#best dentist in preston

[dentistsofpreston]

How Are Dental Crowns in Preston Installed?

Dental Crowns in Preston are installed with precision and care by the expert team at Dentists Of Preston. The procedure begins with a thorough examination and preparation of the affected tooth. Next, a custom-made crown is created to fit perfectly over your tooth, restoring its shape, size, and strength. Finally, the crown is securely cemented in place, providing a durable and aesthetically pleasing solution to various dental issues. Trust Dentists Of Preston for your Dental Crowns Preston needs, ensuring top-quality care and long-lasting results.

[huntingdaledc]

Where to get gentle pediatric dentist care? Dentists In Huntingdale are the best for the oral health of children. Well-experienced dentists are dedicated to take cares thorough teen’s teeth health. They are specialized and have excellent practices for take care toddlers’ teeth, mouths, and gums. Generally, kids start to get their baby teeth when they reach 6 or 7 age. Thereafter they loss the first set of teeth and are replaced by new permanent teeth.

[e-b-reads]

I want to know about books 11, 22, 33, 44 and 55 💫

Thanks for asking! Lol, typically for me, every one of these is a mystery, but they're all pretty different!

11. Light Thickens, Ngaio Marsh - The final Roderick Alleyn mystery (not that they need to be read in order). This does actually have some characters return from a mystery set (and written) several years before this one; they have aged, but Alleyn apparently has not. It's a good stand-alone mystery set in a play house (one of Marsh's favorite things to write about), with various references to Macbeth.

22. The Redeemers, Ace Atkins - This is book 5 in the Quinn Colson mystery series, I spent a lot of the beginning of last year tearing through them (11 total), slowed down only by waiting for library holds to come in. The sort of arc of the series (which does take place over 10 or so years, each book set ~when it was published) is that former Army Ranger Quinn Colson comes back to his hometown in Mississippi and then runs for sheriff so as to get rid of the old corrupt sheriff - and then takes down a crime lord, and has to quit being sheriff, and gets voted back in, and another crime lord takes over... Anyway, they're grittier/more violent than a lot of the mysteries I read, but I was hooked. All the characters felt very well-rounded - all the good guys have significant flaws, but I love them anyway, and (almost) all the bad guys have moments where they're sympathetic, if not redeemable.

33. The Night She Died, Dorothy Simpson - OK, so I can't think of anything particularly wrong with this book, but I forgot I read it until looking #33 up for this list. The first in yet another mystery series (published 1980, set in England), and it was...fine? I didn't read any others in the series, but I did finish the book, so it was gripping enough for that!

44. One, Two, Buckle My Shoe, Agatha Christie - A Poirot book; Poirot goes to the dentist, and then later in the day, the dentist is found murdered! If you've read any Poirot stuff, then you have an idea where things go from there. This was a reread, I like the more domestic Christie books (as opposed to international intrigue).

55. Relic, Douglas Preston with Lincoln Child - This is also first in a series, called the Pendergast series. I actually remember why I read this - I saw several books from the series in the library, and was intrigued, so when I got home I found the first one on Libby. Honestly not sure that "mystery" is the best description - maybe a combo of horror and thriller and some supernatural elements. I did like this first one - it's gripping, and Pendergast is a charismatic character. There's some funky pseudoscience in this one (think Jurassic Park) to explain some pretty fantastic things, but it's made to sound reasonable; I read two more in the series, but when it looked like Pendergast was actually starting to time travel with the power of his mind in the third one, I decided not to read the other 19(!).

(Send me a number 1 - 206 and I'll tell you about a book I read in 2023!)

[newsmilesdental]

Unveiling the Qualities of the Best Dentist: A Guide to Exceptional Dental Care

Finding the best dentist can be a daunting task, especially with countless options available. However, certain qualities set exceptional dentists apart, ensuring patients receive top-notch dental care and a positive experience. Whether you're seeking routine check-ups, cosmetic procedures, or specialized treatments, here's a guide to help you identify the qualities of the best dentist.

Expertise and Qualifications: The best dentists possess extensive knowledge, skills, and qualifications in the field of dentistry. They stay updated on the latest advancements, techniques, and technologies to deliver the highest standard of care. Look for dentists who have completed accredited dental programs, participate in continuing education, and hold relevant certifications or memberships in professional associations. Find More Information Quality Dental Care at Its Best: Preston's Top Dentists Unveiled.

Compassion and Empathy: A great dentist understands that dental visits can be intimidating for many patients and strives to create a compassionate and empathetic environment. They listen attentively to patients' concerns, address their fears or anxieties, and tailor treatments to meet individual needs. Building trust and rapport with patients is paramount to fostering long-term relationships and ensuring a positive dental experience.

Effective Communication Skills: Communication is key to successful dental care. The best dentists communicate clearly and effectively with patients, explaining procedures, treatment options, and oral health recommendations in a manner that is easy to understand. They encourage open dialogue, answer questions thoroughly, and involve patients in decision-making regarding their dental care.

Attention to Detail: Dentistry is a precise and meticulous profession that requires attention to detail. The best dentists exhibit keen attention to detail in every aspect of their practice, from conducting thorough examinations and accurate diagnoses to performing precise treatments and achieving optimal results. They take pride in their workmanship and strive for excellence in every procedure.

Commitment to Patient Comfort and Safety: Patient comfort and safety are paramount in dentistry. The best dentists prioritize the well-being of their patients, ensuring a comfortable and safe environment throughout the treatment process. They adhere to strict infection control protocols, maintain clean and sterile facilities, and utilize modern equipment and techniques to minimize discomfort and risk.

