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A little detail into Olivia's family made it clear that she probably didn't have much to worry about on the family front. That was a great thing; this whole situation could have been so much worse for her if she didn't think she'd have family support. Teddy didn't want to even imagine the alternative.
She even sounded like she had a little plan in place. "Tell the easy ones first. It makes it less daunting." And it was so much better to have someone blatantly on her side for the potential struggles in the future.
The joke about therapy pulled a small smile to Teddy's face, felt briefly by the humour provided. With her hand let go she settled them both together in her lap. "Maybe that's what you really need right now." Teddy offered then, "Not a therapist, per se, but just someone you can talk to; someone who has been through all this before." And it seemed clear that she only knew one person who fit that mould. "Maybe being a friend is the best thing for you."
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Small steps were taking her back towards the corner of the room, and given it was her own request, she complied with ease. Teddy took the time to listen to the words offered, realising quickly that her assumptions had been wrong. Sure, they'd briefly touching on this kind of topic when they first met, but there was little clarity in those words. Nothing like this.
She remained silent as she stepped into the small space. Intrigue had caught her focus given how important she knew this little place could be to most.
"It was just a guess." She said finally, not quite willing to let her hand go just yet. "I never asked because it's not really my business." And it felt like a lifetime ago in situations like this, despite all potential relevance.
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The connection she made wasn't ignored, and Teddy knew it would only lead to more. She had done her best to fracture her attention to align with something other than the physical pull of another person, but she failed. A second hand at her waist was trying to drag her back in against her own current, and she knew she was weak enough to give up eventually.
Natalie's response was a lighter tease, one that dragged a knowing smile from the lawyer before she dropped her gaze. Nothing about this side of a discussion was simple or easy, but someone with a refined enough approach should have been able to handle it. It was just another form of negotiation.
"If your last bench mark to a successful connection was with a man, you have no idea what you were missing out on. Everything is going to seem other-worldly." She started, offering a slight pull with her hand.
"Show me your office." She said then. Lithe, yet the edge carried an almost insistent undertone.
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Apr 10, 2018 13:16:45 GMT
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Steps were now being taken in her direction, and magnetism was quick to take hold. There was no where else to look but at the person who deemed her worthy enough to speak about to immediate family.
Teddy had to laugh at the final statement she used. It was more than enough to be labelled as someone who made her happy. "I forgot what all that was like, honestly." She admitted. That was never a conversation she'd had with her parents. Everyone just knew and they was better for it.
When she reached her, Teddy moved to take hold of her hand, interlocking their fingers together. "Most people aren't so quick to want to settle with one person once they realise what they actually like." She explained lightly; "It's like a whole new world; so I've been told."
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Though the prospect of meeting anyone's parents was overwhelming pressure for most, Teddy remained as cool as one expected she might. Her steps were still slow to inevitably ease herself back into her counterpart’s proximity, but she was on her way.
"Well, that's good." Especially considering it could have gone the complete opposite way. "What did you tell them about me?" She asked, knowing that question was a potential danger but trying it anyway.
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As she listened, Teddy made the usual point of wanting to studying her expressions as the two coincided. A special kind of smile filtered onto her face instead, and she wasn't sure if she'd ever seen such branded joy from this woman before. They clearly had a positive, strong relationship.
Thirty-four years was certainly a long time, and it was an achievement to celebrate by far. "You clearly love them." Admiration was the smallest word she could use for a response like that, "Have you talked to them about-" She stopped her words, taking a few steps in her direction and indicating between them with a wave of her hand.
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She sounded so sure of herself when she spoke that way, and it was enough to force Teddy to give an acute sense of attention. Hands steadied back into her pockets as her steps slowed to an inevitable halt.
"That's certainly the dream." She mused aloud, well aware that dreams carried as much weight as luck in most people's minds.
"You know, I never asked you about your own family, but I've been curious." Teddy actually felt a little at fault for not flipping the topic back on her when she'd first had the chance. But now was as good a time as any, even if distance didn't make for a decent distraction killer. "Tell me about them."
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When Natalie questioned her, Teddy knew she had to consider how to phrase her responses carefully. It all took particular thought, but she still wanted to be open with her about it.
"To some extent, sure." She replied. Now that she was considering it, she supposed that would take a large toll on something so life changing. Her tongue crossed the line of her lower lip as she stood in brief silence. "Logistics are a large part of the consideration. But mainly it'd be about being with the right person. Someone who understands all that."
