The Universe's Mixer

[takes place immediately following this]

Peter was waiting when Evey turned the corner. He had tried to stay away, tried to let her have her own autonomy. It was hard, drawing the lines that separated him from the women who shared so much of his mind, but lines had to be drawn, lest they fade completely. If had been long enough, with her shields in place and her long sleep, that Peter's awareness of her had slid into a peripheral gaze.

( But when those shields came crashing down, his heart had shattered with the knowledge. )