You know what's odd? I had this story in my head since I started Gwillym—no, since I finished the Blood of Olympus. What was that, last January or late 2014? I waited a really long time to start writing this…

~ΨΩΨ~

Chapter 6: Starlight

"You say he's coming over today?" Clara said, bouncing on the sofa in the living room. She looked a little too excited about the idea, and was beaming at her father who was sitting next to her. Ghosty grumbled at the girl's happy squeal, but otherwise seemed to be indifferent about her actions from his place on the rug next to Will's feet.

Will sighed from his side of the sofa. He didn't have the heart to scold Clara for bouncing on the couch—even though it was making his leg throb with pain. "Yes, Clare. He'll be coming by soon."

"How soon?" Clara demanded.

"Soon," Will said.

Clara stopped bouncing and sat properly in her seat. She pouted at him. "But Daddy," she said in a whining voice. "How soon?"

Will couldn't help the smile that crossed his face. "Soon," he repeated.

Clara huffed irritably.

Ghosty, tired of all of the noise, sat up and yawned. His midnight-colored fur was beautiful and glossy from all of the brushing Clara had given him, though Ghosty never stopped halfheartedly trying to stop her. He sat his chin on Will's uninjured knee and blinked up at them.

Will reached over and brushed a finger over the wolf's forehead. Ghosty's eyes closed. "Sorry, Ghosty. We're ruining your evening nap, aren't we?"

Ghosty huffed, closing his teeth gently over Will's knee.

"I'll take that as a yes." Will chuckled.

The wolf didn't answer. He stood, stretched, and headed off in the direction of the backyard.

"I guess he wants to sleep outside, we're so loud," Will said. "Clara, would you mind helping him open the door?"

Clara jumped up. "Sure, Daddy!"

She dashed after the wolf.

Will smiled and picked up the book that he had set by his side, going to a random page and skimming over the words with his eyes. It was a medical book, one that Will had carried when he was still in college. But his mind wasn't focused on the time-worn book. In truth, he had lied to Clara—he had no clue when the man would be arriving. The subject had been something they had forgotten to discuss before Nico decided to say goodbye.

The man shook his head. No. He wouldn't start thinking about that again. At least, not until he could ask Nico about it if they were ever alone…

Will sighed, closing the book. He hadn't been feeling well after that day. It wasn't his broken bones that kept him down. He'd always been able to suppress pain well without the help of medication. But he was always only halfway aware of the things happening around him. The other half, a chaotic mess of emotions and confusion.

How much did Nico know about Will? The things he had spoken about, everything about being able to move on with his life… Clara couldn't have told Nico about all of that, could she? Will knew that she had the mind to tell the wolf about it—but Nico? What about Kayla? The rest of the hospital staff? With Nico's wild lie about being Will's boyfriend, it would be no surprise if they told him a few things, but Will couldn't be sure. His best bet was to just ask Nico, but…

Did he even want to?

Will ran his fingers down the rough edges of the book in his lap. He shouldn't be thinking so much into things—he'd only start making assumptions. Plus, his head was starting to hurt, and he really didn't want to take any medication before Nico showed up. He didn't want to suffer from illusions like last time.

Will's forehead tingled at the thought, right over the spot where Nico had kissed him.

A delighted squeal drew Will's attention towards the hallway where Clara had disappeared. "Nico!" her voice shouted, and warm laughter followed. Familiar laughter.

Will sat up straighter, book forgotten in his lap. He's here.

The seconds ticked in time with Will's heartbeat as he waited for them to come to him. Suddenly, he was worried. He knew he still looked pretty well battered up with his colorful patchwork of bruises and his lump of a left leg propped up on a cushion to improve blood flow. He was healing well enough, but he was nowhere near back to how he was before.

Astonished by his own train of thought, Will glared down at the book in his hands. Why the fuck was he worried about how he looked? He was far worse a week ago, and Nico hadn't once brought it up! Besides, Will shouldn't be so concerned about looking good for the other man—he had his job to worry about, after all. Nico might have made a stupid lie to make sure he got to see Will when he woke up, but—

"Care to share with the class?"

