[ Putting away cake (which is certainly very good, since her baking always is) only serves as a distraction for half a minute, drawn out to that feeble extent by Severus moving a few other things aside. He leans with his back against a counter after, hands braced on the edge. Staring at the floor, then at Claire's shoes.

Those minutes of silence are appreciated and also torture. ]

I wanted to see you, too. [ Severus sounds just about easy-going as she does; words dragged out with all the grace of someone coughing up nails. ] I didn't want you to ... feel like some stranger was pressuring you.

[ Months. ]

I don't know what I'm doing either.