He shook his head, smoothing his fingers over the fur between Gioia's eyes and up over her ears. It was methodical and habitual, a motion that he was obviously very familiar with. Self soothing in a way that made talking this much for this long easier. He still wasn't good at the whole talking 'thing' sometimes.

"No. We met in school. When he got his citizenship, we went in together." They had already been married, so they'd served together. Until they didn't anymore.

He looked away and took a large drink of his coffee.

"Sorry. I don't...talk much, anymore."