She gave him a small twist of her lips s a smile, her eyes relieved that he seems to be at least trying for lighter things. "I am. Ahead of you. But that has never once stopped you from impressing me." Or surprising him, but really, one boost to his ego at a time, and often even that was a drop too much.

She loved him, so very much. And she supposed there were no words she could say to him - or when she thought him utterly absent - that could ever fully convey the depth of those feelings. She was the one who had to keep confusing and surprising him, to keep his interest. He didn't have to do that to keep hers. Her interest, her love, her heart... they were his. No matter who was ahead of whom, no matter what did or did not happen.

Though she was a bit relieved he wasn't going to go on about sunsets and stars. That... had not been her finest moment.