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Part 1: Sunrise
Edwin sat by the beach, the sun only just having risen and the waves playing around his feet. He barely remembered the last time he'd been on a beach holiday, which was when he was still a child and with his parents. Holidays in his childhood were a nice change of scenery, but even then, they had not felt quite like a holiday. They had certainly not felt like this holiday.
He breathed deeply, enjoying the salt in the air and the breeze in his hair. He never could have imagined a holiday feeling like this. This relaxed and comfortable.
When he heard steps in the sand behind him, he smiled. He'd recognise that gait anywhere.
"There you are," Thomas greeted him, sat down next to him, and kissed his cheek.
Edwin leaned into him. "We're heading home tomorrow and…"
"You don't want to miss a single moment," Thomas guessed.
Edwin sighed.
"And here I am, sleeping through half the day," Thomas said histrionically.
Edwin huffed a laugh. "The sun has only just come up."
"Any plans for our last day?"
Edwin thought for a moment, but he already knew the answer. "I just want to take it in, just being here."
"I am very much on board with that."
"You don't mind? You're always the more active one."
"My dear, you know as well as I do that I have a mellow side to the party cat." Thomas smiled at the horizon. "A side that's been coming through a lot more since we met, as you also know."
Edwin smiled, amused. "I do know," he confirmed. "I just want to make sure that you tell me when you're getting the zoomies."
Thomas snickered. "Niko loves the whole cat king bit far too much," he said, knowing damn well where Edwin had picked up the term 'zoomies'. "And I have told you, haven't I? We've explored the whole island up one side and down the other in the past two weeks in between our relaxing times on the beach."
"Which was very enjoyable," Edwin admitted.
"If your wide-eyed wonder was anything to go by, yes. You're not exactly idle, either." Thomas pointed out, grinning at Edwin. "And you particularly liked that cave legend you learned about, if I remember correctly."
Edwin sighed happily. "It's very romantic and tragic, even if those two idiots could have lived happily ever after, had remembered to set up place of worship for Venus, like they promised." He closed his eyes and smiled when Thomas' sonorous chuckle made his heart sing.
"I would never forget to thank a goddess for bringing you to me," Thomas murmured in Edwin's ear.
Edwin opened his eyes and returned the loving look. "We didn't need a goddess. It was all you. You were worried about me when you heard what Simon had done and wanted to make things right."
Thomas smiled ruefully. "Not just to make things right for you, but for me as well." He took a deep breath. "That asshole was a real wake-up call."
Edwin leaned against Thomas. "I'm just glad he didn't manage to get to you and hurt you too."
Thomas didn't know what he could say to that, only that he was really glad that the whole Simon episode was behind Edwin and that they had found each other and were where they were now.
"Our anniversary is coming up…" was what he eventually said. Because that was what had led Thomas to Edwin: his unfortunate (and thankfully very short-lived) fling with Simon who had admitted to having a thing for harassment and bullying and all things nasty.
Edwin hummed happily. "You're counting the day we met?"
"I will also count the day we kissed a month later, but the meeting came first, obviously."
"Obviously."
They happily enjoyed each other's company in silence as the beach slowly started to get more busy.
"So," Thomas said, "what do you say to breakfast from the beach bar thingy?"
Edwin grinned at him. It was called a 'beach bar', but Thomas had added 'thingy', as soon as he had noticed that it offered coffee and baked goods in the morning, which was not what a bar was supposed to carry. Edwin's comment about the biscuit bar that Thomas had established at his famous Christmas party last December were dismissed, due to it being 'not the same thing'.
"Beach bar thingy it is," Edwin said.
They hardly left the beach at all that day, soaking in every minute of their last day before they would have to return to the real world.
Thankfully, they had many things to look forward to back home. They both enjoyed their studies, and Thomas was about to start his PhD programme. Edwin missed his friends, and Thomas had learned in the time he'd been with Edwin that he had more friends than he'd previously assumed. Thomas and his extra-curricular party planning would also have to get ready for Halloween, soon enough.
