A note from your author...My love for you guys just keeps growing! And as a result, I seem to be cranking out these updates at a record pace. I couldn't wait to get this one up and to you guys. It's full of some serious adorableness(in my opinion, hope you think so too), lots of dialogue, but no actual dinner scene. I'm sorry! Please don't hate me for that, I have another dinner scene in the works for the next chapter and didn't want to have two back to back. I hope you understand. I've also slipped a little reference to Sam's real life, into Will's backstory. Let me know if you spot it. Please enjoy this final chapter to the "emotional" arc. Next arc will be set up in chapter eleven. Thanks for reading(and reviewing;) and Enjoy!

We'd arrived at my parents midday on Saturday. I could see Mum and Dad standing at window just as well as I could hear Thomas chanting, "They're here. They're here," as soon as I got out of the van. My cheeks colored pink but Will flashed me a supportive smile as he maneuvered down the van ramp and onto the sidewalk. He paused to wait for me so we could stroll up the path together.

Suddenly, there was a blur of little boy in front of us. "Hi Auntie Lou. Hi Will," Thomas greeted, taking his one and only breath. "Grandmum and Granddad are waiting inside. They're going to help Auntie Lou pack up her things. You can hang out with me, Will. Gran said we could have snacks and drinks and watch the telly. But we can't make too much noise and bother Great-Granddad, especially if he's napping. Sometimes he gets a little confused when he wakes up. And he has to stay in the house so he doesn't wander off, but that's fine because I want to show you what Granddad brought home for me the other day."

"Well hello to you too, Thomas," Will returned with a soft chuckle, once he'd recovered from his slight bemusement.

The door opened fully to reveal my parents smiling faces. Of course they acknowledged Will first, Mum bending down to gently wrap her arms around him as she pecked him on the cheek, and Dad lightly clapping him on the shoulder while he faked a small, poorly executed curtsy. They all but ignored me as we shuffled through the doorway, and I couldn't have cared less.

"Can I get anyone anything? " Dad was asking before we'd even made it out of the entry way.

Will and I shared a smile and both shook our heads. "No thanks, Dad."

"Well I've got some snacks in the kitchen for when you're ready, then," Mum announced, not missing a beat. It was clear she'd taken some time to prepare for us-at least from her excited tone, it was.

"In that case, I'll have a glass of water," Will countered, being the gentleman that he is.

Mum beamed at him. "With a straw?"

"Yes, please," he chuckled in reply.

My grin widened at the exchange. "Here Mum, just use this," I suggested as I pulled Will's beaker out of his bag.

"Hey Will," Thomas beckoned. "Come see what Granddad got me." We followed my nephew into the family room until he stopped in front of the television stand, then began bouncing on his toes in excitement. "Look."

"Wow, that's really nice, Thomas," Will exclaimed, acknowledging the game system my nephew was pointing at.

"It's a second hand unit," Dad cut in, sounding almost apologetic. "Our neighbor was throwing it out with the trash, said it was broken and his kids had gotten a new one. I asked him if I could take a look at it-turns out it cost less than ten to fix." He gave a small triumphant smile. "Saved so much, I was able to get Thomas two games for it."

"This one's my favorite," Thomas declared, holding the case with the cute roly-poly looking characters up to Will's face. Then like a flash, he was gone and back again. "And it has two controllers. Do you wanna play with me, Will?"

I cringed at the question even before I saw the expression on Will's face fall. "I wish I could, Thomas," he muttered regretfully.

"But is has the same control thing as the one on your chair," Thomas countered, grinning as he wiggled the small joystick button for emphasis.

Will flashed a slightly forced smile. "And quite a few buttons that probably require two hands to use. I don't even have that much use of one hand."

"What do you have?" Thomas queried.

Flashing a glance up to me before answering, Will asked silently for my assistance. I gave a small nod as I gently pulled his arm back at the elbow, then laid his hand out, as flat as I could get it, onto the arm rest. "Well, my index finger there, the one that's bent upward a bit-that one doesn't quite lay straight and I can't lift it, but I can move it back and forth some," Will explained, demonstrating as he spoke. "My thumb I can lift only a tiny bit, but I can move it both back and forth and side to side. And if I'm having a really good day and concentrate very hard, I can almost make the two touch." Will was trying his best and expelling an exorbitant amount of energy in the process, but still could not get his hand to cooperate.

"Is that all?" Thomas asked, in all the innocent frankness of his almost six years.

"Yes, I'm afraid that's it," Will confirmed with a slight nod.

"Oh, okay," my nephew muttered dejectedly, head dropping down as he walked over to return the controllers to the game bin, then out of the room.

I tried to hold it together, but nearly lost it when I glanced over at Dad, who looked equally distraught.

