He lingered for a few seconds after her instructions, unsure of whether or not to follow through. After all, t would be just as easy to dry his shirt with a spell as it would to disrobe, and if she was willing to separate for the minute it would take then there was really no sense in removing his shirt. Well, no reason except for the fact that she had asked him to. Denying her anything was impossible after listening to her cry it seemed.

He moved to the edge of the bed and abandoned his shirt off the side of it, so his back was turned when she next spoke. There were promises he could make — eager ones that would reveal just how far the depth of his feelings went for her — or he could shrug it off as she seemed eager to do. It wouldn't be fair of him to push her into an emotional conversation right now, and even if he could get past that hurdle he was no longer sure of what exactly he wished to say. The promises would have to wait. Or, better yet, they could stay within him forever so that they might preserve what little was left of their relationship.

"Anytime," Dory said as he rolled back onto his back. "It's nothing you wouldn't do for me."

---