Chapter Text
They had settled into a rhythm, a balance that felt effortless, for the past three months, Greg and Alex had been living together every other week, alternating between Greg’s flat and Alex’s home. On the weeks they spent apart, they texted and called, maintaining a steady connection while allowing each other the space to focus on their individual projects.
Alex had learned to navigate Greg’s occasional battles with intrusive thoughts, a simple touch—a hug, a kiss, or even just sitting beside him in comfortable silence—seemed to do wonders. Greg, in turn, had found himself opening up more, trusting Alex in ways he hadn’t thought possible.
One evening, as they lounged on Alex’s couch with the television playing softly in the background, Alex shifted closer, turning to face Greg. There was a slight nervousness in his expression, though his voice remained casual.
“I’ve been thinking,” Alex began, tracing a finger idly along Greg’s hand, “how about you come over for dinner next week?”
Greg smiled, already picturing a quiet evening together. “Sure,” he said easily.
“No, I mean a proper dinner. With the kids here.”
Greg’s smile faltered, his brows knitting in confusion. “But… your kids will be here,” he said slowly, as if Alex had missed that crucial detail.
“Exactly,” Alex replied, his lips quirking into a playful grin. “I figured you could meet them again. But this time as my boyfriend.” To emphasize his point, he wiggled his eyebrows with exaggerated flair.
Greg froze, his mind racing. “But… what if they don’t like me?” he asked, the words tumbling out before he could stop them.
Alex’s calm demeanor didn’t waver. “Greg,” he said gently, his hand moving to cup the side of Greg’s face. “You know they already know you, right? Remember the camping trip we all went on? Back when Rachel and I…” He trailed off, clearing his throat awkwardly.
Greg took the opportunity to interject, his voice tinged with worry. “That was different, what if they don’t like me as your boyfriend?”
Alex sighed, his eyes softening as he shifted his position. He swung a leg over and sat on Greg’s lap, leaning in until their foreheads nearly touched. “They already love you,” Alex murmured, his lips brushing lightly against Greg’s. “You don’t need to worry about that.” He kissed him, slow and deliberate, before pulling back just enough to add, “Admittedly, they don’t love you as much as I do, but they do. So stop hesitating.”
Greg blinked, his chest tightening at the unexpected confession. He stared at Alex, a mixture of surprise and affection flashing across his face. “So you love me, then?” he asked, his voice soft but edged with a teasing lilt.
Alex smirked, but before he could respond, Greg took charge, shifting their positions so Alex was now pinned against the couch. Greg leaned in, his smile widening as he kissed Alex deeply, a kiss that spoke more than any words could.
When they broke apart, Greg rested his forehead against Alex’s, his breath mingling with his. “You’ll have to tell me that more often,” he murmured.
Alex grinned, his hands sliding around Greg’s back. “Deal. But only if you promise not to doubt it.”
Greg chuckled, the sound low and warm. “I’ll try. No guarantees, though.” He reached up to brush a strand of hair away from Alex’s face. His fingers lingered for a moment, tracing the line of Alex’s cheek. “I love you too, Alex,” he said, his voice steady and full of quiet conviction.
Alex kissed him again, and for a while, they stayed there, tangled together on the couch, letting the rest of the world fade away.
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They had that dinner a week later, and it was nothing short of wonderful. Alex’s kids greeted Greg with enthusiasm, their excitement bubbling over as they asked him endless questions. Greg, who had initially been nervous, quickly found himself at ease in their company.
Dinner was filled with laughter and good food, a chaotic yet comforting mix of playful banter and genuine connection. Afterward, the kids managed to lure Greg into playing a board game. By the end of the evening, Greg was seated on the living room floor, a child on either side of him as they argued over whose team he should join for the next game.
Alex watched from the doorway, a soft smile playing on his lips. Seeing Greg with his kids, fitting so seamlessly into their little family, made his heart swell. Later, when the kids were tucked into bed and the house was quiet, Alex found Greg in the kitchen, rinsing the last of the dishes.
