Surprised and touched at the gesture, Regina unfolded her fingers to caress his cheek. If he permitted it, she would stroke his hair. Nothing sexual motivated the response. To the contrary, she was, as ever, cognizant that she was more than old enough to be his mother twice over.

"All you can do is live past the pain. It's possible. And on the days that it's not--" Regina found herself smiling, very nearly laughing at the completely ludicrous thing she was about to say. "I'll be here," she said and then snorted. "Somewhere, my stepdaughter just fell dead of laughter."