"We could cuddle."

"Yeah. Kind of worried that if I depend on it too much it'll - rot, or something, but - that sounds probably nice."

"I don't think I get what you mean by that." But he settles on the couch and reaches for her.

Snuggle.

"Just, uh -  if you have one nice thing, and you're using it as a crutch to get through something awful, maybe eventually the crutch gives out and you don't have anything else. Or maybe you even end up associating it with the awful, and after you're done you can't enjoy it anymore the way you used to."

"Oh. Well, I hope that doesn't happen. Even though everyone else'd be glad."

"Your friends, anyway. Verita'll probably be delighted if we're still snuggling the next time she sees us."

"Kids get invested in their - adults - liking each other. Makes them feel secure and stuff. That's why it's bad for them when their father barely knows who their mother is, even if they're all provided for -"

"Yeah. Although I think it matters a lot less to them if their fathers aren't in the picture at all. She cares a lot more about you and the others than about the angel, by now."

"Yeah. 's not actually about blood, except that kids are a lot of work and lots of people won't step up otherwise."

"Makes sense."

Snuggle.

Snuggle.

"Maybe if we had some paper or something. That'd be nice."

"I bet we could buy paper."

"It'd make it take longer to fix this place. If we go buying stuff."

"I guess. But we can't have you going stir-crazy from being trapped, either."

"Guess not."

Snuggle.

"Sorry I didn't have my coin purse on me. The whole adventure'd be over much sooner."

"Yeah. Would have been a lot easier. And probably contained fewer snuggles, though I guess there still would've been the carriage ride."

"Could have them back at Elizabeth's. Not without some arguments I'd love to not have to have, but - I think I don't have anywhere near all of your things about marriage but I do have the sense that if you're not mature enough to be with someone openly you're not mature enough to be with them at all."

"That makes sense. ...we could have her make a new house for us. If you wanted. With an appropriate number of bedrooms."

He goes bright red.

" - what, should I be apologizing - "

"No! Just - it's so very deliberate, it's a lot to think about. You'd want that?"

"Sure. It sounds nice. Might want to think about where it leaves the others, but Cecelia's sister needs a room now anyway, she can have my old one - "

"I'm trusting you about people mostly not having sex if they sincerely don't intend to but - I'd be really upset if -"