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“Hey, Arthur, please” Shane mumbled, more to himself than to the kid, when the little boy held on to him tightly once again. He regretted putting himself in this situation more than anything now. He wasn’t sure what to do and it’s not like he could just leave a five year old alone, right? He needed to comfort him emotionally… Shane wasn’t sure if he’s the best at it, but the kid relayed on him, so he braced himself. “Art, hey, buddy, come on” he said delicately and lowered himself, so he could sit on the steps with the boy on his lap. He wasn’t sure, but sometimes, he could see himself in this kid, that’s probably why Arthur liked him so much. Jackie thought so too. “What are you feeling right now?” he asked quietly, looking at him gently, even if he wasn’t looking at him. He could see small tears forming in his eyes.
“I’m scared” he said quietly, a few seconds later and just clutched his small rabbit toy he brought everywhere with him.
“Okay, understandable,” Shane said, nodding slowly. “Are you scared of being away from your momma?” he questioned again, looking for any sight of discomfort on the kid's face. He nodded, after giving it a thought.
“Yea” his voice was small. “There’s so many people,” he added after a beat and Shane smiled.
“You don’t like when there’s a lot of people, hmm?” Shane reached for his light brown hair. He was unbelievably similar to Hayden, like a small copy of him. “I don’t like it, either. It stresses me out. And the noise? So annoying” he said, smiling a little when Arthur looked up to him. That got his attention.
“Really?” he said, turning a little to him. He took a steadying breath.
“Yeah, sometimes being around people is a bit too much for me too. But it doesn’t mean you have to avoid being with them, you know? Your dad is my best friend and when he knows that the situation is getting too much for me, he always goes with me to the kitchen or outside or leaves me alone and gives me a moment to breathe” he said slowly, smiling at the boy. “It is okay, you don’t have to talk to everybody. But it is good to have someone in your corner, okay? Find yourself a best friend so they know when you need a second to yourself” he added once more and his words must’ve helped Arthur, because he already looked more relaxed.
“Oh, okay,” he said quietly. “I like Emma a lot, maybe she will be my best friend.” The way he said it, shyly, but so easily, made Shane smile.
“See? Yes. Let’s see if she’s already there.” He stood up and laughed a little, when Arthur stayed plastered to him. He picked him up and entered the building for the first time.
Hayden was his best friend for years now and he really wanted to support him, but the wave of stress that washed over him when they entered kindergarten was surprising. So many little kids, such a noise! He couldn't imagine working here and he really understood why Arthur felt overstimulated. He wished that he wouldn't have to come back. Ever. But he promised Hayden to help, because getting a new job, having four kids and trying to build a house all at once would be too much for everyone. And normally, playing with Hayden’s kids made him feel better, about himself, a little bit. Not now though, he needed to be an adult now.
“Mr. Ilya!” Arthur startled Shane so much he almost dropped the kid. But he was out of his arms in a second anyway, now being handled by an incredibly hot man in front of them. Shane did not see him approach them, at all. He must’ve been really deep in his own head. “Shane, look! He has Bluey shirt!” Arthur laughed, while being a small plane in the guy’s arms.
“That’s so cool!” Shane did his best, trying to match the enthusiasm of the kid, but my god, he could barely focus while looking at the man. He could easily call him the most beautiful man that his eyes ever land on.
“Who’s your friend, Arthur? Never saw him here before” the man spoke up and my god, Shane probably just died on the spot. His voice was low, but so bright and so, so warm. And also the accent! He wasn’t Canadian, that's for sure, but Shane couldn’t tell definitely from where he came from.
“He’s my best friend,” Arthur said, holding on to the man's neck and breathing faster, with a big smile on his face. It was so nice to see him relaxed and so happy. Shane instantly felt better himself. “Okay, my parent’s best friend. But I’m his favourite” he said, proudly and the man laughed.
“I can’t imagine it being any different, buddy," he said and put him down. “Will you join the rest? I need to meet your best friend properly” he added, looking briefly at Shane who could feel the blush creeping up his neck. My god. They were supposed to be alone? My god!
“Yes, okay!” he said, way happier to be a part of the group than five minutes earlier. “Bye, Shane! Will you pick me up too?” he asked, hugging his legs a little and looking up, hopeful.
