Lily squealed with laughter, clinging to her father joyfully. "I almost had him, Dad! Five more seconds, and he would have gone down!" *** "Do you have poor eyesight?"
He laughed softly, patting her head. "Oh, I'm sure." *** She nodded. "I can't see close up, but I usually just wear contacts."
James frowned at her before going to his mother's side to kiss her cheek. "You'll be okay, right?" he asked quietly. Poppy smiled slightly at him, squeezing his hand. "Don't worry, darling," she said easily. "I'll be home soon." Val cleared her throat, uncomfortable with the love in the room. "We'll be going now. You'll let us know?" *** "My mother wanted me to wear contacts," Arlo recalled. "I couldn't get into them, though."
"Cool, thanks. See you, Pops," Val said, gathering her bag. "Feel better." *** He shook his head distastefully. "Couldn't get the hang of them."
They left the room and Val sighed, her brow furrowed. "That was tough. Francis isn't going to let her study those timers for us anytime soon." *** He laughed, shaking his head. "And two silly timers think we're soulmates."
She sighed and for a moment she looked terribly sad. "Yeah, yeah. You don't need to scold me about it. I know." *** "I forget about it, sometimes," he said idly. "Like, right now it just feels like I'm hanging out with a friend."
He waved his hands frantically. "It's okay though! We know what we're doing next!" *** "I feel the same way," she said. "It might just be hiding in my subconscious, though."
"Yeah, but we still need Poppy," Val replied, frowning. "We have to figure out that technological aspect." *** "Or maybe the timers are just wrong."
Val frowned. "Not that I can think of. Even if I knew someone; they'd be in a similar danger." *** "No," he said with a sigh. "I'm sure the timers are correct. It's just... weird."
He sighed. "It's difficult." *** "Definitely," she agreed. "And I kinda get worried since our partners are soul mates now, ever since that thought crossed my mind."
She paused, looked around and then put her hand on his arm, pulling him away from the exit. "Come on." * * * "What are you worried about? That they'll fall in love or something?"
"Now," she replied quietly, pulling him towards the pediatrics ward. * * * He raised an eyebrow before laughing deeply. "Well, Val... I'm madly in love with that girl, but she is decidedly not easily swayed. Don't worry. Nothing is going to happen."
She turned her head to look at him, her green eyes thoughtful. "You don't have to come if you don't want to," she said, her voice gentler. "I can do it myself." * * * Arlo laughed, a warm and deep sound. "Val? She's not... Okay, yeah. She can be a little scary, until you realize that she's, like, 5'0". Then you can't be afraid of her."
