"I know." He was terrified. When - eventually - he did go home, the night would be spent maintaining the façade of optimism for the children, for Hadyn's brother, and for Greg when Greg emerged.

And he knew he had to keep it up for Hadyn, too. This was the closest he'd seen his husband to giving up in...in years now. It'd been a long time since he'd had to be strong this way.

"Get some sleep," he said. "I'll be here."

Some time later, when he heard the hushed sound of his children's voices outside, he looked over at Hadyn; he hadn't stirred and there, was, he thought, no reason to wake him for this.

He closed the door silently behind him as he stepped outside to speak to their family.