He was beyond glad to see her expression soften slightly, just to see that he hadn't completely broken her, that Abi was still very much Abi.
Ernest gave her a little smile, and shook his head softly. "Christ, all that and you haven't lost hope in me?" he asked. She really loved him. And she was even stronger than he had considered. He didn't feel like he deserved it, but he shook that thought away, focusing on the other little bit of information that kept sneaking through.