Will jumped. "What?"

Nico himself stood in front of him, one hand on his hip and the other holding Clara's. Will's daughter had an expression on that told Will that she had dragged Nico down the hall as fast as she could, and she was currently bouncing on the balls of her feet with excitement.

Will blushed. "Um, sorry. My mind wandered, I guess."

Raising his eyebrows, Nico tilted his head in a very dog-like way. "Obviously."

Clara was too excited to stay silent for very long. "Daddy, Daddy! Can I go to Mister Herald the cook and tell him that Nico's here? Can I please?"

Will didn't feel ready to be left alone with Nico so soon, but he couldn't deny his daughter when she looked so happy. "Sure, sweetheart." She was down the hall in half a heartbeat. "Clara!" Will shouted after her. "Don't be running in the halls! Slow down!"

In the distance Clara's voice floated back. "I'll be fine, Daddy!"

Will sighed at the same time Nico laughed.

"Energetic, isn't she?" Nico mused.

"Yeah," Will hummed. "What I wouldn't give to be like that again."

"I'd agree with you, but it would make me feel old," Nico said, smiling easily down at the other man. Will's heart picked up at the sight. "May I?" he asked, gesturing to the spot on the sofa beside Will.

Will nodded.

Nico sat. His eyes trailed down Will to the book in his lap. When he saw the faded title, his smile widened a touch, but he didn't bring up the subject. Instead, he said: "You're looking much better now. How have you been feeling?"

Will shrugged and immediately regretted it. "I've been better," he gasped.

Nico reached over and gently prodded at Will's ribs. He knew which ones had been broken, and did not put much pressure on them. It seemed he was just reassuring himself that they hadn't somehow broken themselves again. "At least it's not as bad as before," he said, eyes downcast.

"That's true," Will muttered.

Nico retrieved his hand and laid it over the lip of the couch behind him. In the silence, Will finally allowed himself a moment to examine the other man. He was wearing a skeleton-patterned t-shirt over a white long-sleeved shirt tucked into the belt of his ripped black jeans. Around his neck was his leather cord necklace, and his hair was tied back again in a loose ponytail. The clothes were almost identical to the ones he had been wearing a week ago, except he didn't have his leather jacket with him. Fenwick had probably hung it up next to the door.

Will chewed his lip as he gazed over Nico. "You look well," he mumbled when he noticed Nico watching him intently. His cheeks still felt warm. "How have you been this week?"

Nico smirked, a knowing look crossing his face. "Pretty good, actually. Now that I don't have to worry about you dying. Speaking of which, have you talked to your friends in the hospital lately? I'm quite curious how you might have explained our little predicament."

Will's blush reached his ear tips. "N-No, I haven't talked to them yet."

Nico looked disappointed. "Is that right."

Will forced himself to ignore the almost-pout that was forming on the man's mouth. Nico didn't even seem like the type of person to pout. "I haven't been to the hospital since I was discharged. I've been staying here, trying to recover."

"Really? I'm shocked. I thought you would have been crawling back the moment you started getting behind in your work." And Nico really did look surprised. He gave Will an odd look, one that made Will fight the urge to shift away. "Are you sure you're Will Solace?" Nico poked him. "You're not a ghost. Are you sick?"

Frowning, Will offered Nico the best glare he could muster.

Nico just grinned and turned to the door.

Will turned confused up until footsteps came dashing to them, carrying Clara into the room. Her blonde hair was flying everywhere, and a wide grin plastered on her face. "I have told Mister Herald!" she announced, proud. She skipped over to the two men and climbed onto the sofa with them, squishing between them.

Nico laughed. "And how did that go, caro?"

Clara puffed out her chest and turned her grin to Nico. "He says hello and that he's getting dinner started right now!"

"It's only five!" Nico exclaimed. He glanced over Clara's head at Will. "Isn't it a bit early for dinner?"