By the time the sun had set, and they had enjoyed their last dinner at their hotel, it felt a little like they were already halfway on their journey back. The suitcases were being brought out, and the cupboards emptied…
Time to go home.
"Edwiiiin!"
Edwin was barely through the front door and was already enthusiastically glomped by Niko. His suitcase was dropped, and his carry-on bag slumped off his shoulder.
"You have to tell me absolutely everything!"
Edwin chuckled and returned the hug, though he was still trying not to drop his bag.
"And I will, but I am dead on my feet, have clothes to clean, my things to put away…" He put his hands on Niko's shoulders to put her at the kind of distance where he could see her face and smile at her properly. "… and I just want to drop into my bed."
"Oh, alright," Niko conceded with a playful smirk. "But you'd better have brought presents."
"Of course I have. Bed first, however."
Well, almost. First, he had to accept more hugs from Charles and Crystal, but they were slightly more inclined to let Edwin rest, so he found himself sort through his dirty clothes, souvenirs, and toiletries in his room soon enough.
After two weeks of being with Thomas constantly, it was odd to suddenly be alone in his room, knowing that he would be the only one sleeping in that bed.
He was too tired to think about it too much, and he was too asleep quickly as well, but he already knew that he would perhaps have to think about it once he was awake again. Missing Thomas was beginning to become a problem and had done so even before the holiday.
Part 2: Safe Haven
And missing Thomas was even more stark in the morning, when Edwin instinctively turned on his side to search for the warm body that… was not there.
"Oh, this is absurd," he muttered when his hand found nothing but cold sheets, and he realised just how much had changed in the past (almost) year.
He stayed on his side and pulled his pillow into his arms, pensive.
Was it time for things to change again? He wasn't sure if he was quite ready to leave this home he'd made with his friends, his family. And while Thomas was more than happy to spend time at their Scooby flat, asking him to live with them permanently would be too much, and the space too cramped for five people. Also, Thomas would never find another home like the house he'd inherited, not in London, and Edwin would never ask him to sell it.
Perhaps he would have to wait for a sign from the universe, he thought sarcastically.
With a deep sigh and no answers just then, Edwin heaved himself out of the bed and into the shower. By the time he was dressed, he noticed how everyone else seemed to be up and about (and had been for a while, if the volume was anything to go by), and he peered at his alarm clock. His eyes widened when he realised that it was almost noon.
He must have been more exhausted than even he had realised. And he had realised it.
He followed the cheerful noises to the living room, and lit up immediately when he saw that Thomas was there with the others and got up when he saw Edwin, already moving around the furniture to get to him.
"Darling, baby, sweetheart," he said with enthusiasm, "I," he interrupted himself for a loud kiss once he'd reached Edwin, "missed you."
Edwin laughed, and it was only a little choked, then he pulled Thomas into a hug.
"I missed you too," he said into his neck.
"I brought breakfast," Thomas announced and pulled back only just a little.
"What has you so chipper at this ungodly hour?" Edwin asked playfully.
Thomas raised an eyebrow. "Do you know what time it is?"
"It was a joke. And, yes, I do," Edwin assured him mock-seriously.
Thomas snickered. "Alright, then. Come on," he urged Edwin to sit on the sofa, "breakfast time." When he had Edwin seated, he leaned down for three brief kisses and straightened. "I'll make you coffee."
Edwin blinked and looked after him, a little dazed.
"What got into him?" Charles asked with a laugh.
"Aww, let him be," Crystal said and patted Charles' arm. "He's in love."
"He's been in love a while now, Crystal."
"And he just learned what it's like to live with Edwin for two weeks," Crystal said pointedly.
"Ah," Charles made. "That would explain it." He looked at Edwin ruefully. "You look about the same."
"Yes," Edwin admitted. "It has been a lovely holiday."
"And you haven't tried to kill each other," Charles joked, raising his coffee. "Cheers."
Edwin rolled his eyes in amusement. "Well, I've had practice with you lot for years now."
"Oi!" When the other three laughed, Charles joined in after a second.
