And so they moved to a different part of town, and nearly a year passed. 

Charlie found a job at the little food packaging company that had called him in for an interview. It was poorly paid compared to his latest job, but it was honest, and maybe one day he'd be able to move on and do research again.

For medicines that help, not hurt.

They rented a small apartment and Kit started in a huge public high school where he could blend in tolerably among the vast and varied crowd of teens. He tried his best to keep a low profile, keep his scandals out of school - and mostly succeeded.

Some mornings, for just a moment before he opened his eyes, it felt as if he'd gone back in time.

Once more he found himself living in a small dingy rental, going to a big anonymous school, living with an addict. He'd wake up in his bedroom and expect to hear the sounds of New Orleans, smell the scents of his childhood, disoriented from his persistent nightmares.

And at the same time, everything was different.

Because Charlie was getting better. Their little place was clean and tidy, and Kit went to school every day. His debts were gone.

The chemist had fallen off the wagon sometimes. It had been a difficult year.

But it was worth the struggle, Kit thought. 

Worth the pain to see his uncle pick himself up each time, dust himself off, and go back to his support group. Worth it to stand by his side, support him as his condition slowly improved and he experienced less withdrawal, gained more control over his life and impulses.

Worth it all, to have a chance for things to get better. Charlie could get better. Instead of...

Kit had been through worse.

Funny - they had both been longing for a second chance to help Kitty. Ultimately, she had been the one to bring them together.

His mother had made Kit into much of what he was. She had given him his life, several useful skills, even more issues, the family curse, and her blistering, sharp, mercurial love.

Her memory was with him everywhere he went, burning and soothing him.

He wouldn't be without it for the world.

When Kit heard a click at the front door, he jolted up from the couch and swore loudly.

They weren't supposed to be back yet.

"Hi!" Charlie called out cheerfully as he came into the living room balancing an oversized, bright flower bouquet, Amos close behind him, holding a white paper box tied with string - the type you'd get from a bakery. 

"We decided to bring home dessert instead of having it at the restaurant, that way we can all share it before you have to go - "

Kit stuck his tousled head up above the back of their couch, curls sticking out in every direction. His shirt was rucked up, lips ruddy. 

"He- Hey there," he said, voice catching. Clearing his throat, he tried again, while nudging something behind the couch, out of their view.

"Hey guys. Anniversary dinner...all good?" 

"...Um," Charlie's surprised gaze took in his appearance. "Yeah. It was...it was amazing."

Just then, another head rose hesitantly into view, short hair dyed and gathered in two dutch braids (that were coming apart, lavender tresses escaping), heart-shaped face flushed.

"We were just studying," Kit said smoothly, gesturing at the textbooks lying open and spread out over their scuffed thrift-shop coffee table.

"On a Sunday? What diligent students you are," Amos observed. 

Kit knew how difficult it was to take a weekend off for someone running a bar - but Amos managed it regularly, to spend time with Charlie. They had spent Friday and Saturday at some  sort of mini getaway, and rounded it off tonight with a fancy dinner. 

He'd assumed they would stay out late, maybe go to Amos's place. 

"They were just about to leave, though." 

"...They?"

Kit looked down next to him, where the blushing girl was surreptitiously doing up the last buttons on her shirt, while a lanky boy with dark hair was still bent double, tugging on his shoes and adjusting his pants before straightening.

"Yep. But, I mean, it's getting late, we might as well continue later. In school. Or something. Right?" he asked them. 

"Sure," the boy said, shrugging and standing up. "Later, Kit."

"Let me help you with that," he told the girl, offering an affectionate smile and picking up her bag, hooking their little fingers together as they walked out. She waved a 'see you' in Kit's direction.

Once his classmates left past his uncle and aforementioned uncle's boyfriend, Kit flopped back down onto the couch cushions, sighing and running a hand through his hair, rueful.

"Having fun?" Charlie asked drily.

"I was. Need any help with the food?" 

"...No, thank you, Kit."

Charlie started preparing a vase for the flowers, chewing on his bottom lip the way he did when he was nervous or thinking or both, while Amos unpacked dessert. 

"...Everything okay in school?"

"Huh? Yeah. You know me, good as gold. Meek as a lamb."

"Well, if you say so..."

Kit did try to stay out of trouble at school - it was just that trouble had a way of finding him. 

You a fag? one greasy dude had sneered at him, holding up his phone to showcase one of the crossdressing pictures, a long list of derogatory terms posted underneath it.

Bi, motherfucker, got a problem with that? the little wolf had snarled, darting into the guy's space and grabbing his wrist before he had time to react, and then squeezing until the human's bones ground together. Yelping, the youth flinched back, eyes going wide.

Yeah, didn't think so.

For good measure, he had dropped the cell and stepped on it, breaking the screen but leaving it otherwise unharmed.

And that was just a warning, asshole. 

Kit was starting to get a better handle on his werewolf traits - the ebb and flow of them with the moon's cycle, the advantages and drawbacks - and the few people that tried to give him trouble quickly learnt better.

