When Ashton woke up the next morning, it was to Lucy was kicking him awake. He jerked upright immediately, and she danced out of the way. 

"Oh, good, you're awake!" she said, grinning.

"Lucy?" he exclaimed in disbelief. He vaguely remembered hearing her voice last night, right before Niles put him to bed. So that hadn't been a dream, he thought.

He watched as she fluttered over to Niles' side of the bed and jumped up and down on his head gleefully.

"Wake up, wake up, wake up!" she chanted.

"What the hell, Luce?" Niles grumbled. The bed shook as Niles' freed his arm from the blanket, and then the human was reaching up for Lucy and snatching her off of him.

After stuffing a wildly giggling Lucy under his pillow, Niles yawned and reached for Ashton.

"Hey, buddy," he said tiredly. "You ready for breakfast?"

Ashton nodded and climbed into his hands, settling down comfortably as Niles got up. A disheveled Lucy soon joined them, perching on Niles' shoulder and snuggling against his neck.

***

After the faeries ate breakfast, Niles left the room to get ready for the day, leaving Ashton and Lucy to their own devices in the living room.

Ashton climbed up to the couch, and Lucy flew up to sit next to him. "So..." she began, an odd expression on her face. "I have a bit of a confession to make." 

Ashton looked at her curiously. Lucy looked almost... nervous, which was an expression he never expected to see from the bold, shameless little pixie.

She didn't explain further, instead handing him a small satchel and then sitting back, placing her tiny hands in her lap. The satchel smelled familiar, but the scent was muddled with Lucy's. Ashton opened it slowly, wondering what about its contents was making Lucy act so odd.

He reached in, and his fingers closed around what felt like a small circle of woven grass. He pulled it out and studied it. He could tell at once that it was a laykra, a woven medallion made of dried grass, which confused him even more than Lucy's behavior. 

Laykras were an old woodlands tradition. Whenever a woodlands faerie gave birth, she would weave a strand of the child's hair into the medallion and wear it around her neck. She added to it with each new child, and it would be among her most prized possessions. His own mother had a laykra, and she never took it off. He wondered how Lucy had gotten her hands on one. No woodlands faerie would willingly part with it without reason.

He fingered the four strands of hair that were woven into this one. There was a light brown, a dark brown, a deep blue, and a dark green. He frowned. The last two were odd colors for a woodlands. He looked at it more closely, bringing it up to his face and sniffing it hesitantly. A jolt ran through him, and he turned sharply to Lucy, stunned. The laykra slipped between his slack fingers and landed in his lap. He left it there, heartbeat pounding in his ears.

"Where did you get this?" he asked Lucy quietly. A thousand questions flooded through his mind. This shouldn't be here, in Niles' home. Lucy certainly shouldn't have it. His family— what had happened?

Lucy held up her hands defensively. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, first of all, it's ok, everything's ok. Your mother gave it to me."

Ashton looked down at the laykra in his lap and smoothed it out with shaking fingers.

"Mara, Alexo, and I have... been trying to find your clan for the last month," Lucy hurried to explain. "Niles and I thought that you would do better if you were back home..."

Ashton's head jerked up at this. "Niles," he breathed. "Does he know..."

Lucy was already shaking her head. "Niles doesn't know where your clan lives. He figured that you didn't want any humans to know, so he sent us to look for them instead. He knows that we found them, but we haven't told him where they are."

Ashton took a shaky breath, a wave of relief washing over him. Good. That was good. They were alright.

"So... how... how did you find them? Who all knows?"

"Just me, Alexo, and Mara. We asked the local faeries near the town you were found in, and they all directed us to the north— into the deep woods. We met your friend Erden there, and she led us to your clan. But don't worry. We all promised to not relay that information to humans."

"Erden?" Ashton interrupted, stunned. The last he had seen of Erden, he had been pulling her away from the human's trap at the campsite. He had no idea if she had made it back home. "You met Erden? Is she alright?"

Lucy nodded. "Yeah, she's fine. She helped us a lot, actually. We never would have found your clan without her."

Ashton looked back at the laykra. His whole body was beginning to shake. "And this?" he asked, trying to keep his voice level. "How did you get this?"

"Your mother gave it to me," Lucy said. "In case you didn't believe me. She figured you would rather stay away than risk letting any humans find out where you live. But... your family doesn't care how you get home. They just want you back, even if you have to rely on a human to get there. Your matriarch ruled on it herself after we explained everything to her, and she got a glimpse of Niles from my memories. You can go home."

