"I mean, fire's always been my friend. My only friend, besides Bernie. But he's a bear, ya know?" Willow shrugged, as if the implications of Bernie's bearishness were obvious.
"I thought I was your friend?"
"You're my BOYfriend, dummy. It's different. You can break up with boyfriends easy. But me and fire? We're forever."
Wilson seemed concerned by this. "You- you don't intend to call off our relationship, do you?"
"No!.. But, I dunno, things change. Even in the Constant. Maybe you will."
"Willow!" His voice was loud, incredulous, almost panicked. "If circumstances were different- if we met back in the normal world- when we escape the Constant, I fully intend to marry you. If you'll have me."
I fully intend to marry you.
The thought hit Willow like a truck. A train. 10 trains. The sun crashing to Earth and engulfing them all. She didn't often think of the future- she focused on the present, on staying alive minute to minute. This was true even before Maxwell had transported her here. The future was an uncertain thing, and banking on it only lead to hurt hopes. Images flashed in her mind of their own accord, vingettes of a normal domestic life- or what she guessed one would be like, anyway. Married. To Wilson. Willow... Higgsbury?
"Is the idea really so out there?" Shit. She hadn't said anything. He sounded hurt. She didn't mean to hurt her dumb sensitive boyfriend with her stupid trauma.
