[ He hasn’t even noticed the state of the flowers yet. His attention is squarely on Ori, on making sure that she knows she’s not alone in her fears and trying to pull her back to the moment where she belongs. None of them can say for certain what the future might hold, but none of them can afford to dwell on it.

He’ll reel her back in as many times as it takes. Whatever he needs to do to keep her here, in the moment, with him.

Tears well up in her eyes, and he’s glad she says something before they can spill over, because watching her cry like this breaks his heart.

And when their lips meet, he also pours his everything into the kiss. He promises himself, and her, that the future will not matter so long as they’re here together, in the here and now. A beam of sunlight shines over them both, as if the dark clouds of her thoughts are breaking, allowing his light to shine through. Perhaps they are. ]

You’ll always be my dream, too, Ori. I love you.

[ He kisses her again, something warm and sweet and lingering. ]

We’ve been out here for a long time. I bet they’re starting to miss us… but, I’m happy to push my luck a little longer if you are.