The thing about the Force was that the girl - Cere, of course she was named Cere - could probably feel the way he was trying to close himself off from the flood of emotions that were threatening to overtake him. Kids, real kids, maybe even safe kids that were a perfect match between him and Arden. This was the sort of thing he never bothered thinking about, because it was such a waste of time, but this hug was real, and he maybe squeezed a little too hard wrapping his arms around Cere in return.

"Hey, I like my hair. I think it would look even better longer," he teased. "I'd grow myself a nice mustache too, but someone keeps telling me no."