[Her eyes flash for a moment with a familiar defiance -- don't tell her how to feel! -- but she doesn't say anything, realizing by now that it won't change his mind. Besides, it's not like he'll stop her from being sad at the knowledge of what will happen. Her fingers caress his neck as he pulls back, tracing up his jaw until he's finally out of her reach entirely. For a moment, her hands just linger there where he'd been, then she slowly lowers them with a quiet sigh.

This Scott's gotten good at dodging questions. She can only hope her Scott doesn't learn how to do that from her. She can only hope her Scott doesn't turn out like this one.]

It's hard. Being a leader. [For him, it must have been a long time ago that they had that conversation -- for her, it was only a few weeks. Still, she manages a ghost of a smile and nods with resignation.] They're all depending on you, right? But while you're here... I want you to depend on me. Okay?