Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.
Perhaps he hadn't crossed that last little bit of distance to make sure she hadn't changed, that he was still welcome. Perhaps he was making sure that she was well, that she was better before he touched her. Perhaps he was making sure that she would want his touch. Otherwise he would have been hugging her before the words had even left his lips. But he needn't have worried, as she was already crossing the distance between them before the words left his lips.
She's pressing her chest to his and pulling him into a hug that he returns as the last words fall into the air. He can't release the smile curling his lips, wouldn't want too even if he could. "It's wonderful to see you Sunshine girl." He says. He has missed her, the way she smelled, the way her smile had always answered his own. He had missed her, her personality, her never ending wisdom, the way she had always known what to say even when she didn't. The brood of happy children around her hooves. He had missed her very essence, the very thing that made her her.
He had missed her so damn much.
So when she starts to step back, he holds her for a moment longer, inhaling her scent and just...just holding her for a moment. Too soon for him, he releases her and his smile becomes softer, something more intimate between the two of them, but no less happy. "I have been alright. How about yourself? You look better." She apologizes and his heart clenches a little. "Oh no, mo chroí, don't be sorry. You had to heal. Don't be sorry for doing you first and everyone else second." His lips touch her cheek.
"Don't ever be sorry for doing what you needed to do." A sadder smile curls his heart, thoughts of his Willa-girl and what she might be up too making it hurt just a little. His hooves had been wandering for too long and he had lost track of her. But he slides it away, would shelf it and consider solving the problem later. For now...Quark. He huffs his warm breath softly against her cheek, feeling his heart both ache in sadness for what she had been through and happiness that she was here. Happy that he could touch her and--
Happiness that she was here. "What have you been up to?"
