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Chapter Text

Part 1: IVY

“Two more days until nest night,” Three said with barely contained excitement. “Rain said they’ll be home by then, right?” 

His best friend had asked the question every day for the last week. Ivy looked up from his guitar with a grin. “Yes. They will be home by then.”

He empathized with Three’s excitement to see his platonic partner. Ivy didn’t mind the repetitive inquiries; he was as eager as Three to have his lover home and back in his arms. They’d all missed Rain and the sense of wholeness the healer’s presence gave them. 

Pouring his heart out in letters wasn’t the same as whispering it in the dark to the person he loved. Their correspondence was spotty, dependent upon the river runners once the pass was snowed in and Elysium was isolated from the cities on the other side of the mountains until spring.

Ivy was completely happy for the first time in his life. He had a real home and a family at last. He would do anything for these four people, and in turn, knew they would never expect more than he could give.

 It was greater than a reformed-pickpocket-turned-musician deserved, he sometimes thought. Humility often clouded his eyes with grateful tears as he gazed from his lookout in the Cliff Watch over the red-tinged beauty of the Arcadian landscape. Becoming part of the close-knit community in Elysium had been easier than he’d imagined. The people who knew and loved Rain had welcomed them with open arms after they’d defended the town from Sleep’s creatures.

“We’ll all be off that night. Commander Bowman said so, didn’t he?” Three paced as he pulled on his blue Cliff Watch tunic.

“Yes, for fuck’s sake,” Two said with fond exasperation, belting his sword over the thick quilting of his own tunic. “Ask him yourself when we get up there, but don’t drive him mad with stupid questions.” 

“We were already off watch and playing at Sam’s that night,” Ves reminded the tall man as he brought a pot of tea to the table where he and Ivy were working on the arrangement of a new composition.

“Oh, yeah.” Three ducked to keep from banging his head on the sloped rafters supporting the circular tent as he grabbed a cloak from a peg hammered into the wooden beam. When he flung it over his shoulders, it only came to his knees. “Did it shrink or did I grow?”

“That’s mine, you numpty,” Two growled.

“I know. I’m just being silly.” Three swept the cloak off like a bull whisperer and flung it in a neat, spinning arc toward his friend. His long fingers made a fluttering motion. Aided by the nudge of Three’s sorcery, it landed squarely on Two’s head, wrapping him from crown to chest in heavy folds of material. 

Two struggled out of the cloak and gave the other man a dark look as he pulled it off.  His hair was longer than it had ever been before, caught in a neat ponytail, but friction from the wool made loose strands stand straight up in crackling spikes of static, rendering any attempt at intimidation null and void. Ivy snorted with laughter. 

“You look like a hedgehog, my love,” Ves said with a smile, smoothing down Two’s hair and wincing at the crack of miniature lightning that snapped between them. “Shocking.”

“You’re all ridiculous. Shut up and kiss me.” Two raised his face to Ves and put his hands on either side of the man’s head, pulling him down for a lingering kiss. “See you tomorrow. I love you.”

Ves responded with the quiet murmur of his own declaration. Ivy ducked his head to hide his smile as he strummed the guitar softly, adding a fancy, romantic flourish. It was good to finally see Ves and Two as a couple, something that had simmered for the length of their friendship but which neither had felt safe to proclaim aloud. Their experiences last summer, having escaped the clutches of a cruel, fading god, granted their love a precious second chance. It still made Ivy feel warm inside, happiness for his friends bubbling up like a spring.

Three quit fooling around and put on his own cloak. A cold breeze knifed through the opening, sharp for early May, as he lifted the inner tent flap and peered outside at the overcast conditions. Sunset was approaching, light muffled by the low clouds.

“I can barely see the cliffs. You don’t think it will snow up in the pass, do you?” he said worriedly. “Rain and Euclid might not be able to make it through.”

“Rain knows the weather and the mountain passes better than we do. They won’t take any chances if the conditions turn,” Ivy reassured him. 

“You’re letting the heat out,” Two groused, handing Three his knitted cap and gloves. “Let’s go to work.”

