Sandy nodded wearily in answer to his question, too tired to argue the point, and grateful to have him near on the walk home. She'd been through such an emotional roller coaster that day. Her body felt empty... hollow somehow. Clutching his hand as much for support as for companionship, she hesitated before speaking. She knew that as weary as she was, she would have to watch her tongue... to be careful how she worded things. The last thing she wanted was to offend him by blundering her words.<br/><br/>"Teddy," she began, "I need to tell you something. And to apologize to you. I'm sorry things didn't go well today. I... I'm struggling to come to terms with having you back. I believed for the longest time that the only person I ever... loved... was never real. That I'd made him up. I believed I created you in my mind because I needed to. Because... I'd never be loved by anyone else... and I needed the companionship."<br/><br/>She paused as they passed a group of guys standing against a wall. Each of them eyed the couple as they passed, making the hair on Sandy's arms stand up uncomfortably.<br/><br/>"Now that you're back, I have to accept the fact that... how do I put this..." she sighed, rubbing her eyes with the tips of her thumb and forefinger, "I have to learn to understand you. As a real person. And not as the figment of my imagination you used to be. Does that make sense at all? I was quiet tonight because it hurt me to see you up there like that. I was so worried about keeping you safe. About... keeping you from their attention. And the first second I turned my back, you went and hopped up on stage. These are not nice people, Teddy. If you attract their attention like that... looking the way you do... they won't stop until they... HAVE you. I couldn't bear it if that happened."<br/><br/>As she spoke she turned to him, her eyes pleading with him to understand. "Teddy, I know now that there is little on this earth that would seriously endanger you physically. I understand that now. But you can still be in danger. If you keep attracting attention from the wrong people, you'll eventually have to kill them. The more that happens, the less likely we'll be able to be happy. Can you... understand that? Can you see how important it is for you to blend in? For your sake, and for mine."