“Yes, I will be here at three sharp,” he promised, ruffling his hair a little. Arthur flashed him a bright smile and ran away to the classroom. Shane shook his head. That was a very fast change in the attitude, but he was glad that the situation was under control. Only then he looked up and noticed that the hottest man he had ever seen was already looking at him, maybe also a little bit shy.
“Hi. I’m Ilya, I take care of Art’s group with Miss Adams” he said politely, giving him his hand to shake. Shane didn’t hesitate to grip it and shake. Maybe he even held it for a second longer than necessary. Ilya’s hand was warm and soft. Shane didn’t want to let go of it.
“Shane” he said, even if it wasn’t probably necessary. “Arthur likes you very much. All of his stress melted when he saw you” he said, smiling a little.
“Oh, I’m glad,” he said, already looking less sheepish. “He sometimes needs… space and I’m making sure he’s getting it” he nodded slightly and smiled at the man in front of him. “Are you helping out Jackie today?” his head tilted slightly while watching Shane intently.
“Yeah, in general, I’m trying to help them out a little these days. She and Hayden have a lot on their plate right now and Arthur is very enthusiastic to spend time with me so I figured I could take him here a couple of days a week. I work from home, so it’s easy” he said, not being sure if Ilya knows them well enough.
“Oh yeah, they are building a bigger house, right?” he smiled and nodded. “Yes, a lot of things, four kids at home is already so much” he admitted and Shane wondered why he knew so much about his friend. His face must’ve been surprised, because Ilya rushed to explain. “Oh, sorry. Jade and Ruby were also in my groups, I have known them for a while now and sometimes we gossip” he said, once again a little bit shy. Shane wasn’t used to hot men being so cute around him. My god. Why didn’t Jackie tell him she knows such a handsome guy? She felt betrayed. Maybe he was taken? Yes, he was, for sure. In what world a guy like that wouldn’t be taken?
“Oh, okay, yes, of course, that makes sense” he said and a weird kind of silence stretched between them. Ilya looked like he wanted to say something and Shane, to be fair, was just watching his pretty, pretty face. He couldn’t stop! Nobody could stop him.
“I have to run back to the kids now, we will be getting ready to get breakfast soon,” Ilya started, looking up to Shane’s eyes again and smiled. “I will see you later, though, right?”
Shane smiled, nodding.
“Yes. I will be here three sharp” he said once again, smiling at this precious guy and waving when Ilya looked at him again, from next to the door. Maybe he wasn’t taken. Maybe not. But he was just absolutely stunning.
Shane exhaled when he left the building and shook his head. My god. My god! This man was so precious, he wanted to cradle his face and kiss it all over. Do it forever and ever. He felt blush on his cheeks when he entered the car. He hit them slightly, in the attempt to calm down and cleared his throat.
Hayd: how’s art? all good?
Shane: yeah, all good. he was stressed a little bit before we went in, but then his teacher showed up and he was very excited
Jackie: Ilya, right? They got really close recently
Hayden: yeah, he loves him
Hayden: almost as much as his favourite uncle ;)
Shane: hahah no way, i’m still winning. he called me his best friend in front of him
Jackie: That is sooo sweet. Thank you, Shane <3
The photo of her and Hayden, all dirty because of the renovating and painting walls in their new house, came into the groupchat. Shane smiled and liked the picture, giving them a heart reaction and started the car. He needed to go back home to work a little bit and then come back to pick up Arthur.
He was waiting in the picking up area at three o’clock, just as he promised, smiling a little bit at the little girl, blabbering about her day to her mom. They were both on the floor, changing her shoes and smiling at each other. Shane wanted a kid, one day, but he wasn’t brave enough to say it out loud yet. He was gay, he was almost thirty now, super single and… well, yeah. There were enough reasons for it to not be possible at the moment. But deep down, he still hoped for a kid of his own. One day. Maybe.
“Shane” Ilya approached him, a little but rushed, flushed and the look on his face made Shane a little bit worried.
“Yes? Something wrong?” he asked immediately, coming up closer and looking at the guy with his whole attention. Ilya took a big breath, kinda surprised with his attention, clearly. His hair was not so tamed anymore, messier after the whole day with kids. He looked sweet, ready for a forehead kiss Shane was aching to give him.