“Yes, let’s, because the thing I want to do most right now is stand on top of a cliff in the cold wind and the dark,” Three said, his voice fading as the heavy canvas fell shut behind them.

Ves shivered and refastened the flap. “Three’s right. It was unusually cold today.“

“Bowman says Elysian springtime can be fickle. We should keep the mirror handy where we can see if Rain tries to communicate,” Ivy said. 

“I’m just glad Three doesn’t know about the surprise. Can you imagine what he would be like if he knew?” 

“Gods, he’d be completely bonkers.”

Ves grinned at Ivy in conspiratorial glee as he poured himself a steaming cup of tea. “Want some?”

“Please.” Ivy set his guitar on its wooden stand. Ves pushed the filled cup toward him and grabbed another for himself from the sideboard next to the cast iron stove used for heating and cooking. Ivy cradled the mug in his hands, relishing the warmth of the glazed clay against his chilled hands. 

“Rain, Two, and Sam have everything planned.” Ves filled his own cup and sat down with a sigh. “It’s going to go off without a hitch. We just have to believe the weather will hold and they won’t be delayed. Rain’s brilliant, so I’m not worried. Gods, I miss them. It’s been a very long six months, even with the scrying mirrors.” He gave Ivy a crooked smile. “I can’t imagine how you must feel.”

Three had performed a spell that allowed Rain and the men to see each other, even if they had to write messages and weren’t able to speak directly. Ivy and Rain had even managed to sneak in a long-distance tryst once or twice, though Ivy found it increased his longing for the healer more than it soothed his desire. 

“There’s an empty spot in the nest,” Ivy admitted, “And in my heart.”

“Oh, you do have a bad case of it, don’t you?” Ves said, his hazel eyes gleaming with mischief in the lamplight.

“Like you don’t. Pots and kettles, mate,” Ivy scoffed. “Speaking of which, when are you going to get off your arse and ask Two to handfast? I thought you’d planned for Beltaine, but that was a week ago.”

Ves’s expression turned guarded. The long fingers of his right hand rubbed the scars where the extra eyes bestowed by Sleep had once been. 

“I want that,” he said, his low voice barely audible. “But I like the five of us being a partnership, too, like Aspen and their lovers.” Ves drew a shape on the tabletop with his other forefinger. “It’s a conscious decision to be together, not a contract. No one is obligated to stay.”

Ivy cocked his head, his forehead wrinkled. “Obligated? None of us are going to run off, least of all Two. Are you?”

His startled gaze met Ivy’s. “No, of course not.” 

“Then what’s wrong?”

“I’ve just been having nightmares again,” Ves said. “Dreams of being trapped by Sleep, and forced to watch them torture Two, or one of you. It makes me afraid they’re trying to get into my head again. If that happens–”

Ivy put his hand over his friend’s. “Just bad dreams, Ves,” he said gently. “Sleep isn’t coming back. Not if Rain has anything to say about it, and the local gods don’t want them around either. You’re safe now. Two is safe. We’re all here in Arcadia.” 

He nodded at the mound of blankets and cushions in the middle of the tent which comprised Three’s beloved nest. All of them shared it two or three times a week. The motley collection of brightly colored fabrics and patterns were chosen for warmth, fluffiness, and comfort and clashed in beautiful chaos, a bit like Three himself. 

“The thing about a communal sleeping arrangement is we can tell when something’s bothering any of us. We know when you, or any of us, have a nightmare. Two tosses and turns and keeps everyone from getting rest because he’s fretting over you. Bloody Three talks in his sleep about stampeding circus oliphaunts.” Ivy gestured with his free hand. “It’s all out there in the open.”

Ves raised one eyebrow. “The ‘oh, gods, yes Rain’ is out there too, just so you know.” 

“I love them even in my dreams,” Ivy said, the heat rising in his face. “Don’t try to switch the subject. That’s my point. The love is out in the open as much as anything else. When you wake up sandwiched between me and Two, it’s because you were crying out in your sleep. When I wake up with Three’s morning wood in the middle of my back, I know I had a nightmare and he fell asleep hugging me, because it wouldn’t be anything else with him.” 

