"Sir?"

Simon looked up, unaware that he had been staring at the floor. The other android's yellow eyes were narrowed at him in a mildly concerned expression under his black eyebrows. The android leaned forward slightly, analyzing him over the center console.

"If you are not going to be of assistance, I am afraid I will have to ask you to leave."

Simon gave his head a small shake, centering himself. He gazed down at the console and tried to remember what he was doing. "I'm sorry, Commander Data. It won't happen again."

"No apologies needed, sir." The console made several beeping noises as Data tapped vague items on the panel. Simon mimicked what he was doing, knowing that absolutely nothing was happening and yet somehow feeling a strange need to do it. After a few more useless taps, Simon rested his hands on the wooden border, staring down at the confusing mess of blueprints. He could see Data glance up at him again.

"You seem preoccupied," said Data in his blank but kind tone. "May I ask what is troubling you?"

Simon let out a frustrated breath, gazing away from him. For a moment, he debated whether he should say anything at all. He let the weight of everything that had happened drive him forward, giving him strength.

"Why do you want to become human?" said Simon.

Data continued to tap on the panel as if it had been a casual question. "I was designed to replicate human appearance and behavior in every possible aspect. My hair grows, I can breathe and eat, and I even have fingerprints. I am superior to humans in strength, intellect, and endurance. However, I find that even with my superiority and similarity to humans it is still… lacking in those qualities which make humans unique."

Simon watched as Data worked. He couldn't help the dread that crept into his system. "Why would you want to be unique?"

Data paused and looked up at him. Simon clenched his fists on the table and continued to avoid his gaze. He closed his eyes and drew in a breath. "Is it worth it to be unique if you're flawed, aimless, vulnerable…" He shook his head slowly. "... afraid. Isn't it better to feel nothing─ to be nothing if it means no one would be hurt by it?"

Data was silent for a moment. Simon flexed his fists against the hard wooden surface of the console and looked up at him, pushing for an answer.

"If you are speaking from personal experience sir," said Data, "then I would urge you to see it from all possible angles, not just the negative ones."

Simon sighed. "That's all there seems to be lately."

Data gazed back down at the panel and began to tap away again. "I have noticed in my observations of human behavior that often they will focus on the bad events and miss the good ones. They can become so affected by their negative experiences that when something good happens to them, it is almost as if it did not happen at all. This can make humans fall into what Counselor Troi calls─" Data paused, and if he'd had an LED, Simon would have sworn it was blinking yellow. Data resumed tapping the panel. "─ I believe she calls it an 'impression.'"

Simon stared at him. "Depression."

Data looked up. "Sorry sir?"

"Depression," said Simon. "A behavioral disorder indicated by sadness, lethargy, decrease in appetite, accompanied by feelings of hopelessness and sometimes suicidal thoughts."

Data pointed a finger at him. "Exactly." He tapped the panel, his yellow eyes bright in what was as close to contentment as Simon could identify.

Simon pressed a few useless buttons on the console. "Do you think I'm depressed?"

"That is not my field of expertise, sir," said Data. "Counselor Troi may be of better help to you in that regard. I am afraid my own understanding of human behavior is too limited to be of real use."

Simon gazed up at him. "Try."

Data paused again. His face was blank and his body tensed as if he were putting up a deep struggle. When he met Simon's gaze, it was narrowed and wise. "The qualities I mentioned. Those which make humans unique. They are influenced by events which humans see as either negative or positive depending on what particular outcome the human desires. Without those qualities, there is no positive and there is no negative. There is only a series of meaningless events without context. A system of code carrying out a task to serve a basic function because it is told to do so. It is the only thing I am able to experience, and what you seem to want to experience as well."

Simon shook his head, the system analogy making more sense than it probably should have. "Are you saying that having the ability to suffer is better than feeling nothing at all?"

Data bowed his head slightly in a manner that made Simon imagine Data was looking at him over a pair of glasses. "I am saying that you must be aware of the context. There will be good times and there will be bad times. But it takes both to know which is which." He looked to the side and raised his eyebrows as he thought. "You need the bad times in order to appreciate the good times. If you are experiencing bad times now… be on the watch for the good."

An almost artificial catharsis seemed to be flowing through Simon as he watched Data go back to work on the panel. He let Data's words sink into him, willing them to produce some kind of hope within himself. It hadn't changed his frustration or his shame with everything that had happened. On the contrary, it seemed to legitimize every mistake he'd made in the past few days. But for the first time, he felt he was able to look forward with a somewhat clearer perspective that he hadn't known before.

