Redhawk Caldera The snuggle is real

*turns on the mushiness*

He had every right to be mad, and he knew it -- he could even see his justification reflected in Finley's expression. She knew that she had been wrong to keep this news from him, and couldn't even offer a valid reason as to why she had done it in the first place. It would have hurt him had she told him as soon as Lucy ran from her; but it was even more painful after the fact.

And yet...

When he looked at her, he didn't see someone who had withheld information with the intent to harm. He didn't see an ounce of maliciousness in Finley's gaze or posture. In his heart of hearts, he knew that she had dreaded every moment that she kept that secret, had fretted over telling him. And while there was nothing they could do to piece together their broken family, Elwood couldn't find it in himself to begrudge her for what she had done. He had long ago accepted that Lucy was gone; knowing that she was alive didn't change that. And while Finley had put it off, she had eventually told him -- wasn't that what was important?

He sighed softly. There wasn't a single word he could think of to ease Finley's pain, much less his own. But as the firebirds squirmed around them, he shifted closer and touched her cheek gently with his nose. I forgive you and I love you, he said without speaking.