Comprehensive Services and Personalized Care: Every patient is unique, with specific dental needs and goals. The best dentists offer a wide range of comprehensive services to address various oral health concerns, from preventive care and restorative treatments to cosmetic procedures and specialized services. They take a personalized approach to dental care, considering each patient's individual preferences, lifestyle, and oral health history.

Positive Reviews and Patient Satisfaction: Word of mouth is a powerful indicator of a dentist's reputation and quality of care. The best dentists receive positive reviews and testimonials from satisfied patients who praise their expertise, professionalism, and dedication to patient satisfaction. Reading reviews and seeking recommendations from friends, family, or trusted sources can help you identify the best dentist for your needs.

In conclusion, the best dentist embodies a combination of expertise, compassion, communication skills, attention to detail, commitment to patient comfort and safety, comprehensive services, and personalized care. By seeking a dentist who exhibits these qualities, you can ensure that you receive exceptional dental care and achieve optimal oral health outcomes. Remember to prioritize your dental health and choose a dentist who is dedicated to helping you maintain a healthy and beautiful smile for life.

[prestonsupremedental2]

Preston Supreme Dental Oral Surgery

Impacted Teeth. Impacted teeth are teeth that have been blocked from breaking through the gum. Sometimes a tooth may be only partially impacted, meaning it has started to break through.

Often, impacted teeth cause no apparent symptoms and are only discovered during a routine X-ray at the dentist’s office.

Tooth Loss. Dental implants are the best options for tooth loss due to an accident or infection or as an alternative to removable dentures. Dental implants are replacements for the tooth root.

Address:

243 Murray Road Preston, VIC 3072, Australia

Phone:

(03) 9478 7708

Email:

info@prestonsupremedental.com.au

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[gowerstfamilydental]

Dental Fads To Evade – Best Dentists Advises 

Hey, you! Do you go to an extreme level to enhance smile? The best Dentists Preston recommends you to be careful when approaching DIY hacks on own. It is normally done by everyone but without being aware of side effects blindly approaching unhealthy products give severe injury. Don’t panic: to help you out this blog is provided the solution to figure out the unwanted dental fads. The main reason the public prefers this method is within less cost they think they are getting an elegant smile and appearance. The fact is those results do not render a lifetime guarantee and have more chances to damage your oral health.

Let’s take a look at how to protect your teeth from dental fads:

Lemon Juice And Baking Soda

In natural, the combination of lemon juice and baking soda can whiten teeth at the same time very harmful to teeth. Experienced Dentists Preston says that lemon juice is highly acidic it refers to weaken the enamel easily day by day. On the other hand, baking soda is an abrasive character having product can wear away the weakened enamel.

Are you hunting for excellent teeth whitening? Then stick to ADA-approved whitening toothpaste that exists in markets. It helps to make your dream come true and offers long life without hurting oral health.

Charcoal

However, it has the superpower to remove hard stains in teeth, its abrasive consistency leads to enamel erosion. If you lose your enamel once, then it never grows back again. Charcoal can sound promising at the same time has the potential t cause permanent damage.

Are you seeking how to get healthy oral whitening? Contact Preston Dental Clinic, they help you with that. Highly skilled dentists make you stress-free at an affordable price and provide gentle treatments.

Oil Pulling 

Traditionally people practice flossing with sunflower, coconut, or sesame oils to gets teeth whiten and improve bad breath. Old-generation people make this their regular habit for 15 – 20 minutes in their daily life. But in this modern world, oil pulling is no longer relevant to past process effectiveness, and dentists advising don’t replace with brushing and flossing.

Extreme Diet

If you are a fitness freak or diet-conscious person, that’s okay. But over diet and routine cleansing mouth with juice surely cater to high damage. Do you think drinking juice or rinsing teeth contributes to get B12, calcium, or any other nutrients? That’s not true because juice contains more sugar and acids. It lets people get damaged enamel and is susceptible to bacteria growth. A balanced diet is moderation and leads today’s generation to lose weight naturally.

Hydrogen Peroxide 

You may saw or heard before, that hydrogen peroxide is an ingredient in toothpaste or mouthwash products. Besides, pros allow an adequate amount of it and provide such a safe product to the public. This is not safe to use on your own guidance, which may let you face gum and dental issues.

Fluoride-Free Toothpaste 

Critics say fluoride will disturb hormones, and develops chronic health problems like dementia and diabetes. However, fluoride content toothpaste key to the prevention of tooth decay, more vulnerable to cavity-forming acids. Studies prove that small amounts of fluorides are a great addition to oral health and do not provide any side effects. So for your well-being, you need to maintain a sufficient amount don’t go with a large quantity. If doubt or recommendation, asks Dentists Preston who will guide you to get healthy oral. Contact Us for more details & visit our website.

[mydentalgroup]

Achieve a Healthy Smile Today: Schedule an Appointment Now

Oral health is an integral part of our overall well-being. Regular dental check-ups and treatments are crucial to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Finding a trustworthy dentist Northcote who can cater to your entire dental needs less than one roof can be quite challenging. But, fret not! My Dental Group is here to help you!

We are a leading dental clinic located in Brunswick, Northcote, and Preston. Our team of highly skilled and experienced dentists is committed to providing exceptional dental services to our patients. Whether you require a routine dental check-up or complex dental procedures such as dental implants Brunswick, our team of experts can cater to all your dental needs.

