None of them had many choices, in the scheme of things.

Lily sits up a little more, finally lifts her face from her hands. She doesn't look calm because who would after something like this, but a little more like she isn't about to lose it entirely. Understanding doesn't make things better.

She breathes in and out slowly, uses both hands to push her mussed hair out of her face. Closes her eyes, tips her head back before she settles again. "It doesn't fix things but at least I know now."

There's no excuse for a lot of things people did on both sides. Nothing will ever be idyllic again like when they were children. "I meant what I said before. About being happy to have this time here even when things go wrong."

With you she doesn't say. It's not an abrupt change of tone like it might seem: all sentiment aside, all the care she has for him (in spades) aside, he's the only one to tell her this truth.

"I know better than to expect things to be perfect, but I want us to be a part of one another's lives."