[He smiles back at her, bright and pleased, his own cheeks lightly dusted. It's such an easy thing to do, smiling at her. Her pleasure is contagious, and he surrenders to it gladly.]

I sure do. And the only puzzle I had to solve was whether or not I was allowed to kiss you.

[Which admittedly took a while and a lot of second-guessing, even after she beat him to the punch and did it first... still, hard to believe it's now been as long as it has. They're very nearly entering their third year together. So much has happened. Yet while they've had bumps and hurdles, this feeling has only gotten stronger over time. It's such a comfort, and he understands better what heartbreak must be like for those who'd been separated from their loved ones, after experiencing such intensity and joy. His father, Ardyn, now Era, countless others. He'd lost Luna but it hadn't been like this, more the loss of possibility than love itself.

He so wants to hold on to this as long as he can, and indulgently he leans in to kiss her again.]

And now I can, whenever I want. ...Pretty much, anyway.