"You are kind of glowing," Niko commented, looking at Edwin. "And it's not just the tan."
Edwin couldn't deny that and only smiled.
"Cappuccino," Thomas announced when he came back, handed the mug to Edwin and sat down next to him.
"And you've been missing out on all the hot goss," he told him with a smirk.
Edwin sighed blissfully at the first sip of cappuccino. "You know I'm not one for gossip."
"Oh, you're one for that piece of gossip, believe me." Thomas nodded at Niko. "Tell him, Niko."
Edwin looked at her with a little frown.
"I was working in admin over the summer, and I may have overheard a thing or two last week," she said cheekily.
"Administration doesn't strike me as a hotbed of gossip," Edwin snarked.
"Shows what you know," Niko volleyed back, unbothered. "Simon's been kicked out of the university for good."
After that bomb, Edwin was struck silent, so Niko continued.
"The complaints against him kept piling up, and, eventually, his family stopped trying to dig him out of his hole and sent him to the States."
The incredulous laugh that burst out of Edwin sounded more like a cough. He took another sip of coffee to dislodge the knot in his throat.
"He's gone?"
"Well, I don't know what plane he was on, but yeah."
Thomas' arm around Edwin was grounding, and he was really glad for it. His eyes stung, and he breathed out shudderingly.
"There were other complaints?" he asked weakly. He'd known of the possibility, but hearing that there had been many both made him feel sad for everyone and less lonely and stupid.
"I didn't exactly see the file," Niko admitted, "because that would have been several kinds of illegal, but it's hardly my fault when faculty members can't control the volume of their voices." She smirked. "It was, quote, 'well over twenty complainants', unquote."
Edwin couldn't hold back the two tears that fell at the news, and Thomas pulled him closer to kiss his temple and whisper, "I'm so proud of you."
"Hey, Eds," Charles piped up, waiting for Edwin to return his compassionate look. "That fucker's not coming back."
Edwin laughed, relieved and brushed away his tears. "He is not," he agreed.
"His reputation's toast," Thomas commented. "Because the news will be all over campus by the time classes start again. Also, all complainants will be informed of the university's steps to address the issue that was reported, and while they can't disclose the number of complainants or what that fuckface is doing now, word will get out."
Breakfast got a lot more cheerful after that talk, and Edwin could go get his presents for everyone from his room and enjoy the pastries Thomas had brought that felt like an echo of their holiday.
All three of his friends soon proudly wore the seashell necklaces they had been gifted with, and they talked about their plans for the tiny remainder of the semester break.
Edwin and Thomas had been the last to go on a trip, the other three had been out and about earlier in the summer, and now they were all at least mentally getting ready for classes again.
"So, what is everyone planning to do next week?" Crystal asked.
Charles chuckled. "We all know that Edwin will start on his course materials."
"So will I, Chuckles," Thomas said loyally. "So will I."
"Of course you will," Charles said. "Our human-rights-lawyer-to-be."
"Specialising in Immigration Law," Thomas specified, holding up a finger. "Mustn't forget that."
"You'll be needed," Niko said.
"Exactly," Thomas agreed. "And aside from that," he added with a wide grin, "it's our anniversary," he sing-songed.
"Can we celebrate too?" Niko asked. "Or do you want it to be just the two of you?"
"Both!" Thomas declared with gusto.
"Oh, you've already decided, have you?" Edwin asked, though he was more than inclined to agree.
They all laughed, and Crystal reached for her phone that was vibrating on the coffee table. She cursed under her breath when she saw the name on the display and picked up, already leaving the room.
"Hey, Monty," she greeted the caller.
Edwin frowned a bit, feeling like he should remember the name and realising that the mood in the room had drastically changed. "Monty?"
"Yeah, Monty Finch," Charles said darkly.
"Oh, yes," Edwin realised. "I believe he's been in some of my classes. Is something the matter?"
"Yeah…" Niko started and looked at Thomas. "We were kind of hoping you could help?"
"Sure thing," Thomas agreed. "What do you need?"
