"I will, eventually, too," he counters, reassuring him gently, not letting Herbert speak poorly of himself. Shyly, he climbs on tiptoe, placing a light little kiss on the vampire's cheek, then immediately drawing back into himself with a little blush.

"I know you mean it. I do."

He's not ready to say it back, not yet, but...the outlines of the words are there, dancing in his eyes.