Chapter Text
The building came into view much more quickly than Wille had expected, even if Google Maps did tell him that the walk wasn’t long. Realizing that Simon lived so close to Wille had been something. You meant to tell him that they had been living in so short proximity for a while now and only this month had they met? They could have bumped into each other at the grocery store or on a walk around the park anytime since Wille had moved here, yet it had to have happened on a photo shoot Wille hadn’t wanted to be at. At least it had happened.
Since Simon had given Wille his number, they had been texting non-stop. It had only been a couple of days ago but Wille couldn’t help but feel like they had always known each other. Simon was witty and funny, and he gave Wille shit whenever he could. He was sweet and woke up way too early for Wille’s liking —and Wille had needed to take a moment when he had realized that he was falling for a morning person, but it was fine because it was Simon— and he sent pictures about the most random things he could find. Simon used emojis, which was something that just made so much sense, and when he had sent Wille a little heart last night… no one could blame Wille for needing to scream into his pillow for a second or two. Or five.
Wille had debated for quite a while about asking Simon out. The thing is that he knew he wanted to ask him out, and he had been pretty sure that Simon would say yes, but the question was how to do it, and when was the most appropriate. Should he wait until the New Year? Should they go for coffee and a walk one morning? Should they go see a movie one night after going out to eat together? Or would they be better off going to a museum? Maybe Wille should turn to ask Simon to come to his home and they could have supper there, in private? But then, would it end up looking like a simple booty call? While Wille was not against that turn of events —he knew he needed to have Simon under him sometime soon, if Simon wanted the same, of course— but he didn’t want just that, and he surely didn’t want Simon to think Wille was only interested in him in that way.
Wille also wanted Simon in those little moments when nothing happened and they only existed in the same room. He wanted Simon to text him whenever he had a random thought he needed to tell someone, and he wanted him in the morning, standing together in the kitchen as they waited for coffee and tea to be ready. He wanted Simon in the evening, cuddling under a blanket as a TV show played in the background and they would both ignore it in favour of talking about anything and everything together. Wille wanted Simon when he was grocery shopping so he could learn what brands he preferred and all those boring things that became much less boring whenever you were with someone else, someone special.
Maybe he would get that if tonight went well.
Wille hoped tonight would go even more than well.
The perfect moment to ask Simon out had presented itself two days ago, on a golden plate that Wille hadn’t wanted or even been able to refuse. Wille had been spending a quiet evening at his parents’ house and Simon had been blowing up his phone for the best part of the evening. While Wille normally wouldn’t mind —and he was still encouraging Simon by texting him back, which was his own bad really even if he loved talking to the other man— but that evening had not been the best time for Simon to blow his phone up, and for Wille to look at every text with a damn giddy smile on his face. Because that evening, Erik and Julia had also been at their parents’ house. And that evening, Erik had made it his mission to figure out more about this little date of Wille.
The thing was that Wille had been ignoring his big brother’s attempt at acquiring any type of information about that date. Wille wasn’t even sure why he had been so adamant about keeping it all to himself other than just to be a shit and annoy Erik. But Wille, because he was a damn fool in love who found himself smiling whenever the thought of Simon even crossed his mind, let alone whenever the other man texted him, had not been able to keep it away from Erik anymore. Erik, like the annoying ass he could be, had decided to resort to drastic measures and involved the rest of the family.
Ludvig was a man of few words but whenever he looked at Wille with this staring only he could do and rose an eyebrow, Wille knew he was done for and would have to talk. And when his father did talk, the words were carefully chosen after long enough observation for them to be true.
His mother, on the other hand, would ask question after question until she had the answer she was looking for. Kristina was a force that knew where to hit; she was a queen of getting her children to talk.
