She was familiar, warm, comfortable as she braced herself against him. Let herself lean on him, even if only for a moment. He will hold her, as long as she will let him. In silence had been his plan, his words a jumbled mess in his head that Gale simply did not how to express them.

He takes a slow breath as she says his name. His voice is calm, betraying none of the emotions.

"Yeah, Catnip?"