“Oh, no, no, not wrong,” he said softly. “Sorry, did not want to scare you” he said, sheepish again. “I just wanted to tell you that Arthur did very well today. He got overwhelmed a little during our games today and told me he needs ‘a moment to breathe’” he said, smiling a little. “We went out of the classroom for a couple of minutes and he told me that you do that too, sometimes, when the situation gets too much. Thank you for talking to him. He really used the advice well, he needed that, because we were struggling a bit last couple of times.. He really looks up to you.”
Shane smiled at the words, a little touched after all and averted his eyes, for once.
“I am very glad. He was a little bit stressed to come here today” he admitted and smiled at the guy. “Was he okay afterwards?”
“Yes, yes, all good afterwards. We stayed in the hallway for a second, he asked me a couple of very personal questions and we came back” he said, smiling and shaking his head for a bit. He looked amused and Shane couldn’t look away. This man was sooo beautiful it physically hurt him. His smile just felt like sunshine.
“Of course, typical Arthur” he rolled his eyes and then looked at the door. “Is he ready?”
“Oh, yes! Yes, sorry. He needed a minute to finish his drawing” Ilya looked so shy again and Shane just wanted to touch his face, those pink cheeks.
“No worries, we are not in the rush,” he said, smiling softly. He really wanted to ask personal questions too, in the empty hallway. He couldn’t blame Art for being so curious. Ilya once again looked at him shyly. “How was your work day?” he asked, tilting his head and looking at Ilya, while a surprised look flooded his face.
“It was really good. We had a chance to spend some time outside. Those activities are my favourite, some sports, running.. It is nice to have fun with kids, especially when both sides are having fun” Ilya said, shrugging a bit with a small laugh and Shane smiled.
“And they are probably getting tired then, huh? That’s my ultimate move with Art and his sisters” he admitted with a small laugh and Ilya nodded.
“Oh yes, they want to learn way easier after we are back. But the afternoons are quieter, more kids feel like having a nap then” Ilya nodded. “How was your day? What are you doing?” he asked, very much interested.
“I am an architect. I have to go to the office sometimes, but it’s mostly me and my house in the woods. And it was very nice, I am finishing one project now, so it’s more chill these days” he answered, smiling a little. Ilya raised his eyebrows, probably a bit shocked with the information.
“Do you have kids? Wife?” he asked, a little bit out of nowhere and Shane almost smiled. Ilya also wanted to ask personal questions then, huh? The question was kinda unnecessary, because if he was having his own kids, would he have time to take care of his friend's kid? If he had a wife, would he be looking at him like he could marry this guy at this exact moment? He didn’t call him out though. He shook his head.
“No, no kids or wife. You?”
“Not my own, no. I have the whole group here though, so…” he said, shrugging and Shane nodded. “Also no wife, by the way. Not really… interested in having one either.” he added, blushing like crazy and Shane almost couldn’t stop himself from smiling a huge smile. Yeah, thank god, he wasn’t looking for a wife. Because Shane was about to make him his husband. He wanted to say something, maybe also add, that he’s not interested in finding a woman for himself, but at this moment Arthur left the classroom running straight to Shane.
“Shane! Hey!” he greeted him like always, so happy to see him. Like they haven’t seen each other in weeks, not seven hours. Shane crouched down and hugged him, smiling widely.
“Hey buddy, how was it today?” he asked, giving him his full attention and forgetting completely about Ilya. But just for a second.
“So cool! I made you something” he said excitedly and gave him the drawing. It was them, in Shane’s pool, jumping into the water with big smiles. “It is me and you, you promised we will do it in summer again," he said and looked at Ilya, who was watching them with a small smile. “Do you want to swim with us? Shane has the biggest pool ever, it is so, so cool! He even made the slide for us there, I am almost not scared to go down. Next summer I will do it all by myself” he said, looking at Shane again, very motivated. Shane laughed a little.
“Yes, of course you will. You are old enough now” he nodded and took the drawing. “I will put it on my fridge, okay?”
“Yes, okay. Can Ilya come too?” he asked, raising his brows and eyes turned pleading.
