Chapter Text
“So we're not going to talk about that?” Ed asked as he walked with Mabel to her car.
“Nope.” Mabel didn’t elaborate, instead unlocking her car and putting her yoga mat in the back seat before getting in the driver’s seat.
Ed got in on the passenger side and buckled his seatbelt, holding his yoga mat between his knees. Mabel stayed quiet as she pulled out of her spot at the community center. They’d just finished their second yoga class of the week, which had been very like the other classes they’d attended in the past—with one notable difference.
“That man had a bird on his head.”
“Said I didn’t want to talk about it.”
“Mabel, our class is being taught by a bird guy.”
“Hmph,” she said. “Ponder this. Same guy, so it’s always been taught by a bird guy.”
Ed couldn’t argue with that kind of logic, so he didn’t attempt to. He chose a strategic change of subject. “Looks like the house is going to be done this week.”
“You’ll still owe me rent for September.”
“You’re really not going to cut your favorite tenant a break?”
“You’re really trying to stiff your only landlady? That’s my retirement income. I won’t be able to afford yoga.”
“Fuck. You’re merciless.”
“Yeah, I fucking am,” Mabel agreed with a grin.
“What are you going to do if I tip off your new tenants about your matchmaking kink?”
“You won’t. Because if I don’t have anything to do, I’ll have to keep interfering in your life.”
“Feel like you’re going to do that anyway.”
“Maybe. Only one way to find out.”
She pulled up in front of her house, and Ed got out and carried his yoga mat up the steps. He unlocked the front door of the apartment to tuck his mat inside before relocking the door.
“Going to go see Mary. You want to come with me?” Ed was relying on routine and time of day to indicate he meant his sister and not any other of the inordinate number of Marys that might be lurking about in their neighborhood.
“Not today, but say hi to my namesake, hey?”
“Will do,” Ed said, taking the steps back down to the driveway. He stopped at the end of the drive to study the house to the left of Mabel’s, his and Stede’s house, so entirely close to being ready for them to move into. The finishing touches were getting done this week, and Stede had taken next week off to work on getting the furniture and decor arranged to his standards.
Ed couldn’t believe the house was so close to being ready for them and took a moment more to appreciate the new native plant landscaping in the front before turning the opposite direction and walking to his sister’s place. He knew that the baby should be awake at this time of day, but knocked quietly just in case.
Mary opened the door with the baby cradled in one arm. “You know that three-months is an exceptionally boring age. You really don’t have to come see her this much.”
“My niece isn’t boring. She rolled over yesterday. Didn’t you, May?”
The baby didn't reply as Mary let him inside, saying, “Excellent timing.” She handed the baby to him, cooing triumphantly, “Did you just poop? Yes, you did.”
Ed groaned, and then carried her into her room and laid her down on her changing table while his sister leaned in the doorway. “I changed your diapers when you were a baby. I don’t know why you think I owe you this.”
“You’re the one that wants to be here. That means really getting into the shit.”
“Ugggh,” Ed said, breathing shallowly as he cleaned up baby Mary Mabel. He’d thought his sister was still on the good stuff when she insisted on naming her brand new daughter after his landlady. But she’d stuck by it in the following days and knocked Ed out of the top spot on the whiteboard, proving Mabel could be bribed. Still, Mary grinned every time Ed used the baby’s nickname, so things weren’t so bad. He’d picked May after her birth month, and if she still somehow grew up into another Mary, he’d deal. Probably with tears.
He snapped her onesie closed and picked her up, handing her back to Mary. “I’m going to wash my hands.”
“You bet,” Mary said with a laugh and carried May back to the living room.
Ed finished in the bathroom and rejoined them, carefully lowering himself onto the floor where May was on her tummy on a blanket. She had her head up and was looking around with huge eyes, a little tuft of black hair sticking up on her crown. He offered her a toy that rattled—not a new one because Mary had threatened to ban him if he kept bringing toys—and she clutched it and then stuck it in her mouth.
He continued to talk to his niece in an absolute nonsense voice that would be embarrassing in any other context, but he didn’t care. He interlaced it with a conversation with Mary about everything that wasn’t babies, happy to give her an outlet to some adult conversation while she was taking family leave.
He was relieved that his reconciliation efforts seemed to be paying off. His conversations with his sister were friendlier, and Mary seemed more relaxed around him and much less angry. He guessed nothing demonstrated that he intended to stick around quite like buying a house on her street, but he figured the regular visits were helping too. He certainly hoped so, he thought, as he assisted in folding the baby’s laundry before heading back home.
