'People always think something's all true.'

  -Catcher in the Rye

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The marble sky swirls around them like a pretty birthday cake with chocolate icing.

"Do you really think so?"  She asks in the clouded darkness.

They're outside.

Taking a walk.

And it was all his idea.

She would've declined, she was in her flannel pajamas and comfortable with a book, but he says: "it's pretty out."  So she went.

Because it was pretty.

"Yeah," he says, "I really think so."

"So you and Dean had a grand ol' fight and you're willing to throw in the towel, Seamus?  No bloody way you get your bum back in there and you apologize or you punch him or you do something useful.  Got it?"

Seamus gulps slightly.

"You should've...heard what he said..." he says shaking with silent anger.

"Do you really think it matters?"  She says sourly as she pushes him back towards the castle. "No way, Dean is the best thing that's ever happened to you!"

"--except for you..."

"No!  Dean Dean Dean!  You know how many hours I hear about Dean?  Dean this and Dean that and Dean and I...he's your best friend, Seamus.  And you will not throw that away."

"I didn't ask for a motivational talk," he says caustically.

"Well you needed one anyway," she responds.  "I reckon it's buggin' the heck out of you for you to get up at one in the morning and force me to go outside in my pajamas so we could walk and talk.  Couldn't sleep eh?"

"Not with him in the room," adds Seamus bitterly, "I thought I would've killed him.  Maybe slit his throat?  Maybe add a bit of arsenic in his pumpkin juice..."

"Seamus!  That is your best friend in there, and if you ask me, he's probably miserable as well!"

"Good!  He deserves it!"

"There's no point when he's miserable and you are too," she says wryly.  "Dean's an amazing young man but...but part of what makes him amazing is you."

"You really think so?"  Seamus says weakly.

"Yeah!  You two are like...best friends!"

So Seamus grabs her hand and she allows him to take it.  She squeezes his hand and he squeezes back.

They're heading back to the castle.

Finally.

Parvati's eyes go towards the sky.  "Like marble cake," she whispers to him.  "Just like marble cake."

*