“To the pool?” Shane asked, somewhat surprised at the question, but when Arthur just confirmed, Shane smiled again and nodded. “Of course he can” he said, looking up to the man next to them again and he was met with a very blushed face. Oh, from below, he also looked beautiful. And Ilya must’ve liked this perspective too, judging from his pink cheeks. “Will you?” Shane asked, innocently, a little more confident when he saw how fluttered the guy was.
“Oh, um, yeah, yeah, w-why not?” he said, stuttering a little bit.
“You got shy!” Arthur laughed loudly and pointed at Ilya. The man got even more embarrassed, but smiled nonetheless. “Don’t worry, we can teach you how to swim. Shane taught us all, he is very good at sports” he said, very confidently and Shane just laughed. He was getting a great advertisement here.
“Okay, Art, we should be going. Can you get your jacket?” he asked and the boy just nodded, running to his locker to pick up his things. Shane looked at Ilya, a little bit of a flirty smile on his face when he was standing again. “You can feel invited to our pool party, I think it could be really fun” he said, couldn’t stop looking at Ilya’s face and the guy just looked away.
“Um, thanks, maybe, in the summer” he nodded and smiled shyly. Arthur came back and he waved at them, when Arthur grabbed Shane’s hand. “Bye! See you tomorrow!”
“Bye, Ilya!” Arthur almost yelled and Shane smiled again.
“Yes, bye Ilya! See you tomorrow!”
Shane asked Arthur a couple of questions about his day on their way back home and listened to the happy blabber. It was so nice to hear that the kid had so much fun while learning and socialising. Shane really loved the kid, he was so sweet and Shane was really grateful that his friends trust him so much with their kids.
Their routine followed for the rest of the week. Shane picked him up in the morning, they talked about their evening and listened to a short story from Shane’s phone (Arthur absolutely loved this part of the morning) and then they reached the kindergarten. They talked to Ilya a bit, Shane longer than Art and they met up again, at three sharp. Shane couldn’t stop talking to the man for the whole week, on Thursday Art got bored and started pulling on his hand, very motivated to leave the building. Shane didn’t want to, not at all.
On Friday Shane dropped him off and after breakfast went to his parents, two hours away from Ottawa, that’s why he wasn’t able to see Ilya one more time. He almost felt sad about it and when his mom asked about someone nice, who Shane could potentially date, he really had to change the topic quickly. He was sure she could tell that he’s seconds away from blushing. He would love to date Ilya. My god. But he wasn’t brave enough to invite him anywhere yet. He wasn’t sure.
Hayden approached him next week, when he came back from his parents’ place and came to pick up Arthur again on Tuesday.
“So, all good with kindergarten? You sure it is not a problem?” he asked, while handing Shane a box full of the homemade food Jackie prepared for him. They were so nice, they knew him so well. When Shane was visiting his parents, he couldn’t go on his usual shopping on Saturdays and do meal prepping on Sundays, he had to do it all on Tuesdays, so deciding on lunch was annoying. Jackie was his saviour today.
“Oh, thanks, my god, that makes it so much easier” he said, smiling wide and looking up at Hayden. “No, of course, that is not a problem at all. I like going with him” he admitted. He didn’t say a word about Ilya to his friends, but my god, he will have to, soon. A couple of days of talking to this angel twice a day and he was gone. He couldn’t stop thinking about his sweet smile and wide shoulders with colorful t-shirts draped along them. .
“Oh yea? Does it have anything to do with Ilya?” Hayden raised his brow and smirked, while Shane looked a little bit startled. Was he reading his mind? Hayden laughed. “Jackie talked to him yesterday. He asked about you. Very not subtle questions” he explained with a stupid grin on his face. “He is invited to our dinner on Friday,” he added, looking at Shane very attentively. “I hope you will still show up.” He didn’t phrase it as a question, but Shane knew him well enough to know it was and the answer was needed.
Shane gave it a thought, for a long second and then nodded.
“Yes, of course. I wouldn’t miss it” he said, smiling. “He is so beautiful, Hayd” he said, quieter. His friend knew very well that sometimes, even if he could be cocky and confident and really funny, he had problems with forming relationships. Especially when he really wanted them to work. It was easier to give up and let them go than risk losing them. Shane always worked like that and well, he really wanted to stop.
