Dumas chuckled.  “I see that you have great faith in my cooking abilities,” he teased.  “And I guess I can’t blame you.  But don’t worry.  Grilled cheese sandwiches are a personal speciality.”<br/><br/>Opening Mari’s refrigerator, Dumas retrieved a jar of mayonnaise and a block of sharp cheddar cheese.  Then he got a grater down from the cupboard.  Despite the fact that he’d barely cooked during his stay with Mari, he actually knew where almost everything was.  It had become a habit for him to observe the details of his environment -- in the military, that sort of thing could save your life.  So, while Mari had prepared meals for him, he’d done visual reconnaissance, learning the location of each utensil and ingredient.<br/><br/>Perhaps it was because some related memories had already been stirred to life inside his head.  Or perhaps it was because his current happiness made him think about happy times in the past.  Whatever the reason, as Dumas grated the cheese, he recalled making dinner for his mom.  He’d always tried to have it ready for her when she got home from work.  Of course, since he’d been a kid, it was never anything elaborate -- sandwiches, mostly.  Successfully mastering grilled cheese had actually been a huge triumph, since it marked his first time using the oven.  Dumas could still remember his mom ruffling his hair and telling him what a good son he was.<br/><br/>After assembling the sandwiches, Dumas set a frying pan on the stovetop to heat.  Family meant a great deal to him.  If he ever had any kids, he’d...oh fuck.  FuckFuckFuck!  Dumas was grateful that he had his back turned to Mari, so she couldn’t see the expression of shock and fear on his face.  How could he have been so stupid?  It was bad enough to fall for the bitch’s trick, but he couldn’t blame this lapse on anyone except himself.  Frozen in time, Dumas stared down at the frying pan without seeing it.  Should he tell Mari?  They’d just found this moment of peace and he didn’t want to ruin it by upsetting her.  Maybe she’d never need to know.  Maybe it wouldn’t come to anything.<br/><br/>And yet, what if it did?<br/><br/>Resolutely, Dumas switched off the stove and turned to face Mari.  His expression had softened somewhat, so that now he only looked concerned and sad.  “Bunny Girl, I’m so sorry.  I know you must be sick of hearing me apologize by now.  But apparently I’ve got a few more to go.”  Crossing back to Mari, Dumas knelt and took her hands in his.  Then he gazed into her eyes, steeling himself for whatever he saw there.  “When you and I...I mean, when she and I...I wasn't thinking straight, obviously.  I wanted you so badly.  But I never really expected anything to happen, so I wasn't prepared.  In the heat of the moment, I let my desire take control, and the thing is...the thing is...we didn’t use any protection."