He was surprised to find Stede in the kitchen when he arrived. He paused at the door to slip off his shoes. When Ed stood, Stede leaned in and kissed his cheek, asking, “How are the Mary Mabels today?”
“Mabel informed me that we still owe her September’s rent even if we move out in August, and don’t call my precious May that. Also, she’s perfect.” Ed studied Stede. Summer linen today, in a pretty lilac. He’d already shed his coat in deference to the hot day, and Ed was wondering if he could help. “Why are you here?”
“To meet the installers for the kitchen appliances this afternoon.”
“I was going to do that.”
“I know,” Stede said with one corner of his mouth turned up. “I meant that’s what I said I was doing when I left the office.”
“Ahh. Would you like some help changing out of your work clothes?”
“Yes, I very much would.”
“I love being helpful,” Ed said as he started pulling Stede’s tie loose.
Stede leaned in and kissed Ed’s neck, then slid his hands up under the hem of Ed’s t-shirt, stripping it over his head and dropping it on the floor.
“I thought I was helping you?” Ed asked as he started pulling open the buttons on Stede’s shirt.
“We can help each other, right?” He gently slipped Ed’s hair tie loose.
“Hm, yes, definitely.” Ed pulled open the buttons at Stede’s wrists and tugged his shirt off him. “Bedroom, love?”
“Yes,” Stede agreed and turned for their room. Ed followed him into the bedroom, shutting the door behind him and watching Stede.
Stede watched him back. “It’s hot today. It might be better with fewer clothes.” He stepped toward Ed, hands at his waistband.
“Mm-hmm.” Ed worked Stede’s belt open and had his trousers sliding down his thighs in moments. Stede stepped out of them, and Ed trailed his eyes down his body. “Nice to see you wearing your present.”
“It was very considerate of you to buy me slutty underthings,” Stede said as he turned to show off the way the red lace panels of his panties stretched over him.
“Is it? They’re really for me,” Ed said, tweaking the bow on Stede’s hip. “You know, you could just take a shower if you’re overheated.”
“I don’t want a shower.”
“Can’t figure out what else might work,” Ed said with a grin.
“No? Let me help you with that.” Stede lifted a brow at Ed, and Ed nodded. Stede tugged Ed’s joggers and underwear down and off, and then looked up at him from where he was still kneeling on the floor. “Have anything specific in mind?”
Ed laughed. “You started this! Come here.” He pulled Stede to his feet and kissed him tenderly before running his hand down Stede’s side. He caressed his fingers over the red ribbon holding the panties in place and pulled the end of it to untie them. Ed watched them flutter to the floor and then asked, “What do you want to do? You must have been thinking of something when you lied to your staff and came home early.”
“Lied is a little strong. I am going to meet the appliance people, just after I spend some quality time fucking my boyfriend.”
“Devastating that you were forced to be apart from me for, what, three hours?”
“Three and a half. It was agony.”
“Fuck off,” Ed giggled. He guided Stede back toward the bed and gently pushed him back on it. “Sweet of you to make time in your day to…?”
Stede sighed. “I want you on my cock. I was imagining how you look when you ride me.”
“There we go. You’re beautifully fierce when you know what you want.” Ed said, as he handed Stede a bottle of lube. “I love that about you. I love you.”
“I love you too. Love this.” Stede stretched his legs out on the bed, pulling Ed in to straddle him, and then slicking lube over his own cock. “You look so gorgeous,” Stede said, guiding Ed down so that he could press inside him. “Oh, sweetheart, just like that. Fuck.”
Ed pushed down against Stede, taking Stede’s cock deeper, delighted to be with him like this. Stede moaned, and Ed angled to kiss him, their tongues moving together as they shifted their hips together in time. Ed could feel Stede stroking hands down his back, twisting one into his hair.
“You feel so fucking good,” Ed said, because fuck it, he still loved bouncing on it and loved that Stede still loved watching him do it. “Get me, babe?” Ed slowed so Stede could glide lube over him, and then his hand was working up and down Ed’s cock.
They both moaned, and Ed leaned in for one more hungry kiss, just wanting to feel Stede’s lips moving against his. Then they lost themselves in the motion of their bodies until Ed was coming over Stede’s fist, and Stede was coming inside him.
Stede collapsed back, and Ed went with him, wanting to be held before they cleaned up. Stede kissed his lips, over his beard, the corners of his eyes, before whispering, “Love you.” He shifted away and came back with a damp towel to clean Ed up, and then snuggled back down. “Got a few minutes before I need to get dressed.”
