"You did nothing wrong Natalie, please understand that." He held her at a distance so he could look into her eyes. It hurt perhaps that she couldn't fight and stay despite his changes before, but he understood there was only so much a person could handle. "It's better for you this way. If that were to happen again, I wouldn't wish you to go through it." He grazed her face softly with the tips of his fingers, now not those of much younger man.