<div align=center>William felt like all the breath had been knocked out of him all of a sudden, and he was so terribly surprised that he had absolutely no idea what to say. He hadn't really been expecting that, Gabriel had come across as so arrogant and so obnoxious to him at the start of all this, and now he was practically giving himself to him. The poor boy sounded so nervous that William feared he might cry. He didn't say anything, he merely pulled Gabriel close and held him there, he had no clue what to answer with, he thought perhaps maybe that was what he was feeling, but how could be feel something when he didn't even understand it?
Bill couldn't bring himself to say it back, there was no point saying something to Gabe that wasn't necessarily true, William had to figure some things out before he ever said it back, or if he ever said it back, it wasn't all that clear to him right now. "It's not silly." He murmured softly, stroking the top of Gabriel's head very softly. He didn't think it was silly, anyhow, he couldn't see how there was anything silly about that. "You are sweet." Was all he could say, "you are very sweet."</div>
Bill couldn't bring himself to say it back, there was no point saying something to Gabe that wasn't necessarily true, William had to figure some things out before he ever said it back, or if he ever said it back, it wasn't all that clear to him right now. "It's not silly." He murmured softly, stroking the top of Gabriel's head very softly. He didn't think it was silly, anyhow, he couldn't see how there was anything silly about that. "You are sweet." Was all he could say, "you are very sweet."</div>