She looked up, resting her chin on his chest. "Stop clamping down on the words. You don't have to be a poet. Just speak the truth. Babble if you have to. Sometimes it helps." She smiled slightly, but the words were no less serious. Sometimes babbling did help. She continued to meet his eyes, the look giving encouragement.

"You're not saying something. I'd gather from shyness or uncertainty. Just say it. I'm not going to laugh, or do anything so mean. I certainly won't make fun of you. You're gonna have to trust me sooner or later, ya know."