Abi tried not to cry tears of happiness herself at how he was so genuinely touched by the gesture. She knew part of him thought he ought to marry her, in his weird, old fashioned head but to her, this was better. Anyone could marry, anyone could sign a piece of paper and be legally bound but being bound by a child was something nothing would ever break. There was no such thing as divorcing a child, especially not one as sweet as their Charlie-boy.
"It's real," she reiterated, smoothing over the ruffles she had made in his hair. "I promise you, it's not going away any time soon. Maybe ever." Abi pressed another kiss to his crown and could feel his warm breath on her neck and how it made her shiver. "Come on now. What are you writing, my brain's too curious to keep me from asking."