They'd been close before, but it was never like this. They've exchanged kindness and concern, but there's nothing quite like holding your child's bestie when your child's dead and gone. It strikes Neil, straight to his damaged core, that the four of them have been family for all this time. That it took one of them dying alone for the realization to truly sink in is--

Neil keeps his hands steady, giving the ED-E enough room to separate at his leisure. Alex closes over his torso after patting the eyebot, allowing the younger man to breathe. Furthermore, ED-E buzzes closer, which prompts a small smile from Neil.

"See? You can totally hug back," he says hoarsely.