Choosing Lachlan was the right decision, or so she silently hoped. The depression would improve, their paths would straighten out, and they would be alright. Fallon would keep working and Lach would do ... whatever he decided to. (Distantly, she wondered if he might finally be accepting of any comforting words she had to offer or if he'd continue to box her out.) Together, they would carve a space for themselves in the world. They had to.

Her hands wound through his hair as they kissed. Any progress she'd gained in leaving was lost as she was pulled back down to him. Fallon could've easily spent the day tangled in his grasp, caving into the one fantasy she never thought possible again and again. There would be time for that, though, now that they were to be together.

Reluctantly, she pulled back from the kiss and rested her forehead against his. "I really do have to go to work," she murmured. "Much as I'd like to stay for longer." Merlin, she hoped Malou was either asleep or at work when she got back. Explaining the events of last night was on the bottom of her list of things she wished to do. And, judging by Lachlan's appearance, it would be fairly obvious what she had gotten up to.