"I know. I know you're not asking me to be. All you've ever asked is for me to be honest with you, which is hardly an unreasonable request. And I can not even give you that much." He leaned in to her touch imperceptibly, without being entirely aware of it. It was a natural response to want to feel closer to her. He'd always gained comfort from her presence.
"I'm tired, Marian. I'm tired of it being all the time, and I want it to stop." He knew she did not fully know what it was he was talking about, but right now that was what he could give her. "Some time soon we'll have a son, or a daughter...even knowing it's a possibility. We should be happy. And all this has done is cast a shadow over everything else." His burdens had become hers as well and he had never meant for that to happen. Had done all he could to spare her that, to no avail in the end.