Trevor and Betty had been gone for about an hour when Goldie looked into the area of the forest where they'd disappeared and sighed.

"You know what they're doing," Evan said with a grin.

"Yes of course, Evan, everyone knows what they're doing, were just not saying it out loud."

"You wanna go join? Betty would probably let you."

Goldie turned back to make a joke, and saw the oddest look on Evan's face. She suddenly realized just how vulnerable he really was, what kind of wound that offhand joke had exposed. And she realized that if she pushed it, even the tiniest bit, the result would be calamity. Catastrophe.

He hadn't earned that. Today, at least. And it just so happened the truth was the perfect salve for Evan's old wound.

"No," she leaned back. "No I was actually thinking about you. We're alone in the forest too tou know, everyone's walked off."

A look of ecstatic, incredulous glee spread across Evan's face, but she held up a hand.

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"Hold your horses there, lover boy. We will not be screwing tonight. Get that out of your head immediately."

Evan's expression went through a complex transformation, from disappoinment to fury to resignation.

"Yeah alright, sorry, I should have..."

"BUT!" She cut him off, "I am willing to make out a little bit."

"Oh," Evan said. "How gracious of you."

"It is, isn't it?"

"Not the most romantic, exactly..."

"Well I mean if you don't want to..."

"No no! I do! I mean, I might not...it's practically involuntary..."

"Some groping is acceptable under the circumstances." Goldie's expression softened. "Look, it's been a rough day. We almost died. I'm all keyed up, and I just...think I'll feel better if I make out with my boyfriend."

"So..."

"Don't make a big thing about it. Come over here, I just know I, going to have to teach you how to do this. With my luck you've only ever practiced on a power pole."

"Hey, doesn't even get close to the charge I get from you baby."

"This will be better if you don't talk."

Elsewhere, Ammeline was having a much less romantic conversation. She'd found a little dell to sit in, where she was talking to the nature spirits.

"Thanks!"

"Thank you!"

"We're really grateful to you for fighting the big elf lady."

"Well you're welcome I'm sure," Ammeline said. "Will you be alright? We destroyed a lot of the forest."

"No worries!"

"It happens!"

"Destruction is part of the natural cycle of the forest. More importantly, you have the gratitude of the forest spirits!"

"Oh well," Ammeline threw her head back and laughed. "Ahahahahahahaha! It was nothing, really! Helping you happened to align with my own goals, you understand.

"Still!"

"We owe you!"

"We have decided to give you a gift."

"Ah! Uhm...thank you! I suppose it would be rude not to accept...what is it?"

"Secret!"

"You'll see!"

"When you least expect it..."

Giggling, the three nature spirits faded away into sparkling green essence that hinted at the shape of leaves.

"Well that was ominous," Ammeline said worriedly.