“He is perfect for you, Shane” he said, so softly. Shane raised his brows, he wasn’t expecting such an emotional and honest reaction out of his best friend. Not at eight in the morning. He wasn’t sure what he should do with it. “I’m not telling you that to scare you away. I’m telling you to not be scared, trust me, man. I have known you for fifteen years and I haven’t met anyone who would be so perfect for you. Just trust me and let it flow. It will all figure itself out, okay?” Hayden put a heavy hand on his shoulder. “Flirt with him a little, do it. I can tell you for sure, he will love it.”
So Shane did just that, smiling widely when he saw Ilya’s surprised face when he entered kindergarten again.
“You came back, hi!” he said, ignoring Arthur a little bit and smiling widely, like he couldn’t contain it. The boy was still a little bit sleepy, so he didn’t care too much, still holding on to Shane’s hand and just looking at them absently.
“Yes, hey” Shane answered, looking at the man in front of him with a pleased smile. “You look very pretty today” he said, confident and very truthful, because my god, he really did. He was wearing light coloured jeans and a pink t-shirt with a Care Bears picture on it. His curls looked so soft and cute, framing his face differently. “You have a new haircut, don’t you?” Ilya was blushing earlier, but now, he was properly red. He nodded.
“Yeah, a small change,” he admitted.
“Very good one, you look cute” he said again, wanting a compliment to land properly and it did, my god. Ilya was beaming, while also being absolutely embarrassed.
“Thank you” he said, finally accepting the nice comment and looking at Shane with soft eyes. Shane gave him another sweet smile. He wanted to kiss him so much. There was a quiet moment and Ilya finally looked away at Arthur. “Hey, buddy, you still tired?” he asked, crouching and smiling at the boy. Arthur just nodded. “We can rest a little bit before we go to breakfast, hm?” he asked, earning a sleepy, sweet smile from the boy. “Okay, put your jacket in the locker, I’m right behind you.” He stood up, facing Shane once more and when the boy was out of their sight, he looked him straight in the eye. “Will you be here in the afternoon too?”
“Yes, today and tomorrow. I have some work in the city for the rest of the week. I have to visit some clients,” he said, a little sad about it, but hey, they were supposed to see each other on Friday anyway. Ilay’s face was a little worried, so Shane rushed to explain. “But I’ve heard we will be eating dinner together on Friday,” he added, smiling and relieved, when Ilya once more just blushed.
“Oh yes? Are you also coming?” he asked, hopeful, even though he was trying very hard to hide it.
“I wouldn’t miss it” Shane repeated himself again today and smiled, once again just admiring a beautiful face in front of him. “I really have to go now, but I will see you later, yes?”
Ilya nodded, biting his lip.
They indeed talked later, when Shane came to the pickup area a bit earlier, knowing damn well Ilya would join within seconds, even before Arthur could leave his group. They chatted about the weekend and the diet choices. Ilya asked about his favourite dessert, because he decided to prepare something. Shane asked if he needed a ride. Ilya asked about Hayden and Shane joked about him being a giant goofball. They continued the same the following day, parting again until 6pm on Friday. It felt like forever to Shane, his skin was buzzing for the whole afternoon, since he came back from work and he couldn’t wait to have more time with Ilya.
That’s why, obviously Shane was the one to open the door of Hayden’s house and was immediately met with a sweet smile and a blush, creeping up the neck. Ilya looked nervous, but so, so beautiful.
“Hi,” he said sweetly.
“Hey” Shane once again looked him up and smiled. “You look beautiful” he said, once again, looking straight at him. He was wearing a polo shirt and straight linen pants. He looked so soft. Was complementing his flirting strategy? No, not really, but my god, he just couldn’t keep it to himself.
“Oh, thanks,” he said, looking down again. Shane moved out of the way.
“Come in, everyone is very excited to see you.”
It was a mess, when Ilya entered the living room, three kids went straight at him, super excited to see him again and have him just for themselves. Even small Amber seemed to like him, even if it was her first time meeting him. Shane’s eyes could barely leave the guy. Always coming back to him, when he could hear his beautiful laugh. Jackie was laughing at him a little bit, teasing him and shooting knowing looks, but she could see that Ilya’s eyes were looking for Shane too. She was so excited she almost squealed to Hayden in the kitchen when both of them agreed to run with children in the garden and ended up laying on the terrace, being absolutely defeated. All giggles and messy. It was a beautiful sight.