She kept her eyes focused on the trainer for a few more seconds before she looked away, clever steps starting to drag her around the room as she let her eyes wander equally; "I'd never want to raise a child alone."
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A small point of contact against her cheek seemed to be something Teddy was content with. It was nice by any means to see Olivia try to breach the comfort zone she'd lived in for so many years. She felt she had something to work on, and that was good for her.
Then she bordered on another topic entirely; one circled around herself and arguably important to someone who clearly had an in-depth need for a big family and its unconditional love. Teddy had to laugh at the idea of being able to write it all down and just hand it over or send it off. If only it were that easy.
"How do you think they'll take it?" She had to ask. It was the safest place to land when the topic emerged.
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Fractured focus didn't mean Teddy was willing to drop the topic at hand as she'd brought it up. She was just about to continue enough to skate across the surface of the topic, but she didn't get a chance. Natalie picked it up for her, answering the question she was going to say she didn't need to speak on.
Then it was volleyed back on her. She should have expected that, but she still looked a little surprised by the question. "Sure." She admitted easily. "I haven't thought about it in years, but that hasn't changed my mind." It wasn't something that usually spiked in a conversation unless a serious relationship was involved. Still, she didn't have a problem answering it.
"Though I suppose it's all about circumstances aligning." Teddy added then, hands slipping away as she stood upright again.
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For someone so perfectly poised and often composed, the breakdown of her own expressions when faced with a set of animals would have seemed unnatural to most. A broad smile caught her features as her fingers rifled through two different sets of fur. "I missed you both, too." She conceded, because it would be so unfair to dote all the attention to Natalie.
She listened, though, despite how her attention seemed so split. It was interesting for someone with no background in teaching to get even the smallest understanding by way of someone who did it for a living. It all made sense; even the way they seemed to branch out her usual strengths. "Probably because you're incredibly patient, and kind. And nurturing." She said, looking up briefly to realise she couldn't catch her eyes. So she looked back down again.
"You'd make a great mother." Teddy pointed out lightly. They were, after all, relatively sought after traits for the profession.
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Multiple factors accumulated to drag Teddy to the little statement she hadn't thought too much of. But she could tell without much effort that it had a different effect on her current counterpart, stalling her in her thoughts before she seemed to remind herself to breathe again.
Slightly quirked eyebrows were all she gave for the initial statement, because it was buried seconds later in a myriad of secondary words that couldn't hold the same attention. Sympathy barely showed in her eyes before her hands were slipping away and she was stepping back in overly priced heels to get a bit of distance. "I'm sure it could have been worse." She replied idly. Her hands filtered down to the other company she kept as she leaned down a touch to make herself more available.
She tore her eyes away then, too. "So, do you strictly deal with students who have the same talents as you?"
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Teddy listened despite the obvious distraction of the woman in her arms who refused distance as much as she had. She had a very heart-filled way of explaining the nature of being whisked away from home to attention a special school like this. In her absence of mind, she realised she'd never given it quite so much thought. It added everything to all their situations.
She didn't look at the two little bodies hovering so closely. She'd been around Natalie's chosen family long enough to become comfortable with the way they stayed so near.
"If you were my trainer I would have fallen in love with you in a day." She pointed out idly, like such thing didn't carry as much weight as it probably did, "But I imagine they match you with students who fit the way you teach."
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Truth be told, Teddy thought nothing of her weekly plans with Emmett. Now wasn't the time to point out that once a week was hardly the only time she saw her friend. It was a small miracle that they hadn't collided in the middle of her office yet. Despite the lack of present company for the near future, she couldn't possibly feel bad for keeping her date with her friend.
"You have me." She repeated lightly, struck by the way she toyed with their proximity and willing enough to play along. The thought to steal another kiss was overwhelming, but she exhaled harshly instead.
"Tell me about the work you do." She said then. It seemed only fair; she had a slightly in depth understanding of what Teddy sought to achieve in her own career, but this was the fist time she'd ever had the thought to ask for more. "You teach with such kindness; they must love you."
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Her own movements granted her another kiss, and while it was good, it never felt like enough. It rocked her senses like it may as well have been the first time she'd been graced by the connection.
She feigned an obvious frown at the notion of all that effort being for a rumour. It was at least good to make a joke of the whole thing.
And then the corner of her mouth dragged to the side slightly at the new question. She really should have thought this through before she ventured out this way. "I always have plans on Wednesdays." She admitted, but she'd never really considered that that could be a bad thing. Any denial felt so wrong; "I always have dinner with my best friend."
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