Julia for her part had decided that Wille was as good as her little brother, and while he loved that —he truly did, that meant they could gang up on Erik together— there were some downsides. Those downsides consisted of not letting him use the bathroom when she needed to get ready, as well as ganging up on him if she wanted to, and there was no winning against a team made of Julia and Kristina. Erik knew that, and he had used it to his advantage like the irritating excuse of a brother he was. Hadn’t Erik heard of the bothers-code? Or did it only applied to Wille?
And so, Wille had found himself stuck on the couch between his mother and Julia, with Erik and his father on the other couch, and had been interrogated. As if he was sixteen again and going out for the first time. While the whole ordeal had been a bit embarrassing, it had led to Wille admitting that he didn’t know how to ask Simon out. It had also led to Julia reading the text Simon had just sent him, and to her telling Wille that he should invite Simon to the New Year’s Eve party Felice was throwing.
Simon had just told Wille that his plan had fallen through this year and that he would thus spend the whole evening alone… And Wille had to admit that Julia’s suggestion had been a good one, even if bringing Simon to a party with his friends as a first date was a plan sure to make him anxious. Still, he had asked Simon to come with him to Felice’s NYE party and Simon had said yes. Hence why Wille was currently walking to Simon’s. Kristina would be horrified if Wille wasn’t bringing his date to the party himself rather than waiting for them there and Wille had to agree with it. He wanted to make this good for Simon and to have many more dates in the future. The least he could do was to start this one the right way.
The apartment building Simon lived in was old and charming, the staircase to Simon’s floor covered in old tiles as Wille made his way up slowly. He wanted to get there as fast as possible, to see Simon again right now, but he was also filled with anxious energy about this evening. Wille didn’t know what to expect, nor was he completely ready to discover it. What if he fucked this up? What if his friends didn’t like Simon (which was impossible, mind you)? What if Simon didn’t like his friends (which was slightly more possible, because Wille knew them and they might go ham on their questioning)? What if Simon didn’t like Wille, and expected something different from him, leaving Wille a heartbroken mess until the end of time?
Before Wille knew it, he was standing in front of Simon’s door. Apartment 506 was staring at him, the numbers a little crooked where they were nailed to the door. This was it, this was the moment when everything could change. Hopefully, it would be for the better.
After way too long —Wille hoped Simon hadn’t been magically informed of when exactly he had arrived because that would be entirely too embarrassing and Wille would need to find a window from which he could gently throw himself down— Wille brought his hand to the door and knocked on it.
He waited for something, anything, to happen, and Wille found himself in the small moment between knocking and the door being opened, the moment when he didn’t know if he needed to knock again or if he needed to wait a few seconds more, and really why was it taking so long? Or was it not taking long at all and Wille just had no concept of time passing because that could—
“Hi,” Simon said when he opened the door.
Simon looked slightly breathless and so, so beautiful. He was glowing as he always was, curls carefully tussled and eyes bright.
“Hi,” Wille said back, a smile creeping up on his face. Simon was here, and he looked happy, and Wille was bringing him to Felice’s party. They looked at each other, the eye contact charged with so many emotions and feelings, Wille wasn’t sure if he could name them all. But Wille had a good feeling about this. Still, the silence that had fallen over them was giving him too much space to panic, which is why Wille blurted out, “I cut my hair.”
He flushed instantly, not sure why this was what he had chosen to say when he could have said anything about how Simon looked. Because Simon looked more than good, and Wille should have let him know that instead of drawing attention to himself, even if he had gotten that haircut in the hope that he would look a little more put together for Simon.
Against all expectations, Simon smiled at Wille, hummed, and opened the door wider. “Come on in,” Simon said as he stepped back into his apartment. “I’m almost ready.”
“Take your time,” Wille said as he stepped inside, closing the door behind him.
Simon’s apartment was small but it felt so much like a home. The living room was full of colours and knickknacks, and there were pictures on most of the walls. Wille didn’t know if he was allowed to look at them or if it was too… intimate or something to look at those little windows into Simon’s life.
