What she says breaks over him and makes his eyes sting and throat close up a bit. He kisses her softly, but finds his hands reaching for her. Pulling her close. It's not sex, it's contact. It's the sensual act of touching her, holding her.

"You make everything better," he assures her. "I was so afraid of everything before I met you, Effie. And I still...I can still barely make a choice. But you make me strong and you make me brave and I love you ever so much," he mumbles against her mouth, the words slow enough to make it obvious that the drugs have taken full effect.