Not that he'd ever been quick to back down before, but it was even easier to warn people off now. As long as no-one messed with him, Kit kept his head down and avoided initiating fights.

He joked and participated in class, went to the occasional party and study circle, but stayed away from any deeper connections. Away from relationships that threatened to go beyond shallow friendships and casual flings.

No feelings. No commitment.

The ones that came up to him with a blush on their face, asking him out, he turned down. The ones that kissed him instead, alcohol on their breaths - those he accepted.

Nothing serious.

"I've got a message for you, from Zach," Amos told him, taking out some dessert plates. 

"Oh, really? Let's hear it."

When the teen moved to help him set the table, and the older man handed Kit a hallmark card in an envelope. He blinked stupidly at it.

"Here you go," Amos added, before stepping over to help his partner set the table.

The folded card was white with pink, glittery hearts on it, and said simply,

I fucked a boy almost as cute as you behind the bar the other day.

Kit snorted.

"Well you can tell him that I - "

Amos held up a hand. "Please - whatever game you two are playing now - spare me the details."

Pulling out his phone, Kit texted Zach a reply instead.

I just had two classmates over, not studying...and I was thinking of you.

Almost immediately, a reply came in.

Who said long distance relationships suck?

It wasn't so much long distance as much as living on different sides of the city, both of them busy with school and working part time. They only met to hook up...and that suited them both just fine.

Kit smiled to himself, typing one last response before tucking away the cellphone.

Relationship? Try semi-regular fuck, and don't get ahead of yourself.

He thought saw a suggestive reply appear on the lock screen before getting up to sit at the table, focusing his attention on his uncle.

The dessert they'd brought home was delicious: an assortment of tarts and truffles in different flavours, decorated beautifully. 

Kit found himself touched that they'd thought to include him - even if it had ended up prompting an awkward interruption. 

Oh well.

He asked a bit more about their weekend getaway, and told them about school.

"I've got to get going, you guys," he said once they'd finished eating, gathering up their plates and dumping everything in the sink. "Leave the dishes and I'll do 'em once I get back."

"Stay safe..."

"The clinic's not that far away, Charlie."

His uncle came up to hug him after he'd put on his jacket, and Kit hugged him back, pausing to inhale his familiar, comforting scent.

Habitually, he filtered through it for hints of blood, grime, stale fear-laced sweat...but Charlie smelt clean and whole and happy, of soap, cashmere sweaters and beeswax hand cream.

"Are you sure you're okay?" his uncle asked, pulling back gently. "How is counselling going?"

"Well..." Kit briefly considered lying, then dismissed the impulse.

"I'm gonna to need a new therapist. Maybe I'll try the school one again."

"Kit...not again, what happened?"

He couldn't help looking at him like that was a pretty stupid question. "Slept with her."

His uncle gasped softly. "Again?"

"I know, I know."

"But she was over twice your -"

"Yeah, but she had a big butt and huge - "

Charlie hugged him again, and Kit let him do it, patting his arm.

"I know it's hard to trust someone," the blond told him. 

Kit closed his eyes. "Just. Giving away power. Information. To - I try, but then..."

"Do you want to come with me to group? Everyone's really nice..."

"Thanks. But I just... I'll try the school counsellor again. There's a new one, seems nice. I've really gotta go now."

"Okay." Reluctantly, his uncle released him.

He looked so adorable, worried expression and with his spectacles still in his hair, pushed up out of his face and forgotten there, that Kit sighed and gave him one final, brief hug.

"I'll be fine," he promised. "I'll be home soon."

"I'm so proud of you for volunteering, you know that right?"

"Yeah, I know."

"And it will look good on your transcript." 

Kit rolled his eyes. "Ugh. I know. I want to do it." 

"Are you planning to become a doctor?" Amos called over from the kitchenette, where he had pulled on gloves and was starting the dishes, waving away Kit's renewed offer to take care of them with a 'next time.' 

"Me? No way. Even if I had the grades and tuition, I wouldn't have the ten years. I want to make a difference sooner than that... I'm thinking nurse, maybe. Or paramedic," he answered, grabbing his bag and jacket.

Turning back, the boy cocked an eyebrow at them, smirk tugging at his lips.

"Bet I could add a whole new dimension to the ol' 'slutty nurse' concept, or whaddaya say?"

With one last grin, Kit sauntered out, leaving them shaking their heads over him. 

Charles sighed as he locked the door behind his nephew, and Amos covered a smile with his hand.

"What a whirlwind," he chuckled. 

The blond smiled up at him, taking his bottom lip between his teeth. "A whirlwind, huh?"

Before Amos knew what hit him Charles had flown over to where he was standing, ducking in under his arms and burrowing into the front of his shirt. 

"I'll show you a whirlwind."

While Kit was there, he had held back from touching him too much, but it was their anniversary - Charles wanted to touch him all the time.

Still...

"I worry about him," he mumbled, as his boyfriend wrapped sudsy arms around him and kissed his lips.

"Mhm..." Charles melted into his chest, and stayed there, enveloped in warmth and a feeling of safety, while the other man finished up the dishes. He kept his arms around the blond, tucked into his chest, his larger frame keeping him pressed lightly up against the stainless steel.

