Niles was way too tired to cook by the time they were done shopping, so they stopped for takeout on the way home. Ashton had no idea what any of the human food was, so Niles just selected something for him. 

"It's salad," Niles told him. "I figured you and Mara could share. You both like the same type of stuff, anyway. I'll share something fried with Lucy. She hates salad."

Ashton nodded and eyed his container with interest, shaking it to figure out what all was in there. Niles stopped him before he could open it, however.

"Please," Niles pleaded, his hand on Ashton's arm. "Just wait until we get home, ok?"

Ashton nodded and put the container down, feeling guilty. 

They arrived back at the house, and Niles looked noticeably relieved. But the relief was short lived, as they heard Lucy's tiny voice calling out for Niles as soon as they walked through the door.

"Niles!" she yelled from around the corner. "Where have you been? I'm starving!" There was a brief pause. "Wait, who..." she rounded the corner and froze in midair, mouth dropping open comically.

"Ashton?" she exclaimed in disbelief, and Ashton grinned and waved.

"Hi, Lucy," he said.

A flash of pink was all he saw next before a surprisingly strong force slammed into his neck. For such a little thing, Lucy sure packed quite the punch.

He cupped his free hand around her to return her hug. "It's good to see you, too," he told her. And it was. Aside from Niles, Lucy had been his closest friend when he lived here. Despite her mischievous nature, he couldn't deny that she had been a huge support to him as he slowly warmed up to Niles.  

She leaned back, so he pulled his hand away to look at her. Sitting cross legged in his palm, Lucy stared up at him in wonder. "What the hell?" she marveled. "What happened to you?"

"Umm, it's kind of a long story," Ashton answered.

"He made a wish," Niles chimed in, moving past them to take the grocery bags from Ashton and put them away. "A wish to be human."

Lucy's red eyes widened more and more. "What?" she exclaimed. "Why on earth would you do that?"

Ashton quickly took to explain, giving the same story he had given Niles. Lucy listened quietly, though she gave Ashton a knowing look that he didn't quite like.

"Anyway, where's Mara?" Ashton asked, trying to change the subject before Lucy could ask any prying questions. "Niles said you two had a hokla ceremony? Congratulations!"

Lucy smiled smugly, looking quite pleased with herself. "Yeah, just last spring," she confirmed. "It's been really nice!" She made a kissy face at Niles. "But poor Niles has been so sad ever since I moved out. So, you came right in the nick of time! He'll be a lot less lonely with you around!"

Niles rolled his eyes at her comment. He had already set the table and was now patiently waiting for his turn to speak. 

"Luce, where is Mara?" he asked, repeating Ashton's earlier question. "I thought you said you were starving."

Lucy waved him off and flew over to the table to sit down. "A woodlands showed up right before you got here," she explained. "He was lost and out of magic. Mara stayed outside to help him get situated."

"Oh, man," Niles sighed. He was already heading towards the back door. "I'll go check on them," he called over his shoulder. "See what the new woodlands needs."

And then he was gone, the door closing softly behind him. 

Now just the two of them, Lucy eyed Ashton shrewdly. He ignored her pointed look as he sat at the table beside her. If she wanted to say something, she would probably do it now. Lucy was never one to beat around the bush. 

She picked at her nails. "Your story sucks, by the way," she said suddenly.

Ashton's heart quickened. "Huh? What are you talking about?"

"What kind of faerie changes species just to go on some vague-ass quest to 'find themself'?" Lucy questioned. "That's stupid as hell, Ash. You're here for Niles, aren't you?"

Ashton glanced around quickly, even though Niles wasn't in the house.

"Shh!" he exclaimed. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Lucy flew into his face to bonk him on the head.

"Hey!" Ashton complained.

She ignored him and continued to hover in his face. "I'm not an idiot, Ashton," she reminded him. "I saw the way you looked at him. You're not exactly subtle." She laughed delightedly. "Not now, and certainly not back then."

Caught, all Ashton could do was stare down at the table and scratch at the wood grain uncomfortably. 

"So, what's your game plan?" Lucy continued. "You're human...ish, so what are you going to do now?"

Ashton didn't look up. He was uncomfortable discussing it, but he figured it was better to enlist Lucy as an ally and get some information from her. "Niles... he's... not seeing anyone right now, is he?" he asked. 

Lucy shook her head, her eyes gleaming. "Planning on sweeping him off his feet, are you?" she asked. "Make him your hokla?"

"Umm..." Ashton bit his lip, and Lucy's eyes locked onto Niles' hair that was twisted in the loykra on his wrist.

"Wait..." she began slowly, pointing at the loykra. "Have you already gotten a hokla reading for you and Niles?"

"Yes," Ashton admitted quietly, and Lucy dropped to the table in front of him.

"Spill," she demanded.

Ashton was surprised by her intensity but quickly took to explain. "My grandmother did it," he said. "Before I became human, I asked her for a compatibility reading." He held up his hand, the bracelet with Niles' hair sliding down his wrist. "She used this." 

"And?"

"And... she said it was one of the highest compatibilities she's ever seen."

"Really?" Lucy tilted her head, looking highly intrigued. "Have you told Niles this?"

"No, of course not!" Ashton exclaimed, holding his hands up. "I... haven't even told him the main reason I'm here. Hoklas aren't part of human culture, and I... wasn't sure what he already knew about the bond. Trying to explain a hokla compatibility, on top of my reappearance... I didn't want to overwhelm him with all this."

Lucy was already shaking her head. "He might not fully understand just how deep a hokla bond goes, but he knows they're everything to a woodlands," she explained. "He'll do his best to understand if you explain it to him."

Ashton sighed, unsure of what to do. A high compatibility reading wasn't an automatic guarantee a couple would be together, but it was close. Even if no feelings had developed yet, even if the couple didn't know each other at all, a compatibility reading was never wrong. 

