She watched him rubbing his shoulder; a corner of her mouth hooked down in knowing sympathy. But at his thanks, her eyes dropped down to her hands. She made a small motion with the one which held her glasses.

"The world... all worlds... are nearing their ends. If the Unseelie don't claw out a victory before the Seelie win by default, if I can't find a more sensible solution to the dilemma of the gem... all the stars will wink out, and us with them. A rare sort of gift, I suppose, to know that... and sound reason to give myself license to just... do what makes me happy. And what might spread a little more happiness into the world beyond me."

She touched the backs of her knuckles lightly to his arm, drawing him on to walk with her again. "I'd want you to name him. Or them. A father-name, at the least, in the northern tradition." She watched him with care from the corners of her eyes. "Would you want to be known, as their father?"