"That sounds like a story all on its own," Tim says, which he's grateful for. He wants--something. Something that isn't heavy and dark. And maybe whatever's going on with the chocolate, or was, might still be heavy and dark. But Sasha can manage to make it light, a story, a joke.

She's always been able to. Tim's missed that. So much that he doesn't really know what to do with himself that much as he sits down next to her on the log, their knees touching, the fire light making her a coppery glow.

He hasn't wanted to kiss her in ages, their friendship a solid and easy thing. He holds the feeling of it in his chest and just watches her with a tenderness he thought he'd never get to have again.