Perhaps, when I am done skating I can come to you instead for some hot tea.

I would like that.

[We shall say that this is early in the afternoon.]

Is six this evening too late, too early?

[She smiles at him, shaking her head. Her dress is definitely more modern, more present day as she exhales.]

No, never. I... there was an incident at the pond. I'm fine, I just -- something happened and I wasn't sure and I needed some time.

[She enters, because clearly this isn't the first time she's been to his room. Once he's in the room, shutting his door and all that, she turns around and grins at him.]

I fell on the ice! I cracked my head on an exposed rock. I was unconscious for a few hours before my healing fixed any of the swelling and cranial pressure. [At least, that's what the clinic had told her she didn't have any more.]

It doesn't matter though, because those few hours - that tiny light coma or whatever they want to call it, it was enough. Enough to let me slip back home for years, Neal.

[She steps in closer to him.] It caught me up. Maybe, for Christmas, maybe for my late birthday - I don't even know, but it caught me up.

[She pauses, for dramatic effect.] To everything.

[To be honest, she's been alone for so much of her time since she got back, and wasn't her older - more human and vulnerable self - that she's missed any sort of closeness at all. Having Neal there, having her be able to tell him things that she knows he wants to hear, it makes it seem like it's all going to be okay, because there are still people here who are fine with who she is.

Stepping in closer to him, her hand hesitates near his forearm, that slight gesture of being unsure, something she's had well-rehearsed for so many years that it's almost instinct for her to do it. Habit. Glancing up at him, she settles her hand on his arm, letting it slide up so that she can be even closer to him.]

Everything, Neal. The castle gave me back everything.

[She wasn't quite prepared for a test, but she figure that it's the smart thing to do. Anyone could lie... she herself had been lying this whole time, but to be able to give it back, well, to be honest this was more than worth it.

Still, she actually had to think back to the talk and try to figure out which talk he was referring to. When she came upon the answer, she replied with confidence.]

It was a [INSERT THE CORRECT VINEYARD HERE... and she adds the year of the vintage too.], unless you meant another talk. You do like your wine.

[She sighs, that part not instinct or force of habit, it's genuine and full of a bit of longing. Her fingers move to thread up into his hair softly.]

As odd as it sounds, it's good to be back.

[She laughs, her hand going to rest to the back of her head where she'd allowed herself to get struck.]

I... I was just out. It was like I saw the blackness and then I was back home. I didn't remember anything from here and it just... it all happened. Everything and then I was leaving Stefan with the coffins back home and when I looked to my left I was waking up in the clinic. They were checking my vitals, which raised eyebrows I'm sure, and I started to head back to my room to change and then familiar things that I knew... became more familiar.

Not a flood of information, but it felt as if things were just clicking into place. By the time I got to my room I realized that I didn't live in that room anymore. I'd been moved, from returning here again, I suppose.

[She glances up at him, smiling.] I had seen it, a few times other people got their memories back -- I just never thought it would happen to me. I thought, I honestly thought it was just a different circumstance.

[She moves to hug him, holding onto him for a moment.]

Me too.