“I’ll come with. That’s our house.”
“Our house,” Stede agreed and kissed him again.
###
Stede loved everything about the new house. The process had been expensive, time consuming, frustrating, and so completely worth it. If they’d done nothing but the additional and very intense soundproofing, it would have been worth it. But they’d done everything he could have hoped for—as much whimsy as could be packed into the original footprint of the home. That meant there was only the one secret passage, but given that it led to the marvelous new closet for his auxiliary wardrobe, he was pretty excited.
His main closet was located in the isolated primary suite. Part retreat and part love nest, it was a gorgeous space with doors that opened onto the backyard. The attached bathroom was less roomy than it might have been, given he’d stolen space for the closets, but it did feature an oversized spa bathtub that he was very much looking forward to putting to use.
They’d built an office for Ed on the same side of the house, overlooking the front porch. The other side of the house had bedrooms for Alma and Louis, so that they could actually stay with Stede on his days, and they now had their own bathroom—no more tracking through their dads' bedroom.
He was three days into the process of getting the furniture and decor placed to suit him. Many of the pieces going into the home were from the apartment or storage, but he and Ed had also decided on some new pieces together, and Stede really wanted to make sure that it was as splendid as possible. He’d prioritized the bedroom first, so that they could start sleeping there immediately, and now he was working on some finishing touches in the breakfast nook.
“It’s 7:30, love. It can probably wait,” Ed said from where he was sitting at the table drinking his tea.
“This is when we’ll be using this space, which means it’s the perfect time to see how everything looks in the morning light.” He glanced at the window, and then moved the knickknack on the shelf two inches to the right.
“Hmm, but it’s also our morning time together. I can’t eat all this toast by myself.”
“One more!” Stede said, putting another object on the shelf, turning it fifteen degrees, and then moving to sit down next to Ed.
The nook had both a bench and chairs, but they’d planned it so the bench faced the window, allowing them to appreciate the view and cozy up next to each other. Stede picked up his tea cup, took a sip, and then turned his head to smile at Ed.
“It is pretty though, isn’t it?”
“Wallpaper’s a nice touch.”
“I thought so. Thank you for helping me select it.”
“I didn’t, though,” Ed said, and Stede could hear the teasing hurt in his voice.
The wallpaper was a charming teal and gold damask that really pulled the entire space together, but it wasn’t what Ed had wanted. “It’s perfect for the room.”
“Mine would have been good too.”
“They were butts, Edward.”
“They were plants shaped like butts. It was tasteful.”
“You know there’s that bit of wall by the bookcase in your office that would be perfect for a sheet of wallpaper?”
“I won’t be bribed with a bit of wall in my own fucking office.”
Stede sighed. “Framed accent here in the breakfast nook?”
“Much better,” Ed said, sounding considerably cheered.
“Anything for you, dearest.” Stede nibbled on his toast. “So after breakfast, we’ll finish up in here, and then…the rest of the living room?”
“We’re helping the kids with their rooms next week. My office can wait indefinitely. What does that leave?”
“Closets! There’s so much wardrobe to be arranged. I was really saving it for the end of the week as a treat.”
“Fashion show?”
“Fashion show. You are about to learn the deep lore.”
“Sounds promising. Can’t wait to try on whatever has still been lingering in the aux wardrobe after two years.”
Stede grinned. “Things that aren’t as useful for daywear, a few fashion terrors, a thing or two so fabulous you may be overcome by their beauty.”
“Overcome, huh? Can probably arrange that.” Ed's expression indicated that he was truly pleased with himself for this bit of wordplay, but Stede was thinking of his poor, beautiful clothes.
“Ed!”
“If we wreck anything, I’ll take you clothes shopping.”
“You would have anyway.”
“Yes, I would have,” Ed agreed, leaning in to kiss him.
The next morning found them scrambling to get dressed and out of the house. They usually did breakfast in robes so while they were generally up early, they weren’t prepared to go anywhere. They would have been ready on time, but they’d gotten distracted narrating their teaspoons—who were having an in-depth conversation about the emotional and professional difficulties of stirring in seven sugars—and were now running late.
“Shoes!” Stede said, sliding into his and watching Ed glance down as if he’d been betrayed by his bare feet, before jamming his feet into a pair of sneakers. They shut the door behind them and made their way across their front yard, using the newly laid footpath that cut directly to Mary and Doug's.
Mary was standing on the front porch with her mouth in a tight line. “Cutting it close, guys.”