It took them three Fridays in Hayden’s house and a month meeting in the kindergarten before they exchanged numbers. And another two weeks to schedule a meeting, just the two of them. Shane called it a date, once, but Ilya did not confirm, so he didn’t have too high hopes. Even if he was pretty sure Ilya also looked at him this way. He didn’t want to assume. Even if they almost kissed, that one time in the kitchen when Jackie and Hayden put the kids to their beds and they decided to clean up. The quiet music in the background, Shane’s hand on Ilya’s waist when he was trying to pass by and get to the right shelf. Nose to nose, for a couple of slow and hot seconds. And they hold hands under the blanket while watching some Matthew McConaughey movie, thumbs moving slowly against each other, no looks exchanged. And then Ilya’s head on Shane’s shoulder, nuzzling in softly. And Jackie told him to make a move a hundred times, because she didn’t want Ilya to get too stressed. He called it a date in his head though.
Shane picked him up in his nice car and they went to the restaurant. A quiet, small Italian place, where Ilya ordered shrimp pasta and beamed, doing a sweet little shoulder dance when it turned out to be amazing. He also looked absolutely amazing, in his beige shirt and black slacks. Shane almost didn’t stop himself when he saw him for the first time. He was head over heels for this guy and it scared the shit out of him.
“I used to date a guy,” he said, quietly and shyly. “He was fifteen years older than me,” he confessed. “I was twenty and… let just say it wasn’t the best idea” Ilya closed his eyes. The silence between them was really heavy. “It was just a couple of months, but it cost me a lot of my mental health, my trust and my… hope, you know?” he murmured. “I felt pointless for longer than the relationship actually lasted. My friend forced me to end it, I was mourning for months. And then I started helping in the kindergarten, first just volunteering, but later… I did some courses and I can do it legally. I specialise in kids with special needs, like autism and stuff” he smiled, looking briefly at Shane. “This job kept me sane. Or even made me sane. And made me love life again, that is the most beautiful thing that happened. I love my job, I love working with kids.”
“You are very good at it,” Shane admitted, smiling at him slightly. “You make them feel seen and listened to, like they matter. I think it is very important, especially when they feel a little out of place, you know?
“You felt like that when you were a kid?”
“Yes, a little bit. Not because of my parents. They are really amazing and we always had a good relationship. But…,” he sighed. “I don’t think it will be news to you, but I am diagnosed with autism so… social situations can be challenging sometimes. I needed to learn how to live with it, I needed to understand myself again. But it was in my twenties, earlier, when I was a kid especially, I was really struggling” he said, frowning a little bit. “I think Arthur can also… be like that, you know? That’s why we operate so well together” he smiled, thinking about the two of them, playing together outside during last Friday's dinner. In the quiet and kinda chilly evening.
“Yes, I think so too. And I also think having someone like you, who understands him and takes care of him in that way is really valuable for him. He talks about you a lot, you are his hero” Ilya smiled, bumping him with his shoulder. “And you are really good with kids too, you know? You are someone to look up to for them all, they really respect you” he said, voice further away. Shane looked at him.
“I would like to have my own kids,” he said, very quietly, out loud for the very first time in his life. He felt something in his chest, something null and aching. Ilya looked at him, surprised a little bit. He turned to him, looking attentively.
“What stops you?” he said, shyly again and Shane just looked at him, chuckling quietly. He looked down and intertwined their fingers together. A shiver almost went down his spine. Even in the evening greyness he could see that the man in front of him was getting flustered.
“Nothing really stops me. I was just waiting for someone special to come into my life” he said, very quietly. “I would like to give all my love to that someone first, then I can build a family with them. With a good foundation. ” Ilya was looking at him, probably the darkness around making him braver.
“You were waiting?” he said, in the same tone. He didn’t miss the past tense.
“I think I waited long enough. I have found a perfect someone” Shane whispered. “I just need to know if he also feels this way,” he added, even though it was pretty obvious. Their noses almost touched at this point, the eye contact was so intense. But Shane wanted to hear it, he needed to hear it.
