75 Godiva, Sunday evening

[vdistinctive]

There wasn't anything quantifiable that Eliot could nail down, but he could tell when Fandom managed to shake off its latest evil invasion. It was like an enormous, evil weight had been lifted from the world.

It was an enormous relief, but mostly Eliot kind of wanted to take a nap. Again. Apparently freaking out as hard as he had took a lot out of a person, more than sleeping a good 10 hours straight thanks to the medication Hardison had dug up.

"Right," he said. "So . . . what. We should be good through, like, March now, right?"

[ooc: for the family, especially, but can also be open!]

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[vdistinctive]

"That we are." Eliot scooped her up into a tight hug. "I'm so glad I got to see you again, darlin'. No matter what else, I'm so glad to get this chance."

[godilovedthis]

"Even though you have a Kathy?" she protested, holding him tightly. "One that's not broken?"

[vdistinctive]

"Even then," Eliot said. "Ain't no such thing as too many Kathies."

[godilovedthis]

"I wish I could stay," she said. "It's nice here. Warm and there's food and the puppy and family. Do you think I could?"

[vdistinctive]

"I dunno," Eliot said honestly. "I hope so. It hasn't worked before, but. . . ." He let out a slightly brittle laugh. "Ain't I just told you that somethin' not working before don't mean it can't work now?"

[godilovedthis]

And Fandom, being the cruel mistress she sometimes was, chose that moment to open a portal. "I don't think so," Kathy said, looking at it. On the other side, a gray world lay, malignant and cold, though sunlight could be seen.

[vdistinctive]

Eliot pulled her into a tight, tight hug. As if he thought if he hung on hard enough, he could keep any of this from happening. Stop time and keep Kathy here, keep her from fading anymore.

"I'm never gonna forget you, kid. Never."

[godilovedthis]

"I'm glad one of us won't," she said, holding him just as tightly. "I love you, Dad."

And pulled away as the portal call grew too strong to ignore.

"I love you." That was what they hadn't had a chance to say last year. It was important to say again. Down her forearm the words Say I love you whenever you can were written, just for that reason.

[vdistinctive]

Eliot choked just a little when she said 'Dad'. He'd had no idea how that could really sound. He nodded, crossing his arms to keep from trying to drag her back. "I love you, too, kiddo. Do good."

[godilovedthis]

"I will," she promised. "For as long as I'm me."

And then with pauses for goodbyes to anyone else she was gone.

[vdistinctive]

Eliot rubbed a hand down his face when the portal closed, swallowing back a small, animal sound. Nate was right. Even knowing he had another one, a living, breathing Kathy out somewhere on the island, that was never, ever going to get any easier.