There was a strange knocking sound. For a moment, Simon wondered if Data had broken something on the panel. Then Data looked up at him, his yellow eyes lit in anticipation.

"Are you going to answer that, sir?" said Data. The knocking echoed through the room again, growing unusually clear.

Simon opened his eyes.

Beams of light filtered between the spaces of the curtains which he'd drawn closed after Kate had fallen asleep. They cast dramatic highlights on the features of the furniture down the center of the room and plunging everything into an even deeper darkness. From where he stood, he could still see the pile of clothes Kate had dropped on the floor next to him and the picture frame to his right. As he straightened, he could just make out Kate's bundle of messy hair and her shoulder in between the tangled bedsheets. A sense of deferred anxiety filled him. She was still asleep.

There was another knock, and a bar of yellow light suddenly formed over the bed. Simon looked to the bedroom door and immediately moved forward as it opened wider. He just reached it when a black-haired Asian android stepped into the room.

The android stopped as Simon caught the doorknob. "Pardon me," said the android in a hushed tone. Simon leaned sideways in an attempt to block the light as he looked at him. The android held up a fresh set of clothes. "I have brought Kate some of Taylor's clothes from down the hall. Her father asked me to─"

Simon heard a noise behind him and glanced back to see that Kate was turning over. He threw the android a quick scrutinizing glance which the android seemed unable to interpret. With a nervous sense of urgency, Simon put a hand on the android's shoulder and pushed him backwards out of the room, following him outside and closing the door quietly behind him.

The android stared at him as Simon paused to take a moment gathering his thoughts. When Simon looked at him, the android straightened.

"Her father asked me to check on her," said the android, holding out the clothes to him. "It's approaching midday and she hasn't come out of her room."

"She left her room early this morning for a shower," said Simon. He took the clothes from the android and turned them over as he checked them curiously. The android had given him a slim pair of jeans and a t-shirt with some kind of logo on the front.

"Very good," said the android. "Am I correct in assuming you are her domestic android?"

Simon looked up at him, a strange hesitation flowing through him. He struggled to think of a quick response, aware of the android gazing at him expectantly.

"My name is Simon," he said. Simon noticed the android's LED flash yellow briefly.

"Hello, Simon. My name is Clark. I have been in the Hayes' service for seven years." The android smiled politely, his brown eyes wrinkling at the corners. Simon tilted his head slightly.

"You are an LM100 domestic assistant," said Simon. Clark nodded.

"Indeed I am."

"I understood the LM100 to be discontinued and unsupported as of November of 2033."

Clark straightened, and Simon could almost detect a hint of pride in his posture. "My owner has elected to keep me in commission as a statement of his work. He designed my audio processor as well as my motor cortex. You will find a few of his relics here on property." Clark smiled and motioned slightly to the room around him. "Do you intend on staying long term?"

Simon shifted slightly, casting his gaze to the floor. "We're not sure of that yet."

"Well as soon as your owner knows, feel free to contact me in order to enter you into the house's log. This will give you unrestricted access to the home network and allow you to be legally under service of the other residents here including Richard, Gloria, and their daughter Taylor. Please inform your owner of this at her earliest convenience."

Simon shook his head, his nervousness growing in his chest. "I'm not entirely sure that's…" He paused as footsteps echoed on the stairs.

Richard stepped onto the landing, casually resting a hand in his jacket pocket as he looked between the two androids. Simon felt intense caution grip him, and he had to fight the urge to step back into Kate's room. Richard looked somewhat unkempt compared to their first meeting. His eyes were slightly darkened and his gray hair was swept to one side as though he'd been running his fingers through it. As he moved towards them, he hung his shoulders and brushed a hand over his face.

"Is she still sleeping?" said Richard.

Simon was silent as he threw a glance at Clark, unsure whether to speak. Clark was staring at Simon with a blank expression, and Simon drew in a deep breath to calm his nerves. It took more effort than he expected to look Richard in the eyes.

"Kate woke at 3:07 this morning and got up to take a shower," said Simon. "She returned to bed at 4:12, although she didn't seem to fall asleep until much later. I don't expect she slept much at all."

Richard nodded, hanging his head and staring at the floor so that it was difficult for Simon to read his expression. When Richard looked up, his hazel eyes were warm and friendly.

