"Marrying me?"
"Choosing you. Every single day. Even when it was hard. Even when it was scary. Choosing you."
He pulled me closer. "I choose you too. Always."
***
The next weekend, all four couples gathered at Sandro and Emilio's estate for dinner.
It had become tradition—monthly dinners, all of us together. Found family. Isabella, now a toddler, ran around the living room while the adults tried to have conversations.
But tonight had special cause for celebration. Matteo and Stefan had news.
"We got approved," Stefan announced, beaming. "The adoption went through. We're picking up our daughter next month."
The room erupted in congratulations. Luca and I immediately moved to hug them both.
"That's amazing," I said. "Congratulations."
"Thanks." Matteo looked genuinely happy, softer than I'd ever seen him. "We're terrified but excited."
"You'll be great parents," Luca said. "Both of you."
Over dinner, the conversation turned to family planning. Sandro and Emilio talked about maybe adopting—giving Isabella a sibling. Matteo and Stefan discussed nursery plans. Elio and Julian mentioned they were considering surrogacy.
And then everyone looked at us.
"What about you two?" Sandro asked. "Ready to start thinking about kids?"
I looked at Luca. We'd discussed it privately but hadn't made it public yet.
"We're thinking about it," Luca said carefully. "Starting to research options. Adoption. Surrogacy. Figuring out what's right for us."
"But yes," I added. "We want kids. We're just... taking our time. Making sure we're ready."
"You'll be ready when it happens," Emilio said. "No one's ever really ready. You just figure it out."
"That's terrifying," I said.
"That's parenting," Sandro said, watching Isabella smear pasta on her face. "Constant terror mixed with incredible joy."
I reached under the table and found Luca's hand. Squeezed. He squeezed back.
Kids. A family. Building something beyond just the two of us.
We could do that. Together, we could do anything.
Back home that night, we stood at the windows overlooking the city. Our spot. Where we'd had so many important conversations. Where we'd stood on our first real date, me terrified and him performing. Where we'd stood after the arrest, committed despite the charges.
Now we stood here as husbands. As partners. As two people building a future.
"Do you think we're ready?" I asked. "For kids?"
"I don't know. But I want to try. With you, I want to try." He turned to face me. "You'd be an amazing father."
"So would you. Despite everything—or maybe because of everything—I think you'd be incredible."
"We'd figure it out together." He cupped my face. "Like we've figured out everything else."
