I saw a lot of movies during the two weeks of our breakup but until this moment, I didn't realize I never paid attention enough to any of them to even catch a title. Travis is making us watch Step Sisters because Pokello recommended it and the dancing girls remind him of Janice, he even called her as we were about to begin the movie so we had to start thirty minutes later because those two can gossip for years.

"You know, I really did think you'd become a frat boy. I've never been happier to be wrong". He picks up a popcorn that almost fell into my eye and eats it.

I turn in his lap so I'm looking up at him and not the TV.

"What? Loud men and backward baseball hats don't do it for you?"

"Nah. I'm more a sweaty jersey kind of guy, believe it or not".

"I knew you were sniffing through my dirty laundry you perverted swine". I pinch his cheek hard and he dumps the entire bowl of popcorn on my face. Thank God there was no sugar in that shit.

Before I can get up, I feel a wet appendage lick across my closed eyes.

"Travis". I almost choke as the popcorn that was settled on my lips escape into my mouth.

"Shh. You've got something on your face". He licks from my cheek to the edge of my nose. Then slowly, he regresses towards my eager lips.

"You look quite swiney, hulk". His lips graze mine as he speaks but he prevents it from being more than the whisper of a touch.

I arch my head forward but he moves away slightly.

"You hurt my feelings Jake". The smirk on his lips zero out the fake hurt in his voice.

"How can I make it up to you?" I try to arch further up but my muscles whine in pain and I groan.

Practice has been crazy since we qualified for the league's finals, well, my teammates did, coach wouldn't play me after all the practice I missed. The team seemed happy to have me back at practice, expressing concern over my sudden disappearance and all the shit with the media.

Ingrid had done the interview as she said she would and they all congratulated me on the baby. When they noticed the ring on my finger, I had to buy drinks. Their support was warming because I could see it was genuine, they really are the best team a man could ask for.

"You should really consider not overworking yourself at practice. What will you do at the main event?" Travis gently massages my shoulder.

"Why don't you tell coach Ray that? He has never come this close to a championship in his life".

"How old is he? Thirty five?"

"Forty".

"Compared to the other oldies, his career is doing well".

"That man won't be satisfied until he is coaching some Italian club owned by a mafia or something". Travis barks out a laugh, then attempts to clean up my face with his hand.

"You are going to be at the game right?"
He scoffs.

"Like I'd miss such a defining part of your career".

It is going to be a defining part of my life, our lives but I shut up and let him kiss me.

The doorbell whines angrily and I get off the couch, sparing a glance at the long forgotten movie before going to get the door.

"Mother". It comes out as a sigh and for a moment, her expression looks hurt.

"I saw the news. You are marrying him".

"We haven't fixed a date yet but it's going to happen, soon and you don't have to come if you don't want to".
Now she definitely looks hurt.

"Can I come inside?" I've never seen her like this, docile so I make way for her to step in.

Travis nods when he sees her and rises from the couch, taking the empty bowl with him.

"I'll be_ somewhere". He stated before heading for the kitchen".

My mother takes a seat next to the couch and I take the one across from her. Her grip on her purse is tight and her eyes are glued to the movie that I have muted. I am tempted to yell at her to spit it out but her eyes find their way to mine and she sighs.

"My parents always wanted a son, an heir. They were very traditional, to them a girl couldn't carry the family's name, she'd get married and have kids and that's be the end of their lineage and I wanted so badly quench their disappointment, maybe if I proved myself, they'd love me like a son. Then they died in an air crash before I could even graduate highschool, they didn't get to see me be valedictorian.

Nobody wanted to take me in so I found a way to fend for myself and uphold the family name. Saw myself through college and law school and started my own firm without any employees. I knew they'd be proud and I knew they'd want someone to carry the name after me so I made you. Truth is I needed someone to love me as I loved my parents and I didn't think I had to love you back, my parents never did.

I don't know how to be a parent, I don't know how to be there for you and treat your happiness as priority but apparently, that boy does. Hopefully you'll be a better parent than I am, I didn't bother to set the bar so it should be easy". She chuckles halfheartedly and I want to pinch myself so I do but she is still sitting there with a solemn expression.

It wasn't the most winning by any standards but it was an apology nonetheless and from Sarah Levinson of all people.

"I'm sorry your life was that hard, I didn't know". When it comes to her, I do not know much aside her love for winning arguments and colorful heels but I think she knows even less about me.

"It's fine. I would like to be at your wedding though". She smiles and even as its not the brightest, it isn't cold and plastic.

"Of course".

******************************

    For game day, the atmosphere in the locker room is pretty rowdy and fun and while I can boast of being the cause, getting my own nerves under control seems to be a huge feat.

"What exactly are you scared of? It's not like he's going to say no". Mark questions as he laces up his shoes.