Instead, Wille let his eyes fall back on Simon, and it was then that he noticed it.
Draped over Simon’s chest was Wille’s sweater, the one he had given the other man that time and the skating rink. It was slightly too big for Simon, Wille being of a wider and taller build, but it fit him so well; if it was because Wille liked to see Simon wearing his clothes, well that was no one’s business. Wille was sure Simon could make a plastic bag look like it was meant to be worn anyway. The last time Wille had seen Simon in the sweater, he hadn’t had the time to see him in his sweater properly. But now, now he could. And damn did Wille look.
The fact that Simon had decided to wear it tonight wasn’t lost on Wille. Simon had made the conscious choice to wear Wille’s sweater and it made Wille all warm inside, tingles spreading through his chest like a wildfire.
“Nice sweater,” Wille said as he leaned on the entryway wall.
Simon smiled at him as he came back to Wille and put his jacket on. “Thanks, this weird guy forced it on me not long ago.”
“Really?” Wille said, raising an eyebrow at Simon. “And you’re still wearing it?”
Simon hummed, opening the door for Wille who stepped through and waited for Simon to lock his door. “It’s comfortable and it smells nice,” Simon said, looking at Wille intently. His eyes were soft and Wille was so gone. “I don’t care much about the guy, though.”
“Of course,” Wille said, feeling a blush spread on his face.
Simon thought he smelled nice.
The walk to Felice’s wasn’t too long either. Wille shoved his hands in his pockets, knowing that he would otherwise reach for Simon’s hand. Wille wanted to do so but he wasn’t sure if this was the right moment. Was it better for him to wait further into the evening? Or when he would walk Simon home —because Wille would be a gentleman and would walk Simon home, which would have the advantage of leaving them more time to spend together and perhaps they could share a good night kiss. Or maybe they wouldn’t have to say good night and instead, they’d say good morning when they would wake up together. Wille didn’t want to be too presumptuous though, but he did think that there was a chance that his night could end with his arms wrapped securely around Simon.
“Who will be there, again?” Simon asked. He looked a little nervous, playing with the sleeves of his jacket.
Wille bumped his shoulder into Simon’s in an attempt to get him to relax. “Felice is throwing the party —well, it’s a pretty relaxed thing even if there will be a lot of people, maybe hangout is a better word— and anyway, she’s my friend from boarding school.”
“Right, your best friend. The one you went to kindergarten with,” Simon nodded.
Wille hummed, pleased to note that Simon had remembered who Felice was to Wille. “There will be a couple more people from Hillerska and their partners, and some of Felice’s friends from uni and work. And then just some more friends of friends probably.”
“Right,” Simon said, his hands still playing with the sleeves. He looked soft like that, illuminated by the streetlamp shining over them. “Just that.”
“Don’t worry, you won’t be the only one not knowing many people there,” Wille said. “And I’ll stay with you.”
“All night long?” Simon asked, turning his big brown eyes to Wille’s.
“All night long.”
Simon smiled then, his shoulders dropping some of the tension they had been carrying. “See,” he said, bumping his shoulder into Wille’s, “the weird guy with the sweater is now following me around everywhere and won’t leave me alone. All night long. Creepy.”
Wille chuckled, and said, “He’s pretty obsessed with you, you might want to watch out.”
“Poor me,” Simon said as they walked up Felice’s street. Wille turned left to the right home and walked down the driveway, only turning back when he realized Simon wasn’t following. “This is where she lives?” Simon asked incredulously.
“Uh, yeah,” Wille said, looking back at the townhouse. “Her parents weren’t really using it anymore so… she moved in recently.”
“Where do they live, then?” Simon asked as he joined Wille.
“In their main house. It’s out of the city, a little more in the countryside.”
Simon looked at him for a beat, expression blank. “You do realize how ridiculous this sounds, right?”
“Uh–”
“Do you live in your parents’ townhouse?” Simon asked.
