“Hello?” Alexander answered as soon as I called him, standing at baggage claim at South Bend International Airport, “Are you enjoying Montana? How are your parents? I miss you.”

“Oh goodness,” I snorted, sitting on a chair near the doors to the pickup area, “my parents are fine. I miss you too. What are you doing?”

“Just gave Hobbes his dinner and now we’re watching a movie in my bed. It’s 11 pm, dork. I was getting ready to go to bed.”

“Ah. Right, well I guess I’ll just have Delaney come pick me up so I can head home.”

“Wait!” he gasped, making me giggle, “Caelan, are you back already?”

“Sitting here in South Bend International, wondering what I can do to get home.”

“Don’t call Laney. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

“Be safe. The snow is starting.”

“I swear.”

“See you soon.”

“Bye, babe.”

Alexander ended the call and I hugged my phone close to my chest. That was the first time Alexander had called me anything except Caelan or Cae and it warmed my heart, helped me to know I made the right choice in coming home. Alexander arrived fifteen minutes later and jumped out of his car as soon as he realized I was standing outside, rushing over and picking me up as I laughed, hugging him tightly.

“You came back to me,” he whispered in my ear, burying his face into the side of my neck.

“I was only gone for fourteen hours. Don’t be so dramatic,” I laughed, kissing his cheek as I played with the bottom of his hair, “I’m home until the 8th, then I’ll be going back to see Cruz get married. My parents invited you but I don’t want you to feel like you have to come with me.”

“Really? I’d love to,” he leaned back and smiled, still holding me.

“I know it’s late but there are people around and now I’m embarrassed. Can we please leave?”

“Oh right,” he set me down and took my suitcase after opening the passenger door so I could take my seat. Once everything was loaded he climbed into the driver's seat and started the car, heading toward his house, “we have to get Hobbes. I don’t think he would be very happy knowing you were home and he wasn’t with you.”

“Well… um… can I stay over?”

“Yeah? Sure. I’m tired anyway and want to get some sleep.”

“Perfect.”

We reached Alexander’s house a bit later, the red brick and large porch now familiar to me as I came over to spend time with him and Delaney once a week, grateful to still see my best friend when I was spending time with him. He led me inside quietly, all the lights off as Delaney was home and asleep and we finally reached his bedroom at the back of the house, Hobbes chittering excitedly when he saw me.

“Oh hi,” I whispered, picking up Hobbes and burying my face into his fur, “I missed you too, baby.”

“He has been staring at my door since we got here, waiting for you,” Alexander laughed, sitting on the bed to take his shoes off, “Man I should have just come to get you in my pajamas if I knew we were coming back here. I’ve been in actual clothes all day.”

“Oh yeah, today was your last day of work until the holidays are over. How was it? Tell me about your day,” I pulled my hair into a bun and kicked my shoes off, joining Alexander on the bed as he laid back, staring at the ceiling.

“Exhausting,” he sighed and I gently rubbed his stomach, “we were short a few nurses and I had to run around and administer medications myself as I had no one to direct to do it. It was strange, felt like I was back doing my clinicals. But it’s always nice to get to spend time with my patients. A lot of them are scared so it helps if they see one of their doctors actually caring for them, not just giving news and checking charts. How did it go with your folks? I know you weren’t exactly thrilled about being there.”

“I yelled at them,” laughing, I laid down next to him and rolled on my side so I could keep looking at Alexander, “and finally told them how I felt as a kid. Just forgotten. Ignored. I told them to start giving Cyrus the attention and support he needs. My little brother is an alcoholic. He calls me drunk a few times a week and it all stems back to this being his attempt at getting anyone to notice how dark things are in his mind. But I’m the only person he trusts. He needs Remi. They were always close but he got a bit forgotten like I did. Cruz is the baby and right now everyone is focused on his wedding. I am truly, deeply, happy for my brother. That he met a man who adores his daughter to the same level as Cruz. I wanted that for him. I just think my parents need to notice the rest of us right now. At least Cyrus. I’m past what happened, past the pain that they unknowingly gave me. I don’t want you to think my parents were bad to us or neglectful. They weren’t, they adored all of us. But they had a hard time managing a home full of kids. They did their best. I just want them to do a little bit better for Cyrus’ sake.”

“They probably need to hear that from you,” he caressed my cheek softly and I kissed his palm, “because they can’t see it if you aren’t open. I can’t relate since I’m so much older than Zeke but I do understand at the very least.”

“They really want to meet you,” I smiled, “because you’re the first person I’ve been close to like this and I showed them your picture.”

“Well I want to meet them too,” he wrapped me in his arms, pulling my left leg over his hip, “they gave me you after all.”

“You’re so fucking cheesy all the time.”

“You love it. Shut up. I’m so tired but I want to stay up with you,” Alexander whined and I kissed his cheek, giggling when he pulled me closer.

“Not like I won’t be here in the morning. We can have breakfast together and play in the snow if you want to be childish for a while. Or go to my house and watch it fall from the sitting room. I love doing that. I sit there and draw as the snow falls. Usually have classical music playing and tea but hey. I’m an old man at heart.”

