“Alexi. Stop it,” I whined from his couch as Alexander hovered around me as soon as I coughed, “we were told this was normal. That I’d be coughing for a while even though the infection is gone. I have my inhaler in my pocket. You’re being overbearing.”

“I-I’m not trying to be. I’m just worried,” he sighed and sat next to me and I laid my head on his lap, “It sucks seeing you sick and knowing there’s nothing more I can do.”

“I’ll be fine soon. I swear. It’s New Year's Eve. Go out with Laney and Serena. I’ll stay here, I promise. I know I can’t drive yet, so I’ll be in your bed as soon as you’re home.”

“Nope,” Alexander laughed and ran his fingers through my hair, “I would rather spend it with you. Besides,” he held up his phone and I realized that Zeke was calling, “I have someone to talk to first,” he answered the call as I sat up, doing my best to fix my hair, “Zekey, why are you up?”

“Because,” Ezekiel sighed, making me laugh, “I’m 11 now. I can stay up until midnight with Mum and Dad to tell you Happy New Year, Bubby.”

“Happy New Year Zekey. Where are Mum and Dad?”

“They’re kissing. It’s gross!”

“It’s to celebrate,” Alexander laughed, making me smile at Zeke’s innocence.

“What are you doing tonight? It’s not midnight right?”

“Not yet no. I’m spending it at home with the guy I’m dating. I told you about him.”

“Oh! Caelan! Right.”

“He’s here because he’s sick. Do you want to say hi?”

“Mhm,” Zeke nodded and Alexander turned the phone a bit so that I could be in the frame too, “hi, Mr. Caelan!”

“Hello, Zeke. No need to call me mister,” I smiled gently, “Happy New Year, bud.”

“Thank you! Alexi said you’re sick. Are you okay?” his soft brown eyes filled with concern and I felt my heart settle, knowing that Zeke was as gentle as Alexander was.

“Yes, I’m okay now. My lungs got full of liquid so I spent some time in the hospital but they let your brother bring me home as long as I stayed with him. Thank you for worrying.”

“You’re welcome! You have fun hair.”

“Thanks,” I snorted, smiling when Alexander rubbed my thigh, “you look a lot like Alexi. Other than being a redhead like me.”

“Mum has red hair. Do your parents?”

“No, my parents have brown and blonde hair. But I have a lot of family with red hair. I’m the only one of my siblings that does though.”

“You have brothers!” he gasped, clearly excited.

“I do! I have 3 brothers and 2 sisters.”

“Are you the oldest?”

“Second oldest. I have a big brother named Cassian. We’re only a year and a half apart in age. You’re closer to the same age as my nephew Carson and niece Cosette.”

“Aw! You’re so nice, Mr. Caelan.”

“Technically,” Alexander smiled, “he’d be Dr. Caelan, Zekey. But please don’t do that. I know I told you to treat adults with respect, but Caelan is going to be my partner so calling him mister will be weird.”

“Oh okay. Alexi,” Zeke whined, “when are you coming to see me? I miss you.”

Alexander’s face fell for a moment before he hid the pain behind a calm smile, “as soon as I can okay? But remember, I’m moving back there in exactly two years. You’ll be 13 but I-I will attempt to come out this year okay? I know it’s Mum and Dad’s anniversary in May. I’ll try to be there for it, okay?”

“Ezekiel Samuel Bennett,” a soft Yorkshire accent came from somewhere near Zeke and he turned his head, “It’s too late to be on your tablet. I told you to go to bed when the fireworks stopped.”

“But it’s Alexi,” Zeke whined.

“Really?”

The tablet shook, making the screen wonky for a moment, and a beautiful woman with deep auburn waves and soft green eyes came into the frame. She was quite young-looking, her smile a bit crooked as her eyes filled with tears.

“Alexi… oh hi baby,” she whispered and Alexander gripped my thigh.

“Hi Mum,” he smiled, “how are you? I’m sorry I haven’t called, I’ve been busy.”

“It’s okay! Oh, it’s absolutely okay. Hello,” she was clearly talking to me and I nodded before smiling.

“Hello. I’m Caelan. I’ve been seeing Alexi for a while now. Sorry I’ve kept him from calling, I had severe pneumonia and just left the hospital today. It’s nice to talk to you, Ruthie.”

“You too. Thank you for taking care of Alexi for us.”

“He takes care of me, to be fair,” I laughed softly as Alexander pressed a kiss to my cheek.

“Jake! Jacob,” Ruthie called over her shoulder and my eyes grew wide when I saw Alexander’s father. They were identical, the same curly brown hair and eyes, light tan skin tone, but Jacob had a few small scars on his face, the most prominent one on the bridge of his nose, “it’s Alexi and Caelan. The man Alexi talks about all the time.”

“Oh I swear if you don’t stop talking about me, I might kill you,” I glared at Alexander and he shrugged.

“Hey Dad,” Alexander smiled and Jacob nodded, “Happy New Year to you both.”

“I would say the same but it’s too early in Indiana so I’ll text it to you later,” Jacob laughed loudly, “Zeke said something about you coming out in May?”

“Well, I plan to try. We’re going to Montana in a week to watch Caelan’s little brother get married. I met his parents on Christmas even if we spent it at the hospital. I-I’d like to bring Caelan to Taupaki to meet you both. If you want,” he looked at me and I smiled before nodding, “Okay. We’ll figure out flights and all that. Come out at the end of May to celebrate your anniversary. Um… so I told Zeke but… I’m moving home. In two years but still. Caelan told me if we’re still together he’ll come with me.”

