"Pretty kriffing good, though," Rial admits, voice low and soft. It feels real and sometimes he can't wait (sometimes he can, as the practical part of his mind points out that everything he's read suggests that it's going to be rather a lot of work, but he's gotten better at ignoring that part the last year or so and cheerfully tells it to go to hell), wants to hold their - his - daughter in his arms, see her face.

He doesn't always voice these thoughts, but they're there for Plourr to see if she just looks at his eyes.