Get the Best Dental Care with My Dental Group

At My Dental Group, we offer a comprehensive range of dental services to our patients. Our services include general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, orthodontics, dental implants, and more. We use the latest technologies and techniques to ensure that our patients receive the best possible care.If you are looking for a Brunswick dental clinic, our clinic is conveniently located and easily accessible. Our clinic in Northcote is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and modern technologies. We understand that dental procedures can be daunting for some patients, and we strive to create a relaxing and comfortable environment for our patients.

We also offer bulk billing for eligible patients. Our bulk billing dentist Preston offers affordable dental treatments to our patients without compromising on the quality of care. Our team of experts is committed to providing personalized care to each patient and creating a treatment plan that suits their specific needs and requirements. We also offer emergency dental services for patients who require immediate dental attention. Our team of experts is available round the clock to provide emergency dental services to our patients.

[prestondental]

How to Be Ready for a Dental Emergency?

A dental emergency can occur any time. You might be okay at a given point of time but could experience a severe pain in your tooth the next moment. A toothache is one of the most common types of dental emergencies. While a pulp infection is one of the most common causes behind a toothache, it could also emerge as a result of some food or other object being stuck between your teeth. When you suffer from a toothache all of a sudden, you must consult a dentist immediately.

When you have to consult a regular dentist, you need to take their appointment and arrive at their clinic at a pre-decided time. An emergency dentist is someone who can attend to you immediately whenever a dental problem strikes. Since a dental emergency could happen to anybody and at any time, it would be a good idea to have the contact details of an emergency dentist at your disposal. If you are looking for an emergency dental in Saskatoon, your best option would be to reach out to Preston Dental Care.

There are several other ways in which you can prepare for a dental emergency situation. You should works towards setting up an emergency fund. Every month, you should keep aside a part of your savings for this fund. When you face a dental emergency situation, the amount of money saved this fund will come to your rescue. It would also be advisable to have a dental emergency kit comprising of some of the essential things that you might need during an emergency situation.

[dentistsofpreston]

What Makes a Clinic Offer the Best General Dentistry Services?

A clinic offers the best general dentistry services through skilled professionals, advanced technology, personalized care, and comprehensive treatment options. Regular checkups, preventive care, and patient education are essential for maintaining oral health. At Dentists Of Preston, we prioritize your comfort and provide top-quality dental care for your whole family.

[huntingdaledc]

Best Dentists Melbourne, Huntingdale, Clayton, Oakleigh & Monash

At Huntingdale Dental Clinic, we provide services like general and cosmetics dentistry at cheap rates in Melbourne, Huntingdale and Preston. You will get the beautiful smile at here which you always wanted.

[galtdentalcare]

family dentist cambridge

Galt Dental Care in Cambridge offers family & cosmetic dentistry. We also offer Invisalign, dental implants and many more. Call us today!

[prestonsmile]

An incredible beginning in finding your new dental centre is to just ask loved ones. Make a little list of facilities that others you by and by now have seen as an expert and skilful. This incorporates the consequences of their methodology as well as their treatment by the staff. When you have this list readied, at that point check best dental clinic for accreditation at Preston Smiles.

[gowerstfamilydental]

What Are All The Things That The Best Dentist Must Have?

Best Dentist Preston can treat any kind of tooth problem that arises for any category of people. Everyone knows it is important to consult the dentist if there is any disturbance in the mouth. And there is plenty of reason for this damage and problems. For example, it can be cavities and fillings, gum diseases, root canal treatment, and emergency dental care. But there are many tooth doctors available, how can you identify the right one? Continue reading to explore the qualities that a dentist should possess.

Education And Training 

The Best Dentist Preston should have completed a dental degree from a certified dental school. They should have clinical and practical training. They will be well-versed in the current trends and can treat any kind of patient with love and care.

License And Certifications

After ensuring the first step you should know about their license and certifications. This will be more helpful to identify the world-class tooth surgeon. More dental doctors will be provided with certificates and licenses but they have to renew them regularly. They will expire after a certain period. They must hold a professional certificate after working in the relevant organization.

Skills 

A good dental surgeon should possess certain skills to handle the user’s doubts and treat the patients. They must know about the problems and the equipment that is required for treating the teeth. For example, if a patient is with tooth decay then they should know about handling the dental drill and probe.

Communication 

The common skill that everyone should have is listening and talk-back. So a doctor must have such capacity, then only the patients can have trust in the dentist. It gives confidence to patients and to the people who accompany them. The doctor shouldn’t make their clients afraid by exaggerating the methods and procedures. They will explain everything calmly and politely to make their visitors feel comfortable.

Attention To Detail 

Few doctors will ever listen to the patient’s complaint and they will only care about the outline of their problem. This carelessness can lead to big trouble in the future for the patients as well the career of the dental caretaker. So a skilled doctor will take more care of their customers. They can even suggest a daily remedy for the small problems that will be cured without operations and expensive treatments.

Compassion And Empathy 

A well-educated professional should demonstrate compassion towards his visitors. Their well-behaved manner can drive people to that particular clinic and the confidence of the patients can rise because of such behaviors. They must treat each of their visitors like a little kid and express empathy towards the anxious and fearful patients about the treatment methods.

Strong Ethics 

All these qualities are examples of good dental surgeons. They should follow strong ethics that are nothing but the method of taking care of their visitors. This profession is the most contributing one to society. A good dental clinic Melbourne and a dentist with high standards can shine the teeth of the customers and clears doubt of the visitors.

Commitment To Continue Education 

Technology and machinery are updated on regular basis. Expertise should be enthusiastic about the development of their field. They must try to replace the old tools with new ones and are very eager to learn the latest trend and studies to handle the upgraded tools and practice them well to gain more visitors. This is the basic responsibility of the dentist preston that you should look at.

