He places his free hand gently over hers where it rests on his arm, saddened by the thought that she awoke in her home world not only alone, but with the near-certainty that she was destined for death.

He winces a little when she points out his obvious lack of aging - though he doesn't remove his hand from hers. "Yes," he says, a little sheepishly - it seems silly that he should feel guilty for it, but there it is. "I have to admit...I wasn't expecting that. But it hasn't been the gift it might seem at first glance."