There were the tears, flowing freely down his face, his eyes closed as he indulged in the feel of her lips against the back of his hand. It did not last long, but it felt like it lasted several life times. Finally a step in a direction that felt right and he could hardly contain himself. When his eyes opened once more, there was a new hope there that shone like the brightest star in the sky. Turning his usually deep blue eyes a bit brighter, filled with more life since this whole thing began.<br/><br/>“We can sit by the fire and talk,” he offered his voice breaking a bit from the emotion that was still so fresh and raw. “I am sure we have things we could talk about, though I would be just as happy to sit with you and stare into the fire,” he openly admitted.<br/><br/>With all the desire in the world to go and get the wood to start the fire, he could not break away from her just yet. Not, when she had her hand on his own, not after she had just kissed him. There was a fear, a large overshadowing and nearly suffocating fear that should he move and the contact broken the magic of the moment would be lost. “I could perhaps make us some tea, something to sooth and calm us before bed? If you would not mind…setting the kettle up, I could get the firewood and get the fire going in the fireplace?”