"Nonsense," Will said. "Besides, we weren't sure how long you'd be able to stay. It'll take a while before the food is ready, either way. About an hour."

"Oh." Nico relaxed. "Well, you didn't have to go through that sort of trouble for me." Nico laughed suddenly. "You don't have to impress me with all of these luxuries just because I'm in your home, Will. I'm fine just having coffee. That's what you said we'd be having, anyway."

"At five in the evening?" Will wondered.

Nico shrugged. He placed his hand on top of Clara's head, stilling her before she could start bouncing on the cushions. "Why not?"

"I like coffee!" Clara piped in helpfully.

Will looked down at her. "Now where would you be getting coffee, Clare?"

Clara raised her hand. "Nico gave me some at the hospital!"

Nico bit his lip to hold back laughter at the horrified look on Will's face. "Now, Clarina, you just had a little sip! That most certainly isn't enough to say you like it."

"But you wouldn't let me have any more!" Clara pouted.

"Rightfully so," Nico told her gently. He poked her shoulder. "You're already a great buzz of energy, caro. You may start hopping off of the walls if you were to have a whole cup of coffee."

Will stared at Nico over Clara's head. He couldn't tell whether to be angry or amused. When Nico met his gaze, he asked with his eyes: You gave my daughter coffee?

Nico offered a tiny smile before he returned his attention to Will's daughter.

"Cool!" Clara exclaimed. She started bouncing where she sat despite Nico's hand on her head, holding her down. "Will I be able to walk on walls? Will it give me super powers? I'd like to be able to fly if it did! That'd be so awesome!"

Nico rolled his eyes at her, but the look was affectionate. He seemed to know how to deal with her antics as though he had known her for years, and pressed the heel of his hand into her scalp as gently as possible. "Sit still, caro," he scolded. "You'll hurt your father if you keep bouncing around like that. You're sitting beside his bad leg."

Clara glanced down at Will's cast. Immediately, her bouncing ceased. She looked up at her father with unmasked shame and guilt. "Sorry, Daddy."

Will blinked, surprised. "It's fine, Clare. You didn't hurt me."

Nico chuckled. "Babbo is such a strong and determined man, isn't he, caro?"

Clara brightened. "Yep!" she said, nodding. "He's strong and handsome and he's the best daddy in the world!" Clara then turned to Will and hugged his arm.

Will blushed again. "Please, let's be modest here…" he muttered too softly to be heard.

Nico's smile widened as though he had actually heard. "How about this," he began, looking down at Clara. "Why don't you go and find that album you told me about before—the one you said had those funny pictures in it—and I'll sit here and keep babbo company."

Nico raised his eyebrows at Clara's answering frown. "Daddy hid the book," Clara muttered.

The man smirked and looked at Will, who was doing his best to focus on the book in his hands. "Is that so? Have you any idea where he could have hidden it?"

Clara shook her head.

"Have you checked his room?"

Will's head snapped up. He shot a glare at the man, but the damage was already done.

"To the bedroom!" his daughter declared, dashing off before Will could stop her.

"Dear fucking god," Will huffed when Clara disappeared around the corner. "You just had to mention the album, didn't you?"

Nico smiled. "It'll take her a while to find it, won't it? I figured it would make for a perfect opportunity to talk. You seem like you've been bubbling with questions ever since I came in."

Will stilled, staring at the other man. "What do you mean?"

Rolling his eyes, Nico scooted closer to Will. He looked too calm about invading Will's personal space, and Will did his best to seem as though the act wasn't affecting him. "I wasn't wrong, was I?" Nico asked, his voice a mere whisper.

Will swallowed. "I—well, yes, I have questions, but—"

"But?"

"Why now?"

In an instant, Nico's face became mischievous. "Were you hoping for something a little more romantic?" Nico teased. "I could do that. I heard there was going to be a gorgeous display of shooting stars tonight. We could put Clara to bed later and go stargazing."

Will choked on his own words.