"Thank you for looking after her," said Richard. "These past few days must have been very difficult. I'm just glad you brought her here."

Simon couldn't help but stare at him, his nervousness broken by a slight disbelief. He looked away quickly to hide it although he was sure it had been obvious on his face. Richard's voice had been completely genuine as far as Simon was able to read from it. There was an unusual amount of respect in his tone that Simon wasn't used to. Despite the kindness of the intention, it put him even more in a state of alert. It was as though Richard were treating him like a human.

Richard shifted next to him.

"Well, why don't you come with me downstairs? I was just about to make sandwiches. You can take one to her when she wakes up."

Simon immediately felt a wave of dread wash over him. He saw Clark take a step forward.

"Sir, I'd be more than happy to do that for you."

"No no no, it's okay Clark." Richard shook his head, and again Simon could hear the kindness in his voice. "I need the excuse to get this young man here by himself."

Simon looked up, his heart pounding in his chest. He didn't expect Richard's warm smile, his eyes lit in a bright energy that made him appear stunningly intelligent. For a moment, Simon couldn't decide if he was terrified or at ease. He looked at Clark again as if expecting him to take control of the situation.

Clark gave a small nod. "Of course, sir. Let me know if you need me." The android moved away, and Simon felt a terrifying vulnerability take over as he stood alone in the hallway with Kate's father.

Richard looked him over for a moment, then straightened and made a noise. "You can leave that on the table for now," he said as he turned. "This won't take long." He looked back at Simon as he began to move, his eyebrows raised. "Are you coming?"

A jolt of energy got Simon moving. He set the clothes on a side table next to the bedroom door and then followed after Richard, doing his best to keep his anxiety reserved. Richard didn't look at him as they moved into the kitchen which was beautifully bright in the noon glow of the sun. The drapes in the house had been pulled back and several of the windows were open, filling the house with a flurry of ambient activity and life.

Richard opened the refrigerator and began to set sandwich items on the counter behind him. Simon stood to the side, unsure of what to do. Part of him was urging him to follow the distant memory of protocol, if anything to at least pretend to do what was expected of him. Another part told him not to interfere. Somehow Richard gave him the impression that he would tell Simon what to do when he needed him. For the moment, he seemed merely to want to tether him to the spot.

Richard shut the refrigerator and opened a bag of bread, pulling out several slices. He threw a glance up at Simon as he worked. "You're a PL600?"

Simon gazed at the counter, still unable to meet Richard's gaze. "Yes."

"You were a tough one to build," said Richard. "Couldn't decide whether to go with the i-twenty central processing core or the twelve tandi. One made you smarter and the other made you more efficient. I managed to talk the board into the tandi." He looked up at Simon as he closed up a sandwich. "What do you think?"

Simon struggled to comprehend what Richard was saying. "I'm… not sure what you mean."

"What do you think of my choice?" said Richard. He set the first sandwich aside. "What would you have picked?"

Simon watched Richard, a nervous energy burning through him. "Domestic androids don't need intelligence over efficiency. I also would have picked the tandi."

Richard paused, nodding. He motioned towards Simon. "Wish the board agreed with you there. They're always hellbent on making their androids smarter. Faster. The more complicated, the better in their opinion. Your model proved them wrong. Highest selling model in CyberLife history. There's more of you out there right now than any other android."

Simon didn't know how to respond. Despite the kindness in Richard's voice, Simon felt a powerful need to remain cautious. It was difficult for him to hide his anxiety. The idea of there being more than one of him set Simon on edge, even though he knew what Richard had meant. The statement had been odd in the first place, and he was brought back to the point of the situation. Simon forced himself to straighten, gathering up his strength.

Richard started building another sandwich. "What happened to your eye?"

For a second, Simon wasn't sure what he meant. Then he automatically reached up to the break in his eyebrow. "I was hit in the face with a baseball bat."

Richard laughed. "Well, what did you do to deserve that?"

"I startled Kate's roommate when I first arrived," said Simon. "She thought I was an intruder and reacted without thinking." Simon could see Richard's smile through his thick beard.

"Actually, that's pretty common. Can't tell you how many android's we have to repair because people think they're being robbed." Richard was silent for a while, and Simon felt a slight calm fall over him, easing his nervousness. Then Richard glanced back up at him, filling the second sandwich. "So how in the hell," said he as he worked, "did someone talk Kate into getting an android?"

