Mark -- happy on Barrayar? What the hell happened? It makes Miles cold all over to contemplate too deeply.

"I will," he says fiercely, almost defensive. "It's not going to happen to me. Things are different with Bel and me, they're not -- they won't betray me." It would cut him to the core if they did, after all they've been through. Suddenly uncomfortable being the topic of conversation, Miles deflects it back at his older self.

"Besides," he goes on, "you still have to deal with all this. Focus on your own bullshit."