Claire felt her insides flip, then melt- everything but her heart, because that sang and shivered on the deep breath she pulled in. Only when she heard it against her ear in his soft, gunpowder voice did she realize she'd been holding onto it, hiding it in the dark for god knew how long. She held him tighter. The tears flowed a little easier.
But she didn't say anything yet- not because she didn't want to, either. Her ability to speak had just momentarily been placed on hold. Claire pulled back from his shoulder only far enough to rest their brows together, her hands linked on the back of his neck. She felt his hands and arms encircle her waist, and the slight bump of their son in the middle. For a few minutes, all she could do was kiss him, and breathe him in.