he who hesitates is toast

There's a long moment where she struggles with the what might have been, her stomach in a sick knot, and almost laughs when she realizes that the thing she wants to do is argue with him about it.

To tell him that if they really were partners, she'd be a part of any of those plans, just like she was part of this one. And even though it's not a fight they need to have, for a second she's just fearful enough all over again that it's the first thing that comes to mind.

Instead, she leans down and kisses him, soft and deliberate, and tries to wipe the thoughts of the things they'd escaped away by focusing instead on his warm lips and breath. "So," she says, when she pulls back again.

"Very relieved it worked, then."