Evey found V where he usually was in such late hours: on his gigantic, antique Victorian couch in front of a roaring fireplace. He wore a thin long-sleeved white nightshirt and had a book open in his lap. From what she could see, it was something by Lovecraft.

Soft feet padded up behind him. He turned to see Evey emerging from the dark void of the rest of the Shadow Gallery, clad in the white nightgown he had stolen from a Creedy train a few weeks before. He hadn't picked it out because he thought she would look attractive in it (although she certainly did), he just thought women and nightgowns went together like fascism and tyranny.

The light from the fire bathed the white fabric a beautiful light orange, and reflected off the silk like ripples of water. He was once again reminded of how her beauty seemed to short-circuit his brain at times.

"Is...is everything all right, Evey?" he asked tentatively, gazing at her fire-lit figure. "Do you need something?"

"No," she said, "I just...had trouble falling asleep, that's all. It's a bit cold in that room."

Being presented with a problem that needed solving helped to bring V back to earth.

"Ah. The Gallery does get drafty at times. Shall I go get you a cup of tea? Another blanket, perhaps?"

"A cup of tea might help, yes."

"I will go ready one, and you can take my place on the couch. It's warm."

"Thanks, V," Evey said as he got up.

She settled herself into the spot on the couch where he had been. He wasn't lying, it certainly was warm. The heat from the fire in the hearth was cozy enough to melt stone.

Her mind swam with could back out now...no. V had already gone to get the tea, If he came back and saw her gone, he might suspect an ulterior motive. She would go for it. Slowly does it.

V came back with the tea. He put it down on a low table and made to walk away.

"Wait."

"Yes?"

"Would you...come sit with me?"

V stopped, a bit taken aback by this. Surely the tea and the fire would be warm enough…?

"Of course," V said. He sat down next to her on the couch, basking in the warmth of the fire. Then Evey did something unexpected.

She scooted closer to him and put her head against his chest, and her arm across his shoulders. He longed to put an arm around her and pull her in close, but was that really appropriate at this time? Was that reaching too far?

"Ah...Evey? What are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm just staying warm, is all," she said, "but...I would be warmer if you hugged me a little."

There it was. He looped an arm over her body, his hand resting on her waist, hoping he didn't seem too enthusiastic about doing it.

They sat there together for a bit, enjoying each other's warmth and comfort and...closeness.

Evey broke the silence.

"V?" she said, looking up at him.

"Hmm?"

"Can I ask you about what you said on TV?"

"Yes?"

"Did you mean what you said?"

"Every word."

She paused for a moment, and then continued.

"Do you really think that blowing up parliament is going to make the world a better place?"

"There is no certainty, only opportunity, my dear."

V cringed inwardly at the last two words of his comment. It was the first time he had referred to her as "my dear". He had longed to call her that for a while, but suppressed the urge to do so in fear of making Evey uncomfortable. Luckily though, she appeared unbothered. In fact, unless his eyes were deceiving him, she even smiled a little upon hearing it.

"Well," she said, turning her face toward the fire again, "I think you can be pretty certain that if anyone does show up, Creedy will black-bag every single one of them."

"People should not be afraid of their governments, the government should fear its people."

Evey looked back up at him at this, as though this was a foreign concept.

"And you're going to make this happen by...blowing up a building?" She asked doubtfully.

Now it was V's turn to pause.

"...the building is a symbol, as is the act of destroying it. Symbols are given power by people. Alone, a symbol is meaningless, but with enough people...destroying a building can-"

He was interrupted when Evey shifted suddenly, putting her free arm across his chest, sending his heart into all sorts of flutters.

"-change the whole world," he finished, hoping she didn't notice his breathy tone.

Evey looked into the fire again, her eyes a million miles away.

"I wish I believed that was possible," she said forlornly, "but every time I've seen this world change it has alway been for the worst."

"I'm very sorry it has been like that for you. I wish I could tell you for certain that the world will change for the better, but again there is only opportunity."

"The world is changed by opportunities," she said, smiling a bit, "at least they provide a choice."

"Precisely. And when the government limits opportunities, we need to make our own."

Evey nodded solemnly against his chest, her eyes fixed once again on the roaring fire.