God, she hadn't meant to make her cry but at the same time it feels like there's just, nothing to do but to cry, loss and pain consuming everything and Lup gets it, or thinks she does anyway. Ren's been so, so good, so brave and kind, and it's okay for her to hurt too much with Taako's absence to keep it together. She curls around her shaking shoulders, holds her as close as she can and rubs her back comfortingly, though her own hands are trembling too and fresh tears are running down her face.

until he comes home and she chokes back a sob into a whimper, that horrible thought clawing at her mind, when when whenwhenwhen, the not knowing crashing over her like a wave. When will he come home, when will she be whole again, hold his hand and laugh, when will he grin and goof around with Ren again with a softness in his eyes that she doesn't think she's ever really seen before. When is it gonna stop feeling like this?

But he will, she has to believe that and she presses her cheek against Ren's hair and nods, reassurance for both of them. "Please do," she says, voice thick with grief, desperate to cling to this idea of what it'll be like when he comes back. "He'll-- he'll love that." Because he loves you is drowned in another strangled sob as she tries to picture his face when Ren offers him such a special treasure. "And it'll help him know how much we've missed him." Please, let it be soon.