Tired or not, unsettled or not, Neal can’t help smiling at Malcolm’s enthusiastic and guileless declaration. Gil raises an eyebrow, but doesn’t comment. Neal figures he can’t contradict Malcolm’s confidence.

They’re in front of the station, Neal still holding Malcolm’s hand, waiting for Gil to bring a car—not his car, he grumbles—around. Neal watches him walk away for a moment before he speaks, almost absently.

“I told you in Mathias that you’d be a good dad. You didn’t believe me, but it’s true.”