Part I
Part One
Hella, Iceland. Four months later…
Coudersport was the only choice of venue for Nox and Nelson’s union celebration but there was a tremendous amount of work to be done to cleanse and restore the cabin and the meadow so they decided to go on their extended honeymoon first. They started in January, with two weeks in Alaska, where they were taken by dogsled to tour glaciers and hot springs and sleep under the Northern Lights.
After that, they headed to New Zealand for two weeks of glorious summer, starting with the Hobbiton set and Waitomo's glowworm constellations before pausing for a relaxing spa weekend at a vineyard.
They saw seals, penguins, and dolphins in Milford Sound and Nelson survived a short boat ride to a small island resort in Fiji where they did nothing but swim, touch, fuck, eat, and sleep for a week.
In Greece, they dressed like tourists and visited all the historic sites where Nox showed off, offering impromptu lectures and astounding tourists and locals.
He was recognized a few times by academics and documentary fans, delighting Nox with requests for his signature and pictures.
They spent most of their time in Mykonos and Zakynthos, soaking up the sun and each other’s company.
The food was amazing everywhere, but Nelson loved the food they ate in Greece the most.
The final stop of their “bucket list” extended honeymoon was Iceland. There, they hiked glaciers and went climbing, rode horses on black beaches, saw glorious waterfalls, and spent Nox’s birthday sleeping under the Northern Lights again in a glass lodge on a steamy, peaceful, private lagoon.
They had experienced every season and countless natural wonders and Nelson had captured all of his favorite moments with his camera.
The Nikon Z fc was an early gift from Merlin, and Clancy had given Nelson a beautiful set of albums for the photos from their trip and union celebration.
Most of the pictures Nelson had taken before their honeymoon had been for investigative purposes, but he was actually good when it came to taking pictures of nature and Nox.
Finally being able to capture the animals and moments that stirred Nelson with a camera, instead of a bow or a blade, had soothed wounds and sparked a passion he didn’t know existed within him.
Having something tangible to hold that wouldn’t spark guilt later had unlocked a creative thrill Nelson had rarely encountered.
He took hundreds of pictures and couldn’t wait to get home and see all the treasures he had brought back with them.
Nox had raved about the few he had already seen and Nelson would have suspected that he was doing it to be kind but a surprise text from Smoak—of all people—had put the matter to rest. He thought Nelson had a gift and should give up his career with the FBI because photography was clearly his calling.
That wasn’t happening but Nelson loved taking pictures of Nox wherever they went.
There were plenty of pictures of them together and a wall at the townhouse had already been dedicated to be converted into a gallery.
He didn’t want a career in photography but Nelson was ready to leave the FBI.
The politics and red tape were no longer of any interest to him and he had his hands full with Nox and Merlin and their growing family.
Apparently, Merlin had adopted another kitten for the townhouse in their absence.
Clancy and Ingrid were headed back out to sea and Sigrid had been chosen for an internship in the UK so Freya was moving into the townhouse for her remaining semesters at Georgetown.
Nelson wanted to help out more at Bippity Boppity Books and convert the newly available upstairs unit into an efficiency for Howard with a stairlift to make his commute safe and comfortable.
The twins, Fletcher, Everly, and Shelby had already offered their services and Tighe was thrilled to be their apprentice.
With Howard safely settled and surrounded by a new family, a circle would be closing for Nelson.
His connection to Howard Sherwood and the rest of the Moon Murder victims began the first time he entered the clearing in New Castle.
The surviving girls had families, friends, and partners to support them in their healing journey but Howard had lost his only family and best friend when Julian lost his heart and his mind to a sick cult.
Howard and Heidi of Adelphi, Maryland, were the loose ends that Nox and Nelson couldn’t leave dangling.
Together, Nox and Nelson had built a new support system around them and had adopted Howard when Heidi’s life began to grow in other directions.
For Nelson, helping them had healed things in him and were part of the magickal life he had built with Nox outside of the FBI.
He would hand in his resignation when they returned to Georgetown but first, Nelson had a very special birthday to celebrate.
Nox was turning thirty and it was the anniversary of their union at Coudersport.
They had showered each other with small gifts and acts of love as they made their way around the globe but Nelson had gathered pebbles from his favorite spots and during his favorite moments and had them polished and strung into bracelets.
There were six that Nox could wear together or in different combinations and Nelson had found an exquisite, hand-beaded bag to present them in.
He had purchased it from a Native craftswoman in Alaska while Nox was receiving lessons on how to handle their sled team.
They had dined on a creamy fish stew and langoustines cooked over a fire with berry Skyr cake for dessert and Nelson was ready to give Nox his gift.
“I have something for you,” he told Nox, taking his hand as they shared chilled champagne under a wave of glowing light.
“Me too! Hold on!” Nox said, startling Nelson. He handed Nelson his glass and hurried into their glass lodge and shouted that he’d be right back. True to his word, Nox appeared a few moments later, breathless and blushing. “Sorry! Go ahead.”
“Okay…” Nelson reached into the pocket of his robe and removed the bag.