"His psycho of a mother cut him off," Charles said angrily, "and he's been couch surfing the past few weeks. He should be able to continue his studies with his scholarship, but he's American, and things are tricky."
"Alright!" Thomas said, cracking his knuckles. "First things first, is he eighteen?"
Charles and Niko nodded.
"That's why she cut him off," Niko explained. "He refused to go home during the semester break."
"So, when you say psycho…?" Thomas asked delicately.
Charles scoffed, looking ill. "You should see some of his scars or his x-rays."
"The worst scars are all over here," Niko said, gesturing at her chest. "Those are terrifying. It was only rubber bullets, but she shot him in the chest with a shotgun when he was, like, fifteen."
"Good gracious," Edwin burst out, aghast.
Thomas rubbed his face. "I can definitely work with that," he said tightly.
"Oh, and," Niko remembered something, "he's been sleeping on our couch too a few times. That is okay, right, Edwin?"
Edwin blinked, not comprehending right away why she was even asking.
"Of course."
"Thomas?" Charles asked when he saw the other man's expression. "I don't like the look on your face."
"It's my thinking face," Thomas said. "But, yeah, the semester starts in a week, classes in two. This is cutting it a bit close." He sighed. "I guess his scholarship only covers tuition?"
Charles and Niko nodded.
Thomas rubbed his lower lip. "He needs a place of residence," he finally said. "I mean, I have contacts, and we can find a way to pull this off, probably, but if he wants to start classes in two weeks, an address would make things easier."
An address.
Edwin's thoughts came to an abrupt halt, then the thoughts were taking shape, and he smiled to himself, incredulous and feeling a little dizzy and a little like life was… on track. Also just a little bit scared.
Well, he supposed if he wanted a sign from the universe concerning his living situation, this certainly looked like one. His eyes found Thomas', and it only took his boyfriend a few seconds before their thoughts were aligned.
Thomas' eyes widened and he breathed out. "Edwin," he whispered. "Are you sure?"
Edwin smiled crookedly. "I missed you terribly when I woke up this morning," he whispered back and took Thomas' hand.
Thomas smiled cautiously. "It's not too sudden?"
"Sudden, yes. Not too sudden." He firmly held Thomas' gaze. "How could it be?" he added, barely audible anymore, and the loving smile he received for it was all he needed to know, really.
"Edwin?" Charles asked uncertainly, because the other two may have whispered, but he could still hear it.
Edwin took a deep breath and faced his best friend. "It would hardly be fair of me to keep this safe haven to myself," he said, smiling sadly.
"Shit, mate," Charles breathed out when he realised that he had interpreted the whispered words correctly. He looked sad too, but… "I guess it's been coming," he admitted with a smile, though not without pain in his voice.
Niko on the other hand looked utterly grief-stricken, which was perhaps a bit much, given the circumstances, but she had always been one for strong emotions.
Edwin chuckled awkwardly. "Niko, I won't disappear off the face of the earth."
Niko darted at him and wrapped her arms around his neck, thankfully not spilling the remainder of Edwin's cappuccino. "You'd better still come over! Both of you!" she demanded through tears. "For Christmas movie marathons, and cookie baking, and spaghetti Saturdays, and, just, everything!"
Edwin returned the hug with one arm, allowing the situation to settle and just breathe.
"Of course we will."
"Like we'd miss it," Thomas added, though his eyes remained firmly locked with Charles', the two men signing a silent contract through looks alone. Then Thomas smiled and nodded firmly at him. "We won't miss a thing," he promised, more to Charles than Niko.
In that moment, Crystal came back into the room and put her phone into her pocket.
"So, Monty's going to sleep on our couch tonight, and-" She stopped and blinked at the scene before her. "What's going on?"
Everyone looked at Edwin to take the lead in this – Niko even released him from her octopus clasp – and Edwin struggled to find the right words for a moment.
"Uh… Monty will have to make do with the sofa for tonight," he said. "But he can have my room in a day or two."
Crystal processed the words Edwin had eventually found, then she breathed out forcefully. "Holy shit."
