[Strange didn’t even know he’d been crying until he felt one of the tears roll down his cheek. He had lost a lot in his life, to the point of ruin and hopelessness, but even then he’d been angry about it. Desperate, yes, but there had been an anger at the core of it.

Now though, with Harper in his arms, he was scared. Scared that he would lose something that he knew no magic or science could ever get him back. The fact that it hadn’t been his fault at all was almost laughable except for the fact that his heart ached so badly at even the possibility that she wouldn’t want him back.

When she told him to stay he gave a muffled sob, forced down by sheer will, and hugged her close, arms crushing her tightly as he held her to him.]

I will. I will and I promise to always do everything I can to never leave you again.

[That he would do everything he could to not leave her was at least something he could promise.]