This chapter's actually sweet in an awkward kind of way!  Very awkward…but, hey, what did you expect?  I just painted my toenails and I'm listening to my friend's borrowed Linkin Park CD.  Yeah, I know you don't care.

What we did tonight didn't seem like it was me so I'm going to write it third person.  Severus and Minerva were sitting at a table in a small, quiet restaurant.

            "I'm glad you came, Severus."

            "Yeah.  Okay."  Minerva drummed her fingers on the table.

            "Well…anything you want to talk about?"  Severus was on his third glass of wine.  They were eating the main course.  Minerva had the duck, and Severus had the Dover sole.  The waitress came over to the table.  Severus ordered another glass of wine.  The waitress walked away.  "You've had enough, Severus."

            "Get a life, Minerva."

            "Severus…but don't you like being out of the castle?"

            "Hmmmm…no."

            "Don't you like anything?"

            "What?"

            "Doesn't anything make you happy?"

            "I don't know what you're trying to tell me here.  Was that rhetorical?"

            "No, it was not a rhetorical question.  And I wasn't trying to tell you anything."

            "Oh, everyone's always trying to tell you something.  No one ever really wanted to know, they just want a forum for their own ideas."

            "What are you…Severus, this is weird."

            "Well, you invited me.  It was your idea.  You knew what to expect."

            "If I knew what to expect, why did I invite you?"

            "Are you saying I'm a disappointment?  If that's the case, your hopes are waaaaaayyy too high."

            "That's not…it!"

            "Minerva McGonagall."

            "That's my name."

            "What do you want me to say?  I'll say it.  Really, I will."

            "I just want to listen to what you want to say."

            "No small talk?  You're good at it.  Prolonging it."

            "You're the one who's prolonging this.  It."  They stopped talking until the check dame.  Minerva paid, and they started the walk back to the castle.  Halfway up, Severus stopped.  "Severus?  What is it?"  Severus stared at her for a while.  She stared back painfully.  He suddenly lurched out and grabbed her into an embrace.  She rubbed his back when he started to sob.

            "I'm sorry…I don't want you to hate me…"

            "I don't hate you."  Severus pulled away and they walked back up to the castle.