[ The effort that it takes for him to pull himself out of the swirling memories with her assistance is still monumental, and the strain of it briefly reflects on his face. It seems that these memories, once awoken, are quite strong and the hold they have on him is not so easily broken. But the one person who could aid him in that is already doing so, and the part of him that is Aymeric wishes to reconcile past and present but still be himself. He does not wish to be tied down by the memory of their parting so long ago now, but rather be defined by the happy, fulfilling moments that they shared in that life and across the others they have lived together.

He leans into her touch and his eyes close for a moment as the hurt and sadness that those memories brought to life washes away. And then he opens them again and fixes his gaze upon hers. Costas comes to life for just a moment more, as if these moments between them are the closure they did not have the luxury of having all those lifetimes ago. ] I- I wish that I could have been there with you, to see all of you safe and well. [ But even though he did not live to see that, he had no doubts in his mind that Althea would care for them, as she had cared for many others.

He quiets as he listens to her speak, and when he sees the tears form and fall from her eyes, he tries to reach up to wipe them away. ]

I am very sorry that I left you and the children alone. [ Without him, he means. At least they had each other, as she has stated that both she and the children needed each other. ] But... [ An olden look of his own takes hold again, and for a moment, he seems to be far away. ]

We are together. [ And with those words, that look fades from view again, but the look of need and wanting that is left in its place is no less intense. ]

I will come home. I promise. [ And he would make that promise again and again if she asked him to. ]