It was Lucy's birthday a few days later, and the little pixie was absolutely insufferable the whole week leading up to her special day. It didn't help that Mara came to visit, turning Lucy into a tittering, clingy mess.

Luckily, Mara took it all in stride, and Ashton seemed to find Lucy's behavior hilarious. Even Niles minded Lucy's antics less than usual, as they brought out Ashton's faintly growing smile. At least Lucy's ridiculousness was good for something.

Niles tried to focus on Lucy's birthday, but he kept getting distracted by Ashton's reactions to the birthday celebrations. The faerie was fascinated by the lights and balloons that Niles set up in the garden, and he actually gasped aloud at the sparkling candle in Lucy's little birthday cupcake.

Though only Lucy was excited to eat the cupcake, Niles gave the other faeries frozen strawberries, and Ashton's eyes lit up. Niles stared, mesmerized by the gold flecks in his eyes and the way that they sparkled.

They ended the day with a mini bonfire. Lucy was losing her mind over s'mores while Mara chatted with Alexo. Ashton had disappeared into Niles' pocket, where he was dozing off.

Niles was just checking on him when Lucy waved to get his attention, her tiny face smeared with marshmallow and chocolate.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you, but Will, Mara, and I are heading to the ECLoF's spring conference early," Lucy said.

Niles raised his eyebrows. The conference was in three days. "Oh?" he said. "When are you leaving?"

"Tomorrow." Lucy turned back to her s'more, and Niles rolled his eyes at her characteristic last-minute update.

"I'll go back with Mara afterwards for a little... umm... vacation," she continued. "So, you won't see me for a while."

Lucy looked at him meaningfully, and Niles got the hint. She had already told him that she and Mara were planning to search for Ashton's clan after the spring conference. Alexo would join them once the sprites were resettled.

Niles watched as Ashton turned over in his pocket, mumbling something in his half-awake state. We'll get you home, buddy, he thought, patting the faerie through the shirt fabric. Eventually.

Lucy spent the night in a faerie house with Mara, and Alexo went off somewhere with Svernin, who had notably not made an appearance at the birthday party. Something about Lucy being too loud.

So, Niles brought Ashton back inside. The faerie was fully asleep at this point, so Niles just tucked him into his carrier and went to bed himself.

***

When Ashton startled awake this time, it took him a while to realize where he was. He was lying on something warm and soft, not cold glass, and there was no smell of cigarette smoke anywhere. 

Oh, he realized after frantically looking around and trying to gauge his surroundings. I'm in Niles' house. Lucy's birthday celebrations must be over.

He slumped back down into his blankets and stared at the ceiling of his carrier, exhausted.

I can't do this anymore, he thought, feeling the bone-tiredness settle under his skin. These nightmares are eating me alive.

He sighed and rolled over to bury his face in his blankets. Niles' familiar scent washed over him, and his shoulders relaxed a little. But the images and feelings from his dream stayed in his mind, building and growing until he was shaking, half expecting hands to reach for him and snatch him from the carrier.

Niles, he thought desperately. I just want Niles.

With that thought in mind, he sat up and crept to the opening of the carrier. Niles kept him on the floor at night, in a marked off area away from the center of the room so that the human wouldn't step on him by mistake.

Part of the marked off zone did lead to Niles' bed, Ashton realized. Something like a whisper brushed past his ear, and Ashton whipped his head around. No one was there, but his heart started pounding.

Ashton glanced back at Niles' bed and shifted his weight anxiously. If he could just make it to Niles... if he could just make sure that Niles was real, that he wasn't about to see... him...

Ashton tip-toed to the side of Niles' bed and craned his neck to look up. He could just make out the corner of Niles' sleeping face far above him. He bit his lip and looked around, trying to see the objects in Niles' room and not... him. It wasn't working.

"Niles!" Ashton hissed. "Niles are you awake?"

There was no response, and Ashton raked his hand through his hair in agitation. A baseboard settled, making Ashton jump at the unexpected sound.

No, no, please, come on, please wake up, he thought, desperation rising. He could almost imagine the sound of his footsteps in the hall. Bile rose up in his throat, and he turned back to look at Niles pleadingly.

"Niles!" he called, louder this time. "Wake up!"

Niles lifted his head, looking groggy, and Ashton felt relief rush through him. "Niles!"

Niles tipped his head to peer over the side of his bed and squinted down at Ashton. Ashton waved up at him with both arms. "Ashton?" Niles said, sounding half asleep. "What's wrong? What're you doing here?"

"Can you pick me up?" Ashton asked. He shifted on the cold hard wood floor, still feeling jittery. The cold seeped up from the floorboards and made his feet numb. "Please?"

Niles wordlessly untangled his arm from his blankets and reached down to scoop Ashton up. Ashton tensed for a moment when Niles' fingers first closed around him, but he quickly relaxed at how warm Niles was. The sense of relief was immediate and overwhelming. No nightmare or human could touch him in Niles' hands. They were the safest place in the world. 

Thank the mother tree, he thought, getting choked up. Thank the mother tree that Niles is here. He curled up on his side and closed his eyes, burying his face in Niles' palm.

