Sonia breathes out a quiet laugh at that, relaxing by fractions as Byerly holds her, pets her hair. All the crying was so damn exhausting, and it's an enormous relief to just...sit here like this.

"I hope so. That would be a terrible fate indeed." Sonia turns her head, resting her cheek against his shoulder rather than burying her face in his coat. "But that is always the way it goes, isn't it? Or so I hear. It was awkward as hell, and -- outdoors, too." She makes a face that Byerly can't see, but can easily hear in her voice. "But I was fifteen and didn't really care. I didn't have friends save for my sister, and Barrayar's never heard of the word dating."

She sighs, though not altogether miserably. "One of these days... God, I hope I don't have to wait until this war is over to get a decent lay."