It's easy to know the perfect moment to walk in when you shamelessly eavesdrop. Laden with bags from several stores in Vancouver, Alice walks along the thick branch outside the living room window and leans down to peek in, beaming, at the two of them wrapped up in each other in the kitchen. It's astonishing how comfortable Jasper is, even to Alice, who's already seen how good they are together in the future. But it's not the same as seeing it happening before her very eyes.

"Hey you two," she says as she hops down, before Jasper's really acted on that suggestion to let Natasha go. She sets all the bags down and zips over to them both before they can separate and puts her arms around each of their shoulders, leaning up to peck Jasper's cheek, then leaning over—so nice to have someone her height—to peck Natasha's, and then rests her head on Jasper's shoulder, next to his half-open shirt, which makes her giggle.

"Looks like you had fun while I was gone. It took you long enough. I had to go all the way to Vancouver to make sure you had enough time." But her fingers play lightly at the nape of Jasper's neck, and Natasha's, and she's brimming with pride.