They shared a moment more of closeness, of long-awaited intimacy, both of them perhaps finally coming to put a name to how they felt when they looked at each other. It would have been obvious to others in their situation--and maybe was obvious to those around them--but neither were what you might consider particularly mature in these matters. No, Winter was famously naive and although Gareth was worldly he himself was clueless about matters of love. But it seemed a great deal had changed.

He drank in the sight of her so soft and so warm, and he thought it was the sweetest thing he had ever seen.

"I can't wait," he said honestly.
"Come back soon."
The look he gave her was the kind a drowning man might give to a plank of wood that owed him a kiss.