John glances up at Mary at the question, watching her carefully. He has to give her credit for coming straight out and asking him plainly, in as direct a manner as she has. But he also has to wonder himself whether she really does want to know the answer, either way.

"I have never had much luck in love, you see," he says, after a long moment. Taking in a long breath and letting it out slowly, playing his long, delicate fingers against his teacup before he continues on to ask, "You have been here in Asgard for some time now, have you not? Did you ever have the pleasure of making the acquaintance of a Mr. James Fraser, perchance? Or Claire, maybe? His wife. She may have been going by the name of Randall, to begin."

It's a long story, and not even he knows the half of it.