"Kit is going to be all right," Amos's deep, soothing voice assured him, faint clinking audible behind Charles as he worked. "He's a good kid."

"He has started volunteering at our local free clinic, now that we're finally settled in. Didn't I tell you? Well, must have just thought that I did... They say he's an angel there."

"Bit difficult to believe."

"No, really. And I think he's finally warming up to you..."

"Mhm-hm. You tired? Or would you like to watch something?"

"I'd like to cuddle in bed together."

A year ago, brazenly asking for even something like that would have been far beyond him.

Now, Amos smiled into his hair, pressing a soft kiss to it. A reward for asking, and an action filled with deep affection, like everything he did with Charles. 

"Then that's what we'll do."

"Amos..." Sighing contentedly, the shorter man breathed in his enticing musk, crisp detergent from his ironed shirt, faint bit of cologne, a hint of salty sweat underneath, after the long day they'd spent together.

He loved it. Loved the way he knew everything Amos had done during the day, because they'd done it all together. Picked up these creases and wrinkles and scents together.

"I love you."

Amos's warm hands came up to hold him, wrapping around him to hold him close, safe - his cheek resting on top of Charles's head. His voice came out rough.

"I love you too, dove."

"Take me to bed?"

Instead of answering, Amos straightened and swept his lover up into his arms. 

Kit breathed in deeply, drawing the cool evening air into his lungs, savouring it. Today was a good day. 

They had gone through plenty of bad days, during this last year. Days were it got so bad that Charlie might snap and scream, storm out, act unrecognisable. Then he would unfailingly cry and apologise, and try to resist turing to the bottle all over again...

It didn't startle Kit, who had been through worse with his mom - but it was still harrowing.

One day, Amos found them like that, fighting, shouting, and the boy thought he would leave them. But instead, the older man asked Kit to call him the next time Charlie relapsed or was suffering.

I know you can handle it, Christopher, but you shouldn't have to deal with it alone every time. Both of you deserve extra support, he'd said, matter-of-factly. 

You don't know what you're signing up for, Kit had told him. 

Actually, I do. I went through this countless times with my older brother, and I never thought I would volunteer to do it again. But I am. I want to be here for you both - please, make full use of me.

And contrary to each and every one of Kit's expectations...Amos had stuck around. Nothing had shaken or deterred him. And he had been sweet to Charlie and considerate of Kit, not taking his shit but never trying to boss him around or put him in his place.

Offering them respect and assistance.

 Slowly, very slowly...things had improved. Charlie's body had adapted to being without alcohol, and the physical symptoms decreased while he worked on the mental ones. 

He had been sober for months now. 

Kit kept in sporadic touch with Zach. The older boy liked to call it a relationship, to which the wolf always replied with a scoff. 

He liked the amoral bartender. Could relax around him, banter with him, and they sure were compatible in bed...

But he still remembered how Zach had deceived him. People lied - Kit lied plenty - so it wasn't as if he held that against the other man, necessarily. He just never let himself forget it.

Kit still had casual flings and no-strings-attached sex, connections that felt good for a while but often left him feeling...hollow, after. Not that he chose to dwell on it. 

Working through his own cravings and bad coping mechanisms - well, it was up and down where that was concerned. 

But when he was running in his wolf-shape, alone, powerful - that was a whole different type of pleasure, one he never grew tired of. Kit would never again be afraid of the dark, of being out at night. The night was his - the darkness was his. His shelter, his natural habitat. 

If he didn't have Charlie to come back for, he might actually have preferred to stay as a wolf a majority of the time. 

Except that then he wouldn't be able to help others and do something he found meaningful with his life.

He thought of his uncle as he walked towards the clinic, and felt his heart swell. That was family - it was enough just to have each other. Enough to see his uncle happy in the arms of his boyfriend, or safe in the small apartment they shared, on the days it was just him and Kit. 

The teenager still did most of their grocery shopping. He'd offered to get a weekend job to help with the bills but his uncle had encouraged him to volunteer at the local emergency free clinic instead, and now that's what he did every other Saturday and Sunday evening. 

Since he was a minor, they only let him help with some admin, handing out coffee and water, restocking supplies, changing sheets, wiping floors, and chatting with bored patients, stuff like that. 

But Kit enjoyed it, and he got to be around medical professionals, eavesdrop on their conversations, and ask them questions about stuff he'd read, when they had time. That was more than enough. 

Happiness was...maybe it was something other people had. Or not. Kit didn't know - he just kept pushing forward, one day at a time. 

He was content and determined. He had a purpose, a plan. 

Looking after his family. Helping others, working towards doing something worthwhile with his life. And enjoying simple pleasures - sex, cigarettes, karaoke nights with classmates now and then. 

Kit had someone he loved, who loved him and believed in him. That was enough. 

This was their way forward. 

The End :)

That's it for the main story line, but there will be a Bonus Story!

So if you want to find out what Kit got up to while studying to become a paramedic, how things turned out between him and Zach, or what Charles and Amos's life was like after this - keep reading...