Two weeks after everyone had settled down from the heist, Wylan was happily arranging a summer celebration. Summers in Ketterdam weren't exactly perfect, but they would be alright. There was an increased amount of fog, but there was always a nice breeze and the gardens would be in full bloom.

Now that Wylan was fully responsible for the manor and his father's businesses, he was also responsible for throwing parties and celebrating holidays. Though he didn't particularly enjoy planning things, he would rather plan parties than suffer through meetings with the other businessmen.

A young servant rushed past him, delicate plates cradled in her arms.

"Let me help!" Wylan called, reached for some of the plates.

He was surprised when she bowed, even more so when she said, "Thank you for the offer, sir, but you should be preparing for tonight's events."

Wylan let out a soft laugh. "You don't need to bow. And I'm sure it won't matter if I help carry a few plates outside."

The maid glanced around, her eyes wide. She seemed to search the room for help, but she ended up unsuccessful. After all, she was only a year older than Wylan. "If you insist."

Wylan took some plates from the girl's arm and watched as she made her way downstairs. Before he could get far, though, arms locked around his waist.

Startled, a plate slid from his grasp, but a caramel hand caught it before it could shatter.

"Jes! Don't scare me like that!"

Jesper let out a quiet laugh while he pried the remaining plates from Wylan's arms. "Shouldn't the servants be carrying these?"

"I wanted to help."

Jesper wrapped his arms around Wylan's waist. "Sunshine, we have servants who are willing to do anything for us. Besides, you should be getting ready."

Wylan didn't object as Jesper pulled him off towards their bedroom. "I just... I feel like I need to help them. They do so much for me."

"And you do so much for them. Come on."

After Jesper forced Wylan to try on some painfully hideous outfits, he decided on a simple black suit. Wylan hated the way it made him look like his father. Cruel, manipulating, heartless. He left his curls the way they were, blanching at the idea of combing them back and looking even more like his father.

He snapped back into reality as Jesper ruffled his hair. "You look a bit sick there, merchling. What's wrong?"

He stumbled away from the mirror, suddenly very nervous about the summer celebration. "I can't do this."

"It's just going to be some people from town. This is a good experience for you to meet more people, make more money. Kaz will be there, as well, so if anything goes wrong, he'll get all protective and cut someone's eye out."

Wylan sucked in a deep breath. "He'll be here soon, right?"

"Yes, he'll be here in good time. Now, calm down, Sunshine. We don't want you to be a shaking mess for the party."

Wylan turned and rested his head on Jesper's shoulder. Jesper locked his arms around Wylan and stroked his hair.

"It'll be okay, Wy. I'll be with you the entire time."

"Good."

Jesper laughed, the noise ringing in the air, making everything better. "I'm glad you're feeling better after that act you put on at the church."

"So am I."

"Your mother is doing well."

Wylan nodded. "Can we just... stop talking about these things?"

"What's wrong, Sunshine?"

"I just... I'm scared that I'll turn out like my father. I don't want to be like him."

"You won't be like him, Wy. I know you won't be like him."

"How do you know? How could you possibly know that I won't turn out to be a monster?"

Jesper sighed. "I just... I just know, alright? Isn't it enough that I have faith that you'll be a good person?"

Wylan didn't respond, content to stay in Jesper's embrace for eternity.

*****

The dinner party went relatively well. Whenever Jesper would wander off to get food, Kaz would immediately be at Wylan's side to scare off any of the preying businessmen.

Half a year later, after many more parties, Wylan was glad for the winter season. Though he dreaded the celebration of Winter Solstice, he planned on spending every possible second with Jesper and his mother.

On particularly cold nights, he and Jesper would curl up in front of the fireplace. Wylan would listen in quiet content as Jesper told him about past adventures with the Dregs or other random stories.

The day before Winter Solstice, Jesper surprised him in the hallway with a small box.

"Happy Solstice, Sunshine!"

Jesper knelt down and opened the box to reveal a beautiful ring. It was a silver band, encrusted with sparkling gems in a rainbow pattern that caught the sunlight. Simple, yet precious.

"What is this?" Wylan asked, glancing up as Kaz and Inej slid into the room.

Jesper smiled at him, his eyes lit by the decorations surrounding them. "What do you say about... getting married?"

A thousand thoughts ran through Wylan's head. They were only seventeen, but it felt like so much more. They had been through so much and Wylan wanted nothing more than to settle down to a wonderful life with Jesper.

He met Jesper's blue eyes and smiled, not bothering to wipe away the tear that slid down his cheek. "Yes! Yes, a million times, yes!"

He pulled Jesper into a hug and wept into his shoulder. "I love you, Jes."

Jesper laughed joyously. "I love you, Wy."

*****

Summer Solstice was not dreadful the next year. No, the planning might have been more intense, but Wylan had never been happier in his entire life. Soon, he would be married and free to do whatever he pleased.

He was seated on a stool in front of Kaz as the boy tried to force a comb through his curly russet hair.

"Why is your hair so tangled?" He hissed, tugging out another knot.

Wylan shrugged. "I dunno. Ask Jes."

Kaz raised his eyebrows but fell silent, his eyes narrowing as he ran his fingers through Wylan's finally unknotted hair.

