He listens quietly, attentively, to everything Alecto says, wishing he could have been there, but certain at the same time that he would have likely been worse than useless. That perhaps if Alecto had stayed home, if Daphne had been born while he was still in his human form, she wouldn't be here with them now. But he still aches for missing it - for Alecto being away from him, with Joshua unable to do anything about what he had been going through, not even in some very small way. He shifts automatically for Avery, quelling his noises with a pointed look but angling himself so Avery can get a good close look at his little sister.

When Alecto pauses, leans in close, whispers the very words he'd been longing to hear, he shivers despite the warmth of the fire, their bodies pressed so closely together. "I - we - missed you, as well." He replies, unable to turn and look at him, staring down at Daphne instead, at Avery's small fingers nudging at her cheek to her obvious displeasure as her nose wrinkles in preparation for a protest.

"How long will you stay?" He asks, his eyes briefly drawn to the white of Alecto's sealskin, spread out on the carpet, still wrapped around him.