Tiffany didn’t quite know when exactly they had started to eat dinner together, but she wasn’t complaining; Taeyeon had always been a good cook, and knowing a warm meal was waiting for her made the horrible traffic that much more bearable.

At first, Tiffany had thought it would be awkward. After all, it had been, what? Almost half a year, since they had sat down together to eat? It was unbelievable, and frankly a little shocking, to realize how far apart they had drifted, without either of them saying or doing anything about it. Now, she wondered why they didn’t try, because, well, wasn’t this working out pretty well? After just two months, wasn’t this a huge improvement? Actual conversation, unforced smiles, relaxed coexistence — Tiffany had forgotten that this was even possible.

She set the last plate on the drying rack and wiped her hands on the towel before heading to her room. 

From the hallway, Tiffany heard Taeyeon say, “Silly, what are you doing?"

Taeyeon was sitting on the ground, laughing while trying to get Ginger to stop chewing on her wet hair. Tiffany saw the thick pajamas that Taeyeon was wearing and sighed.

“Hey! Where are you going? Ginger!"

“Whoa, there. What are you doing, cutie?” Tiffany picked the puppy up as he galloped towards her and peppered kisses all over his head. “You can’t eat hair."

Taeyeon stood up, shaking her head fondly. “He also tried to eat your alarm clock, but that didn’t work out too well for you now, did it, Ginger?"

“You tried to eat my alarm clock? Were you being a bad boy?” Tiffany set Ginger on the bed. As the puppy rolled around, attacking invisible enemies, she turned to see Taeyeon adjusting the dial on the heater that was set up in the corner of the room. 

Tiffany bit her lip before taking a huge, deep breath.

“Hey,” she said, coming up behind Taeyeon, “is it cold in your room?"

Taeyeon shrugged as she got to her feet. “Not too cold. Plus, I found the blankets we hoarded in the store room, so it’s okay."

“The heater—”

“You need it here,” said Taeyeon, glancing over at Ginger, who was standing at the edge of the bed with his head tilted sideways.

How could she say this nicely? Oh, to hell with it — “H-How about you sleep here, then?” Tiffany didn’t look away from Taeyeon. “So you can use the heater."

“But then you’d be cold.” Taeyeon shook her head. “No difference."

“Well, I meant to say that maybe, you could, you know…sleep here with me. And Ginger."

And, done. Tiffany fought the urge to cross her arms as she waited. When Taeyeon didn’t say anything, thought, Tiffany cleared hurriedly.

“I mean, the bed is absolutely big enough, but if you don’t want to, that’s also—”

“You’re fine with it?"

“Hmm? I mean, yes?"

Taeyeon turned slightly, a considering expression on her face. “You’re being serious?"

“Taeyeon, you know m—” Tiffany stumbled briefly over the words, “You know me. I’m being absolutely serious right now."

She chanced a peek at Taeyeon before looking down.

"I mean, it is your bed, too,” said Tiffany in a small voice.