"Shit. That's messed up. What the fuck?"

"I know, Ren. He had these bruises on his throat this morning. Was crying like a damn child. Broke my heart to see him like that." Julian muttered, holding the soap covered plates under running water to rinse them off. Ren took the plates from him, wiping with a cloth, listening attentively.

"How's Hayden dealing with all this?" Ren asked, glancing back to Julian's guest room where Hayden and Wynter were asleep.

"She's a strong girl. She'll be okay. She needs a little help though."

"I'm surprised your dad was so cool about this though. I didn't think he would ever be civil to your boyfriend, much less agree to be his lawyer and let him stay until the trial is over. I took a shit as soon as I heard."

Julian looked at him, incredulous "Took a shit?"

"It's my body's reaction to unbelievable things. Like, if I met Taylor Swift at McDonalds or something, I'd run to take a shit."

"Do I wanna know?" A groggy voice inquired.

Julian wiped his hands on a towel, smiling to greet Wynter as he walked in. Wynter stopped behind Julian, wrapping his arms around his waist and putting his chin on the other boy's shoulder drowsily.

"No. You do not want to know." Julian answered him, bumping Ren's fist as he left the kitchen to leave them alone.

"Why are you awake? Is the room not comfortable? Do you want me to get you something? Are you hungry?--"

"No. No. Julian. I'm fine. I just missed you."

"But I'm right here."

"Sometimes I dream that you are not."

Julian turned, holding the dark-haired boy's face between his palms "I'm right here." A kiss to the lips. "I love you, okay?"

Wynter could only nod as he pulled his boyfriend back in for a deeper and longer kiss."Your parents?"

"Tomorrow morning."

Ren's and Julian's parents had gone to another town a few hours away for a quick holiday. It was their yearly thing.

"What about Ren and Hayden?"

"He--uh. I don't know. I'll bribe him to stay with her until we're done. I want you...if you want. If you don't, that's fine. Let's cuddle."

"Julian I want you. Right now. Right here. So much." Wynter breathed, toying with a strand of strawberry blond and tugging on it, making Julian's head snap backward.

He moaned in response. "Anything. Anything you want."

"Your room?"

"Ren! I'll pay you a hundred bucks to stay with Hayden in the guest room and not disturb us!" Julian yelled out, letting Wynter lift him off the ground. He adjusted the grip of his legs around the other boy's hips and leaned down to playfully bite his ear.

Wynter grinned up at Julian just as Ren called out a confirmation "You ready?"

* * *

Wynter woke up to a sleeping Julian. He was on his stomach, arm latched around Wynter's waist like iron. Sometime at night, the blanket had slid down to Julian's hips and his back was bare in the early morning sunlight. The dimples at the bottom of his spine took away Wynter's breath for a few seconds and he was tempted to wake the boy up and beg for another round.

He restrained himself with great difficulty and turned over to glance at the clock on Julian's desk. 6:23 am.

Julian exhaled in distress, seemingly realizing the absence of the body of warmth that had been cuddled into him a few minutes ago "Babe?"

Wynter shifted closer, pressing his lips to Julian's shoulder "I'm here."

Julian hummed in response, falling back into sleep again. Wynter laughed silently, tracing a finger down Julian's spine, making him moan in his sleep. He traced the scattered moles on the sleeping boy's back, hoping to figure out a pattern.

Julian was awake by then. And painfully hard, thanks to Wynter's finger lazily roaming all over his back and dipping down his sides and hips.

"Round Three?" He mumbled, green eyes opening against the sunlight.

Wynter laughed "Maybe tomorrow. For now, I'm making breakfast."

Julian rolled out of bed onto his feet, "French Toast?!"

"Anything you want." Wynter said, lips lifting into a smile.

Julian pulled him into a hug, picking him off the ground. Wynter wrapped his legs around Julian's hips, clinging onto him as the green-eyed boy walked down the stairs. Hayden who was playing chess with Ren in the living room brightened up at the sight and stood up jumping excitedly "Julian! Me too! Up! Julian Up!"

Wynter growled playfully at her "Mine."

Julian found this banter extremely funny as he sat next to Ren and watched Hayden and Wynter play rock paper scissors to decide who would get to be carried by Julian.

Wynter let Hayden win, watching her climb into Julian's lap with a smile on his face.

"You're happy." Ren stated to Julian when Wynter had gone to make breakfast and Hayden was lying on the floor watching the news about the latest UN parliament session.

"I'm happy with them. I'm happy even when I'm fighting with him. Because it's him."

Ren punched his cousin's shoulder, ignoring his yelp of pain "You're so whipped."

"Julian, breakfast!" Wynter's voice floated into the living room.

"Just a second!" He replied, stretching his arms upward, "Hayden, baby let's eat. Come on, love."

Hayden hopped onto her feet obediently, footsteps pattering on the wood as she raced to follow after him.

Julian slowed down to let her hug his leg. After making sure she was holding on tight, he walked in, carrying her with him.

Wynter laughed out loud, looking at them fondly while handing a plate to Ren, "She's making a habit of it. What are you going to do when she gets bigger?"

Julian shrugged "Probably work out more? That way I'll be strong enough to carry her even when she grows."

"What if I become taller than you?" Hayden demanded, letting Julian lift her onto her chair.

"Then you can carry me. Deal?"

A camera click mingled with their laughter and Hayden's giggles, but they didn't notice it.

Many years later, Ren will show this picture to Julian. Julian will smile at the sunlight catching in Wynter's hair and his head thrown back in laughter. He will smile at Hayden's eyes squinted, tiny hands enclosed within Julian's huge ones. He will remember the warmth in his chest and the happiness of it all.