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When Laura offered to marry William it was far from what she had in mind imagining her proposal. Mostly because she expected someone to propose to her, not the other way around.
But their relationship was born from necessity and desperation, built on the foundation of mutual respect. They were friends, not lovers.
Will outright assured her that he would never force her to do anything against her will, and she believed him. Why wouldn't she? She loved the idea of getting to be a mother, in a somewhat selfish way.
Maybe she was selfish, using his moment of weakness to get what she wanted. But they were happy, weren't they?
They were cut to be such awesome parents, she used to say and then laugh at Will's sneer caused by her American way of speaking. His accent was thicker after that, as if he was making a statement. Or maybe it was some sort of dry humour he was so fond of.
-
When Will got back from his brief bachelor party, his hair was ruffled and there was a bruise peeking out of his collar. His cheeks were red, but just underneath the eyes. It wasn't an embarrassed or pleased blush.
She kissed his cheek because that's what a friend would do. And for the first time she felt like maybe it was something else, not only friendship.
She kissed him that night, and he kissed back. Never again had he come home with any sign of touch on his body. Maybe this kiss sealed some unspoken promise, or maybe it brought a curse.
-
Henry was his best man, and his wife was Laura's maid of honour, the closest she had to a female friend. Laura was never bitter, never envious. But something deeply protective stirred in her gut as she saw Henry embracing William with a smile, hand brushing his collar.
Will didn't smile back and quickly escaped the embrace. Laura remembered smiling into her wine glass, it tasted particularly delicious that night.
-
Months later, Michael was born. And she was the one by Will's side, and Will smiled only at her. And she held the baby as if he was the most precious thing in the entire world.
To her, he was.
He held everything of Will and nothing of her. But his hair was a bit curly and eyes bright and he was hers, there was no denying. She would move the heavens and break the world in half if that meant protecting him. Granting him happiness.
Despite being the one to give birth, Will wouldn't dare to hold Michael. Not only that, he was hesitant to even touch him. He looked at him with all the warmth of the sun, but his hands kept shaking as he tried to reach out. As if his hold would carry poison.
Tired of his antics, Laura pushed the child into his father's arms and for the first time, she saw Will cry.
Michael giggled and reached towards his father's face and Will lowered his head, allowing the baby to touch him.
Then Michael almost poked his eye out and Laura was scared, just for a moment, before hearing William laugh. She felt relieved. Relieved to finally have a family. Relieved that Michael had loving parents and that Will finally seemed to put the past behind.
-
It was naive of her to assume such a thing.
Will was paranoid, she knew that since the day she met him. He put on a mask of indifference but beyond that was a pile of fear, of desperation. Growing and growing. Michael was not a cure. He only seemed to harden the mask and curve it into something more pleasant, all the while making the pile spread and rise even quicker.
During the day Will was a perfect father, not too strict yet responsible. He kept a keen eye on Michael and she had to beat the idea of monitoring the child out of him, using some... Unsavoury means. Not unpleasant, though, she believed.
But during the night there was nothing she could do to prevent Will from sneaking out of their bed, they started sharing the bed a year after having Michael, and going to check on their boy. He would do it multiple times during the night, checking Michael's breathing and peeking through the window in look of any danger. Listening for alarms and screams and blitz .
She would sometimes go to him, quietly, and rest her hand on his shoulder. And he would rest his head on her and tell her how tired he was. She listened and nodded along, never knowing how to help. His eyes were crazed in those moments. Like he wasn't there. He never told her about his childhood, not much.
But he was from London and she knew about Germans and fire and- And he was like her. And by the way he approached Michael, as if the boy was out of glass, as if he was a carefully craved masterpiece, she could piece it all together.
She tried to make it better. But it was hard, when it was jumping from the freezing cold into the pit of fire.
Yes, William Afton was like a torch that would switch between freezing her to the bone and burning to the crisp.
-
But despite this, they had two more. Two more children and they were just as loved as Mikey.
"They're all bloody brilliant, Laura. They will rule the world, one of these days." He would say and she would laugh.
She realised she loved him long before that.
After Elizabeth was born, and a bit before Evan joined in, William managed to reclaim his place in Henry's life. From business partners they got back to being friends, and William was as cheerful as could be, being himself.
Laura didn't worry, because despite their renewed bond, Will kept flinching at Henry's touch and Henry would be bitter, she saw how bitter he was. They were friends, once, after all. And she knew, and she was triumphant.
She wished him well, but far away from her damn husband.
-
Will told her he loved her.
They've been together for 8 years, and it was early for that but they renewed their vows. She couldn't be happier.
She stuffed her reddened handkerchief into her pocket, throat sore. She would be alright. She had to.
-
They've been together for 9 years and she was feeling weaker and weaker.
Will was at work so often, and loved his job, but for her sake he started to take days off.
She hated it.
