And The Silver Spoon
You still can't believe it.
"I wish I could say I knew," you say quietly. Theo stares back at you apologetically, then blinks, remembering something.
"And what about you?" he suddenly snaps defensively, arms crossed. "The Bolt, huh?"
Your face drops. You were hoping he'd forgotten amongst the adrenaline of almost dying.
"Dammit," you whisper, hanging your head.
You both sit in silence for a while, unsure what to say or do next.
Two superheroes, ashamed to be perceived as they really are.
"Who would've thought we'd both be superheroing behind each other's backs?" Theo asks after a bit, his lip quirked in the smallest of smiles.
"I'm retired, half-pint. And you are now, too."
Theo sighs, resting his head on his pillow and looking out the window.
"Just until I'm old enough to have my own place."
You shake your head.
The more you live it, and the more you embrace being a father to Theo, the more you become convinced that THIS is how life was always supposed to unfold. That something this kismet can't have nearly missed you.
That maybe, somewhere, Mary would actually be proud of you. Of who Theo will become.
You are Michael Simmons. Theo Hardin is your son.
And you wouldn't have it any other way.