"Ash?" Niles sounded more alert now, and Ashton could tell he was getting concerned. "What happened? Are you ok?"

Ashton put his hand over the side of his face and took a few deep breaths. Now that the irrational fear was subsiding, he was starting to feel embarrassed for waking Niles up. 

I should've been able to deal with that dream on my own, he thought. I know I'm not in that house anymore. I should've been able to calm myself down and go back to sleep.

"It's nothing," Ashton finally said, his voice muffled. "It's fine. I'm fine. I just couldn't sleep."

Niles didn't say anything, but Ashton could feel his disbelieving gaze. His skin tingled, and he wanted to scrunch up even smaller. Suddenly, he felt Niles' fingers on his back, and he froze. 

Niles didn't seem to notice Ashton's flinch as he gently traced around his shoulder blades and along his spine, fanning out to follow the curves of his ribcage. Ashton lay there quietly, trying to focus on the feeling of Niles' fingers on his back instead of recalling the images from his dream.

Niles' fingers moved up Ashton's back and then slid down his arm. Before Ashton could realize what he was doing, Niles had caught his hand between his fingers and pulled it away from his face, carefully tilting Ashton's chin up so that he would have to look at him.

Ashton frowned, side-eying Niles.

"Hey, why are you looking at me like that?" Niles chided. "I just wanted to make sure you were ok." He softly poked Ashton in the ribs. "You clearly are based on the glare you're giving me, so here." Niles put Ashton's hand back over his face and continued rubbing his back. "Go back to sleep."

"I'm sorry I woke you up," Ashton said after a moment's hesitation.

"Don't be," Niles responded. His fingers moved from Ashton's back to his hair, and Ashton closed his eyes. "You can wake me up for whatever reason, even if you have no reason at all."

They stayed silent for a long time. Ashton stretched out under Niles' hand, feeling warm and comfortable as the human stroked his hair and back. He was just drifting off to sleep when Niles spoke again.

"Ash, buddy, I need to go back to sleep. Do you want to sleep here or back in your carrier?"

Ashton opened his eyes and sat up. He looked back over at his dark carrier and shivered. "Can I sleep with you?" he asked, not looking Niles in the eye. He finally peeked at Niles, who nodded knowingly. 

After placing Ashton on the pillow next to him, Niles got out of bed to rummage through his dresser drawers. Ashton watched him the entire time, already missing the warmth of Niles' hands wrapped around him.

"Ah, here you go," Niles said. He returned with a faerie-sized pillow and blanket for Ashton, placing them carefully beside him.

Niles got back under the covers and lay down facing Ashton. The human's face was rarely at Ashton's eye level, and Ashton stared, transfixed by the downward swoop of Niles' lashes and the small freckle near his right eye. It looked like Niles' eyelashes were longer that his hand. Ashton wished he was closer to check. 

Ashton was so focused on the way Niles' dark hair swept back from his forehead that he didn't notice right away when Niles opened his mouth to speak again.

"Do you need anything else?" he asked. His dark eyes were already fluttering shut, and Ashton felt another rush of guilt for having woken him.

"Umm, no, I'm alright, thanks," he said, laying his head down on his own little pillow.

"Mmkay," Niles mumbled. He reached out and pulled the blanket up to Ashton's chin before patting him lightly on the head. "Goodnight, buddy."

Niles was asleep within seconds, but Ashton lay awake, still staring at Niles' peaceful face. An odd feeling stole over him. Niles is really pretty, Ashton decided. He liked the way Niles' black hair framed his face and how he would tie it up when he was working on something, only to absentmindedly take it down an hour later. He also liked the sharp point of Niles' chin and the dimple in his left cheek when he smiled.

And his hands. Ashton really liked Niles' hands, always warm with long, tapering fingers that curved around him and kept him safe. Ashton blinked and shook his head, realizing belatedly that he was still staring at Niles. He flushed in embarrassment and turned away, grateful that Niles was already asleep. 

What in the abyss are you thinking about, Ashton? he chided. He buried his heated face in his hands before tugging his blanket over his head. Sleep. Just go to sleep, he huffed to himself.

When Ashton opened his eyes again, Niles wasn't in the bed next to him. He sat up and yawned, stretching his arms over his head. His wings felt sore, so he opened and closed them a few times to loosen them. 

Why do these feel so stiff? he thought. And where is Niles?

As if summoned by his question, Niles appeared at his desk, hair still tousled from sleep and sipping a coffee.

Niles glanced at the bed and smiled at him over the rim of his mug. Ashton sat up and smiled back, feeling relieved. His heart started beating faster at the sight of Niles, though he didn't understand why. He certainly didn't feel afraid to see Niles. If anything, he felt... happy. 

When was the last time I felt happy? he thought. 

"Good morning," Niles said. He set down his coffee mug and stood up, walking towards the bed. "Sleep well?" 

He reached for Ashton, who stayed stock still, waiting for Niles to pick him up. In fact, he desperately wanted Niles to pick him up. He wondered at the feeling for a moment, and then brushed it off, turning his attention back to Niles.

