***
Returning to the living room once the unpacking was done, Tam almost wanted to laugh to see how happy Darren was, as he walked over to Giovanni and kissed him. It was a long, slow kiss that said he was happy, but needed reassurance.
With a glance at his husband, he caught Casen blushing. It was good to see that he still knew what Tam was thinking. He kissed him the same way, sometimes. After a nightmare or a long, hard day at work. Sometimes even just when he missed him.
“Oh, that wasn't the wind,” Mack said, his voice breaking through the noise of the room. “That was just those two being love birds,” he claimed, nodding towards his twin, as they walked into the room.
Grayson tried not to laugh, but the humour was evident in his eyes and smile. “Stopped off along the way, did you?” he asked, causing a flush to rise up Casen's neck.
“It was a really,reallylong drive,” he insisted, as though that was any justification.
Tam could only smile; long drive his foot. Casen had been twitchy and unsure about whether the whole thing would be a disaster or not, until Tam had been forced to pull over and talk sense into him. It had involved a few intense kisses, some soft words of reassurance and a lot of promises about leaving early, if it all got too much for him.
Clasping his hands, he was about to speak up when something pinged in the kitchen. Grayson responded by rushing out of his seat and heading over to the counter.
“Want a hand?” Tam offered, needing something to do.
Cormag and Giovanni were already deep in conversation, while Darren and Casen chattered animatedly about publishing, novels and their mutual friends. Levi and Mack didn't seem to mind being left to their own devices, as they talked about sports and a movie they'd seen recently. It was good to see everyone finding a niche, knowing what to talk about and who to hang out with, without it getting awkward. Nice to see, but not something Tam was good at.
“Sure,” Grayson agreed, with a truly grateful smile. He looked a little hassled, until Tam joined him in the kitchen. Then he hitched his voice lower and confessed, “I told Konnor not to help, because he's been butterfingers ever since I told him it was happening. It's been a little chaotic, to say the least.”
“Well, tell me what to do, where you want stuff and I'll get it done,” he promised.
The way Grayson looked at him was kind of heart-warming. There was more than just appreciation there, but a little bit of regret, for never realising that he wasn't a threat before now.
But, he figured that was the whole point of this week. To put aside old grievances, despite the years and trials they'd already been through together, and finally see each other for the family they were. Maybe there were a few unpredictable people who had done incredibly stupid things, people who had hurt those they cared about and been hurt in return. But, in the end, they were family. Unconventional, but each chosen despite their flaws and the disagreements.
Tam didn't say anything about it; he just did anything Grayson asked and kept up the light hearted small talk that got them through the next hour.
When Lachlan and Konnor got back, the dynamic would change. It was those two people who had first brought them all together and kept the peace over the years. It would be those two, with the help of Casen and Darren, who would make this week a successful reunion.
And, after all, that was what they all wanted. Each of them had come voluntarily, to help Konnor deal with the past and understand that it was over. They'd all come through some awful shit to get where they were now. It was time to celebrate the fact that they'd survived.
