[Things slot into place as Nero shares the memory of the parents he almost had even before Nero puts such clear words to it. Vergil's lips purse together as he realizes just how much loss Nero has experienced. His heart aches for him, for his child, and just how so shortly after birth, he came to know loss and grief. It makes more sense now why it seemed to come as such a revelation that his parents would have loved him beyond words or measure. Why he needed so much the reassurance that Vergil would not choose to act in a manner that would harm him even when doing otherwise was against his own self-interest. Why he felt so strongly to prove himself as strong and capable to Dante, to Vergil.]

I'm sorry, [he murmurs, removing the cloth from Nero's forehead.] My reasons for not being there had nothing to do with you.

[That's something Vergil knows Nero already safely assumed once he knew for sure that Vergil didn't know he existed until he was told that Nero was his son. Vergil gently presses the other, cooler side of the cloth to Nero's forehead.]

They do not matter, however. The simple fact remains that I should have been there. [Rather than returning to Nero's hair, Vergil's hand comes to rest over Nero's hand on his knee.] You should have known how precious and loved you are from the moment you were born.

[With no conditions placed upon any of it, and nothing more important that could possibly cause such a deep betrayal to happen again.]

[To the extent that he can in this position, Vergil's other arm holds Nero.]

But I have no power to change the past any more than you do. All I can do is ask that you trust me because there is no one more precious to me, and there are no promises more important than those I've made to you, my dear child.