"Guess you're my Partner, Theo."
"For the day."
"Can I have this dance?"
"Certainly."
"Rember, this is supposed to be a Daddy-daguther dance."
"We know."
"And no looking at your feet. Air does not need sand, nor do you."
"Sorry."
"And.....One, two, three. One, two, three...….One two, three….One.
Controlling your own body is the easy part, but can you also hold the weight of another...without falling?
Come on. Keep to the tempo.'
"Yes, Mrs. Claws."
"Yes, Teacher."
"Between you and me, this may be me helping you with the Dance, but I wouldn't mind doing this everyday. My Kids don't know what civilized is, and my wife...I'm not home long enough to indulge in such pleasures."
"Just don't get any ideas. And hands…."
"What about my hands?"
"They should be higher, but I'll let it slide. If I move closer, she won't notice.
How's this?"
".....As long as you don't step on my toes."
"Your moves....should be swift. Your delivery…..on point. Your transitions…graceful; and your speed....top notch. I don't want you to feel like you're floating on clouds. I want you to literally be…..on the clouds. Hovering in the air with not a care in the world; but strong enough to balance when your partner places you down. You understand?"
"Theo, I'd love to continue to give you dance lessons at home. That way you can properly show your wife that you are sorry for what you did, and always had her on your mind the moment you woke up and the moment you want to bed. No matter where you were."
"But she was my first and last thought. I never once worried for the Kids safety when I was with her."
"Then why give them up?"
"As I said. 'When I was with her.'
I don't think Rosa is going to let that happen again. At best be a 'stay within so many meters and watch from a distance kinda deal.'"
"I'm sorry."
"That's why I want you to have the Kids. That way, I will not be labeled as dangeorus for my Kids and can take my Wife; start over, and start again."
"Positive thoughts. I like it."
"How's it going, Mrs. Claw?"
"She's laughing, Elwin."
"...Oh, that's just a smile. You do know they do that? Not everyone has to be serious."
"But what comes after a Practice? The real Trial."
"As long as they can show they understand your teachings, what matters how they teach them to others?"
"Everything matters.
Everything."
"Watch.
I will show that she is not training just to dance with Theo, but is actually memorizing your teachings."
*Tap, tap*
"Elwin""
"May I steal your girl for a sec? I promise to give her right back."
"Of course. Here you go.
Just a word of advice. You'll have to hold her tighter, for you are the Weight and not her."
"Thanks for the heads up.
May I have this dance?"
"Please."
"Thank you."
"So is everyone in the clear?"
"Locked and loaded, waiting commands."
"Good."
"I see Theo was also waiting for a command. His eyes and hands were low."
"I thought Claws wouldn't notice."
"She didn't....I did."
"He thinks of me as a Daughter, and wishes me a clone."
"Do you want to be a clone?"
"No. I want to be me. But if it helps him focus so that he can one day see his real Daughter again.....then I am willing to let it slide."
"Anything to get to the End."
"I have my boundaries. Unlike Ruby."
"Speakng of Ruby, you never told me who was the first person to tetraform and call our aid. All you said was that Ariel called you. Did the first leave?"
"No."
"So she stayed?"
"Why do you think it is a she? It could be a he."
"Jacklyn, you can tell me. Natysh may have given you her powers and her secrets, but you get to choose which to let go and which to keep."
"That's like telling people you are free to enter my friends house, but he doesn't know that."
"Then it's still trespassing."
"Is it? I gave them the key. Nothing was damaged. Nothing was triggered. Yes, they showed up unnanoucned, but I let them."
"But did your friend?"
"And now, hence the secret. It would be wrong of me to tell you, without first telling my friend I am going to invite some people over.'
"I see."
"Good.
Now pick up your feet. You're dragging a little."
"Yes, Teacher."