"I suppose it's really not all that impressive anyway," Will's brokenly soft voice cut through the silence. His eyes flickered up, but he couldn't quite hold my gaze. "Nor does it appear to be a good day for me in this department either." He was staring at his hand again, his cheeks tinged pink with what appeared to be a mixture of both disappointment and embarrassment.

"Thomas isn't like that, Will," I stated in defense of my nephew, as I busied myself with returning Will's hand to it's previous position. "I'm sure he didn't mean anything by the-"

"I know that," he cut in, flashing me an appreciative smile. "I just wish I could do more."

I was just about to respond to that when Mum returned with Will's filled beaker. "Sorry it took so long, I had to get Granddad settled with his tea first. He's a bit of stickler when it comes to following a schedule."

"Oh, I know a thing or two about schedules," Will joked lightly. "Thank you," he added, acknowledging Mum, in regards to his drink.

Just then, Thomas came bounding back into the room, full of excitement. "I found it, Will," he nearly shouted. "I found a game that we can play that doesn't require using our hands at all."

I looked at the box in my nephew's hand and grinned, then bent down to whisper in Will's ear. "See, I told you." He met my gaze this time and matched my smile.

"Come on, follow me." We did what Thomas had asked, following him into the dining room. Mum and Dad excused themselves to go upstairs, leaving just the three of us around the table. "Auntie Lou, will you help Will get set up?"

"Of course," I replied, taking the necessary game pieces out of the box.

"What are you doing with that thing, Clark?" Will asked cautiously as I was reaching for him.

"I'm putting it on your head," I answered, giggling.

"Why?"

"Because that's how you play the game," I explained, not even trying to hold back my amusement anymore. "You wear this headband attached with a card you can't see, then you ask your opponent questions about your card. Whoever guesses correctly first, wins the game."

"Sounds easy enough," Will commented casually, though I had to bite down on my lip to keep from laughing as I placed a card with a picture of a hippopotamus on it, into the slot on Will's band.

"It is, and quite amusing," I replied, once I was fully composed. "Need anything else?" As Will shook his head no, I took a moment to admire these two adorably ridiculous looking men in my life and grinned from ear to ear. "Alright, you two boys have fun."

I giggled the entire way up to my room.

I hadn't realized I'd lost track of so much time, almost forgetting Will and Thomas were in the dining room until I heard them laughing as I began bringing boxes down from upstairs. Panicking a little, I glance down at my watch to see I hadn't missed any important scheduled times, and blew out a small sigh of relief. Will wasn't due for his next dose of anti-spasm meds for another hour or so.

I was just about to head back up for another load when I heard Thomas' voice. "Will, do you like my Auntie Lou?"

My heart skipped a beat as I waited for Will to answer. "I do Thomas, very, very much."

Warmth spread over me like a blanket as I quietly tiptoed closer to the dining room entrance.

"Good, because I like you," I could hear Thomas telling Will.

Will chuckled next. "Well I like you too, Thomas."

There was a pause and I had to fight the urge to peek around the entry. "I didn't like Patrick very much," Thomas said next and I nearly choked on the air I was breathing.

Apparently, so did Will. Though it sounded as if he were able to cover his up with a small chuckle. "And why is that?"

Another pause and it was nearly killing me to not be able to see their interaction. "He wasn't very good to my Auntie Lou." Thomas' words caught me off guard, I didn't think that would be something a five year old would notice. "He always wanted to talk about himself. He never took her places or gave her presents. And that sometimes made her cry."

"I'm afraid I've made your Auntie cry too, Thomas."

"But she cries with you because you make her so happy."

My heart clenched in my chest. "Yeah?" I heard Will ask. "Well, she makes me happy too."

Tears sprang to my eyes and I was seconds away from bolting in there to hug them both, when Thomas spoke again. "I don't think Patrick liked having me around either. He would get all jealous when Auntie Lou wanted to spend time with me. And the only time he ever talked to me was to tell me what sports I should be playing."

"Don't you like sports?"

"Only football," Thomas answered Will's question. "Patrick always wanted me to do cycling or running, not football. He said it was a sissy sport."

There was another pause, but this time I didn't have the urge to run in the room. Instead I sat down against the wall. I was content with just listening, though I was starting to feel a bit guilty in doing so. "You know, I used to play football," Will stated. "From the time I was about your age until I was sixteen. I even wanted to play pro ball when I grew up."

"What happened? Was it because of your accident?"

I could hear Will chuckle softly. "No, that was much later," he went on to explain. "I broke both my ankles when I was sixteen and had to stop playing."

"What did you do then?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean when you couldn't be a professional footballer? What did you do after that?"

"Well, I went to a fancy university, got a fancy degree, and worked for a fancy company in London."

I could hear Thomas giggle and I could just imagine the faces Will was making as he was speaking. "What's your job now?"

Thomas' question must have really thrown Will off because there was another, longer pause this time. "I don't have one anymore."

