He's never been treated like this. Like a child. Even as a child, he wasn't treated like a child. He was saddled with life-or-death responsibility at 14.

He's momentarily embarrassed, but he tells himself that if she didn't want to do this, she wouldn't, and rests his chin on her shoulder, his arms around her neck. He winces as she sits him on the tub, shifting awkwardly to put more of his weight on his thighs than his butt. Still, he smiles as he watches her with lidded eyes.

"How'd I get so lucky?"