They got back to Thomas's apartment on the second day of the new year. Kenzie had been ecstatic about their arrival, jumping up on both and wagging her tail furiously. Rachel and Bryan welcomed them, but soon after they had to leave, as they wanted to go and celebrate the new year with Rachel's family in their hometown.

Mark and Thomas spent the afternoon quietly playing around with Kenzie and then watching a movie. They fell asleep early, as Thomas had an early practice the next day, and Mark needed to be there because a new player would be joining them. Frank's replacement.

The next morning, Mark was setting up his camera, deciding which lens to use in the last minute, when the new player joined in on the training session. He looked up and then froze in place. Wasn't that...

"Christian Beck?" Thomas said before the new player could introduce himself.

"Hello, Thomas!" Christian replied. Thomas was left speechless looking at his High School teammate. He hadn't seen Christian since... well, High School. Frankly, he was surprised Christian was still playing, let alone had been offered a position in the same team as Thomas.

"You two know each other?" Coach asked them, caught off guard by the revelation.

"We went to the same High School. Used to play in the same team," Christian explained.

"Would you look at that..." Joe Aldridge muttered surprised.

"Well, for the rest of you. This is Christian Beck. He will be our new forward. He will be in the starting line up for the upcoming match, as I want to see how well you guys can cooperate," Coach said, introducing the new player.

"I'm going to go introduce myself," Lily said to Mark, surprising him as he hadn't seen her approach him.

He watched her go up to his old acquaintance and after much thought, he sat up and decided he needed to go introduce himself too. Maybe Christian had forgotten him.

"Hey, I remember you. You two were friends!" Christian said as soon as his eyes fell on Mark and then moved to Thomas. Mark let out a small breath and quickly glanced at Thomas, who didn't seem to be breathing at all.

"You were?" Joe asked a little surprised at the revelation. Hadn't Thomas been introduced to Mark at the start of that season?

"No," Mark said at once. "We knew of each other, but we weren't friends," he added, seeing the weird look Christian shed him.

Thomas was about to say something when Coach ended the conversation and told the guys to start the warmup. Lily and Mark backed away, Mark keeping his gaze intentionally off Lily. He needed to not draw any more attention to himself. Christian had already caused more trouble than he was probably aware of.

***

Thomas pulled down his shirt, ready to leave the locker room, and go back home in order to take Kenzie out for a walk. He grabbed his bag and started walking out when he bumped into Christian.

"Hey, man!" Christian said with a wide grin. "It was so fun playing with you again after so many years".

"Yeah, it was fun," Thomas replied, smiling back but itching to leave.

"We should hang out sometime. Catch up," Christian went on. Thomas was starting to get impatient.

"Yes, totally, we should," he said and inched away from Christian.

Christian nodded and went in the locker room, and at once Thomas took off. Kenzie was waiting for him. And most likely Mark too. As soon as he got out of the building, he stopped short though, as he saw Evangeline waiting for him next to his car.

"I have to tell you something..." she started as he approached her. A chill went down his spine. He didn't like her tone.

***

"I'm taking Kenzie for a walk and then I need to talk to you," Thomas immediately said as soon as he walked in his apartment and saw Mark sitting on the couch.

Mark turned his head to look at Thomas, as Kenzie rose from where she sat next to him and went to Thomas, who grabbed her leash. Mark rose an eyebrow at Thomas.

"Talk about what?" he asked.

"Evangeline came by after practice and told me something..."

"Something bad or good?"

"It depends," Thomas muttered and took Kenzie out.

Now slightly worried, Mark went on going through his photographs and started cooking up lunch, seeing as Thomas took Kenzie on a longer walk than usual. He was singing along to his favorite song, when Kenzie ran in enthusiastically, about twenty minutes after she and Thomas had left.

"Come on, let's sit," Thomas told him while resting against the doorframe.

"You're starting to worry me..." Mark replied and followed him to the living room, where they sat next to each other on the couch.

"You shouldn't be worried. Evangeline came by to tell me about a new contract offer I got from another club," Thomas.

"Oh, well..."

"No, hold up. When I signed this contract, I told her to not come to me with other offers that I got, unless they were ridiculously good. Because, honestly, I didn't really want to move. And I still don't. I mean, my whole life is here. Dean and Matias are here. My family is really close. You are here. So, moving seems wild, you know," Thomas explained.

"But this offer is ridiculously good?" Mark guessed.

"It's a five-year contract... from a German club," Thomas said, his eyes desperately looking for an answer in Mark's. When no answer came, he went on with explaining. "I'll be playing in the Bundesliga, which is the primary league in Germany. I might have a chance to play for Germany's National Football Team. The money is good, even though that's not what I'm about... I don't know... I just-"

"What about the club you're playing for now? Haven't you signed a contract with them?" Mark asked.

"I did sign with them. But my contract runs out by the end of this season and the offer is for the next season. The Portland Scouts do want to renew my contract, but if I don't accept, then I'm free to sign up with whoever I want for the next season," Thomas said and reached out to take Mark's hand in his. "But if I go to Germany then where will that leave us...?" he reluctantly asked.

"You're not breaking up with me again".

It wasn't a question but the voice crack in Mark's tone made it feel that way. At once, Thomas started shaking his head. He let go of Mark's hand and pulled him in a hug.

"I'm not breaking up with you. I'm asking you to come with me to Germany," Thomas said as he pulled back a little to look Mark in the eyes. "I know your job is here and your friends are here, and your life is here... but as much as I want it, I don't know if I can do it without you..."

Mark was left speechless. That was a lot to process. As the seconds went by, Thomas's expression fell, and he concluded that he had asked too much. Mark had built a life here. He had an amazing job. He had Reese and Dean and Matias. He had an amazing life here. And sure, in the last couple of months, their lives had intertwined a lot, but Mark's life was here in Portland.

"Does that mean I have to start learning German?" Mark said and broke the silence. Thomas blinked in surprise and then laughed.

"Well, you have about half a year to learn the basics..." Thomas replied and kissed Mark.

"I love you," Mark muttered and pushed Thomas down on his back. After a few kisses, Mark stayed lying on top of Thomas's chest. "I was meaning to bring this up, but my lease is about to expire. I have a feeling I already know your answer, but should I renew it?"

"You have basically already moved in. Why not make it official?" Thomas replied with a small shrug. "I have to call Evangeline and tell her to bring me the contract..." he went on and grinned up at Mark.

"Folkner will be sad to see me leave," Mark muttered back. At that, Thomas's grin disappeared.

"You're gonna give up your job because of me..." he said.

"I'd like to remind you that I'm also a freelance photographer. And I'm still earning royalties from my book. My job with Folkner is nothing but an extra. I'm not giving up anything," Mark dismissed and gave Thomas another kiss.