The words knock the breath right out of him and Maxxie can't respond for a second. He doesn't have the physical ability to, though there's really little doubt in his head. It's just been such a long 24 hours, a long month, a long year, that his body can't keep up with the rest of him sometimes.

"I love you, too." He has to force the words out, his voice rough and not so smooth at all, but he means them. It's scary and he means them. "And I know you're gonna be alright."