Wille shuffled on his feet, not really sure how Simon was feeling. “No, I have my own apartment. My parents live in the townhouse.” When Simon squinted at him, Wille added, “We do have a weekend home further up north.”
“Of course, you do,” Simon scoffed as he started walking again towards the front entrance of the home. “I can’t believe I’m dating a rich man.”
“Dating?” Wille asked, his mind scrambling to follow. He had been hoping that this was where they were heading in this relationship but to have Simon confirm it made Wille feel all giddy.
“Do you have a problem with that?” Simon asked, smiling teasingly at Wille from over his shoulder.
“No,” Wille scrambled to say. He didn’t want Simon to change his mind.
“Good,” Simon said as he knocked on the door. “You know,” he added as Wille stepped beside him. Simon came closer to Wille, and said, breath washing over Wille’s ear, “I always said fuck the rich but I never thought I’d take it so literally.”
Before Wille could even process what Simon had said, the door opened, revealing a smiling Felice.
“Wille!” Felice said, extending her arm to drag him inside, before doing the same with Simon. She had on a long black dress, the fabric dancing around her legs as she moved around. Her hair was piled on top of her head, curls falling down to frame her face. She looked happy, a little drunk already, and ready to embarrass Wille in front of Simon like there would be no tomorrow.
Felice closed the door behind them and turned to Simon, saying, “You must be Simon! Wille told us all about you.”
“I did not–”
“Uh-uh,” Felice said, patting his cheek. Wille swatted her hand away as he took Simon’s coat from him and put both of their outerwear in the mudroom. “So, Simon,” he heard Felice say, “what do you think of Wille yet?”
“Felice, leave him alone,” Wille said as he came back to them and saw Felice with her arm looped through Simon’s, who didn’t look scared. Yet. “Don’t scare him away so soon.”
“If you couldn’t scare me away yet, I don’t think anything can,” Simon said, a teasing smile pulling at his lips.
“I like him,” Felice declared, raising her champagne glass in the air as a salute.
Wille smiled at her, glad of her approval. Sure, he could date whomever he wanted to —he hoped nobody could see the trill that ran down his body at the reminder that Simon had said they were dating— but having the approval of his best friend, one of the people that knew him best and had his best interest at heart, was pulling some weight off of his shoulders. Even if he was seeing the beginning of what would probably be a lot of fun made at his expense. It would be worth it if he planned to keep Simon around. He did. Very much so. He hoped Simon had similar plans.
They made their way through the house. Wille caught Simon’s eyes and they widened when they met, a silent conversation that let Wille know exactly what Simon thought of the townhouse. Wille tried to look at it from Simon’s point of view. Wille knew he had grown up comfortable. He had been sent to an expensive school and he had never missed anything in his life, his parents always made sure he had the best he could need. He just sometimes forgot that comfortable wasn’t this; Wille was more than comfortable, and Simon’s reaction to Felice’s house, which was similar to Wille’s, was confirmation of it.
Simon smiled at him then and Wille relaxed. He knew Simon had been a little anxious about coming here but Wille was glad he didn’t seem as anxious now, even if this was clearly not what he had expected.
They made their way around the room, Felice presenting them to many people even Wille didn’t know about. Wille wasn’t here for those people though, and he could see his friends in a corner, looking at them with as much subtly as a bunch of children smuggling candies —read: none whatsoever.
When they finally arrived at their friends, Felice was still holding onto Simon as if he was her date, which he wasn’t thank you very much, and Wille would like to have him back and not third wheel this new friendship.
The presentations were done quickly and in a flurry of hugs and handshakes, and Wille barely listened, too entranced by the sight of Simon being well-accepted into his friend group so quickly. Simon took his friends’ teasing in stride, replying with what Wille was sure were witty comebacks —he wasn’t really listening but he had no doubt Simon was holding his own. There was a smile on Simon’s face and he was now leaning against Wille, a warm weight cuddled into his side.
