Jacob smiled happily as he looked at the photo had he just taken. Kevin was smiling brightly as he posed with Gust in his hand. Kevin came bouncing over, curious as to how it turned out.

"You look so pretty..." Jacob muttered, zooming in a bit.

"Nah, you're just a good photographer." replied Kevin, looking over Jacob's shoulder.

At some point in time when he wasn't visiting, Kevin had a sudden growth spurt. He wasn't the small child he had come to know and love.

"Hey Kevin..." he muttered, keeping his eyes on the photo. Kevin hummed. "Can fairies fall in love?"

"What a silly question. Of course we can! How else would we reproduce? Though I suppose sometimes love isn't necessary..." Kevin responded as he thought. "My parents would be an example of that I guess..."

"Are you the only fairy here? Do fairies not live together?" Jacob pressed.

"Well, we aren't forced to live alone, but most choose to. And for as long as I can remember, yes, I am the only one here."

Jacob sat down on a log in the forest as his mind worked. Kevin looked at him curiously, wondering what he'd ask next.

"Well, going back to my first question, how do fairies confess their love?" Jacob asked, pressing record on his camera.

"How do we confess... Hm... that's a hard one. It depends on the fairy. Some do a dance, some cook, some create a birth flower brooch for them that never dies. Yes, a brooch made from a real flower. And others just come out and say it before presenting their... I guess you can say magic item." said Kevin, gesturing towards Gust at the end.

"Wow... I'm curious about the magic item bit." said Jacob with interest.

"It's not much really. You and whoever just have your items merge and then bam. Your item will have two colors, half yours, half theirs." said Kevin with a chuckle.

"Have you ever been confessed to?" he asked.

"Ah, no... But the thought is pretty nice." Kevin answered, scratching his neck.

Jacob stopped recording then put his thinking cap on once more. Kevin looked at him, wondering if it was the end of questioning. It was then Jacob stood up before taking off.

"Goodbye I guess...?" said Kevin in confusion.

He sent himself back home before stretching. Now he had time to work on Jacob's brooch. He's never heard of fairies being together with any species other than their own, but he was willing to go through any risk if it meant he could have Jacob to himself. A smile plastered itself on his face as he worked on the brooch. He loved Jacob as a friend, as family, and as the man he was. He didn't want to imagine his life without him.

ㅎ ㅎ

Kevin's body jolted awake at the feeling of Jacob's presence wandering the forest. He looked around groggily then panicked. The brooch wasn't done. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes as he got back to work. Just a few more security measures and it'd be presentable.

"It's done!" he exclaimed, letting out a sigh of relief. "Will he accept my heart...?"

His mood darkened as he actually gave it thought. Jacob loved him, he knew that, but did he love him the way he did? Could he stand the heartbreak of Jacob rejecting him? The more he thought, the smaller his confidence became. Maybe it was better if he kept quiet, watching over him as he grew up and experienced life. Then eventually finding a partner he was happy with and getting married to them. Gust deflated some as Kevin let his face collide with the table. He hated reality.

Jacob patiently looked around, wondering if he was too far from Kevin. Just as he started to move, flowers started to appear on the ground. He smiled widely as he sped walked towards them. He stopped as Kevin had come out himself, hanging his head low. It was a strange sight.

"Kev, did something happen?" Jacob asked, jogging up to him.

"It's nothing. I just... nothing..." mumbled Kevin, avoiding eye contact.

"Well, uh... here! I made you these." said Jacob, holding out the box he had been holding.

"For me? What are they?" Kevin asked, taking the box.

Jacob gestured for him to open it up. Kevin did as he asked and was greeted by aesthetically eye pleasing macaroons. Though, he had no idea what they were.

"What are these? Soap bars?" Kevin asked in confusion.

"Macaroons. They're for eating." said Jacob, taking one out and putting it in his mouth.

Kevin slowly chewed before stopping. He quickly spit it out, finding the taste awful. Jacob's heart fell into his stomach. He didn't like them?

"Are you trying to kill me? They're so dry!" Kevin wheezed, trying to get every bit out.

"They are...?" he asked, taking one for himself. He soon spit it out after taking a bite. "Oh god, I'm so sorry."

Kevin started to laugh, amused by the situation.

"So, why did you make these? You don't usually bring food with you." Kevin commented, admiring the box.

He noticed Jacob had gone strangely quiet. He looked at him as he kept his gaze to the ground. Did he not want to tell?

"...ve... u..." Kevin heard Jacob whisper.

"Could you speak up?" Kevin asked as he leaned in closer.

"I love you..." Jacob said with a tremble in his voice. "I... I don't... I mean... you've always been there for me, looking out for me, cheering me up without even knowing I was feeling bad, and helping me when those kids were pursuing me. There's so much I could say that adds to my reason of loving you..."

"Well, that's really thoughtful. Showing your appreciation through cooking." said Kevin with a smile.

More silence. Did he say something wrong?

"Not like that, Kevin... You don't even remember what you said." Jacob said, wiping his teary eyes.

"You don't mean..." Kevin whispered before receiving a nod. "So... you love me, not love me..."

Jacob nodded again. Kevin stepped closer to him before pulling him into an embrace. Jacob loved him. He felt the same way. He couldn't believe it. Jacob snuggled more into his arms, taking in his rich vanilla and earthy scent. He didn't want to imagine his life without Kevin.

"I have something for you, actually..." whispered Kevin before pulling away.

Gust floated down from the air before shrinking to fit in the palm of Jacob's hand. Gust popped itself, revealing the brooch Kevin had worked hard on. Jacob's eyes sparkled as he looked it over in awe. It was beautiful. He put it on, vowing to never take it off unless absolutely necessary.

"I'm glad you like it." Kevin said with an ear to ear grin.

Jacob simply hugged him again, no longer needing words to convey his feelings. A flower sprouted beneath them and lifted them up before its petals grew and enclosed them within.

"So, what do fairies do once they have a partner?" Jacob asked, poking at Kevin's chest.

"Nothing different than what humans do." said Kevin.

Jacob pursed his lips, hoping there was at least something unique they did. Though, he didn't complain for long, relishing in the close proximity of Kevin. He now had a magical boyfriend. What in the world could be better than that? He made himself comfortable before closing his eyes. He could never separate from Kevin, not after declaring himself his partner. They were shaken from their serenity at the sound of Jacob's phone ringing.

"Hello? Oh, hey mom. Right now...? But I'm at a... Okay. Okay... See you." said Jacob before hanging up.

The flower's petals opened before lowering them back to the ground.

"You have to go?" Kevin asked.

"Yeah... My mom said it's important and all three of us need to be present for the talk. I'll be back tomorrow, I promise." said Jacob before squatting down and picking a flower. He turned it into a flower ring. "I'm sure the one I gave you when we first met is dead, so here's a new one, confirming all promises we've ever made since then."

"I'll cherish it..." said Kevin, enchanting the flower ring so it never dies.

Jacob waved before hurrying on his way. Kevin smiled warmly as he watched until he could no longer see him.

It was the last time he saw him.

a/n: and that's the end of the past.