it is very late. the snow has been falling for only a few minutes. he drives the car up toward the house, and peers at me just before we hit the light. he can sense that i am still slightly irritated from the run-in at qzar, and suddenly he is turning the car right instead of going straight.

i look over at him, surprised.

"want to go for a drive?" he asks. he half-smiles at me, knowing i can't resist.

he doesn't wait for my answer, but instead starts driving through places i haven't been. it is a beautiful night, driving through the darkness with the snow falling down. it is so late that we are almost the only ones on the road.

we finally have to stop to get gas, and i step out to play in the falling snow. i peek over my shoulder and he is watching me from the car.

he smiles at me. it is the first snowfall of the year.