“Sorry, sorry,” Stede said, standing below her while waiting for Louis to exit the house with his backpack for the first day of fourth grade. Thursday was usually a Mary and Doug day, but they’d all wanted to take him to school, so they’d agreed to meet and walk together.
Doug shut the door behind him. “Alma’s still getting ready, and said she doesn’t need to come.”
“Picture!” Mary and Ed said at nearly the same time, and Louis stood in front of the house while they both snapped a few photos, as Louis made a few funny faces and then smiled at his mom’s request.
That done, they all started down the sidewalk together, Louis in front of them. “I’m old enough to walk by myself,” he said to no one specifically, “and I definitely don’t need four adults.”
“Too bad,” said Ed. “We all agreed last year, after the bloodbath of the lottery system, that anyone who wanted to go could, and we all want to go.”
“Do not bring up the f-ing lottery system again, Ed. It didn’t work. We get it!” Mary said tightly. She was probably still a little cranky about how poorly it had gone.
“We’re just taking you to the grounds,” Doug said, in a clear bid to change the subject. “Unless you want one of us to walk you to your classroom.”
Louis turned around and walked backwards. “No, you can’t trick me into that. I’m not choosing anyone over anyone else. You can all stay on the lawn.”
Stede wanted to rush forward in case Louis tripped, but he was doing just fine and was already spinning forward again. Ed had been right all the way back at their first meeting—kids didn’t wait. It felt like the time was flying by, and Stede was glad he’d done everything he could to stay close to his children.
They walked back to the house after saying goodbye to Louis. There was a half an hour between the different schools’ start times, but the walk had made the timing a little tight, so they took quick pictures of Alma and all crammed into Mary’s car.
Alma was even less pleased than Louis had been—thirteen and squished into the back seat with two of her dads. Mary was driving, and Doug had rapidly called shotgun. Stede didn’t mind. He liked being mushed together with Ed, but Alma looked murderous. She made eye contact with Ed.
“We’re not doing this again, Ed. You want full dad status, you have to buy a car. Like one of those minivans that can hold half a softball team.”
“That’s cruel. My rizz would never recover.”
“Don’t use that word,” Alma said with audible horror.
“I like Ed’s rizz,” Stede said cheerfully.
“I will disown both of you,” Alma said, but she was grinning.
“Don’t need another car. This only happens once a year,” Ed said.
“And how else will everyone at middle school know that you're cool enough to have three dads?” Stede asked.
“Do you have the lunch I packed you?” Doug asked.
“Did you remember your water bottle?” Ed asked.
Alma burst into giggles. “Did you practice this? Were you sitting around yesterday figuring out the best way to irritate me?”
“Nah, we just care. Being your age is…” Ed looked at Stede.
“It can be trying,” Stede said.
“It’s a transition, and there’s a lot happening,” said Mary.
Ed and Stede had done everything they could to help Alma get ready for seventh grade, but had realized in the process they were maybe both too traumatized to be emotionally useful. Ed at thirteen had a new sister, a freshly dead abusive father, and more adult problems than he could process. Stede at the same age was being mercilessly bullied. They decided to skip advice altogether and instead offered to take her clothes shopping and get her a cool new haircut.
“So we want to make sure that we’re supporting you as best we can. Whatever you need,” said Stede.
“Sure, fam, I will ask for help if I need it. Right now I just need you to be cool while I get out of the car. Please don’t make a scene, and one parent per drop-off going forward.”
“Two,” Stede immediately countered and smiled at Ed. Ed smiled back.
“Should have seen that coming.” Alma shook her head. “Two is fine, but you’re required to leave the school grounds immediately after drop-off. I’d never recover socially from my dads making out in the car.”
Alma gave Ed a hug because he was next to her and blew everyone else kisses. She scooped up her bag and stepped out of the car, slamming the door behind her and making her way to the doors.
Mary snickered as she navigated toward the exit. “She’s really got your number.”
“We would never,” said Stede, slipping his hand into Ed’s and thinking it would really depend on the circumstances.
Ed’s hand was in Stede’s hair, and for once Stede found he didn’t care. He was lost in just feeling good, in kissing his boyfriend, appreciating the pressure of Ed’s arms around him. There was a knock on the car window, which they both ignored. A second much sharper rap followed, and Stede broke away.
“Shit, it’s Zheng.”
“Guess we shouldn’t have ignored Oluwande,” Ed said, laughing. He hit the button for the window.
“You’re both completely replaceable,” Zheng informed them in a flat tone.
“No, we’re not. Maybe you can find someone else for pop culture, but Stede’s science/geography combo? Killer.”
