"Damn you to hell, Ken. I'd nearly managed to tune it out once you reminded me of it."

He took the cup with a tortured look, trying to achieve his former state of I'm not hearing this, I'm not hearing this.

"If I start humming along, be a friend and put me out of my misery. And take care of my Darling, if it comes to that. You still like kids, don't you?" He reached over and, late-twenties be damned, mussed Ken's bangs. "Or are you too old for that now, too?"