Ves erupted in a full-throated laugh, and Ivy grinned back. It was still new enough to hear Ves laugh aloud and without restraint that he treasured the sound, especially if he evoked it.

“What I’m saying is, you’ve always loved each other. Three and I have seen it for as long as we’ve known you. Rain saw it from day one. Handfasting won’t change that. But if the symbolism is something you both want, one of you is going to have to make the first move.”

“You’re right.” Ves turned his hand beneath Ivy’s and gave it a grateful squeeze before he picked up his tea. “Do you think you’ll ask Rain, eventually?”

“They won’t hesitate to tell me when they’re ready, believe me,” Ivy declared. “But we were only together a few months before they left. They’ve been gone longer than that now.” The realization sent a momentary pang of loneliness through him until another thought made him smile. “It will be fun to start again, minus the part with me falling over myself like a fool and wasting time, because we'll have to repeat the process every five or six months until the Healer’s Guild says they have enough experience to take on an apprentice.”

“Are you ever afraid they’ll change their mind?” Ves leaned his chin against his hand with a wistful expression.

“Not especially. See, we do this thing called talking – or writing, more recently.” He winked at Ves. “You might try it with Two and see if it works.” 

“Writing,” Ves mused. His face lit up. “I never actually courted him. Perhaps I should start writing him letters.” 

“He would love that,” Ivy said delightedly. “He’ll never say so out loud, of course, but that might be the fun part for the rest of us, watching how many shades of red he can turn while he reads them.”

Ves hummed in thought, smiling to himself. “I’ve always spoken better with music. I’ve got things written that I decided were too sappy for us to perform, but there’s one I actually wrote for him. He hasn’t seen it.”

“Maybe you can stand at the bottom of the cliff and serenade him while he’s on watch.”

Ves shook his head with a smile. “I don’t think so. It’s something I can surprise him with privately, though, when it’s time to ask him.” Ves was turning a pleased shade of pink at the idea.

“We’re certainly full of surprises, aren’t we?” Ivy said. He set his cup on the table and reached for his guitar. “Let’s work on this arrangement and then you can show me the new song.”

Chapter Text

Part 2: TWO

The skies cleared in the middle of Two’s watch. Stars spread across the dark blue ocean of night as clouds sped away to the north, ushering in a promise of warmer days ahead. The dark shape of the volcanic mountain range obscured the sky at the horizon, snow-capped cones bright beneath the moon.

A damp chill persisted despite the changing wind, and Two kept his hands tucked into the gloves Three had knitted for him. The sorcerer had added a heat charm to his family’s garments to keep them warm. The whole group sported his creations, gloves and scarves with colorful patterns Three’s fathers had taught him. They were unique, just like Three, and he’d garnered a tidy sum from a side business knitting them for other people during the winter. He planned to use the money to help his dads emigrate from Eden to Arcadia later in the year. The thought made Two smile as he paced the length of the cliff between watchtowers, his fingers tapping out an unconscious rhythm on the hilt of his sword.

From up here, he could see the whole town, as far as the community of tent pavilions above the bend in the river below. The home he shared with his partners was easily picked out in the moonlight through the budding trees, its canvas not yet as worn and dulled by the elements as the rest of them. 

He hoped Ves was sleeping well tonight. His lover’s nightmares had recently returned with a vengeance. The circles under Ves’s eyes were getting darker each day, and Two was worried. He hoped Ves and Ivy were in the nest and not in the separate bedrooms they maintained for privacy when it was desired. Without Rain there, Ivy was in the nest with Three most nights, but Three was here on duty, which meant Ves might be alone …

“Hail the Watch,” a contralto voice called. Two broke from his fretting and looked over his shoulder to see Merry, another member of the Cliff Watch, walking his way in the moonlight. She wore her long cloak as well, her red hair hidden beneath the hood and her sword invisible under the draped wool. 

“Good morning,” Two greeted the lieutenant. 

“Morning, Two. It’s your turn to eat and take a break,” she said. “We’ve got good, hot stew in the barracks tonight.”

