There's nothing more precious, or comforting, than a hug from your closest friend.

Amelia doesn't jump or pull back when Viatorus pulls her close. Against everything she's ever said or shown him, she melts into his hold and wraps her arms around him in return. Her face is buried into his shoulder as she lets everything out. It hurts. It all hurts. But for the first time since she came back from Masarra, she doesn't feel alone. She may still be helpless and incomplete, but at least someone still knows she exists. At least someone she cares about is still around to care about her, too.

After several long minutes of crying, she finally calms down a bit - and summarily collapses against him from exhaustion. All the long, restless nights tug at her eyes and keep them from opening as she shifts her weight enough to keep from knocking him over. It all still hurts, but it somehow feels a little less now. She carefully rests her head against his shoulder, taking a deep breath to steady herself. "I'm sorry," she says softly, "for dropping all of this on you. But... thank you... for just being here. It... means a lot to me."