Neither of them is especially demonstrative, so it speaks to just how emotional she is, that she actually hugs him. And Joel, of course, of course, hugs her back. He wouldn't ever do anything else. She's his baby girl, doesn't matter if it's been five years or fifty.

"If this is a dream, it's the weirdest goddamn dream I've ever had," he murmurs, huffing faintly.