Archive of Our Own

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“Dad!”

Nick grinned as Kelly came running towards him from the school gates. He bent and scooped his son up before he could crash into him, as had happened many times before.

“How was your day?”

“We have a new class pet!” Kelly shouted with all his five-year old energy. “It’s a rabbit named Fluffster!”

“Fluffster? That’s a good name.” Nick dropped him down and took a firm hold of his hand as they had to walk a bit along the road before they got to the car.

“We had a class vote. And I signed up for looking after him at home for a weekend.”

“Did you ask your mom first?” Nick checked, as he knew he hadn’t given permission and Kelly had been known to volunteer them for all sorts of things since he’d started school.

His son was a mix of kindness and enthusiasm, wanting to help other people and always having a go at something, so he put himself forward for any fair events and lots of extra-curricular activities. And he was still in his first year of school. Hopefully it would settle down, as it had made some conflicting scheduling issues for him and Adalind.

“Yeah, mommy said it was okay.” Kelly grinned but then grimaced. “But only for one weekend.”

Nick laughed. “That’s still a pretty good deal bud.”

“I know. Mommy was really cool about it.”

“Your mom is pretty cool, isn’t she?”

Words that once upon a time Nick never thought he’d say ever, about Adalind Schade. But being a mother was everything Adalind wanted and she’d thrown herself into it, doing everything Kelly needed whilst proving to Nick what kind of person she truly was, and that person was gentle, witty and warm-hearted. He’d spent many a day and a night with both of them and they were now some of his best memories.

Weird for a Grimm to say about a hexenbiest.

Not that she was the only hexenbiest in his life, sort-of.

Juliette had taken the suppressant all those years ago and she had done her best to reverse the actions she’d helped the royals put in motion. Unfortunately he’d still lost his mom in a fight against Kenneth but they’d rescued Diana and kept her from the King’s clutches. Adalind had been in agreement this time to send her daughter with some resistance members and knew the risk his mom had taken, hence why she wanted to name their son after his paternal grandmother.

For a year Juliette had taken off, needing to be away from everything so she could regain herself. It meant Nick had been able to be there as much as he could for his new-born son and get to know Adalind as a mother and a person. Her suppressant had worn off but by then she was such a different person that Nick wasn’t fussed by it at all.

When Juliette had returned, it had taken some time for Nick to get back in rhythm with her, especially as he was still working out the new relationship he was building with Adalind and being there for his son, but they’d managed it. The two women didn’t really spend any time together but Nick had managed to move between them and the two very different worlds he had with them and somehow it had worked. Adalind had made a friendship with Rosalee and had even joined them in some group dinners and wesen study sessions. Juliette attended some but she mostly stayed away from wesen talk.

They’d talked about giving their relationship another try and they decided to do it but take things slow. Juliette had returned to her veterinary work and spent more time with her own group of friends. It had worked for them.

Had being the operative word. Lately things had been getting more and more tense between him and Juliette and he didn’t know how to fix it. She’d started showing hexenbiest powers and whilst she was listening to him and Rosalee about how to manage it, it didn’t help that there was another hexenbiest nearby that had gone through what she had but who she was unwilling to talk to about it. Nick would support Juliette as best he could but it was becoming harder.

He was ignoring the voice that was whispering the question of whether he wanted to fix it with her.

Because it was getting easier and more comfortable being with Adalind and Kelly, rather than being anywhere else. He loved nights he spent over with them and was starting to resent the time he was away from them.

And that wasn’t fair to anyone involved.

“It’s spaghetti night,” Kelly said as they walked.

“Oh yeah?”

“Mom makes the best spaghetti.”

Nick smiled as he thought back to one of his and Adalind’s first real personal conversations, no hidden intent or double-meanings. “Yes she does.”

“Will you want some daddy?”

“Definitely. I’ll have some if I can.”

They reached the car and Nick made sure Kelly was safely strapped in his booster seat before driving to Adalind’s house. They managed to split transport duties, and all other needs, between them so they could both still work and give Kelly what he needed and get him where he needed to be. Since Juliette had returned and moved back in with him, Adalind had moved out, and Nick spent most of his family time with Kelly and Adalind at her new house. It was a nice three-bed craftsman house that was a few streets away from Monroe and Rosalee’s and Nick had crashed in the spare room so many times he’d lost count.

That’s where he headed now. Adalind had a court date which was why he was picking Kelly up today and he was taking him home and would stay with him until she returned, maybe getting some dinner out of it, before he either went back to work himself or back to his house with Juliette. He had keys to Adalind’s place, and she’d made sure that he knew he was welcome anytime; he even had spare clothes he kept there.

Kelly talked through some other things that had happened in his day as Nick drove and he loved listening to his son. He kept looking up into the rear-view mirror and just smiling at seeing him there. Kelly was like a mini-me of himself, everyone said so, though Nick was seeing more and more of Adalind in him, in the shape of his smile and the turn of his face.

There was a time when having anything in common with Adalind was horrendous to him, but now it gave him such warmth.

They pulled up at Adalind’s house and it was second nature for Nick to park on the far side of the drive, leaving room for Adalind to pull her car up when she got home from work nearest to the house. He couldn’t remember a time they agreed to do it, it was just what happened. He frowned as he killed the engine and got out of the car, the thought of how many things they just did, together, without seeming or needing to talk it through popping into his head. It had been difficult in the first few months, learning how to be parents, learning each other, but after that they’d somehow clicked and it was amazing how many things they agreed on and thought similarly about.

As crazy as it sounded, parenting with Adalind was easy and good.

Kelly grinned and wiggled in his seat, a ball of energy barely contained by his car restraints, as Nick worked to release him, and as always with his son, Nick couldn’t help but grin back. He was the best thing in his life.

“Are you hungry bud?” Nick asked as they headed inside. “We have time for a snack and then have a play before dinner.”

“When Mom’s home?”

“Yeah, we’ll have dinner with Mom.”

“You’ll stay too Dad?”

Nick realised what he’d said and whether it was a Freudian or subconscious slip he didn’t know but he did know he really wanted to stay. “Yeah, I’ll stay.”

“Cool!”

Nick shook his head with a smile as he deactivated the security code on his phone as they entered the porch, then unlocked and opened the front door.

Kelly dumped his bag and shoes as soon as he got in the door and legged it down the hallway. Nick thought of calling him back but then shook his head in amusement and scooped up the items, placing them on the correct shelf of the unit by the door. Adalind was quite particular in how she had things organised and whilst Nick teased her mercilessly about it, it did save time when Kelly was raring around the place and couldn’t find the thing that he absolutely needed to have right that second.

Nick continued on to the kitchen where he grabbed some apples and raisins and arranged them in a bowl, before joining Kelly in the adjoining lounge. The house was a stunted ‘p’ shape, with the hallway running down from the front door, with an office at the front, with the lounge behind it that had a sliding door so could be shut off or open up the dining and kitchen behind it. Then there was the bedrooms and bathroom behind that, with an offset corridor leading down to the back entrance. A garden that he’d made sure was as safe and secure as possible so Kelly could play out there as often as he wanted but still have the highest level of security around him.

“Snack’s here,” Nick called out, placing the bowl on the coffee table as Kelly scampered around, collecting toys he wanted to play with. “What are we doing with those?”

“It’s a sleepover! All the toys are having a camp in the forest!”

Nick chuckled. “Ok, sounds great. But I’m right here, no need to shout.”

They spend the next hour moving Adalind’s plants around into a makeshift forest and arranging the toys into a camp within that. Kelly made different voices for each toy and Nick joined in as best he could but he was more than happy to just sit with his son and watch him play. Soon enough the snack was polished off and Kelly had added more toys to his encampment but before he could get too carried away the opening and closing of the front door caught his attention and he was up and racing down the hallway.

“Mommy!”

“Hey baby. Did you have a good day?”

Nick got up and headed to the kitchen where he could hear Adalind heading to with Kelly.

“Yeah! Fluffster is gonna come stay with us and Dad’s here for dinner.”

“Is he now?”

He rounded the corner and was met by corporate lawyer Adalind, her hair caught up in a sleek clip and her body encased in a high-neck blouse and blazer suit. She looked professional and in control and far away from the woman who was willing to roll around on the floor with Kelly when he wanted to play tumble-tickle. He much preferred the second Adalind.

“I hope that incredulous tone was for the rabbit,” Nick greeted. “And not that I’m inviting myself to spaghetti night.”

Adalind smiled at him, looking tired but happy. “You’re always welcome, you know that.”

Nick grinned back at her. “What do you need me to do?”

“Everything’s ready in the fridge. How about you look after this rascal while I go change?”

“Mo-om!”

“What you don’t want to eat spaghetti in your blouse and heels?” Nick asked as he scooped up Kelly.

“Well, not just that,” Adalind replied cheekily before rolling her eyes. “Let me get out of this business suit and into comfy clothes. You take the sauce and meatballs out of the fridge so they warm up and keep an eye on this one.”

She ruffled Kelly’s hair as she walked away, coming close and winking at him. Nick swallowed at the visual she’d just given him whilst Kelly tried to wink back at her. Nick watched as she moved away, his eyes drawn to her as she pulled the clip from her hair and blonde curls fell down her back.

His memory unhelpfully presented him with visions of Adalind from their past; her smiling at him properly for the first time, her in his shirt bending over Kelly’s crib, in just a towel coming out of the shower, slipping the buttons from her shirt revealing smooth creamy skin that one night they…

Nick shut his memory off forcibly from that last thought, from memories of that night. It happened, man had it happened, but they’d agreed to leave it in the past and move on from it. They would not let it ruin the co-parenting relationship they had built and the relationship they were building between themselves. Most importantly they agreed to continue to put Kelly first in all things and somehow make their ramshackle family unit not only work, but thrive.

