Summary: 'We always wanted to have kids.' Ted mourns. Set during 'Company Man'.

Burning Flowers

Ted leaned against the wall, propping his forehead on his arm. Behind him the mother and son were cowering. Above him, though he didn't know, the indestructible girl was tense, watching, unseen. Somewhere in Odessa, their father was telling another ruined person secrets.

Something about this made him very sad and very angry.

Claire heard him murmur something, and he reached out. Wallpaper began to burn and sizzle, as the radioactive man drew something very carefully.

Later, tied against her mother, with Sandra telling her how she was a miracle, Claire saw what Ted had burned into the stair.

A childish daisy. And as Ted drew, she had heard him whisper:

"We always wanted to have kids,"