Stone Circle layaway

Lately, he'd been fluctuating between two extremes: either being completely unable to control his emotions, or being unable to feel emotion at all. It seemed that he was in the former mood, because when Valette appeared and shared her view on the situation, several different feeling popped into his head in quick succession.

First it was gladness - he liked Valette, and visits from her were always welcome.

Then it was anger. He was angry that she would even suggest such a thing. These kids had a mother, and Valette couldn't just come and replace Amber like she'd never existed. Who did she think she was? Did she think Day couldn't handle this on his own?

Desperation was next. He'd been realizing more and more that he couldn't handle these two on his own - not emotionally, at least. Maybe in a few weeks he'd be feeling more up to the task, but for now, all he could do was provide for them, keep them safe, and grope blindly at straws as he tried to figure out how to raise them.

Finally, he was relieved. Relieved and indebted and tired and confused. Day let out a heavy, shuddering sigh, trying to release all these stupid feelings so he didn't cry in front of the kids. Everything had just been so overwhelming lately, and then Val just came and swept some of the weight onto her own shoulders, and Day feels like he can do this, now. The boat was still leaking, but now he and Valette both had a bucket.

They were going to make it.

"Thank you," Day said quietly, thinking that she would never know the depth of those words. He meant them, like he'd never meant anything else he ever said. It was a bone-deep kind of graditude, and Day knew that he would never forget this.

But there were bigger fish to fry - a little boy wanted to play, and Day could do that. He could try.

"Alright!" he said, grabbing a scrap of drying ligament that'd been discarded earlier that day. "But you gotta catch it first," he told the kid, speaking through his teeth as he kept a tight grip on the scrap of flesh. He'd jerk it away a few times before letting the kid catch the end.