A gasped “Wow!” burst from Nox as soon as Nelson placed it on his palm.
He fanned his eyes with his other hand; they had puddled with tears and his nose was running.
“Something big and beautiful is in here.” he pulled the cord free and his chest heaved and Nox was shaking as he took the bracelets out.
“You’re so good at magick!” he said, crying as he kissed Nelson.
“I… They’re just pebbles,” Nelson mumbled but Nox shook his head.
“It’s our entire trip, every magickal moment in beads and created just for me. Thank you!” He kissed Nelson and his lips tasted like tears and laughter.
“I’m glad you like it.”
“They’re beautiful. Thank you.” Nox slipped something in Nelson’s palm and closed his hand around it.
“What’s this?” Nelson unwrapped the tissue paper and laughed tenderly at the small, copper harp. It was about the size of Nelson’s thumbnail and attached to a chain and a clasp to secure his ties.
“I had it made while we were in New Zealand. We agreed not to buy each other serious gifts but I had a feeling you were planning something special. I wanted to be ready so I had this Celtic harp made.”
“What’s this green stone?” It didn’t look like anything he had seen on their travels.
“It’s a piece of Connemara Marble that my dad gave me,” Nox said as he pointed at the pin. “It was my granddad’s and he said his nan gave it to him. I had Merlin look at it once and he said it’s old, old.”
“Are you sure, Nox?” Nelson started to hand it back but Nox pushed his hands away.
“There isn’t a word that could properly express how sure I am of you.
There are pieces of me that are older than that stone and they were made from the same pillar that holds those shoulders and your spine straight, Nelson.
” Nox made an exasperated sound as he cradled Nelson’s cheeks.
“I would build temples for you, Nelson, yet you blush over a single stone.”
“I don’t want temples, just you.” Nelson had seen men forfeit their integrity and their dignity due to their blind thirst for power and what it had cost them.
“Not even a little one?” Nox pouted. “All gods should have a temple. I have Coudersport.”
“I’m not a god,” Nelson returned but frowned as he considered the lore and his origin story. Looking back, he could see several parallels with classical mythology but still wasn’t convinced. “I know I’m part of you and that I can channel you. That doesn’t make me a god.”
“Um…” Nox’s gaze swept upwards. “I respect that you don’t want to get into specifics but how many times did you heal yourself while you were at the cabin with Dùbhghlas?
And it was you who killed the valkyrie with your hands and feet tied, correct?
” he verified and cut Nelson off before he could answer.
“You, a man with no magickal abilities, managed to summon the Badb and rally her to our cause long before I set fire to my bleeding palm. What can we deduce from that?”
“Maybe,” Nelson conceded and reached for Nox, hoping to end the conversation.
“Wait.” Nox held him off with a hard stare. “We are halves of the same entity. You can’t deny that.”
Nelson flailed a hand. “Fine. We share a connection and I saw and remembered several things that convinced me that I was made to be with you.”
“So if we’re two halves of the same entity and I am a god…” Nox gestured for Nelson to finish the thought.
“That would mean that I’m one too,” he added with a shrug. “Fine. What does that mean for me? What am I supposed to do about it?”
“Who knows?” Nox held up his hands. “If anything like us has existed before, all the texts were destroyed, so we get to make up our own rules. I’ve spent my whole life afraid that something big and terrible was controlling my destiny.
But I’ve finally realized that I am a god and so are you.
We are in control and I’m choosing peace and love.
I’m choosing to have a good, long life with you. ”
“I like that. The rest scares me and I don’t want it, but I’ll take a thousand years with you and be grateful for every damn moment.”
“Every moment?” Nox asked doubtfully.
“Every moment.” Nelson had never put words to this particular instinct before, but he’d felt it from the very beginning.
“I’ve even come to appreciate the awful, heartbreaking moments because I know I was supposed to find those missing girls and catch Walter Forsythe.
It had to be me and I had to go through hell to find them, I’m just glad I didn’t have to do it alone and that I was blessed to have you by my side the whole time. ”
Nox was crying as he nodded. “Me too.” He sniffed hard, taking a deep breath and flashing Nelson a sly grin. “What about the times when I was a colossal pain in your ass?”
“I’m grateful for those too.” Nelson laughed softly as he kissed Nox. “I have a much better understanding of what hostages go through.”
Nox’s jaw fell on an offended gasp. “Hey, now!”
“I’m joking,” Nelson said, then winced. “There have been a few times when I felt…hostage-adjacent, but I was always willing and there was never anywhere else I’d rather be. No matter what happens and no matter how bad it gets, I’ll always want to be right by your side.”
“Me too.” Nox gathered Nelson’s hand in his and raised it to his lips and kissed it.
“I love you, Nelson, and I will love you until the end of all time. You made me believe in myself and that anything was possible because I’m not stuck in this alone.
I have you and together we’re good and we’re unstoppable. ”
“I love you more than I thought was possible, or that I was capable of, honestly.” Nelson shook his head, somewhat baffled that any of it was real or that he had been picked for the adventure and honor of a lifetime.
“All that matters to me is the together part, I’ll leave the rest of it up to you. ”