“I’ll take it,” he said, shivering. There wasn’t much to do overnight but scout for fires in the grasslands, not uncommon in the dry, late summer through spring. Fires were less likely now that the grass was turning from gold to green, a rippling darkness beyond the town’s buildings and tent homes. The Cliff Watch kept an eye out for troublemakers and strangers now that travelers had begun trickling through the open pass, but traffic was sparse yet.  

“Report,” Merry said briskly.

“Nothing to report. All’s well.”

“Right. Go eat, then send Anto in for food and take his place in the eastern tower with Three. You’ll be relieved from there at dawn.” Merry shifted, pulling the cloak closer around her. “Ves told me Rain will be back in a couple of days.”

“Yes, finally!” Two said with relief. He fiercely missed the healer. The four of them had found their missing piece in Rain, the catalyst who brought the love between all of them out into the open with their steady compassion and friendship. “They’re bringing something that will keep Three busy for a while.”

“So I heard.” Merry grinned at him. “Any clues as to what it is?” 

“I am sworn to secrecy,” Two intoned, drawing an X across his mouth, much like the one on the mask he’d once worn.

“I see. It does look like it snowed in the mountain pass tonight, but at this time of year, it can’t be much. I’m sure their journey will be quick. Maybe muddy, but Rain’s wagon is light, and that pony of theirs is all muscle.”

“Keep your fingers crossed.” Two saluted her and walked toward the barracks, yellow lamplight spilling from the glazed windows.

 His thoughts returned to Ves as he reached the low building with its attached watchtower. Once Rain was home, the healer might be able to convince Ves to take something to help him sleep. Two had consulted Rain’s mentor Aspen about it, but his partner had gently declined their herbal suggestions. If he could get him to stop drinking so many pots of tea, Two thought, it might make a difference between patchy sleep and a good night’s rest. When Ves was overtired, the dreams were more frequent. He didn’t smile as much, and that smile had become Two’s world.

He went to the kitchen and ate his hot meal beside the fireplace, relaxing in the warmth, and then climbed the ladder to the watchtower to relieve Three’s partner.

“There’s snow on the pass,” Three said without greeting the moment Two’s head poked out of the trap door.

“Relax. It’s going to be fine. Merry said it can’t be much this time of year.” Two exchanged a quick greeting with Anto, who looked more grateful than appropriate to be relieved from his post. Three had practically been vibrating for the past few days. Two was acclimated to his friend and saw past the hyperactivity and constant talking more easily than others. It was worse when he was worried or excited, but Two was usually able to talk him down with their usual banter and affectionate insults. 

Anto disappeared beneath the trap door. Two did a quick scan of the road coming down from the pass, a white line in the moonlight as Three ducked beneath the bell to join him, nearly having to fold in half to clear it. 

“Maybe we should go up there tomorrow and check it out?” Three suggested. Two snorted.

“What are we going to do, shovel it? I’m not doing another watch tonight without sleep, and neither are you,” he said. “Besides, we need to rehearse the new arrangement Ves and Ivy are working on after breakfast. The wedding party we’re playing for specifically requested that song.”

“Yeah. Okay. You’re right.” Three let out his breath in a bright, moonlit plume. “Speaking of wedding parties, when are you and Ves going to do it?”

“When he’s ready. I’m not going anywhere.” It was something Two wanted more than he could ever admit, to bind himself to Ves heart and soul. 

Two lost the man he loved once when Sleep stole him and ripped his soul away. Now the god was banished from Ves’s body and Rain had rescued his soul from the Underworld. The person he was had re-emerged and Two swore he would never lose him again. Ves had been through so much while forced to belong to Sleep as the god’s lover and avatar that Two was hesitant to push the issue of handfasting. As long as they were together, he was content.

“What have the three of you been so weird about?” Three finally asked. “Ever since Rain’s last packet of letters arrived there’s been something going on. Even Sam got a letter, and he’s weird too. I could probably break him down if I wanted, but it’s more fun to drive you three insane.”

“Gods, please spare us,” Two said. “You’ll find out when Rain gets back. It’s nothing sinister, for fuck’s sake.”

