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It's a busy day. Roads are bustling with people, but that's how Mother and Paris prefer it. A crowd is much harder to stand out in. "I still don't know why you insisted on wearing that jersey," Mother teased. Paris, wearing his Liverpool jersey, smiled, "There is a game today. I wanted to support them even here. Besides, nobody here cares what football team I wear,". Mother shook his head trying to look cross, but they both knew he wasn't. Sydney sidles beside them, "You might want to head back. We found something that may be a lead,". Turning as a group they start to head up the street a voice causes them to pause, " Hey, Nice shirt! Do you think we have a good chance today?". The boy isn't far ahead of them but if he hadn't called out they probably would have passed in the crowd without seeing him. Giving Mother a pointed look Paris replies walking closer, "Yes, I think we do although it is unlikely I'll have a chance to watch today. Some people don't care if the best team on earth is playing,". As they get closer though they all stop in their tracks. Unheeding Robert continues talking. A little behind him his sister is also stopped. A voice in the crowd had been bothering her though she couldn't pinpoint it, now her brother starts talking to a fellow Liverpool fan. Which is odd enough to stumble upon here. But it's the look on the man next to the Liverpool fan that causes her to pause, his face is like he is being confronted by a ghost. Or is a ghost himself. She walks closer hearing the two teens with him continue conversing with Robert and glancing at the man as if expecting him to speak. She wishes he would talk, it might settle the itch she has. One she hadn't dared believe in years. Then he was looking at her and said one word that confirmed her every hope, "Annie,". Tears run down her face as she embraces him while Robert looks on confused. "An-Chole what's going on?" he blusters. Pushing back to look at the man's face she says concerned, "You look different, but Robert don't you hear it? That voice. Its father,". "What?" he balks. His eyes shining, Mother replies, " Just a bit of surgery after the fire. I think it looks rather nice,". "What fire?" Annie asks. "Ah, a mission gone...awry. I wouldn't have made it out at all if not for Paris here," he gestures to the boy in the Liverpool jersey.
"Thank you for saving our father. I always hoped he hadn't really died, but hardly let myself believe it," she says to him. Paris feels his face flush as he mumbles, "I just did what anyone would have in my position,". Robert, still having a little trouble tracking, says, " Is that the something that went wrong mom told us of?". The girl Annie had practically forgotten whose eyes were wet as well speaks up now, "Is your mom around?". Annie and her brother look behind them, but they don't see their mom where they had been.
Clementine sits up in her hotel bed shaking her head. That's always as far as she gets when running scenarios to reintroduce the kids to Bertie. Once she is finished uprooting Umbre and catching Le Phantom she fully intends to let them see him again. It would be safe for them, but probably not for her. No matter how she imagines it, being reunited with the husband she betrayed and left for dead never works into the picture. Despite her motives she still feels the guilt that haunts her. Even if he now suspects she is a double agent the wounds must be too deep for forgiveness. That is what she tells herself. It's not like she wanted to leave him, but everything happened so fast she didn't have a chance to work out another plan. Yet she had known if anyone could have survived that trap it was Bertie. Getting up she looked at a clock. It felt late to her, but it was actually early. One of the problems being in constant motion around the world is that your inner clock never has a chance to keep up. Still she had a whole day ahead to get ready for. And a phantom to catch.