Nico didn't let Will find his voice. He leaned closer. "Tell me something, Will," he said, breath fanning the man's face. "What confuses you about this situation? Don't you want to know why I'm acting like this?"

"Uh, kinda?" Will squeaked, leaning away.

Nico nodded and gave Will space. Then he abruptly jabbed him in the shoulder with a finger, making Will squawk in surprise and pain.

"What in Hades, dude? That hurt."

"I know," Nico said smugly. "Listen, Will—"

Will cut him off, bristling. "Are you trying to bruise me up again or something? Seriously, I've already been bashed up as it is—"

"Will."

Once Will shut up, Nico exhaled sharply.

"Forgive me for this brash attitude, but I was trying to make a point." Nico shot Will a look that kept the doctor's mouth sealed shut obediently. "If there was anything I learned while waiting for you to wake up in the hospital—and no, this isn't about your coworkers, so you can go ahead and close your mouth, Solace—is something about Clara."

Will's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

Nico's voice softened to a murmur. "She's lonely, Will. So very lonely. No—don't speak. Let me finish." He took a deep breath. "To be truthful, I didn't tell her about the lie I told. That you and I were a couple. She actually found out when some of your coworkers came by to congratulate us. You should have seen her, Will. Her face. She looked so happy."

Will couldn't breathe. "What are you…?"

"Hush," he said in a scolding tone. But his eyes held no anger. "What I'm trying to tell you, Will, is that you need to let someone into your life. A friend, a lover, anyone. Clara is feeling deprived. She not only lost her mother, but she has a father who can't be home until late at night and leaves early in the morning for work. Put yourself in her shoes, idiota. Wouldn't you feel lonely, too?"

"But she isn't alone," Will said, puzzled. "She has Judith and Fenwick and Ghosty—"

"But for how long?" Nico asked. His voice was still barely over a whisper. "A year or two, maybe, for the housekeepers. But they'll move on eventually. The wolf will leave in a fraction of that time. After that, who does she have? A father who's never home."

Will fell silent.

Nico continued after a few moments had passed. "I realize you may not feel ready to accept anyone so soon after Clara's mother," Nico told him. His eyes were painstakingly gentle. Sympathizing. "But you need to keep this in mind. Clara's a child. This is her chance to grow up happy, with a loving family. But you can't provide that the way you're working yourself right now. Just," Nico sighed, "you can ignore this entire speech, but remember this: Clara may grow up happy enough with housekeepers and a temporary wolf to keep her company, but what about you?"

"Even if I could somehow ease up my schedule, where in hell would I even look for someone who liked me?" Will snapped. His voice was almost silent, but Nico heard him with ease.

"Look around," Nico whispered back. His mouth curled into a smile. "There are more people out there who would love you and your daughter than you realize. It's just up to you to see that and take a stand."

Will sighed unsteadily and looked away. "Why are you doing this for me?"

Nico rested his arm around Will's shoulders. "Because you need a little prodding, is all," he murmured into the man's ear. "And if I don't do it, who will?"

Will closed his eyes and opened them again. Before he could thank the man, Clara loped into the room with a triumphant cry, holding the photo album in her outstretched hands. She didn't seem to notice Will's haunted expression, crawling up between the two men (Nico had shifted over to make room for her, but his arm was still partially around Will's shoulders) and pushing the album into Nico's hands.

Nico laughed, the sound dripping with warmth, and took the book with a word of thanks.

Will caught Nico's eyes over Clara's head as they opened to the first page.

Will's heart felt like it was filled with lead, but he forced a tiny smile to his face. Thank you, he mouthed, and he meant it.

Thank you.

~ΨΩΨ~

I'd like you all to know that the second place winners of the Solangelo AUs (one for Fanfiction and one for AO3), the Angel AU and the Elemental AU, are being outlined currently. If there's anything you'd like to see in either story, be sure to let me know! (Especially for the Elemental AU, please. That one's proving to be pretty difficult for some reason.)