Though I’m still grieving Byler – and ST in general – after that unbelievably awful finale, this rage and sadness has been FUELING my imagination lately. Case in point, the 25k-word (so far) headcanon I've written about the next fifteen years of Mike and Will's lives post-epilogue :')
In case it's fun for other Bylers to read, during our time of collective mourning and imagining post-canon happy endings for these two, I thought I'd share some highlights here!
Basically, it features painter!Will living his best life in London with his British boyfriend (who he met while studying abroad in college); Mike realizing his feelings for Will at the absolute Worst Possible Moment; and a decade of single-dad Mike suffering/being jealous/pining for Will all the way from Indiana… That is, until 2002, when his eight-year-old son gets involved 🙃 Cue major Parent Trap/Stepping on the Last Train (an incredible Byler fic btw) vibes, and the actual plot of the headcanon lol
I've had so much fun creating this hc that I'm now tempted to write it up as an actual fanfic – but since that will take forever, I first just wanted to share the delightful concept of Will's long-term, British bf looking/acting like Jonathan Bailey.
Because let's be real...Will deserves it 🤪
(I've also decided to name him Anthony, in honor of Bridgerton lol)
Idk, the concept of Will's future bf, who he dates through his twenties/early thirties, being as charming, hot, and genuinely lovely as Jonathan Bailey has filled me with indescribable joy over the past month. Just think about how happy he'd make Will...and how insanely jealous he'd make Mike 😆
In fact, the morning after watching the ST finale, my coping mechanism was watching this JB video on repeat and imagining it was Anthony, Will’s future bf 🥲 (And it actually worked – I felt the tiniest bit less depressed afterward XD)
As this amazing thread by @harumichiis explains, I strongly think that Will deserves to love and be loved more than once in his life...and that Mike deserves to suffer and grow and EARN his way to a happy ending/back to Will’s heart.
Don’t worry Mike, I swear we’ll get you out of that closet and with Will….....eventually 💀
(FYI there is no cheating in this story – just life and relationships being complicated as adults try to figure out love and life and who they are. Because let’s be real…most people aren’t fully figuring out their lives in college ;) )
Anyway, it just feels great knowing that, regardless of whatever future bullshit comes out of the ST universe (looking at you, Tales of '85) or the Duffers/cast/etc, no one can touch this headcanon that I'm living in from now on ❤️🩹
And in closing, please enjoy Will's POV of the first time he meets Anthony, a few weeks into his studies in London! (Baby Jonathan Bailey, I would die for you omg)