[ There is no telling when the blush will abate. At this point, it may not seep entirely from his face until he's managed to slink back out of the room and is no longer letting those sweet words rattle around in his head. ]

Honestly, Hilda, it's 'cause of you that I'm any bit back to bein' myself these days. Did you know back when we met what trouble I'd be? Pretty sure you did, but— Well, it doesn't change the fact that you've been good for me. Despite how hard I've tried runnin' the other way.

[ He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, willing away the fluttering in his gut. ]

Still work to be done, but I'm tryin'. We all are. And maybe it's that indominability that's brought us here. Best guess I've got, anyway. We're special 'cause we know better'n to give up.