“Wille,” Maddie said as she squinted at Simon, head tilted to the side. “Isn’t that your sweater Simon is wearing?”
Wille felt himself flush at her words and at everyone’s eyes going from Simon’s sweater to Wille. “Uh– well.”
“It is,” Simon easily agreed, grinning at Wille. “He gave it to me as compensation.”
“Compensation for what?” Maddie asked.
“For pushing me in the snow.”
“I did not push you in the snow,” Wille scoffed. “You suddenly stopped in front of me and I couldn’t break.”
Condescendingly, Simon said, “Mhm. You tell yourself that.”
Simon smiled at him, eyes crunched in the corner, and Wille really wanted to lean down and press a kiss on those lips. They looked soft —and Wille knew they were because they had been pressed against Wille’s cheek for way too short of a time— and plush, and they were still surrounded by Wille’s friends, so he settled on rolling his eyes at Simon and squeezing his hip, where Wille’s hand had been laying for a while. He could feel how warm Simon was under his touch and it was driving Wille crazy.
Wille listened as Simon told his friends the story at the ice rink and why he was now the proud owner of the sweater. Wille simply stayed there, intervening whenever he felt the need to, and let himself enjoy the moment as best as he could. It wasn’t too difficult, the evening seemed to be something out of a rom-com centred around Simon and him. Wille hoped they would get a happy ever after.
“Come,” Wille said to Simon a while later. They had been staying in that corner of the room for a while now and while it was fun —Wille loved his friends and he felt giddy at the thought that Simon fit so well as if he had always been a part of their group— Wille couldn’t help but want to have Simon alone for a little a moment now. It might be selfish but he didn’t care. “I want to show you something.”
Wille led Simon out of the main room, ignoring the whistles of some of his friends. They most likely came from Henry anyway and Wille had enough dirt on him that he could do something about it later if he felt the need to.
Taking Simon’s hand in his and threading their fingers together, Wille went up the stairs and to the fourth floor of the house. There, he took some spare blankets from a cupboard —there was his favourite one in there, a blue thing with golden stars— and led Simon to another set of stairs.
“Where are we going?” Simon asked suspiciously. He was tracing patterns on Wille’s hand with his thumb, while his other hand was gripping Wille’s arm, and Wille felt so enveloped in Simon. He never wanted this to stop.
“Up,” Wille said, flashing Simon a smile when he saw his resulting frown.
“Okay?” Simon said, evidently expecting Wille to follow up with more information. Wille didn’t. “But still?” Simon said, pinching Wille’s arm.
“Hey!” Wille squeaked, pulling a giggle out of Simon. “I’m not telling you, now.”
“Like you would have told me anyway,” Simon scoffed, but his amusement was easy to hear. “I feel like I’m being kidnaped.”
“That’s what you get for dating the creepy guy who gave you the sweater,” Wille said, clicking his tongue.
“My bad, I’ll make sure to tell him it’s cancelled.”
“Nope,” Wille said as he opened the door leading to the rooftop. “No thanking back.”
Wille thought he heard Simon mutter ‘wouldn’t dream of it’ under his breath but it was quickly replaced by a sharp intake of air. Simon looked around, mouth slightly agape and eyes bright. Wille had hoped he would pull a reaction of the sort out of Simon.
While the view was indeed beautiful where they could see the whole city shining in front of their eyes, Wille wasn’t looking at it. Not only had he seen it many times when he had come over here since becoming Felice’s friend, but how could he pay attention to the view when Simon was standing in front of him? Simon, whose warm eyes were taking in everything around them. Simon, whose smile was so soft and contagious, and Wille wanted to take it and keep it safe from the world. Simon, whose hands were still gripping Wille, warm weight on his arm and hand. Simon, whose cheeks were a little rosy from the cold, and who had no business looking so damn soft like that.
Wille unfolded the blanket and draped it over Simon’s shoulders, earning a grateful smile in return.
