It was a beautiful morning in Texas, and Texas himself was scurrying all around his ranch, hurrying to get the morning chores done so he could return to bed with his boyfriend. DC had been particularly stressed the entire week, so Texas arranged to take him away from Washington, away from Orlando, for a few days so he could finally de-stress.

("You act like we can't do that." California had pointed out when Texas announced his plans to the rest of the boyfriends.

"A few days at the ranch is better than any devils lettuce you may give him." Texas pointed out, which jump started an argument between the two boyfriends that lasted well into the evening.)

"Alright, have your grain." Texas mumbled to the chickens gathered around him, looking for their breakfast. He smiled softly to himself at the black and white chicken who clucked nervously around his feet; he always thought the chicken reminded him of DC, he even named the chicken Dee after him, and how sweet-tempered yet nervous he was. Texas would have to introduce them, provided he could get the government out of bed.

Texas finished with the chickens and moved to the other animals, trying to work quickly. He wanted to give DC a nice, hearty breakfast this morning, not just the coffee and possible toast he usually had a proper breakfast. Texas wiped his forehead and gazed back at the farmhouse, smiling at what he knew awaited him inside. If he could take all his boyfriends away, move them here, and live a simple life on the farm while the world went crazy, he would do so in a minute.

It was a good morning, Texas thought as he closed one of the gates and made his way back to the farmhouse. The animals were fed, DC was still fast asleep and relaxed, Austin was at the front door...

Wait, Austin?

Sure enough, Austin stood at the front door of the ranch house, rocking on his heels waiting for someone to answer the doorbell. Texas prayed briefly that DC was still dead asleep as he broke into a sprint; hoping whatever it was his delightful cousin came for he'd be quick.

"HEY." Texas yelled, getting Austin's attention, thanking God DC hadn't woken up. "What are you doing here?"

"CUZ!" Austin greeted jumping off the front steps and hugging the older man. "I was hoping you'd be here! I didn't know when you were getting back from Orlando."

"Heh, you know I come back every other day to tend to the animals." Texas pointed out as Austin released him.

"Say, why don't we go inside and catch up? I got this brand new coffee, it's fair trade, organic, and one hundred percent of the proceeds go to charity." Austin announced.

"God poppy would love you." Texas thought before his heart froze. Having Austin inside was too much of a risk; DC was a heavy sleeper at the best of times (and after last night he'd be sleeping in even more) but he'd wake up if he smelt coffee. It was Florida's trick for getting him out of his office so his laptop could be hidden, and it worked every time.

"Ya know what, my house is a mess and I really should clean it before going back to Orlando." Texas lied.

"Oh c'mon cuz, it can't be much worse than Dia de Muertos when we were kids." Austin said with a laugh, opening the front door. Before Texas could stop him, Austin made his way inside, with his cousin behind trying to come up with some excuse of why he couldn't stay.

"I'm tellin' ya, I don't know why you waste your time going back and forth to Florida. I heard Florida's a jerk." Austin announced taking off his jacket and tossing it on the couch.

"Florida's decent when he wants to be." Texas hissed. He knew he should've explained to his cousin that he was dating Florida

And California

And Louisiana

And New York

And DC

But right now was not the time! Plus he'd never hear the end of it if Austin found out he was dating a fed with all the hemming and hawing he did about seceding. Texas followed his cousin to the kitchen nervously, somewhat relieved that DC wasn't up yet, then horrified again as Austin began setting up the coffee maker.

"WAIT." Texas yelled at Austin. "It's uh, broken."

"Broken? But I gave this to you for Christmas!" Austin pointed out.

"I-uh, took it to the Statehouse and uh....that damn Oklahoma broke it." Texas explained, not feeling the least bit guilty that he put the blame on Oklahoma.

"Typical Oklahoma, has to succeed in something, might as well make it breaking things." Austin said, rolling his eyes.

"So why are you here, you didn't come here just for a chat." Texas pointed out. Austin sighed and leaned against the counter.

"My sink broke, and I can't get to the hardware store, can I borrow your tools?" Austin asked.