Zheng sighed and then grimaced. “There are two minutes left, and you’re really cutting it close. How have you not gotten this out of your systems?”
“He’s so pretty,” Ed said happily.
“Nope. Never mind. Pretend I didn’t ask. See you in there.” Zheng turned around and marched back inside.
“You’re pretty too,” Stede said, “and kind, and funny, and a really good kisser.”
“Mm-hmm,” Ed said, kissing Stede one more time before pulling back and setting Stede’s hair to rights. “Let’s get in there.”
They both got out of the car, and Stede resisted the urge to press Ed back against it and resume what they’d been doing, instead taking his hand and walking with him into Spanish Jackie’s.
They weren’t actually late yet—they still had five minutes before the trivia round, not two. Zheng was just being dramatic. They came around the table to sit in their usual spots, greeting everyone except Fang who was busy returning with drinks for them.
He grinned. “Went and got them with tokens when Zheng went out for you.”
“Thank you! That’s very thoughtful,” Stede said.
“More than you’ve earned, really,” said Zheng.
“I do my part!” Stede protested.
“I wasn’t talking about the trivia. I was talking about the annoyance.”
“Just going to have to live with that,” Ed said, wrapping an arm around Stede. “This is who we are.”
“The Swede announced that they’re limiting team sizes to ten people for regular weeks,” Jim said.
“For ‘fairness,’ ” Ivan added with finger quotes.
Stede looked down the table and double-checked their count. In addition to Ed and Stede, there were Ivan and Fang, Lucius and Pete, and the polycule. Archie and Olu didn’t even come every week. “We usually don’t have more than ten, right?”
“What?” said Pete from farther down the long table, the distance leaving him out of earshot for the conversation.
“Just means we can’t have guests,” said Jim.
“And also letting you know that if you’re obnoxious enough, we really could replace you,” Zheng said.
“After all the ass we’ve kicked together? I’m crushed.” Ed laughed.
Zheng started laughing too. “Have you considered getting a room?”
“Several, really,” Ed said.
“Are you coming to our housewarming party?” Stede asked.
“She already RSVPed,” said Lucius. “Though why I’m in charge of your party invites I cannot begin to guess. Don’t you have a wife for that?”
“Hate party planning. Not married,” Ed grumbled.
His tone surprised Stede a little and gave him pause. They’d said forever, but they hadn’t talked about marriage, and up until this point he’d assumed that it was lack of interest on Ed’s part. It was all at once occurring to him that it might be the other thing—that Ed hadn’t brought it up because he didn’t think Stede would want it. That he hadn’t given voice to it because he didn’t want to be rejected.
Shit. That was something to set aside and think over later. He looked over at Ed to find Ed already looking at him, eyes all soft. Stede’s heart fluttered in his chest, and he smiled back at Ed.
“Okay, everyone! It is time to start the trivia!” the Swede said over the sound system. “Tonight, there better not be any cheating? My lovely wife says that her nose jar could use a new donation.”
“That’s right, sugarballs. Jackie’s ready to keep y’all honest,” she said, waving a knife. Paired with her silver dress, flashy black epaulettes, and tall black boots, she was the definition of “if looks could kill.”
Archie wolf-whistled. “Step on me, mommy.”
Zheng rolled her eyes. “Come over here then.”
“Aww, I just got excited. People with knives, man! Hot!” Archie grinned at Zheng and Jim in turn. “But later, my dudes.”
“Here are our round one categories,” the Swede said and began reading them off.
Lucius wrote them down on their scoring sheet, and sighed. “I hate ‘Could they have met?’ I don’t know why they’d think I’d care.”
The category was especially wily because sometimes the people’s life spans overlapped by days and no one could ever remember how old any given celebrity was.
“We’ve got this!” Stede said, and they were off.
Red Flags won first place, and it was a good night with their friends. But as he and Ed got ready for bed, Stede was still lost in thinking about his discovery from the beginning of the night. They were brushing their teeth next to each other, Ed already stripped down to his black boxer briefs and hair gathered on top of his head for sleep. Stede let his eyes linger and then remembered tooth brushing was one of those things you were supposed to do mindfully and went back to cleaning his teeth with care.
Ed finished his bedtime routine and reached a hand to rub over Stede’s lower back before leaving him to do the rest of his skincare regime. Stede finished up a few minutes later and went into their bedroom.
They'd tried to meet in the middle on the space, since it was a place they planned to spend so much very enjoyable time together. Stede insisted on touches that would make him happy—exquisite pieces of furniture, luxurious fabrics, and a gorgeous rug. Also the room was lit by two very tasteful crystal chandeliers.