Michael looked at her with worry, he was a smart child. Bloody brilliant, as Will repeated over and over. All of his father, all of him.
He would make her tea, it wasn't as pedantic and perfect as Will would make it, but it was divine on her tongue. She would put her hand on his hair and he would look at her with wide eyes.
Maybe he wasn't exactly like Will, she thought, seeing his eyes fill with tears.
-
Michael was twelve and Laura was too weak to lead as she and Will danced. He kept a firm grip on her and led instead and it felt wrong.
Will whispered sweet nothings into her ear and she smiled. It was all "I love you" and "my darling" and she was dying.
She knew. Will knew, and so did Michael. Will would not admit to that. He would carry her around and would insist on cooking and he was more unkempt than ever and he let his hair grow.
His eyes were now wild each time she looked into them. Laura hated to admit it, but she was scared.
-
Michael was twelve and it was the first time he cried as often, he cried constantly. At least Lizzie and Evan wouldn't cry, Lizzie because she was like Will (all of him, all of him none of Laura) and Even because he was too young to understand.
Will watched them all like a hawk, like a predator looking for a weak point, like a fox ready to pounce right into bunny's burrow.
Laura never expected him to become a dictator in their home but he did.
She never expected his presence to be suffocating but it was.
She never expected to see him yelling at Michael, telling their boy off. And yet... There they were.
Michael was crying and Will's words were cutting. Maybe 'yelling' wasn't the best word for that. He wasn't loud, never.
Will was as cold and cruel as she expected him to be towards an enemy, not a child. Not his child. Not their child. He was elaborate in his word choice and then he grabbed Michael's wrist and-
"William!" She shouted, and his grip loosened on their son's hand.
Michael jerked it away and took a step back, tears pouring down his face. She stepped forward, as quick as could in her state, and checked for injuries.
He was alright, thanks God in heaven.
She told him to leave for his room and he did without a word of protest. She was left alone with William, who didn't utter a word in all that time. Her dry lips thinned as she looked at him.
"You should be in bed", he said, matter-of-factly. As if she didn't just see him almost hitting their son.
"William, what the hell was that?" She felt weak in her knees. His eyes were cold, but crazed. She's never seen him look like that before. Cheeks hollow and eyes wide and she was scared. She felt like she was getting used to being scared of him. She didn't want to.
"Why?" She added, weakly. It took a moment for William to respond.
"Evan told me that Michael hit him", he stated. "I could not tolerate such behaviour."
Laura let out a shaky breath.
"Laura, love, are you unwell?" She almost gagged.
"Will- that's- please, tell me you would not hit him. No. I don't ask- I demand. Swear to me-- swear you wouldn't!" He wanted to get nearer, but she pushed at his chest, weakly. He would not dare go closer.
"Laura, he hit Evan- he had no right."
"And you have no right to hit him in turn!" She fought back.
"I'm his father, it is my responsibility to reward and discipline -"
"He is not an animal! Will, it's our child! Our baby! There are other ways! Did you try talking to him?" He opened and closed his mouth, pressing them tight together.
"That's what I thought!"
"Laura, you know Evan is fragile-"
"So is Mike!" She felt dizzy, and before she knew Will was holding her and gently sitting her down on a couch. His hand was on her cheek. She slapped it away, he didn't react. "William, you can't. Please." Her voice was hoarse, and her head was spinning.
"Laura." He only said.
"I will not be here forever, Will." She went on. "I've been by your side for so long... It's been so long... Don't throw it away. Don't let it wither because you're grieving-"
"There is nothing to grieve for." He gritted out, and she blinked because it's been a while since his mask broke so completely. His face was wet. "Nothing, you understand? You will live -"
"Will." She took his hands in hers. They were shaking, and she didn't know which ones. "Please, I need to know this. Please tell me you won't hurt our children. You will look out for them, you will take care of them. Even when I'm not around." He wanted to reply but she shook her head. "Know, if you ever hurt them. If something ever happened to them... I don't know if I would ever be able to forgive you."
She heard him swallow.
"Swear to me, darling."
"Laura, you're so..."
"Swear to me and to yourself, William. Swear you never will turn into your parents. Will, I need to hear it. I need you to say it. Please." She felt pathetic and ruined. Her cheeks were now stinging, as well. She hated that after all those years she could not trust him.
What was it all for?
"I swear." He finally said, voice choked up and empty. Was it a low blow, to use the past against him? She didn't care.
Laura was never cruel but she would do anything for her children.
“Apologise to Michael." She prompted, shoulders tense. "And talk to him, ask why he did that to Evan. I will talk to Ev."
Will nodded stiffly and untangled his hand out of hers. He stood up.
"Oh, and Will? Please, talk to him more. When I... Please, I don't want you to stay alone."
"Don't worry Laura, I will never be alone." She hoped so, God only knew.