The fact that George was smiling at him was foreign on its own. The only smiles he recalled seeing from her for the longest time were ones when she'd just usurped him in an argument and was feeling particularly self-satisfied. They were smug, laced with irritation and not the gentle, loving ones like this that reminded Evan of when they were young. He was a little surprised when George listened to him without hesitation. It had been a long time since she'd done that; years, he wagered.
When she leaned her head against his lap he swallowed thickly, thankful that her eyes were closed because it afforded him the chance to reach up and wipe his own eyes without being noticed. It was hard, losing one's sister, and Evan felt like he'd lost her long ago… the same day he'd lost everyone else. "Any time, Georgie," he murmured to her, somehow managing to keep the emotion out of his voice as he spoke. "You know that I'd be crushed if anything happened to you." They may not have been able to get through a conversation without fighting anymore, no, but he was positive that George knew that much was true. Losing her or Danny would kill him. No question about it.