Why are you guys getting your thoughts all twisted?? Children are supposedly the most pure so of course when they give you affections, you would have no doubt about receiving it. And for him it was a first, of course he would treasure her. To crudely compare, she is like his pet dog that died (God bless your soul, poor puppy). It was something he loved which loved him back, his solace in a world where he is invisible. There's nothing romantic or anything wrong. Same with everyone else! Don't project your own thoughts and twist these fluffy affections into something they are not!