Doug didn't know how the hell he ended up here. Like this. He wasn't a lucky man. Far from it. So how the hell did he end up here, with her looking up at him like that? Eyes all soft and hazy over the rim of her wine glass. He felt his heart stutter, a flush building on his cheeks as he fumbled over his words. What'd she even say again?

He just smiles and nods, hoping that's enough. And then she gives him one of those smiles and he can feel the tension leaving him. He smiles back, a timid thing. It feels strange on his face. But it's starting to feel better, more natural. Doug reaches forward and brushes a piece of her hair back from her face. Her smile falls a little, and she leans closer. Doug's bending down to meet her halfway, lips brushing over hers--

**CRACK!!!*

"Goddamn it, what the hell?" Doug pulls back, the house shaking as thunder rolls. Lightning lights up the sky and then the power goes out, right as the rain pours down. The next few minutes are filled with fumbling, flashlights on as Doug looks for the old candles he kept stored in the closet. He strikes the match and lights each one, the living room steadily brightening. It's still dim, even when he gets the fire going.

Doug glances outside, seeing the way the rain obscures all vision. He gets lost in, thinking that if he squints, he can see that old murky pond. She sits on the couch and grabs his attention--and all thoughts of the pond are gone. He sits down next to her, hesitantly lifting his arm and settling it over her shoulders. His chest tightens when she leans in, and he presses a kiss to her forehead.

"'s'not safe to drive," he mumbles. "You can stay the night, if you want." It's a hasty offer, one that he tries to make casual. "I got a spare guestroom you can use, 'less--" He cuts himself off, flush building on his cheeks. He gathers himself, and adds, "'less you want to stay with me, of course."