"I wish I didn't have a chance to change my mind. I'd rather have it out of my hands." Then he wouldn't have to keep see-sawing back and forth, giving himself mental whiplash. Sometimes he changed his mind so fast he wanted to do both things at once, impossible as that would be.

He returned the kiss, on the lips this time, putting everything he felt into the kiss. All his anguish about the choice, but also all his need to have Len with him, to not lose this incredible thing that had been born out of the ashes of his life.

"I'm yours," he whispered. Their unspoken code for 'I love you', words neither of them could seem to bring themselves to say.