"I'm glad," he murmurs. Unconsciously, he's leaning against Neil, pressed warm against his side - and that's familiar. It was like that, then. But everything in him is wrenching, fresh tears spilling down his face, because even with all the things he's regained - a home and most of a family and a future worth fighting for - something was lost that day that neither of them will ever get back.

"It didn't hurt... but I didn't wanna leave, Neil. I wanted to stay." He pulls in a hitching breath. "I'm so sorry I couldn't stay."

He's said he's sorry for it before. But before it hadn't meant the same.