Chapter 12: Murky

His decision came fairly quickly after his talk with Clara—not that he would admit that to anyone. It was simple: if Clara could act so…so normal with Nico's and Aaron's werewolf personas, then Will could at least give it a shot. He wouldn't tell Nico immediately, though… He still needed a while to think things over. But, for now, he would wait and see how things might turn out.

If Nico noticed anything odd in the way Will was acting—because he honestly felt like a chicken with his head cut off—he didn't say anything of it. He paid more attention to the children's quick-building friendship. "Much like siblings," the Italian would mutter once to Will a couple days after Clara and Aaron's initial meeting. But nothing else since. Nothing that might hint at the predicament they had between them.

Will was tempted time and time again to tell him. To admit that he actually wanted to let things run through. But other times it was the opposite. Something would remind him of the lies Nico had held silent between them, the trust that had never been there between them. That the secret had been revealed through force, rather than acceptance.

His conflicting thoughts left a sour aftertaste in the back of his throat. Nico had to have seen the look on his face whenever he felt that way, but never did he ask about it. He seemed to slowly push himself away from Will, as though trying to keep them apart. So they wouldn't get hurt in the aftermath should their lives push them away. Along with that came the deafening silence, the dark circles of sleepless nights, and the lack of smiles that had once lifted Will's heart above the clouds.

Aaron and Clara were a different story. More than once Will had fallen to his thoughts in the living room, staring blindly at the dead fireplace believing that the children were busy playing outside, only to find them at his side, his daughter and a young wolf boy. Perhaps Nico had told them why Will was acting that way; perhaps they were just wiser than their years, but nonetheless they curled up with him and sat for a while in silence.

Aaron was the quieter of the two by far—excitable from play and stories, but he seemed used to the thoughtful and dark silence that Will emitted. As though he had experienced them plenty himself. In those times, he curled his small wolf form over Will's feet and peeked up at the man from over his tail.

The young werewolf, in silence, would then help resolve Will's troubles. Nico's boy was real, as Nico had claimed. Real and warm and innocent and kind. One truth, two truths, three truths… Will was able to count off several of the things Nico had said that were fact. Especially now that Nico was determined to prove himself to Will after his months of secrecy.

"Werewolves are like wolves and—well, some humans, I might say," Nico murmured to him as they watched Clara chase after a playful Aaron. Even in his human form, the boy was graceful and swift. Much like his father, Will's mind would then unhelpfully supply. He turned to give Ghost—Nico his full attention. Nico exhaled softly. "We only have one mate, usually for life."

"Even those who can't mate?"

"Some of them. Usually those are the higher-ranked wolves, like Betas or Deltas. Those closer to taking over should the Alpha couple die without an heir."

The explanation made sense to Will, so he nodded without question. But he knew Nico was going somewhere with it concerning the blond, so he asked him what he wanted to say.

Nico chuckled and took a moment to scratch at a place on his back with his hind leg. "Usually werewolf mates 'break up', as you humans would say, after one of the two dies off."

"But it won't work that way for us." Will was certain with that claim.

Nico nodded. "The others won't understand, as always. But I am not worried. They will leave you be once I return for good. Perhaps once or twice they'll come snooping out of curiosity, but no more."

Will swallowed thickly, Nico's words having struck him hard in the stomach. Once I return for good. Nico believed there was no chance, then, that Will might want him to stay. The man figured it was understandable. His silence and avoidance probably had done less good than more.

But was he ready to tell Nico? No, he didn't believe so. But he didn't want Nico to further distance himself just because of that. He had been kind to Will, after all. Not to mention kind to Clara. She loved the werewolf, after all—like a second father.

Maybe Nico was the one who wanted to leave, though. He had a pack to tend to. Perhaps Will wasn't worth the wait, nor would he be good at helping with a pack of werewolves. A human mate, ha! Will was sure that Nico would be ridiculed for that. And the danger would only begin there. Nico would have to protect him and his daughter constantly from rival packs and whatnot, and that would make it extremely difficult to remain indiscreet to the human world and lead a pack of werewolves at the same time.

Will heaved a sigh and rubbed his forehead, meeting Nico's wolf gaze. Those dark eyes were familiar yet distant, understanding yet cold. In that instant, Will's own resolve kicked in. Danger or not, he had come to be fond of those eyes, from the wolf and man alike. He didn't want them to look at him like that: like he was a stranger. Not when they used to look at him so softly, so affectionately.