"Is it necessary? It's not, is it?" He stands straight and grip my shoulders.

"You want to do it. So do it. Period".

"Getting cold feet Levinson?" One of the guys yell and I flip the bird in his general direction, earning a laugh and hard clap on the back from the captain.

Hudson strolls into the room clad in a tank top and his jersey bottom, his duffel bag swung lazily on his shoulder. It isn't obvious but he has a slight limp and I wonder how he managed to get the clear to play this match, even though it's for only half the time. The guys said he sustained an injury during one of the many practices that I missed when I was busy being a baby.

In a way I feel guilty, if I hadn't given the team a scare over having to play the finals without me, he probably wouldn't have felt the need to push himself so hard. The other boys greet him with cheers and clapping and a few hugs but when his eyes land on me, he looks away promptly. I wait until most of the guys have moved into the hallway and he is almost ready before approaching him. He looks up at me and sigh.

"Look, Jake I'm sorry for the things I said, I was out of line and you do not owe me any explanation on how you live your life no matter what". He apologizes so quick it throws me off for a few seconds.

"Well, thank you. I think it's pretty obvious that I do not have shit together at all but I made it this far by being myself, by being honest and you are here already". He avoid my eyes as he catches on to what I'm talking about.

Coming out to a fellow gay man might have seemed safe at the time but I know what it feels like to have your secret in someone else's hands, especially one that could cause a huge change in your life and I don't want him to be afraid.

"True happiness comes from being true to yourself  Hud. You just need a support system and if your family can't be that for you right now, or ever, I'd be glad to provide you with one".

He looks at me with glassy eyes then laughs thickly.

"I feel like I'm being adopted. I knew there was a reason I liked you". It feels good seeing him laugh again.

"So, what do you say?"
He peeps out at me like it embarrasses him to accept help

"Okay".

"Great. Now, how is that leg of yours?"

"Believe it or not, it doesn't hurt at all, I don't know why Ray isn't playing me full time". He grumble as we begin walking but I stop at my locker.

"Sucks. Word on the street is you used to be in a dance crew, that true?"

He gives me a skeptic look. "Yeah, why?"

I grin.
"I need a favor".

         Pokello Harden is the first person I notice as I walk into the field, mostly because she is the only eight months pregnant female in the entire stadium, the only stubborn screaming eight months pregnant female. I asked her not to come but her stubborn ass doesn't listen to anyone, especially not me. It eases my worry when I see she is flanked on both side by Travis and Zayn.

Zayn is at one of my games after so many years, I'm talking college freshman years because this game is significant and when I look at Travis in his casual killer ensemble as usual, it's all the motivation I need.

The game is tough, the amount of sweat secreted here would be enough to water an average beans field. The opposing team aren't letting up, their defense is strong, kicking against every attempt at a goal with fierce determination. It's frustrating, I can see it on Ray's face so at halftime, he changes the game plan. We pull back, make them come to us, increase our own defense and with Hudson on forward, still play to score. It works and within the last ten minutes, we score two goals.

My teammates go wild at the final whistle as do our supporters who seem to have occupied more than half of the stadium. We shake hands with the other team but instead of going for our trophy, we line up and they all pull their jersey shirt. I watch Travis with nervous excitement as he reads the letter on the white shirts they now have displayed which spell out his name.

One of the substitutes quickly hand me the placard that as the ultimate question; Will you marry me?
Hudson wows everyone with his near perfect flips then pull his shirt off to reveal the word; please.

Pretty much everyone's attention have been captured as Mark's oldest boy run onto the field with the little transparent box containing the ring that Pokello helped me pick because she is a crackhead that I shouldn't have told about my intentions in the first place. She practically hurls Travis over the barrier but he doesn't seem mad at all.

His eyes are set on me as he slowly approaches with an amused smirk on. I throw the placard away once he is close enough and retrieve the ring from the kid, sending him off with thanks.

"Hi". I greet and he laughs airily.

"What is all these? We are already engaged Hulk". His eyes scanned my teammates behind me but focus back on me almost immediately.

"I wasn't just going to be your wife so I got you a ring too". He laugh again as he looks at it and it's the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

"So what do you say Travis Harden? Yes to a Christmas wedding?"

He takes the ring out of the box and puts in on, then he pulls me into himself and the feeling is indescribable. Being with him in front of virtually the whole world. Being his and him being mine, no tears of joy whatsoever. Just joy.

"It was my idea". He say, rubbing his nose against mine and I believe I grin the widest I ever have in my life.

"This doesn't change anything though. I asked first, you take my name".

________________________________
The actual final end, though I think they are going to be arguing over that name for a while so pick your team.
Team Levinson
Team Harden
Team let's-just-give-it-a-rest

I could do a Q/A if y'all want so lemme know
Love
xoxo