"He can also have my bed, come to think of it," Edwin added, frowning at the thought of it. "I hate the bloody thing."
"Not the ancestral carpentry!" Thomas exclaimed histrionically with a hand to his chest.
Edwin smacked his arm, making him snicker. "You are a very silly man."
"I'm punch drunk," Thomas defended himself. "Give me a break. I'm still trying to process that I get to keep you."
Edwin pointedly held up his wrist with the golden bracelet and the '2024' engraving that he'd got from Thomas. "That was never in question."
Niko by now had sped-run through her grieving period and was excitedly making plans for the future.
"We can tell Monty tonight!" she said excitedly. "He'll be so happy!"
"And I'll start making calls tomorrow," Thomas offered. "We'll figure this out."
Edwin's head was buzzing. He was happy and sad in equal amounts, and he'd rarely in his life been so certain about a decision being the right one.
He still noticed Crystal sitting close to Charles who was fighting to keep up his brave face.
"No, I'm fine," Charles insisted. "Bit sudden, is all." He still smiled at Edwin, even though his eyes were glistening suspiciously. "But you'd better keep your promises and show up, both of you."
Edwin made another decision in that moment and put down his coffee and stood, walking over to Charles and waiting for him to stand as well, then he hugged him tightly.
"It was always us against the world…" Charles said lowly, almost nostalgically.
Edwin smiled. "Some parts of that world are on our side now, aren't they?"
Charles saw the other three on the sofa, and he knew that another would soon join their little group. He laughed a watery laugh.
"They are."
"And you'll always be my best friend," Edwin added, whispering.
"Always, mate." Charles sniffed and stepped out of the hug. "I'll even help you move."
Edwin knew that this was more than an offer to drag boxes and smiled softly.
"Thank you."
When Edwin returned to his seat next to Thomas, time appeared to stop spinning out of control around them and find a more comfortable rhythm. It felt right.
Part 3: Welcome Home
Thomas shoved the window closed that he'd opened earlier to let in a refreshing breeze, because said breeze had suddenly turned into a torrential downpour with lightning to spice things up.
"Fucking hell," he muttered at the raindrops rattling the glass of the window.
Edwin came out of the bedroom where he'd been putting away clothes. "Where on earth did that come from?" he asked and stepped up next to Thomas to look outside.
"Guess we were distracted." He'd certainly been distracted. Distracted by Edwin and his friends carrying box after box of Edwin's belongings into Edwin's new home, while Thomas himself had made room for all those things. Then he'd been even more distracted when he saw how those things found their places next to his own things, and…
He put an arm around Edwin, who took out his phone, presumably to call Charles.
Edwin didn't even say hello, just, "Did you get back before all that?" he asked Charles worriedly.
Thomas couldn't make out Charles' answer, not with the racket that the rain and now thunder were making, but Edwin relaxed, so the answer must have been positive.
"Yes, I… suppose I've lost track of time," Edwin admitted.
Thomas frowned at that comment and checked the clock on the wall. Oh. The others had left an hour ago. Of course they would have made it back in that time.
"Does Monty like his new bed?" After a few moments, Edwin smiled. "I'm glad to hear it."
Thomas waited for Edwin and Charles to say their goodbyes and for Edwin to put away his phone again, then he leaned in for a kiss.
"I guess that means that my move was… right on time," Edwin quipped warmly against Thomas' lips.
"Yeah…" Thomas said with feel and another look out the window. "We would have needed a canoe now."
That comment was followed by lightning and thunder a mere second later.
"I think it would be sensible to not stand so close to the window," Edwin suggested.
Thomas considered that, then he moved deeper into the room. "Help me get the sofa over here. I still want to watch the storm."
They set up the sofa a safe distance from the window, just in case, and settled comfortably in the cushions and each other's arms.
Somewhere in a corner, a cheap little statuette of Venus standing in a wonky seashell was watching over them. (It had not been something Thomas could walk past and not buy gleefully.)
"How are things coming along for Monty?" Edwin eventually asked.
