She didn't quite know what to say to his reply. She slowly peeled her face away from her wet sleeve, rain dripping freely down her face, eyes looking pretty hurt. She looked toward the house for a moment, and then looked at him. "I don't care about yer age, I care about the fact that ye light up when ye see something scientific happening. I care about the fact that I want ta be a better person because of ye, that me son adores ye, that everyone around ye sees ye wakin' from slumber and their faces light up knowin' ye talk to someone. I care that ye hurt, I've sat with ye for these months and have seen fer meself the passion ye have for yer craft. I care that yer face has been memorized from chin to hairline me eyes, and that I think constantly o' ye and the way ye treat me like I matter. I care that ye stood up to me wretch o' a husband without me askin' ye to. Ye've made such a mark upon me that ye just aren't e'en aware the impact, nor the importance of yer actions in the grand scheme o' things."

She paused, "And I care how ye feel, I constantly wonder how ye are when I am not around ye and I'm pretty sure the others have caught me mooning many a time. They might not know it is ye I've been pining for, but I've been pining." She looked down and sighed, "I care that yer name is like musical notes upon me tongue, that e'ery time I look at ye I wonder if ye could e'er love me the way that.........." she caught herself before she could repeat the word, for that word clearly frightened her after her dealings with Angus.

She shook her head and said, "I care that if I don't leave, I'll just do somethin' stupid like kiss ye." And then she started off toward the house, heedless of him keeping up with her pace, for it was brisk at this point.