To Gaze at the Stars by Starlighter_Varda for @oldguardbigbang2021
Hartenstraat!AU with Baker!Single Dad!Joe and Illustrator!Nicky.
— 21 Chapters | 130K+ Words | Rated M.
After a life-threatening accident derails his life, Nicky pursues his original dream of being an illustrator. But that, alongside adjusting to civilian life, almost proves too difficult until Nile suggests he design the logo for The Aubergenie, a bakery co-owned by Sébastien and Joe.
In between a bad first impression and a second chance, Nicky unwittingly saves Joe’s daughter. Suddenly, he finds himself a part of their lives, falling in love with them both as he works on the logo and a story inspired by them—and counting down til this fantasy falls apart.
Despite their connection being too good to be true, various struggles, worries and expectations culminate in a heart-breaking misunderstanding that threatens to divide them before they can truly be together.
Will they be able to salvage what they had, or had they burned too bright to last?
Read on AO3