[He shakes his head at the compliments - he knows she believes it, but they feel too much like a dismissal of her worries right now. She deserves honesty and patience. It's the least that he can offer.]

Better at defending yourself, I hope. And if you can't, you can come to me. [He gives her hand another squeeze.] Don't hesitate to share what you're going through, just because you think you have to protect me from it.

[He doesn't want his relationships with others to be based on lies, or at least truths not being told.]