[Doppio nods. Lonely - that's exactly it. A cold, deep loneliness that began in Rome and lasted until he found the Boss again. Or maybe it lasted longer and he didn't even know it - maybe he only truly stopped being lonely in Felfri, when suddenly he felt alive and whole and fulfilled again, only to find out why in a matter of weeks. He isn't sure. Standing here, now, with the Boss so close, he isn't alone - that, he can say for certain. But there was something more in Felfri, wasn't there? Something that almost made it feel like he was home again?

So, if he's completely honest - and whatever's in the air today isn't giving him much of a choice, apparently -]

I dunno, Boss. I don't really know anymore.

[Complete honesty.]

... But... I'd still rather be with you like this than not at all. I know it's not like before, [theoretically, conceptually, abstractly; anything more concrete still feels wrong to even think about,] but I'll take it. No doubt about it.