[ It's bittersweet. He'll come with her, but she'll have to wait. She doesn't know if she has enough time. But that part goes unsaid.
It's okay to be tired, to let others fight for her. It's a strange feeling, knowing he and others would fight for her when no one would fight for her back home. She never wanted any of this, though. The fact that people have to fight for her.
Tim's hand is warm against her cheek.
Her hand shifts, and she reaches until her fingers find fur — the strange mix of soft and coarse that's just like Merry's. Pale like Merry, too. But with smudges of grey, compared to her brother's soft biscuit colouring that covers most of his coat. She's careful with her touch, doesn't push too far — the gentlest of acknowledgements. ]
She's a good girl.
[ She doesn't know where she's come from, or how Tim ends up with random wolf-pups from Diefenbaker and Scout's litter. At this point, she doesn't know if she wants to ask but just... well, it just is what it is. She's okay with the dog not moving. Merry's close by. He doesn't jump on the bed, but he wanders over and lifts his head to rest it upon the mattress — staring carefully at Kate with big eyes.
It's- it's not bad. To learn about the people you love.
Her eyes open, but for a long moment she doesn't breathe. She's frozen for a long moment, just staring off into space with parted lips as if she's trying to work out what he's said. How to— process. She inhales, exhales. Staggered, unsteady. Her expression working through it. Did he just— ]
Tim— [ She turns her head a fraction, not to look at him directly — it'll give them both away if she looks at him. Did he just admit he—
She doesn't know what her heart or her mind's doing right now. There's a long silence, like she doesn't want to say something and mess it up. But she's said something and she works her jaw— ]
Can— can you lie with me? I don't want another blanket, I— [ Her chest feels too full, and she's fighting to get words out. ] I just want—
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[ It's bittersweet. He'll come with her, but she'll have to wait. She doesn't know if she has enough time. But that part goes unsaid.
It's okay to be tired, to let others fight for her. It's a strange feeling, knowing he and others would fight for her when no one would fight for her back home. She never wanted any of this, though. The fact that people have to fight for her.
Tim's hand is warm against her cheek.
Her hand shifts, and she reaches until her fingers find fur — the strange mix of soft and coarse that's just like Merry's. Pale like Merry, too. But with smudges of grey, compared to her brother's soft biscuit colouring that covers most of his coat. She's careful with her touch, doesn't push too far — the gentlest of acknowledgements. ]
She's a good girl.
[ She doesn't know where she's come from, or how Tim ends up with random wolf-pups from Diefenbaker and Scout's litter. At this point, she doesn't know if she wants to ask but just... well, it just is what it is. She's okay with the dog not moving. Merry's close by. He doesn't jump on the bed, but he wanders over and lifts his head to rest it upon the mattress — staring carefully at Kate with big eyes.
It's- it's not bad. To learn about the people you love.
Her eyes open, but for a long moment she doesn't breathe. She's frozen for a long moment, just staring off into space with parted lips as if she's trying to work out what he's said. How to— process. She inhales, exhales. Staggered, unsteady. Her expression working through it. Did he just— ]
Tim— [ She turns her head a fraction, not to look at him directly — it'll give them both away if she looks at him. Did he just admit he—
She doesn't know what her heart or her mind's doing right now. There's a long silence, like she doesn't want to say something and mess it up. But she's said something and she works her jaw— ]
Can— can you lie with me? I don't want another blanket, I— [ Her chest feels too full, and she's fighting to get words out. ] I just want—
[ You. ]
For a little while.