Sophia looked down. She didn't know what to say. "I'm doing okay I guess. " she out her hand back over Zephyrs. "My emotional support human has helped me tons" she smiled at her Dad than placed her free hand on his and squeezed. She put her forehead on the back of Zephyrs hand and stared down at the table for a second. "What about you? How are you?" She risked a glance at her Dad before looking to Zephyr again.

Ryker glanced at the table, fingering the hem of his shirt, staring at the table like it was the thing that would cure cancer. "Good. I'm glad someone is helping." he smiled faintly, his eyes flitting up before returning to the table. "I'm............................................................ fine. Just a little worried about Abby, but she'll be okay- I know she will. She's strong, like you." He said quietly.

+++

Zephyr held back a snorted coughing chuckle at Sophia's words. "So I AM helping? Wow." He commented lightly, glancing between the two. Pffffhoosh. Tension, much?

Sophia grinned at her fathers words. "He is helping. So much" she lifted her head then watched her dad. Her expression was pained. Without a second thought, she reached over and hugged her dad, holding him for a second before reaching back over and taking Zephyrs hand again. She looked at Zeph and smiled.

Ryker was trying VERY hard to see this from Abby's perspective, and how Zephyr could actually be helping, but all he could really see at the moment was a stuffed animal wearing all black clothes saying: Emotional Support Hooman across the front. The thought made him want to laugh, but he felt like all his laughter had been sucked out. As Sophia went to hug him, he had the dignity not to look SURPRISED, but he was. How long had it been since she had hugged him for no other reason than she wanted to? He was sure that wasn't what this was- she was stressed and unhappy with what happened to Abby, they all were. In the hospital room it was the same thing. However, the last time he remember getting hugged or hugging her for no reason was more than a year ago. The thought hurt. He squeezed her back, thankfully, before allowing her to pull back, although he kind of just wanted to wrap his arms around her and NEVER move. "I have to go check on Abby... thanks for having me here for a couple minutes.." He said softly, standing and going back to the room. He didn't even know anything else to say. He wanted to talk to her and reconnect with her SO BADLY, but this couldn't be the right time- Abby was in the hospital, four limbs broken, concussion, hurting. Everything was all wrong. How could this be the time to repair a broken relationship.

+++

Zephyr watched Ryker leave before smiling back at Sophia. "I swear I think he loves you more than my own parents love me." He joked lightly. "You should see the look in his eyes from a different perspective."

(Emotional Support Hooman? Seriously!? lol) ... (welcome back by the way)

-

Sophia stared at her Father as he left. She didn't even hear Zephyrs words as the tears filled her eyes. She blinked them away but they came back. The words got stuck in her throat and all she could think was that her left her. Her Father left her. Sophia's bottom lip trembled. And she searched the room for something to stare at so she could get her thoughts together. The only thing she could look at was Zephyr. Her head slowly turned before she jumped up and went around the table, crashing into him and trying to control her breathing while her world was falling apart. "Why- why did he leave like that? What did-" her breath caught in her throat "what did I do wrong?"

Seriously!

Thanks. I'm still recovering, so it'll be slow going lol, but I'm here))

-

Zephyr's eyebrows shot up as Sophia just... fell apart. +Oof. She read the situation wrong. So did I. Ummm+ he thought, immediately going to wrap his arms around her, his eyebrows furrowing. "No Sophia, no. You did nothing wrong. You did everything right! You really got through to him- couldn't you see? He was so happy- he just didn't know what to do. I'm sorry he left- I don't know why he would leave quite like that, but I bet he'll be back. No, I promise he will be. You could not have done more right." Zephyr whispered, releasing Sophia as the man appeared.

-

Ryker quickly realized his mistake. He was just happy and confused and he didn't know what to do, and now he felt terrible. Immediately, he headed back as quickly as possible, not paying attention to the look on her face, instead wrapping Sophia in a crushing hug. "I love you so much... so, so much. I'm so sorry I was never there when you needed me." He whispered, his eyes shimmering slightly with unshed tears.

Sophia sat with her head against Zephyrs chest for a few moments until she heard his voice rumble. "But still..." she looked at him for a second when he let her go then spun around in her Fathers embrace. "Daddy" she whispered as her lip trembled again. "I love you too Daddy"