Chapter Text
Outside of Sage’s room, Will fidgeted. They’d long since changed into pajamas and were headed to bed, stopping only to kiss their daughter goodnight. On any other day, all three of them would have slept in the same room— Will’s childhood bedroom, covered in Star Wars stickers— but Sage had already woken up more than once, and the bed in that room creaked so loudly they wouldn’t get a moment’s rest.
In an effort to keep her asleep for as long as possible, Naomi had offered up her old room, which doubled as both a guest room and a peace offering Will had accepted.
“I’m just gonna” —he took a step back, towards the door— “I’m gonna tell her I love her. Again. Even though I know she can’t hear—”
“Will. I know. Go.” Nico put one hand on Will’s chest and gently pushed him back into the room.
Thank you , Will mouthed, walking over to where she slept. In the interest of privacy, and of not freezing his feet off on the linoleum, Nico made his way into the guest bedroom, climbing into one side of the astronomically large bed.
Nearly fifteen minutes passed, and Will still didn’t return. I love you didn’t take that long, so Nico got up and shuffled back through the living room, past where Naomi slept on the couch, to peer into the adjoining room.
Will sat on a chair next to Sage, his head resting on the arm he’d propped up on her crib. Nico stepped forward into the dark room, ready to nudge him, because he was so still it looked like he’d fallen asleep.
Just before Nico reached him, Will’s shoulders shook, and Nico froze. His lips were moving, but all Nico could hear were his uneven breaths.
Pressing a hand to his mouth, Nico backed out, his own eyes stinging. A low wail escaped Will’s lips, and Nico squeezed his eyes shut, feeling hot tears trickle down his face.
He hadn’t been back in the guest room for more than thirty seconds before he heard the door to the other room shut and Will’s footsteps approaching. Wiping the tears from his face, he met Will at the door.
“Hey.” Will’s eyes were still red.
“Hi.” Nico knew his were, too.
He pulled his fiancé in for a hug, wrapping his arms around Will’s waist. Will put his chin on top of Nico’s head, allowing Nico to listen to the even rhythm of his heartbeat.
“You know,” Will murmured, the sound reverberating through his chest, “We may never be normal.” He took a deep breath. “But that’s okay. We can still be happy.”
“We are happy.” Nico pulled back to look at him. “Right?”
“Yeah.” Will smiled. “We are.”