When the Stars Align

A Deep Sleep

I lied in bed that night wondering what had happened with Will's family.

You should just go ask him, I told myself. After a few minutes of debating with myself, I crawled out of bed and opened the door. I hadn't taken more than a step outside of the room when I tripped on a limb and fell. The limb had been Will's. With his quick reflexes, he reached out and caught me.

"I guess you could say you're falling for me," he said looking down at me.

I smiled and sat up. "Smooth, Carter."

He angled his head towards mine and brought his lips down. Even sitting down he was a few inches taller than me. He pulled me into his lap as I wrapped my legs around him. I ran my fingers through his already tousled hair. His fingers grazed my thighs as he kissed me like I was the only person that mattered and I was suddenly aware that all I was wearing was a thin t-shirt and short pajama shorts.

"I came out here to ask you something," I muttered against his neck.

"Anything," he muttered back.

"What happened with your family?" I asked.

He sighed and pulled away.

"I never knew my dad, he abandoned my mom and I when I was three. I was an only child, I didn't know any of my dad's extended family and all of my mom's was dead. She raised me, but when I turned ten years old, I starting noticing strange things. I figured out I could control air. I thought it was amazing, I could fly like every little kid dreamed of, but at ten years old I wasn't very careful," he took a deep breath. "The Obscurites found out I was an Etoile before I even knew what that was and the police showed up at my house one day. My mom answered the door and they killed her. I ran without knowing where I was going and eventually Max found me and led me to the Hotel."

"Will, I'm so sorry," I said.

"Yeah, well, that's what happens with most Etoiles. They don't know what they are and the Obscurites find them first. Most of them end up dead," he replied.

I wasn't sure what to say.

"Why were you out here anyway?" I asked suddenly.

All the blood rushed to his face. "I, um, just wanted to make sure you were okay."

I leaned my head against his. "Will you stay with me again tonight? Hopefully we'll get some answers from Angie tomorrow as to where Brendan is, but for now, he's still out there somewhere."

He nodded. "Of course."

He helped me up and we went into the bedroom. He kicked off his shoes and took off his weapons belt as I climbed into bed and he climbed in after me. I leaned my head into his chest and I could make out the faint smell of cologne with a mixture of fabric softener. I closed my eyes as he pressed his gentle lips to my forehead.

------

I jumped awake to someone pounding on the door.

"Ow," Will groaned. "You elbowed me."

"Sorry, sorry," I said rising out of bed to peer through the peephole on the door.

"It's Jace," I hissed grabbing Will's hand and dragging him out of bed, ignoring his protests.

"So what? It's Jace," he said obliviously.

"If he sees you, he's going to think something happened between us that didn't happen," I said forcing the window open.

"He's eight!" Will exclaimed.

"For an eight year old, he's extremely intelligent," I replied. "Very perspective too."

He sighed and climbed out onto the roof. "I'll see you at breakfast?" He asked turning back to me.

I nodded as he brought his lips down to mine before zooming upwards like Peter Pan. I closed the window and hurried over to the door.

"What took you so long?" Jace immediately asked.

"I was sleeping pretty hard I guess," I said with a slight smile.