“Fridge here we come,” Nick muttered and hefted Kelly so he was sideways across him, swooshing him into the kitchen.

“Da-ad!” Kelly giggled.

“Hmm, where is that fridge?” Nick asked aloud as he moved Kelly over onto the cupboards and opened one, pretending to lower him into it. “Here?”

“No!” More giggles.

Nick spun around to the other side of the island, near to the bin. “Here?”

“Noo! Not the bin!”

“Oh that’s the bin? Where is that fridge?”

“Daddy!” Kelly shrieked. “It’s over there!”

Nick had to bite down on his lip to keep his own laugh in, winding up Kelly was just so much fun and he could listen to his son giggle for hours.

“Silly me,” he flipped Kelly so he was upright in his arms. “Thank goodness I have you to help me.”

Kelly lunged upwards and wrapped his arms around Nick’s shoulders, hugging him tightly. “Always Daddy.”

Nick closed his eyes and hugged him back but before he could do or say anything else his phone buzzed in his pocket. He dropped him down carefully as he reached for his phone, hoping it wasn’t Hank or Wu with any cases, he really didn’t want to leave without spending time with Kelly and Adalind tonight. Or miss spaghetti dinner.

But it was Juliette’s name that flashed on his screen.

He sighed and then forced a smile for Kelly. “Can you get the containers out of the fridge?”

“Because you don’t know where it is Dad?”

Nick snorted back a laugh, his son bringing his mood back up. “Right. You be the hero and rescue dinner from that evil cold refrigerator.”

Kelly giggled again and ran off whilst Nick stepped back a bit and answered his phone.

“Juliette?”

“Are you on your way home yet?” She greeted. “Did you get Kelly okay?”

“Yeah he’s good. Talking about the new class rabbit.”

“He must be liking that,” Juliette said, her voice warming slightly before it dropped colder again, as she’d first sounded. “Are you on your way soon?”

Nick held in a sigh; it wasn’t Juliette’s fault she was laying bare what was the biggest problem for them at the moment. The fact that Nick wanted to be here, in this place with these two people, more than he wanted to be anywhere else. More than he wanted to be with her.

“I’m just helping get dinner ready for Kelly.”

“So not on your way then,” Juliette said, sounding resigned. “You’ll be there another hour at least I guess. I’ll get my own food. Do you want me to leave you any?” She barely waited for his reply before she went on. “Though I don’t know why I’m asking, if you’re making Kelly dinner then you’ll eat with him so there’s no point me making anything for you.”

“Juliette-“

“And that’s not meant to be bitchy, it’s just, just a fact,” she carried on. “Nick, you know I don’t begrudge you time with Kelly, I really don’t. Or at least I’m trying really hard not to. But it would be nice if you remembered me, put me first in some of your plans.”

“You knew I was picking up Kelly tonight,” Nick said and he knew he was glossing over the bigger issue that Juliette was bringing up, but he didn’t want to have this conversation on the phone.

“Yes, that’s not what I-“ She sighed. “Never mind. Let me know when you’re on your way here, if you make it.”

She hung up without waiting for his reply and Nick didn’t miss the fact that she didn’t call it home that time. Which brought to mind the last time he’d called it home in his head and meant it, and honestly he didn’t know. Looking around the kitchen, watching Kelly walk from the fridge to the island with one thing at a time, leaving the fridge door wide open, Nick knew this was where he thought of as home.

What did that mean for him and Juliette?

Footsteps padded towards him and Nick turned to see Adalind, now dressed in a blue tunic the fell from her shoulders in folds and smooth black leggings that showed her shapely legs. She looked soft and relaxed, the stiff business women persona was gone, here was the warm mother, and her smile showed that as she moved into the kitchen.

“Everything alright?” Adalind asked, her smile dimming slightly as she looked at him.

Nick had no idea what was on his face but it was enough for Adalind to pick up on his perturbed feelings. He forced a smile for her but she just narrowed her eyes in reply.

“It’s fine.”

“I don’t think I believe you,” she replied.

That made a real smile form on his face. “Oh yeah? What you gonna do about it?”

“Well I could-“

“Mom! It spilt!”

Adalind turned to Kelly and moved forwards as he waved his arms helplessly at a Tupperware that was on its side, brown liquid leaking from it. “It’s ok sweetie, just pick it up and grab some paper towel, alright? That way it won’t spill anymore and we can tidy up the mess.”

“Did I ruin dinner?”

“Of course not, look we still have lots of sauce,” Adalind reassured as she wiped the mess with one hand and showed Kelly the food still safe in the plastic container in the other. “We just need to put the pasta on the stove and then warm this up in the microwave. Then dinner is served, not ruined.”

“Ok Mommy. I can help.”

“Yes, you already are sweetie.”

Nick stood back and watched as they moved around the kitchen together, talking and joking as they worked to finalise dinner. He moved forwards and filled the pot before turning to take the pasta from Adalind as if they’d choreographed it. They switched between preparing the food and helping Kelly help them seamlessly, catching things as they passed them and picking up conversation threads between them. It should have been slightly tiring, having to be that aware of so many things but it felt second-nature.

It felt real, and natural, and normal.

Nick sighed.

Adalind’s eyes snapped to him and he didn’t even bother to force a smile this time, he just offered a half one, trying to reassure as best he could. He knew what he was feeling but he had no idea how he could make it into reality; well he knew, he just wasn’t ready to let those thoughts become solid. She narrowed her eyes slightly but then relaxed, as if she knew there was something wrong and wanted to challenge him on it but that it wasn’t the right time now.

“Can you set the table Kel?” Adalind asked and then watched as he counted out three sets of knives and forks from the drawer and carried them carefully to the dining table.

Nick drained the pasta and then stepped back as Adalind added everything into the pot and stirred, before he moved forwards to take it to the table and placing it in the middle. Kelly scrambled up onto his seat at the head of the table and Nick and Adalind took the seats either side of him and opposite each other. It was the seating formation they’d sat in since the time Kelly had started sitting at the table with them.

Nick had sat through many an awkward evening with Adalind whilst they were getting to know each other, then they’d had so many tired meals around Kelly’s needs, and now they sat where they always sat and talked through anything and everything together. Nick loved it.

“This is really good Mommy,” Kelly said just before he stuffed another spoonful of chopped-up spaghetti into his mouth.

“Thanks Kel but slow down.”

“Your food’s not going away until you’re finished, don’t put so much into your mouth bud,” Nick added.

Kelly responded by grinning, red pasta sauce spread all over his mouth. Nick couldn’t help but chuckle and then he felt a kick against his leg.

“Do not encourage him,” Adalind scolded.

“I told him not to-“

She shook her head whilst biting back a smile, her eyes twinkling and completing enchanting him. “You know what you’re doing.”

Nick looked away from her and towards Kelly. “Mom doesn’t know what she’s on about, does she?”

Kelly giggled around his fork, smearing more food onto his mouth in the process.

“For that,” Adalind pronounced grandly. “You’re on bath duty, and… you’re not getting any pie.”

“Wait, there’s pie?”

She grinned evilly at him. “Now who doesn’t know what?”

“Did you know there was pie?” Nick turned to Kelly.

His son shook his head but couldn’t hold back his giggles showing that he did know about the dessert.

“Traitor.”

Adalind laughed and started to clear up which sent Kelly back to stuffing as much as he could into his mouth but this time Nick made him slow down properly. Even though she’d teased she wouldn’t, she did bring back pie and Nick happily helped himself. Kelly devoured his own piece of pie and then slumped at the table, full and content.

Nick went to tidy but Adalind pushed him gently back into his chair, her hand almost a caress on his shoulder, and finished tidying herself. It reminded him of the early days when they were living together when Adalind wasn’t working and spent all the time she didn’t devote to Kelly on keeping the house clean and tidy. But she wasn’t a stay-at-home mom anymore, she had a difficult and time-consuming job so Nick needed to do more, especially as there were times when his job took over – both parts of it – and he couldn’t be around as much as he wanted, leaving Adalind almost a de facto single parent.

“Come on kiddo,” Nick said as he stood. “It’s bath time.”

Kelly did his usual whining as he got up and headed towards the bathroom but as soon as he got there his energy levels shot back up and he started babbling about what he wanted to play in the bath. Nick got out the requested toys as he let the water fill it up. He made sure to wipe as much sauce remnants off his mouth as possible before Kelly actually got into the bath as he didn’t want the water staining red before his son had even been in it for a minute.

They spent a good half an hour playing in the bath and by the time Nick corralled Kelly out of the water he was just as wet as his son. He ended up stripping off his top, knowing he had spares in a drawer in the guest bedroom. Wrapping Kelly in a towel he took him to his bedroom to get him into his pyjamas before they headed back out to the lounge for Kelly’s last bit of play before bed.

Adalind met them at the lounge sliders and Nick didn’t miss the way her eyes gazed down over his chest before she flushed slightly and turned away from him. Nick felt his pulse rate pick up and mumbled about a shirt before he escaped into the guest room to clothe himself and regain his equilibrium.

They couldn’t do this. He was still technically in a relationship with Juliette. He was a Grimm and she was a Hexenbiest. They had Kelly to think of. They really couldn’t do anything about these little moments they kept finding themselves in, where they caught each other’s eye and wanted.

