"I'm sorry about your mother." Nicolas didn't even know if his parents were alive, he never planned on contacting him again, but he remembered William bringing his mother up more than once. She'd obviously meant a lot to him, even if right now he talked as if it hadn't been a big deal. He reached out to put a hand on Spike's arm, which might have been a mistake. Just a bit too aware of how he felt.

"Nah." Maybe he should say more than that, but he didn't think he could even explain it properly to himself. But he wouldn't just give in to that desire. He'd stroked his ego enough for one day. "Just wanted to let you know you grew up well."