Not All Wonder
Disclaimer: I wish, but no, I don't own the characters/show.
"So, how was- umph! Claudia?"
"Yeah?" she mumbles past his earth tones, seemingly uninterested in letting go.
"Lunch that terrible?"
"At first no, but then-"
"Ah, tough lesson?"
She pulls back at that, eyes narrowing.
"Did you know why I was 'summoned?'"
"I had a fair guess. It was only a matter of time before she sent for you."
"Even though you promised that I'd live the life I want and you'd be sure of it?"
"You mean you don't want it?"
"No! Yes! I don't know! It was all really cool at first, I got what I'd almost call a Pete vibe, and I watched an artifact be born but then-"
"But then you saw the cost."
"The cost?"
"Having a downside doesn't apply just to artifacts, Claudia. You know better than anyone that if you want something bad enough you've got to make sacrifices. It's just the way it works."
"But-"
"But you hadn't really thought through just what kind of sacrifices you'd have to make to take Mrs. Frederic's place?"
She nods, head down, and he knows her well enough to know she's hiding her face because she's close to tears. The more she grows up, the more she stays the same.
He doesn't think twice about pulling her in for another hug.
The Claudia situation he sees in his daymare or vision or whatever it is has yet to come to pass, and so he can still do something about it, he still has time. And until that happens, the young woman before him is still his Claudia, and they've both had a long day.
If he needed confirmation of this fact, she doesn't try to shrug him off after a few long seconds, in fact she only holds on tighter.
"Just-" she speaks up, "Don't leave unexpectedly, okay?"
"Leave? Where would I- Oh."
"Yeah."
"I don't plan on it, kiddo," he tightens his own hold, "I don't plan on it."
"Thanks, Artie."