“I do like that about you,” he laughed, “alright. Let’s sleep. I’ll give you some of my clothes for tonight since I forgot your suitcase in the car,” he climbed out of bed and I rolled on my stomach to watch him, Hobbes asleep on a blanket near the door.

“Thank you… babe.”

Alexander spun around and I smiled, once again flipping on my back to look at him upside down. He came close and pressed his lips to my forehead, his hand resting against my throat. I reached up and laced my fingers into his hair, my eyes fluttering closed at the warmth and comfort I felt whenever Alexander gave me affection.

“You’re so cute,” he whispered, moving down to my cheek, “I am so glad you came home. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I missed you so much, Cae.”

“I missed you too, Alexi. Get some clothes for us and let’s cuddle. I want to sleep in your bed tonight.”

“I never planned for you to sleep anywhere else.”

We got ready for bed separately, being as quiet as possible due to the bathroom sharing a wall with Delaney’s bedroom and after I had washed my face and braided my hair, I headed across the hall to Alexander’s room. He was propped up on the pillows, messing with a pair of glasses before he put them on and grabbed the television remote, starting a movie quietly.

“You never wear glasses,” I gasped, crawling onto the free side of the bed and under the blanket.

“I do when we aren’t together. I wear contacts almost all day and now my eyes hurt. Come here,” he lifted his arm and I cuddled close, my head on his chest and leg over his thigh, “see… this I like.”

“Yeah me too. Is cuddling supposed to be so comfortable?”

“Mhm. Also, deep breath,” he kissed the top of my head and I gripped his side, closing my eyes, “keep the cold at bay and get some rest. I can hear it coming out in your voice. It’s worse when you’re tired. So rest, babe. Okay? We have all the time in the world tomorrow to do whatever you want. I don’t care as long as you’re smiling.”

“What if I want to just lay here all day and watch movies with you and Hobbes?”

“We can always do that. I’d love nothing more.”

“Okay. Goodnight,” yawning, I finally relaxed enough to fall asleep, Alexander running his fingers along my lower back and the top of my pajama pants.

The next morning came too quickly and I woke up alone, Alexander nowhere to be found. Grabbing one of his sweaters from the floor, I headed into the living room with Hobbes behind me and stopped when I found Alexander cooking breakfast, his shirt oversized and hanging just past his hips. He had no pants on, just his boxer briefs and Delaney was pestering him about who he had brought over last night, not realizing I was standing in the hallway.

“Caelan isn’t going to appreciate you cheating on him, Alexi!”

“I would never do that to him, you should know this by now.”

“So who was here last night? I could hear you talking and laughing with someone. It was very flirtatious. I won’t forgive you for hurting him. He’s perfect for you, idiot, and if you blow this I will hurt you.”

“I have no plans to ruin things with Caelan. I adore him. We make each other happy. Besides,” he turned around and winked at me and I smiled, chewing my lip when I realized he knew I was there but Delaney still hadn’t, “I don’t have to cheat when it’s the man I’m seeing.”

“Cae is in Montana until the 10th so I know you’re lying. Some friend you are,” Delaney scoffed and I walked as quietly as I could behind her, placing my hands over her eyes, “Hey what the fuck!”

“Surprise,” I deepened my tone and Delaney pulled my hands away, spinning around quickly and nearly tackling me to the floor in a hug, “Alexi would never hurt me that way. You didn’t need to defend me so much. It is nice to know you have my back though. Thank you, Laney.”

“Duh, you’re my best friend. More than that idiot,” she gestured over her shoulder at Alexander who scowled but continued to cook, “what in the hell are you doing here?”

“My parents sent me home to be with you guys. Why are you here?”

“I leave for Sydney today. Alexi is taking me to the airport in two hours.”

“Aw,” I whined, rushing over and wrapping my arms around Alexander from behind, “I thought we were watching movies all day.”

“I’ll be gone half an hour and bring you back coffee,” he laughed, “move your hands, I don’t want to burn you or me.”

“Oh right,” I slid my hands to his sides and kissed between his shoulders, “good morning.”

“Good morning, baby. How did you sleep?”

“Great. No dreams or anything.”

“Perfect.”

“Oh I love this,” Delaney giggled and I realized she had her phone out, taking pictures of us.

“Delete that,” I huffed, trying to grab her phone and she jumped up, running to her room before I could even move, “what a brat,” I muttered, making Alexander laugh.

“It’s like having a kid around, I know. But you know as well as I do that there’s no one more reliable than her when you’re in a tough spot.”

“True. What did you make me for breakfast?”

“Eggs, sausage, and pancakes. There’s juice in the fridge. Can you set the breakfast bar for me?”

“Absolutely.”

I did as Alexander asked, watching him finish cooking before we settled in for breakfast, leaving enough behind for Delaney in case she was hungry. Alexander kissed my hair between bites of pancake and I squeezed his leg, happy to be with him again.

“I could get used to this,” he whispered, kissing me behind my ear once we were done eating.

“I could too. I want to.”

“So do I. Don’t worry.”

“Nothing about being with you scares me, Alexi.”

“I’ve gathered and I’m proud of you for being willingly open to being with me.”

“It wasn’t hard. You’ve always made me feel comfortable and safe.”

“I always will.”

“I know.”