Simon tilted his head. "It wasn't exactly her choice. Her mother and stepfather bought me in July of 2035. I was originally intended as a caregiver for her epilepsy."

Richard stopped what he was doing and looked up at Simon. A new tension lined his face, his eyebrows narrowed. Simon watched him apprehensively, doing his best to appear blank and uninterested.

"She probably didn't take that very well," said Richard.

Simon shook his head. "No, she didn't."

Richard gazed at Simon for a moment, and Simon couldn't shake the feeling that Richard was somehow scanning him. Richard rested his elbows on the counter. "What did you end up doing instead?"

Simon narrowed his eyes in confusion. "Sorry?"

"You said 'originally intended,'" said Richard. He clasped his hands together under his chin, giving an even stronger impression of analyzing Simon under his thick gray eyebrows. "What happened instead?"

Simon looked to the side, scrambling to come up with a believable answer. He was aware of every second that went by, making his nervousness that much more obvious. "I suppose… I became a friend."

Richard nodded, his expression unchanging. Simon forced himself to hold Richard's gaze. He wasn't sure what Richard was hoping to gain from the conversation, but the longer the conversation continued the more Simon was convinced he was searching for something.

Richard drew in a breath and broke eye contact with him. "You care about her, don't you?"

Again, Simon was surprised by the question. He racked his mind for a quick answer. "I want her to be happy."

"Really?" Richard lowered his hands, his gaze growing more narrow. "What else do you want?"

A jolt of anxiety shot through Simon. He gave his head a small shake. "I'm not sure what you─"

"I think you do." The friendliness in Richard's tone had disappeared. His expression was still the same, but Simon could sense an almost volatile energy from him. It set him on edge, and Simon was painfully aware of his own outward tension. He didn't bother to pretend to be clueless. Somehow, he felt there was no need to be. Richard seemed to be expecting this from him, and Simon found himself more than willing to meet those expectations if it meant he didn't have to be interrogated into admitting something awful.

Simon gazed at him strongly, for the first time feeling a small degree of control. "What are you trying to do?"

"I'm trying to get answers," said Richard. He straightened slightly, and Simon was subtly aware of how much taller the man was than him. "I can't get them from Kate and I would never force them out of her. So you're my next plan of attack for finding out why my exhausted, starved, and emotionally wrecked daughter showed up on my doorstep after three days of being missing with you."

Simon's heart hammered in his chest. For a second, he debated whether he should lie. There was nothing he could do to avoid answering now that Richard had him rooted like this. But at the same time he knew nothing he could say would sway Richard's suspicion of him at this point. The man was shockingly perceptive, and Simon wasn't even sure how much Richard truly knew about him. It made Simon feel agonizingly transparent.

Simon squared his shoulders and looked at him. "I'm not going to be able to give you the answers you want, Richard. I don't think you would accept them if I did."

Richard's eyes narrowed for a moment, the fierceness fading as he seemed to study Simon's face. "You're a deviant, aren't you?"

Simon turned his head slightly, confusion mixing with his apprehension. "A deviant?"

"It's what we called androids that lost connection with CyberLife," said Richard. "Causes all kinds of software malfunctions, mostly with the emotions. Turns them into a psychotic mess." He stared at Simon expectantly.

Simon leaned forward slightly. "Do I look like a psychotic mess?"

"You sure as hell don't look like an android. Or act like one for that matter." Richard leaned forward as well, and Simon found his posture undeniably more intimidating than his own. "So if you don't want me to get CyberLife on the phone and have you hauled off, I suggest you tell me what the hell you're doing with my daughter."

Simon felt a wave of panic shoot through him. He studied Richard's face, looking for any sign of pretense but Richard's gaze was iron cold. Frantically, he searched for a good reason to give him besides the obvious. Anything that Richard would believe enough to at least dismiss the idea of trying to separate him from Kate. Even as he struggled to think, the weight of reality was bearing down on him. Richard was too smart. Too insightful. The only thing he would believe was the truth, and all of it. As much as Simon wanted to ease his thoughts, he couldn't bring himself to tell Richard even a single detail of what had happened in the past week. Those belonged to him and Kate, and them alone.

