It was good that Steve didn't say those harsh words out loud; Marie would have been hurt by them and unable to hide it from either man. (That was one thing about their bond that would take some real getting used to.) She was trying her best to deal with a situation that she'd just been tossed into, and it was bringing back all sorts of memories and grief from losing her own mother just a few years earlier. If her comforting skills weren't quite what they should be... Well, she'd work harder at it, but comments like that would still smart.

Frowning at what Steve did say, she shook her head and reached up to gently smooth a hand over the back of his head, brushing down that blonde hair. It felt right to touch him, and she didn't care to over-think it. "We should get you home," she insisted firmly. "We can worry about me later."

Frankly, she didn't care all that much what her neighbors might think. None of them seemed to pay all that much attention to her anyway, and since she'd taken the job at the flower shop, she had days where she was out at all sorts of hours. If anyone asked, she could make up a suitable excuse for staying out late or not coming home at all.