He'd yielded to Ed on the colors. Ed had said that he really needed something a little darker to feel at rest. Their velvet headboard was in a rich plum, and they'd painted the walls in a coordinating shade. The bedding was in nightshade purple with pillows in metallic gold. The darkness was balanced by both warm lighting and, during the day, the sun coming in from the doors and windows facing the back of the house. At night they kept heavy curtains pulled over the glass. All of their choices together produced a beautiful room that felt like both of them, sumptuous and cozy, peaceful and warm.
Ed was waiting for him in bed, back propped with a pillow while he read something on his tablet in the low light of a lamp. He’d put on his reading glasses, and Stede had to admit that he was more into them than he had any right to be. It was actually derailing him a little from his pondering. He’d thought about the problem, some, while he’d worked through his nighttime routine, but he perhaps needed a few minutes more, so he got into bed and opened a book while still thinking furiously.
He couldn’t begin to guess how he hadn’t considered it before, but it really hadn’t been on his radar. Did he have an objection to getting married? Had his fourteen years with Mary soured him on the entire institution? Notably, she wasn’t rushing to marry Doug either, so they had that in common. Perhaps he had subconsciously dissuaded Ed from pursuing it.
He suppressed a sigh and prodded under that rock of a thought to see what might be lurking beneath it. He didn’t believe that he’d discouraged Ed deliberately. He liked Mary as an ex, as a now friend, and he liked that his marriage had produced their children, but it was about the only joy they’d had of it. Mary had never been his partner in the way Ed was, nearly from the start. Stede and Ed just worked together. He couldn’t see that they needed to formalize it, but it hadn’t occurred to him that it might matter to Ed.
He set his book to the side and moved inward until he was close enough to touch Ed. He rubbed a hand over his forearm, and Ed looked up with a smile.
“Yes?”
“Can we talk?”
“Sure.” Ed set his tablet on the nightstand and angled to face Stede more.
Stede studied his face and then smiled. “Edward, darling, did you want to get married?”
“Yes,” Ed said softly, no pause for consideration, tenderness in his eyes, and then he glanced away. He cut his eyes back to Stede and added, “Uh, it might be nice. Having it all official.”
Ed’s voice was hushed and hopeful, and Stede cursed his tendency to obliviousness. How could he have not known this about Ed? And yet here Ed was, saying what he wanted with a vulnerability that spoke of so much bravery.
In the absence of Stede saying anything, Ed continued, “I’d like to be a husband. Your husband.”
Those words were like uncorking a bottle. Once Ed said them, Stede felt a rush of emotion. Yes, fear, because of what had come before. He’d buried it well, but he was worried about what it would mean to be married again. And yet, right behind that, even fiercer, was affection, love, surety. Your husband. Ed wanted him, and he wanted Ed. In this way too.
“Yes, okay, let’s get married.”
“Yeah?” Ed looked so hopeful that it twisted Stede up inside. Clearly, he hadn’t expected that to be Stede’s answer.
“Yes. Also, this isn’t how I’m officially proposing. This was more of a…check-in. Prepare to be wooed.”
Ed laughed his low, wonderful laugh. “Let the wooing commence.”
###
Ed Teach jolted awake. He was a light sleeper, always had been, but something was missing. Stede. Stede was missing, no sound of his breathing, no warm body wrapped around Ed. He was in their bed, in their new house, and Stede wasn’t with him. Stede was a solid sleeper, never getting up to piss or night ramble, and Ed was now stretching across their king-sized bed to confirm it was empty. Sheets were cold too.
With the curtains drawn, he wasn’t sure of the time, but it didn’t feel too early. He slipped out of bed, ready to go find his missing boyfriend, and screamed a tiny little not embarrassingly high-pitched scream when Stede flicked on the lights while he was halfway across the room.
“Aww, Ed, get back in bed. You’re wrecking my surprise.” Stede was in a golden robe and carrying a breakfast tray.
Because he was bringing Ed breakfast in bed. And Ed was freaking out. Ed didn’t love surprises—they were hard to prepare for. “Ah, yep, just getting back into bed.”
He sat on the side of the bed and pulled his legs up, rearranging the blankets. Stede leaned over him and set the tray to his side before going to push open the curtains and let in the morning light.
“Good morning!” Stede said cheerfully and returned to kiss Ed on the cheek, or he would have, but Ed deliberately turned his head so he could meet Stede’s mouth instead. “Hmph!” Stede said in response.