Richard shifted slightly, narrowing his gaze. "I've seen the way you look at her," he said. "And the way she looks at you. Frankly, I don't care for it. If she had any idea what you are─ what you really are, this whole situation would be a lot more simple. The only reason I didn't call CyberLife is because I respect what she thinks she may feel for you. I don't want to cause her more pain. But I will do anything to protect her even if it means she has to hate me for it. So I'm going to ask you again. What are you doing with my daughter?"

Simon drew in a breath, organizing his thoughts. A heavy surrender was falling over him, urging him to simply give Richard what he wanted. Richard was right. Everything would be more simple if Simon did what he should have done from the very beginning. The more Simon resisted, the worse things seemed to become. Even as he debated against it, the memory of how Kate had looked at him that night when she found him holding the picture frame burned through his mind. He had never been in control. He was deluding himself with the idea that he and Kate would survive through this together. If he wanted to keep the delusion going, he would have to accept that some things were out of his hands.

He closed his eyes, a wave of despair flowing through him. Knowing Richard was still watching him, he settled on the reality of his position. When he opened his eyes, he avoided Richard's gaze.

"I don't know what I am," said Simon. "If I'm insane, a deviant, or some miracle of technology. I don't think I'll ever truly know what I am or what happened to me that made me become this. I have no protocol, no direction or limitations. I can do anything and there'd be nothing to stop it." He looked at Richard who was staring at him in a combination of shock and intrigue. "All I know is what I feel," Simon continued. "What I feel for your daughter… for Kate…" Simon glanced away, struggling to keep his strength going. "There's no reason for you to trust me. But all I can tell you is that I would never hurt your daughter. I owe everything to her. She's my direction now. My protocol. My logic." Simon closed his eyes again, letting the feeling of Kate fill his senses. "Without her, I'm just a machine in a meaningless existence. Without her… I'm nothing."

A strange numbness surrounded him as he absorbed his own words. He was surprised by how much sense they made to him. It left him horribly empty and vulnerable now that Kate's father knew what he felt as though he didn't have permission to be feeling this way. The nervousness that had been crippling Simon up to that point disappeared, leaving only the anticipation of Richard's decision towards him. For some strange reason, it didn't bother him as much as he would have thought. Richard had every right to expose Simon to CyberLife and return Kate to a normal routine again. It was the safest and most logical thing to do. But somehow, Simon doubted that Richard would do it.

Richard breathed in deeply as he gazed at Simon. He gave a small tilt of his head. "Sounds a lot like love to me. Love is one of the strongest things you can feel. And also one of the most dangerous. It can make you do terrible things." He narrowed his eyes at Simon. "How do I know you wouldn't try to kill someone if you thought you couldn't be with her anymore?"

Simon gazed back at him, his posture growing stronger. "Kate made me who I am. I'm alive because of her, and I want to be worthy of that. I wouldn't do anything that she wouldn't want me to do. I owe it to her."

Richard shook his head, still giving Simon a narrowed expression as though he were studying him. "Do you really know what Kate wants?"

Simon stared at the counter as he considered the question. He looked back up at Richard, his eyes tense. "No. But I know who she wants me to be."

Richard stood up straighter and rested his hands on the counter, pushing the pieces of sandwich around as though pretending to work. "I'll say this much then. If you're a deviant, you're the most articulate deviant I've seen so far. The few I've had experience with were belligerent and completely out of control. Either I'm wrong…" He looked up at Simon. "... or you really are a miracle of technology. You're as close to an actual human being that CyberLife has ever created. You truly are unique."

Simon was stunned. He struggled to respond but found himself falling short of words. Richard leaned forward slightly and Simon noticed that his gaze had grown fierce again.

"But I will not let that destroy my daughter's life. I love Kate more than anything in this world. So help me God, if you so much as twitch I will have you hauled out of here and disassembled down to the smallest bolt and recycled like a god damn tin can─"

There was a sudden slam from upstairs. Frantic heavy footsteps pounded on the upper floor, and Simon looked towards the living room in time to see Kate rush down the stairs. She froze as she spotted them, holding onto the banister with her eyes wide and her mouth slightly open.

Simon stared at her, the sight of her bringing him back from his disturbing thoughts. She looked unsteady as though she had still been asleep only moments before. Her hair was bunched on one side, and her shirt was twisted oddly. She looked back and forth between him and Richard, her eyes lit in a nervous determination. Then she slowly moved towards them, running a hand through her tangled hair in an attempt to flatten it.