Ashton's whole body relaxed as soon as Niles touched him. The human scooped him up, and Ashton sank into his palm, stretching out to let Niles touch his neck, his chest, his arms, his back, and finally, his wings. 

He knew that Niles had never seen his wings before, so he stretched them open, allowing Niles to brush his fingertips over them. Ashton just lay there and focused on enjoying the gentle touch. He had wanted Niles to see his wings for the longest time. 

Why didn't I show him sooner? he wondered. This... feels so good. 

"Beautiful," Niles murmured. Ashton's heart lifted at the compliment. His wings were quite unique, even amongst woodlands. They were a mottled dark green and brown, which was common enough, but they had thin gold ribbons looping through them that no one in his clan had ever seen before.

Niles turned his attention to Ashton's face, tracing the lines of his ear and jaw with his finger. Ashton closed his eyes in response and basked in Niles' warmth, wondering where Niles' careful fingers would explore next. He had never felt so comfortable before, so peaceful, so... safe. He felt like he could stay in Niles' hands forever...

Ashton's eyes snapped open, and he sat up forcefully, confused to find himself tangled in blankets. Did I fall asleep while Niles was holding me? Did Niles set me down while I was sleeping?  he wondered, whipping his head around to figure out where he was.

He glanced over at Niles' side of the bed and was shocked to see the human sleeping peacefully. What... what just happened? he thought in disbelief.

He reached behind his back to pull his wing around in front of him, but his fingers closed around empty air. His breathing hitched in his chest, and he felt behind him again, talons scratching against the skin of his back. He froze when his hands brushed against a lump in his skin that he didn't recognize. 

Hesitantly, he tried to move his flight muscles and winced. They were just as stiff as they had been earlier, but they weren't accompanied by the normal swish of his wings. Reality crashed over him in that moment, and he flopped back against his pillow, burying his face in his hands. A dream. It had been a dream.

"Ash?" came Niles' groggy voice from the pillow next to him. Ashton froze, his heartbeat quickening. "What's wrong? Are you ok?"

Ashton felt Niles' finger on his arm, and he flinched away, face burning beneath his hands as he recalled the feeling of Niles' hands running over him in his dream, touching nearly every part of him. Niles touched him a lot in real life, but this time... this dream... it was about something... completely different.

What is wrong with me? Ashton wondered. Why was I dreaming about... that?

Niles immediately moved his finger away, and Ashton instantly regretted his reaction, already missing Niles' warm and gentle touch. But this is for the better, he told himself firmly. Get ahold of yourself.

"Here, let me get you some water," Niles said. Ashton felt the bed shift as Niles started to get up, and his heart jumped.

"No!" he exclaimed, sitting up suddenly. He couldn't bear the thought of Niles leaving, even though he had just told himself it was better if Niles kept his distance. His head was a swirl of confusion and frustration.

Niles froze and stared at Ashton in surprise. Ashton groaned inwardly. He was acting strange, and he knew it.

"I... I don't need water," he explained lamely.

"You.... sure?" Niles asked.

Ashton took a deep breath to steel himself. "Yeah." He squinted up at Niles, trying desperately to think of a way to change the subject.

"Why do you always get me water whenever you think something's wrong with me, anyway?" he asked Niles suddenly. He had been wondering that for a while now, and he figured it was a good enough question to deflect Niles' attention.

Niles laughed. Ashton watched his Adam's apple move up and down in his throat, and he swallowed nervously. 

"You caught me," Niles finally said, eyes twinkling. "It's just a little trick I use to distract someone when they're upset. I've found that giving patients water helps them calm down. Using any one of your physical senses tends to do that."

"Oh." Ashton blinked. "Well, umm, I'm fine. As you can see."

"Hmmm," Niles mused, studying Ashton carefully. Ashton squirmed under his steady gaze. "Sure. As I can plainly see."

Ashton looked away, hoping his face wasn't red. Niles didn't comment on it, just held his hand out to Ashton. "Come on, I'll help you down."

***

Ashton started coming to Niles on most nights after that. It happened so often that Niles stopped having Ashton sleep in his carrier altogether, choosing to let him sleep on the pillow next to him instead. That way, he could reach the little faerie easier if Ashton needed him in the middle of the night. It was better for Ashton, too, because he fell asleep quicker and stayed asleep longer when Niles was next to him.

Sometimes, Ashton's soft, half-asleep whimpers and cries were enough to wake Niles up, and he would place his hand over Ashton's back and gently stroke along his spine until he settled down. Other times, Ashton would have to wake him up, and Niles would hold him until the faerie fell back asleep.

Nights were long, and both Niles and Ashton were exhausted most days, but eventually, Ashton was waking up in the middle of the night less and less. 

This is fine, Niles would always think whenever he held and studied a half-awake Ashton in the middle of the night. Whatever finally puts these nightmares of his to rest. Even if I have to stay up all night with him. I don't mind.

____________________________________________________________________

A/N: Ashton really be out here catching feelings all by himself.

Thanks for reading! See you in the next chapter.