[Theodora James]

It was difficult to imagine a version of this woman who wasn't true to her newfound self. Teddy also struggled to see how anyone could expect anything else from her; she was so genuine that any kind of lie was obvious, and she had to guess that a lack of her usual personality would be clear. She was lucky never to experience it.

This situation required a kind of delicate nature; a care so few were willing to provide when such a topic came up. "You're very easy to miss." Teddy pointed out, drawing directly from her own experience as she reached up with her free hand to curl idle strands of her hair between her fingers. The last few nights were a drag, but she didn't want to specify that. Her eyes studied her own movements, instead.

"Does she know what you want? Have you actually told her?" It didn't take perfect eyes to see Natalie registered some kind of void only this particular person could fill. She pressed her lips together to try not to think about it in depth.

[Natalie Arazi]

How they managed to get on the subject of Lena and stay there was somewhat beyond Natalie. In all honesty, she tried not to think about it often, if only for the strain it put in her chest. Familiar touches from her counterpart did well to counterbalance those feelings, though. Sweet words brought a little smile to her lips, because she had missed the lawyer in those days apart, and there was comfort in knowing that they were feelings shared.

But questions asked deserved her attention, and she kept her gaze off of the lawyer - like she couldn't bring herself to make eye contact while talking about a past specific relation, minor or not. "I have - I mean, I've tried." Her lips pursed to one side. "It's not her fault. I think our perspectives are struggling to line up." As easy as it would have been to hold it against the dancer, Natalie couldn't bring herself to.

[Theodora James]

A lack of eye contact must have been refreshing for someone underneath the lawyer's eyes so consistently. Teddy tried to give her a break every now and then, and this topic was no exception for that. Communication between the two was clearly lacking, but it wasn't her place to comment on the very obvious reason why that was.

She tucked those little strands back behind her ear, small smile caught on her face in the silence they briefly shared. Then she eased herself back completely, freeing her other hand as she took a step away.

"What do you need from it all?" She had to ask. After all, it seemed that asking Natalie what she wanted would only draw them in circles.

[Natalie Arazi]

At the first sign of distance, Natalie's eyes immediately moved to the lawyer, like she might have said a little too much or something wrong. Worry began to fill her features until her gaze fell on that smile.

Only then did her expression turn towards thought. Or confusion. Eyebrows knitted together as she searched for an answer. After a few moments, she realized the one she settled for was more of a surprise than she realized.

"From Lena? Nothing, I guess."

[Theodora James]

Hands filtered back into the pockets of her coat again; anything to keep them out of reach while a discussion like this took place. Teddy could see the way worry formed in her eyes before it trickled to the rest of her expression, and she fought the desire to ease back in through the break she'd created.

It was like watching a thought be finally realised, but given that look, Teddy couldn't tell if she was happy with it or not. "You can still want to be friends with her without actually needing anything from that... Relationship." She reassured her. There was no right or wrong answer to something so complex.

[Natalie Arazi]

Though Natalie couldn't imagine cutting ties with someone because she didn't need anything from their connection, it felt odd to voice it aloud. Her tongue ran across slightly parted lips, unsure where to really move forward after a statement like that, so she gave a little hum instead, nodding her head. "I've just known her for years, so losing her friendship over something like this is just... hard."

Natalie sucked in a breath. "I think I want - need - to feel considered for."

[Theodora James]

A lengthy connection was always the hardest to let go of. Teddy understood that better than most, but she felt no need to voice it. Not when it seemed Natalie was having some kind of personal revelation about such an aged relationship.

It all made sense. It was common sense, really, to try and fight for something deemed worthwhile by any means.

"How do you think you'll achieve that?" Teddy had to ask. If she could see the solution she wanted, that was good. If she could actualise it, that was even better.

[Natalie Arazi]

It made perfect sense that the lawyer would know what questions to ask to keep pressing forward. As uncomfortable as a hard conversation could be, Natalie couldn't help but to offer a response to every one that asked of her. Though, admittedly, it was growing more difficult to consider. If only because it was beginning to make her lose hope in the old friendship she wished to restore.

