It wasn't so much a smile as much as it was a look of appreciation. That she understood him and his pain enough to have a rather enlightened view on bearing it. Vlad nodded slowly, hearing her own pain in her answer and reaching over to lay a gentle hand on her shoulder. "As they should be, Sharon. Our souls hold the most important things in ourselves, good or bad."

He had so very much bad on his, which is likely why he clung to the good so tightly. "I am grateful for your words, and your ear. It's... nice to be heard. To have someone willing to listen." To have feel he could speak of things long past and not have someone think him mad.