Title: Contrasts
Fandom: Check, Please!
Author: [personal profile] squidgiepdx
Characters: Derek "Nursey" Nurse, William "Dex" Poindexter, OFC
Rating: G
Summary: Derek drives up to Maine to see Will over the Summer.
Word Count: 564
Written For: Challenge 477: Amnesty, using Challenge 436: Sunshine
Disclaimer: I don't own Check, Please! - I just love playing in Ngozi's playground


"I want this..."

Derek didn't quite understand how those words fell from his lips. But seeing Will lying on his bed, shirtless, with the newest Poindexter lying on his chest, it was like those were the only words that mattered. Everything in the house was still, with sunshine beaming in through the window, a ratty old box fan in the corner moving the warm Summer air around.

"Nurse?" Will whispered. When the infant on his chest stirred, Will automatically patted the baby gently, shushing it back to sleep. After the baby stretched and quietly snuffled back to sleep, Will turned his attention back to Derek. "I didn't think you were going to be here until tomorrow?"

Derek finally moved from the doorway and padded across to the bed, leaning down and kissing Will. "Is this the new cousin?"

Will smiled as he dropped his gaze to the child. "Saoirse Ashlyn Poindexter," he whispered, then kissed the little girl's forehead. He turned his gaze to Derek, the smallest hint of a smile on his face. "Did you say you 'wanted this'?"

As chirps went, this one barely counted. But with the way Will was looking at him, any thought that it was a chirp had fallen away. "I thought you didn't want kids," Will asked.

"A guy can change his mind," Derek whispered. He reached out, stroking his fingers through Saoirse's flaming red hair, already long enough to throw curls at the nape of her neck.

Before he could say anything else, Derek watched as Will put two hands on the baby, carefully sat up, swung his legs around, and then carefully stood. It looked like a well-practiced move, and it only stirred more emotions within Derek. Will leaned forward and claimed a kiss, then used one hand to tug at the hem of Derek's shirt.

"What..." Derek asked as Will's nimble fingers pulled the green cotton t-shirt over Derek's head, then tossed it aside.

"Lay down," Will said. He nodded to the bed, then bounced Saoirse gently in his arms.

Derek had no idea what he was doing, so he complied. But just as he got settled, Will leaned forward and started transferring the baby to lie against Derek's chest.

"But!" Derek started, though Will shushed him. Derek looked down at the contrast of alabaster skin against his own, then took a deep breath.

"Be right back," Will said, then silently scrambled for the door.

Derek's first instinct was to call Will back, but with Saoirse sleeping on his chest, he didn't dare try.

It seemed like half a lifetime before Will returned, when it had probably just been minutes. Saoirse hadn't even stirred. Derek only looked away from her when Will showed up at the doorway, then walked in and climbed onto the bed next to them both.

"So you went from never wanting kids at all to," he said, then gestured to the baby, "this?" He leaned close and carded his fingers through Saoirse's hair, then kissed Derek.

Derek couldn't help what was in his heart. "More than anything." The way he said it almost surprised him, like it was a secret.

"Think you can wait for us to get married first?" Will asked.

"Maybe?" Derek's response came out more like a question than anything. He gave an apologetic smile. "No promises, though."

Will smiled at him. "No promises," he whispered back.