Gabriel recognized that look. It reminded him so much of when he'd wanted to have the love his father and had found out he'd never have it. Him or his mother. He wondered what could have been, what he was doing now. It was a hard thing to let go of. So he accepted that hand and gently squeezed Dal's.

"It matters because that's how you feel. Your feelings are important to me and they always have been. Perhaps even more so now as well."

Gabriel set his food aside and invited Dal to come sit next to him for a moment. When he had him there, he wrapped an arm around him. "I know it's hard to believe that I mean what I say but when this trial is done? I'm going to spend every single day of my life showing you how much you mean to me. Would that be alright with you?"