“Conspiracy,” the tall man intoned in a mournful voice. “Betrayal. My own family, keeping secrets from me.” 

“Don’t be so dramatic, and leave poor Sam alone. He’s got enough to do with the wedding party staying there without you pestering him.”

“Rain said they’re bringing another letter from my dads.” An enormous grin split Three’s face. “I wrote one to them without any help, and Ivy said he could actually make sense of it. Yanira took it to the King’s City on her last run.”

“You’ve done incredibly well learning to read and write in so short a time. We’re all proud of you,” Two said quietly. He gripped Three’s upper arm and squeezed it. “Your dads will be, too, when they see that letter.” 

“I still want to go to the library in the King’s City and see what I can learn about Arcadian magic,” Three said. “Maybe I can find out what happened with the volcano that changed all the trees from green to red and turned Jerry’s people into bird people. I still wish I had thought to talk to Teak about it.” 

“Maybe you can someday.” The feathered host had told them in no uncertain terms they were not to speak of their experiences in Avalon until they were ready to be known in the human world, but there were songs Two and Ves had written, couched in myth and allegory, which no one outside their family had yet heard.

Dawn finally blossomed in daffodil hues behind the mountain range. The river’s glassy rush at the foot of the cliff echoed from the stone columns of the Healer’s Guild below in the cold, hushed morning. A quick look through the tower’s spyglass revealed the road through the pass had received no more than a few inches of snow, and no wagons were stranded on the winding decline. 

Two’s heart lurched with ridiculous happiness when he saw two figures in Cliff Watch blue walking down the road through town, one taller than the other by several inches. 

“There’s our relief,” Three said. “I hope they left us some breakfast.”

 Ves looked up at the tower, shading his eyes against the sun, and waved at Two when he saw them silhouetted beneath the bell. Two waved back.

“If not, we can grab something from Sam on the way home,” Two said, his eyes never leaving the man who was truly his home, as the pair crossed the bridge that spanned the river.

It wasn’t long before Ves and Ivy emerged from the building below the tower with the rest of the day's watch. Two lifted the trap door and descended the ladder, Three clambering down behind him.

“Report,” Ves said, his hazel eyes golden in the sunrise as he grinned down at Two. He took Two’s breath away, he was so beautiful. He actually looked as if he’d slept well, and Two was grateful.

“Pleased to report that I love you more than I did last night,” he said in a low voice. He resisted the urge to kiss Ves– he had to maintain some decorum while they were on duty, after all, with the other Watch officers milling about. “It snowed in the pass, but it doesn’t look bad by daylight. I would anticipate normal traffic for this time of year, per Merry’s assessment.”

“That’s great news,” Ivy said happily. 

“One more day and our love is home, Ivy,” Three exulted. 

“One more day,” his metamour agreed.

“Go home and get some sleep,” Ves said. “There’s food waiting for you on the stove.” 

“You’re too good to us,” Two declared. “One more night watch, and we’ll all be home at the same time for a while.”

“Looking forward to it.” Ves crossed behind him to reach the ladder, and Two jumped in surprise as Ves’s hand slid across his ass and squeezed a handful through the cloak.

“Don’t feel obligated to grab my ass,” Three said to Ivy.

Ivy raised both hands and winked, waiting for Ves to finish climbing so he could head up. 

Two’s steps seemed to get progressively heavier as he and Three made their way back to the tent, a warm sleepiness adding a layer of fuzz to his thoughts. They hung up their cloaks and Watch tunics before dishing up the food. When Two sat at the table, he saw a folded square of paper at his usual place, sealed with wax and with his name written on it in Ves’s elegant script.

“What’s that?” Three yawned, pouring tea.

“Don’t know.” Two bit off a hunk of honey-buttered bread and broke the seal, then unfolded the paper and began to read. He forgot to chew, the sticky sweetness melting over his tongue. He swallowed hastily and continued to read, his pulse racing and a foolish grin pulling at his lips as warmth spread through him like sunlight.

“Oh, ho,” Three crowed. “Must be good. You’re an interesting shade of pink.” He leaned in to read over Two’s shoulder. “What is it?”

