If there had been time for it Kaine would have been utterly shocked. How did this work? How was this the right answer? And why hadn't she trusted her instincts? Who knew. Who cared. Maybe she was just a tad too small but she lifted her arms and put them around his middle, palms laid flat on his shoulder blades. She squeezed him just about as hard as he clung to her, and even if she occasionally shuddered Kaine wouldn't say a word on it.

Of course it was entirely possible that none of this would help or that it might only be temporary. She would keep her word if that was the case, and leave him alone when they parted. But at least something had come out of all that. Getting over everything that had been said would take time, but that was later.

Right now he let her hold him and she couldn't remember the last time she felt so utterly grateful.