bennett felt like he was going to catch fire, which was... awful, and familiar, but familiar in a way that seemed as if it had happened to another person entirely. he'd lost cady years ago, and when that happened, he lost himself, too. he became what sami needed him to be - a father, and a good one at that, but he was incapable of being anything else. this flickering heat in his empty veins that were screaming at him to pull this woman against his body was awakening that version of himself that he had buried next to his wife, and it was as addictive as it was terrifying. 'daddy, who's there', sami called out from inside, snapping bennett out of his stupor just long enough to reply. "It's a new neighbor, bubs, just keep coloring." 'can I meet them?' she asked, and bennett shot the woman an apologetic glance. "no talking to strangers, remember?" he heard a frustrated huff and playfully rolled his eyes at the woman in front of him. "i'm sorry," he said. "you were saying?"
it was... indescribable, the feeling that nearly knocked him clean to the ground as she answered her name. he was torn between falling to his knees and slamming the door in her face. "i-," he gasped, less an actual attempt at speaking and more an exhale of breath. he stepped onto the porch, clicking the door shut behind him and taking a moment to gather his thoughts before replying. it's hopeless, any semblance of a thought is bouncing wildly around his skull. "it..." cady is on repeat in his mind. meeting another woman who makes his fucking soul ache is one thing, that same woman being named cadance is another, but to know the exact name he always used... the word that had last passed his lips when he was screaming it, cradling her body to his chest... the ground was shaking beneath him. "I don't know what - I don't know if this is a joke, or some kind of - you... what are... what is this? please, cady, tell me what this is." and it didn't matter if he sounded like a fucking lunatic, he felt like one, too. he just needed to know.
her heart skipped at the sound of sami's voice. cady wanted so badly to peer over his shoulder with the hopes of catching just a glimpse of the little girl. who did she take after more? did she have her mother's eyes with her father's hair? it took just about every ounce of her willpower to remain firmly planted where she was on the porch. one thing at a time, she said over and over in hear mind, the mantra being the driving force. "i was just saying, any time she needs to sell something, i'll be her number one customer," cadance said, a smile crossing her face.
the smile only lasted for a few moments, however, as she watched the wheels start to turn and bennett's demeanor started to shift. she had it all planned out: befriend him and slowly leave little clues to make her revelation an easier pill to swallow. but her heart yearned for him and had said fuck it. "i-" cady took a deep breath, watching as he closed the door behind him, shielding sami from harm no doubt. "i'm sorry. i swear i wasn't planning to just spring this on you," she muttered, her eyes moving from the closed door to meet his gaze. "something happened - awakened in me - after i..." she couldn't bring herself to say it out loud. cady didn't even want to acknowledge that she had died in his arms, the cries of their newborn being the last thing she heard. "two years after sami was born i just...woke up. i didn't really understand it - i still don't - but what happened to me....what i am..." the word was on the tip of her tongue and once she said it, either he would think her crazy and turn his back on her or he'd believe everything she said and they'd find a way to figure everything else out together. "i'm a phoenix, bennett. and ever since i was reborn and my memories started to come back, i've been trying to find my way back to you. and sami."
