milliways_bar | (no subject)

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Bill is downstairs after some breakfast. He sits down at the counter, and before he can even ask, Bar provides him with a loaded plate; eggs, bacon, sausage, hashbrowns, a short stack of pancakes, a cup of coffee and orange juice.

Bill grins at the offering, and is about to say thank you when a newspaper appears. Looking at the front page headline his smile falls.

Mardi Gras in Miami

It's not really the headline, but the part underneath that tells how the Saints defeated the Colts 31-17 in the Superbowl that's just killed his good mood.

Bill lifts the paper and shakes his head.

"Aw, c'mon, no. I didn't even know they were playin'."

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"That sounds pretty nice."

He starts with his pancakes, drowning them in syrup.

"What time of year is it where you went?"

"Late autumn. We left back just after the first snow." Oh, look at the dreamy smile. "It was a wonderful time."

Bill smiles, glad to hear she had a good time with someone, knowing how lonely she's been.

He doesn't want to pry, so asks his next question in a way that leaves it to her how much she wants to say.

"Y'go with someone from here?"

"Weyland Smith. I don't know if you know him, he is a god of the forge, an artisan without peer. Most excellent company."

"Weyland?" His eyes widen slightly, not from finding out who she was with, but, well... "I didn't know he was a god."

Holding out his arm, Bill shows her his watch.

"Kate gave this t'me, said that he made it."

It's a simple watch, with a plain face and leather band, but it's obviously very well made.

"Everything he does is special... I am sure this watch will survive centuries working perfectly."

"I really like it a lot, think it suits me real well."

He draws his arm back and admires the watch.

"Gonna look great with my uniform when I get back."

Thinking about her words, he gives a small smile while touching the watch face.

"Maybe it's somethin' I c'n pass on if I ever manage t'have myself a family."

"I don't see a good reason for you to not have a family, Bill." The Devil smiles tenderly. "You are a wonderful man."

"Thank you, but y'sure there ain't a few reasons y'don't know about?" he says jokingly, trying to cover the slight anxiety buzzing in his guts.

He'd like to have a family, and while he may not admit it openly for several different reasons, he has had thoughts about Kate being the one he can finally start one with.

But, he doesn't want to rush it, doesn't want to inadvertantly do something that will take the chance away, or hope too much for something and jinx it as a result.

He also has personal fears about how well he'd do as a husband and a father.

And so, the joking, and a smile to go with it.

"Does she know you are fretting that bad, Bill?" Oh, she has been watching humans for so long... easy to spot the is-that-one-the-right-one? jitters.

"I have to say, if I were her, I would be having similar ideas..."

"I was just kiddin'," he says, shaking his head quickly. "I ain't frettin'."

He takes a drink of coffee, working out his words, then sets the mug back down.

"I feel like me an' Kate are in a good place, an' it's probably smarter if I don't get too far ahead of myself, y'know?"

"Are you two living together? And I mean living, sharing the same toothpaste tube and seeing each other's sleep-wrinkled faces in the morning? Anyone can sleep together, but sharing a living space for an extended period of time..." The Devil grins. "That, Bill, that is the test of affection."

Bill ducks his head slightly and nods.

"Yeah, we been stayin' together here, an' she's comin' back to Wheelsy with me. It wasn't exactly planned, she started livin' with me after-- after I got shot, but it's been great. She helped me get through that, an' we've been good together. I love havin' her with me."

He looks up with a warm smile.

They've had a few problems, but have managed to get through all the things that have come up. And they've each promised to make it work.

"And if I were as bad as people expect me to be, this would be the time when I would seduce you and spoil it all." The Devil winks.

"Or maybe I would seduce her..."

He laughs to that, and there's barely a tiny trace of nerves in it that's more embarrasment than anything.

"Yeah, but you ain't, so you won't."

"I am glad things are working out for you so well, after all you faced, Bill."

"Thank you," he says, touched by her kindness.

"An' how 'bout you? How's your family doin'?"

"Oh, could not be better." She brightens, perking up. "Everything is just perfect with them."

"That's good, I'm glad."

He takes a bite of hash browns, attention still on her.

"How's the little'uns?"

"Growing fast... I am glad I can be many at the same time, or I would go crazy trying to keep up." The Devil laughs a bit.

"That does sound pretty helpful, wait 'til they get a little older," Bill says with a chuckle. "Boo runs me ragged a lot of days."

Bill learned quickly that the energy of a three year old is boundless, and he's totally grateful for Kate's help with the toddler.

"That just means you will need less practice later, when you have more." The Devil winks. "Just pray you do not get twins... or triplets."

He gulps his last bite, swallowing hard, then forces a chuckle.

"That would-- wow, I can't even imagine that."

It wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, but he'd be in trouble for sure.

"I am sure you would do wonderfully, Bill..." Oh, right, she is biased there, about his capabilities.

"You're just sayin' that t'be nice, but I appreciate it."

Bill knows, or thinks he knows, how out of his depth he is here.

Actually he does pretty well, and maybe one day he'll let himself be convinced of that.