[ The action is so unexpected that - just for a moment - Bigby completely forgets why he came here in the first place. The relief that Snow is still very much alive only slowly starts to set in after a moment of utter shock, where the man has to come to terms for a moment that Snow's arms very much are around him right now.

It makes some decisions much easier. A part of Bigby wanted to do the exact same thing, after all, but he's always so cautious about these actions around Snow of all people. Even if he's wanted to hold her for hunderds of years at this point, it's not like he can just do that. If he could, he would've done it a long time ago. But he always told himself that if this was going to happen, it'd have to be on her terms. Her coming to him, if she ever felt anything for him at all.

This isn't that, he knows it. But it is still Snow seeking comfort in him, and who is he going to be to deny her that when all he wanted was to wrap his arms around her and protect her from the world, shelter her against him in the face of the Darkwalker?

So that's exactly what he does. While she's clinging to him, he moves his arms around her protectively. One hand remains on her back, but the other one moves a little higher up, gently cradling the back of her head while said head is still buried against him. There's something a little awkward in the gesture, but the protectiveness in it is so much stronger than that part. ]

Darkwalker. [ He manages to force out, still overwhelmed by the situation. Fear always hits Bigby a whole lot harder when he's so unused to feeling it, and then having Snow cling to him on top of it all? Talk about a double whemmy. ] It comes sometimes and it-- it kills people.

[ No other way to put it, even if he wishes he could tell her better news for once. ]

I didn't know if-- I thought it might have gotten you. [ The worried admission slips out, though it's quickly followed up by an: ] Are you okay?