"How are you doing love?" She asked tenderly. Elliot gave a deep, heart wrenching sigh as his eyes filled with tears.
"I'm okay. I'm going to miss coming here though and seeing Roger. And you." he said almost as an after thought. Tara smiled.
"You can come here any time you want love. I hope you will even if Roger isn't here any more."
"Can I still help with the grounds? I'm old enough and strong enough to do everything Roger did."
"Of course you can. Here. Come with me for a moment." Tara stood up and put a hand on Elliot's shoulder as she guided him past all the people who had come over after the funeral, towards Roger's study. On the way, she stopped for a moment and handed Steed the baby after whispering something in his ear. Elliot watched as Steed took the baby from her, listened for a moment and then gave her a small kiss on the forehead. He then smiled down at Elliot who smiled back a little at him. He knew Mr. Steed and liked him, but right now, he was feeling too sad about Roger to pay too much attention to him. Besides, he had things he wanted to talk to Miss Tara about and he wanted to do it now while he was still able to.
They entered Roger's study and Tara hesitated for just a moment at the door after turning the light on. She hadn't entered this room or their bedroom for the past four days. She just hadn't been able to until now.
"Come here love." she said as she led Elliot over to Roger's desk where a snap of Roger and Elliot stood on the corner. It was surrounded by several others, some of Tara, some of Roger's parents, and one, yet unframed, of Elizabeth, taken when she was less then six hours old. She took up the picture of Elliot and Roger and handed it to the boy as well as a pen knife that lay beside it.
"Now, look around the room. Is there anything else you would like to have to remember him by?" she asked, her voice thick with emotion as she saw the tears run heavily down Elliot's face as he looked at the picture. He couldn't speak so he just shook his head and sat down in Roger's chair. Tara knelt down beside him and took him into his arms as he placed the picture and penknife down on the desk, sobbing uncontrollably against her shoulder, hugging her fiercely. Her own tears fell hot and heavy as she held him to her, trying to comfort the boy. After awhile, he stopped crying and pulled away from her to wipe his eyes on his sleeve. Tara smiled through her tears as she handed him a box of tissues.
"Here darling. I think your mother would prefer you to use these." she said as she took a couple for herself and wiped her own eyes as she stood up and leaned against the desk. She ran her fingers through his hair again.
"All right now?" she asked. Elliot nodded his head, still unable to speak and stood up, motioning for her to sit down in his place. Tara smiled again as she took him up on his offer of the seat, a bit grateful as she was feeling a bit lightheaded and shaky having not eaten at all that day. Before either one of them could say anything though, there was a quiet knock at the door.
"Come in?" Tara said hesitantly, not really wanting to be disturbed, but worried that maybe there might be something wrong with Elizabeth. The door opened and in came Steed with a tray of tea, milk, and sandwiches
"Elizabeth is with Rhonda." Steed said quickly as he saw the look of worry on Tara's face. Tara relaxed a bit at the news.
"I thought maybe you two would like to have something to eat." he said with a smile.
"That was sweet of you. Thank you." Tara said as he placed the tray on the desk. Tara started to pour out the tea with shaking hands. Steed watched her for a moment and then motioned to Elliot.
"Can I have a word?" Steed asked as he walked over to the other end of the room, Elliot following in his wake. Tara saw Steed bend down slightly and whisper something in Elliot's ear. She saw the lad glance over at her and then back at Steed. Both of them straightened up, Elliot with a look of determination on his face gave Steed a curt nod before they parted. Elliot went back over to the desk and picked up a plate as Steed moved over to the door.
"If you need anything, just call." Steed said as he winked at Elliot who was now piling several sandwiches and some chocolate biscuits onto a plate. Tara smiled at Steed and then looked over at Elliot, her eyes widening at the amount of food he had taken.
"You must be hungry." She chided gently.
"It's not for me. Mr. Steed said I was to make sure you ate enough. He says you aren't eating properly and I agree. You're too thin for someone who just had a baby." Elliot said gruffly as he put the plate down in front of her. Tara stared at him for a moment. Those last words did not come from an eleven year old so he must be quoting Steed. Tara didn't know whether to laugh or go out and chastise Steed for using Elliot to get to her. He knew she wouldn't be able to deny the boy anything and it made her feel a bit peeved at him, but her tiny bit of anger evaporated when she saw the true concern in Elliot's face as he looked at her own thin face and shaking hands. She smiled sweetly at him and he smiled back at her.
Steed relaxed and smiled as he heard for the first time in days her pretty laugh coming through the closed door.