“None of your business,” Two snapped without heat, pressing the letter to his chest. “It would probably put you off your breakfast.”

“Oh, one of those letters.” Three wrinkled his nose. “You’re probably right.” He sat and tucked into his food.

Two lifted the letter and read it through twice, then three times, unable to keep a soft expression from invading his features. 

Dearest Two,

When we first met in that hidden spot above the temple choir, your eyes captivated me. 

Blue as sapphires, a color so pure I stared back in wonder. You looked at me with such adoration, as if you had stumbled upon something holy you never expected to find. 

You were the first to find me there and hear me sing. You know what I sang for then, but what you do not know is that as I looked into your eyes that moment, I sang for you alone. For the beautiful man who saw me as if I were a denizen of heaven. 

No one has ever looked at me that way before nor since, save for you. It is in your eyes I found the heart of the music we share, learned of my capacity to love and be loved, and found my redemption.

V.

His breath hitched as he inhaled, swiping away a tear that had escaped without his consent. 

“Two?” 

He looked up to see Three watching him with an odd expression. “Are you well? You’re kind of … glowing. And crying.”

“Yes.” He breathed out happiness. “I’m fine.”

Chapter Text

Part 3: THREE

“What are you still doing here, Three?” Commander Bowman’s voice called from below the watchtower. “You were relieved at dawn. It’s mid-morning.”

Three blinked away from the spyglass and stood. He stretched his arms above his head to grasp the rafters which supported the warning bell, and leaned out. “Good morning, sir. I’m watching the pass.”

“I see that. However, that ceased to be your responsibility when Corus relieved you. Your diligence is appreciated, but go home.” 

Three turned to stare accusingly at the young Watch officers in the tower with him. One turned hastily to survey the western side of town, but Corus shrugged. “We didn’t say anything. We’ve been up here all morning. You’re not exactly hard to miss, Three.”

He looked back down at Bowman. “Rain’s coming home today, sir. I was just hoping to spot them when they come over the pass. The last report said the track was muddy.”

“Yes, we all know Rain’s coming back today. We’ve been thoroughly informed,” Bowman’s gruff voice held a tinge of humor. “Watching the pass won’t make them appear any sooner. Go home and wait. Get some sleep. That’s an order. If we spot them and they’re in trouble, we’ll let you know.” The commander shook his head as he turned away and went back into the barracks. 

Three gave a theatrical sigh. “Fine.” He couldn’t help but bend to the spyglass one last time before Corus lifted the trap door with a cheeky smile and gave Three a sweeping invitation to descend. 

He gave Corus a very wet raspberry and climbed down. The kid waggled his fingers at him and slammed the trap door. Corus wasn’t mean spirited; Three liked him a lot– liked all of his fellow Watch officers, really. He knew he could be difficult to take sometimes and didn’t always know when to stop. The gods knew he often drove Two to fits of frustration, and they were family. 

The day was sunny and warmer than the one before, at least. That was a good sign, Three thought as he ambled toward home. It might give the road a chance to dry before Rain had to navigate down the pass. They still needed to rehearse the music for tonight anyway, and waitaminute, Sam knew what the surprise was, and he was sweeping the front porch of the inn. 

“Hey, Sam!” Three lifted a hand and started to cross the road.

“Morning, Three. I know, Rain’s back today. And no, you can’t make me tell you, because Two and Rain will kill me without a second thought. They’re vicious.”

“Bloody hell,” Three muttered, and kept walking. Sam laughed.

“Sorry. See you tonight, mate.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Three waved at him and trudged on, his fingers turning the pick of his lost saraceni over and over inside his tunic’s pocket. 

It wasn’t that he didn’t like surprises; Three just hated not knowing something everybody else seemed to be in on, and his obsessive nature would not let him rest until he found out what it was. That was the way Three learned most things, truth be told. He’d just gotten tired of everyone else knowing what was on scribbled papers and inside books so he set his mind on learning to read and write last summer, and was now proficient enough to send letters to his dads in Eden. The wizard he’d been sold to as a child had always seemed to put huge stock in literacy, but Three hadn’t been patient enough and his own magic worked just fine without fussy incantations. Two decades later, Three could grudgingly admit that he was probably right, and waitaminute, that tunic hanging outside the weaver’s was the exact green color of Rain’s eyes and would look smashing on them. 