“Aren’t you also cold?” Simon asked quietly. There were sounds all around them —the music coming from below and the city being alive as it always was— but there was this mutual understanding that this was something and it was just for them. It wasn’t something fragile but something to take care of, and this intimacy that had been created by isolating themselves from everyone else asked for things to stay soft, in a way. To stay between them and only them.
Wille could have replied that there was no way for him to be cold when he was standing next to something so bright, so warm, so full of life as Simon. How could someone be cold when there was a golden sun illuminating their lives like that? He shrugged instead, letting Simon know that he was alright.
“Come here,” Simon said anyway as he opened up his arms.
Wille stepped into Simon’s arms, into the warmth that the other man provided —the blanket wasn’t even necessary to warm him up— and slowly raised his arms to wrap them around Simon’s shoulders. They fit perfectly there, just like Simon’s arms fit perfectly around Wille’s middle, hands pressed to the small of his back.
The world quietened then, leaving all sounds of the party and the city out. The only thing Wille could hear was Simon’s breathing next to his ear and the sound of his heart. It beat fast, matching Wille’s own heart.
When Simon laid his head on Wille’s shoulder, stepping in even closer to Wille, is hair tickled Wille’s jaw lightly. It felt so perfect, so natural, as if Wille was used to having Simon in his arms. He wasn’t and he knew he could never get used to it, but Wille thought he would like to try, if only it meant he could do this every day for the end of his life.
Simon’s nose was rubbing against Wille’s collarbone. “Are you smelling me?” Wille asked.
“No,” Simon said, and Wille could feel him smile against his shoulder.
“Liar,” Wille said, smiling back.
Simon sighed quietly and before Wille knew it, he was pressing a soft kiss against the other man’s curls. Wille didn’t know how long they stayed like this, in each other’s arms as they were meant to be, and he couldn’t care less about time passing at the moment.
Simon drew his head back and looked at Wille. Their faces were close enough that Wille could see each and every one of his eyelashes, and the different colours in his iris, and also the exact slope of his lips, and Wille would really like to get to know them with his own lips rather than with his eyes only. Sure, you weren’t supposed to touch a work of art, but how could Wille only look at it? Surely Simon was the exception to this rule? Simon was meant to be appreciated in many ways, and Wille really wanted to touch, to map every part of Simon. Sue him.
“You know,” Simon said in the small space between them. He reached up with one of his hands and gently pushed a piece of hair out of Wille’s face and behind his ear, reminiscent of the day they had met each other at the photography studio. It didn’t stay there like that time, his hair now too short for that, but Wille didn’t think Simon really cared that much. “I like your hair.”
“Yeah?” Wille asked, eyes fleeting all over Simon’s face. They caught Simon’s smile and Wille let himself look for a moment, licking his lips, before going back to looking at Simon’s eyes.
“You look handsome,” Simon said, nodding his head. His fingers had migrated to the back of Wille’s head, playing with the short hair near his neck.
It took everything in Wille not to sigh too loudly at the touch, and it took him a little too long to reply, if Simon’s teasing smile could be trusted. “You would know all about handsome.”
“You can’t turn my compliments back on me,” Simon said, a delightful blush creeping over his cheeks.
“Watch me,” Wille said. Simon deserved all the compliments anyway but Wille was up to winning every challenge that was presented to him.
“I am,” Simon said, his grin growing as his eyes fleeted over Wille’s face. He pulled on Wille’s hair a little, drawing a soft sound out of Wille, and Wille had to wipe that smirk off of Simon’s face. He had to.
And so he did.
Closing the gap between their lips was all too easy to do. Wille felt like he belonged there, pressed against Simon from their hips to their mouths. Simon’s lips were soft and pliant underneath Wille’s, moving slowly in tandem with his own. Wille felt euphoric; it was as if his life had led to this exact moment.
