"...I realized you might return before I finished organizing the emotional architecture, so I decided to stand here and hope my mouth would survive the moment."
Phei's smile deepened:
"Did it?"
"No," Maya said. "It is already misbehaving."
"Good."
Her eyes lifted.
He squeezed her hands.
"I missed you." Her expression changed looking in his eyes filled with nothing but love for her; boundless love for her.
"You missed my mouth misbehaving?"
"I missed you rambling like the world gave you too many thoughts and no proper basket to carry them in."
"That sounds affectionate and insulting."
"It is."
"I will accept it with reservations."
"You always do."
"I do not always do anything. I sometimes do things. Frequently, perhaps. With patterns. But always is a dangerous word, Phei My Love. Always makes promises reality enjoys attacking."
Phei looked at her for a moment:
"You sound like someone who knows that too well."
