When Thomas's' parents returned from LA a year ago, they were even busier than before. More than often, Virgil would appear at Roman's' door, because the two had to make a sudden, overnight business trip out of town and they didn't want Thomas to be alone in the house. Usually, when that happened, Virgil would end up staying the night over after the three tried to binge-watch every Disney movie.

This was one of those days. Thomas was messing around with crayons, doodling a picture of a Prince Roman protecting a Princess Virgil while Sir Thomas valiantly battled the Dragon Witch and her minions. There was a shy knock on the door and Roman bounced away from the couch with sudden excitement. He rushed to the door with a wide grin. "Hey, Virge!"

"Hi, princey. Everything good?" Virgil smiled back, entering the house. Both knew that Virgil had already parked his motorbike down the small alley next to Roman's' home.

"Yep, everything's great. I got a promotion in my job and I've met this super nerdy dude called Logan."

"Damn," Snickered Virgil. "Sounds exactly like Patton's' new boyfriend, judging by his explanations."

Roman snorted, shutting the door as Virgil walked up to Thomas, dumping a heavy backpack on the ground by the couch. "Hey, Sir Thomas. Killed any monsters recently?"

"Look!" Thomas grinned, showing Virgil the picture.

Virgil scanned it over and then pouted. "Why am I always the princess?"

"Because I'm the Prince and I can pick you up like this!" Roman said, suddenly sweeping Virgil off his feet into his arms. Virgil squeaked, throwing his arms around Roman's' neck in surprise. Thomas laughed, clapping with amusement.

"Princey, put me down!" Lectured Virgil, blushing

Roman laughed. "You can't make me!"

Virgil raised an eyebrow. "Let's test that theory, shall we?"

"Huh?" Asked Roman. The emo teen moved his face to Roman's' ear, whispering something quietly that Thomas couldn't hear. Roman's' face instantly went bright red and he stuttered something incoherent. Virgil tilted his head, hiding his mouth against Roman's' neck. The mans' face glowed even brighter and he quickly sat Virgil on the ground. "Okay, okay! You win!" He blushed.

"Knew it," Teased Virgil with a flirty grin.

Thomas blinked slightly. "Roman, you have a bruise on your neck..."

"Y-Yeah, Thomas, I know." Roman glared at Virgil who poked his tongue out in return. "I'll go get dinner ready." He said, straightening up and walking into the kitchen.

The child turned to face Virgil. "What happened?"

Virgil smirked fondly after Roman. "I kissed him."

Thomas couldn't contain the high pitched squeal.

.:*:.

If you said dinner was awkward that night, you'd be wrong. It was hilarious. Thomas was constantly giggling because of the antics of the two men who sat opposite him. It was back and forth flirting between them, both forgetting Thomas was there until the other slapped their arm before they said something Thomas wasn't allowed to know about until he was 'older'. Why wasn't he allowed to know? He turned seven last week!

He ate the pizza that Roman had ordered after finding he couldn't be bothered to cook, sticking a finger in his mouth while observing the two across the island from him. Roman had leaned close to Virgil, the teenager looking surprised. The older man, having recently turned twenty-three, leaned closer into the twenty-year-old before snatching up a slice of pepperoni pizza from Virgil's' plate.

"H-Hey! Princey, no fair, that was my food, man!" Virgil protested as Roman took a bite.

"Yeah, well, there's loads of pepperoni left, emo. Suck it up!" Roman answered back snarkily.

Thomas leaned forwards and stole a margarita slice of Roman's' plate.

"Yes! Well done, Sir Thomas!" Laughed Virgil, punching Roman's' arm. He stuck his tongue out at Roman. "See? Not nice, is it?"

Roman glared with a childish pout. "You guys are so mean..."

.:*:.

Thomas was fast asleep on the couch and Roman and Virgil were sitting on Roman's' bed in the other room, doing each others' nails. Virgil had already painted Roman's' a passionate scarlet and now Roman dragged a black nail polish across the emo's' surprisingly long nails.

The two paused when Virgil's' right jumper sleeve fell back slightly, and old scars came into view.

"S-So you stopped, I see," Roman commented, looking at the others' wrist.

"Yeah, I did..."

Roman glanced at him. "Could I ask why?"

"You could but you might not get an answer."

Roman sighed, ignoring Virgil's' smug smirk. "Could I ask why and get an answer?"

"Why, of course, you can!"

"Why did you stop?"

Virgil's' smile slowly vanished as he thought. "Because when Thomas called me his 'war hero,' I didn't want to let him down. He didn't deserve to really know what they were really from. So I tried to stop. It was really hard to start off with. The scabs would itch and it was kind of routine..." The man glanced away. "You can probably guess the psychological part. I met up with a therapist and we started to talk it through. I guess I've gone clean for a really long time, now..."

Whatever reaction he was expecting to his little confession, it hadn't been a hug. Roman gripped him tightly and Virgil just sat there, stunned.

"You're not just Thomas's' war hero, Virgil. You're mine, too." Roman said quietly. And Virgil began to cry.

Thomas waved Virgil off brightly the next morning, suddenly taking notice of Roman's' face. His childminder looked sad but hopeful as Virgil rode into the main road, away from them.

