When Francis came back inside, Poppy was still holding James, but the baby now wore a coat and his boots. Poppy was also fastening a raincoat around Diana's body. "Now, be good for Dad, alright?" he would hear her say gently. "Be good." "I will, Mama."
Diana seemed confused, looking up at Poppy. Poppy didn't seem to realize that Francis was talking to her at first, but she glanced up, a familiar look on her face. He would recognize it from when she was in the lab and was pulled from an experiment; she had been thinking carefully. "...what? Oh, uh... yeah. It's up to you. You're gonna have James, right?"
The piece was slow and mournful, landing on chords that were unfamiliar and lonesome. Poppy was in the living room, not noticing him as he approached. Her brows were furrowed, and she stared dead ahead, playing slowly from memory.
The piece descended into the lower notes of the cello, and her small frame curled around the instrument as it vibrated with dark sound. She closed her eyes, but not smoothly, not to appreciate the movement. Her eyelids were squeezed shut as if to keep the thoughts swirling in her brain from escaping. Her fingers slipped from the fingerboard, and she muttered, trying again, the action almost desperate. Her fingers slipped again and a small whimper escaped her throat. She took a deep, shaky breath, her eyes flying open as she stared into space, tears welling up in her eyes. Slowly, she set down her bow with trembling fingers and buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking with worry and grief.
He approached, his fingers reaching down and ever so gently brushing her shoulder. His touch was warm and loving, but he looked concerned.
She recoiled in surprise, straightening up suddenly and looking up at him with wide eyes before realizing it was him. Her brows furrowed and she quickly wiped at her eyes. "Oh, oh my God, I'm sorry. I didn't... I didn't think... sorry..."
She set down the cello quickly, clearly flustered, the strings complaining as she set down the instrument heavily. She stood up, stepping away from him slightly. "I, uh... sorry. I'm going to go make tea. Sorry."
