[He groans and rests his head on hers again, choosing to sound more annoyed than concerned. It's a close call. He can't be sure if it's temporal dislocation (which he's used to and accepts as his lot in life) or forced amnesia (which he's not, and doesn't).]

Stupid lousy dumb time shenanigans.

[It's not Meridiana's fault, but if she doesn't remember their conversation late Christmas Eve--well, it's like a frozen lake giving out beneath his skate. Not fatal; at least Dave understands she'll say yes, at least he knows she wants to share her future with him. But to have lost that moment with her--that moment in particular--crunches his heart like so much pre-crushed ice.

He only grumbles into her hair.]

I got you a great present and now I gotta keep it secret all over again. Do you know what that does to me, Meridiana. Do you know how hard that is for me, personally.