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And so for a while, they built a castle around Miyuki, both of them silent and contemplating their misunderstood conversation. Earendil, for his part, was devastated. That she would so openly declare that she had no interest in him ... well, it hurt him, even though he had expected it.

Still.

And now how could he say something after a remark like that? And what could he say now, on any subject? Anything would seem like a simple filler, weak and out of place, compared to what he wished he could say. But as time went on and their snow castle grew bigger, he only grew more frustrated with himself. He was a failure. He didn't deserve to say anything to Lin. He was a coward. She deserved so much better. Why was he fooling himself? He didn't have a chance. Just because she had no problem with interracial marriages didn't mean she would marry him.

He hated feeling like this. In all their years together, it was the first time that he felt awkward with her. He hated it. He wanted to be comfortable with her, the way things had always been.

Earendil was startled by Miyuki's voice, and he hurried over to her side and held his hand out to her.

"Are you all right?" he asked her worriedly. "Is something wrong, Miyuki?"

He had never heard her sound so insistent before ... though he had to admit he was impressed with how well she could get her point across the very day she learned new words.

Earendil's brow furrowed with worry. Something was very wrong ... and he couldn't help but wonder if perhaps he knew what it was. Problem was, how do you go about making up with someone when you hadn't even had an argument?

"Maybe she wants to go back inside?" he suggested, looking at Lin, even though he knew almost certainly that wasn't the case.

"Uhh ..."

Earendil blushed. Did Miyuki want him to pick her up? He ran his fingers through his hair. "Um ... should ... should I take her, maybe?" he asked, also at a loss.

Earendil nodded and took Miyuki from Lin and bounced her lightly in his arms before he headed towards the door.

"You know," he told Miyuki seriously, "you're going to have to start talking soon so that you can tell us what's bothering you. Leaving us to guess isn't very nice."

He smiled fondly at her, though he was inwardly troubled. If Lin had no special regard for him, then this kind of affection that Miyuki had towards him was not a good thing. They would have to be separated someday ...

Now Earendil really was confused. He had called for both of them, then when Lin had picked her up she had called for Earendil, and now that Earendil had her, she wanted Lin again?

"And people say I can't make up my mind," he said as he passed Miyuki back over to Lin.

Earendil blinked, perplexed when Miyuki wouldn't let him go. "What does she want, a group hug?" he asked, not really believing it. Yet that seemed to be the case ...

Well, now what?