She should have waited. Maybe she's jumped the gun and he's offended that she's being so forward and perhaps even sentimental. Juliana is about to bolt from the table when he speaks, and she removes her hands from its surface, taking her seat again. In fact, an apology is quick on her lips, drowned out by his words.

The fact is that she likes his gruffness, somehow. She likes that she's slowly chipped away at his reservations and discovered a good man (in her opinion) beneath it all. There's just something appealing about someone who wants to hide everything from someone who wants to know everything. If she can make his secrets be strung out forever, if there is always something new to learn, she'll be happy. That's what she wants from him, the mystery, the stoic moments right alongside the near-petulant ones. It occurs to her that right now what she wants to do is wrap her arms around him, rub a hand over his back and tell him that it's okay, that she's here, that as long as they're both working together, everything will be okay. It's strange, but it's how she feels.

"You're welcome." She sounds surprised by her own words, by the turn of events. Ducking her head, she sighs. "I... thought it might help. I broke it a little while ago, and I've kept that piece in my pocket. I still have the rest, of course."