[ He'd known the moment he mentioned her that Grell's interpretation of his words was destined to sour. With a sigh and a brief closing of his eyes, he replies. ]

You asked me what changed my mind and I answered you as honestly as I could have. How am I to learn anything and move on if I don't consider what it was in my past that was holding me back?

I am well aware that the two of you are entirely different people. And I believe that's necessary for me to move on. I am not looking for you to be a stand in and mimic everything that I adored about her. That wouldn't help either of us.

I want you to be yourself, Grell. [ The usage of her first name, for the first time, should only add to the seriousness of his words. ] Even all the things about you that irritate me. And I want to accept you for that, just as you've done for me. If that leads to something intimate between us, I am fine with that. But, I do not want to push something so significant into being simply to quell some thirst either of us may have.

What has happened between us thus far has begun to bring that happiness to me. Yes, it is slow going, but I am not looking to back away.