"You know," he exhaled audibly, the sound incredibly unsure even though it was well masked behind a far away smile as he glanced away and back to the large feline. Not because Caius was having a hard time looking at her. That wasn't it, no. Caius merely didn't want his inner torment a chance to show in his face. Or, his eyes.

He thought a long second on how he wanted to put it, then shrugged. "Sending me back might have just been a strong reminder of who I am. Going back to Ireland was a trip I was avoiding for.. a long time."

For so many reasons.

"But I'm back here again and a little older. Not so much wiser."

More humor to counter that rather deep moment there.