He grabbed a new shirt, pulled it on and returned to the lounge, sitting down on the sofa next to Kelly who was occupied with a drawing pad and crayons, his quiet play. Nick was given a sheet by his son and they sat together and drew; Kelly making doodles and stick figures, Nick unconsciously drawing Adalind and Kelly’s faces in broad sweeping strokes.

Eventually Kelly slumped back into the cushions and Nick tidied up the art things before lifting his son up and carried him to his room. Adalind met them at the doorway and kissed Kelly on his cheek, wishing him goodnight and he mumbled a reply.

Nick laid him on his bed, arranging the covers around him and pulling his soft toys close in case he needed them in the night. He leant and kissed him on the forehead and got a mumbled reply as Adalind had, which showed how tired his boy was. When Kelly stopped he was out for the count.

“Goodnight son,” he whispered. “I love you.”

He switched on the nightlight by the door and pulled it almost shut behind him, taking a last glance at Kelly as he did but his boy was already off in dreamland.

Waiting for him on the island were two drink options, a coffee mug and a beer bottle and Nick stared at them harder than was needed because he knew what they represented. One meant a last drink before he left and the other meant a drink before he stayed the night. Both were there, waiting for him to choose, and he knew Adalind wouldn’t hold his choice against him no matter what he chose.

But for some reason the decision felt pivotal tonight.

He sensed her movement before he saw her on his periphery but for some reason he couldn’t take his eyes off the coffee mug and beer bottle. She came and stood beside him but didn’t say anything and for some reason that meant so much to him. He reached out without looking and grabbed her hand and squeezed.

They stayed that way for several minutes and it was part comfortable, because she was understanding about what he needed right then, and part conflicting, as that showed how it was here and with her that he wanted that comfort and not anywhere else.

“If you want to talk about it,” Adalind murmured. “Whatever it is, I’m here.”

“I know.” He turned automatically, almost unconsciously, and pulled her into a hug. “Thank you.”

She wrapped her arms around him and settled into his chest and Nick squeezed her tighter. He shouldn’t be touching her like this, holding her close like this. It was just going to make things harder and it was incredibly selfish of him. It was blurring their carefully-drawn lines.

But stepping back and letting go was so hard.

His phone came to his rescue and loudly buzzed from where he’d left it at the table. Adalind stepped back from him, her hands trailing down over his chest as she moved away, whilst his clenched quickly on her hips before he moved away. He strode quickly to the table, needing a distraction.

“Hank,” he answered as he saw who was calling.

“Hey, just to say Wu and I wrapped up the paperwork on the lab results. I’ve sent you an email so you can review but we’re calling it a night and heading home. We’ve got a meeting with the coroner in the morning at 9 though.”

“Sounds good. I’ll be there.”

“Night partner.”

Nick disconnected and turned to Adalind who was moving around the kitchen making her own drink. She caught his eye and smiled gently.

“You have to go.”

He opened his mouth to answer no, he could stay but instead he used the excuse given to him. “Yeah.”

“Well I hope you’re not too long at work. It’s already pretty late.”

“Don’t worry about me, Mom,” he teased.

She smiled but it was slight and didn’t meet her eyes; something else was in them, feelings he couldn’t put names to for fear of their impact. “You know I do.”

Nick took a breath. He was aware of the space between them, of the way they locked gazes and of what was not being said, hanging in the air. He was so aware of her.

“Yeah.”

“I finished at Court today so I can drop off and pick up Kelly tomorrow.”

“Okay.” It wasn’t a dismissal, he knew it wasn’t, but it felt a little like it. He didn’t like when he wasn’t involved in Kelly’s daily life, when he wasn’t one hundred percent sure when he’d see Kelly or Adalind next.

“You’re welcome at dinner or playtime,” she reassured, picking up on his thoughts immediately, as had become a habit of hers in the last few years.

“I’ll let you know when I can swing by.”

“Good.”

Nick nodded and pushed his phone into his pocket before making his way towards the front hallway. He stopped as he came level with the island, Adalind stood on the other side of it. He knew he should just go but all the thoughts and feelings that had been swirling around him for the last few months seemed to have crystallised tonight and he needed to say something.

“You mean so much to me,” he said, looking straight ahead, knowing that if he looked at her he’d take the next step but that wasn’t right for tonight, there were still other things he needed to sort out and realise himself. “You and Kelly are everything. Both of you, together, on your own. You’re my everything.”

“I know,” she whispered back. “We know.”

Nick nodded once and then left, not daring to look back. He reached his car and drove on autopilot, his mind both frozen and moving too fast at the same time. He’d put something into motion now. From his thoughts earlier to the phone call with Juliette to him giving life to the realisation that he wasn’t where he wanted to be.

He’d let something free from himself that had been kept tightly locked away and now he had to work out where he went from here.

Physically he ended up at Monroe and Rosalee’s house.

He sat in his car, just staring at their front door, then staring straight ahead, not knowing if he was ready to speak aloud what was churning in his head. Also it was late and they had their own evening to deal with. If the triplets were asleep and his arrival woke them up there would be hell to pay.

And what would he even say? I think I’ve realised Adalind is who I really want to be with and I want to leave Juliette, who now that I’m thinking and talking about it, I realise I’ve been struggling being with for a while and I don’t want to fix it, I just want to be with Adalind and Kelly? How could he say all that?

A flash of light caught his eye and he turned and saw Monroe standing in his open front doorway, one of the triplets against his hip and a raised eyebrow on his face. Nick sighed but when Monroe waved and motioned him forwards, he got out of the car and headed towards him.

“Were you planning on coming in or is the front of our driveway a new parking space for you?” Monroe greeted, stepping back as he entered.

“I didn’t want to interrupt your evening,” Nick answered.

“Uh-oh,” Monroe muttered, then looked down at his sleepy daughter held in his arms. “That’s Uncle Nick speak for something big has happened and he needs to talk it out but he’s not sure how he’s feeling about whatever it is yet.”

“I want to argue that,” Nick replied. “But it’s uncannily true in this circumstance.”

Monroe rolled his eyes. “It’s always true,” he whispered down as his daughter shifted in his arms, sticking her thumb in her mouth as she slowly blinked heavy eyes.

“What’s she still doing awake?” Nick asked, hoping to distract his friend for at least a few minutes before he had to start talking.

“There was an argument at bath time,” Monroe said. “The boys are banished to bed and this one gets a few minutes more for playtime, but as you can see she’s tired so instead its dad carry around time.”

“Still sounds like a good deal.”

Monroe harrumphed. “You’re not the one carrying her. Hey there’s a point,” he looked down at her. “Honey, do you want a carry from Uncle Nick?”

Sleepy blue eyes looked up at Monroe and hold his gaze for a minute, the look pure Rosalee, before closing them and snuggling further into her daddy’s shoulder.

Nick laughed. “I think she’s happy where she is.”

Monroe harrumphed again but couldn’t hide his pleased smile. He might grumble about everything his kids did but his love for them shone through so brightly it almost lit him up with a glow some days. Which was only fair really, that he got a time to shine, as Rosalee had glowed throughout her entire pregnancy, even when she was put on bedrest.

Adalind and Rosalee had bonded even more in their sharing of motherhood experiences, with Adalind helping Rosalee as once Rosalee had helped her. The two had had regular meet-ups even when they had both returned to work. And as soon as they could they started the children’s playdates. Kelly loved playing with the triplets. His being a year older sometimes helped and other times you almost couldn’t tell there was an age difference between the four of them.

“Hey Nick,” Rosalee greeted with a confused look. “What are you doing here? Adalind said you had to go to work.”

“You’ve spoken to Adalind? What did she say? Is she alright?”

Monroe looked between Nick and Rosalee. “I’m sensing there’s something bigger going on here.”

Rosalee looked resigned. “She rang a few minutes ago but I’m not telling you what she said.”

“No, that’s fair, that’s right.” Nick nodded to himself. “I think I’m screwing everything up.”

“Okay, this is gonna be a big chat,” Monroe said. “I’m going to put this one down. Don’t say anything until I’m back.”

Monroe headed off and Nick went through to the lounge, running his hands through his hair as he paced, unable to sit down. Rosalee walked off into the kitchen and he heard cupboards opening and closing and the start of the kettle. Several minutes later they both re-appeared, Monroe sans child and Rosalee with coffee mugs. They both sat down and looked at him, taking sips of their drinks and getting comfortable on the couch. The silence stretched for a few minutes and Nick wanted to question them but knew they were waiting for him.

“I don’t think of home as with Juliette anymore,” he started. “It’s a thought that’s been creeping up on me for a while but a few things today really solidified it. Nothing big happened, there was no fights or declarations, today it just felt real. I didn’t want to leave Kelly and Adalind tonight. I wanted to stay with them and be with Adalind. Juliette rang and she was her normal self pretty much, supportive of Kelly as always but it annoyed me that she was interrupting. She said at the start about coming home and then she mentioned it only as the house and that’s when I realised I don’t think of it as home anymore. Home is Adalind and Kelly. And not even that house, just them. They’re home to me.”

Nick took a deep breath after getting that all out and then collapsed down into a chair opposite his friends, looking at their surprised faces.

“I started to say something to Adalind but I couldn’t finish it, I could barely talk about it at all because it wasn’t completely clear in my head yet, and I haven’t spoken to Juliette and how can I risk Kelly? But how could I do that to Adalind? Start that conversation when I can’t see it through even though I want to?”

