[ There he goes again, blaming himself for Noctis' burden, or perhaps his inability to not make things easier for him, and not for lack of trying. Their fates are out of both of their hands, and from what she knows of it... ]

You... and him. You've done your best and gave-- and continue to give here-- the best with the tools, the means you have. [ She speaks this slowly, as if still gathering her thoughts of what she knows, what she assumes to be true, and a bit of her own projection, of what she believes or imagines a family to be like. What she's learned from Regis, too, she takes into account. The intentions behind all of his actions are with love and care.

(She doesn't wish to make Noctis' path any harder or injurious than it already is.) ] When... a parent and a child love each other-- no matter the circumstances of birth, at the end of the day, I'm sure that-- you can say 'thank you', can't you, to him for being your son? And him to you, for being his father.

[ She, too, tries to be grateful and show that gratefulness every day she's with him. A thank you to Noctis, for being able to know him, and...

A pause, here. It can't just be Noctis to whom she shows this appreciation. Regis, now, she can call a father, adoptive or otherwise, and both his embrace and his parental patience with this shows that he's all the more deserving of it, too. ] It's not the same, but I want to thank you, too, to you. [ Her smile is small. ] For being his father and raising him, and for being kind and wonderful just all on your own. For being a father to many.

[ Her eyes slide shut, and she whispers again, ] Thank you.