The familiarity of the gesture resonated a warm, fierce pang in her heart, one so intense that for a second Rose wondered if she would be able to breathe again. She had been wanting for this, for this very sort of situation and scenario for a length of time she had kept too precise a count of, and now that it was here, it was making her heart soar. Rose felt like a teenager again, in the sense that she believed somehow, this time, they would be invincible together.
Her hand lifted and she took hold of his, only waiting a second's time before interlocking and entwining their fingers the way they had so many times before. It felt good to be holding his hand - his hand, her mind reiterated stubbornly, adamantly - and when she gave him the brightness of her smile again there was nothing held back, and the light reached the corner of her eyes.
"Aternaville," she said, "found ourselves in Canada this time. Can't say I've ever been. So looks like I've answered that question for you." Her eyes gleamed with delight - she liked nothing more than to prove she was competent when at his side.