“No… no he doesn’t.”

He looks away embarrassed that he forgot to check the locks.

“…yes, and I was getting sparrow hand cream and I don’t know what he was doing. But I came back to find the door wide open and footprints that lead several meters away.”

…

“Oh— you haven’t… well…”

*clears throat*

“We’ve accidentally adopted a younger version of Claire. I have no idea how she got in, Teddy has no clue either… and her best answer was… confusing to say the least…”

“And to think she’s the one that stopped a mobile fortress with a pocket watch is just… unbelievable.”

He glances out to some toys left out by the small Claire and Teddy.

“Speaking of her… have you noticed the small one that we have recently acquired…”

Cole lets out a low bitter growl

“One would think a woman like her would have common sense… but it’s Claire… she can’t even dress herself properly!”

…

He continues staring off, bitterly remembering the painful days of the media scandal. The many arguments he had with his brother…

“She did?!”

He winced a little, remembering his past name.

“I— wonder why she mentioned that… considering… Hershel— well the one in our universe… is… *coughs* well I’m assuming that it’s an old habit because of Theodore…”

“… ah…”

He goes into a long quiet pause.

“What exactly lead to that question?”

“It is warmer these days, spring is just starting…”

He stares off for a moment, the calming sounds coming from the dripping water hitting the windows.

“Anyways, how was the ginger…?”

Cole wraps his arm around her waist, quietly musing to himself as he watches the rhythmic rain falling down.

“I quite agree my dear. It’s quite refreshing listening to it pour down.”

“It’s a blood moon tonight… and it’s also raining, tonight is going to be lovely.”

He looks over at two and gives them both a hug.

“Neither one of you are in trouble, I was just a bit concerned about what happened.”

He lets go of both of them. Then crosses his arms and thinks.

(Neither one of them are aware of how she got in… interesting… I’ll keep and watch out on her.)

“No problem”

“Especially without getting me or Melinda…!”

(Where did this one even come from)

He turns to the small Claire.

“You, where did you come from…?! How did you even get here?”

Cole gently pats the boy’s back to help feel more comforted.

“Yes Teddy, we’re home.”

(I suppose we’ll take in the young Claire…)

He opens the door and walks the two in.

In an unaggressive tone he asks

“Now… what have you both the idea to wander off?”

Cole continues running at high speeds for about 30 mins or so. The entire time he doesn’t break a sweat, not even for a second.

When they arrive he comes to an immediate stop. In a soft calming tone

“You two are safe now. We’re back at home…”

(We’ve been safe but that’s besides the point.)

Cole finally reaches them, immediately he picks the pair up and starts running back. As he runs he tries to soothe them to make them stop crying.

“There there…”

(Great… there’s a younger version of her… hopefully she isn’t as bad as the older one… though if I were to assume… whatever…)

“Let me go get some.”

He’s within listening distance from them, Descole noticing there’s two of them.

“THEODOREEEEE!!! ARE YOU OKAY?!”

He continues running at full speed.

(PLEASE DONT LET THERE BE ANY WOLVES OUT!!!)

Cole draws his sword, he’s prepared to fight anything.

Several Kilometers away tracking their scent. He noticed Theodore was missing and decided to follow the trail.

(I can’t believe this!!! I cannot believe I lost him!)

“Do you need some cream for that?”

Where the fuck is that?

(Well he is Desmond of course he’s tricky.)

If I see him, I’ll let you know.

…

Oh really now?

No I haven’t seen him around…

Goddamn it— another one??

“Exactly!”

“Sparrow, I mean this in a loving way. But WHAT WERE YOU THINKIN????”

“Sparrow… dear… where did you get that?”

“You can say something along that line.”