Maybe it wasn’t too late yet, but one day it would be. He didn’t want to admit Shaye’s loss but he knew what too late was all too well. The old man shut down a little at the thought, knowing that Shaye would want him to forgive the woman that birthed him. Was it that easy, just letting it go. Rhyme wasn’t so sure.

”Nothing,” he answered all too quickly, but it was the truth. It had only ever been a name and if he was honest with himself even as a child he felt like he didn’t belong. He’d been living a lie for a very long time, he should have accepted long ago that he would never have the approval of his sire. ”It’s only a name.” At one point he had been so proud to bestow it on his offspring, but now it was worthless.

"Alright," Theory said quietly. It was just a name. She could see that Rhyme was beginning to grow agitated, even if it was only a little bit. His grasp on reality was so tenuous that she didn't want to push him. Sighing, she leaned into her father and relaxed a little bit. "Let's just... take a moment, yeah?" Theo said softly. Night had begun to fall as they had talked. Time seemed to pass so much more quickly these days, even faster when she willed it to still. It stopped for no one. It waited for nothing. They would forge into the uncertain future together. Rhyme was back, just when she needed him most. Theory knew she could always count on him. Clouds parted to reveal a dimly lit evening sky. It almost looked plush to the touch. Tiny stars twinkled above. "You did like to sleep out in the open like this..." she said, her eyes growing heavy and slowly drooping closed.