"Yeah." He laughs, a little watery. "Kinda like my mom was here for a second."

Known, and beloved. Never a stranger for an instant.

"Wow." Looking down at his hands, he makes the gesture again, mouthing this is what I wanna do instead of whispering it, just to see if it'll still work no matter how loud he says the words. And there it is again, that wisp of feeling across his back that makes him break into another disbelieving giggle.