"So... Yeah." Nico wouldn't look Will in the eye.

"Nico..." Will didn't know what to say. All he could do in a sudden urge to erase all the bad stuff from Nico's life, was take his hand in his and squeeze. He didn't want him to hurt. He was surprised when Nico held tight.

"Stuff changed though." Nico sighed. "When Hazel came, she gave me hope I guess and I love her lots. And things are still changing... The friends I have now seem great so that's not so bad." Will thought he might be trying for a nonchalant tone but he saw in his eyes he cared a lot about those friends too. Will only hoped that if he wasn't one of those friends, it was because maybe, just maybe, he liked him as more than a friend.

But I hope you'd still consider me as a friend. After all, the best relationships start off with a good foundation of friendship, Will thought. He didn't dare voice that, instead he went with his next thought. "And how did you end up here?"

Nico sighed. "I guess my dad just got tired of being reminded of my sister. I got home one day to see my bags packed. He told me over dinner and I left the next day."

"I'm so sorry, Nico." Will scoot his chair closer and squeezed his hand for the millionth time.

He looked down at the frozen ground. "Me too."

Will didn't know what to say, so instead he stood and pulled Nico up with him, enveloping him in his arms. At first, Nico was surprised and he didn't do anything, his body stiff, but then he realized what was going on and...he hugged him back. He held on tight. Will was surprised, he wasn't sure what he'd expected but it was definitely not that. His shock almost caused him to let go but he managed to hold tight. He didn't know how long they stood there, with Nico's face buried in his chest and Will resisting the urge to kiss his head but when they finally let go, before there could be an awkward silence, Will smiled and said, trying to make the moment a little lighter. "I'm not so bad am I?"

Nico blushed and turned away, "Shut up, Solace."

Will chuckled, "You know I'm right."

If possible, Nico's cheeks reddened further, "Let's just go alright?"

Will smiled suddenly getting an idea, "I want to take you somewhere."

"Now?"

"Well duh."

Nico rolled his eyes at his response. "Where?"

He ignored his question. He'd made a promise and he was going to keep it. "Let's get flowers first."

Will positioned a couple bills under his plate and motioned for Nico to follow him. After some twists and turns, they were at Will's favourite flower shop. He walked in naturally, having been there every month since he was seven.

"Willy! What brings you by so late?" Betsy exclaimed. Her voice came from behind the counter, she was probably checking on the flowers there. She must've seen him from behind the glass there because he didn't see her poke her head up.

Betsy owned the shop and was a good friend of Will's. She was in her early seventies now but still very active and super healthy for her age. She claimed it was because of having been surrounded by flowers since she was born. Apparently she was born in this very shoppe. Her parents had only just opened a week before and they'd sold their only car to have enough money for it, so they'd called an ambulance to take Betsy's mother to the hospital but they were late. In the end, Betsy was born there. And she's been surrounded by flowers since then.

"You still don't lock your door until you leave. You need to be careful Betsy, what if I had been a robber?" He went up to the counter and leaned over the side and saw that he'd been right, she was checking on the flowers from the counter.

She waved her arm, a gesture like wiping away something unimportant. "Don't be silly, Willy, no one would rob me. And no one knows it but you, were anyone else to come in this late, they'd think I slipped that day and forgot to lock it."

Will smiled, "Okay, okay. It's not like anyone here would hurt you, everyone on the neighborhood loves you."

Betsy smiled, "Ah, I have indeed grown on them." At last, she finished her inspection and stood up, "So your usual then-" she caught sight of Nico behind him. Will turned and saw him looking at all the flowers around him. He seemed particularly fond of the peony. Maybe they were his favourite flower. Will wondered if it was. "Well, who's this pale beauty that you've brought with you Willy?"

Will grinned, "This is Nico. I'm taking him to say hi to my mom."

Nico turned at the sound of his name and awkwardly waved, then decided it was probably more polite to shake her hand and cane closer, stretching his arm out. "Hi, I'm Nico di Angelo. Nice to meet you Ms. Betsy."

She shook his hand, Nico looked surprised at how strong her grip was, considering how thin she was. "Manners! I like him Willy, he's a keeper!"

Will saw him blush at her answer and smiled, "Yeah, I think so too."

Betsy went around the counter, then seemed to remember Will had come to get flowers. "I didn't have your bouquet ready this time Willy, I wasn't expecting you again until next month," she said as she rounded the counter again and went to the back.

"It's okay Betsy, I'll wait."

It wasn't even a full minute when she came back, holding a bouquet of statice flowers, Will's mom's favourite. "Here you go Willy. Say hi to her for me."

Will smiled, "I will, have a good night Betsy!"

Betsy only smiled and Will and Nico left the shop. When they were outside, Nico spoke. "You're taking me to your mom."

Will smiled, "You shared. And I've told you a short version of my story. So I thought I'd take you to see her."

Nico nodded but didn't say anything. They walked the rest of the way to the cemetery in silence. Will's mom's grave wasn't too far in and before they knew it, they were standing before Naomi Solace's grave.

Will set the flowers in front of the grave, where other flowers rested already. "Hey Mom, it's Will. You probably knew that already." He smiled and then gestured for Nico to come closer, who'd been standing a couple feet behind him. He hesitatingly took the steps to reach Will's side. "This is Nico. He moved here recently from DC and it's been really great getting to know him so I thought I'd bring him to meet you."

Nico sighed from foot to foot, "Um, hi. It's Nico..." he trailed off, not knowing what else to say. What did one say to your friend's dead mother? Will saw him having trouble finding something to say and gestured for him to sit by the grave. He did. Once will was sitting on the other side, he began to speak. "Let me tell you a little story about a boy named William Solace."

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