"A Web of Complexities"

Emma's gaze shifted from Myra's stern face to Doc's calm demeanor, a sudden change in subject a welcome respite from the tension. "Hey, Doc, how's Claire doing?" she asked, her voice light. Natalie's head swiveled towards Emma, her eyes narrowing in confusion. "Who the hell is Claire?" she asked, her brow furrowed. Doc's expression turned warm, a gentle smile spreading across his face. "Ah, Claire's doing great, Emma. She's still keeping me on my toes," he replied, chuckling. Natalie's confusion deepened, her eyes darting between Emma and Doc. "You're not making any sense," she said, her voice laced with frustration. "Who is Claire, Emma?" Emma hesitated, unsure of how to explain the complex relationships that existed within their little group. She knew about Claire, of course – she was Clint's female counterpart, the one who had captured his heart. But how could she explain that to Natalie, who had been Clint's best friend before he moved on to be with Nathan? "Claire's...an old friend," Emma said finally, trying to keep her explanation vague. "She and Doc have a lot in common, and they get along great." Natalie's eyes remained skeptical, but she let the subject drop, turning her attention back to Myra, who was still seething with anger. "So, what's the deal with messing with timelines, Myra?" Natalie asked, her voice curious. "Why is it such a big deal?" Myra's expression remained stern, but Doc intervened before she could respond. "Let's take a step back, everyone," he said, his voice soothing. "We can discuss this later, when emotions aren't running so high." Emma nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She knew that she had to tread carefully, not just for her own sake, but for the sake of the timestream itself. And she knew that she couldn't do it alone – she needed the help of her friends, and maybe, just maybe, a little bit of guidance from Myra.