[mydentalgroup]

Keep your smile better with Preston Dental Care

The Brunswick Dental Clinic is a well-respected and highly-regarded dental establishment located in the heart of Brunswick. Their knowledgeable and dedicated staffs are focused on providing a friendly atmosphere and superior customer service, while still maintaining an extremely high level of professionalism. They utilize the most advanced techniques in dental care, making sure to stay up to date with all of the latest findings in dentistry. Many people come to the clinic for simple checkups or more complex procedures, and their friendly environment puts everyone at ease. The Brunswick Dental Clinic truly embodies what it means to provide excellent quality dental implants Brunswick, which is why its staff is highly sought after by customers from near and far.

Get all type of Oral treatment

Preston Dental Care is the premier resource for dental services in the area. With a team of experienced and knowledgeable dentists, they are committed to providing customers with the best oral health care possible. Their focus on preventive care can help keep your teeth looking and feeling great for years to come. From check-ups and cleanings, to more complex procedures such as root canals and implants, Preston Dental Care takes great pride in helping you protect your family's smile. At a time when good oral health care has never been more important, Dentist Northcote should be your top choice for dental services in the area.

[that-blue-vault-dweller]

how do you think the crew would feel if sole was a dentist? god knows the commonwealth needs it. *cough cough macready cough cough*

Cait - Thinks that's great for her and other people. When F!Sole offers to look over Cait's teeth, she does not particularly want to let her examine her. But when F!Sole promises not to hurt her, Cait lets her have a look. Unfortunately, several of them are chipped pretty badly from her time out fighting, and F!Sole asks Cait if she wants her to fix them. However, Cait declines, believing that since they have looked this way for so long, she might as well keep them the way they are.

Piper - Is very pleased to hear that, and she asks F!Sole to give Nat an examination. She actually even gets examined herself since Nat refuses to do it unless she sees that it is safe. Unfortunately, Piper has several small cavities from her sweets habit, and F!Sole has to take care of them. Piper does not exactly react wonderfully but tries to swallow the pain. Nat is not dumb at all, though, and Nat absolutely refuses to have her teeth looked at afterward since she saw how painful it was.

Curie - Is extremely happy as soon as she hears about it, and she immediately requests an examination. F!Sole is very happy to tell her that she is completely clean outside of just a bit of plaque. Curie is very relieved to know that her hard work in attempting to keep up her teeth has been paying off.

MacCready - Does not want any part of the examination, but she finally convinces him after a long while of pestering him. His teeth are horridly crooked, some are chipped, they're blooming with cavities, and F!Sole is honestly at a loss as to what is even keeping them in his head at this point. She insists on doing work to him so that he does not end up without any teeth at all, and that takes about a month or two of convincing.

Deacon - Is pretty happy to have a dentist on hand, and he asks her for an examination. After all, even though he's always changing and fixing his face, he has never really found someone to help him with his teeth until she came along. He only has some plaque and they are a bit crooked. He decides that he doesn't want to change the position of his teeth since it would be too long of a process, but she helps him quite a bit with the plaque situation. At the end, he decides that he'll go to her and let her look at them again soon.

Codsworth - Already knew she was a dentist, but is very proud of her nonetheless. He has no teeth to speak of, but he is very happy that she can repair and clean the teeth of the ordinarily unsanitary wastelanders that they come across. He excitedly tells anyone nearby who will listen about her feats in dentistry. He also helps her with any examinations she does, handing her tools if she needs them.

Hancock - Thinks that it might be beneficial to some people, but he feels that his teeth are a little beyond fixing. However, she offers to look nonetheless, and he allows her to. To both of their surprise, his teeth are not quite as bad as he thought. They're pretty radiated, and there are many cavities, but she does the best that she can. When she is done, they look a lot better, and he makes sure to come back and get them checked regularly.

Danse - Is very interested when she first brings it up, and if she offers him an examination, he takes her up on it. He believes that it could be beneficial to ensure the good upkeep of his teeth. He has a few chipped teeth and his teeth are coated pretty heavily with plaque. However, she gives him a pretty good cleaning job, and he is pretty shocked at how much different his teeth feel. He ultimately decides that he likes it, and he decides to let her look at them periodically.

Preston - Thinks that it could help a lot of people, and he tentatively asks for a checkup if she does not mind. She happily agrees, and she examines him. Fortunately, he only has some plaque buildup and the rest of his teeth are mostly intact and doing well. She gives him a quick cleanup, and he is as good as new.

Valentine - Is very pleased to know that there is a dentist in this broken down Commonwealth. He knows that they could definitely use some teeth-fixers. While he does not exactly have traditional human teeth, he lets her take a look at his if she wants. They're pretty much just plastic that is made to resemble teeth, and outside of a little wear and tear on the molars from him grinding his teeth a little, his dental health is rather good.

X6-88 - Is pleased that there is someone in the Commonwealth with proper understanding of what teeth are meant to look like. However, when she offers an examination, he does not particularly want her picking at his mouth and prodding around inside of it, but he finally decides to allow her to after she insists. His teeth are actually very clean from his time at the Institute, and she does not really have to do anything to them at all.

Dogmeat - Does not understand the whole thing, but he is not particularly thrilled when she lifts his lips to examine his teeth. He is patient with her, but he does not really like it at all. However, she always gives him a bone at the end, and he decides that the prodding at his mouth is well-worth the reward at the end.

Strong - Does not understand what a dentist is. When she explains, he is not impressed at all. He thinks that it is dumb to look at people's teeth. Why bother with them? They're just for chewing up food. And when she offers to look inside of his mouth, he is very displeased and somewhat angry. He tells her quickly that she does not need to look inside of his mouth and that is absolutely ridiculous.

