My heart leapt when I saw your number light up my cell.

Instantly recognizable, even after so many years.

The resonating bell of your laugh still throttles my ear. The reassurance of your arrival warmed me in the chill. The thrill of seeing you after the passing of so much time awakened my senses as if it were morning coffee. For 10 minutes time seemed to stall. You and me...working in tandem, solving a problem...felt timeless.

Then the gears of time quickly moved again. In the brief moment that was mine, it was gone. You were gone.

The voice of reason says it has to be this way; you and I equal one chemical reaction ready to create chaos. The voice of Loki dares me to see how much destruction we could cause.

So, I hold this moment...the curve of your wrist, the light in your smile...the way time held its breath...just for me.

And I cherish it.