Busy, he says, and Zhenya can't help but roll her eyes at him. Of course he will not clarify - not even if she asks him to. So she leaves it at that, offering nothing but a nod in response. She doesn't pry into his business, because it is just that: his business. It is not her place to ask questions or try to push herself into his affairs, even if she is dying to know how he spends his days when they are apart. She is about to ask him something else when she notices how he seems to be thinking; she can practically see the gears turning in his mind. Sure enough, he speaks. Her name falls from his lips, and she perks up. "Yes?" She anticipates what he will say next. But when the words come, they shock her.

Would you like me to look into a new home for you? he asks, and though she's aware that he continues to speak afterwards, her mind registers none of it. She momentarily spaces out, images of a life without him flashing before her eyes. She simply could not picture herself living away from him. Under the care of another stallion, in a strange territory, with hormone-riddled mares constantly gossiping about one thing or another, vying for their captor's attention and going at each other's throats every chance they get. No, that is not the life for her. She wouldn't be able to live like that. She loves what they have here. A mutually beneficial arrangement. Although, to be honest, she doesn't think of it like that anymore. Where at one time, many seasons ago, she would have considered the Lagoon a place to live, she now considers it home. It is where she has found herself and raised her child and - dare she say? - found love in a man she originally thought she would dislike forever.

"No," she says, the word coming out more forceful than she had intended. There is a certain obstinacy to her words as she speaks out. "No, I would not like that. What I would like is to stay here with you as long as I can. I don't care if you can't offer me a secure place to stay. Worst-case scenario, I will go live in the Peak. We would still be able to see each other, then." She pauses, eyes narrowing slightly as she considers her options - and her next words. "Your rank means nothing to me. Yes, it is convenient. But it's just a title. Titles aren't important. Not in the long run." To her, at least. Perhaps to him, his title is everything, but to her, it is but a word. Nothing more. But to her, despite all the titles one might earn in life, in death, titles and ranks will not mean anything. "We can cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, I just want to enjoy my time here..." she pauses momentarily, before adding in a small voice, "with you." She feels a strange warmth bloom inside her chest as she looks into his face, her cocoa-colored eyes showing a mixture of embarassment and affection. How would he react to her words? She knows he isn't the affectionate type. She wants to say more, but she bites her tongue instead.