[brown-little-robin]

17: R2D2

part one | previous | next | masterlist | ao3

Max gets up early and bakes muffins for Helen.

In the past few years, he’s dedicated much more time to relationships. Oh, he still goes out as Max Mercury; he could never give that up. But it’s seeming more and more essential, as he ages, to spend time with the people he loves. To give something of himself to them while he’s still with them in the body.

It was devastating for Bart and Helen, losing him for that hectic two years. Max came back to a bereaved, lonely, confused son and daughter. He won’t let that happen again. Not that he won’t leave them eventually—the call of the speed force is stronger and stronger every year—but he won’t go and leave them without support, without an understanding of himself. And he’s been doing… better. He’s mellowed, in his old age. He’s better at these little acts of love, like the muffins and the texting or meeting Bart outside every morning and asking about his day. He’s better at being open.

And now there’s Thad.

And oh, Max loves him fiercely. It’s not like this with the rest of the family. Max can communicate comfortably with them. With Thad… with Thad, Max doesn't know what to do.

It scares Max how deeply he loves Thad. He’s well aware that he doesn't have much time left, in the grand scheme of things, and the boy’s wounds run deep… but Max will not make the selfish choice to withdraw.

He slides the muffin tins into the oven. When he closes the oven door, the door and his back both creak. He sits cross-legged on the floor to relieve his back and fishes in his apron pocket for his flip phone. Only three people have this phone number: Helen, Morlo, and Bart.

    How are you?

The reply comes instantly, as always.

   :D how abt u ?

   I am doing fine. I just made muffins.

There’s a knock on the front door. Max laughs.

   They’re not baked yet, he types, to aggravate Bart. Then he comes to the door and steps out.

Bart tells him what he did yesterday, various rescues, mostly, and a visit to his old friend Preston. Max tells him about Thad and Joseph Wilson. Then, sensing danger, he warns Bart not to go talk to Joseph. Bart pouts at him, but agrees. He really wants the best for Thad, Max thinks. He’s been so patient about all this.

Bart takes a muffin when they come out of the oven, eats it, burning his tongue, and runs off with a “Seeya later!”

Helen comes out of her room a bit later. She’s wearing her bunny slippers.

“Ooh, muffins,” she says, and sits and digs in with Max.

The dentist’s office is closed on Sundays, so Helen gets to be home all day. It’s the first Sunday they’ll get to really relax together since Thad appeared.

It’s been a long few weeks.

“It’s funny, isn’t it?” Helen responds. “Thad’s not really much work at all, but it’s really hard to talk to him.”

Max groans in agreement.

“So… how did it go with Jericho?” she asks tentatively.

Max laughs out loud around the piece of muffin in his mouth, chews and swallows in a burst of speed.

“Actually, it went fabulously! Thad and Joseph really seemed to click. They talked and talked. And, you know, in that entire time, Thad never snapped at Joseph.”

Helen’s eyebrows shoot up.

“You mean to tell me Thad talked and talked? Our Thad?”

“Yes!” Max laughs. “Joseph drew things out of him I hadn’t guessed Thad even has opinions on. His major… he doesn't want to do anything in the scientific disciplines, apparently, but he’s undecided as to a specific major… He likes the way the oak trees move in the wind… his favorite animals are penguins and his favorite time of day is night… he likes the dark, it makes him comfortable… on the way down the mountain, we stopped at a stream and he told Joey about his powers…”

Max pauses, remembering. Joey and Thad had stopped at the sight of the stream, and stood for a moment in silent appreciation. The stream was well worth appreciation, wide and fast and steep, full of rocks that caused the water to foam, framed by pale flowers and oak trees. Then Joseph had started scanning the bank for skipping stones. Thad had picked his way out over stepping stones into the middle of the stream and crouched there. He’d put his hand in the water, turned it, playing with the current. He’d started to pull on the speed force then, for the second time on that hike, slowing himself down.

“What did he say about his powers?” Helen asks.

“Ah.” Max collects himself. “Yes. He was playing in the stream… using the speed force to slow himself down… and when he stopped to come skip stones with Joseph, he explained that he was speeding the world up so the current would be stronger.”

“Speeding the world up…” Helen murmurs.

Max nods.

Helen licks the last of the muffin crumbs off her plate and then just sits there for a minute. She has her thinking face on.

“Do you think… Thad feels like he has to control the world?” she asks. “I mean… is it about his powers, really, or does he think of himself as…”

“Responsible?” Max guesses. “Powerful? Maybe. He was trained that his value was in what he could do… so maybe it is just a way of thinking about the same powers… the speed force could, I think, give any of us the same abilities. But each of us uses the speed force based on our own instincts. He might actually be slowing the world down… relative to himself.”

Helen takes the dishes from the table. Max starts sweeping the crumbs off the tabletop.

“He looked happy,” Max says. “I’ve never seen him so… unselfconsciously happy. He was skipping, Helen.”

Helen stops rinsing, turns around, and stares at him.

“You’re joking!”

“No.”

“What is Joseph like, to have that kind of effect on Thad?”

“Honest,” Max says. “Thoughtful. Kind. He enjoys nature and people. I don’t like making assumptions about people from just two hours of interaction, but if he’s what he seems… I think he’ll be perfect for Thad.”

“Still, it’ll be sad to have Thad move out.”

“I don’t like the idea of handing him off to anyone else,” Max admits. “Not even perfect Joseph.”

Helen sticks the dishes in the dishwasher, comes over, and hugs him. He holds her tight, breathes in her perfume.

