It was... impossible to know which was truly better. Likely protecting had as much benefit as sharing. Just as each had as many burdens pulling on both of them. On all of them. Sophie and his father were just as much a part of it as the two of them. Maggie couldn't forget that but seeing Sophie, made it all that much easier for her to understand his motivation. Lord knew she'd wanted to protect Sophie from so many things in this world...
But what you sheltered someone from could always come back to hurt them that much more for their ignorance. It was a fine line to walk. Too fine sometimes. A tightrope that could only lead to some kind of fall.
"Maybe..." Maggie said with a laugh that clearly said she doubted that way would come. Not that she wanted Jonathan to run himself into the ground but it would be a sad day when he didn't have that same spark of energy, same drive he had now. They just had to learn ways to channel some of it into shorter work days. "Exactly, no need to fix something that isn't broke just yet."
It was hard to hear the resignation in his tone. The confusion about it all. Maggie knew that he coudln't be the same person, no amount of wishing and remembering could make that so. Nor would it be right. She had changed over the years, she knew it. Sophie had. Everyone did. She just... wanted to believe that even with all the changes that that familial connection would always be there. Maggie straightened up slightly, her brows pulled tightly together in worry. "Bastian... things can change." She began softly before taking a step forward and sinking down across his legs. Her hands lifted to cup his cheeks. "Things have to change but not everything. What you always held inside can still be there. Might not be easy to find but it can still be there." She spoke the words with every ounce of faith she had in the world behind them. Not that it needed to be tested here and now, but someday... maybe.
A rueful sort of smile crossed over Maggie's features as she ducked her head down a bit. "Are you saying her bark is worse than her bite when it comes to her mom being around? I might have caught on to that a bit." Though Maggie did have to watch herself... she had that smothering gene in her that if not nipped in the bud was rather overwhelming. "I'm sure that you'll know more than enough to help her out." And please. Meet that manager. Speaking of which Maggie ought to as well considering her connection to a certain... ex.
Maggie could only imagine how hard that was for him now, with the thought of Sophie leaving for college. Or maybe that was more Maggie's dream for her. To have a normal college experience, not to struggle through night classes. But to just have her back and have the chance to see her go again... would always be worse for him. "For all her independence... I don't think she'll be the daughter we never hear from again after she leaves the nest." She agreed with a slow nod of her head.