It hurt to hear that Fallon was not alright, however expected the words might have been. But the thought that Malou would not be able to heal this hurt stung. As a friend she wanted nothing more than to see Fallon happy, to see her unharmed, and with no regrets. Despite that Malou knew that was not an option in this situation. Fallon had deep ties with both men and asking her to choose between them was akin to inflicting a deep wound on herself. The only thing she could hope for was that the wound would not fester and grow an infection, that Fallon would be able to look back on her decision and know it was the right for her. Because at the end of the day that was what mattered to Malou. Not if it was Mr. MacFusty or Mr. Hachitt that Fallon would end up with. "Perhaps in time." Malou said gently, "But I'm here no matter what." For whatever support Fallon might need, Malou would always be there. After all Fallon was all she had left to call family.

As Fallon explained Malou nodded. She had always rather thought what tied Fallon to Mr. MacFusty was situational rather than temperaments. Mr. Hatchitt, while he hadn't experience quite the same traumatizing events, had experienced from the other side - from the side Malou had been left on. In the past days that Fallon had tried to make her decision Malou had often thought of Mr. Hatchitt's obvious care for Fallon and that was before he had even met her past pen and paper - well hardly had met her. It had endeared him to Malou. The stories she had heard of Mr. MacFusty when they arrived back had not had the same charm as the ones with Mr. Hatchitt, but of course Malou could admit that she had become biased about the matter.

Malou took a sip of her own whiskey, allowing the liquid a moment to trail warmly down her throat before speaking. "I don't think he could have been spared." She started gently, setting her drink and meal aside to sit at Fallon's feet on the couch. "But I agree." Not just about Mr. MacFusty, but about it all. Malou placed a light hand on Fallon's knee.