The corners of Zelda's mouth twitched up. "You were embarrassed? I thought I was the only one," she admitted, voice soft and wry. "I thought you didn't like me." It was silly in hindsight - obviously Alfred liked her, and he had proved as much a month later at the party. And - well, the party had provided good evidence that they shouldn't have kissed, too.

But they had weathered that and they were courting now, and they had survived the difficult summer where they were not allowed to properly talk. And now they were on a boat after midnight with the salt air all around them. It was almost unbelievable, and Zelda was thrilled to have him here, with her.

Caught up in the spirit of it, she pressed a kiss to the spot on his neck above his collarbone, right above his shirt. "Will you kiss me now?" Zelda asked.

---