“Thank you,” Alex said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Greg turned, a questioning look on his face. “For what?”
“For being here. For… everything,” Alex said, stepping closer. He placed his hands on Greg’s waist, pulling him into a hug. “I told you they’d love you.”
Greg smiled, wrapping his arms around Alex. “I might have needed the reminder,” he admitted. “But tonight… tonight was perfect.”
Alex tilted his head up, their eyes meeting. “It was,” he agreed, his voice full of quiet affection.
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A few weeks later, they were spending a quiet evening at Greg’s flat. The hum of the city outside barely registered as they lounged on the sofa, their legs tangled together while a half-forgotten movie played on the television. Alex had his arm draped over Greg’s shoulders, absentmindedly running his fingers through Greg’s hair.
Everything felt calm, but Alex noticed a shift in Greg’s demeanor. Greg had gone twitchy, his foot tapping lightly against the floor and his hands fidgeting in his lap. He kept glancing at Alex out of the corner of his eye, and his normally relaxed posture had stiffened ever so slightly.
“Greg,” Alex said softly, turning to face him. “What’s going on? Is something wrong?”
Greg opened his mouth to respond, but no sound came out. He pressed his lips together, taking a deep breath as his fingers curled into fists for a moment. Then he exhaled, shaking his head as if to clear it.
“Actually… no, nothing’s wrong,” Greg finally said, his voice quiet but firm. He straightened up, shifting so he was fully facing Alex. His cheeks were tinged pink, and Alex could see the effort it took for Greg to meet his gaze.
“Okay,” Alex said slowly, his worry giving way to curiosity. He reached out, brushing his hand against Greg’s. “What is it?”
Greg took another breath, his hands moving to fish something out of his pocket. He hesitated for a beat, then held out a small velvet box.
Alex’s heart skipped a beat.
“Alex,” Greg began, his voice trembling slightly, “I’ve loved being with you these past months. And I don’t just mean the big things, like the nights we’ve spent talking or the time with your kids. It’s the little things, too. The way you hum when you’re focused, the way you steal my tea even when you have your own, the way you make me feel safe just by being there.”
Alex’s breath hitched, his eyes locked on Greg.
“I love you, Alex. And I love us,” Greg continued, his voice growing steadier with each word. “You’re a great father, a great person, and the best man I could ever have found to be my partner. And with this ring,” he said, opening the box to reveal a simple but elegant band, “I want you to know a part of that. I want it to be a reminder of how much you mean to me.”
Greg hesitated, a nervous smile playing on his lips. “You don’t have to wear it if you don’t want to. You could keep it on your nightstand or wherever it feels right. I just… I just want you to have it.”
For a moment, Alex couldn’t speak. The weight of Greg’s words settled over him, filling him with an overwhelming mixture of emotions. He blinked, his throat tight, before finally finding his voice.
“Greg,” he said, his voice cracking slightly. He reached out, gently taking the box from Greg’s hand. “I—God, I don’t even know what to say.”
Greg’s nervous smile faltered, his brows knitting in concern. “It’s okay if—”
“No, no, it’s not that,” Alex interrupted, shaking his head. He set the box down and cupped Greg’s face, his thumbs brushing against his cheeks. “It’s just… you’re amazing, you know that?”
Greg let out a shaky laugh, leaning into Alex’s touch. “I was hoping you’d think so.”
Alex leaned in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to Greg’s lips. When he pulled back, his eyes were shining. “I love you too, Greg. And this,” he said, picking up the box again and holding it between them, “means more to me than I can even put into words.”
He slipped the ring onto his finger, holding up his hand to admire it before grinning at Greg. Greg let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding, his shoulders relaxing as a wide smile spread across his face.
Alex kissed him again, his heart feeling impossibly full. “You’re stuck with me now,” he teased, his voice light.
“Good,” Greg replied, his smile softening. “Because I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
And as they sat there, wrapped in each other’s arms, the world outside seemed to fade, leaving only the two of them and the promise of what was to come.