No one had said those words to Booker for a very long time, either, frankly, and he almost didn't know what to do with them. So he just held her close, like he could protect her from anything that might come - or at least, he would try. He would always try, no matter what.

He was not a man prone to emotional outbursts, not like this, but his cheeks were wet, streaked with tears. Somehow, maybe, things could be okay. If they worked hard for it.