[As Youth draws them close, Bell does not snuggle down against him. No. He is tired, and it is tempting...]

Exactly. [He missed the kid's smile too, and gives a chuckle at the declaration.]

Fair enough. I don't want you in on that either. I'll let your dad make the call on when we plan to do anything like that. [He pushes back some of Youth's hair, which is still gooey with cocoon mess, and then wipes the goo on Youth's pantleg. ...Not pleasant.] Shower tomorrow.