Three crossed the road again and went to the shop. He touched the garment. It was a soft, strong blend of wool that wouldn’t be too scratchy for cuddling in the nest, and would be cool enough even in summer. The green material even had flecks of light brown, just like Rain’s eyes. It would give them something to wear besides healer’s robes when they were at home.

“Good morning, Three.” Taro, the elderly weaver, looked up from his loom. “I’m afraid I don’t have one like that in your size, but I think I have enough cloth left that I could do something in that color, if you like it.”

“It’s not for me, it’s for Rain. They’re coming home today,” Three said. “I’ll take it. Do you have something that would go with it? Rain likes those things that look like skirts but they’re actually pants.”

“I should.” Taro got up from the loom and sorted through a stack of garments. He pulled out a flowing, loose-legged set of pants in brown linen. “These should fit Rain, if I remember correctly. They’re tall enough, but if the legs need to be shortened, just have them bring them back and I’ll do it.”

“Fantastic.” Three dug coins out of the pouch at his waist and counted them out into Taro’s hand. Taro wrapped the clothes in a square of scrap muslin and tied it with string. 

“Might I impose upon you while you’re here?” Taro asked with an apologetic smile. “My apprentice isn’t feeling well today and stayed home. There is a bolt of cloth in the rafters I need, and my knees are not letting me climb the ladder. Would you mind?”

“No, of course not!” Three went to the area Taro indicated and reached up into the rafters for the heavy bolt to heft it down, setting it on the wide worktable for the weaver.

Taro smiled at him with gratitude. “You’re a godsend, Three. Thank you.” 

“Thanks, Taro. Have a good day.” Three picked up the package and headed off again. Taro was older than his dads, but it made Three wonder how they were getting on without him there. Did they need people to come help them repair their chimney, or lift things down from the high shelf? He was saving all his money from knitting to help bring his dads to Arcadia. In the first letters they sent back, they had been so happy to hear from Three, and had said yes, they would be open to the idea of joining him there, and waitaminute, the baker had apple tarts. He could smell them, and Rain loved apple tarts. So did everybody else in their family. He bought a dozen. 

“Three!”

Ivy’s voice made him turn as he was gathering the paper-wrapped pastries. His brown-haired partner was standing behind him in the road. “Hey Ivy! They had apple tarts.”

“Where have you been?” Ivy said, grinning. “You should have been home hours ago. Two said he thought you got relieved the same time he did. I came looking for you.”

“I was watching the pass, but Bowman made me go home. Then I saw something I wanted to buy for Rain, and they love apple tarts too, so …” Three gestured with his full hands.

“Come on. Let’s get you home so you can get some sleep in before we rehearse,” Ivy said, as he took the crinkling paper packet from Three. “Maybe by the time you wake up, Rain will be home.”

“I hope so,” Three said. They fell into step beside each other, and Three felt some of his excess anxiety draining off. All his partners had the same effect on him that using his magic did, quieting the noise in his brain and letting the racing thoughts slow down until they weren’t rushing by in a constant stream. It was most noticeable with Ivy and Rain, though. It was like the three of them together completed some kind of circuit that let Three process things better.

“First night with everybody in the nest, and then you and Rain can do all the other stuff,” Three said.

“Agreed. Actually, I want to talk to you about that,” Ivy said. “We both love Rain, and I want to make sure that you’ve been okay with the arrangements we’ve had. I think we should sit down with Rain and talk about it later, after they’ve been home a few days. I want to be sure the two of you have time together, too, and that they are happy with the way we’ve been doing things.” 

“Oh,” Three said, blinking. “What we’ve had is great. Nest time is the best time.”

“It is,” Ivy agreed. “I just want you to know you’re welcome in our bed, too.”

“OH. Erm. You know I love you both,” Three said earnestly. “Just not that way.”