Ed grinned against Stede’s lips. Looked like he could surprise people too. Stede reached up and caressed his face, and then kissed him again.
“Good morning,” Ed said. “How did you get up without waking me?”
“Drugged your toothpaste,” Stede said without cracking a smile. “Or! It will have to remain a mystery, so that I may use my diabolical methods again. Now have some tea.”
“What if you drugged it too? What kind of plot is this?”
“It’s a romantic plot. I’m not kidnapping you.” Stede paused thoughtfully. “Unless you’re into that?”
Ed also paused thoughtfully, giggled, and said, “Let’s revisit that at a later date. So you currently do not have nefarious intentions, and you would like me to eat the non-drugged breakfast you prepared for me.”
“Yes!” Stede said, returning to cheer.
“Okay,” Ed agreed with a careless shrug and picked up his tea cup to take a sip. “You got it just right.”
“I know.” Stede was walking around the bed to crawl in on his side and move toward Ed, being careful of the tray.
They shared breakfast together, talking and sipping their tea. Ed kept eyeing the small bouquet on the tray. There were only a few stems, but they were warm yellow and bright red, and a single purple flower arranged in a mason jar with a decorative bow of twine tied around the top. It was a pretty mix of wildflowers, familiar ones at that.
Stede saw him studying them. “From Mabel’s pollinator garden, with her blessing.”
“Nice of her to contribute. She is pretty big on gay marriage.”
“Who said this had anything to do with gay marriage?” Stede said primly.
Ed cocked his head and smiled. “Love, you got up early. This could only be my promised wooing.”
Stede laughed. “Fine, it is. Did you want to do the next part anyway?”
“What is it?” Ed asked eagerly.
“Bath in the new big bathtub together. There are candles and rose petals and soft music.”
“Woo away,” Ed said with a smile.
Stede went into the bathroom and started the water running before picking up the tray to take it to the kitchen. He came back into the bedroom and asked Ed to follow him, leading him to the bath. There were red rose petals floating on the water and several lit candles. It was fancy as fuck, and Ed was maybe feeling something a little soft in his chest that Stede had planned all of this so quickly. Their marriage conversation had only been the night before last.
Stede leaned and kissed along Ed’s jawline, asking, “Mind if I take these off?” He was gesturing at Ed’s boxer briefs.
“Yep. Can I help you?”
“Yes.”
Ed helped Stede slip out of his robe and pajamas, and then they helped each other peel out of their underwear before getting into the hot water together.
“Oh, that is so good,” Ed moaned. “You don’t have to do the rest. This bath is romantic enough. Fuck, this is nice.”
“Ed! The rest is really good.”
“What’s after this?”
“Non-sexy butt massage.”
“So we’re fucking?”
“I said ‘non-sexy’! I’m just going to use that yummy lavender oil, and massage you, platonically.”
“Yeah, that’s never happened, so after we have sex, then what?”
“Quick showers—”
“So you had planned for the sex.”
“It’s for the massage oil!”
“Then it would have been ‘quick shower’ singular.”
Stede sighed. “I planned for the sex.”
“Knew it!” Ed said triumphantly.
“Then we get dressed, and have a little picnic in the backyard where I will surprise you with a ring, and then after that, one last little thing, which I refuse to divulge, because I would like you to allow me one surprise.”
“One could be okay. Can I have a hint?”
“Dessert is involved.”
“Is it chocolate?”
“Yes,” Stede said, heaving a sigh.
“Pretty good plan, babe. I think we could do all of that.”
“Really? You still want to?”
“Yeah, sounds fun and like you put a lot of thought into it.”
“I did. I want you to feel like you’re special to me. Because you are.”
“I’m going to get positively spoiled.” Ed kissed Stede. “I like it.”
They finished their soak and dried off. Stede lead Ed back into the bedroom and put down a towel to preserve their sheets before having Ed lie down for his massage. It had gone exactly as Ed had predicted, he thought smugly, as he fucked into Stede’s mouth. Platonic, his ass. He would have said so too, but couldn’t manage it around the dick in his own mouth.
When they were done, they had the quick showers, and then went into their closet. “How fancy should I be?" Ed asked.
Stede looked fretful. “I would really like to dress up, but it will be hot later.”
“Isn’t yet, and we can always change.”
“The purple, please? It’s my favorite.”
Ed dressed in the suit, with a white shirt, but left it unbuttoned down his chest so Stede could ogle his tattoos, a thing he knew Stede very much liked doing. Stede, in turn, was also dressing in a suit, teal jacket open over a shirt thin enough to be transparent. Ed’s mouth went dry as he stared at the outline of Stede’s tits under the gauzy fabric.