“I’m worried about him too,” she says into Max’s shoulder. “I feel responsible for him.”

“Me too.”

Helen says quietly: “I feel so bad that I didn’t recognize him as his own person last time… I think he wanted us to recognize him, really, but I never did. I… was too busy being proud of myself… thinking how much better Bart was, because of me…”

“Me too,” Max says again. “But, Helen, don’t be too hard on yourself. You thought I was dying. You needed something to be happy about.”

“You did too,” Helen says. “You needed something to be proud of…”

“I’m proud of you,” Max says. “I was proud of you. I was just blind… we both were.”

Max thinks suddenly of the clone that no one else knows about, the one who stalked Max for a while before dying of lung failure. His CRAYDL brought him to Max, but it was too late; Max couldn’t save him. Even Morlo couldn’t save him. His lungs simply stopped processing the air. After he died, the CRAYDL self-destructed, leaving a surprisingly small puddle of green goo next to the body.

Max gave the boy a hand to hold and a decent burial. He never found him in the speed force, but then again, he never looked.

“I really do want him to be with someone he can be open with,” he murmurs, letting her go. “I just… wish that was me.”

He laughs wetly at his jealousy, sniffs. He’s crying a little. He’s been doing that more, too, as he ages.

“Just wait until he actually leaves,” Helen says, sniffing. “Then we’ll both be bawling. I guarantee it.”

“We’ll visit him,” Max promises.

Max and Helen sit together in the living room, reading their separate books. By no coincidence, they’re both sitting where they can see the hallway, the door to Thad’s room.

Thaddeus gets up all bleary, dragging a blanket out of his room into the bathroom with his hair sticking up all over the place. He runs his shoulder into the doorframe as he goes in.

Max looks over at Helen and finds her stifling a laugh.

“Don’t let him see you laughing,” Max whispers.

Helen nods, still grinning, and returns to her book.

That afternoon, Max and Helen and Thad figure out Thad’s homeschool diploma for the ACT. Thad sits on the counter with his pale-blond hair sticking out of his blanket and tells them what classes they could say he covered. All the basic requirements of high school, of course, but also electronics, robotics, computer programming, and computer repair. For CRAYDL, he says. Rhetoric and drama. Max knew Thad must have had training in those!

Math through multivariable calculus and linear algebra and statistics. Nutrition, athletic and martial arts training of all sorts, obviously, biology and anatomy, specializing in the nervous system and experience of pain—Thaddeus says almost cheerfully that VR experience wasn’t enough; he had to have an academic understanding of the body to know how best to damage it. He pauses for a moment, eyes unfocused. Max tries not to let his horror show in case the boy thinks Max is blaming him—but experience in hurting people? Studying the experience of pain?

Thad abruptly continues. Chemistry, environmental studies, physics, forensics, all forms of engineering. Do you know that each of those are entire college majors? Max asks. I know, Thad answers. I just thought they might be taught in high schools too.

Max consults his list of high school classes and asks about the areas Thad didn’t mention. No psychology, Thad says regretfully; no English except high school level composition; no arts except the graphic design I picked up on the sly, no languages but Interlac and English because that was all Bart knew and they didn’t want me to slip, and only very… select history. I don't know how… accurate it was, either.

Everyone grimaces at that.

Well. The difficult thing with this repertoire won’t be convincing schools that Thad is a prodigy; the difficult thing will be deciding which classes to put on his record.

Thad doesn't see the humor in that; he nods and comes down from the counter to look at the list Max wrote out. He’s very small, sandwiched between Max and Helen. He points out the most essential classes. Max had planned to ask for more details, but by the time Thad gets through the list again he’s rubbing his eyes.

Max manfully resists the desire to hug him.

Helen asks Thad, “How about watching Star Wars?”

Thad looks up at her with that startled look he gets when people are nice to him.

“Can we—can we use the blanket fort again?”

“That’s what it’s for,” Helen says cheerfully.

Thaddeus smiles one of his strange lopsided smiles, half of his mouth pulling up and one eye wrinkling. Despite how alien it looks, Max thinks it’s natural to him; it’s Thad earnestly trying to express pleasure to Helen.

He wishes Thad would smile at him like that more often.

Helen goes to set up the movie. She invites Thaddeus to come with her, but he shakes his head, says he’ll come in a minute. He waits until Helen leaves, then turns his serious yellow eyes to Max.

“Have I done something wrong?”

“No, why?” Max asks, baffled.

“You’ve been acting weird today. You keep looking at me like I’m making you disappointed or something.”

“I…” Max says slowly, trying to come up with an explanation for his melancholy that Thad will believe. “I suppose I’m just feeling my age.”

Thad snorts.

“I’d say I’ve been feeling mine too, but I think that’s just depression.”

The wry way he says it breaks Max’s restraint. He laughs, leans over and kisses Thad on the forehead.

Thad stares at him, wide-eyed.

“Come on. Let’s go watch Star Wars.”

Thad follows him into the living room, looking at him like Max might reveal the secrets of the universe at any moment.

He grins at the title crawl: It is a period of civil war…

“This is the best animation you have in the 21st century?” he asks.

“Well, actually, this is from thirty years ago,” Helen tells him, then goes quiet because the movie is starting.

Thad settles in, laying on his belly, to watch. His face becomes rapt as he takes in the desperate situation of the beset spaceship. As the stormtroopers fire and fire and C-3PO and R2D2 escape through their ship at a crawling pace, Max keeps glancing down to make sure Thad’s all right. He’d hate to send him into a flashback. But Thad seems simply invested in the story, not bothered by the violence except to wince appreciatively when Darth Vader strangles the officer. He chuckles with Max and Helen at the banter between the droids and sighs in relief when they make it to the escape pod.

