Ben's expression softened at her request. "Yeah," he said softly, almost as if he were afraid to say it out loud. This moment felt... fragile, though he wasn't sure what else could happen since she was already sitting on the floor and crying. He didn't want to do anything to break whatever composure she still had left. "Of course. If you want."

He moved towards her on the stairs, scooping her up with one arm below her legs and one behind her shoulders. He hadn't carried her like this since the night they'd eloped, before the potion had worn off and before he'd had a chance to think about what had happened, a chance to come down. The last time he'd carried her like this the only thought he'd had in his head was how happy the two of them were going to be together.

This was different. He wasn't sure either of them were going to be happy for a good long while, but they could get through this. Now that he was really here, and really willing to try, they could get through this.

He carried her up the stairs, down the hall to her room. He paused before the doorway, looking at her. "We can do this," he said softly.