“That’s a lot man,” Monroe commented when Nick stayed silent for a minute.

“It’s all been circling around my mind for a while,” Nick admitted. “I don’t know why it came to a head today but it has and now I can’t stop thinking about it.”

“Nick, what are you here for?” Rosalee asked gently.

Nick blinked at her. “To talk it out?”

“That’s it?” She looked at him. “Because it sounds like you’re almost asking for our permission...”

He shook his head. “No, that’s not what I’m trying to say.” He sighed. “I guess what I really want is reassurance.”

“In what you’re feeling?” Monroe pulled a face. “Or what you’re thinking of doing?”

Nick looked at him but his best friend just held his stare.

“You wouldn’t be saying this if you weren’t seriously considering following through,” Monroe continued. “You want to leave Juliette for Adalind and Kelly, that’s what this boils down to and it’s a major decision so I understand you wanting to talk it out but that’s all we can do for you.”

“I know that.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” He sighed again. “I don’t want to hurt them or ruin anything we have.”

“Them as in… all of them? Or just Kelly and Adalind?” Rosalee prompted. “What about Juliette?”

“She’s not happy. I can’t give her what she needs.” Nick let out a breath. “I don’t think I want to give her what she needs because that would mean stepping back from Adalind. I can’t stay in this weird place between the two of them. It’s not fair to anyone.”

“It sounds like you’ve already made your mind up,” Monroe said.

“I don’t want to screw up what I’ve got with Adalind at the moment though.” Nick worried, rubbing his hands over his face. “We’re in such a good place for Kelly. We get each other now. It was such a long slog to get to this place; between our history, Kelly being born, her powers coming back, Juliette coming back. We’re in a really good rhythm together and what if I screw it up by asking for more?”

“Do you think she’ll be surprised by you asking for that?” Monroe hiked his eyebrows high.

“We’re been having… moments lately,” Nick answered. “We both know we want each other. We both know Kelly is the most important thing. All three of us being together is the best feeling. I don’t think it’ll surprise her but this is still us just caught in moments, what if the reality doesn’t work?”

“What would you regret more?” Rosalee asked. “Trying and it not working out, but you guys figure out something new to protect Kelly because that’s what you would both do. Or not trying and living with the what-if?”

“I feel like I’ve been living with the what-if for the last few years and it’s all catching up with me now,” Nick admitted. “I’ve been trying to jump between two worlds; the one I feel I should be in and the one I want to be in.”

“That sounds like your answer then,” Monroe said whilst Rosalee nodded.

“Yeah,” Nick sighed. “Thanks. I’m sorry for interrupting your night with my problems, again. You guys are the best.”

“We know.”

Rosalee elbowed Monroe as Nick chuckled. He took a drink of his now-cold coffee, much calmer and steadier now he’d gotten everything off his chest, and then stood. “I should get going.”

“It’s late. Do you want to stay here?”

“No, but thanks.” He smiled at Rosalee and went to move to the kitchen to return his mug but she took it out of his hand.

“As much as this might be hard, you’re doing the right thing Nick,” she murmured. “You’re making a decision. You can’t keep living in this half of one world, half of the other limbo.”

“I know,” he replied seriously.

Monroe clapped him on the back as he left and Nick nodded, his thanks non-verbal.

He headed back to his car and got in, knowing without actively thinking about it that he was heading to his and Juliette’s house. Not to necessarily talk to her right now, tonight. But he would start the conversation with her. He’d acknowledged it, he’d said aloud how he was feeling and he knew what he needed to do now.

The lights were still on as he pulled into the driveway and Nick glanced at the time and realised he’d been thinking around kids’ sleep times, not adult time. It wasn’t that late so he shouldn’t be so surprised she was potentially still up. He supposed it was because he’d had a night of emotional revelations and decisions he thought he’d have some more time to dwell on it before taking action. Not that he had to walk in there and say everything he’d come to know tonight.

He should probably go in there and try for a normal conversation first.

When was the last time they had one of those without awkwardness?

He headed inside and saw her sitting at the dining room table, a half empty glass of wine in front of her and holding her tablet as she viewed something. She looked up as he came in and smiled slightly. He replied in kind and moved towards her.

“I wasn’t sure you’d come back here tonight,” she murmured.

He couldn’t help but mentally note she didn’t say ‘come home’.

“I mean you were having dinner with Kelly so I thought you’d crash there.”

And he also noted how she didn’t mention Adalind. Not that a part of him blamed her, her history with Adalind was long and complicated. But Adalind had proven herself in the last five years, in so many ways. She had helped him navigate parenthood, had helped save their rag-tag group’s lives from countless wesen encounters and had offered to help Juliette numerous times in various different ways.

“I was tempted,” he answered honestly.

“I bet he wanted you to.”

“He’s pretty good with that stuff,” Nick said. “If I stay over or don’t, he seems okay with it. As long as when I tell him I do, I keep my word - when he’s expecting it - he’s good with the other times happening or not happening. Only once because of a case did I have to break that, otherwise I’ve managed to make it work.”

It was one of the biggest things he’d worried about when Adalind had moved into her own place with Kelly. But they’d been as open as they could with him and tried to help him understand it as much as possible.

“He’s such a good kid,” Juliette smiled.

Nick beamed. “He really is.”

“You’re so good with giving him all the information and choices he needs,” she continued. “But not necessarily others.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re such a good dad to him,” she carried on. “And its right you put him first. I’m not saying otherwise-“

“Then what are you saying?” Nick interrupted, his voice sharper than he wanted, but he was feeling déjà vu from their conversation earlier as well as the heaviness of all the things not said between them but that he’d come to realise. Was Juliette starting the conversation herself?

Juliette sighed and looked away from him, fiddling with her wineglass. “I’m saying… I’m saying he’s your first priority and I don’t want him not to be, not for you. He needs you and you need him. But I think I want to be someone’s first priority.” She looked up at him then. “When I came back it was to regain the life I wanted from before… before everything happened. And you were the main part of that life I wanted to get back. But so much has changed for both of us. Now we’re just trying to fit ourselves into each other’s new changed lives.” She looked forlorn yet somehow resolute and Nick knew what was coming next. “It’s not working.”

Nick sighed. “No, it’s not.”

“I’m not happy and I don’t think you are either.”

Nick shook his head.

“I’m grateful you gave me another chance, that we gave us another chance, but it’s not working is it?”

“We’re not the same people that we were,” Nick agreed. “But I am glad you came back and we tried. I would have always wondered otherwise.”

“Me too,” she smiled slightly. “I haven’t been sad with you Nick, not lately, that’s not what I’m saying. And we’ve had some amazing times together. But I want to be happy.”

“I know what you mean.”

Juliette stood and came over to him. “You’ve shown me so many things. You were the first man I ever thought of marrying. You introduced me to a whole other world that I’m now a part of. For good and bad, you’ve been such an integral part of my life.”

“Same for me,” Nick said as he reached out and took her hands. “I never wanted you to be hurt, ever. And I think you’re right, we’re not happy and I don’t want that to lead to us causing each other pain.”

“I don’t want that either. We’ve done enough of that in the past.”

Nick grinned slightly. “So us getting back together has led us to acknowledging that what we actually need is for us to be apart?”

Juliette shook her head but laughed. “Yeah.”

He thought of the other things he could say, of the things he’d said earlier to Monroe and Rosalee but it didn’t need to be said here. He could end this chapter with Juliette knowing what he would do next, but letting her know that could only potentially hurt her and he didn’t want that.

Nick pulled her forwards and hugged her. “Thank you. For everything you’ve done for me.”

Her arms wrapped around him. “Same Nick.”

They stepped back from each other at the same time and it echoed everything they’d just said to each other. They weren’t on the same page anymore and it was time to move on.

“I guess we should talk about the practical stuff?” He asked. “The house, bills, stuff?”

“Yeah, but not tonight if that’s ok? I feel drained.”

Nick nodded. “Of course.”

“We’ll sort it soon though. I don’t want anything hanging over us when we’ve now made this decision.”

“Totally agree,” Nick agreed.

“I’m gonna head to bed. Are you alright sleeping in the spare room?”

“Yeah, that’s fine, makes sense. I’ll grab some clothes and move them over then I’ll be out of your hair.”

She smiled sadly and then headed into the kitchen, giving Nick the opportunity to head upstairs and do what he’d said.

As he grabbed a duffle and started piling clothes he’d need into it, he should have been thinking about what steps he needed to take tomorrow. He should be thinking about bank accounts and bills and the house. But instead he was thinking about how he’d solved one part of his feelings conundrum, what was he going to do about the other feelings?

What was he going to do about Adalind? Should he do anything about it? He knew it was too soon for those thoughts but they were running around his head anyway.

He heard Juliette start to come up the stairs and he grabbed the last things he needed from his underwear drawer and stuffed them in the bag, moving out of the bedroom and getting into the spare room before she made it upstairs. He didn’t want to avoid her necessarily but they’d spoken enough for tonight and there was nothing more that could be said between them that would be helpful; they could only start in on recriminations and Nick didn’t want that.

They’d been enough pain between them over the years. If they could move on from each other without causing any more pain that would be the best thing.

He moved around the guest room slowly and went through his night time routine trying not to think about anything specifically. Even though it wasn’t that late he found himself lying in bed before he knew it, eyes wide open and staring at the ceiling. He was both exhausted and yet wide awake.

Sleep didn’t come for a long time and when it did he had fractured dreams; memories of his relationship with Juliette twisted in with memories of Adalind, of times when his Grimm pulled at his relationships, times of when normal life was a burden, all merged together and twisting him up inside.