"Why not?"

"Well after my accident, I had to leave the job I had. I couldn't do that kind of work or live in London anymore."

"So why didn't you just do something else?" Thomas suggested. "You got hurt and couldn't play football anymore, so you did something different. Couldn't you do something different now?"

"I suppose I never put much thought into that," I could hear Will say after a minute or so.

It was Thomas who spoke next. "Would you teach me how to play football, Will?"

"Thomas, I don't think-," Will began to stammer. "I can't actually show you how to do-"

"Well you don't use your hands and arms unless you're a goalie-"

"But I can't use my legs or feet either, Thomas."

"You don't have to. You can just tell me how to use mine. I've got my ball upstairs in my room. I'll be right back."

I sprang to my feet as soon as I hear the word upstairs and reached for the nearest box to me, making it look as if I had just come down the stairs with it. "Hi Auntie Lou," Thomas yelled as he flew past me. "Will's going to teach me how to play football."

I smiled at my nephew as I rounded the doorway into the dining room. "I'm assuming you heard that," Will asked, looking up at me from his bewildered state. I smiled and nodded, hoping to not give away just how much I had heard. "I'm not sure I'm going to be much help to him."

"Oh, I think he just want someone who knows a thing or two about the game," I replied nonchalantly. "My Dad loves the game and he tries, but he's an awful player."

Will chuckled a little at my joke, but then turned serious when he glanced at the box I was still carrying. "Sorry I couldn't be more help to you today."

"Are you joking?" I gasped in mock disbelief. "You keeping Thomas occupied and out of our hair is about the most important job anyone could have."

Will let out another small laugh and shook his head slightly. "Speaking of jobs, your nephew seems to think I need one."

"Oh, does he?" It was my turn to laugh now, my amusement written all over my grinning lips. "I think he might be onto something."

If Will was perplexed by that statement, I hadn't noticed, my attention shifted to the table strewn with toys and games and a half eaten tray of snacks. "Well, it looks like you two really did have fun."

Will grinned sheepishly as he followed my gaze. "Not exactly the sodium restricted diet I'm accustomed to."

"Yeah," I grimaced in agreement. "Sorry about that."

"Are you kidding me?" Will shot back incredulously. "I absolutely despise bland food. This was a nice treat." A soft chuckle bubbled up out of him. "And I haven't had those fish-shaped crackers since I was a little boy."

It was then I realized that Will must have allowed Thomas to feed him and that thought, along with the conversation I'd just overheard, made something flutter deep within me. I almost mentioned something about it, when I heard Dad call out. "Ready to pack the van when you are, Lou."

Will and I shared a smile. "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself, but if you're still looking to be more helpful, you can bring this out to my Dad," I instructed, carefully setting the box I was holding onto Will's lap. He looked almost surprised by my request, but smiled and nodded. "The door should be open, then he can help you out back. And don't worry, you've got meds in about thirty. I'll make sure to come get you before Thomas runs you completely ragged."

I'd caught Will staring at me. "Come here," he beckoned and I complied, bending at the waist. "Closer." I did what he'd asked and before I knew it, his lips were on mine. We lingered a moment before he muttered a "thank you" into them, then turned his chair to leave.

I would wear the smile the memory of that kiss left on me, for the rest of the evening.

The van was packed in no time, so I spent the extra few minutes straightening up the mess in the dining room. I noticed Will's beaker then remembered it was almost time for his meds and headed to the kitchen to refill it.

"Hey Treen," I greeted my sister. "When did you get home?"

"A little while ago," she answered distractedly.

"What are you doing?" I asked, going about my previous business.

"Watching your boyfriend play with my son."

I scoffed as I came around to join her at the back door. "He's not my boyfriend."

"I beg to differ."

"He's not-"

"You're living with him."

"We're housemates."

Treena burst into laughter. "Is that what you're calling it?"

"Treen?"

"You're living together, yeah?"

"Yes."

"And you eat meals together?"

"We have to, I'm the one who has to feed them to him."

Treena shook her head dismissively. "And you watch movies together?"

"Yes."

"And go out together outside the home? Like picnics, walks, concerts, weddings, romantic vacations-and don't say you have to go with him."

I couldn't help but giggle a little. "Yes."

"And you've kissed him?"

I began to blush slightly. "Yes."

"And he's kissed you?"

"Yes."

"And you've told him that you love him?"

"Yes Katrina, you know all of this." My voice took on a defensive tone that my sister must have noticed.

"But he hasn't said it back to you yet?"

I shook my head. "I don't think he's in a place where he can do that just yet. I know he cares for me, it shows in everything he does-and that's good enough for me."

"Are you're happy with him?"

"Very."

Treena grinned wildly. "Then that, my dear sister, is your boyfriend," she declared as she threw her arms around me.

I could do nothing more than laugh and hug back.