He wasn't sure. But he allowed his father to draw him into an embrace, returning it, letting his head fall upon his hardened shoulders like they had when he was a boy, and the man was a knight in golden armour in his innocent-speckled eyes.

"I've missed you," he whispered, surprised by just how true that was. He always missed his mother, but he'd let his hurt damage his relationship with his father to the point that he'd almost forgotten just how great a bond they'd used to have.

"I've missed you too, son," he said, patting his shoulder firmly as they both stepped back. "What are you doing here?"...