"Typical blue city, doesn't have backups." Texas said, rolling his eyes. "Stay here, I'll grab 'em." The southern state left his cousin in the kitchen as he went hunting for his tools in the garage, leaving Austin to glance around at Texas's home. Texas always decorated neatly and plainly, very dedicated to the rustic southern aesthetic. He was thankful he didn't go too full out on cowboy gear like he had when they were kids, although there were still touches of it here and there. Austin turned back to the coffee maker then back in the direction Texas left in; surely the machine hadn't been broken that bad, right? Surely he could make his cousin one cup of coffee? Making his decision, Austin turned the coffee maker on and opened the bag of coffee, the smell of the crushed beans hitting his nose and filling the entire kitchen. He was about to fill up the small cup of the machine with said coffee when a soft voice called from the entryway.

"Coffee?" The voice mumbled and Austin turned to see a youngish man dressed in pajama shorts and one of Texas's oversized shirts standing in the doorway that connected the kitchen to the hallway. His hair was all messy and his face unshaven and he looked to be standing unevenly on his feet.

"Uh....yeah." Austin said looking at the man confused. "Who are you?" The man mumbled something back, which Austin swore was 'gardener' but why would the gardener be still asleep at this time? In Texas's clothes? Plus Texas didn't like anyone working around his farm but him so it'd make no sense he'd hire a gardener.

"Do you want some?" Austin asked, holding up the coffee bag. The man nodded and made his way to the kitchen table, practically falling into a chair as Austin continued to brew up a pot. The coffee maker finished brewing just as Texas returned with his tool kit.

"Alright look, you can have my secondary tools, but I want them back this ti--" Texas froze and dropped his tool kit to the ground.

"Tex! Your gardener is activated by coffee huh?" Austin said teasingly. Texas ignored his cousin and hurried over to the man, whispering to him so lowly that Austin couldn't hear, although he could pick up bits and pieces.

"Sugar what are you doing up?"

"Coffee...."

"It's too early for you now, go back to bed, I'll make you a big cup."

"M'kay."

With that, the man got up, and padded out of the kitchen, leaving the two southern personifications alone. As soon as the man left, Texas breathed a sigh of relief and Austin laughed.

"Since when do you have a gardener? You hate anyone messing with your stuff?" Austin said with a laugh. Texas grabbed his tool box and thrust it into Austin's arms.

"Alright, you got your tools, I expect 'em back." Texas ordered practically shoving his cousin out the door.

"Hey I want to meet this guy, he seems nice!" Austin protested.

"Y'know what, keep 'em for as long as you need, I have better tools back in Orlando!" Texas announced before shoving Austin out and closing the door. Austin sighed and made his way back down the front steps, head whirling over what just happened. The man, the supposed gardener, looked super familiar to him. He almost looked like that fed guy, what was his name, DC, that he'd seen on the news before standing behind Trump during conferences.

"Pfft my cousin dating a fed." Austin thought snickering. "It'd be a cold day in the deepest pits of hell the day Texas dates someone from the government."

DC smiled as he felt the prickly face of Texas nuzzling at his cheek.

"Gonna make you a nice breakfast, sugar." Texas whispered.

"Mm just toast is fine." DC mumbled.

"Nah, you need your strength." Texas pointed out. DC turned over and opened his eyes half-mast, the sunlight hitting his eyes making them look almost hazle.

"Tex, who was that?" DC asked as Texas began peppering his face with kisses.

"Oh....that was the maintenance guy, the barn is leaking and I can't figure out what's wrong." Texas lied.

"Seemed nice, offered to make me coffee." DC mumbled giggling as Texas continued to kiss him.

"Yeah he's a real charmer." Texas said rolling his eyes but smiling down at his boyfriend. "You're beautiful, you know that?"

"M'not." DC mumbled slowly, losing his battle to stay away. Texas brought DC's body close to him and held him against his chest, looking out the window at the figure of Austin heading back to his car. The southern state kissed DC's head, thankful he was spared the humiliation of being outed as a hypocrite, but knowing eventually he'd have to explain that yes, he was dating a fed.

"You are sugar." Texas whispered holding DC close. "You're so beautiful, and I don't deserve you."