He leaned into his touch gratefully. "I'm sorry, baby," he murmured. "But I can't really talk about this right now. Is that okay?"
When they stepped back onto the deck, Jack cleared his throat. "We should go check on your stitches," he murmured.
He went to the counter to gather supplies, and he stood there for a long time, his shoulders heavy. When he finally returned to her, he avoided her gaze as he sat next to her. "Let's.. uh..." His voice cracked and he pinched the bridge of his nose as tears pricked his eyes. "*squee!*. I'm sorry."
Avice was slightly surprised, but didn't hesitate to wrap her arms around him lovingly. She moved her hand to brush his cheek with her finger. "Hey, baby, it's okay. It's okay." She paused, moving to sit in his lap. "Look at me, please?"
He inhaled before looking up at her, his hands instinctively wrapping around her waist. His eyes were teary, and he wiped at them embarrassedly. "Sorry," he muttered. "Sorry."
"Don't be sorry, baby," she said softly, wiping the tears for him. "It's okay. I know today isn't the best day. It'll be okay, though." She kissed his cheek gently. "I love you, I love you, I love you."
He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly. She would be able to feel his heart pounding through his chest. "I love you," he replied quietly, his voice scarcely louder than a whisper. They sat there for several moments, his head resting on her shoulder. "He thought she was my mom, for a moment there," he said after a couple of seconds. "I know he did."
Her hands brushed gently through his hair. Her eyes were concerned, but she knew he wouldn't be able to tell. "Did he deserve to see?"
He was quiet. "My mother made my father a good person," he said quietly. "When she passed, everything left with her. I think it was good that he got to feel that again, even for a brief second, before he..."
She kissed his cheek, her eyes loving, but worried. "It's okay," she said quietly, unsure what else to tell him. "I understand."