When his alarm went off in the morning he felt like he hadn’t slept properly at all. But he couldn’t let that affect his day and really, in the scheme of his life, he’d done more on less sleep.

Work was slow and not distracting enough for him. Hank and Wu both called him on his mood but as much as he could say what had happened between him and Juliette – which he did and then dodged the resulting questions – he couldn’t explain that that was only half of what was affecting him. Or rather, he felt like he shouldn’t. Sharing his thoughts and feelings with Monroe and Rosalee was one thing, but he felt like the next person he should say those words aloud to was Adalind.

And how could he do that? Go straight from a break-up with Juliette to asking Adalind for something to happen between them? Wouldn’t that cheapen both things, his ending with Juliette and potential beginning with Adalind?

It was something that was rolling around his brain and until he had an answer he knew he couldn’t do anything. It wouldn’t be fair to anyone involved. And he had to keep Kelly safe and the priority.

Before he knew it, the work day was over and he found himself at a loss for what to do. He wanted to go see Adalind and Kelly but he was self-aware enough to know that he was still out of sorts and they’d both pick up on it, so that wasn’t fair. He didn’t want to go bother Monroe and Rosalee again either, they’d done enough for him last night, but he also didn’t want to go back to the house. There were practical conversations to be had with Juliette and he just had no energy for that tonight.

So he found himself driving around and around the neighbourhood before getting dinner in a fast food drive-thru and sitting in their car park to eat and ponder. He had some messages from people, asking where he was and if he was okay and he replied the same to all of them, that he was fine but caught up in work, though he fibbed with police or Grimm work depending on who was asking.

He entered the house at a late hour and went straight to the guest bedroom to get some sleep. He was so tired that his exhaustion took over and knocked him out for a full six hours.

When he woke up in the morning, he knew he had to be decisive today, that he’d given himself yesterday to just lull through what had happened but today things had to happen. And he couldn’t go two days without seeing Kelly, that wasn’t fair to his son when there was no reason for it, and wasn’t what he wanted. He wanted to be with his son, his son and Adalind, and not let anything get in the way of that. Ever.

He really wanted to be with Adalind. He didn’t want to have to leave the home they’d built for Kelly and themselves; he wanted to be there full-time.

His phone rang and he rolled to answer it, a smile springing to his face when he saw Adalind’s name on the screen.

“Adalind,” he greeted huskily.

“Nick.”

He sat up straight at the strange tone in her voice. “Is everything alright?”

“I don’t know. Kelly said he saw someone outside his window this morning, about five minutes ago. I checked the security feed and it all looks fine but-“

Fear pulsed through him faster than a lightning strike. “Don’t go out, stay inside with everything locked, keep your phone on you and I’ll be there in ten. Less than.”

She exhaled in relief. “We will do.”

Nick sprang out of bed and threw clothes on quickly. He sent a rushed message to Hank, asking to cover for work if anything came up in the next hour and then he raced out of the house and into his car. He had to concentrate on not gunning it out of the driveway but getting there as quickly and as safely as well as inconspicuously as possible.

He didn’t want to get pulled over or stopped when he needed to be at Adalind’s and make sure she and Kelly were safe. He needed for them to be safe. Fear clawed at his insides but he breathed through it, not letting it distract him.

The drive passed in both a blur of time and a hyper-awareness of his emotions.

As he approached her house he scanned the street for any sign of something suspicious or anything that made him feel off. His senses were on high alert and he knew his Grimm instincts would kick in if he felt anyone was watching or near the house. He pulled the security feed on his phone after he parked in the driveway but couldn’t see any sensors tripped or any obvious figure on the security feed.

He rang Adalind as he stepped out of the car, seeing hers in its usual place and condition. “I’m outside. I’ll have a look around and then come in. Stay in the house.”

“Alright.”

He hung up and then very slowly walked around the house, looking for any details of a trespasser. He scanned around, clocking overall features before zeroing in on details, his eyes focusing to see if any of the ground was disturbed or if anything had been dropped that shouldn’t be there. Any signs that someone had been there. He clocked the security camera that was above Kelly’s window and saw its light flashing, indicating it was still working. As he’d also seen the security feed he was sure it was. But with that working and no signs of any trespass Nick wasn’t sure what to think.

Now that he knew there was no immediate threat though, he needed to check on Adalind and Kelly as next importance.

Nick headed inside, deactivating the alarm as he stepped into the porch and then unlocked the front door. He headed down the hallway and walked into the kitchen calling out as he went. “Adalind?”

“Here,” She replied, moving from where she’d been standing at the entrance to the back corridor, obviously on guard.

“Where’s Kelly?”

“In my room.”

“Is he okay? Are you okay?”

She exhaled heavily. “I think so. He was startled and he scared the heck out of me but he’s happy enough now he’s in my bed. I’ve been checking the security cameras and there’s been nothing, not on playback and not on live feed. Not until you arrived.”

“There’s no sign of any disturbance outside,” Nick confirmed.

“That’s good. Maybe he just had a nightmare or was half-awake, half-asleep.” Adalind turned and looked towards her room, as if she could see Kelly through the wall and somehow know what he was thinking. “Maybe it was a shadow across his window or something.” She shook her head, looking exhausted all of a sudden, as if she’d kept her energy up because she had to be ready and now just couldn’t anymore. “Him waking me up screaming wasn’t the best start to the morning.”

Nick automatically walked forward and pulled her into his arms, hugging her close. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here to help.”

“You can’t be here all the time Nick and you came when we needed you.”

“I’ll always come when you need me Adalind,” he said aloud whilst starting to think about how it was now at least possible for him to be here all the time. The idea of it was tantalising.

Adalind sighed against him and pushed her heard further into his chest, snuggling in. Nick curved his hands around her, one cupping her shoulder, the other resting on her hip. He anchored his face into the side of her head and just breathed slowly, letting her presence allay the fears he’d felt from the second he’d heard her voice from the phone call.

He didn’t know how long they stood there, just wrapped in each other, both giving and taking comfort. He could have stayed there all day. But there was someone missing from their little family and he made himself known, loudly.

“Dad!”

They separated as Kelly ran towards them.

“Kelly I told you to stay in my room until I called you,” Adalind scolded.

“But Dad’s here!” Kelly threw himself into Nick and wrapped his arms and legs around him, clinging tightly.

“I got you bud,” Nick reassured as he adjusted Kelly’s weight, lifting him up but keeping him held close.

Adalind sighed but moved into them, running her hand over Kelly’s dark hair as he looked at her from under his eyelashes from Nick’s shoulder. Nick wished he could reach out and pull her closer too but both his arms were occupied with Kelly. He stared right at her and she seemed to understand what he wanted, or she wanted it too, and moved in closer so she had one arm on his back and her other wrapped around Kelly.

“Did the shadow man leave Dad?”

Nick refocused on Kelly and felt his worries creep up again. “Can you tell me about the shadow man Kel?”

“He was outside my window this morning. He was all dark and wavy and he tapped on my window so I screamed for mom.”

Nick swallowed down his fear and focused in on his son’s words. “Tapped? With a hand?”

“I dunno, it was dark and I didn’t see, but I heard it.”

“Did he move fast or slow?”

“Both!”

“Did you hear anything else? Did he say anything?”

“No just the tapping on my window.”

“Did he try to get into the window?”

“No. Just moved outside and tapped.”

“Okay, well the security cameras were on and your mom was in the next room and I got here as soon as I could. You were safe, okay Kelly? You know that?”

“Yes Dad.”

“We will never let anything happen to you,” Adalind added.

“I know Mom.” Kelly shifted to look at her and then turned to look at him. “Dad will you stay here tonight?”

“Kelly-“

“Of course I will,” Nick interrupted Adalind to reassure Kelly. Regardless of it ending between him and Juliette, if Kelly wanted him here, then here is where he’d be.

It made it easier and once Kelly was asleep tonight maybe he could start the conversation with Adalind.

“Well, we’ll talk about that later,” Adalind said and Nick frowned at her sudden nervousness. “Right now, it’s time to get you ready for school.”

Kelly groaned and hugged himself tighter to Nick which made Nick grin even as Adalind’s response had him worried.

“Come on,” Nick said. “I’ll help you get dressed.”

“Fine.”

Nick grinned over Kelly’s head to Adalind and though she smiled back, it didn’t meet her eyes. He frowned at her in silent question and she smiled wider in response, as if to convince him but Nick just shook his head slightly at her. She rolled her eyes in response and motioned to Kelly then to herself and the hallway.

“I’m going to have a shower whilst your dad helps you. Then we’ll get some breakfast, ok?”

“Meet you in the kitchen?” Nick asked, hoisting Kelly up over his shoulder so his son’s head was hanging down over his back. Kelly started giggling instantly.

Adalind rolled her eyes again but this time it was to hide her real smile. She was just as affected by Kelly’s giggles as he was and their rough-housing play always seemed to bemuse her. Nick was just glad her eyes were lit up and not downcast as they were a moment ago.

She left them for her room and the en-suite it contained and he headed into the room before hers that was Kelly’s bedroom.

Kelly’s room was organised chaos. A semblance of structure had been implemented, Adalind’s touch obviously, with baskets for everything to go in and compartments on shelves and under the bed. But Kelly’s grab-and-go energy was fighting back against it, with everything contained within the boxes and on the shelves, but haphazardly, spilling over the tops and hanging off the edges. The nature theme of the room, with trees and animals painted on the walls, was at odds with the sheer amount of stuff that was crammed in. Nick knew both he and Adalind were terrible at buying things for Kelly and with Uncle Monroe popping round every few weeks with some new things he’d seen, Kelly was spoilt for choice with toys and soft animals.