"Are you excited?"

The question caught Wylan off guard. "Well, of course, I'm excited. I want to spend the rest of my life with Jesper."

"Nervous?"

Yes, Wylan was nervous. He didn't want to admit it, but... he was about ready to break down and cry. His heart was beating so hard that it should've smashed through his ribs by now, and his head ached and throbbed and pounded.

"Don't be nervous, Wy. It'll be over before you know it."

Wylan slid off the stool, uncomfortable in his stiff black suit and white undershirt. He looked exactly like his father, precisely why he refused to slick back his curly hair.

"And... you should know that your father tried to get legal permission to attend the wedding."

"He's here?" Wylan cried, whirling around to face Kaz.

"No. I took it into my own hands to make a demonstration of the guard who agreed to it. Let's just say that some of the guards owe me a considerable amount of money."

"Thank you," Wylan murmured. "Shouldn't we be going now?"

Kaz offered his elbow. "So long as you're ready."

Wylan nodded. "I'm ready."

****

The gardens had been filled with gorgeous rainbow-colored flowers, each one unique and different. The shimmering petals caught the light, creating an array of beauty. After the ceremony and the party, Wylan regretted that he had to take them down.

"Why are you watching the servants clean up? Let's go see Kaz and Inej upstairs."

Wylan relaxed in Jesper's arms, finally at ease in his house of past tortures. "Alright."

He walked with Jesper upstairs, amused at the arm Jesper kept tight around his waist.

"I'm not going anywhere, Jes."

Jesper smiled. "I know. I'm just spending some quality time with my husband."

Wylan smiled at Kaz and Inej as they entered the living room. The two were curled under a blanket, their arms around each other.

Though Kaz would never admit it, Wylan knew that he was going to propose to her sooner or later. They looked so... happy. Their faces were creased with smiles and their eyes glinting. They looked so utterly in love.

"The newlyweds!" Inej called out joyful, standing and pulling Kaz up with her. "Congratulations!"

Inej hugged Wylan then Jesper, her eyes so happy.

"What's up, 'Nej?" Jesper asked, releasing her from the embrace.

Her cheeks flushed. "Well, Kaz thought that... we should settle down and... start a family. So, we're going to move out into the countryside."

Joy struck Wylan first, then slowly faded. "You guys are leaving?"

"It'll be best for us and our children. We don't need our kids growing up near gangs and criminals."

"We'll hardly ever see you!" Jesper argued. "We don't want you to go!"

Kaz wrapped an arm around Inej. "It isn't decided for sure yet."

Inej scowled. "I want to leave."

"I'm not arguing with you and my best friends' wedding day." Kaz smiled at Wylan. "You did alright, eh?"

Wylan shrugged. "Other than when I spilled punch on that one merch, I'd say so."

"What... what would you say about perhaps moving to the country. You know, come with us. You could have your own family and wouldn't the country be better than this city? You've been through a lot of pain here, it would be good to move on."

Wylan glanced at Jesper, who seemed to be considering the idea.

"We'll talk about it," Wylan promised.

****

Later that night, Wylan curled into bed beside Jesper.

"Hello, love," Jesper purred, kissing his cheek.

"We should talk about moving to the country."

Jesper smiled, wrapping his arms around Wylan. "What do you think?"

"It's a good idea. Think about it, Jes- a big yard for a dog and for kids, a big house for you, me, my mother. There would be no gangs, no criminals, no dangerous heists. We wouldn't need to worry about anything."

"Is this what you want, Sunshine?"

Wylan looked up at the roof that was sloppily painted gold to hide the portrait beneath. The first night, he had woken up and immediately felt sick to his stomach at the painting of his father. He had ordered the roof painted over as soon as possible, refusing to step in the room until it was gone.

He tried to hide it, but he still woke up in the middle of the night, sick to his stomach. He didn't want Jesper to worry about him, so he would silently untangle himself from the boy's limbs and rush to the bathroom.

But his answer was yes. He wanted to leave Ketterdam, he wanted to move on.

"I want to move to the countryside with Kaz and Inej."

****

They found a large manor in the midst of the woods. Kaz and Inej decided to live with them, along with Marya, and the servants moved as well.

Wylan stood in the empty foyer, staring up at the glass domed roof. The house was beautiful, big enough for whatever they could possibly need. There was nothing there to remind him of his father, nothing to haunt his dreams.

"You found us a nice home," Kaz commented, stopping beside him.

Wylan just nodded, scanning the entire room.

"Wylan, tell me what's wrong."

He turned towards Kaz, whose eyes were bright. Kaz and Inej had gotten married a year ago in the gardens of the Van Eck mansion, then they had packed up and moved to the new manor. Only a few months ago, Inej announced that she was going to give birth to their first child.

"Nothing is wrong. It just... feels odd here."

"Your father can't get to you here."

"Can he?" Wylan breathed, meeting the boy's coffee-brown gaze.

Kaz rested a gentle hand on Wylan's shoulder. "If he tries to hurt you, I'll kill him or I'll die trying. That's a promise I will always keep."

Wylan's head cleared the slightest bit. "Thank you, Kaz."

"I'm just glad that you're happy."

"I'm glad, too."