"You only say that 'cause you don't know her mother," Sawyer counters, though he can't help the surge of pride that he feels upon hearing the suggestion that Clementine might take after him. Even though Sawyer's pretty sure that she'd be better off taking after Cassidy, he can't deny that there are times when he looks for hints of himself in his daughter. It's not vanity. Instead, it's the disbelief that remains lodged in his chest over the fact that he managed to help create a child so perfect.

It doesn't seem possible for someone as flawed as he is to produce a person so good and loving.

He grins as Clementine raises a hand to smack squarely in the center of Newt's face, little fingers poking around his nose. "I gotta admit, my kid is pretty great. I don't think I'd be able to tolerate anyone else's kids half as well, so it's good that you ain't makin' any. Means you can devote all your attention to my little brat," he snickers, reaching out to ruffle Clementine's hair lightly. "I get it, though. Ain't everyone meant to have kids. I... you know, back home, I didn't think I'd ever really be in Clementine's life. I thought about goin' to see her once, when I was just about to get myself off of the damn island I was stuck on, but I chickened out. I can pretend that I turned back to give other folks a better chance of making it off, but no. I didn't know how I'd be able to head back to the States and deal with having the choice of seeing her or not. And then later..."

He pauses, gaze dropping as his smile fades. "Well, let's just say that I was with someone who would've made a terrific mother, but it didn't work out. If Darrow hadn't pulled this one over, I don't think I ever would've really tried for kids."