Truth Plot - Will

[notsocommon]

Something strange was afoot on the island and Helen wanted to keep as quiet as possible as to keep from blurting out something or other she shouldn't. She'd done well enough, spending most of the day in private research in order to brush up on animal surgical techniques. She spent a few hours in the Council office as well, handling a few items of business and familiarizing herself with the files kept on the island residents. A great many talented people came to this island, it seemed, and Helen felt lucky they'd chosen her to lead them.

Exhausted, she let herself back into the hut and dressed for bed in a light, cool gown before flopping into bed. Please, please don't let Will ask her anything.

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[inabmovie]

Will didn't usually stay out late on Saturdays, but he had a lot of prep to do for his classes this week and he found he worked better at the compound instead of at home--better meaning faster--so that's what he ended up doing. He wanted to get it all out of the way so he could have Sunday free to spend with Magnus. So it was a relief to get it all finished and head home.

"Hey," he said when he came into the bedroom. He said it softly, in case she was asleep. If she was, he didn't want to wake her.

[notsocommon]

"Hello," Helen returned softly, giving Will a little smile in the low light. "Done with work for the evening, I trust?" There. Nice and nonchalant and not babbling away.

[inabmovie]

"Yeah," he said, stripping down to his boxers so he could climb in bed with her. "Sorry I was gone so late. Wanted to have everything done so I don't have to mess with it tomorrow. Did you have a good day?"

[notsocommon]

"A very interesting one," Helen said, laughing lightly. "Something's going on where everyone's spouting the truth and I've had more than one friend of mine indicate he'd like to sleep with me. You haven't had that happen, have you? The whole truth business?"

[inabmovie]

"Um," said Will, distracted enough by her statement that some guys wanted to sleep with her that he he didn't immediately answer her question. What the heck was that all about? "What? Truth? No. I don't think so."

[notsocommon]

"Horrible business," Helen said, shaking her head. "I ended up telling Danny my real age and all about John. I trust him, certainly, but you know that you're the only one I've ever really shared anything about John with. I suppose if you wanted to know something, now would be the time to ask."

She leaned over and kissed him lightly to temper it. "How was your day?"

[inabmovie]

"Perfectly boring and normal," he said. "Got caught up on planning for my classes for a while." Will played with the ends of her hair a little, thinking. "So is this another of the weird island things?" he asked. "This whole 'telling the truth' business?"

[notsocommon]

"I believe it to be, yes," Helen said, utterly honest and guileless. "Some...things came up when I was talking with Danny. Certain insecuirities I have about our relationship, it seems. I wanted to assure you that I'm happy with you, Will, and any worries I have are solely my own fault. I worry someday you'll see something in me that you won't like. I'm very invested in our relationship. You leaving me would destroy me utterly."

[inabmovie]

"Me... leaving you?" Will frowned, shifting so he could see her a little better. "Magnus, I'm not going anywhere. I love you, okay? I'm not going to just up and decide I don't want to be with you. I don't work like that."

[notsocommon]

"I want children," Helen said quickly, wanting to cover her mouth as soon as it came out. Stupid bloody island, compelling her to spout out things that she didn't want to share with him.

"Christ, Will. I can't help talking. I'm sorry."

[inabmovie]

Will hadn't been expecting that at all, and he stared at her a little, mouth slightly open. "You want... kids." It surprised him, and scared the hell out of him, but mostly surprised him.

[notsocommon]

"Yes," Helen said, eyes wide and frightened. "Don't...don't get upset with me for it. I never would have told you if it wasn't for this bloody island. It's not necessary, Will, it's not."

[inabmovie]

"I'm not upset," he said quickly, and slid his hand to her hip to touch her and reassure her he meant what he said. "I just... I never thought about kids. I don't remember ever having a family," he added quietly. "Not a real one. I've never been part of one, so I never thought about having one of my own. It's a surprise."

[notsocommon]

"Would you consider them, with me?" Helen asked, softening her tone a little. She wasn't quite as hysterical as she'd been at first, mostly because his own manner had calmed her.

"I'd never pressure you into that, Will. It's easier for me. I've had one."

[inabmovie]

"Yeah," he said, still reeling a little. "I'll consider it. It's kind of a surprise, you bringing this up... I have to think about it. Especially here." Was it even safe for Magnus to get pregnant here? He had no idea what her physiology was like now that she was mortal again. The whole thing left his head spinning.

[notsocommon]

"I suppose that's all I can ask for," Helen said quietly, turning onto her side and pillowing her cheek against her hands. She worried her lower lip with her teeth. "I'm sorry, it's this damned island making me tell you these things."

[inabmovie]

"Hey." He rubbed his fingers lightly against her arm, trying to reassure her. "I wish there was a way to keep you from telling me anything you didn't really want me to know. Everyone has things they don't want broadcasted." Yeah, he'd told her once he didn't want any secrets between them, but he'd meant more the professional kind, the kind that affected their work. Not the personal. Forcing someone to reveal things that were intensely personal was never a good idea, in Will's experience.

[notsocommon]

"No secrets," Helen said, giving him a tight little smile. "Now's the time to really find out how I feel about you, Will, and you're not going to take it?"

[inabmovie]

"It feels like prying," he admitted. "Taking advantage of you, making you do something you didn't feel comfortable doing on your own, for whatever reason." He was getting dangerously close to psychobabble, but it was true. "And I trust you, Magnus. Asking you things when you're like this, trying to pry, seems an awful lot like some kind of admission that I don't trust you to tell me the truth when you're not under the influence or something."

[notsocommon]

"I'm scared that I'll waste my second chance," she admitted softly. "That's why I don't tell you everything. All I've ever wanted was to have a normal lifespan again and now that I have it, I'm frightened to death of wasting the years. I love you so much, Will. I can't even begin to describe how much I love you."

[inabmovie]

"Then that's all you need to tell me," Will said, sliding his arms around her. "You tell me that you love me and that's enough for me. You're not wasting anything. You're just living your life one day at a time just like everyone else does. And it's okay."

[notsocommon]

"I've spent so long thinking about the long game," Helen whimpered, burying her face against his neck to try and stave off tears. "It's hard to make that shift, Will."

[inabmovie]

Will dragged his fingers lightly up and down her back, trying to soothe her. "You were immortal for what, almost a hundred and thirty years? Close to that? I'm willing to bet you didn't start thinking that way overnight, and I know you couldn't just change that thinking overnight. And yeah, I know we've been here a while, almost a year, but we're talking about changing a century of habit. That's not easy to do."

[notsocommon]

"I'm sorry I asked for children," Helen murmured, lips soft against the skin of his shoulder. "I'm sorry I frightened you because I'm trying to move too fast. I should know better."