Midnight Manor Private Residence, Saturday Afternoon

[hasaknightjob]

After their usual trip to the mainland, Steven and Llewellyn came back home for their other usual Saturday activities. Which was Llewellyn taking over the kitchen to get some baking done before his piano practice, and Steven occupying himself with other things.

In today's case those other things had been cuddling Raphael (Steven still wanted to make it up to him for being away last weekend, even if Raphael had long since forgiven them) and picking something out of the library to read while Llewellyn was practicing.

While doing that, though, Steven also thought to catch up on radio. Which was when he heard the mention of the reunion and - twenty years??

Steven checked his mobile. Then he checked his pocketwatch. Then he checked them both again.

We didn't lose time, Steven, Marc assured him from one of the reflections.

Which was all well and good but that didn't rule out -

Steven ran back to the kitchen to check on Llewellyn.

[for the beau, NFB please]

Comments

[pocketpretzels]

"He's taking steps in that direction," Watts pointed out. "Letting himself care about people."

[hasaknightjob]

"That's true," Steven said, after double checking Marc wasn't eavesdropping in any reflections. Steven would most likely feel it if he was, but it didn't hurt to be safe. "Letting himself be happy once in a while."

[pocketpretzels]

"As he deserves," Watts agreed.

[hasaknightjob]

"That's something your future self and the little ones know as well," Steven said. "That he can be happy in some way. Maybe even have someone he cares for."

Of course in those worlds it was Layla which... perhaps was a future that was changing in Steven and Watts's world. But the possibility was still exciting to think of.

[pocketpretzels]

Marx's happily ever after might resemble theirs. Or... it might not. The key word was, of course, happy.

"Even as he'd grumble at us for speculating about his social life," Watts said, not without some measure of fondness.

[hasaknightjob]

"Grumble at us for saying he had one," Steven agreed, also fondly. "I - I think what matters is we're making our own. All of us. I know you and me are in agreement about that. But it applies to him as well, doesn't it? Seeing that he can have options of his own, not ones forced on him."

Which was perhaps a lesson Steven also needed to learn regarding Marc, so it was progress for the both of them.

[pocketpretzels]

"Seeing, and taking," Watts nodded.

[hasaknightjob]

"Or at least trying," Steven said. "That - that's like us in a way. We're trying things. Figuring out what works for us. What doesn't. Not just past times, I mean. How our family works."

[pocketpretzels]

"Building our life together, all of us," Watts agreed.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven looked around them, sort of marveling. "Sometimes a family can be two men who share a body, a man who is friends with one and loves the other, a cat, some fish, and a house."

[pocketpretzels]

"It's a strange one, but it's ours," Watts said. "I'd not have it any other way. Well," he amended, after a moment. "That's not entirely true. I certainly wouldn't mind it getting bigger."

[hasaknightjob]

"It's ours... in that we get to define it, I think," Steven said, figuring out the words as he went. "We like how it is now, we've room in our hearts and minds for changes later. Does - does that make sense?"

[pocketpretzels]

"Perfectly," Watts assured him. "There's no piece that's missing, but nor is there lacking space to add another later."

[hasaknightjob]

"I like that," Steven said, looking up at him. "No piece missing, but plenty of space. Yes. Agreed. That's our home and family to a T, that is."

[pocketpretzels]

"Rather literally, when it comes to our home," Watts agreed, grinning.

[hasaknightjob]

"Indeed. Among the many nice things about living in Midnight," Steven said. He reached out to the table to pick up his teacup without moving more than strictly necessary. He took a sip and put it back. "More room than we know what to do with at the moment."

[pocketpretzels]

"I try not to think too hard about the fact that we've apparently a whole floor that we haven't- done anything with, that is."

[hasaknightjob]

"Or that it technically doesn't need to exist at all," Steven agreed. He looked around them. "Does your head in, realizing this looks this way because we need it to, not because Midnight's fussed about physics or geometry."

[pocketpretzels]

"Precisely," Watts said. "And yet- wouldn't have it any other way," he said, with a glance upwards at the ceiling and a fond little smile just in case Midnight was inclined to take that as a criticism.

[hasaknightjob]

"Me neither," Steven said. He reached down to lightly pet the floor. "I love our home. It's perfect. It just needed love and understanding."

[pocketpretzels]

"A year next month," Watts pointed out. "That we'll have been here, I mean." Well, a little longer than a month since they'd officially moved in at the end of August, but close enough.

[hasaknightjob]

"How time flies," Steven said. "Feels like only yesterday we moved in. Yet at the same time it feels like years ago, doesn't it? So much has happened."

[pocketpretzels]

"I feel the same way about you and I," Watts said. "I think- that's a good thing, isn't it? Feeling like we're just getting started, but also like- this is where we belong."

[hasaknightjob]

"Very much so," Steven said. "We've been together two years now but I can't imagine my life without you. I - I suppose perhaps that's in part due to where I was in my life when we met. But all the same. I know I'm meant to be with you."

[pocketpretzels]

"As I am with you," Watts said. "Now and always."