It was strange. There was an air of uneasiness, an expectant weight that loomed over-head by a rope surely too thin for it to hold on for much longer. Like sucking in air and holding it, predicting the jump scare only for your lungs to start burning because it hasn't happened yet, and you just know the moment you let the breath go that's when the jump will happen. So you let the breath go, and hurriedly pull in another one to beat the jump. But it still doesn't come.

Niall couldn't remember the last time things went this well for so long. He'd gotten a job as an editor for a magazine. Will had returned to work, but returned to the apartment each night. They had rampant, mind-blowing, sex whenever the occasion allowed. Which was almost all the time. Jennifer had woken up. The doctors expected her to make a full recovery which was nothing short of a damn miracle. Although she couldn't use her voice properly without considerable pain, but was told that would return too in time. They all visited her as regularly as they could, Niall always brought flowers.

He wasn't sure why, but it was something Will loved about Niall. He'd noticed the fondness for flowers, and made sure to make the always original gesture of buying him a bouquet every now and then. Niall would light up in a smile that filled the room. But it was when Niall bought flowers that Will loved most. He didn't seem to have a care for symbolism or what the flowers would traditionally represent. He probably didn't know the names of any of them. He just knew that these ones felt right. His fingers would lightly brush the top of the petals, and occasionally linger down the stems, and he'd just know. Will loved to watch this process. Like the world could shatter if he got it wrong.

Everything was blissfully happy. Something completely unexpected after the ordeal they had all gone through, and it was because of that, that Niall seemed to always be apprehensively awaiting something bad to happen. Like he believed a balance needed to be struck. Something this good couldn't come without something bad too.

The pair had just returned home after visiting Jen at the hospital. It was a quiet, routine, visit. Niall had brought yet another set of flowers for her, which she could only smile at gratefully. She couldn't speak, her eyes brimmed with thanks for the company, as between the boys and Jess, there was no need to. Niall would speak about his new job, Will would talk about anything new in the world, Jess would talk about her co-workers, and when it was just her and Jen, she'd talk about Will and Niall.

Entering through the front door, Nialls foot caught on the smattering of letters that had fallen from the box, kicking them with slight hissing sounds as they slid along the laminated floor. He stooped low to gather them up, jumping ever so slightly as Will was immediately at his backside. Hands gripping to his waist and pressing himself into Niall, with a breathy kiss to the nape of his neck.

"Would you stop" Niall laughed, swatting as he wriggled from Wills grip knowing that he already had a pout going as he bean to card through the letters. Checking to see of anything of import.

"But why? We've got a few hours before we meet up with Jess. I'm sure she won't catch us this time" Will grinned, kissing Niall on the forehead as he once again stepped into his space.

Nialls brow furrowed over the unfamiliar branding of one of the letters. The envelope was a smooth brown, and smelt like new paper. It seemed official, and Niall somewhat recognized the two stamps printed on its face. Vaguely connecting them to law firms or lawyers or something of the like. Will seemed to get the message, stepping back slightly to study the letter from a clearer point of view.

"What do you think it is?" Will asked quietly, eyeing the package with a curiosity that leaned heavier on the side of caution.

"I'm not sure..." Niall replied. "I've never gotten a letter like this before."

Niall opened the letter and began to read while Will walked to the kitchen to quickly flick the kettle on before returning.

The letter was an overview of sorts of the situation, and had been sent by Emma's lawyers. Something that caused a knot in Nialls stomach as the momentary thought of some backwards suing flitted through his mind. Fortunately, that wasn't the case. The letter detailed her final sentence, the terms, what she was charged with and so on. But what caught Nialls attention most is that she wanted to see them. Emma had requested to see Jess, Niall, and Will. Asking that they visit her at some point.

Will took the letter from Niall, giving it his own cursory read over as if Niall had missed something among his explanation. But no, the letter was solid. Emma had truly asked to meet with them. They didn't specify all at the same time, or one after the other. She couldn't believe they'd actually meet her, could she? Why was Will even worrying about the details? Were they even considering going to see her?

"Do we go?" Niall asked, looking for Wills opinion.

Fuck no. Is what Will wanted to say. It was what Niall undoubtedly wanted Will to say. But the pair of them held an unspoken thought of "what if?" in their minds. Neither knew what to expect, or what she wanted. Perhaps she wanted to apologize. Grovel for forgiveness. The rather grim thought of Emma taunting them further did cross Nialls mind. But until what had happened, happened, Niall wouldn't ever believe that Emma had a cruel bone in her body.

The two were pulled momentarily from their thoughts as Nialls phone let out a chime signalling an incoming message which he pulled out to see that it was from Jess, confirming that she too had gotten the letter. Which meant that Will most likely got one too.

"Fuck. What do we do?" Niall asked again, balling fists into his hair as Will continued with his thoughtful silence. A swell of panic had ruptured so suddenly in Niall it took him completely by surprise. It grew before him in such an aggressive manner, he was sure that if it was physically in front of him: it would cause him to cower.

The weight dropped.

After a moment longer, Will tossed the letter onto the side, stepping to Niall as he did so. He pulled Niall in to his arms with such assuredness that the situation at hand suddenly didn't seem so daunting.

"Whatever we do." He began "We do it together."

A/N: oooo what do ya think? Should they go see her? What  could she want?

As a side note, I hope you're all keeping safe in this scary moment of the world. Big trouble from me to anyone who isn't doing their very best to keep safe and keep kind in this troubling time.

Thanks for reading!