He has to brace himself. He has to hold on because one of them, at least, has to be sturdy on their feet. Otherwise both of them are going to topple back into the sand. As much as he wants to collapse under the sheer weight of relief, of something dangerously close to happiness, he has to hold his partner up.

Support him until he's got his legs back under him.

"We - we're here," he manages, his voice strangled, aching. His arms are shaking. He's pretty sure the dampness on his face has nothing to do with the spray of the sea. "You came back..."