"... plenty of time for those later." Stephanie said, not really knowing how else to respond to that.

She looked at him entering the code. "Is your code my birthday?" She spoke quietly, unable not to give the tiniest of tremulous smiles.

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it, if we do. I'm more worried that your father will insist on dragging you home away from me." And she was worried about that. "I mean, it will be okay, but I like having you here."

She closed her eyes for a moment after she heared that, though. "Though maybe that's just stupid and selfish of me. This is all my damn fault."