Max had forgotten how much of Star Wars IV followed the adventures of the droids. He starts to worry again when the droids are captured by Jawas and Thad grows tense. Are they too similar to CRAYDL? Thad seems… rather more attached to them than Max remembers himself being, the first time he watched this.

But the droids get purchased, and Thad transfers his attention to Luke Skywalker easily enough.

Max hasn’t cared this much about a motion picture in a long time… possibly ever, now he comes to think of it. Thaddeus is so enthralled by Star Wars that Max sees it with new eyes. Thad’s whole body vibrates when there’s a tense moment; he laughs out loud at the jokes; his eyes become soft and amazed at the vistas of the desert and outer space. He goes frighteningly still when he sees the burnt bodies of Luke’s aunt and uncle. Then he watches with an intensity Max hasn’t seen from him since he was shouting at the Thawnes in Morlo’s lab.

He doesn't say anything about it. He still chuckles at the funny parts. He booes Han Solo for being selfish. He cheers Leia on when she’s being feisty. But there’s a desperation in the way he’s watching now. His knuckles go white on the blanket whenever Luke or Obi-Wan is in danger.

Max is very, very glad that this movie has a happy ending.

The attack on the rebel planet Yavin IV. Thad groans in dismay when the Death Star appears. Max hisses, unreasonably tense. He knows there’s a happy ending; he’s seen it; but Thad’s heart is beating so fast it’s making him nervous.

Luke, climbing into his spaceship, says: “That little droid and I have been through a lot together. You okay, R2?” and Thad’s shoulders hunch defensively as R2 beeps a confirmation to Luke.

Now Max is sure he’s thinking of CRAYDL.

Midway through the rebel offensive on the Death Star, Max has had enough of sitting alone. He reaches over and takes Thad’s hand, matching its vibrations. He untangles it from the blanket and slots his fingers between Thad’s. Thad looks at him briefly, startled, then squeezes Max’s hand like a lifeline. Like a live electrical wire.

When the first shots fail to destroy the Death Star, Thad bursts out: “No! Really?”

Helen says, “Really.”

Thad scrambles himself hastily into a sitting position and reaches blindly for Helen. She takes his hand, and he stops vibrating so that she can touch him. And then they’re a chain of people anxiously watching Luke barrel down the shaft, Darth Vader in pursuit.

“Come on,” Thad whispers. “Come on…”

Han Solo returns, and Thad laughs in delight; the Death Star blows up in a shower of sparks, and he laughs again, triumphant. Max lets out his breath and realizes that he's been holding it.

During the medals scene, Helen asks what Thad thought of the movie.

“I—” Thad shakes his head. “Never saw anything like that before.”

“There are two more,” Helen says. “Well… five, but… it’s complicated.”

“I don’t know how they could live up to that.”

“They’re even better,” Helen assures him.

Thad lets go of their hands and rolls onto his back, staring at the top of the blanket fort with his hands resting on his stomach.

Max says, “Who’s your favorite, out of the trio?”

“Leia,” Thad says immediately.

Max chuckles. “Well, I knew it wasn’t Han!”

Thad smirks.

“Luke’s fine. Just… a little… I don’t know. He wasn’t as interesting as Leia.”

“Leia’s more feisty,” Helen says.

“Yeah.”

“Chewy’s my favorite,” Helen says.

Thad grins. Max laughs at her. She sticks her tongue out at him.

When Max looks back to Thaddeus, he’s gone. Mentally. Off to whatever place his mind goes when he gets amnesia. He’s still staring at the blanket roof, and his mouth is still shaped in the remnants of a grin, but… something about his eyes. He’s not at home.

Helen reaches to touch him, and Max pushes her arm away at speed.

“Ow! What?!”

Quietly, Max tells her, “Last time you touched him like this, you were lucky.”

Helen’s grimacing at him, holding her arm, offended and in pain. It hurts to be touched at high speed.

“Listen,” he says, dead serious. “I know you don’t feel like it, but all speedsters are deadly, okay? Have you seen Thad flinch?”

“No?”

“Yes you have. When he ends up across the room with his fists up, that’s a flinch. We’re just lucky he has enough control or enough fear that his flinches haven’t involved lashing out. Yet.”

Helen’s eyes grow wide.

“I’m sorry for pushing your arm so fast,” Max adds. “I was… worried.”

“That’s okay.”

They’re silent for a while. The credits scroll by. The dvd returns to the starting screen. Helen returns them to the start of the credits and pauses it there.

Thaddeus blinks awake and frowns at the blanket roof.

“My neck’s stiff.”

“You were gone about ten minutes,” Max tells him. “But you didn’t miss any of the movie.”

He makes a disgusted noise. Helen pushes play, and they watch the credits for a minute.

Thad says, “R2D2’s a lot like CRAYDL.”

Max and Helen glance at each other.

“How so?”

“He's a little droid, you know… a helper AI. And he's optimistic and snarky.”

Thad pauses. He looks far away.

“CRAYDL was like that.”

Max moves to touch him, then stops. He doesn't want to frighten him like yesterday when he took Thad’s face in his hands and the boy’s heart started beating like a trapped rabbit’s.

Thad notices the abrupt motion and clicks his tongue knowingly at Max.

“I’m going to sleep,” he announces.

“Thad,” Max says, but in a bright yellow blur of lightning, Thad ducks out of the tent and walks away.

Helen sighs. After a bit, she heads out to the community center for a yoga class. Max wishes he could go, too, but Helen is more advanced than he is, and he’s trapped within sensing distance of Thad.

