Happy Birthday, Will

[notsocommon]

It was the second year that Helen had to plan a birthday for Will as his (wife, this year, girlfriend last) significant other and while last year's attempt had been absolutely well-received, she was nothing if not interested in constant improvement. To that end, she'd decided to plan a picnic for them at the waterfalls. She'd wanted to go to the second island but after having gone with Nikola to scout a place and it ending disastrously, well. That was nixed.

She'd woken him up in (what she hoped) was a particularly-nice way and shooed him off to deal with patients while she went to put them together a picnic basket and bake a cake. She could have just asked Shari for one at the bakery, yes, but Helen wanted something she'd made with her own two hands and while she didn't have chocolate for the frosting, she managed to top it with a bit of sugar and a mango-rum sauce that she thought had come out quite nicely.

That done and the hour rapidly approaching when she'd told Will to meet her, she donned her bikini and her favorite cover-up (blue, with little white daisies printed on it) and carried the basket down to the waterfalls to meet him.

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[inabmovie]

"Nothing wrong with that," Will says, with a slight shrug. He remembers his mother indulging him sometimes, too, though her indulgence was more spoiling with affection than with material things. He supposes that's what he missed the most when he lost her, that easy affection.

"Is it different now? Your birthday?" Maybe she looks at it differently, now that she doesn't have an infinite number of them.

[notsocommon]

"Not really," Helen said softly. "I don't think I've adjusted to being mortal quite yet and it will take a while to shift toward not dreading it, I think. I've enjoyed the birthdays I've spent with you, though, for what that is worth. I just...I would rather make other people happy, I think, than be the center of attention."

[inabmovie]

"Well, you're doing pretty good with that so far," Will says. "Because you make me very, very happy." He can't imagine his life without her now--couldn't imagine his life without her ever since they met, really." He leans over and kisses her, soft and sweet.

[notsocommon]

"Ah, I do try," Helen said, curling her hand around the back of his neck to drag him closer for another kiss. "Whether or not I always succeed remains to be seen but I always, always try to be a good wife to you and make you happy."

[inabmovie]

"You don't have to try to be a 'good wife'," Will says. Obviously, all relationships take a certain amount of trying and work to keep things together, but that isn't what he means. "You make me happy just by being you, you know?"

[notsocommon]

"Ah, now that'll just make me vain," Helen said, laughing a little before leaning in close to whisper against his ear. They were alone still, miraculously, and she wanted the chance to take advantage of that before they were interrupted by one of the numerous other citizens of the island.

"I love you. I will always strive to be worthy of how much faith you put in me, Will, and how much pure affection you give me. You're the first person I've loved in a very long time who loves without attaching any strings to it. I don't have to be anyone but me with you and it's...it makes you special. Different. It gives me hope that this marriage will work. And, as such, I strive to be worthy of it and to be just as good to you as you are to me."

[inabmovie]

Will's not sure what he can say that can quite match up to what Magnus just said to him. It's probably the... sweetest thing anyone's ever said to him--and coming from Magnus, who so often represses what she's feeling, it's somehow even sweeter than what comes from just the words. "C'mere," he says, reaching for her to hold her close. He might be a little misty-eyed. And maybe he needs a minute.

[notsocommon]

"Always," Helen said softly, curling up against him and laying her head against his shoulder and chest. They were more or less alone and it had been a poignant moment, the sort of poignant moment Helen liked to avoid because emotions so often overwhelmed her.

"I love you, Will."