It takes me a long moment before I can let him go, nodding as I pull away. I look at him and I see the hope, the determination, and that coupled with the tone of his voice is like a balm that helps me find hope once again.

"Yeah," I say, working up a little smile that grows softly. "Yeah, let's celebrate. This is a god thing, right? Scary, I mean, but good."

I pause and back away so I can get my champagne and raise my glass.

"Here's to you being stuck with me for, like, eighty years or something."