"You will never, in a million years, guess who I saw today," Tim said, his eyes widening to exaggerate how unlikely a meeting it must have been.

"I've no idea," I said playfully, giving him a look of mock concern.

"Emily!"

"Emily..?"

He gave an exasperated sigh and smirked at me.

"My ex-girlfriend," he said smoothly with a roll of the tongue.

I laughed as I poured the milk into my coffee cup and put the teaspoon in the sink.

"Oh."

"I bought her coffee," he said quickly. "I hope that's okay."

He said the last part nervously, watching me carefully. He tilted his head in a very child-like way of questioning.

"Of course," I said with ease and reached over to give him a kiss on the cheek. He surprised me by turning so that our lips met. It was unexpected and caught my breath a little. I smiled. 'Even after all this time' I thought to myself. He gave a soft moan which I know he does just to turn me on but I pulled back. I had papers to mark this evening.

"She saw the ring," he told me as he looked at it admiringly. He really was so womanly at times.

"I think she was jealous," he said happily.

Definitely womanly then.

"Only the finest for you dear," I joked and made my way into the front room to sit down. He followed after me like a Labrador running his finger over the grooves in the ring. I admired the ring myself but it would have looked comical on my hands. Tim's were smooth and delicate and suited it beautifully. I admired the natural beauty of the world, something tactile and rugged. But Tim was like a water dancer, something ethereal and so I had to find something to match that.

"Where did you get it," he asked and immediately I thought back to him sitting on the desk in my office, delicately holding one of the fossils in my collection.

"London," I told him as I lifted a pile of papers onto my knees.

"What were you doing there," he asked cheekily with a barely contained smile. So he remembered it too. I didn't answer him but he could see I was chuckling.

"Maybe you ought to wear one. So everyone knows you're taken."

He said it lightly but I could see there was some honesty in his asking.

"Alright," I replied.

He seemed taken aback a little.

"Really?"

"Yes. Of course."

He beamed at me.

"And I get to pick it," he said enthusiastically.

I was beginning to regret this.

"I suppose," I said warily.

"You don't have to look so scared, Ivo," he pouted at me a little.

I laughed.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"No, what is it," he continued to pout. I reached up to run my hand across his cheek.

"I love you."

He smiled.