Right now though Nick headed for the wardrobe and grabbed a few different options of clothes. He flipped Kelly the right way round onto the bed and then laid the clothes on top of him.

“There you go, you’re all dressed for the day. Shall we go get food?”

“Da-ad,” Kelly giggled.

“What?”

“I have to wear the clothes!”

“Oh okay.” Nick lifted the top t-shirt and then started to push it carefully over Kelly’s head.

“No! I still have my jammies on!” Kelly pushed away from him and threw the clothes options around the bed before he yanked his pyjama top off.

Nick watched as Kelly meticulously dressed himself, the care he took to putting the clothes on in direct contrast to the way he flung them off his body. Before he knew it his son was dressed for the day and grinning up at him.

“Come on kid, let’s go get breakfast ready.”

“Okay!”

They headed to the kitchen and Nick got out the Adalind-approved breakfast items for a school day, consisting of cereals and fruits. He lined them up on the island and sat as Kelly filled his bowl with a shake from each box, making his own cereal from a combination of those on offer to him. Nick appreciated the idea and followed suit. By the time Adalind joined them, they were both halfway through their bowls.

She was dressed in a smart suit, all straight lines and dark colours; the epitome of a professional working woman. She set her briefcase down on the dining table before she walked over to them. She grabbed her own bowl but filled it with different fruits, making a fruit salad, and joined them at the island.

“You all ready for school?” She asked.

Kelly nodded as he slurped cereal hoops off his spoon.

“Just teeth and hair after this,” Nick confirmed.

“Would you be able to drop him off at school? I’ve got a morning meeting that if I could be a bit early too then I can get ahead for the day and maybe even leave early.”

“Yeah, no problem. Hank’s covering for me if anything comes up.”

Adalind frowned. “I can take him if-“

Nick shook his head. “It’s not a problem. I messaged him when I was on the way here in case I needed more time to deal with that. Let me know when you’re on your way home. I’m going to put the security on a higher level for today and then when you’re home I want to be here.”

“Nick it was probably just a shadow or something-“

“Maybe. But I still want to be here.”

Adalind sighed but nodded. “Alright. I’ll let you know when we head back here later.”

“Good.”

“Will Juliette be okay with you staying?” she asked quietly. “I don’t want to cause any problems between the two of you.”

Nick smiled softly at her. Once upon a time it would have been Juliette who was the one in his life who was being the kinder person, who was putting someone else first, but now it was definitely Adalind.

“She’ll be fine. She won’t know, or even care I think.”

Adalind rolled her eyes. “Nick, of course she’ll-“

“No,” he said strongly, willing what he didn’t want to say in front of Kelly but what he wanted Adalind to understand into his voice. This wasn’t exactly how he thought he’d tell her but the opportunity was here so he’d take it. “No, she really won’t.”

“Oh.” She frowned. “Oh?”

“It’s done.”

“What’s done Dad?” Kelly asked.

Nick turned to him. “It’s done and decided that I’m staying here with you guys tonight.”

“Yeah!”

“Let’s get you to school champ,” Nick said as Kelly finished slurping from his bowl. “The sooner it starts the sooner it’ll be finished.”

“I’ll pick you up at end of day but stay inside until I come to the gates okay? I’ll call your teacher and tell her as well,” Adalind added before looking back at Nick. “And we can all have a nice long chat tonight when we’re together again.”

“Call me as soon as you’re heading back here,” Nick instructed. “I don’t want you guys here on your own.”

She pulled a slight face but nodded.

“Can we play jungle tonight Dad? Or aliens? Or can we get the boards out?”

Nick grinned at Kelly. “We’ll have loads of time to play whatever you want kiddo. Let’s get you to school first though. Go get your teeth and hair done.”

“Kay!”

Kelly ran off to the bathroom and Nick took their two bowls to the sink for a quick rinse before loading them into the dishwasher. He knew he only had a few minutes until Kelly came back and he knew this wasn’t the appropriate time to say anything but he’d started it now. He didn’t want to have any more half-truths between him and Adalind.

“Juliette and I are done,” he said quietly, facing away from her and staring out of the window above the sink. He didn’t know what would show on his face as he spoke and he was too hopeful of what he might see on Adalind’s so he just stared ahead and watched her body posture through the window’s reflection. “We’ve been rocky for a while now. You know that, you’ve helped me with that. But we spoke the other day and laid it out and both agreed we’re not happy so we’ve ended it. I’m staying in the guest room and we’re going to sort out what to do with the house and the bills and what not. So if you and Kelly need me to stay tonight it’s not a problem. Though to be honest, even before, if you and Kelly needed me I’d be here.”

Adalind sighed. “Nick-“

“I know more needs to be said,” he interrupted. “And I know we haven’t got time now. But I didn’t want you overthinking all day without the actual facts of what’s going on.”

She stood and moved to tidy her own bowl, coming closer to him but not looking at him. “And you’re so sure I’d be thinking about it all day are you?”

Nick turned to look at her properly, needing to see her for this. He waited a beat, until she looked up at him quickly, then held her stare. “I’d hope so.”

She blinked up at him and their gazes locked. Moments ago he’d consciously not looked at her so he could reserve some emotional strength but now he needed to see her and see what was in her eyes. Even back when they were enemies they’d always been able to read things from each other’s stare, then they’d honed that skill during countless nights when Kelly was a baby and they checked in on each other with a look, and now he wanted to see the things in her eyes, the feelings, that he was feeling and was sure she reciprocated.

They stood like that, in front of the sink, stares connected, not saying anything else. Nick wanted to lean forward and touch her, or say any of the hundred things he wanted to say to her about how he felt, or a combination of both those things, but he didn’t want to ruin this moment. This moment when they were both showing each other they were there, together.

He knew they had time now. He wasn’t putting this off anymore or thinking about what was in the way or what was the right thing to do, he was here and he knew Adalind was too. They could figure it out together.

And somehow Adalind read all that from his gaze as her cheeks darkened in a flush and a small smile tugged at her lips. Nick couldn’t help but grin back at her.

“Ready! I’m ready!” Kelly raced back into the room and Nick stepped away from Adalind.

“Let’s grab your lunch and bag then,” Nick said. “I’ll drop you off at school and Mom will pick you up okay? Then we’ll all have a nice night back here later.”

“Yeah!”

“You ring me when you’ve got him?” Nick added quietly to Adalind as Kelly ran to get his bag. “I don’t want you guys here alone. I’ll come as soon as you call.”

“We’ll be fine if you have work,” Adalind answered. “I’ll get us in and set all the alarms and-“

“I want to be here.”

She nodded. “Alright. I’ll call you when we’re driving.”

“Good.”

“I got everything,” Kelly announced.

“Okay, let’s-” Nick started, then watched with a bemused smile as Adalind double-checked everything Kelly had gotten ready. When she was happy with everything he had done she gave him a hug and kissed him on the forehead.

“Great job sweetie. Have a good day and I’ll see you at pick-up,” Adalind said. Kelly gave her a big hug back and she released him and grabbed her own bag off the table, turning and giving Nick another smile.

“I’ll see you tonight. Remember to call me-“

“As soon as we’re on our way back here,” she interrupted him. “I will.”

“Good.”

She shook her head and left and Nick knew he’d annoyed her slightly with his insistence but he also knew she’d follow through. Neither of them would jeopardise Kelly’s safety, ever. As much as he was looking forward to a night with Kelly and Adalind, and having a conversation with Adalind, he was also going to make sure Kelly’s ‘shadow man’ was not anything to worry about.

“Come on Kel, let’s get going.”

“Sooner we’re gone sooner we’re home!” Kelly called out and Nick grinned at him paraphrasing his earlier comment.

“You’re absolutely right. And we’ve got a busy night ahead of us haven’t we? So we better get you through school and me through work.”

“With Uncle Hank and Uncle Wu?”

“Yep. We’re going to make sure the bad guys get caught and help protect the good guys. Then I get to come home to you and your Mom.”

Nick got Kelly safely out to the car, scanning the street instinctively, keeping Kelly between him and the car. No-one was out in the street and Nick couldn’t feel any eyes on them but he double-checked once Kelly was inside the vehicle. He set the alarms from his phone as he got in himself and then they were driving, joining the morning madness of people getting around Portland in morning rush hour.

They were a bit earlier than usual so Nick wasn’t bothered by the traffic and the time it took them as they headed for Kelly’s school. Kelly happily rambled in the back seat, switching between topics of what they would do tonight, what he wanted to do at school today and what he wanted to get for the rabbit when it was his turn to host the class pet. Nick answered occasionally but otherwise happily just listened to his son talk.

He’d be counting down his own day until he could be back home with him and Adalind later.

Instead of dropping Kelly off in the loop like he did normally, Nick parked up a street away and walked Kelly in. It wasn’t their usual routine so if there was anyone watching them then they’d have to change what they were going to do which meant he would be able to respond in kind. Nothing was out of the ordinary as they walked and soon they were standing in line at the walker’s entrance of the school, Nick scanning the area just in case.

When it came time to hand over Kelly, Nick made sure that the teaching assistant at the gate knew there would be a message at the office regarding Kelly’s pick-up and then kissed his son goodbye. He watched him until he was inside the building and then scanned the surroundings again, taking note of people lingering. Some he knew and others he didn’t but he committed them all to memory anyway. Nothing was suspicious though and his instincts were quiet so he headed back to his car and what would hopefully be a quiet day at work.

