Rae knew, of course, how frustrating it could be to be injured and have people reminding you not to strain yourself, but... she couldn't help but say it. Concern was her default setting when it came to the people she loved, and well... she loved Topher, so it made sense. She nodded her head in response to his reassurance and gave him a little smile. "I know. I just have to say it anyway," she pointed out. "If I didn't, I wouldn't be doing my job very well," she mused.
The feeling flooding her in that moment was a familiar one. One that was a little bit frightening in light of how the story had ended the last time she felt it. With her son leaned against her and Topher in front of her, looking at her like that, she couldn't get over the overwhelming feeling of home. She couldn't stop herself from feeling like this was where she was supposed to be. Right here, with these two people, like this. "I'm pretty sure he'll let us know if we make him uncomfortable, anyway," she joked. EJ was a very vocal baby, whether it was laughs or wordless exclamations to get people's attention. "If all the hugs and stuff he gets don't squish him, I don't think we could now, anyway," she added with a little grin. "I think he's almost as happy as his mama is right now," she added, her voice soft and humbled by the moment, the safe and warm feeling.
Admittedly, there was a tiny bit of sadness behind the tears. The last time she'd heard those words from anyone outside of her family was still on her mind, and it made her feel a tiny bit selfish to feel it again so soon, but... she had never been good at suppressing the way she felt. When she fell for someone, she fell. And she knew, from the moment they'd befriended each other on her front step that day, that there was something special about Topher. It was only a matter of time before it blossomed into love. "I must look like an idiot right now," she chuckled, embarrassed.
When it came to moments like this, Rae had a tendency to ramble. Maybe it would have been easier on him if she just returned the words, but she couldn't. Not without sorting out her feelings out loud first. She wanted him to know everything. "Those times... getting to know you..." she smiled shyly, though she didn't exactly feel shy, "or at least what I already do know..." she added, "I loved them. Even if they aren't always pretty, I still love them. When we just talk and learn more about each other, whether they're happy or sad things... learning about you is one of my favorite things to do now. Every thing I learn feels like a gift." She placed her hand on his cheek and smoothed her thumb along his jawline.
That smile was so beautiful. Rae felt like, once she saw that, her heart was full to bursting. And that was the only thing keeping her from leaning up to kiss him, because the look on his face right then was perfect. The best thing she had ever seen. She returned the smile with one of her own, and then laughed a little. "We must be a sight for people passing by," she mused, considering they were standing right in the window of the door.
"You've thought about this moment, too?" she asked him, her thumb moving to lightly trace the corner of his mouth. "But honestly? I think this is perfect in its own way. It's not something out of a movie or a book... it's real. And it's ours." And that was something they'd always have. The kiss to the top of EJ's head was a surprise to her, too, and just as quickly as the smile had become the best thing she'd ever seen, it was trumped. Watching him with her son was... amazing beyond belief. She beamed wide at him as he stood up straight. "He seems pretty happy about all of this," she mused, watching as EJ turned to look up at Topher. "I love when you interact with him. I think I've said that before."