Thank Merlin for Tyb and his seemingly endless optimism. The more he spoke, the wider her smile became and the less anxious she felt. He really did know her better than she knew herself sometimes. It made her stomach do a little flip of excitement even at the idea (though he was only joking) of having their own house sometime down the line.

"You're right, no going backwards. She nodded solemnly, though a smile still curled the corners of her lips. "But I don't think I could ever grow tired of seeing you every day," That was the goal after all, wasn't it? To be able to wake up beside one another and not have to rush around trying to get home before anyone noticed; to be able to be in public together, no questions asked; to come home to have dinner together and fall asleep in the same bed every night. It felt so far out of reach, but like Tyb had pointed out, there was no going back, it was full steam ahead from here on out and they would just have to keep navigating the rough waters to the best of their ability.

Giving their joined hands a tight squeeze, Elsie released only long enough to fold herself into his lap, wrapping her arms tightly around him. She found herself needing the comfort only he could provide more than anything else at this very moment. "I do love the sound of my own library, though." Just picturing it, the two of them, their own little place, maybe a family, put her heart at ease for the time being.