He wasn’t called out on a case all day and whilst that gave him hope for an early escape, it made the day feel unbearably long. He caught Hank up on what had happened that morning and did an unofficial search of any crimes reported in Adalind’s neighbourhood. Just in case something else had happened last night and Kelly had seen something or sensed it somehow.

But everything came back normal.

“Maybe he had a nightmare,” Hank said as Nick ran a slightly wider search area. “If your security measures didn’t catch anything and Adalind’s magic didn’t sense something then there was probably nothing there. He is still a kid and night terrors are a thing you know.”

“I guess, considering the world he lives in, my world, that I thought it must have been something more,” Nick sighed as he sat back in his chair. “Though until I prove that I’m not discounting anything.”

“I understand that.” Hank shifted back slightly but kept his gaze on Nick. “But I don’t think that’s everything you’ve got going on.”

Nick shook his head. “Very perceptive. Anyone ever say you should be a detective?”

Hank just raised an eyebrow. “You gonna tell me what else is going on?”

“I ended things with Juliette and I want to start something with Adalind, without ruining what we have with Kelly and what’s between us already.”

“Oh,” Hank said slowly. “So not a lot then.”

“Nope,” Nick grinned humourlessly. “Not at all.” He sighed. “I feel like-“

Hank waited patiently as Nick got his thoughts together.

“I feel like this has been a long time coming,” he said eventually. “And now I just want to get to the next part of my life. With Adalind and Kelly. Not to discount what Juliette and I have been through and had together but it’s been strained for a while and… and honestly, I just want to be with Kelly and Adalind all the time.”

“Then get to it,” Hank said softly, seriously. “We don’t know how much time we have in this world. Don’t let any of it go to waste.”

“You’re right,” Nick answered with a bigger grin. “I’m done wasting time when it comes to them. I’m not going to lose any more between us.”

His computer pinged with the results of the wider search but again there was nothing that could be connected to Kelly’s situation so Nick laid it to rest. When he got to hers he would reset all the security measures and his presence would also hopefully help. He’d either be able to see what Kelly saw for himself or react very quickly if there was a threat there.

A buzz from his phone alerted him to Adalind saying she had picked Kelly up and they were headed home. Nick replied in the affirmative and that he’d be there soon. Her next reply was a thumbs up emoji and Nick knew that meant she was actually driving now.

He shut down his computer and grabbed his jacket. “Unless there is a city-wide emergency tonight, I am not contactable,” he told Hank. “I need to make sure Kelly is safe and I want to have the evening to talk to Adalind properly.”

“You won’t hear any call-outs from me and I’ll talk to Wu and the other sergeants on duty,” Hank reassured.

“Thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Good luck man.”

Nick nodded and let out a heartfelt sigh, nerves of what could happen tonight starting to course through him.

He was in the Land Cruiser and driving before he knew it and although his mind was racing of what he could say to Adalind, as he drove nearer his eyes started to clock more details and memorise cars and faces.

If there was something extra to what Kelly saw, he would figure it out.

Adalind’s car was in its usual place when he arrived and he pulled his into its spot too. He briefly considered going next door to the neighbour’s house and asking if they had seen or heard anything suspicious last night but he also knew Adalind had worked very hard on creating good relationships with them, especially as there were Wesen and weren’t thrilled to begin with that a hexenbiest was living next door, let alone when they found out said hexenbiest had a son with a Grimm and that that Grimm was a regular visitor. But they’d both managed to create and maintain cordial, Adalind maybe even friendly, relationships with the older couple and Nick didn’t want to potentially compromise that when he wasn’t sure what was going on yet. Though the Halverstons did love Kelly, so that would at least work in his favour as it was about his son’s safety.

Nick sighed but decided against it. If Kelly saw anything else tonight and Nick couldn’t get to the bottom of it himself then he’d ask the neighbours. He headed inside with one last look around, but all the details were the same as yesterday pretty much. Adalind had chosen a pretty good neighbourhood when she’d left the loft.

“It’s me,” He called out as he entered the house, deactivating and then resetting the outer alarm.

“Dad!” Kelly came running down the hallway, already changed into his after-school rough clothes and Nick caught him and tossed him up into the air slightly before pulling him close against his chest.

Kelly squealed and then hugged him tight and Nick returned it. There was nothing like being with his son. He walked down the corridor and found Adalind set up at the dining table, papers spread around her and a small smile on her face. She did have an actual study set up at the front of the house but it was rare she used it, as she wanted to be near Kelly, so she usually worked at the table whilst Kelly played around her or within sight in the living room.

“Good day?” He asked as Kelly slid down him, giggling to himself.

“Yes, I scored brownie points for being early this morning so I’ve had a pretty good day,” Adalind answered. “How about you?”

“No new case so that meant paperwork. Basically I just clock-watched and annoyed Hank all day I think.”

“Poor Hank.”

“No bad guys today Dad?” Kelly asked.

“Not today buddy. I was fighting the terrifying admin villain who is the scourge of all cops but who lawyers love,” he teased, motioning to the many papers strewn over the table.

“Well if cops aren’t smart enough to understand the power of organised administration and a perfectly placed motion then I guess it’s no wonder lawyers walk circles around you.“

“Hey now!”

Kelly giggled again and then pulled at Nick’s arm. “Leave mom to her papers Dad! Come and play!”

“Gladly,” Nick replied and earnt a mock glare from Adalind. He scooped Kelly up again and they headed to the lounge where Kelly had already assembled a variety of toys.

The next few hours were spent happily playing whatever game Kelly could come up with, mostly themed around a sheriff hero and a monstrous villain. Nick played along but occasionally challenged his son’s inventions, making the monster a sidekick instead. Kelly was probably just playing along with the tropes that were everywhere in the media but Nick wanted his son to have an understanding that things weren’t always as they seemed. He needed him to have that awareness as his life of a son of a Grimm and a hexenbiest was definitely out of the ordinary, even for the craziness of the Wesen world.

Adalind appeared occasionally, with snacks or with a toy that had been misplaced, and sometimes Nick looked up and just caught her eye as she watched them. It thrilled him to see the look of happiness on her face and he knew he was jumping ahead but it made the thought of this being their everyday so much more tantalising.

Before he knew it she was calling them for dinner, a cheesy bean pasta bake that had more vegetables hidden in it than Kelly knew about, as he was vocal enough about the known beans. The side salad was pointedly ignored by Kelly but Nick happily helped himself, his hands grazing Adalind’s as she went to do the same.

They both froze and snapped their gazes together and then she blushed and moved her hands away, letting Nick finish getting his food before she carefully took the tongs after him. It made Nick wonder on the other times they’d had accidental touches that they’d both just awkwardly moved on from. And there were probably times that she’d reacted to him or him to her without the other realising. How long had this been building between them? And how long had he pushed it to the side for various reasons?

Well, tonight everything would be laid bare.

Kelly led the conversation at the table and Nick and Adalind joined in when requested but otherwise he knew that they were both just going through the motions until they were alone and could talk about what really needed to be said between them.

After dinner Nick tidied up whilst Adalind played with Kelly until it was time for his bath and then Nick took over reading his bedtime story.

“You’re staying tonight Dad?” Kelly mumbled as Nick closed the book after the last page.

“Yeah bud, I’m staying with you and Mom,” Nick reassured. “So if you need anything or if you see anything again you yell for me. I’ll come straight away, okay?”

“Mm-kay.”

Nick leant over and kissed Kelly’s forehead, smiling as Adalind appeared at the doorway. He stood back as she came over and repeated his actions, whispering her own reassurances and instructions to Kelly as well. They left the door ajar so a sliver of light from the hallway softly illuminated part of Kelly’s room as well as his usual nightlight being on.

They didn’t say anything as they both walked back to the kitchen or as they got drinks ready for themselves, moving in partnership, one getting the kettle on the other getting the mugs, but silently. It wasn’t awkward but there was a tension in the air and Nick at least knew what it was from his side and hoped it was the same from Adalind’s. Eventually they ended up sat on the sofa together, holding their drinks with nothing left to distract from the conversation that needed happening.

And Nick had no idea how to start it. The words he wanted to say were on the tip of his tongue but should he start with an explanation first? Should he just jump straight in with what he wanted? But would that put too much pressure on Adalind? Should he say he was willing to wait for however long? But then did that make it sound like he wasn’t fully committed?

He knew what he wanted to say, he did. He was overthinking this, and that was something he hadn’t done with Adalind in a long time. Everything between them had become so natural and easy. That’s what he needed to focus on.

“Being with you and Kelly is the best part of my life,” he started. “I love it when I’m here and I hate it when I’m gone. I thought we’d managed to get a good balance once you moved here and I know we did practically but I’ve been feeling more and more that I needed to be here with you.”

“With Kelly.”

“Both of you,” Nick said sharply. “With Kelly. With you and Kelly. With you. Every formation of the three of us, every part of the sum of that whole is where I want to be. I’ve been selfish in having so much of you and then talking to you about all my problems and you’re just been there. More and more lately I’ve realised that’s what I want. I want to be here with you, here with you and Kelly, not somewhere else acting out what I think should be happening and regretting not being here.” He took a deep breath and then locked eyes with her. “I’m going to be selfish again and ask for what I want, because I think it’s what you want to. God I hope it is, but if it isn’t then it’s not going to change anything about how I feel about you or Kelly. Adalind, I want us to be together.”

