There was a soft gentle brush of his hand under her chin, tilting her face toward his, her eyes at last meeting his own. His face had softened slightly and his eyes searched hers as if he were looking for something. It was so at odds with how she had thought of him since Christmas Eve. Involuntarily her body swayed closer to his as if it did not understand what this was. The folds of his coat pressed into her chest, his body warm. Safe. Her body whispered even as she began to tremble ever so slightly.

The kiss was like a sigh, a whisper, a gentle moment sealed in time. Her own lips pressed gently back toward him, something inside her whispering that she didn't want this to end. It was fragile, something that would not stand up against anything beyond this very instance. It would shatter if considered too closely. And yet, Sisse's entire being yearned for him, felt like the banked coals of a fire igniting slowly back to life. But it was a fire that would burn her. So instead Sisse's blue eyes fluttered back open, she held still, absolutely still, and for half a second she could almost believe this was real.