( he needs to stop acting like--such a coward over all of this. billy knows that. there's a moment's pause before releasing his hold on his face and dropping his fingers down to wrap them around teddy's wrist, hesitantly raising eyes up to meet the other's own. )

I know, I'm--I'm sorry. ( brows furrowed and he looks hurt, but it's not--directed at teddy. no, all of this is on him, and billy is more than aware of that. he knows his own faults, hates them as much as he's sure teddy does. ) I didn't think to ask who stopped Mother. It didn't. . seem that important.

( just that she was stopped, teddy was safe, tommy was safe, everything was well enough for them to throw a huge new years party. )

I know I sound. . awful and I'm trying, I promise, I just--

( this is so much harder than he could have imagined it would be. how the hell are they supposed to have pulled this off back home? )

Go--save those kids, I'll, uh--search the other side of Quarantine. Don't apologize, it's really not. . your fault. This's all on me. I know. And you--you deserve so much better than that.