All too soon, it was time for the sprites' big move. None of the sprites liked Niles touching them, so he had them all enter a faerie transportation carrier, similar to Ashton's cat carrier but with rows of seats for the sprites to sit. He had Ashton show them how to work the seat belts, packed up all their belongings that they had put on the shore for him to take, and then they were off.

Once they arrived, the sprites immediately dove into the stream, leaving Niles to place their belongings on the bank. He was sure they'd resurface to take them underwater once he left. Only Zara was brave enough to thank him, and he smiled and wished her luck in their new home. Soon, it was just Svernin, Alexo, and Ashton who were on the surface with Niles.

"Are you coming with us?" Svernin asked suddenly, turning to Ashton. The halfling looked taken aback, like he had never considered it.

He turned to look up at Niles, who smiled at him. They hadn't talked about where to discharge him yet, but if Ashton decided to stay with the sprites, Niles was more than happy to discharge him early. The water sprites would teach him how to use underwater magic, and Niles was sure Ashton would recover quickly under their guidance. He had already been getting better after just a week of learning with Svernin.

So, when Ashton shook his head, Niles was surprised. "No, thank you," he said. "I'm going to stay with Niles."

Svernin just shrugged, looking disinterested. "Suit yourself."

"I'm going to stay with the sprites," Alexo blurted out. Ashton looked at him, but Svernin didn't seem surprised. Alexo wouldn't quite meet Niles' eyes. "At least for a little bit. Make sure they get settled."

Niles grinned. "Lex, I'm not your caregiver anymore," he reminded the woodlands. "You can go wherever you want without explaining why."

Alexo flushed. "I know that!" he said. "It's just common courtesy. I thought you liked it when I gave you updates on where to find me."

"You're right, I do, I'm sorry," Niles said, reaching out and stroking the gap between Alexo's wings by way of apology. Alexo fluttered his wings dismissively, but Niles could tell he was mollified. "Thank you for telling me. Even though you're no longer living with me, I like knowing that you're safe."

Alexo was finally appeased enough to fly up to Niles' chest for a hug, and Niles cupped his hand around the woodlands so he wouldn't fall.

Svernin stared up at them with his dark eyes, harsh face impassive and unreadable. Niles glanced down at him and Ashton, still amazed by how similar they looked. Ashton really was a lot like a full-blooded water sprite. 

But despite the similarity in their strong, angular features, Ashton's face still managed to look softer... almost sweeter than Svernin's ever could. Or maybe that was just because Niles was more endeared to the little halfling than he was to the aloof and grumpy sprite.

When Niles reached down to put Alexo back on the ground, Svernin suddenly grabbed his index finger in his talons.

Niles froze, wondering what Svernin would do next. Though unlikely, he wouldn't put it past the unpredictable sprite to slash him with his claws.

Instead, Svernin brought Niles' hand up close, pressing the tip of Niles' finger to his forehead. Niles watched, speechless, until Svernin dropped his finger and glared up at him with his customary bad attitude.

"Goodbye, human," he said gruffly. He nodded once to Ashton and then he was gone, disappearing into the water after the rest of his family.

Niles stared at his hand in wonder. That was... probably the most unexpected thing he'd experienced in a long time.

Alexo broke the silence by grinning and jabbing Niles with his sharp elbow.

"A customary family greeting? Looks like you finally got on Svernin's good side," he pointed out, and Niles smiled.

"Looks like it," he said. He looked down at Alexo, eyes teasing. "And just in time, too, since he and I might be in-laws soon."

Alexo blushed, and his wings fluttered anxiously. Niles laughed and reached out to quiet Alexo's agitated wings.

"Take care of yourself, Lexi," he said warmly. "I'll see you soon, ok?"

Alexo nodded and waved at Ashton as the other faerie climbed into Niles' offered hand to leave.

***

Lucy called him once the two-week conference was over, and Niles filled her in on the sprites' and Alexo's big move.

She laughed. "Of course he went with Svernin," she said. "He's obsessed with that moody sprite."

"Lex says he's going to Sharpstown soon to visit the local faeries and see if he can find out anything about Ashton's clan," Niles told her. "Can you and Mara meet him there?"

"Sure," Lucy said. "I'll get Will to drop us off. We'll ask around."

Niles leaned against the window, staring out at the pond where Ashton was swimming. "And Luce..." he began slowly. "I figured out why Ashton's been so reluctant to tell us about his clan." 

"Oh?" Lucy said, and Niles could tell she was interested. "Why is that?"

 Niles took in a deep breath and let it out with a sigh. "Ashton doesn't want to go home because he thinks he's not allowed back."

"What?" Lucy exclaimed, sounding surprised. "What do you mean?"