Wille pulled back a little and couldn’t keep a giggle away as he saw the same excitement, the same utter happiness he was feeling reflected in Simon’s eyes. He nuzzled their noses together before diving back in, kissing Simon again. Wille could feel both of their smiles colliding. He didn’t care how messy it temporarily made the kiss; all that mattered was Simon’s hands gripping his hair and his shirt, and Wille’s own hands moving to Simon’s jaw, and then down his back slowly to end their exploration at Simon’s waist.
When their lungs made themselves known and they had to pull away to breathe again, Wille tightened his arms around Simon, pulling him into a hug again —not that they had really ever let each other go in the first place. It felt all too easy, again, to press his lips against Simon’s temple and to leave them there. Everything seemed to be easy and intuitive with Simon.
“You know,” Simon said after a while. Wille could feel his lips moving against his jaw, sending shivers down his spine. Simon smiled, seemingly aware of the effect he had on Wille. He pressed a small kiss against Wille’s jaw and laughed when Wille pinched his side. “We’re supposed to kiss at midnight for the new year, you know that?”
“I will,” Wille said. “I just didn’t want our first kiss to be in a crowd of people.”
“You seem pretty sure of yourself,” Simon said. He pulled back slightly and squinted at Wille. The effect was broken by the smile he couldn’t manage to keep off of his lips. Wille pecked them, just because he could. Surprise took over Simon’s face and was soon replaced with contentment. Wille loved the look, loved that he could be the one putting it on the other man’s face.
“You are still in my arms, aren’t you?”
“I told you, the creepy guy won’t let me go,” Simon said, before stepping even closer to Wille, bringing their mouth back together again.
Simon was right, Wille would do anything to keep him right here, between his arms.
When midnight struck and everyone cheered for the New Year, Wille was surrounded by his friends and was kissing Simon again, just as he had promised.
When Wille woke up the next morning, he was greeted with the sight of his boyfriend coming back to his bedroom with coffee mugs, dressed in nothing but his boxers and Wille’s sweater.
When Simon spent the night at Wille’s yet again a couple of months later, they pulled apartment listings and search for one they could share, ready to start building their own home together.
When the time for the photo shoot came back around the year after, Simon was there again. He was there, but not behind the camera this time. He was sitting next to Wille, and smiling with the rest of the family. Wille kept a copy of Simon’s portrait in his wallet starting that year.
When Wille stood at Erik’s side for his wedding, he caught Simon’s eyes from where he was sitting next to Kristina, and smiled at his boyfriend, knowing that someday this would be them at the altar, exchanging vows in front of their loved ones.
When they celebrated yet again another New Year’s Eve party at Felice’s, Wille brought Simon up to the rooftop like that first year, and finally asked his boyfriend to marry him, to spend the rest of their days together, loving each other.
When the day came, Wille watched as Simon walked down the aisle with his mamma, just after he had himself walked down the aisle with both of his parents at his side. They exchanged their vows in front of their loved ones and sealed the life-long deal with a kiss. Erik and Julia made sure to mention, I’m their speeches at the reception, that they were the reason Simon and Wille had gotten together.
When they came to Felice’s baby shower, Wille watched as the happy couple celebrated this next awaited step in their life, and squeezed Simon’s hand. Simon squeezed back and dropped a kiss on Wille’s shoulder. He whispered in his ear, “one day.”
When Wille gave Simon a printed copy of an email with the information for a couples baking class, he watched as his husband’s smile took over his face, mere moments before Wille found himself with an armful of Simon. He didn’t let go, burying his face in Simon’s curls. They would try to recreate those cookie versions of themselves.
When the twins were four years old, Wille watched from a bench, his arms wrapped around his nephew, as his husband and his sister, his kids, and Erik’s family skated together around a familiar rink. Wille stayed with Linda on one of the benches, deep in conversation about vacuums of all things.
Simon, this golden, shining star of a man, was all Wille could have wished for.