Home. Ashton was so overwhelmed that Lucy's words barely even registered. Home, he thought. I can... go home?

"Oh, and there should be a note in the satchel, too," Lucy added at his silence. "In case you still don't believe me."

Ashton looked back down at the little pouch. He had been so shocked to discover his mother's laykra that he didn't realize there was anything else in there.

"You must have had a hard time finding them," he finally managed to get out.

"Ugh, you have no idea," Lucy griped, a bit of her old spark coming back. "Do you know how many travel hubs we've visited and how many faeries we've talked to about your clan? You guys are really hidden away. It was like trying to find a needle in a haystack!"

"And then there was the whole ordeal once we finally found your clan! My goodness! I thought they'd never believe me when I told them we were friends! I had to describe every tiny thing I remembered about you! Like, how was I supposed to know that you had a huge scar on your thigh from a skirmish with a badger? Or that you have more gold in your right eye than in your left? I don't pay that much attention to you! You're not that interesting!"

Ashton smiled faintly and ran his fingers over the laykra. Home. He hadn't been back for over a year. "So... what now?" he asked.

Lucy tapped her chin. "Well, if you're comfortable with it, I was thinking we tell Niles to take us up to Westburg, the human town nearest your clan. Then Mara and I can take you up the rest of the way on foot."

Ashton nodded slowly. That seemed to be a good plan. Niles wouldn't know the exact location of his clan, but Ashton trusted him to at least know that much. "When would we go?"

Lucy was ready with an answer. "Your family wants to give Niles a forgetfulness potion so that he can't retrace his steps back to them. They said it's simple, and they have enough magic stored, so it will take about three months. It takes about three weeks to get to your family's place from the main human road on foot, so we can leave in about two months."

Ashton stared. "They want to give Niles a forgetfulness potion?" he asked. "Why?"

"They don't want him to know where they are," Lucy shrugged.

"Westburg's far enough away, though," Ashton pointed out.

Lucy shook her head. "They said it's better to be safe than sorry."

Ashton chewed on his lip, uncomfortable with her answer.

"Here, let me go get Niles," Lucy said, getting up and already heading towards the bedroom. "We should include him in this conversation."

Ashton watched her go, feeling far away. A big part of him wanted to leap off the couch and run to the car, to get back home immediately. His heart soared in his chest just thinking about it. Home. But then, another feeling lay just underneath that. A quieter hesitancy that didn't want to leave. That wanted to stay here. 

What am I so afraid about leaving behind, anyway? he wondered. Home is where I belong, not here. Not with humans.

As if on cue, Lucy returned with Niles. She returned to her seat next to Ashton, and Niles sat on the floor so that his face would be level with them. 

"So, Ash," he began, folding his hands in his lap. "Lucy tells me that you're interested in going back home. Is that correct?"

Ashton nodded mutely, staring into Niles' dark eyes. That odd hesitancy rose up, the feeling that maybe he didn't want to go, that all of this was happening too fast.

Just this morning, he had been resigned to the fact that he was probably going to live and die among humans, and he had gotten used to the idea that maybe it wouldn't be so bad if he got to stay here with Niles. But now a new opportunity had presented itself, and he didn't know how to readjust his expectations for his life so quickly.

"That's great," Niles smiled. "I'm glad you trust us enough to get you home."

Ashton looked into his eyes again and finally knew— he was conflicted over Niles. Leaving here meant he would never see Niles again. Just the thought of that made his heart squeeze painfully.

"There's a lot that we'll need to get ready in the next couple months," Lucy said, picking up where she had left off with Ashton. "I'll need to prepare packs for us before we go. It's not easy to get to his clan, and it'll be even harder on foot, so we'll be camping out until we reach them."

Niles nodded. "Alright. What can I get you for your packs?"

Lucy and Niles began making plans, and Ashton sat on the couch quietly. He clutched his mother's laykra like a lifeline, lost in a flood of emotions. He ran his fingers over each strand of hair to try to calm down. His own. Gale's. Raine's. And little Keelie's. 

He didn't even notice he was crying until a tear splashed down on the laykra, and he wiped at his cheeks in surprise. It got quiet, and he glanced up to see that Niles and Lucy had paused their conversation and were looking at him with concern.

"Here," Niles said. He reached for a tissue on the table beside the couch and handed it to Ashton. "Do you want some wat-"

"I don't need water," Ashton interrupted, huffing a little through his tears. He took a shuddering breath and wiped his eyes. "Ok, maybe I do," he relented.

Lucy stood up and stretched. "I'll get it," she offered.