That in mind, Will reached over and scratched Nico behind the ears, just as Ghosty had liked it. Nico froze at the touch, eyes widening and fixing on Will.

"I'll keep my word," Will murmured, focusing on his daughter and Nico's son playing at the edge of the woods. Not on the wolf staring holes into the side of his face. "I'm a bit stingy, I suppose. For not realizing this before. But I told Clare that we would work on being happy. And I intend to do that. Without Katherine's approval." At the name, Nico's ears immediately laid back flat on his head. "And when Clara's happy, I'm happy. And I'm certainly not happy when you're a pile of insomniac misery yourself."

Nico pawed the earth and grumbled.

Will curled his fingers in the wolf's neck fur. "You make Clara happy," he whispered. "And I was also…not against your company, Ghosty or Nico."

Nico stared.

Will coughed into his fist and fell silent.

After a long stretch of awkward silence for Will, Nico exhaled and nudged the man with his nose, urging him to look down at the wolf. Black ears pricked and poised still as the rest of his body, Nico parted his jaws and told Will, "I am also not against your company. Nor Clarina's."

His voice was soft—weak, vulnerable, yet hopeful. He leaned his head against Will's hand.

"In fact, I have preferred it over the pack's company. Of friends and family that I have known all of my life." Nico's voice trailed away, his wolf face thoughtful. "Perhaps I am too forward, thinking this way. I will put you in more danger than you are already in. And I will not be able to stay all the time, as I would wish to. Clarisse was right about the Romani pack. They seem to be ready for war, with me in absence."

"But?" Will asked, knowing that there was one on the tip of Nico's tongue.

"But," Nico chuckled. "I have grown fond of your company, I suppose. It would be difficult, but I would not be against trying to make it work."

"Neither would I," Will blurted, and he blushed at his sudden statement. He hadn't meant to say that aloud.

Nico's gaze became warm, which calmed Will's nerves. The werewolf sat up on his haunches and pressed his muzzle flush against Will's cheekbone. After a few moments of sitting like that, the feeling of fur was replaced with skin, and Nico's cheek stayed pressed against Will's. Just like Ghosty's.

The Italian watched the children play, eyes brighter than they had been before, even if there were still bruises under them that spoke of restless nights. His cheek was colder than the wolf's fur, but Will found it just as comforting. Their shoulders brushed in their closeness, Nico turned slightly towards Will with black hair falling into the blond's face. Their breath mingled in the cool spring air, more intimate to Will than even the most provocative moments that he had shared with Katherine, years ago.

His ex-wife was but a faint dream at that moment, and she continued to fade the longer Nico and he sat together under the sun, their children playing in the trees.

And for once, Will didn't long for her to come back.

~ΨΩΨ~

It did not come immediately, the old comfortable ways they had before. Whether it had been Ghosty or Nico, Will had always felt natural with them. Well, strike that, not natural. But contented. Fond. Affectionate, even. Not anymore. Not now that Nico and Ghosty were, well, all and the same.

But at least everyone else seemed to take Nico's stay with stride. Will's coworkers (not to mention cousin) were delighted to see him again when he came around to visiting Will at work. They told him stories about Will while the other man was off working, and Nico did well to return those stories to Will with a bemused expression. They never ceased to make Will blush or stutter over himself with embarrassment, which further amused Nico.

His coworkers were also all-too-welcome of Nico's son, as well. The more motherly of them cooed over the beautiful boy and ruffled his hair. Aaron was nervous under all of the attention, and he tended to duck behind Nico or Will whenever he could. Once, the boy hid in Will's white doctor's coat, clutching Will's shirt while painstakingly waiting for things to quiet down. Will had been surprised. He had been talking with a recovering surgery patient at the time, one who was currently blinking at the child in surprise and confusion, her nervous plucking at her gown stilling.

"Aaron? What are you—"

"Shh," Aaron hissing, gripping Will's shirt tighter. "Don't let them know I'm here."

His voice was overwhelmed and nervous, and Will patted the boy's back in a sudden fit of fatherly concern. "Not used to all of this, are you?" Will whispered down at him.

Aaron peeked up, brown eyes wide and doe-like. "I'm supposed to get used to this?"

Will rubbed soothing circles in the boy's back. "I suppose not, if you don't like it. Pampering can get a bit hard to handle when it comes from strangers, huh?"

Aaron hid his face in Will's shirt and nodded.

Will sighed. "I get it." He looked up at his patient. "Sorry about this. He's…He's my boyfriend's boy. They came by a little while ago to visit." It felt odd to call Nico his boyfriend, but…how else would he explain it?

