Kind Regards

37. Starlight

Nico woke up a few hours after surgery, being engulfed and smothered by Evans and Luca. Ares woke up twice last night from nightmares, so I held him close.

Everyone left the room to give us some privacy.

"Come up here buddy" Nico gestured toward the spot between us.

We smiled as the little boy crawled up onto the bed with his little triceratops.

"Luca" he mumbled, holding it up. "His name's Luca"

I started laughing as Nico did the same. That was the cutest thing ever. Ares looked between us with his bright eyes. So much kindness and potential captivated within them.

With Nico's accessibility and resources, he was able to be discharged today. A private doctor will be monitoring him for the next week or two.

The door opened ajar with Luca's big head popping in. "Hey, Ares you wanna grab some breakfast?"

Ares looked up at me for approval. He didn't need my permission.

"Go ahead, little one" I chuckled, helping him off the bed.

Nico was smiling up at me, sitting up despite the pain he must be feeling. I melted into his arms, shutting my eyes with contentment. He was okay. We were okay.

He held me in his arms. Both of us were quiet in thought. Ares has no one. Everyone else has failed him. He trusts Nico and me.

"What's going on in that beautiful mind of yours?" he mumbled against my head.

I sat up, looking at him. My hands held onto both his arms. He smiled at me in a way I recognised. "He has nothing, Nico. No one"

The kid deserved the entire world, the moon and the stars. More than anything anyone else could ever give him.

Nico tilted my chin to look at him, smiling warmly. "he has us"

My heart skipped a beat. Us. Nico, Ares and I. together.

"The second I met him; I just had this feeling. Like I was meant to run into him as fucked up as it happened. When you found me, I felt like I was slipping away. Then I saw it, you and I, and that little kid. If this is too much..."

I couldn't help it. I cut him off, kissing his lips passionately. With the most intensity, I've ever felt.

We pulled away smiling at each other like we did the very first time we kissed and the moment we were pronounced husband and wife.

"We're gonna be okay" he assured. "I promise, nothing like this will ever happen again"

Seeing the softer side of Nico made me weaker than before. Hearing him talk about plans for the house, more security at different locations, everything to ensure Ares' safety. He was falling into this new role effortlessly.

Taking Ares to the front, and seeing multiple SUVs parked awaiting our arrival was hilarious. He was in utter shock and thought we were celebrities.

He sat between Nico and me in the back as Evans and Luca were in the front. Nico listened to every question he asked, as rapid as they were.

What's your favourite dinosaur? Is this your car? Are you famous? Do you like triceratops? Is your house big? Do you have stairs? Any pets?

"My favourite dinosaur is probably a velociraptor, all of the cars are mine, I'm not famous but well-known, triceratops are so cool, my house is pretty big, lots of stairs and I have a Dog named Ryder"

Ares was in awe. Like he was finally being heard and understood, not cast away and tossed aside.

"What else?" he asked, squirming about in the seat with excitement. "secrets"