This is really, really lovely. Normally with this kind of fic you can see what's coming but I really thought, after the almost kiss on the hike, that you were going to leave it all unresolved. Of course that made it all the more satisfying when you didn't. Perfect.

I did notice one OOC moment though... Bear gets tired of playing with a ball. Has anyone ever played fetch long enough to see if its possible for the dog to tire before the human?