Neville listened to every word his mother was saying, feeling it echo and making his fingers go numb with shock - that she was actually speaking, but speaking of things as if she was 25 years younger.
But hearing her concern ... for her 'baby', Neville finally found out the kind of mother she was - protective and concerned, wondering what her child could need. He continued to watch as he described Neville as he was as a child and couldn't help but smile, remembering one of his photos that was taken before he could even have a memory.
Alice had started to cry and repeat her words over and over again, he felt the want to walk forward and comfort her but he didn't get the chance. She turned on him and point an accusatory finger at him. Neville wanted to defend himself, and that little voice that wanted to say 'I'm your son' reared it's head into the front of Neville's mind again. Pushing it back, he'd have to be careful, but truthful and only hope that Alice saw that in him.
"Alice... I have been here before. I've been here many, many times." He felt her narrowed eyes staring through him. "But I didn't take your son." Breathing inward he tried to figure out what to say next, what wouldn't set her off or upset her, but there was no way of knowing. "He is safe though, and very close... and loves you very much. He knows that you love him too." Biting at his lip to keep his emotions at bay, he formed his next words. "He's alright. He's been taken care of very well when he isn't here, by his grandmother." Neville was speaking very gently and it seemed to be alright, he smiled a smile that reached his eyes, tears pooled at the bottom of the hazel eyes he shared with his father.
Not quite sure what to say next, Neville stood and let some of the tension wash from him and only watched his mother process what he'd said, holding his breath unconsciously.