"Roman? Are you okay?"

"I'm great, Thomas. Your parents are going to take you to the museum today, so go get ready." Roman replied, turning to the child and ruffling his hair fondly.

.:*:.

At least a month later, Virgil and Thomas were staying late at Romans' house once more. They were watching Sleeping Beauty and Prince Philip had just seen Aurora singing to herself and a bunch of forest creatures. The music began to pick up and Roman offered a hand out to Virgil. The emo hesitated but took it and Roman pulled him off his feet, catching him with his other hand wrapping around his waist.

"Oh, damn it, princey, I can't dance!" Complained Virgil, looking down at his feet as he tried to match Roman's' slow steps to the side.

"Then shut up and let me lead." Replied Roman, swinging Virgil around in a sudden sharp turn.

Virgil blushed when Roman pulled him towards his chest tightly, finishing the move with a stoop dip. Virgil scoffed. "Flirty, much?"

Thomas giggled quietly, straightening to watch the two men's' antics. The film was still playing, but no one was watching it anymore, especially as Roman began to sing over it.

"I know you, you walked with me once upon a dream!" He smiled, loosening his grip on Virgil to allow the smaller to do a soft twirl.

"You know this whole song is basically one line repeated again and again, right, princey?" Teased Virgil. Both had definitely forgotten Thomas.

Thomas was completely aware of this and quickly grabbed Virgil's' phone, opening up camera.

Roman ignored Virgil's' remark, continuing the song as the two slowly waltzed around the room. The melody stopped but Roman and Virgil kept dancing together slowly, taunting each other endearingly. Thomas pretended to vomit, pausing in his photo taking to get a video. That was when Roman stopped the dance, taking Virgil's' head in both hands and kissing him. Thomas made a gagging noise, screwing his eyes shut.

Virgil kissed back with a faint smile, pulling Roman in closer.

"Ew!" Complained Thomas and the two broke apart in embarrassment. "You were kissing, that's gross!"

Roman laughed awkwardly. "Sorry, Thomathy, we thought you were watching the movie."

Thomas frowned. "Your singing was distracting."

Virgil paused, catching sight of his phone. "Why do you have my phone?" Thomas paused, biting his lip with an evil grin. Virgil paled. "Oh my god, please tell me you weren't recording!"

Thomas cackled, jumping off the couch, clutching Virgil's' phone tightly as he bolted away from the two men.

"Thomas!" Virgil gasped, pulling himself out of Romans' arms, chasing after the child who laughed impishly.

.:*:.

Eliza smiled down at her son. "I'm sorry, Thomas, I know we promised to spend the day with you but work calls."

Thomas beamed back at his mother. Of course, he missed her attention but he knew that she and his father were busy and important and didn't have the time to entertain him. That's why they called in Roman. Thomas had trouble making friends and they had found that he'd been treated awfully by students and teachers while he attended school so, now, Roman would teach him everything he needed to learn, whether it was basic manners or math.

"It's fine, mom!" Thomas assured her. "Roman is awesome!"

Eliza's' gaze grew fond and she paused outside Romans' door, searching for the keys Roman had given her. Thomas spotted Virgil's' motorbike at the far corner of Romans' house. He didn't mention it. Eliza opened Romans' front door, hearing nothing. She frowned. Usually, you could always hear Roman singing or whistling or he'd go to see why he heard the door opening. Eliza put a finger to her lips, beckoning Thomas to stay close to her. The pair moved inside quietly and peered into the lounge.

Thomas looked around too, only to see Virgil sitting on Roman's' coffee table, with Roman perched in his lap, legs crossed around the others' waist. Virgil's' arms were wrapped loosely around Romans' hips and Roman was holding Virgil's' head, the two gently kissing each other passionately. Neither had noticed the new company.

"I guess I should start knocking, then!" Eliza commented. The two men broke off, looking up at the middle-aged woman with surprise.

Roman hesitated. "I... I wasn't making out with another one of Thomas's' caretakers."

"She's seen us now, dimwit, that's not going to work anymore..." Mumbled Virgil. Despite his confident words, he looked almost terrified glancing from his employer to Thomas. "A-Are you going to fire us?"

"For what? Oh, being homosexual? No, of course not!" Eliza laughed and Virgil relaxed instantly. "You boys haven't done anything wrong, you've taken care of Thomas perfectly!"

Roman grinned down at Virgil. "I told you they wouldn't care, my chemically imbalanced romance. You worry too much..." He trailed off slowly as he softly lowered his head into the small crook between Virgil's' neck and shoulder. "My war hero."

Eliza smiled, moving to walk out of the room and leaving Thomas alone. "I'll leave you to it!" She laughed and left the house.

Thomas waited until he heard the door shut and spun around to face the two men. "We better be getting ice cream today, I saw a small ice cream stall on the way here!"

Virgil pushed Roman off his lap, standing and sidestepping. "Roman, you're paying, you're the oldest."

Roman gasped. "How dare you! At least I don't look like a racoon!"

"At least I'm not old!"

"Hey!" Said Thomas, getting their attention. "Ice cream!"