Hazel in the Demon's Den

Will barely managed to hold back his laughter when he saw how wide Hazel's eyes got at the prospect of driving his car. She really didn't drive all that much, did she? Well, he planned to help her get a car of her own today so he was making her drive into town to help her get used to the roads. She would need to drive her new car back by herself.

He gently encouraged her throughout the worst of the twists in the road and she did fine. There was nothing to worry about, just like he said. As if he would ever let anything happen to her on his watch. Laughable.

He admired the look of fierce concentration on her face as he told her how to get to the pancake house. Hazel was adorable. Even more so than usual today since she was dressed in a retro outfit that had been very popular when they were children.

No matter how old she got, what her hair color was, or what she was wearing Hazel always looked like an angel. She was timeless and perfect. He loved her even more now than he did then, if that was even possible.

Inside the pancake house, Hazel pouted at the menu. He furrowed his brow. What was it? What did she need? He thought she wanted pancakes!

"What's up?" Will asked as casually as possible despite his internal panic seeing her upset.

"I can't decide between the chocolate chip pancakes or the double blueberry pancakes," she said tragically.

Was that really it? The solution was simple. He would order whichever one she didn't and they would share. He told her so and her beatific smile practically blinded him as she thanked him.

His heart hammered in his chest. 'Hazel! Give me a little warning before you attack me like that!' he thought frantically. He wasn't ready for the overwhelming effect of her smile.

She really didn't smile at him enough since they got married. It had taken her a while back in the mental hospital but they had reached a point where he was able to enjoy that glorious smile every night. He missed that constant reminder of how happy she was to be with him.

At her request, Will ordered a plate of bacon to split as well. The waitress took away their menus and promised she would be right back with the glasses of milk they ordered.

Hazel was quiet while they waited for their pancakes to arrive. When they finally reached the table her eyes went as wide as saucers and she thanked the waitress before eagerly spreading the side of blueberry compote all over her blueberry pancakes.

"Dish ish so gud," she raved with her mouth full.

Will snorted, trying and failing not to laugh. She looked so happy in that moment that he could practically see rainbows and hear birds chirping in the background.

After eating two pancakes she switched plates with him, pouring a bunch of maple syrup on the remaining chocolate chip ones. That girl had one hearty appetite, which was nuts considering her size. She couldn't weigh more than 95 pounds soaking wet.

How could such a tiny person eat four pancakes and three pieces of bacon in one sitting? Not that Will was complaining. Living in the mental hospital had made her severely underweight for her age. He was fairly certain that being there for four years had stunted both of their growth.

Hazel had always been so frail and small that he was afraid she would snap in half. It was why he handled her with extra care back then. He wasn't allowed to do anything that would frighten her. Who would want to be with someone scary?

He had told her he was dangerous but based on the look in her eyes it was obvious she didn't understand what that actually entailed. Good. It would be better if she never knew what her husband was capable of. Or what he had already done.

Will could handle anybody in this world being afraid of him but her. He was used to that fear reaction. But Hazel wasn't ever afraid of him despite her cautious, sometimes nervous nature. Being cautious wasn't the same as being afraid.

He watched her devour the rest of her pancakes with his heart in his eyes. Even the way she stuffed her face was beautiful.

After the bill was paid she probably expected to run to the grocery store and go home. There was so much more than that in store today. Today he was taking her on a proper date.

The first thing Will did was drive them over to a craft store. Hazel's eyes lit up before her head drooped sadly.

"Will, I love craft stores but I really can't afford anything right now."

"Yes you can because I'm commissioning you to do the rest of those painting you were planning for the house. Any materials you need are on me," he said firmly. "If you happen to find anything else you like while we're here, that's on me too. Consider it a bonus for your hard work making my house look better."

As expected, she didn't take much persuading. The woman might be fiercely independent but she also loved nothing in this world more than art. A craft store would be heaven on earth for her.

Sure enough, Hazel practically danced through the aisles in excitement. She really took his invitation to heart; her shopping cart filled up pretty quickly. She finally came back to her senses when they got closer to the registers to check out.

"Um…I may have gone a little overboard," she said sheepishly. "Tell me what the budget is and I'll put stuff I don't really need back."

Will shook his head. "There is no budget. You're perfectly fine."

Honestly, he could buy this entire store and it wouldn't put a dent in his finances. He could buy her an entire chain of craft stores. Whatever she wanted. It wasn't like he didn't have the money.

"Really?" Hazel asked skeptically. "You never did tell me how much you make."

He shrugged. "Enough."

That made her even more skeptical but she ended up sighing and accepting his answer. She really wanted those art supplies. A roguish grin appeared on his face. Will won that battle. Maybe he should bribe her with art supplies more often since it seemed to work so well.