Niles explained. "Their clan has a rule where they're not allowed to reveal the location of their magic source to humans. Ashton's convinced they'll remove his clan crest and kick him out if he relies on me to help him get home."

It was quiet for a minute. "Well, if that's the case, then I'll just beat them all up," Lucy finally said, her tiny voice ferocious. Niles had no doubt that she would try to do exactly what she said. 

"That's... not necessary," Niles told her. "Just... if you find them, explain the situation and find out if we can get permission to bring Ashton home, ok? I can't imagine they'd enforce that rule and deliberately force Ashton to stay away, given the circumstances."

"Yeah," Lucy said. "And maybe we can even find a way to get him back without including you, too. That might make them feel better."

"Mhmm," Niles agreed. "But we'll worry about how to get Ashton back once we find out where he needs to go— and if we're even allowed to take him there."

Lucy promised to update him whenever she had cell service, and they hung up. Niles sighed heavily and continued to stare out the window. If he squinted, he could just make out Ashton's tiny form climbing out of the water. It looked like he was waving towards the house, so Niles smiled and lifted his own hand in greeting. 

I really hope we can get you home, he thought. 

***

The rest of the day was uneventful, and nightfall found Niles working on a report with Ashton sitting against his wrist, as usual. But as the night wore on, Niles noticed that Ashton kept nodding off, jerking awake every time Niles' hand moved to type on his keyboard. 

"Ash, you go ahead and go to sleep, " Niles suggested, settling the drowsy faerie on the extra pillow on his bed. "I still have to finish this report."

Ashton bit his lip but nodded and buried himself under his blankets. Niles raised his eyebrows. Maybe it was his imagination, but Ashton had seemed... disappointed? 

An hour went by before Niles could finally turn his laptop off, taking off his glasses and stretching his arms above his head with a yawn. He was just about to get up to change his clothes when a small sound came from the bed, and he turned to Ashton out of habit.

The faerie was lying tangled in his blankets, looking dazed and confused. Niles leaned over him to check on his breathing, and Ashton's eyes widened in shock before recognition kicked in. His whole face flooded with relief, and he reached up towards Niles, eyes pleading.

Niles raised an eyebrow at him, but he wrapped his fingers around Ashton and scooped him up. Ashton's body was cold and clammy, but he was breathing fine. He lay on his side in Niles' hand with his eyes half closed, arm curled around the base of Niles' middle finger.

Niles cupped his free hand over Ashton to warm him up and ran his thumb up and down Ashton's arm. Ashton wriggled under his hand and wrapped both arms around Niles' finger, angling himself so that Niles could rub his back instead. Niles smiled to himself and moved his thumb over Ashton's scars.

"So needy," Niles murmured affectionately.

Ashton mumbled something, probably a retort, but Niles ignored him. The faerie's eyes soon closed completely, and his body grew heavy and limp. Niles kept rubbing his back, waiting for him to fall into a deeper sleep before he put him down.

Niles studied him carefully. After nearly eight months together, he was finally back to a normal, healthy weight. Niles traced the outline of his ribs with a finger, feeling grateful that you could no longer count the individual bones just by looking at them. His arms, back, and legs had regained some muscle definition as well, and Niles could tell by studying his frame that he would've been huge if he were human.

Niles nodded to himself, satisfied with Ashton's progress. Ashton's amputation site had healed over, his leg was fine, he was eating well, could more or less sleep through the night, and was holding normal conversations. It might be time to find him a more permanent living situation. 

If Ashton still wouldn't tell him where his home was, or Lucy couldn't find his clan, then perhaps a known woodlands settlement would take him in. It would be best for Ashton if he returned to live with his own kind. Probably.

Ashton shifted in his sleep, and Niles froze, his fingers still on Ashton's back.

"Niles," Ashton murmured. Niles continued rubbing his back, slower this time. 

"I'm here, Ash," he said cautiously, in case Ashton was awake.

Ashton didn't respond, and Niles kept studying him. Wherever Ashton ended up, it should probably be somewhere with minimal human contact. Ashton hadn't done well with Will, after all. He did fine with Lucy, so maybe he would be alright with other faeries? But leaving him with other humans was out of the question.

Or, Niles pondered, maybe Ashton should just stay with me.

Ashton was clearly very attached to Niles; in fact, Niles had never encountered such a sticky little patient. All Ashton wanted to do was glue himself to Niles' side. And Niles himself had grown quite fond of the little sprite over the last several months, and he didn't want to see Ashton regress by sending him to a new and unfamiliar environment. Ashton had been improving so much that Niles selfishly wanted to be the one to witness him progress even further.

Well, Niles thought, stroking Ashton's hair back from his face. I guess it's not really up to me, anyway. It's wherever Ashton wants to go.

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A/N: Next chapter brings a new character and some new developments! What do you think happens next?

Thanks for reading and see you next chapter!