Things will start to get better for them very soon, both in terms of where they are and actually getting round to properly talking with each other.

The one last part is looking like it's going to have to be split into two parts, as it's nearly 2k now and only about half done. It's not going to turning into a 'just one more chapter to go fic' that never ends though, as I know what the end is and how to get to it, it's just taking a few more words than I thought it would.