“I don’t know if you should be asking me any important questions while wearing that. Fuck, Stede.”
“You’ll have to bear up, darling. I’m getting engaged today, and I want to look spectacular.”
“That you do,” Ed said, and he could hear the wonder and affection in his own voice.
They went outside and had their picnic on a blanket spread over the ground, more of a very light lunch after the larger breakfast. They talked and ate, and made each other laugh, and Ed was reminded again of how much he loved just being with Stede. They passed the time so well.
Then Stede took Ed’s hand with a smile. “Edward Teach, you are the love of my life. Will you do me the very great honor of being my husband?”
“Yes, I’ll be your husband. There’s nothing I want more. I want everything with you, Stede. Forever.”
Stede kissed him slow and sweet, hand stroking over his back before pulling away to offer Ed the ring he’d left sitting in its box on the blanket, apparently too distracted to have used it in the proposal.
The ring was a pretty cluster of purplish gems set in a floral pattern, eight at the center, and sixteen—Ed counted them—set around the exterior as petals. He grinned at Stede, “Twenty-four gems? That’s overkill! What are they?”
“Tanzanite. It’s vintage, and the color made me think of you. It’s not very fancy, but—”
“It’s perfect. I have one for you too. If you want?” Ed patted down his pocket and removed the ring. It was an oval cut sapphire set in silver with scrollwork on the sides, and he shrugged, and said, “Made me think of you.”
They laughed as they exchanged the rings, sliding them onto each other’s left ring fingers, and Stede said, “Fiancés sounds much better than roommates.”
“I’d be your roommate anytime, love, but I like fiancé better too.”
They resumed kissing, and if that’s all they did, it wasn’t just because they could hear Mabel cackling triumphantly from her backyard.
Ed laughed and called through the fence, “Did you want to see the rings?”
Stede made a face at him, but he followed Ed through their gate to talk to Mabel for a few minutes. She admired the rings then agreed to Ed's request to have one more visit to the apartment before it was rented again.
“What's up?” Stede asked.
“I just wanted a minute to say goodbye. I've got a lot of good memories here.”
“Me too, sweetheart.”
Ed took Stede's hand and led him into the now empty bedroom. “We had so many firsts together, right here. I know we'll still have the memories, but now that we're going...I just wanted to have one last look.”
“The people we've become, the ways we've grown together, we keep that.”
“I know, love.”
“And we can always bust in with Mabel whenever she's violating her new tenants’ privacy, if you're really missing it.”
Ed laughed. “I really hope that was just for us.” He pulled Stede into a hug. “Moving in with you was the best thing I ever did. I know we have so many good things ahead of us, but this has been the happiest two years of my life. You’ve filled my heart in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I love you.”
“You filled my heart. I love you.” Stede said, and hugged Ed tighter.
They went back home, and Stede led Ed to the kitchen. He took a glance around the space, and then asked, “Dessert first? Or would you like to dance?”
Ed grinned, remembering their very first slow dance. “Dance.”
“If I was being really accurate we’d have done this at Mabel’s and invited Alma and Louis, but I really wanted this to be just us.” He started some music and held out a hand. “Slow dance, darling?”
Ed stepped into Stede, taking his hand and moving his other hand up to Stede’s shoulder, while Stede wrapped his arm around Ed’s waist. The music was, of course, “Eternal Flame” by the Bangles.
Ed laughed. “I never asked. Did you pick this song specifically for our first slow dance?”
“Specifically how? I just like it,” Stede said, sounding curious, as they moved around the kitchen together.
“Listen to the lyrics,” Ed said with gentle amusement.
“ ‘I watch when you’re sleeping. You belong with me.’ Oh my god, Ed are you confessing to watching me like a creep?”
“Uh, yeah. I was almost always awake when you were sleep cuddling me. Was really into it too. Still am, actually.”
Stede giggled as the song played on. “Oh, no. I hear it now. Crap. ‘A whole life so lonely, and then come and ease the pain.’ Good grief.”
“You’re like sun shining through the rain. Exactly like that,” Ed said, and Stede beamed at the words.
“ ‘Close your eyes, give me your hand, darling,’ ” Stede sang along, “ ‘Do you feel my heart beating? Do you understand? Do you feel the same?’ ” He broke off from singing. “I might as well have been proposing right then. Remind me to play this at our wedding.”
“First dance, obvs,” Ed agreed, as Stede swayed with him to the music. “Eternal flame, love.”
“Eternal flame,” Stede agreed.