Arthur Dent was alone in the universe. Or at least that was the way he felt. In fact, he was not at all alone, there being an very large number (almost infinite, but not quite) of people, creatures, and other beings in the universe. But he didn't care about any of that now. Instead he looked down at crumbled napkin he held in his hands. On it was a list of everything that was no longer around.

Earth. Check.

Tea. Check.

Gophers. Check. Not that he would really miss the gophers, but some one ought to at least think of them. It was really the only polite thing to do.

Mother. Father. Cousins. Check.

Cheques. Check.

Arthur crumbled the napkin again. Nothing was normal anymore. Nothing was sane anymore. He had never wanted a big adventure and now that was all he had.

"Arthur?" It was Ford's voice, which was coincidently attached to Ford's face, and that in turn to Ford's body. Arthur didn't care though. Ford sat down next to him, shaking the bed slightly. "I have something for you."

He placed a small covered dish on Arthur's lap. He lifted the cover off and revealed what looked amazingly, and in fact was very close to, a cup of tea. Arthur looked at it. Touched it, making sure it was real. It was. He looked up at Ford. Touched him, making sure he was real. He was.

"It isn't really tea. But it is very close, if I do say so myself." Ford smiled as Arthur took a sip from the eggshell thin cup. "Remarkably close."

Arthur sat the cup down gently on the saucer. He stared at the dark brown liquid, watching the slight vibrations move across the surface. It was, in fact, the best cup of tea he had ever had. He wasn't sure if it was the flavor though. He pondered, then decided it wasn't. He looked up at Ford, brushing the other man's ginger hair out of his pale face. He brought his lips close Ford's, a tiny kiss. "Thank you."