“All these year, I thought you three were dead,” Robert said. “And now, I actually have killed two of you.”

“No,” Tabitha said, sharply. “You didn’t kill mom and Tommy. The damned company you worked for did.”

“Well, I guess…”

“No! No ‘I guess’. That’s what happened. And on top of that, you saved me. Much as I would love to think otherwise, Tommy would have killed me.”

“I knew Tommy and your mom were lost. I couldn’t lose you again. Not after I had just gotten you back.”

“The exact reason why I stayed. You could have handled them both. I wasn’t going to leave you to die.” Tears welled up in her eyes. “Dammit, I am not going to cry!”

“It’s okay, sweetie. We both will. And then, I promise, I’m going to make up every day of the last ten years.”

Tabitha’s tears flowed freely. “I’ll hold you to that, old man.”

“Hey! I’m not that old!” He caught his reflection in one of her blades. “Oh, god. Maybe I am!”

There was nothing more to say, so they just sat and laughed.

The End