“Really?” Jacob smiled and I nodded, “What do you do, Caelan?”

“I’m a doctor like Alexi. Just in physical therapy, not hematology. I work at an office here in South Bend.”

“But you’re from Montana? Why not go home?” Ruthie tilted her head and I sighed softly.

“I’m the second of six kids. I’m still working on repairing my relationship with my parents. They were good to me, treated me well, and gave me everything I wanted. But having that many siblings, a few who required medical care and one who had a baby really young in his life made me feel a bit forgotten. As if nothing I did was enough to get their praise. Alexi has been helping us heal it, working as a bridge and I appreciate that. I love my parents, they’re good people. But they struggled to give attention to as many children as they had. So I have no desire to be in the same home or anything as them right now. I doubt I will later in life either. But I do go see them during the holidays and make attempts now to tell them things. I never did before.”

“Hm,” Ruthie stared at me and I cleared my throat, “is that normal for you?”

“The coldness in my voice? Yes. It happens. Alexi is good at stopping it though. Pulling me back to reality.”

“Good. Well… we’re proud of you,” she gestured to Jacob and he smiled gently, “being a doctor isn’t an easy accomplishment. Did you go to Notre Dame like Alexi?”

“I did. I was also a D1 basketball player while attending school.”

“What position?”

“Oh. I was a point guard. I’m only five foot eight so it made sense since I’m quick on my feet.”

“I was a power forward in uh… Alexi, what’s secondary education there?” Jacob snorted.

“High school.”

“Ah yeah, that! That’s why Ruthie asked. She used to come to all of my games. So we were impressed. Division 1 basketball player and a doctor at 26? You truly are impressive Caelan.”

“Th-thank you, sir,” I stuttered, my cheeks warm.

“Can I ask you something?” Ruthie jumped in once again and I nodded, “We know why Alexi was single. But why were you? It’s important to me to know.”

“Ah, I just never allowed myself to date or try and meet someone. I was too busy with school and then work. I also tend to come off as rude or overly cold to people who aren’t used to it. I wouldn’t have met Alexi without Delaney. She tricked me into a blind date with him and honestly, I don’t regret it. He makes me happy, takes great care of me and my cat, and we have a lot in common. It’s been nice, knowing what it feels like when someone truly wants to be at your side. I get what my parents always said about feeling comfortable with someone. I never knew that emotion.”

“I’m glad you met each other. It makes us happy to know Alexi found someone like you. We’re harsh when it comes to who he dates but we approve. We just want him to smile and he is now. It’s been really nice talking to you but we promised to take Zeke to the beach tomorrow so unfortunately, us old people need to sleep,” Ruthie giggled.

“You’re far younger than my parents, so please. I wouldn’t have thought either of you were Alexi’s parents until now. Sleep well, both of you. I should rest as well, my chest is getting tight again.”

“Alright. Alexi, we’ll text you tomorrow.”

“Mhm, goodnight Mum, night Dad,” Alexander rubbed the nape of my neck and I coughed softly, trying to hide the pain in my chest, “talk soon.”

“Bye.”

The call ended and I immediately used my inhaler before laying my head on Alexander’s lap again, my eyes shutting on their own. He pressed a soft kiss to my forehead and ran his fingers through my hair.

“Is the pain still there?” he whispered against my skin and I shook my head, “good. Well, we have time until midnight. What should we do?”

“Rest, eat, watch movies. We haven’t had time to be a real couple since I got sick.”

“True. That sounds fun.”

We spent the rest of the day simply relaxing, enjoying each other's company as Hobbes jumped around the living room, playing with the few toys that Alexander had bought for him. The countdown to midnight started on the television as we had been watching various country's fireworks shows through a streaming service and we stood in front of the television as the last ten seconds counted down for us, Alexander holding me tightly.

“3,2,1,” I whispered, looking up at Alexander, “Happy New Year, honey.”

“Happy New Year, baby,” he whispered back, moving closer as he wrapped a hand around the nape of my neck.

I froze, my heart racing as he leaned in, stopping just before he pressed his lips to mine. I closed the distance, signaling it was okay, and Alexander smiled into the kiss, wrapping his hand into my hair, his other on my lower back as he cradled my head. I tossed my arms around his neck, pressing close and he laughed, continuing to kiss me slowly, his thumb tracing my nape.

“You make me so happy,” he whispered against my lips, “please… Please don’t ever leave. I want to stay with you.”

“I’m not going anywhere, Alexi. I’m yours. I promised as much when we agreed to date.”

“I want more than that now. I don’t want to keep dating. Caelan,” he swallowed slowly, taking both of my hands in his, “I want you to actually be my boyfriend. We’ve been dating for three months now. I think it’s plenty of time to establish the fact I have true, deep feelings for you. Do you feel the same way as me?”

“Yes,” I nodded and Alexander beamed, cradling my face and kissing me deep enough that I nearly fell to the ground, unable to stay on my feet, “Jesus Christ!”

“I’ve been dying to kiss you for months. Sorry. I couldn’t hold back anymore.”

“What do you think the year will bring us?”

“Happiness. That’s all I want for the next year. Happiness and you start the process of moving to New Zealand with me.”

“That was always my plan. I’ll be wherever you are.”

“I know, baby. So will I.”

We shared a few more soft kisses as the fireworks exploded on the television, the warmth from Alexander’s fireplace filling the room. It was a wonderful experience for me, knowing I was safe and cared for by my first, wonderful, boyfriend.