“Nick-“

“I know I’m going about this all wrong,” he hurried on, feeling tense but knowing he just has to say it. “And I know I’ve barely explained anything and I’ve not mentioned Juliette at all but that’s because she doesn’t belong in this conversation. At least not this part. Not the part where I’m telling you what I want and how I feel. There’s a big word I could say because I know I feel it but I’m not saying that tonight, not because I don’t want to but because I want you to be sure of me when I say it, and I want you to know I’m only saying it to tell you not to convince you of anything. But I will say it to you one day.”

“I think I’ll probably say it back,” she murmured, her eyes sparkling slightly, her cheeks flushed.

Nick grinned, the tension melting away from him. “Oh yeah?”

She nodded whilst biting back a smile.

He gently reached out and took one of her hands, laying it with his on the sofa between them and threading their fingers together. It was an innocent touch but in that moment it meant so much more.

“So... together?” He asked.

“Are you sure?” Adalind replied. “You only just broke up with Juliette and I know you’ve talked for a while about stuff between you guys but-“

“But we’re better off without each other, we both said that. I ended my relationship with Juliette about Juliette, not anything else. We’ve not been happy for some time and if that’s made me realise where my happiness does lay then so be it. But they’re two different things in my head.” Nick tugged on her hand gently. “I know once upon a time everything with you and Juliette was so scrambled and confusing but that’s not how I see it anymore. That’s not how I see you. Or how I see us.”

Her fingers squeezed his hand and she looked at him with such hope that it almost crushed him. For all that Adalind had put him through at the start of their acquaintance, he had put her through so much more since in their relationship.

“I want,” he said gently but clearly. “To be with you. In whatever way you want that to happen and then we’ll see where we go.”

“So… us together?”

He grinned again. “Yes. Us together.”

“What do we tell Kelly?”

“That daddy’s going to be around a lot more. I’m going to stay in the guest room, if that’s okay with you.”

“Why the-“

“Because I do not want to rush this. And I want you and Kelly to realise this is it, you’re it for me, in a natural way, not a jump-in-everything-at-once way. We have time. I’m not wasting any more not being with you but I’m not going to be hasty either.”

She titled her head back and Nick watched as her hair fell back over her shoulder. “So we’re just going to hand-hold?”

Nick gulped but kept his voice steady. “I said I didn’t want to rush, not that we had to stand still.”

“That’s good,” she murmured and then she leant forward and carefully kissed him slowly, her lips a tease against his. “I don’t want to rush either,” she whispered against his lips, the rest of their bodies holding motionless, as they held one hand and one mug each still. “But you’re all I’ve wanted for a long time Nick. If this is happening I want us to be sure it’s about us, nothing else dictates how this goes but us.”

“Deal,” he answered, his lips grazing hers before he sloped his lips to kiss her properly.

There was something highly emotive about only touching with their lips whilst they kept the rest of themselves still. Nick felt more sensation from their kisses in this moment then he could remember from his last full make-out session with someone else. Nothing was comparing to this moment. Or maybe it was the fact they were finally be truthful with each other about how they felt that leant so much power to their simple caresses.

They broke apart gently and leant their foreheads together, panting as if they’d run somewhere. Nick squeezed her hand again and smiled at her when she looked up at him.

“This is it Adalind,” he said seriously. “We’re together now. We’ll work out everything else but I’m not losing you, or Kelly. We’re it.”

Her smile was utterly beautiful and it reassured a part of his soul he didn’t know needed it.

They spent the rest of the night on the sofa, finishing their drinks, talking about anything and everything and trading slow kisses. When it came time for bed they both stopped by their respective doors and shared a heated look but they also smiled in understanding at each other and then separated.

This wasn’t about a quick fix of all the emotion and lingering looks and chemistry between them; this was about them starting their relationship properly. About them being together for real. With that thought Nick slept very well, even though he was alone in the guest bed.

There was no scary screaming wake-up call from Kelly in the morning and it was business as usual to get him fed, dressed and ready for the day. He didn’t make a big deal of Nick being there and so neither did Nick or Adalind. In fact by the end of the week when Nick had been there every night and every morning, he just seemed to take it as due.

Kelly hadn’t even responded to Nick and Adalind’s gentle attempts to say Nick would be around more, just nodding at them and then asking about what they were doing next or what he was having for tea. Adalind worried they were being too cautious but Nick didn’t want to put any undue pressure on Kelly, on the dynamic the three of them were building or on what was strengthening between him and Adalind.

They hadn’t kissed in front of Kelly yet but they’d hugged and they were close together and touchy-feely, something they weren’t really before. Kelly loved interrupting them on the sofa if they were sat together, squirming himself in-between them until all three of them were a tangle of limbs. It gave Nick hope that their son understood, just didn’t have a way of saying what he needed to, to communicate he knew the difference between them now.

Saturday morning started with Kelly announcing the schedule for the day, grand plans of going to Disney were soon down-graded to the zoo, then the science museum then the local woods and park, which was finally agreed to by both parents. Nick wouldn’t have minded the science museum but Adalind didn’t want them to go without pre-booked tickets as she didn’t see the point in going somewhere to just potentially stand in a queue for hours. He couldn’t fault the logic and was more than happy with a day outside playing with his son and spending time with Adalind.

As they’d just agreed their plans over finishing breakfast, his phone going off was an unwelcome interruption. He wasn’t on call today so he was ready to tell whoever it was at work to look at the shift schedule again when he realised it wasn’t work calling but Juliette.

“Juliette,” he answered seriously, frowning when he saw both Adalind and Kelly jerk in reaction. Adalind covered hers up smoothly but Kelly’s movement was telling. His son suddenly became subdued at the table, playing idly with his spoon.

“Morning Nick. I have some questions about the house. Can we meet up sometime to discuss what’s next?”

“Yeah, we do need to talk about what to do. When were you thinking?”

“I have some time this afternoon.”

“I could do four o’clock,” Nick said, thinking that gave him most of the day out with Kelly and Adalind and then he’d still be able to get back in time for dinner and night-time.

“Great. I’ll see you at four at the house then.”

“See you then.” He hung up and decided then and there it was time to be more frank with Kelly, especially as his son looked so affected by what should have been a simple phone-call to him. “I have to go meet Juliette at four and talk about my old house.”

Kelly looked up at him startled, then frowned in confusion whilst Adalind looked worried, glancing between the two of them.

“Nick-“ she started.

“Your mom and I have mentioned a few times that I’m staying here now,” Nick powered on, looking straight at Kelly. “But what if I didn’t just stay here? What if I lived here all the time with you and your mom? Would that be okay?”

“All the time?” Kelly asked. “You wouldn’t leave?”

“Juliette and I aren’t together anymore. You might still see her at Auntie Rosalee and Uncle Monroe’s-“ and wasn’t it telling, Nick just realised, that Juliette had only ever been Juliette to Kelly, no any other moniker that could infer a more personal relationship “-but she wouldn’t be with me anymore. We wouldn’t go to my house because I don’t have it anymore. I’d be here with you and your Mom. I wouldn’t need to leave to go anywhere else because I’d live here.”

Nick wasn’t sure this was the best way to explain it to Kelly, he didn’t want his son thinking that he was just using Adalind to replace Juliette, but he thought that might be over Kelly’s head. He very much hoped it was at the moment and when he was older they could explain things properly to him. But Kelly had definitely been affected by that phone call and Nick wasn’t having that.

Kelly looked confused for a moment, his face scrunched up but then he looked between Nick and Adalind and his face erupted into a beaming smile. “We’d be altogether all the time? Yes!”

“And how would you feel if your Mom and I were together? If of instead of the guest room I stayed in Mommy’s room with her?” Nick was definitely pushing it now, especially seeing as him and Adalind hadn’t had this chat yet but as they were already talking about this it felt right to get it all said now with Kelly.

“Cool!” Kelly nodded, still beaming, then jumped down from the table. “Can I get my wellies ready now?”

He ran off without waiting for an answer and Nick couldn’t help but laugh. “Guess Kelly’s reached his limit of serious stuff talk.”

Adalind harrumphed and started gathering the rest of the breakfast things from the table. Nick waited for her to put everything down on the side before he went over to her and caught her arms, turning her to face him.

“Hey,” he said quietly. “We okay?”

“Nick I…” she sighed and then looked up at him. “I’ve wanted this for so long,” she murmured quietly. “It feels too good to be true that everything is working out. That you want this as much as I do. That Kelly seems fine with it all. That Juliette just wants the house stuff done and doesn’t want you back.”

“Juliette and I are done,” Nick reassured. “I want you. I am with you now. I’m sorry to bring up the room thing with Kelly before you but it felt like it was a good next part of the conversation with him and I want him to know and not be worried about any of this.”

Adalind shook her head. “I know, I agree. I’ve been thinking the past two nights about how long we should give it before we… you know… share a room.”

“Really?” Nick grinned and pulled her closer. “So tonight we can be together, together?”

She laughed. “Don’t say it like that!”

Nick leant in and caught her lips, catching the rest of her laugh in his mouth, delving his tongue deep and causing her to moan instead. He moved his hand and cupped her jaw, angling her head better so he could kiss her harder and felt her reciprocate. Her hands clutched at his shoulders as she twisted her mouth against his, causing his own breath to catch.

“On second thoughts,” she gasped against him as they broke apart. “Together, together sounds perfect.”

Nick’s grin widened and he kissed her quickly one last time as he heard Kelly come running back down the hallway. “Together it is.”

/