Maybe After Tomorrow (Hatchetfield)

Chapter 5

Ted stood up from his bed, stretching his arms up over his head. He thought there surely must have been a mistake when he saw that the clock said it was thirty six minutes past seven, but figured it would be a good time to get some breakfast. He could always feel the others silently seething whenever he was around. He would be better off getting breakfast early to avoid that.
He was fully aware that he hadn't always been the most respectful toward the people around him, especially the women, but he hated the eyes lingering on him every time he spoke, accompanied by silence. Almost as if nobody wanted to answer something said by him.
He was desperate to show everyone that he wanted to change, but saying that outright would sound contrived and there was no way to show them he was trying to change if they didn't want to talk to him. Not that he blamed them, but that didn't make it any easier.
He yawned as he walked into the kitchen, his eyes shutting for a second. When they opened and were met with those of Professor Hidgens, who was sitting in his silk pyjamas typing on a laptop and sipping coffee, he just wanted the floor to open beneath him.
"Uh, hey, sorry to intrude, I was just- Ah- I was just gonna get coffee and some breakfast."
"Don't worry about it, Ted. I was just about to give up with this for now anyway and have some breakfast myself. I'm not really getting anywhere."
"What are you working on?"
"Trying to work out why Lex and Ethan have woken up but not Alice."
"Maybe it's because they grew up too fast. Lex mentioned something yesterday about how she raised her sister, I think. I don't know." Ted shrugged as he put two slices of bread in the toaster, his expression becoming confused when he saw the professor's eyes widen.
"You might be onto something, Ted."
"Really?" He sat down, suddenly intrigued.
"Yes. Maybe because they've had to play the role of an adult in their own life, Wiggly's magic affects them differently to most kids."
"But how could Wiggly do that?"
"The bastard's pulled off much stranger than this."
"True."
"I'll need to speak to those two and try to see what's going on. We need to understand this threat if we're going to fight it."
"Hey, can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"How much chance do you think there really is of the others being alive?" Ted's voice quietened.
The professor's excitement was subdued. "If I'm being honest, not much. But please don't say that to Emma."
"I won't, I won't."
The toast popped up, so Ted went to get it out. He put it on a plate, cut both pieces into two triangles and buttered it before sitting back down.
"That toast's burnt," Professor Hidgens said, staring judgementally at the toast, then up at Ted.
"Are you kidding? It's barely done."
"No, that is burnt."
"You're wrong.'"
He scoffed, "I am never wrong, Spankoffski."
"Well you are this time."
"Am not."
"Are so."
Henry smiled, shaking his head at Ted, "I'm going to stop now because this conversation is getting tedious. But that doesn't mean you win.'
"Oh, I think it does." He grinned as he ate his burnt toast.

~

(A/N: TEDGENS TEDGENS TEDGENS (not so) fun fact I used to not like this ship. But then fanfic and a lot of thinking about The Hatchetfield Ape-Man and Forever And Always happened and now I'm obsessed🙃 I have too many ships I love at this point but I don't even care.)