"I don't know." She replied honestly, wishing she could offer something better by way of an answer.

[Theodora James]

Teddy was sure Natalie seemed so troubled by her lack of a good answer. She looked at her with obvious sympathy, and she felt for the difficulty that coincided with this particular woman.

"Maybe it's not your answer to find." Teddy offered then. Though she had no idea how the past conversations had progressed between the two, she guessed Natalie acted as she always did. She probably put in a great amount of effort, because she couldn't help the way she cared so much.

"Or maybe all you need to do is ask her what she wants from you. You said yourself that you're willing to forgive whatever happened. Maybe the power to fix it isn't yours anymore." And cycling power was always a difficult thought to accept,

[Natalie Arazi]

It was there that Natalie supposed she found strength in having a little power herself; often, the trainer considered herself relatively neutral, but her efforts to try and fix something were bringing her in circles - ones that she'd likely continue running in were it not for the thoughtful conversation Teddy was willing to have with her. Allowing that power to shift and let the fate of her friendship with Lena fall into the dancer's hands sounded daunting. Maybe that was an answer within itself.

"Thank you," she said, genuinely. "I'm sure you didn't come all this way to talk about this of all things." She let out a light, humored breath at the thought.

[Theodora James]

Admittedly, it wasn't the topic Teddy had expected to come up between them, but she supposed every conversation was free game. AT the very least, she hoped it was clear she didn't feel any type of way about it. It wasn't really her business, but it suddenly felt like it absolutely was.

A vote of thanks seemed to seal it all away completely, like it was the kindest way Natalie could think to finish talking about the only other woman she'd slept with.

Conceding with a smile, Teddy sought her eyes and shrugged her shoulders lightly; "I'll talk to you about whatever you like."

[Natalie Arazi]

She was so kind. Thoughtful to listen as a friend, beyond whatever undefined status their relationship was. She smiled with genuine appreciation at the lawyer, truly believing the words she offered. There was comfort in that. "You're wonderful." She offered easily, favoring the word to describe the woman. Taking a step forward, Natalie broke through the distance she created, though only enough to extend a long arm out to her. Fingertips brushed along the length of her jaw, palm settling on the side of her face. She couldn't help but to be drawn to her, even with the smallest of contact.

"And here's my office." She offered with gentle humor, belayed as it was considering they had been standing there for a bit now.

[Theodora James]

Now that the pressure of that talk had lifted, everything felt freer. There was less worry to maintain any kind of distance, because she was reaching out like it didn't matter. Being the first to break that distance made her so perfect. She felt her strength wounded just from the single connection.

Though she never saw herself as wonderful, it was nice to know someone who thought she deserved such high praise.

"I like it." She said finally, easing in with a small step. It was like a growingly familiar, magnetic pull, and she was so weak against it, "I just wanted to see it."

[Natalie Arazi]

All it took was a little bit of contact, and the lawyer was drawing herself closer. Natalie was glad to see the space left between them slowly begin to disappear. Their time was limited, and she didn't want to spend what was left of it far from her counterpart. "You're welcome to visit any time," she replied. The trainer doubted there would be a moment that - if Teddy were to show up, announced or not - she would find herself disappointed.

Her hand slowly traveled down to behind Teddy's neck. "How long do I have you for?" She asked, voice dropping a little lower.

[Theodora James]

The invitation of visiting the small space wasn't lost on Teddy. Though she imagined it would end up being quite the distraction, even she couldn't deny how interested she was in simply watching the way she worked. She doubted there was a single moment in time where this woman wasn't the personification of kindness.

And a hand traveling down her neck forced her own to lift, reaching out to lightly curl into the fabric at her shoulders.

"I could spare a few hours." She admitted. She was sure Emmett would find her way into her home if she wasn't there anyway. She gave her a key for a reason.