[Ah. If Pepper's silence and expression following that explanation was anything to go by, she had had similar thoughts about Bakura. If he went home first-- well, she knew what he was going home to, and even the idea of it hurt enough to make her breath catch. Actually experiencing it is something she hoped never to go through.

Her voice was soft when she spoke. Understanding.] I don't think anyone's ever ready for someone they care about to leave, even when they know it's coming. The possibility of going through it twice-- I mean, how can it not be distracting and painful?

[She put her glass down and the cookie on top of it, pushing off the table and resettling next to Zatanna against the counter.]

It's okay that it hurts. Just-- don't let that keep you from enjoying the time you have now, is probably the important thing. Have you talked to him about it?