Thank you for telling us Lisa, that is my reading sorted for later on. Looking forward to it very much!

Oh you've made me blush Domino. Thank you for your lovely words.

The inspiration for this fic was partly the bed. It starts in Hal's room and it ends up in Annie's room (you see it in 'A Spectre Calls and it's definitely the same one). I wanted to write a little more about Hal's feelings of grief and feeling out of place in new surroundings and this is what emerged. As always what i had in my head doesn't always emerge in the final edit. I was going to have a final scene where Hal would just break down completely in the privacy of his own room but show the outside world a completely different face but instead i went with a 'not quite' scenario right before Tom knocks on his door and i think that works much better, fits more with his personality. I also think that having a son with autism with a touch of mild OCD (he likes things tidy and 'just so', doesn't like to be touched by anyone he isn't comfortable with and dislikes any change without preparation or warning) helps too, i find aspects of his personality similar to Hal's so i drew on that a little.

Once more Domino, thank you for such a lovely review :) x

We are even on the emotional reaction front then Lisa, because you made me cry

A much as I would love to read your version of Hal completely losing it, I think you made the right choice with the 'not quite' scenario, it seems more fitting with the tension and ebb and flow of his character , it is that dance of polarities and walking the knife edge but never fully falling off that makes him such an engaging character.

Thanks for sharing about your son, I hope it works both ways, and gives you insights that help you too. :)