#ballet practice

"Checkmate."

"Ugh- lost again." Teo put his piece down and groaned. Aurora would forever be better at chess than he was. "Okay, now that we've finished our game, we have to have that conversation you've been putting off."

"The one about my promotion?" Aurora had recently been promoted up to a charity organizor. She was working for the Public Health sector of San Myshuno now.

"No, the one about your mom committing-" Teo sighed. "Don't play stupid, Rory. We all know what happened."

"I just..." Aurora held back tears. sniffling. She didn't look at Teo. "I just feel... so... lost. I knew Dad was struggling, but I never knew she was. If I had done something- reached out- tried harder to connect with her after the divorce, then maybe she wouldn't have kille-"

"Aurora. Stop."

Aurora was sobbing now, head in hands. "I'm- I'm sorry."

"Don't be. You need to take care of yourself." Teo smiled compassionately. "How about this: I'll handle all of Camille's ballet stuff and her birthday party, and you take this week for yourself. You need to relax."

"Are you sure? Those kids are a lot."

"I'm sure. It's the least I can do. You were there when my parents died, and I'll be there for yours."

The conversation he had with his wife allowed for Teo to focus on drawing a painting- his first completed after vacation. He called the abstract, 'Help.' He hoped that the painting would raise awareness for mental health. For so long he had hidden himself in fear of the retaliation he would receive because of his autism diagnosis, but now he had observed the consequences of staying low for so long. He needed to grow more comfortable being vulnerable, and this was his first step.

"Xavier, are you coming to my house tomorrow for my birthday party?"

"The royal slumber party?" Xavier grinned. "Yeah, of course! My mom told me all about it!"

"My dad's even going to get me a costume like Sofia the First wears!" Camille was bursting with excitement. "It's gonna be so much fun!"

After Camille's ballet practice, the following day, Teo got to work decorating the house for Camille's birthday slumber party:

Camille gasped, walking in to see the set-up: "WOW, Daddy, it's AMAZING!"

"Come on in and put your dress on, birthday girl!" Teo was already preparing the birthday cake for tomorrow. "We've got a party to put on!"

Camille's slumber party was a success, full of games like charades (which Teo was forced to participate in), Sofia the First binges, dance parties, and ghost stories. Cousin Kaitlin, the boys Benjamin and Xavier from the house next door, and her friends Catalina and Ashlyn all showed up to celebrate.

Even Aurora and Teo had some fun of their own!

And when Camille aged up into a teen, she was more grateful to her parents for making this day special for her than she had ever felt before.

OMFG I FINALLY POST SOMETHING X’D Work has been draining my creative juices ;w; YES I AM WORKING AS A HOSTESS OMFG but hey here’s something cute =w=