[ he tells her yes, and something inside of her clicks like a key opening a lock. naomi brings their foreheads together then, a small smile playing on her lips as she draws his arms around her. ] Touch me, please.

[ one hand comes up to trace fingers along the line of his jaw, hesitant and tender. because raleigh moves like a ghost might: quiet, watchful, always on the fringes, but on occasion there is a spark of life behind his sad eyes and naomi watches out for that the way she might the embers of a banked fire. ]

I'm with you, [ she whispers, shaken to the core by the realization of the depth of her feelings for him. ] I'm with you now. I don't know how the memories work, but we're both here. This isn't Kodiak and I'm not seventeen or with your brother. I'm with you, Raleigh. I'm right here.