No Strings Attached

After several back and forths, Brodie finally rested his palm atop Clara's head and, with a smile playing on his lips, said, "No more tears now. You're a mother yourself. How come you still cry like a little girl?" Looking up at him, Clara wiped away her tears and said, "Where have you guys been all these years? Why didn't you contact me? I went to our old house every summer and winter break, waiting for you. When they tore it down, I got into a fight with the demolition crew. I told them if the house was gone, you would never be able to find your way back home."

Although a smile lingered on Brodie's lips, his eyes brimmed with tears when he heard these words. He gently tousled Clara's hair, his voice a bit hoarse, "We were being hunted. Contacting you would've put you in danger. But eventually, we found my mother's family, and we've been well these past years. We're back now to look into my mother's old case. We didn't want to cause you any trouble."

Clara sniffed and questioned, "Is that true? You're not lying to me, are you?"

"When have I ever lied to you?"

"You did when we were kids. You said you were going to the market, and then you never came back."

past, Brodie chuckled softly. "Still holding grudges like when

his eardrums. "Enough with the touching. Keep your hands to yourself." With that, he pulled Clara into his embrace, his voice tinged with a hint of

wiped her tears, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips, the gesture clearly staking

help but laugh. "Jealous already? What if I told you Clara and I shared a lot more childhood memories? Would you go insane with jealousy?" His tone was calm, but the

is as serious about it as you? My wife isn't that foolish. She's long forgotten all that, haven't you, Clara?" Clara bit her lip,

the air from the bedroom. "Ford, Ford, stop,

soothing her

the nightmare. Her forehead was beaded with sweat. She stared blankly at lan's familiar yet unfamiliar face and involuntarily called out,

lan's breath hitched. He and Katherine hadn't grown close enough to warrant such familiarity.