A grin spread its way across his lips. Deep down... it really felt good to just -- be needed again, if he was being honest with himself. These were the first steps on his road to redemption, he was sure. If he was making a difference in just one person's life already... then he was on the right path.

He chuckled, enjoying the warm sensation of feeling her pressed against him. "I get that a lot," he was joking, of course, but it felt good, even now, to be able to feel lighthearted.