On a giddy high from his kiss, Abby giggled at Sasha's apparent willingness to try whatever silly adventure might make her feel better. Oh Sasha, that was dangerous.

"Hmm. You know what we should do?" Abby let her gaze linger mischievously, then turned and struck a pose. She made a gun shape with her hands, pointed it at the ceiling, stuck her hip out to the side and went, "Pow!"

Whatever that gun noise was. Peep. Pip. Pew?

"Laser tagging! Remember that double date with Rayven and Walton, forever ago?[1] We should go again. I'm determined to get better at it, if I can stop myself from laughing so much this time."

Abby smiled with a trace of self-derision. Had it only been a year or two since her goals had consisted of beating Gigi at videogames and imitating Chewbacca noises? She'd been so childish and seemingly carefree.

Though it felt silly, Abby entertained the thought of shooting up the shit gods with Sasha. It didn't need to actually happen, and they had plenty of other outings ahead. It was just nice to look forward to something in her future. The closest she'd come to that was the slumber party, and she'd been afraid to hope it would be as fun and easy as it had been.

Leaning against the counter, she sipped at her coffee, peeking at Sasha over the rim of the cup.

"Khaleesi and Captain Schlawkward. The dream team."

Abby said it lightly, but her gaze held his, hinting how she felt in her seemingly carefree way.

1.	Warayvensashabby

Vaguely aware he was grinning like a fool and not quite caring, Sasha pushed himself back up on the counter and resumed picking at the croissant on the counter next to him. 

"I don't," Sasha admitted, well aware there was really no telling what potential plan Abby might be concocting. 

He laughed, perhaps a little too loudly for both those sleeping in the other room and his not-quite-happy-with life head.  "What?  Go shooting?" he initially offered, trying to devise a guess from her game of charades. 

Laser tag!  "Mein Gott," Sasha mused.  "Over Christmas.  When we were all at the Trishnas', wasn't it?  When Ignan Storm visited?" and, unwittingly, wore Professor Trishna's Darth Vader apron.  The irony had certainly not been lost on Sasha.  That did seem like forever and a day ago, but he did remember and he nodded to indicate as much.  "They did kind of slaughter us, didn't they?"  Abby's laughing hadn't been great for wartime strategy, but Sasha had loved every moment of it.

"I also remember Walt took me to the department store.  To buy untailored, off-the rack jeans[1] so I could dress appropriately casually." 

"We can definitely go lazer tagging.  Or, just riding.  Picnic in the park or dinner.  Or, you know, just try to recreate these and see how much of a mess we end up making,"  he said, peeling a layer of croissant off and holding it up in demonstration.  "I was watching.  I took notes."  Not that that would help him, at all.  He was sure Giada could rescue them if they got in too much trouble. 

"Khaleesi and Captain Schlawkward. The dream team."

Sasha met Abby's gaze, a predictable warmth rising in his cheeks but, again, he was grinning cheekily like a fool.  "I like the sound of that.  My Dragon Queen."  His blush deepened. 

He was fairly certain he knew what she was saying but, of course, this was Abby.  The tongue-in-cheek was her default and part of her charm.  But, in this instance, Sasha felt like clarity would be good.  He didn't want to misread things and make a mistake. 

"You do mean not ... just in lazer tag, right?" he asked, grinning sheepishly.  He felt like this should be obvious, but he was dense.  He knew that.  Abby certainly also knew that. 

1.	Off the Rack

Abby sat next to Sasha on the counter, having finished her coffee and second croissant. The way he peeled the layers off the croissant and ate them amused her to no end as they talked about Christmas at the Trishna's. She'd had the most wonderful holiday there, surrounded by friends. Sasha had, too.  So had Professor Tappy and her sister. It had felt full of hope and promise. A sanctuary before the storm.

He listed off a dozen things they could do, and Abby found it absolutely sweet and charming. She bet, knowing Sasha's talent for saving the universe before noon (even if only in his sketchbook), they could fit more than a few things into one day. Like horseback riding, then a picnic. An attempt at baking, followed by a trip to an actual bakery, or a store where she could giggle at Sasha trying on jeans.

The last one almost made her blush.

It sounded like a dream, just out of reach. Was it really for her?

"I like the sound of that.  My Dragon Queen."  His blush deepened.

Abby grinned back, the faintest, answering blush rising to her face.

As Sasha wondered at her meaning, Abby reached out and took his hand, giving it an air-shake in a playful manner.

"Yes! Not just in laser tag."

She entwined her fingers with his, letting their hands rest gently between them. She realized, distantly, just how much validation he was giving her and how little she was giving him in return.

Since she'd come back, sorting out her thoughts and feelings sometimes caused as much anxiety as excitement. Sometimes she wasn't able to express what she felt, even if she wanted to and had been able to in the past. Abby knew her feelings for him, though. Her heart beat faster, and she gripped his hand gently.

Maybe it was the lovely dream. Maybe it was the slumber party last night. Maybe it was the flat that felt like home. Or maybe it was just Sasha. The words hovered there, waiting. She just had to find the right ones.

"Sasha, just so you know."

She glanced at him, her voice soft and affectionate.

"I care about you, too. I can't tell you how much."

Literally. She'd make jokes all day until they both grew tired of them.

"I'm not going anywhere, either."

Never again was she going to let anyone dictate her life and tell her who to see and where to go.  She was here, he was here, and her friends were here for her.

The corner of her mouth quirked up as she nudged his shoulder with her own. "I've decided."

Sasha felt a flutter in his stomach and he dropped his gaze to watch as she took his hand in hers. 

He'd been prepared for her to confirm she needed time.  At times, it seemed like that had always been the status quo, the norm.  Even before the trauma of this past year.  It was entirely reasonable; he'd assumed it would be just as much the case now, if not more so. 

He could probably make an educated guess about the pressures and expectations that were likely coming on her from every direction: her family, the Ministry, friends and probably others he wasn't aware of.  She probably was facing no shortage of people telling her what she needed, should, couldn't be doing and the last thing he wanted to do was add to it. 

He smiled, warmly at her, blinking back the excess moisture in his eyes and nodded as she spoke.  Hearing her say it, confirm she felt the same was both calming and exciting at the same time.  And to hear she was here to stay was more then he could have ever wished. 

Everything else would work out, he was confident.  Just as he had managed to find his way through everything (with her by his side in some way through most of it), he knew she would, too.  It would take time, but they had that.  They had plenty of time. 

"As a team, then." 

His voice was quiet, slightly strained.  He fingers gently squeezed Abby's and he lifted her hand, pressing a soft kiss to the back of it before picking up the croissant to take a bite.