Marcello shook his head. "I didn't do it for me," he answered. "I did it for them. They didn't deserve to die." He bit his lip. "When it happened, I walked out into the middle of a field and just lay there. I don't know how long I was there for. I didn't want to move."

Finally she compromised, picking up his hand again and squeezing it. "You were in shock, and small wonder."

He squeezed her hand back, and then rubbed at his eyes. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you," he said. "It seemed too complicated to explain when I only just knew you, and then...it just didn't seem like a thing to bring up out of nowhere. I think I'm still in shock, a little," he admitted. "And seeing them reminds me of them, and they died. I know that doesn't make any sense."

"It makes sense," she said, "and I understand why you didn't tell me. I just didn't feel right, keeping it from you. And I'm sorry I brought it up. I don't want to hurt you." She frowned, glancing away again. "But I know that . . . sometimes, when something really bad happens . . . it's like being locked up with it, in the same room, fore'er."

"You don't need to be sorry," Marcello answered. "I love you." He gave her a tight smile. "And I'm glad you know. Things like that...they make you feel very alone."

"I love you too," she said, still sad. "I am not going to leave you. I'm not very good at knowing what to do for people unless they tell me what they need, or what they want, but you can ask me and I will try."

"You are good at it," Marcello answered, wrinkling his nose at her. "You just see yourself in comparison to Meg."

"Meg always knows what to do," she said wistfully. "And when she doesn't, she still makes tea and butters toast better than anyone else in the world." She raised herself to her knees and hugged him, with a tiny kiss just above his eye. "What do you want to do? Do you want to talk about this at all?"

He hugged her back, and held her close. "I don't know," he answered. "I might like to, but I don't think it needs to be right now. I'm not ready yet. Maybe after they go, when I can sort things out a little better."

She nodded, cradling him in her arms. "Aye, it did get brought up all out of nothing," she agreed, soothingly. "But I am a little glad it was brought up at all."