She flew off to the kitchen, leaving Ashton and Niles alone. Ashton hugged the tissue Niles had given him, and Niles sat there silently. Finally, the human looked at him.

"Do you want me to... hold you?" he asked hesitantly.

Ashton nodded and pushed himself to his feet, his legs shaky. Niles held his hands out to him, and Ashton stumbled into them, relaxing ever so slightly as the human's warm fingers closed around him.

Niles held him close and moved to sit on the couch. He softly patted Ashton's back with a finger, and Ashton leaned his head against Niles' chest, feeling comforted by Niles' steady heartbeat and the rhythmic tapping.

"What are you feeling right now?" Niles asked quietly. Ashton sniffed and thought about it. What was he feeling right now, anyway? Everything was a confusing swirl of emotions, and he couldn't pin down any of them.

"I don't know," he admitted. "There's too many emotions all mixed up."

"That's ok," Niles assured him. "Do you think you can name one?"

He continued patting Ashton's back as Ashton considered it. "I'm scared," Ashton finally whispered. He clutched Niles' shirt tighter.

"What are you scared of?" Niles wanted to know next.

"I'm scared that this isn't real." Ashton squeezed his eyes shut. "I'm scared that I'm making this up, or I'm dreaming, or that something will happen, and I won't actually get to go back home."

And I'm afraid of leaving you, he almost added, but he stayed silent. If he started listing his fears, he was afraid that he'd never stop. Creaking floorboards. Ticking clocks. Cigarettes. Blue eyes. Scissors. Snakes. Vacuums. Blenders. Humans.

Lately, he had been afraid that Niles wasn't real, and that the last eight months were a figment of his imagination. A byproduct of a tortured and diseased mind that was desperately trying to forget its reality.

Sometimes he was afraid that he would wake up back in his glass jar, only to realize that Niles had never existed at all, that he'd never been free, that he had made it all up to try to survive and cope with his reality. His dreams these days had been about that, and they always left him feeling half-crazy and gasping for air.

He knew he would die if those dreams ended up being a reality. His mind would just snap, and he would shatter into a million pieces. Those dreams always made him hold onto Niles just a little bit tighter when he woke up. Because if Niles was real, if Niles was there, then he was safe.

"It will be fine," he heard Niles say, and he snapped back to attention. "We'll just keep doing what we've been doing and steadily get ready for your trip back. And if something happens, and you can't make it home this time around, then you'll come back here with me. Ok?"

"Ok," Ashton agreed in a small voice. Maybe it would be ok. If Niles was here, then of course it would be ok. He would take care of and arrange everything. Like he always did.

Lucy came back and handed Ashton his water, which he took a few shaky sips from to calm down. When he was more relaxed, Niles carefully set him down on his lap. Lucy landed next to him and sat down, too.

"Feel better?" she asked, and Ashton nodded, leaning against Niles' hand which lay cupped behind him.

"Cool," Lucy said, "because that's not the only surprise we have for you."

Ashton tilted his head to the side, confused and too overwhelmed to make a guess. "What do you mean?"

Lucy reached out to touch the red braid in his hair, and Ashton stared at her, more confused than ever.

"Remember that friend of yours who helped us find your clan?" she asked. "Well, she insisted on coming back with us to see you."

Ashton's ears perked up. "Erden?" he asked, shocked. "Erden is here?"

Lucy grinned. "I'm surprised you didn't smell her on me," she remarked.

Ashton shook his head. "Her scent is all mixed up with yours and Niles'," he informed her. "I thought it was Mara's scent."

"She's waiting for you in the garden," Niles added, and Ashton turned to look up at him. "I just wanted to prepare you before we actually went outside. Do you want to go see her?"

Ashton caught his breath. "Please," he whispered, and Niles scooped him up again, Lucy fluttering up to land on his shoulder.

"Alright," he said, already heading towards the back door. Ashton leaned forward against his fingers in anticipation and frowned when Niles froze before turning the door handle.

"Niles?" He turned to look up at the human.

"I've already told Erden a little about your condition," Niles told him. "But I'll leave the rest up to you to share, ok?"

Ashton nodded and tapped on his fingers impatiently until they were outside. Niles set him down by the rosebushes before moving a short distance away to have a seat by the pond.

"I'll be here if you need me," he waved, and Ashton gave him a thumbs up.

Ashton looked around, turning his head this way and that. There were too many flowery and herbal smells in the garden to pick out Erden's scent, but it didn't matter. Ashton caught a glimpse of red before being tackled in a hug, and he staggered backwards before regaining his footing.

