"I'm a very sentimental person," he says with a laugh. Cheesy, yes, emotional too, hidden underneath his serious and contemplative exterior. But she knows he has a soft heart full of love for the people in his life, and that long ago, he tried to deny that to himself. He intentionally was alone, believing that choosing to be lonely was what he wanted, not a state he found himself in. It was only through community he found his true path.

He saw River in her right then, shining bright and amused, and he isn't sad to see her go back to Serenity. She is all of the things at once, he wouldn't pick part of his daughter and only love that bit. She's River and Serenity and she gets lost and found in different ways than her brother.

"Well he does usually follow your path, so if he comes here soon, that's what we'll do. We'll go flying with the dragons as a family." Lucifer is there too and while they aren't all as close, he is a part of their patchwork, because he's integral to Istredd's life and heart. His partner of eight hundred years, the one he grew angel wings for.

"And if not you'll just have to deal with me making bad jokes and showering you with embarrassing love." Like any parent had the right to, in his opinion. Istredd does know puns and dad jokes, it's like he was born for this. He takes her hands. "I miss you. I know you have your own life and path, but I wish it came my way more frequently."