Listen, the thing about my "Will's family" story is this:

Yes, it's about Will's interactions with his family

And yes, it's about Will and Helen being in love

But most importantly it's about Will's family meeting this lonely and dramatic immortal and immediately deciding to be her family, so she never has to be alone again.

It's about Helen Magnus being loved.

Also, on an Emotional Compass note...

Helen Magnus dropping her carefully composed persona the first time she sees Will Zimmerman working with an Abnormal and murmuring, soft and breathless, "Magnificent."

It's his third week of coming when he finally strikes up a conversation. He's been holding back, not out of shyness but respect; she's at work, after all, and he doesn't want to become the customer she dreads. But now he's transferring to Old City: a short drive away if she's interested, but far enough to give her space if she's not.

The morning is slow, giving him time to ask after she takes his order, "So how'd you get here, anyway?"

She pauses, pen in hand, brows furrowed together. Her eyes take on an amused sparkle as she replies, "A car, most often. If the weather happens to be nice, a brisk walk."

Chuckling, he shakes his head. "No, I mean, how'd a woman who hates coffee end up running a coffee shop?"

Predictably, the amusement fades, replaced by confusion (they've never spoken before, save for her taking his order, so how could he possibly know-), but not unhappiness. No, it's exactly what he'd hoped for: A spark of surprise, of curiosity, of interest.

"It's rather a long story."

"Hey, I have nothing but time."

"Are you certain? Because I've never seen you leave later than 9:50, and-" She peers over the counter at his watch, ignoring the clock behind her. "Twenty minutes won't begin to cover it."

She's noticed him? Noticed him so often that she knows his routines, that she has him memorized? His answer takes a beat to come, but when it does, it's with a grin he doesn't even try to fight.

"There's a diner down the street. Joe's. Nothing fancy, but the food is good. And between you and me, I hear their coffee machine's broken."

The corners of her lips tug into a ghost of a smile. "I'm off work at seven."

"See you then."

Sometimes I'm like "Maybe I've exaggerated how much the song A Million Dreams fits Helen and Will"

And then I listen to it again

And I'm like nevermind