"It doesn't matter," Alice whispers at last. "I want you. I want all of you."

"So I can stay?" Sara recognizes that she sounds ridiculously young, but she can't help it.

"Of course." A pale hand smoothes back dark hair and Alice smiles tentatively. "Sara, you've always had a place with me. That will never change as long as you want it. I thought you knew that."

She does.

She just...

... wants to make sure.