[She listens and continues to stroke his hair, the back of his head, a hand moving in small warm circles against his back. She wishes she had the words that would make it all better but there is nothing that she can think of to say for him. So she holds on instead, smiling faintly as his hands run over her arms. It's strange sometimes that he's not at all bothered. He never has been...]

You're so strong it tires me, sometimes. [But she speaks lightly, warmly, because it's not a bad thing at all. She rubs her cheek against his hair] To bear so much all the time... it makes me want to be strong, too.

[When he kisses her, she takes his cheeks in two hands and kisses him back lightly and then a little deeper]

Let's read a book in bed, ne? [To take his mind off it. To give him something new to focus on.] I'll read you the Cast of Amontillado and we can talk about it. Would you like that?