[ Except he would find a way to thank her, and he had plenty of reasons to show his gratitude on a night that could be their last. The realisation stirred faintly in the back of his mind, but not enough to keep his smile from peeking from under his tousled bangs as their hands linked together. ]

Imagine staying like this for a little while longer.

[ Sliding his free arm around the melodist's shoulders, he reciprocated her affections by cradling her even closer to himself. ]

Another year... another ten years. Would we still be here, hiding away in our garden?

[ There was a special lightness to his words, unfitting the severity of the implication behind them. They seemed almost playful, even. Specks of light danced in his eyes as he fell quiet in the anticipation of her answer to his completely hypothetical question, whatever it would be. ]