted, I need a second with you," she says once they're out of reach from the pair.

Posted by

theodorelasso

As bad as he feels for Michelle's allergies, watching Henry with Lucky is pretty adorable. He looks forward to the boy getting some quality time with the dog later in the trip.

"Oh, and no cake for Lucky," he adds to Henry. The kid's been around dogs enough that he knows that, but just in case. As much as Kate likes feeding that dog pizza, it's probably not great for him.

Ted gives Kate a reassuring smile as he briefly catches her eye, before they make it up the stairs, leading the way to the bathroom and medicine cabinet.

"Um. Yeah, okay," he answers, picking up on that awkward worried tone Michelle gets, when she needs to talk about something but she doesn't really want to or isn't sure how to bring it up.

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hawk_shot

Kate smiles up at Ted, even if she feels slightly panicky as she sees she's being left alone with Henry. Oddly enough, the second she's putting the tray down Henry asks about the bathroom and she relaxes, glad to have a task and not to have to make small awkward talk straight away. "Oh, yeah, sure. This way." SHe leads him to the toilet downstairs.

Meawhile, it's clear Michelle doesn't know where to start. She focuses down on her own hands, her rings evading one spot, one finger where she carried a golden band she and Ted once shared. Her back leans against the wall as she finally finds the strenght to speak up.

"Please tell me she is not one of your students."

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theodorelasso

Ted waits nervously as Michelle figures out what to say, though what comes out of her mouth is worse than he expected - and honestly a little bit hurtful.

"Michelle, come on," he answers, the disappointment obvious in both his face and voice. "I coach high school, you think I'm out here dating 17 year olds?" He used to coach college, which is admittedly more or less Kate's age range, but even then he definitely wouldn't date a student.

"She's a friend of Beard. He's her coach," he explains, trying to keep a lid on his frustration. He's been dealing with all sort of judgey looks and assumptions for the entire time they've been dating, but he hoped she'd know him well enough to at least know that was out of the question. "She's an adult, and a professional athlete at that, and we have zero professional connections."

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hawk_shot

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?"

Posted by

theodorelasso

When she asks how old Kate is, Ted gives her a look of disappointment and maybe warning. Not unkind, but definitely asking the question: is this really how she wants to approach this?

But then she continues, calling him out on not having warned her, and there's definitely some anger bubbling underneath everything in Ted. He keeps his voice calm, but even so it's obvious how he feels.

"How was I supposed to warn you? Look, I don't mind you showing up, and I sure don't mind getting an extra day with Henry. But I was gonna have a nice calm talk with you about it, let you know that I'd met someone - someone I'm serious about by the way - before I let you meet her, before I introduced her to our son, so we could both be on the same page," he says, talking without pause and without room for her to interject, and the further he talks, the more he has to work to keep his voice quiet. "Which, by the way, is more than you afforded me with Dr Jacob, who I learned about from our son."

He'd had real trouble letting her know any of his feelings about all that, back then. Wanting to smile and get along, not make a big fuss about it. But this is about Kate, too. And he's sick of people's judgements for something as simple as being in love.

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hawk_shot

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?"

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theodorelasso

"Your deadline was introducing him to Henry," Ted interjects. Had Michelle dated Dr Jacob for years without telling him, but also without telling Henry? Ted gave up any right to know her personal life when they got divorced. But as soon as their son became involved, it was his business.

And maybe he too has been scared, avoiding this conversation (for very good reason, it turns out). But yeah, he wanted to tell her in person. And then he wanted to maybe break things to her a little bit softer, help Kate make a good first impression. That plan's obviously a bust. And if Michelle really doesn't want Henry to get to know Kate yet, fine, Ted will take that into consideration. He knows Michelle won't stop him from seeing Henry, but they need to be on good terms as well, for the sake of their kid.

And then she brings up that. "Yes," he snaps, actually sounding sharp for a second. "And she's sat with me through ten changes so far."

He doesn't say 'unlike you', because he knows that's unbelievably unfair. But even so, her presence has made such a huge difference in tackling it, and he's so grateful for it. And it also shows just how committed she is. That's four months of her keeping him company during some of the hardest nights of his life, missing it only when she was forced to.

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hawk_shot

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?"

Posted by

theodorelasso

Ted can feel himself reaching his limit of having to justify their relationship. Of listening to her questioning all these things he's already questioned himself about a million times, things he's talked to Kate about, things that the two of them have already been tackling - and continued to decide their relationship is worth it.

Michelle at least knows Ted isn't some creepy old pervert, but she's still making a lot of assumptions about who Kate is and what she wants to do with her life.

"Honestly, Michelle, that's between me and her," he answers. His voice is calm again, but there's a firmness there, like a line being drawn. "I'm not tying her to anything, okay? She came in like an environmentalist protestor chaining herself to redwood. And if she decides to leave me, then I'm not gonna regret a single moment I spent with her, just like I don't regret the years I spent with you," he continues, his voice softening. Begging her to trust him that he's not doing any of this lightly.

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hawk_shot

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.

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theodorelasso

"Yeah, of course," he answers, managing to keep most of the softness. He really doesn't want to argue about this, and if Michelle is coming around, he doesn't want to ignite things further. "We haven't been sneaking around for half a year. People at work know, her friends know. Both our moms know -- and I'm honestly surprised Dottie has managed to keep a lid on it to you. It's not a secret. I just... wanted to make sure it was serious, before I told you and Henry."

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hawk_shot

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?"

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theodorelasso

Ted definitely has no intention of elaborating on Kate's family situation, and how it relates to Ted. Or really, elaborating on Kate-related things in general unless it's common knowledge and appropriate for polite conversation.

"No. I've got things settled here. It's actually not been too bad," he says. She knows he's spent plenty of time and money creating a safe and secure set-up here. And then with Kate's help, it's been a little easier. It's still hard, but... he can manage. "Listen, can we head back downstairs? Kate's probably real worried, and she was real nervous about wanting to make a good impression, and.. Well." He gestures vaguely between the two of them.

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hawk_shot

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."

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theodorelasso

"Oh, shoot," Ted comments (loudly enough to announce their presence) as he enters the living room, immediately switching into cheerful dad mode. "Beard and I had a bet going about which one of you was gonna mention Hawkeye first, and I missed it. Which one of you was it?"

One thing that makes it a lot easier to slip into that cheerful mode is his immense relief at seeing Kate and Henry get along. Especially after the conversation he just had, he's glad to see he's got another reason to have faith in Kate and this relationship. He had plenty already, but now Michelle gets to see it too. (Not to mention hearing Kate speak kindly of him like that.)

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hawk_shot

"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.

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theodorelasso

"Aw, darn," Ted answers playfully, going over to ruffle the heads of both Lucky and Henry at the same time, before making his way over to squeeze into the couch next to Henry. "I bet on you, kiddo, but I was gonna try to rig it. You know, say something like 'By the way, did you know Kate here's an archer?' so that you could be like 'Like Hawkeye?' and I'd go 'Just like Hawkeye'," he says, obviously doing silly voices for himself and Henry.

It's not surprising that they'd get along, but it is a huge weight off his shoulders. And he's glad Michelle's trying, especially for Henry's sake.

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hawk_shot

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?!"