"Shit! I didn't do the flower petal idea!"

"Quarter!" proclaims a voice from the living room.

Bella snorts and calls her dad to come get her and then meanders back Darrenward.

Darren grins at her. "Look, Bella! I didn't devolve into a puddle of embarrassment instantly!"

"Hurray! It would be pretty hard to date you if you were a puddle of embarrassment."

"It really would be. You'd have to put me in a bucket and carry me around that way. It would get old very quickly."

"Maybe I could transfer you to other containers for variety. Water bottle. Starbucks cup. Canteen. Carefully disassembled snowglobe."

"Exciting. I could be a snowglobe!"

"You could! Although I'm not sure how comfortable containing the little snow granules can possibly be!"

"Probably not very, but if they're sparkly I would feel fabulous."

"Fabulous and itchy!"

"Both of those things!" laughs Darren. "Not sure it would be worth it."

"I'd err on the side of not, personally. Remember that if I ever accidentally turn myself into a snowglobe: I didn't want that and it was not intentional."

"I will. And then I will try to turn you back into a sphinx again."

"Hurray! I like being a sphinx." She materializes her tail and loops it around the back of his leg.

That makes Darren blush, but he smiles. "I'm very glad you like being a sphinx," he says fondly. Is that him scooting closer? Indeed it is!

And is this her putting her head on his shoulder? It is that!

Well now Darren just has to drape an arm around her shoulder and hold her.

Awwwwwwww. If he's gonna do that she might have to have wings and sneak one around his back.

Awww! Snuggle. Darren won't be complaining about wingsnuggles.

"Yeah," agrees Darren, softly. "See you."

Bella considers for a moment, then sneaks a swift little kiss and goes out to meet her dad.