It's only just now occurring to him that his reflex response might have been a bit much. He didn't -- surely Doc wasn't about to propose to him. That was foolish.

Doc tends to be very patient with his shifting moods, mindful for those very brief moments of panic and pain that bleed through his usual veneer of calm and control. The trouble with this is that Gold can be worrisome when there's no reason for him to be that way, and it throws water on the Doc's natural vibrance.

He knows when he looks at his face that this is where he's veering right now.

"N-no, you're not. I want to hear."