Chapter 15-

Nico stayed awake that night and watched Will sleep, his grip on his hand never loosening. Hazel called a couple times to check up on him but didn't force him home, which he was grateful for. If he left, who would stay with Will? Will's own mother had gone home to sleep, leaving Nico the only one in the room if Will decided to wake up.

It was around midnight when he finally opened those blue eyes, causing Nico's heart to stop for a second. How long had it been since he had looked in those eyes? Years? Every memory, every kiss, everything came back to him. It brought the tears rolling down his cheeks again as he squeezed Will's hand gently, letting him know that he was there. "How are you feeling? Do you want anything?"

"Nico?" Will's hoarse voice was filled with disbelief as his eyes moved to Nico's. "Nico...what are you doing here? I left you...I...I'm sorry." He started crying then, little whimpers mixed in with the heavy breaths.

"Calm down," Nico wiped away his tears, glancing towards his monitors nervously. "You need to calm down, Will. Everything's okay. I forgive you."

"Do you hate me?" Will asked, his eyes closed tightly. The tears wouldn't stop. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. Please don't hate me. I can't die with someone hating me."

"I could never hate you." Nico wiped his own tears away, them having started to cloud his vision. "I love you, Will. That'll never go away. And you're not going to die."

"Liar." Will's face broke out into a small smile, that smile Nico had missed all too much. "They said I'm gonna die. My mom was sobbing, everyone was saying goodbye. That's why you're here, because I'm going to die."

Nico shook his head. "Things happen. Awesome things happen all the time. You could live, Will." He didn't believe his own words, but he wasn't trying to help himself feel better. Only Will.

"You really think so?" Will asked, his tears finally stopping as he looked to Nico. "Honestly?"

Nico nodded. "Course, Will."

Will smiled again, showing off his blood stained teeth. "I love you, Nico."

"I love you, too." Nico watched him closely, scared that any second the boy's heart would give out. He was talking fine and seemed aware, but every movement seemed to cause him pain.

"If I get out of here alive-"

"You will." Nico cut him off.

"Will you give us another chance?" Will continued. "Please? I won't leave you again, Nico. I promise you."

Nico was certain that Will was going to die so didn't even think over the answer. "Of course. We could have a great life together, Will. Just me and you."

That seemed to relax Will as he stared up at the ceiling, one hand clenching his chest and the other clenching Nico's hand. He held on like it was his lifeline, using the only strength he had left.

"You should get some sleep." Nico finally said. "You're going to need it."

Will shook his head slightly. "I want to spend my time with you, Nico. I can't do that while asleep."

Nico gave in to the pained look Will sent him and nodded, letting out a little sigh. "But you need to promise to stay relaxed."

"I promise."

"Good," Nico played with Will's fingers, not able to watch the pain in Will's eyes any longer. Not when he knew that the only reliever to that pain would be death.

"Will you keep talking?" Will asked, his eyes closed. "Tell me about how we could have lived, if I would have stuck with you and survived. Tell me how we could live together if I get through this. Because it hurts to fight, Nico. It really hurts."

It broke Nico's heart a little to hear his words but nodded, knowing if he could do anything then he would. "What do you want to hear about first? The awesome house or the kids?"

"Kids?" Will's tone became lighter. "Definitely kids."

"Okay, well, we'd adopt. Two? Maybe a boy and girl. We'd get them when they were babies and raise them." Nico explained, the made-up thoughts coming to him quickly. "Twins. They'd be blond but have the darkest eyes."

He smiled as he felt Will relax, continuing with his story. "They'd hate school so we'd end up homeschooling them. I'd watch them while you work. You'd be a doctor, you know. A nice one that'd get us a lot of money and a big house. The kids would be scared when they were little but would learn to like the house. I know I would."

He looked up to find Will asleep, his soft breathing the only thing letting Nico know that he was still alive. His face was pale and peaceful, his eyelids closed lightly. Every so often they would flutter, but he stayed sound asleep.

"Goodnight, Will," Nico whispered, kissing his hand before sitting back. He hadn't believed a word he said to Will, not from him living to the house and kids. It was all made up, something to keep Will hoping for as he died out. It helped Will but made Nico sadder. Would that really be how they would have ended up?

He stayed awake all night to watch over him, doctors coming in every now and again to check Will. Never did they seem to have a breakthrough or any hope. They instead focused on making Will as comfortable as possible.

The car accident had brought Nico and Will together again, their fates woven together too tightly to separate them for long. It was tragic, for such a horrible thing to bring happiness, but at least it brought happiness instead of just being horrible.

The sun rose that next morning, Will still alive and breathing. He seemed to be fighting, hanging on to that hope Nico had fed him. His mom came back in and sat at his side, but Nico still hadn't moved. He didn't speak a word to her and she didn't to him, but they were both there for the same reason: to comfort Will on his deathbed.

The last thing Nico expected happened that day, causing his blood to run cold and his heart to speed up. The moment Nico thought they would pronounce Will dead, the doctors offered new hope that Nico could have never predicted.

"We think he could live, but it's a long shot. He pulled through the night and we can do the second surgery today. We think he's strong enough."