So, though Ashton knew that Niles currently had no feelings for him, there was a very high likelihood that he would develop some under the right conditions. But Ashton had no idea how to tell him that. Or if he even should. 

"Are you going to tell him at all?" Lucy wanted to know.

Ashton hesitated. "I was going to wait," he admitted. "I didn't want to pressure him into giving me a chance just because our compatibilities suggest we would do well together."

Lucy nodded thoughtfully. "Hmm, that's probably for the best. Niles is a bit weird about relationships. So, don't tell him yet," she advised. "Wait until he's interested in you before you tell him your own feelings. And then, don't even tell him about your compatibility reading until you two are already involved and considering becoming hoklas. The last thing you want is to scare him off."

"Weird about relationships?" Ashton echoed. "Scare him off? What do you mean?

Lucy tapped her chin. "Well, Niles has almost always dated nice people," she mused. "But they never really lasted long." She waved her hand in dismissal. "And he doesn't catch feelings for people easily. In fact, he's only ever had three actual relationships. A girl in high school and two guys in college. He was too busy with med school and doctor stuff to actually be serious about a relationship after that."

"Oh." Ashton said. "Why didn't he continue with those more serious relationships?"

Lucy shrugged. "He and his girlfriend broke up when they graduated high school. They were going to different colleges, and they both felt like it was better to end things and move on to a new chapter in their lives."

"His first college relationship wasn't that serious. They both really enjoyed their year together, but neither of them was too interested in making a life together. But the last boyfriend... well, they were a pretty good fit, actually. They were together for the last two years of college, but when it came time for graduation, Niles saw that the other guy didn't prioritize their relationship the same way he did."

"Oh?" Ashton said, tilting his head to the side. "What happened?"

"The guy got a job offer on the other side of the country while Niles had just gotten accepted into med school. Niles was actually going to postpone school to go with him, but then he realized that the guy wouldn't have done the same for him. So, they broke things off. And Niles has never seriously dated anyone since."

Lucy sighed, and her wings fluttered. "I keep telling him to get back out there, but he always says he's too busy. I think he's just worried about investing in someone who won't put as much effort into the relationship as he does."

Ashton nodded thoughtfully, but Lucy wasn't done yet.

"But that won't be a problem with you!" she exclaimed. "Especially since you gave up your entire life to be with him. You'll do a much better job prioritizing him than his last partner."

Ashton laughed. "Does this mean I have your blessing?" he asked, and Lucy flashed him a toothy grin.

"Not quite," she said, and Ashton raised his eyebrows at her. 

Lucy patted his hand. "Look, I like you, Ashton. I really do. And since you spent so long with Niles, I know you're already well aware of what a catch he is." She raised her tiny finger in warning. "But as his big sister, I'm sure you understand that I am morally obligated to tell you that if you hurt him in any way, I will end you."

Ashton tilted his head to the side. "Big sister?" he echoed.

Lucy gave his thumb a kick and scowled. "Older sister!" she clarified, and she kicked him again when she saw his grin. "I changed my mind. You do not have the older sister seal of approval. I hope a catfish eats you."

Ashton burst out laughing. "Where on earth did you learn a water sprite curse?"

"Ah, you didn't hear?" Lucy said. "Remember that water sprite family that Niles took in for a winter? Svernin and Alexo had a hokla ceremony. I learned a whole bunch of insults from Svernin. Mostly directed at me, but it was worth it to expand my vocabulary."

Ashton's mouth dropped open. "Svernin and Alexo?" he wondered aloud, remembering the quarreling pair that Niles was convinced would end up together.

"Yeah. Oh my gosh, they're so happily miserable together. Alexo's not a gloomy person, but Svernin certainly is, and Alexo lets his grumpy attitude get under his skin. They argue all the damn time. I had my misgivings, but I doubt anyone but Alexo could handle Svernin, so it's good that the woodlands agreed to hokla him up."

"Are they... even compatible?" Ashton asked. "A summer and winter faerie... aren't a usual pairing."

Lucy threw her hands up in the air. "Surprisingly? Yes! Alexo told me their compatibility level, and frankly, it's great. And they're obsessed with each other. Oh my goodness, you should see them. They've settled in the roots of a tree near Svernin's family's stream. Svernin spends his days in the water but sleeps with Alexo in the tree at night."

"Alexo is still weirdly explorative for a woodlands, so he's gone for most of the day, but Svernin always dutifully waits for him at their tree each night until he gets back. It's disgustingly cute. They're still really competitive with each other, too, and sometimes their arguing just turns into wrestling. I think it's some kind of weird foreplay for them." She shrugged. "Oh, well. Whatever floats their boat, I guess."

Ashton stared at her, curious. "What about you and Mara?" he asked. "What's your compatibility?"

"Very compatible." Lucy gave a thumbs up.

Huh. Ashton thought about it. Lucy was a bit of a chaos gremlin while Mara was a very steady, polite woodlands. But compatibility testing didn't just take into account the potential couple's personalities, temperaments, and interests. It also considered each partner's consideration for the other, ability to respect, accept, and listen to each other, as well as personal feelings and attraction.

Finally, he nodded. "I can see it," he said.

"Wow, thanks for your approval," Lucy deadpanned. She nudged one of the containers of food on the table before looking back up at Ashton, red eyes gleaming. "Can we eat now?" she asked, completely ignoring the fact that Mara and Niles were still outside. "I'm starving."

________________________________________________________

A/N: Niles has lowkey been avoiding relationships and commitment for over ten years. Good for him. Drama free king. 

Thanks for reading! Don't forget to vote and comment. When do you think Niles will figure out the real reason that Ashton decided to become human? And what about them makes their compatibility so high?