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Following Dream’s escape from prison and his confrontation at Logshedshire. Tommy and Phil were constructing a border around Tommy’s home. As Shroud watched, Clem floated behind him in the doorway. While they were doing that, Clem and Shroud enjoyed their time outside by playing with a bouncy ball that Shroud got. Tommy and Phil walked into the house; Tommy picked up Shroud and walked to the kitchen.
“Does he always do that?”
Phil asked, closing the door behind him.
Shroud looked at him confused, but Tommy nodded his head in confirmation.
“He has been doing since I adopted him,”
Tommy replied, making food for them while Shroud sat on the floor biting on a teething toy.
“Are you concerned that it might be something serious?”
Phil asked after a few moments.
“I mean a little, but I just figure it an imaginary friend,”
Tommy said quietly, looking down at Shroud with a small smile before looking up back at the food.
Shroud was overall confused by the situation. Why couldn’t they see Clem? Like she was floating behind papa as he made food, but papa doesn’t seem to notice.
“Have you tried to ask him about who he is talking to?”
Phil questioned, sitting down in front of Shroud and pulling out a small plush for him.
Which Shroud grabs urgently and holds it tightly in his arms.
“Not really…,”
Tommy answered quietly, staring down at the pot of food.
Before Phil could ask why, Shroud finally asked, “Why can’t you guys see Clem?”
Tommy froze in place, which made Phil give him a questioning look, but he quickly jumped up when he realized that Tommy was crying.
“Hey Tommy, mate, you’re okay,”
Phil assured as he brought Tommy into a hug.
Clem watched the scene sadly and floated down to Shroud’s side. She tries to hug Shroud, but her ghostly hand only goes through. She sighs sadly but sees Shroud giving her a reassuring smile, making her smile.
“Mate, are you okay with me asking who Clem is?”
Phil asked after Tommy calmed down, but his question fell on deaf ears.
“Shroud, how do you know about Clem?”
Tommy asked the tiny spider child.
“She led me to you! And helped me calm down when she found me,”
Shroud smiled, waving his hands excitedly at his father.
“But Shroud…Clem...she passed away a few months ago before I met you. How?”
Tommy’s voice trailed off as Phil looked down at his shock.
“But she’s right here, papa! She was also floating behind you a few moments ago!”
Shroud shouted, waving his hand where Clem was. But all that Phil and Tommy saw was an empty spot on the floor.
“She might be a ghost-like how Wilbur was,”
Phil said, looking down at Tommy.
“But why can’t I see her then? Why can’t I see my baby! “
Tommy yelled, tearing up again.
“I don’t know, but clearly Shroud isn’t lying about, and it might just be a situation where only Shroud can see her,”
Phil assured watching Shroud was a conversation with the supposed Clem.
“May I ask about your relationship with Clem?”
Phil asked Tommy, pulling away from the hug, but kept his hand on Tommy’s shoulder.
“She was my daughter…, and she died when Dream blew up Logstedshire,”
Tommy explained, wiping the tears from his eyes.
“Oh mate…,”
Phil said sadly and brought Tommy back in a hug.
“She was my pride and joy, Phil…I found her in the nearby forest and took her in as my own…,”
Tommy sniffed as tears started flowing from his eyes.
“It’s okay, you may not be able to talk or see her as Shroud can, but at least you know that she is still here,”
Phil said, patting Tommy on the head.
Clem watched the scene as Shroud babbled about his last playdate with Micheal. Clem smiled at her father and was happy to know that her papa still loved her after all this time. Maybe someday he’ll be able to see and talk to her.