[He winces a little and glances up at the word "family", ears flicking with surprise and some guilt. He doesn't know why people keep saying things like that - the idea was hard to swallow even with Henry, and then he already had a bunch of fake memories courtesy of the Fog God trying to convince him of it. It just doesn't feel possible, however much he may want it to.

And then it sinks in that she's crying, and he doesn't know why, and the whole point of this was to try and keep her from being upset.]

Wait-- Mabel...

[He leaves his bag on the bench and moves to kneel down in front of her, lifting his hands slightly but... well, he doesn't know what to do now. His tail twists anxiously, curling around until it's lying across his lap, and his hands drop to let his fingers curl in the thick fur on the end.]

...I'm sorry. I... [He shoves one hand through his hair, not caring that the motion leaves his left eye exposed.] ...I don't know how to explain this. It's not fair to you to have to... to deal with it.

[With him. That's at the center of it, really - he does care about her. No matter how hard he may try to keep his distance, he's never been much good at it - but it's for that reason that he doesn't want her worrying about him. She shouldn't have to.]