Honestly, sudden change had become more difficult for Vitali to deal with over time. Many people sort of regressed in this way as they got older, though he wasn't entirely sure why. In theory, people should get more used to things as they change, and not less. Most notably, in fact, he had to prepare himself for the biggest change of all. That was, of course, leaving the planet that everyone calls home, even if it was for only a few days.<br/><br/>Nevertheless, it had taught him plenty about being lonely, and he tightened his grip on her hand perhaps every bit as unconsciously as she had his. Looking back up carefully, he swallowed a bit and exhaled in turn. He was thinking about what she had said. Mariya really would have been thinking about him if he flew a second mission.<br/><br/>Granted, that second mission was probably all he was going to get, considering the hazards associated with space flight. Eventually the question of a home came up. Vitali should have known that it would have either sooner or later. Looking straight into her eyes, he started to furrow his brow and provided her with a bit of a frown.<br/><br/>"Well, the cosmonaut homes are off limits to anyone but the cosmonauts from what I understand. I live in a small cottage for the time being. They'll kick me out of it once everything is done."<br/><br/>Regardless, it looked like he was trying to make light of the fact that he'd be forced to move once they were all done with the space projects that he was personally working on. For what it was worth, he didn't think it was much better in the United States. Astronauts didn't actually really get to keep the units that they were put up in.<br/><br/>Hoping that she would have laughed, Vitali looked into her eyes once again with a smile. "Now if we find a place for you, though, remember that I can spend as much time there as I'd like."<br/><br/>Space flight was quite rigorous to say the least, but the training could be even worse. He would have welcomed some time to relax. Since he wasn't currently assigned to a mission, he could have spent as much time as he'd like with her.<br/><br/>Though he had no idea that it would have, the mention of the cosmonaut houses being off limits might have piqued her interest.