Even as Melody sank down onto a bench outside the tea room she knew she knew she shouldn't be lingering outside of the room for a second longer than necessary. Nora could wake again at any moment (unlikely, as she'd only just fallen asleep shortly before Ben had walked back in) and Ben could likely use the moral support. But, as she sat and stared at a fraying strand on the sleeve of her dress, Melody knew she needed the time away more than anything else.
It was easy to slip into their old habits of miscommunication, of slipping and snapping without any additional thought. Melody had realized in the months apart that neither of them had ever truly listened - it wasn't just Ben who failed time and time again. And this time, Melody desperately wanted to do better. Not because she had a single shred of hope that Ben returning to her fully (that dream had ended the day he finally left) but because Nora deserved better. Nora deserved a mother who was capable of listening without her own feelings getting in the way.
And just now - Melody hadn't been listening. She had heard only her fear and anxiety. She had heard only the negatives Ben was spewing, not his consent to spend a minute with Nora. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that Ben's concern was only for their daughter and what was in her best interest. In fact, he hadn't said no at all in the few minutes they discussed it. Merlin. Melody was already falling back into the very same habits that killed their relationship.
She had to do better.
She took an additional few minutes to breathe and force down her rising emotions before pouring their two cups and returning to the room. Melody handed him his tea - already fixed to his liking - and curled her feet under her bottom as she sat once more in her chair. It was, perhaps, entirely inappropriate to sit so casually in this public of a setting, but Melody had long since stopped caring.
"That's a lot of supply to lose at once." She murmured in response. The dragons had been merciless in their siege on London - that Jewell hadn't been spared wasn't entirely shocking. It'd cost a small fortune to rebuild that much at once. (Did they even have that kind of reserve?) "How is Jewell handling it?"
It was easy to slip into their old habits of miscommunication, of slipping and snapping without any additional thought. Melody had realized in the months apart that neither of them had ever truly listened - it wasn't just Ben who failed time and time again. And this time, Melody desperately wanted to do better. Not because she had a single shred of hope that Ben returning to her fully (that dream had ended the day he finally left) but because Nora deserved better. Nora deserved a mother who was capable of listening without her own feelings getting in the way.
And just now - Melody hadn't been listening. She had heard only her fear and anxiety. She had heard only the negatives Ben was spewing, not his consent to spend a minute with Nora. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that Ben's concern was only for their daughter and what was in her best interest. In fact, he hadn't said no at all in the few minutes they discussed it. Merlin. Melody was already falling back into the very same habits that killed their relationship.
She had to do better.
She took an additional few minutes to breathe and force down her rising emotions before pouring their two cups and returning to the room. Melody handed him his tea - already fixed to his liking - and curled her feet under her bottom as she sat once more in her chair. It was, perhaps, entirely inappropriate to sit so casually in this public of a setting, but Melody had long since stopped caring.
"That's a lot of supply to lose at once." She murmured in response. The dragons had been merciless in their siege on London - that Jewell hadn't been spared wasn't entirely shocking. It'd cost a small fortune to rebuild that much at once. (Did they even have that kind of reserve?) "How is Jewell handling it?"
![[Image: dqAG6wz.png]](https://i.imgur.com/dqAG6wz.png)
beautiful set by mj