"Well, however it's happening, we're both here now," she says. Gets up on her back feet to butt her head against the bottom of his chin. Purr purr purr. "So none of that maudlin, self-pitying ridiculousness. Don't try to pretend you weren't doing it, I've travelled with you long enough to recognize that sort of thing."

She drops back down and cleans her whiskers demurely. He'd better not try to deny it. Not to her.