He pulls her into his lap, wrapping his arms around her.

And the worst thing is -- he can't say she won't lose him. Not for sure. They risk their lives too often for that.

(He promised Illyana that, and in the end it was a lie.)

"I won't leave you," he whispers into her hair. It's Russian; he doesn't even notice, though he wouldn't change it if he did. This much he can promise, enough to hope he can keep it. "Not this time. Not if I can stay."

I'm sorry, he wants to tell the baby who will never exist to hear it. I'm sorry, I wanted you to live, I want you.

Someday he'll die, and then his brother will never have peace again.

And Kate is sobbing into his shirt, and all he can do is hold her and give her what tiny scraps he can offer.