“Oh yes, he does” when he heard the whisper he didn’t hesitate anymore. He moved even closer and closed the space between them, kissing him sweetly. Ilya’s hand immediately went to his face, so Shane pulled him closer by the waist and didn't stop kissing him for what felt like minutes. Finally, they had to part. Shane smiled, biting his lip.
“You are perfect,” he said slowly and a small smile appeared again, when Ilya absolutely got shy again.
“Stop it,” he whispered.
“Never.”
And Shane never did. Never stopped. They were going slow, which was a surprise to both of them and all of their friends too. But the time was just flying, whenever they were together. They could just talk for hours. And yes, Shane was fantasizing about the guy every evening, of course, but he was more than okay with going at the pace Ilya would be okay with too. He could tell that there was more to his last relationship than he was telling him, but he didn’t want to pressure him into talking. He didn’t need that. Ilya seemed a little unsure at the beginning, asking him shyly if they could just keep it slow, one evening in Shane’s house when they were watching a movie for the first time there. He looked almost scared, so Shane smiled at him warmly and kissed his forehead, leaving his mouth there for a while.
“We have all the time you need, my love. I am not going anywhere.”
Where would Shane go? He was already in the place about which he was dreaming his whole life with the most perfect person. It put Ilya at ease and it still took some time until he was feeling more comfortable with touching and kissing and eventually doing more, but Shane didn’t mind. He was watching him closely, feeling the happiest when seeing that the guy is opening up to him.
“You didn’t have to” Ilya whispered, his eyes wide, when he noticed Shane at his front door with a bouquet of beautiful flowers. Shane’s eyebrow quirked a little.
“Why would you think I’m doing it, because I have to?” he whispered, coming into the house and smiling warmly at Ilya. “I’m doing it, because it is three months since you are my boyfriend and I want to celebrate having the most beautiful person next to me and in my life” he added, so, so earnestly that the blue eyes just teared up instantly. “And you like flowers, you deserve to get them as much as possible” he said after a beat and smiled, reaching up to Ilya’s face to brush away the tears that slowly made their way down his cheeks.
“I love you” he croaked out, suddenly forgetting about the fear of saying that out loud, which was chewing on him for the past weeks. Forgetting the fear of being rejected or not being loved back. Forgetting all of the wrong situations with his ex. All of it was unnecessary and not relevant anymore. Because Shane loved him so loudly and so openly and so honestly, there was no room for hesitancy nor doubts.
“I love you too, my love” the answer came instantly, without missing a beat and Ilya all but melted, coming straight into the arms of this wonderful man. And nothing really mattered anymore. There were no regrets, no fear. Just being grateful.
And so, so happy.
- - - —--------
Arthur tripped a little, while going down the little aisle, so he shot a panicked look toward his mom. She just smiled at him gently, nodding, so he knew it’s okay to continue.
He was eight now and he felt very nervous before this big day. He was supposed to carry the rings. In front of everyone. Because his two best friends asked him to do it. They were waiting for him at the end, looking with big smiles, holding heads. And he also smiled, because he was so happy he could do it, even if he was so scared.
He reached them, waited until the rings were gone and then hugged them both, very tightly, emotional and almost teary as both of them. He was young, but he knew that marriage was a big deal. And one day, he also wanted to marry someone he would love so much.
Shane and Ilya were the best uncles anyone could ask for. They were patient and fun, always ready to chase them around or bring loads of ice cream. Shane would always help with homeworks and Ilya always listened when there was some drama in school. Jade and Ruby loved blabbering with him about school and friends. And those weekends in their new cottage, by the lake, where the pool parties were even better. Movie evenings, dinners and trips. Their parents were also happier, when they could visit their favourite resort for a weekend without them.
Shane smiled more, almost always, his hands always somewhat close to Ilya, supporting him, calming and grounding. Ilya felt bigger, more comfortable, louder and bolder. But he was also the quiet space, to which Shane could always go back. Would always go back and it never disappointed to calm him and give him comfort.
Everything seemed better, when they were together. Like the small pieces of the universe, forced to part ways billions of years ago, finally found their way back to each other. Finally bound to find each other.
And thank god they did.