"He's in good hands. I made sure of that," Thomas said. "He'll have an ungodly number of meetings and papers to sign next week, but all should be on track."
Edwin snuggled closer. "Good."
"You know, giving him your room probably saved his ass this semester. I mean, we would have found him something eventually, but in time for classes? Eh. And you know how authorities like their little boxes checked, and an address is a big one."
Edwin hummed. "It saved me from hemming and hawing, and then missing you and hemming and hawing some more for another few months or so."
Thomas snickered. "I've thought about it for a while now."
"I know you did. As did I."
"I just didn't want to drag you out of the first home you felt safe in."
"You didn't drag me. I walked, carrying boxes and possibly pulling my back."
Thomas nuzzled into Edwin's neck. "If you want a massage, all you have to do is ask."
"Tempting," Edwin said. "Very, very tempting."
The following kisses were lazy, savouring, a little messy, and oh-so loving. It didn't take a lot more convincing from Thomas to direct Edwin towards the bedroom where he was splayed out naked and ready to receive his massage.
Only once Edwin was a boneless and oily mass of comfort did the massage blend into steamy lovemaking to the sound of the continuous rain. Edwin barely had to move, and his back turned out to be quite alright after all.
It was exactly the kind of 'welcome home' that they both needed.
Because it wasn't just Edwin who had come home. It was the first time his house truly felt like a home to Thomas too.
Part 4: Full Circle
"This brings back memories," Thomas said when he walked into 'their' coffee shop and found Edwin already studying.
Edwin looked up. "I'll put this away."
"You don't have to. You were in the middle of something."
"Yes," Edwin agreed, "but this is also our anniversary lunch, so." He resolutely put away his study materials, leaving only his empty coffee cup on the table.
"And I walked in on you studying last year too."
Edwin reached across the table to take Thomas' hand. "I really had no idea what lay ahead of me then."
"Neither did I," Thomas said. "Though I have to admit when you looked at me with those eyes… Well."
Edwin smirked. "I was really only asking myself why this person who is completely out of my league is even talking to me."
Thomas snorted. "Out of your league, my ass."
"Same league, different sports, same playing field."
"You have no clue about sports," Thomas said sagely, making Edwin laugh. "But I'll give you the same playing field."
He was about to suggest that he should get their lunch, but they were interrupted with said lunch unusually making its own way to their table.
"Hey, you two," the barista greeted them, a savoury cheese muffin on a plate in each hand.
Thomas recognised her as one of his friends that had always been very involved in the party planning. She was also one of the friends who had turned out to be a true friend, once he had stopped keeping people at a distance.
"Emma!" he greeted her. "That's not usually part of the service," he further noted.
Emma smirked and put down the plates, each of the muffins sporting a little rainbow flag.
"Edwin came in with a request earlier," she said with a wink. "Happy anniversary. I'll get your drinks." She picked up Edwin's empty cup.
"Thank you, Emma," Edwin said warmly, and when she was out of earshot, he added under his breath: "She found several of the people Simon went after. She told me earlier."
Right. Thomas remembered. She had been at the Christmas party, handing out drinks when the whole thing with Simon had happened. No wonder she'd felt like she had to do something. That display had been… sickening.
"You have good friends," Edwin added.
Thomas smiled. "I do," he had to admit. "We do."
Emma came back with their iced teas and put them down. "I'm still angry I wasn't here when you two met. You bet I'd be boasting about that."
Edwin and Thomas looked at each other and forgot everything else for a bit. They both remembered the day one year ago clearly.
And they would celebrate their first year today. They were starting their celebration with just the two of them and their rainbow muffins, and then they would continue it with their friends who had insisted on an anniversary ice cream party, whatever that was.
One year behind them, many more in front of them. They were looking forward to their future that they had set out to build together, both trying to do good in their own ways: Edwin with psychology and Thomas with defending people's rights. Not easy paths, either of them, but they did not have to face them alone. They had each other and their friends.
The future looked rather bright.
Emma discreetly retreated with a fond smile.
End