Not wanting to let him down, Liz happily applauds.  "Wow... that's great.  I can't..."  She's cut off by her son wrapping his arms around her.  As he tells her his feelings and hopes, she feels a swelling in her heart, pride and love filling it.  "Oh... honey... I think of you too!  I think about how happy I am to have a son who's so smart and so kind.  And how glad I am that I got to meet you and to be your mom."<br/><br/>She doesn't tell him how he can't protect her... not from the things that really hurt.  And she doesn't mention how she won't be able to protect him either.  That she'd die trying, but if the hunters found him and Xyveris wasn't there, how they'd both just be mowed down.  It startles her to have such terrifying thoughts from such a simple conversation, but somehow she knows that's just part of being a mother.  Knowing that your child has full faith in you, and knowing that faith is misplaced.  Determined to banish these things from her mind, she grabs onto his small hand and asks "So... ventrilliquism, huh?  How about this for one?"<br/><br/>Using the last little bit of magical energy she has, she concentrates on a pillow.  Lifting it gently from the bed, she maneuvers it to be about a foot above Caden's head, then lets it drop.  As the soft shape bops him lightly, she reaches over and snags him.  "And now that you're defenses are down... it's time for tickle torture!!!"  She funs her fingers over his midsection, making him squirm and giggle.  She laughs too, the darkness disappearing for now.