"Erden?" he asked in disbelief, and the smaller woodlands untangled herself from him, brown wings abuzz. She reached up to take his face in her hands, and they stared at each other.

"Stars above, Ashton," she whispered. "I can't believe you're alive." She hugged him again, and Ashton wrapped his own arms tightly around her.

When they pulled away, there were tears running down both their cheeks.

Erden laughed a little as she reached up to wipe Ashton's eyes.

"This is weird," she said. "I haven't seen you cry since we were kids."

Ashton shook his head, a regretful smile on his face. "Believe me, I have done plenty of crying since then."

Erden's eyes filled with tears again at his comment. "Oh, Ashton," she choked out. " I am so, so sorry."

Ashton lurched back, startled. "Sorry?" he echoed. "Sorry for what?"

"For... for your wings," Erden managed. "For asking for your help to get supplies that day. For not being fast enough. For..."

Ashton immediately hushed her. "Why in the abyss's name would you ever think what happened to me was your fault?" he asked incredulously.

Erden sniffled. "Because... because it is?"

Ashton shook his head fervently. "No, it's not," he told her firmly. "I never once blamed you. So, get this idea of it being your fault out of your head." 

Erden wiped her eyes with shaky fingers. "That's what he said, too," she mumbled, jerking her chin in Niles' direction.

Ashton glanced over at the human. "Oh. Well, if you don't believe me, then you should at least take Niles' word for it," he said lightly. "Niles is always right."

Erden stared at him as if he had sprouted horns, but at least she stopped crying, as Ashton figured she would by his comment.

"Ashton," she dropped her voice even lower. "Are you okay? Like... aside from the whole... other human thing. But... with this human? Has he been hurting you? Are you safe?"

Ashton surprised them both by laughing, and Erden blinked at him. "I'm great," he assured her. "Niles is the gentlest person I've ever met. He's done nothing but take care of me this whole time." He trailed off for a moment. "I've never had anyone take care of me the way Niles does," he finished, sounding thoughtful.

Erden glanced furtively at Niles again, who was now lying in the grass and staring up at the sky, looking completely disinterested in their reunion as Lucy wove tiny braids in his hair.

"But... he's human," she began hesitantly.

Ashton looked over at him, too, admiring the long, graceful lines of his figure stretched out on the grass.

"He's fine," he promised her. "He's... the only thing that's kept me going this whole time. I wouldn't be alive without him."

He could feel Erden looking at him, so he finally glanced back down at her and frowned, confused by the strange look on her face. "What?"

She shook her head. "Nothing that needs mentioning right now."

He shrugged, and she changed topics. "So, I'm sure Lucy already filled you in on our plan to get you home?" she asked, and Ashton nodded. 

Erden looked relieved. "The human doctor would like to keep you here for another two moons," she explained. "He says that you will probably be strong enough for the journey after that."

Ashton looked back over at Niles and nodded slowly, feeling that odd conflicting ache again. "Yes," he said. "I don't think I could make the trip as I am right now."

"He also offered to drive us as far up as Westburg, that human town that's closest to your clan. We can make the rest of our way on foot. Mara and Lucy will accompany us to ensure you get there safely and to retrieve the forgetfulness potion for the human."

"His name is Niles," Ashton reminded her, and she frowned at him.

"Niles," she amended. "To get the forgetfulness potion for Niles."

Ashton winced. Right. The forgetfulness potion. It was kind of funny how he had forgotten about it.

"Is the potion really necessary?" he asked. "Niles would never tell anyone where my clan is."

Erden nodded. "It's the only way your matriarch agreed with the plan to get you home." She bit her lip and studied his face closely.

"They... actually wanted to completely erase his memory of you, too," she said, and Ashton recoiled, horrified.

Niles would... forget about him? Ashton caught his breath, trying to imagine it. How would it feel to wake up every day for the rest of his life, longing for someone who didn't even know he existed? The possibility was too heartbreaking to consider.

"But," Erden hurried to assure him after she saw the look on his face, "Lucy managed to convince them to not go that far. They finally agreed to let him keep those memories as thanks for taking care of you all this time."

Ashton breathed out a sigh of relief, but he still felt a lingering uneasiness. Erden continued talking to him, further explaining their plans for the next two months, but Ashton's eyes kept trailing back to Niles in the grass and wondering what it would feel like to never see him again. 

_______________________________________________________________________

A/N: There's only a few chapters left! Will Ashton go home? Stay with Niles? Throw everyone for a loop and move in with the water sprites? Stay tuned!

Thanks for reading and see you in the next chapter!