Forget letting Thad go because Thad needs it; Max is going stir-crazy already.

The neighborhood is empty, so he takes a “run” around the house. When he feels tired enough, rejuvenated enough with the thrill of the speed force, he comes inside.

VIGILANTES BY PERMISSION ONLY, says a piece of notepaper taped to Thad’s door; MAX, THIS MEANS YOU.

“Can I come in?” he calls.

Thad is laying on the floor under the desk. For a moment Max wonders if he’s asleep, but he’s breathing too shallowly.

“Sure.”

Max comes in and sits in front of the desk. Before he can speak, a voice comes from the lump under the blanket.

“How did CRAYDL die?���

Max's heart sinks. They never told Thad much about the time when he was in the speed force. Does he even know about the other clones?

Carefully, he says, “CRAYDL… lay low for about a year after you disappeared. Then he started reappearing. Stealing… machine parts… looking for something… looking for magic, I’m told. I wasn’t around then. He contacted magicians and so forth.”

Thad makes no answer.

“He was trying to find you, I think. He was attempting to build a device or find a spell.”

The fingers of Thad’s right hand twitch.

“A t-hoop,” he states.

Max hesitates.

“Teleportation,” Thad clarifies, in that same distant voice. “It’s mostly machine, partially magic.”

“Ah… Well… He didn’t succeed. Maybe there aren’t the right components in the 21st century. But he… saw an opportunity, I think, when…”

Max doesn't know how to say this.

“Thad… the Thawnes… they cloned you,” he says. “Inertia… has continued.”

Thad doesn't respond.

“An Inertia came to the past in one of these… t-hoops,” Max says. The boy deserves to know the details. “CRAYDL tried to steal it, and he ended up fighting another CRAYDL unit. While CRAYDL was distracted… Inertia found your lair… and destroyed everything.”

“Inertia killed CRAYDL,” Thad says.

“Yes.”

Max’s muscles tighten in preparation for fighting an angry Thad down, but Thad doesn't move. He just lays there, breathing evenly.

“What happened to him?” Thad asks.

Max is confused for a moment, then realizes Thad’s inquiring after Inertia.

“He… died… trying to kill Bart.”

“Bart killed him?”

“Yes.”

Silence. The blanket rises and falls.

What can he be thinking? Max wonders. Is he thinking about the feud, thinking Bart proved the Thawnes right by killing? Is he feeling betrayed that Max never told him there were other clones? Is he thinking mostly of CRAYDL and distracting himself with inconsequential questions about the circumstances of his death?

How can Max comfort him when Thad struggles even to believe that he’s loved?

“I’m sorry,” he murmurs to Thad’s back.

He feels the inadequacy of it even as Thad’s shallow breathing stutters and he drags in a pull of air and says “Not your fault.”

“I wish I could help.”

No response. Thad is just a limp body under the blanket, eyes half open, one arm outstretched, palm up, and one loosely curled next to his chest. He hasn’t cried since the speed force.

“It’s so stupid,” Thad says at last, wearily. “All this killing.”

Max sighs.

“Yes.”

“How many of them have there been?”

For one selfish second, Max considers pretending he doesn't understand.

“Clones of you? Six.”

“How many dead?”

“Five.”

“And one frozen in the museum,” Thad confirms dully.

He knew? Where did he hear that?

“People talked,” Thad answers his unspoken question. “In the Watchtower.”

Max thinks back to the newly-healed Thad snapping defiance at Wally whenever he came near, thinks back to Thad asking over and over are you going to take my speed or what?, and realizes that not telling Thad everything right away was a mistake.

“Thad,” Max breathes, horrified at himself. “I’m sorry. I should have told you.”

Thad’s nose wrinkles bitterly.

Max doesn't want to push him too hard. Should he leave so Thad can process this without Max watching? Or should he stay and try to offer comfort somehow?

“Can I touch you?”

“…sure.”

Max scooches himself nearer the desk and puts his hand where he judges Thad’s shoulder to be. Thad tenses, then goes limp again. Max appreciates the vulnerability of this, that Thad is letting him touch him.

“I’m so sorry about CRAYDL.”

No response, absolutely none, as if Thad didn’t hear him.

“I love you.”

Thad shudders like Max has run a cold finger down his back.

“Sophos Thaddeus, I love you so much.”

Thad says wearily, “You’ve told me. Seven times.”

“Is there anything I can do for you?”

“I’m just… tired… I just want to sleep.”

Max has pushed the boy far enough. He’s grieving. He’s vulnerable. Max won’t make this into an argument.

“All right. Call me if you want me,” he says, and pats Thad’s shoulder one last time.

Thad twitches at the touch. Max quietly backs out of the room.

“I don’t want you, I want CRAYDL,” Thad’s raspy little voice says, just as Max shuts the door.

Max leans his forehead against the door. He can still feel the boy breathing in the other room. Just breathing. Once in a while, he blinks.

Max stays there until Thad’s eyes drift closed and his breathing deepens into the rhythm of sleep.

Then he puts on water for tea, hoping it’ll calm his anger at the Thawnes.

How could the Thawnes do that? How could they hurt this precious boy so deeply that he can’t even cry? The damage to him… Max sighs. Six hundred years, he thinks, waiting for the water to boil, and can’t even imagine it; it’s so huge a number that it ceases to mean anything; it’s just a number. Six hundred years. Six lifetimes. No wonder he’s so confused by love.

The process of steeping and pouring and drinking the tea does soothe his anger, but it leaves the sadness.

His boy. His precious boy.