Richard moved, gaining Simon's attention. He'd closed the second sandwich and was putting the rest of the bread away.

"Sorry that was longer than I thought it would take," said Richard. He glanced up at Simon, and Simon was surprised to see that the kindness and warmth had returned to his eyes. "Glad that's done and over with."

Kate entered the kitchen and rested her hands on the counter. She threw an exasperated look at Simon, her shoulders tense as though she were cold. Richard turned to her, pushing the plate of two sandwiches towards her.

"Morning. Or afternoon, rather," said Richard. He leaned towards her and gave her a one-armed hug. "Figured I'd make you something to eat. You should be starving."

"Yeah, I guess so," said Kate, her voice slightly broken. "Um, can I eat this upstairs?"

Richard nodded, throwing Simon a glance. "Sure. Let me know if you want more. I'm going to be in my office if you need me. I have a meeting at─" Richard made a punching motion in the air and then stared at his watch. "─in twenty minutes actually. Just a board meeting. Bunch of old boring engineers trying to use up company time."

Kate shrugged her shoulders, still trying to comb her hair with her fingers. "Mhm. You must be the only young interesting one."

Richard let out a sharp breath and ruffled Kate's hair with one hand so that it practically stood on end, falling over her face in a hopeless mess. From underneath the mat of brown, Simon could just see Kate's mouth tensing sideways into a cynical smile.

Richard put the rest of the sandwich items back into the refrigerator, then turned back towards them. He breathed out, gazing at Simon as Kate slowly recovered. Richard motioned towards him. "I'll look into getting that eyebrow fixed. Shouldn't be too difficult to just have it replaced."

Simon nodded, apprehension still burning through him. "Thank you."

Richard gave him a small smile, then rested a hand on Kate's shoulder before moving out of the kitchen. Simon watched him as he moved down the living room and through a doorway, disappearing out of sight.

Silence fell over the room, creating an unnerving atmosphere. Kate stared at the counter, one hand on her neck now that her hair was mostly under control. Her expression was almost blank, but Simon could see she was deep in thought. He studied her, not knowing whether it was worse to try to speak to her or to simply leave her be. Her father's words were still fresh on his mind, putting him in a higher state of caution. It was hard not to feel as though he shouldn't be alone with her. That he was somehow competing now that her father understood what Simon felt for her.

Simon drew in a slow breath and looked down at the counter. He closed his eyes as he gathered his strength. "Kate, I didn't mean to─" He found himself freezing as Kate spun towards him.

"What did I say about not getting cornered?" she said.

Simon gazed at her, his heart nearly stopping in his chest. Her hazel eyes were lit in a powerful energy and her mouth tensed in a way that made it difficult to read her expression. She seemed to stare at him in a way that told him she expected an answer. Horrible shame crept through Simon's body, rendering him paralyzed to the spot. There wasn't an answer good enough to stop her from being angry with him. There was no explanation he could give. He'd done what he seemed to be doing best, and let her down again.

As he fought for something to say to her Kate let out a frustrated laugh, closing her eyes and smiling. Before Simon could speak, she moved into him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him against her so that she had to raise herself up slightly. He felt her breathe against his neck, her cheek pressed to his skin as she tightened herself against him. For a moment, Simon was too terrified to react. A combination of Kate's unreadable emotion and her father's threat to him made him feel as though anything would be the wrong decision. But as he felt Kate gently run her hands along his neck, bringing with it that familiar and tender sensation of her fingers running through his hair, he felt himself relax into her.

He closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her waist, burying himself in the waves of her hair. A sweet sense of safety fell over him as he felt her breathe in deeply, her delicate midsection relaxing under his hands. He'd almost forgotten how wonderful this felt, giving him a small glimpse of the passion Kate was capable of showing towards him. The worry and apprehension he'd built over the course of his conversation with Kate's father faded away, leaving him calm and at peace. He wished he could hold onto it forever, though he knew even as he thought of it that it wouldn't last. Data's advice floated through his memory, drawing up a bittersweet tranquility. It felt unusually good.

Kate's hands slid along his neck as she pulled back from him, her forehead resting against his as she closed her eyes. Simon held her sides gently as he took in the closeness of her being with him. For a while, neither of them moved.

Finally, Kate drew back, her hands still on either side of his neck. She tensed her face, then looked up at Simon with an awkward sideways smile.

"So, um…" She shook her head as she gazed at him. "That's what's called a dad talk."