Peyton returned the careful squeeze by turning it into a bear hug. "I missed you more." Familiar words, murmured against gold curls, and she smoothed a hand along the smaller girl's back before leaning back and dragging Astrid with her. Right into her lap if the other girl allowed it.

That water tone of voice obliterated everything else. The injuries meant nothing, her own worries were trivial things, nothing could weigh against the sound of impending tears, and Peyton would, as she always had, do everything in her power to keep them from falling.

In this case it'd be rocking back and fourth, exaggerated, grip still tight. Humming a goofy little tune against the back of Astrid's shoulder.

rejam