The patient's eyes cleared of confusion. "He's a beautiful boy," she complemented immediately.

Will smiled, because he just had to agree. "Yes, he certainly is."

"Aaron?" a voice called from the doorway. Will turned his head and, seeing Nico standing there, nodded and patted Aaron's head.

The boy looked around, sniffled and returned to Will's embrace.

"He's a bit frightened, I'm afraid," Will murmured as Nico let himself in.

"Your friends certainly do like him," Nico agreed. He nodded to the patient once in greeting and turned to his son. "Aaron, let's head on back, okay? Clarina will be home soon. Shouldn't we go meet her when she arrives? I'm sure she'd be happy to see you."

Aaron looked up at his father. "What about Papi?" he asked, referring to Will. He had adopted the name as soon as Nico had told them that they were definitely staying longer. Aaron wasn't a fool—he knew why the moment Nico tilted his head slightly towards Will as he said this. The title stuck. Papi.

Nico exchanged glances with Will. "He still has some time before his shift ends. Ah, how long was it?"

"I'm off at six," Will answered, which still seemed too early to him. He was used to working into the wee hours of the morning. Midnight had been early for him, not six in the evening.

Nico nodded. "Just in time for dinner. See, Stella-Fiore? He'll be home for dinner. Now, let's leave him to his work, alright?"

Aaron reluctantly let go of his death grip on Will's shirt and went obediently to his father. "Take care, Papi," he urged quietly.

"You too, Aaron," Will replied, offering the boy a small smile and wave.

Nico and Will looked at each other again. There were no words, but the message between them was clear: you take care, too.

Nico murmured goodbye and led his son away, back home to Clara.

"He was pretty good looking too, you know," his patient piped in suddenly, reminding Will of her presence. "You're a lucky guy. He seems so nice. So few guys are, nowadays."

Will smiled at her. He didn't tell her how much those words meant to him; he just gave her his thanks and excused himself when a nurse came in to check on her.

Lucky. Such an odd word to say about Will. But he had to admit, he felt pretty lucky himself. What with all of the shit he had to go through to get to that point.

Not that he was anywhere near close to getting out of that same shit, though.

~ΨΩΨ~

Will looked up at a knock on the living room door, Nico standing at its mouth with a blanket in the crook of his arm. "I'm sorry for disturbing you, but the children are asleep. I thought we might talk some."

Will immediately closed the book he had been reading and set it aside. "Talk about what?"

Nico strode in and took his place next to Will on the couch, throwing the blanket over their legs. He let the silence of the moment hang between them for a moment before sucking in a breath. "I heard from Judith that you received another call from Katherine."

The way he said her name made Will shiver, the hairs of the back of his neck rising. It was dark, loathing. Perhaps even a touch of jealousy. "Yes, I did," Will replied, not without a touch of confusion. "Why?"

"Well, this isn't what I was necessarily coming in here to ask you, but have you…told her? About us, I mean."

Will cleared his throat. "Um, no. Not yet. But! She doesn't give me the opportunity, though! It's all this shit about—" Will casted a wary gaze at the door "—Clara's birthday gift."

"That's the reason I came to you, actually," Nico admitted. "I have some ideas to run by you—not any to share with Katherine though. Absolutely not. And you realize I can tell that you're lying about not having time to tell her? She calls you every fucking week, for Hades' sake."

Will's shoulders slumped in defeat. "Sorry," he mumbled.

Nico casted an understanding smile Will's way. "I know. It's fine. Well…" He paused and looked at the space between them. "I was wondering why you wouldn't, I suppose. You were fine telling your coworkers, your cousin, and your brother. I'd figure you'd be almost proud to tell her about me. If only to show her that she doesn't mean everything to you. But, well, maybe I'm thinking about this differently from you."

Rubbing his temple, Will exchanged thoughtful looks with Nico. "I don't know if I can find words to explain. It's just…awkward, I suppose. Discussing my love life with my ex-wife."

Nico nodded. "I see. Well, you don't have to tell her, then. If I'm able, I'd like to be here for Clara's birthday party. Clara's been all abuzz about us staying for the party. All of her family and friends will be there, she says. Wouldn't that be a perfect moment to drop the bomb on Katherine?"

Will couldn't help the laugh that bubbled up to his lips.

Nico grinned crookedly at the response he got. He slung his arm over the top of the couch and relaxed. "Anyway, moving on from absolutely ruining your ex-wife. About Clara's birthday gift…"