As foolish as it was for her to believe, Melody truly believed the night in the parlor (and then again shortly after in her bed) that they had come to some kind of agreement. A fresh start, a promising one at that. However, as the morning broke through so did the confirmation that nothing had changed. The tension wasn't forgotten, the fights never far from her thoughts. They remained together for obligation and little else, and she was devastated by the revelation.

Another morning of breaking her fast alone set her skin on edge. They were meant to be planning a trip, they were supposed to be trying, and yet, as seemed to be the norm since before Christmas, she was alone. Melody didn't know what to make of it all, but she knew one thing for sure: she couldn't allow the silence to continue unaddressed.

She mustn't.

Melody knocked on the closed office door once and when his voice didn't call out she let herself inside. She called his name softly once, then firmly a second time. When no response came she approached the desk, only for him to turn and shuffle papers along with his own greeting. "We should talk," she said firmly, her eyes narrowed at his sudden actions. What was so important that he felt the need to suddenly organize? What was he hiding?