Thanksgiving came a lot more quickly that Henrik thought it would, and the campus felt incredibly deserted as most of their cohorts went home for autumn break. This seemed to suit Roxanna just fine, however, so he had to wonder what was going through her mind. "Henrik, are you leaving soon?"

He chuckled a little as he shook his head. "That eager to get rid of me?" he asked as he set aside his book and looked up at her. She had a slightly frustrated smile on her lips, and he stood up, going over to her side to peck at her lips. "That doesn't answer my question."

"I think that you know what my answer is, Henrik. This is supposed to be a surprise, and the longer you linger here, the less I can get done. Please, go to the lab and occupy yourself for the day. I should have everything ready for us by six, but if it will be earlier or later, I'll call to let you know. I just, I want this to be perfect for us, since it will be our first holiday together."

Henrik nodded before cupping her cheek and running his thumb against her skin. "You don't need to fuss over me, I hope you know."

"I do, but I also want to make this feel special. We've been working so hard, and whilst everyone else can go home to their families, we're alone here, since John left us."

He let out a soft sigh as he nodded, bringing his forehead down to rest against hers. "I know, I know. I just wish that you wouldn't worry so about it. He made his choices, and we made ours. I miss our friendship with him, yes, but this way we're holding on to the past is just hurting us both."

"Yeah, I know. But we're not going to let that cloud our day. We have a lot to be thankful for, after all." He felt her tug on his hair a little as she drew in a deep breath. "Go, please, and let me do this for us."

"Fine. But if you need any help, I'm only a phone call away."

She grinned as she pulled away from him and pressed her lips to his cheek. "Thank you, Henrik, but I think I have this." Gently, she pushed him towards the door and he barely had time to shrug into his coat and wrap a scarf around his neck before Roxanna was opening the door and almost shoving him outside. "See you this evening!" she called out before closing the door.

Henrik chuckled as he began the short walk to the lab, wondering what he would be coming home to. Roxanna had been correct in her assessment of the term, they had been working very hard and making some good progress on their individual projects. But without that third person, things seemed to be a little too quiet between them. He knew that was because they were each prone to getting lost in their work, and so wouldn't come up to ask questions in the moment.

Shaking his head a little, he went to unlock the door to their lab, only to hear someone clear their throat. Turning, he saw John standing there, an unreadable look on his face. "I see she kicked you out of your apartment," he said, no emotion in his voice.

"If you mean Roxanna, she is planning a surprise for me this evening, so I need to be out of the apartment to let her do her work. But what are you doing here? I thought that you were studying at another university?" he asked as he slipped his keys back into his pocket.

John shrugged nonchalantly as he leaned against the wall, staring at Henrik. "I am. The new environment has allowed my inspiration to flourish, growing much better than it did here. That's why I'm visiting. I knew that you wouldn't go home for the fall break, and made an educated guess that you would come here at some point today, since Rox always has to be in control."

Henrik fought to keep his face neutral, not wanting to antagonize his former friend, since he really didn't have any idea why John was there. "She feels like she has to take care of her friends, John. And Roxy is really good at that."

"I'll have to take your word on that, Henrik, since I was never on the receiving end of that warmth."

Henrik's lips twitched a little before he drew in a deep breath. "What are you doing here, John? It's obviously not to wish us well."

"If you must know, I wanted to invite you to join me in my work. I know that you think you're doing a good work here, but we were like iron sharpening iron, and I fear that you may have dulled without someone sharp to keep you in line."

There was nothing overtly cruel or cutting about his words, and yet Henrik could tell that his intentions were not in his best interest, instead it was a convenience for John to get him to go. "Roxanna and I are a package deal, as our American cohorts would say. Is she invited to come with? Or is it just me that you want?"

"I rather think you know the answer to that, Henrik. You were never one to play word games, so why start now?"

He shrugged as he rubbed his chin, the beard he was starting to grow soft beneath his fingers. Roxanna had seemed pleased with that particular decision, and he smiled at the remembrance of her rubbing her fingers along the first bristly stubs when they were working late in the lab, and he let out a quiet sigh as he shook himself free of the memory to focus on John once more. "I was giving you an out, John, a way to save face, since you also know what my answer would always be to a question like that. In fact, I think that's what you were afraid of last year, when Roxanna joined us. Maybe if you had seen fit to try and be a part of our trio, you would understand why I am so attached to Roxanna. Now, if you'll excuse me…"

He looked pointedly at the laboratory door, and John's face tightened into an irritated mask before he gave Henrik a sharp nod. "By all means, then. And how are Maja and Fredrik? All is well there?"

Henrik didn't know how John knew his son's name, he just knew that he felt a fine sheen of apprehension spread across his skin as he fought to keep from reacting to the probing question. "They are both doing fine, John. I will make certain to tell Maja that you asked after her the next time we speak. Until we meet again." He pulled out his keys and unlocked the door, slipping behind it and closing it before John could react.

Not willing to take the chance of John following him inside, Henrik slid home the lock before hurrying over to his notes, wanting to use the familiarity there to calm the unsteady thumping of his heart. When that didn't bring him the peace he was looking for, he went over to the phone and dialed their apartment, waiting for Roxanna to pick up.

"Hello?"

"Hi," he breathed out, his shoulders relaxing at the sound of her voice. "I just wanted to hear your voice."

"Why? Who upset you? There shouldn't be anyone here!"

He chuckled at how well she knew him. "John was waiting for me, wanted me to join him at his new university. If I had to hazard a guess, he's probably missing something that I provided him."

"And what did you tell him?" she asked, sounding a bit out of breath.

"I told him that it was us or nothing. Isn't there something along the lines of whither thou goest, I wilt go in your Bible?"

A tiny giggle bubbled out of her lips, and he could just picture her nodding. "You do pay attention to me, then," she said softly. "And for that, you might be getting a slightly larger dessert. We're still set for six, by the by. Suddenly, I have even more reason for everything to be perfect!" She kissed into the phone before hanging up, and Henrik smiled to himself as he set to work, knowing that he would come home to something wonderful.