“I love you, but it’s not what I meant. There’s nothing wrong with that. It isn’t less than what Rain and I have. It’s what you and Rain and I have together. It’s special to me too. I just meant, you don’t have to stay in the nest alone. You can join us any time we’re just sleeping, if you feel like it.” 

A wave of something overwhelming rose inside him, a home feeling, mixed with love and friendship and all the shared weirdness that he, Ivy, and Rain had lived through. It stuck in his throat and made him swallow hard.

“You’re going to make me cry,” Three muttered. 

“Not my intent.” Ivy slung his arm around Three’s waist. “Just putting it out there.”

“Thanks,” Three said on a shaky exhale, dropping his arm around Ivy’s shoulder. “It’s special to me too, that you both understand me. I’m so grateful for it.”

“You deserve it.”

Tears were still too close to the surface, so Three changed the subject. “Now tell me what the surprise is that Rain’s bringing.”

“Not a fucking chance.” They continued walking home, arms around each other.

Ves was writing at the table as usual with his pot of tea; honestly, Three had no idea how the man could put away so much tea and not be as hyperactive as he was himself, even though Ves’s hands shook sometimes. He looked up and smiled at Three as he came in, then buried his nose back in his music journal. Two’s faint snores from the dark alcove where he and Ves shared a bed meant he was still sleeping after their night watch, so Three decided to inhale one of the tarts and crash in the nest. His brain almost never had a problem shutting off any time he wanted it to, something he’d always been profoundly pleased about. Today, it took a minute longer than usual, looking forward to Rain’s homecoming, but the quiet sounds of his family around him and the soft scratching of Ves’s pen soon lulled him into a deep sleep. 

He woke to someone curling against his back in the nest, and a slender arm snaked around his waist. Warm lips kissed the back of his neck as they settled against him. 

“Rain?” he whispered.

“Shhhh,” the healer whispered. “I’m home. Go back to sleep. I need a nap, too.”

Three turned over without opening his eyes, dragged them closer, and held them tight. Happiness flowed through his veins, a deep contentment taking root as Ivy settled into the nest behind Rain. 

Complete, Three drifted back into slumber.

Chapter Text

Part 4: RAIN

After assisting the stablehand with giving Euclid a well-earned rubdown, Rain groaned as they stretched their own muscles, stiff from sitting on the bench seat of the wagon for the better part of a week. The pony nudged them with his nose and gave an offended snort, as if wondering why his massage had stopped.

“Spoiled thing,” Rain muttered affectionately. “I need to get home to see my other boys, you know. I’ll be back soon.”

They looked up at the granite cliffs, the carved columns and archways of the Healer’s Guild sparkling in sunlight and shadow. That sight had always meant home, and still did, but now another bright beacon tugged them on a little further. Rain hefted their pack out of the back of the wagon and started toward the tent they shared with their partners, a fluttering excitement batting against their ribcage like a moth against a windowpane.

It had been a long winter in the port town on Arcadia’s southern coast, with short, gloomy days and gray skies predominant during the cold month. Rain had missed the men more than they’d thought was possible. 

There had been an ever-present sense of longing for the company of their partners, especially in the quiet dormitory when going alone to the cold sheets of their cot each night rather than fluff and tumble of Three’s nest or wrapped in the warmth of Ivy’s arms. They’d chased an echo of casual companionship with other healers assigned to the port’s large hospital, but their conversations never equaled the satisfying heart-to-heart talks Rain had with Two and Ves over cups of tea. 

The mirror spell Three had conjured up made it easier to keep the men’s faces clear in their memories and bridged some of the distance between them. Ivy and Rain had exchanged a few letters, but it wasn’t the same as being home. The late-night hushed whispers in the nest and silliness around the table at dinner were something they looked forward to with great happiness.

Arrangements for Three’s surprise had kept them distracted from loneliness in the last few weeks. Rain brimmed with the anticipation of Three’s joy when he saw what they brought him.

Their heart leapt as they rounded the docks and spotted Ivy sitting on one of the pilings. He didn’t see them at first, involved in an animated conversation and laughing with one of the crew members unloading cargo from a flatboat. 

It gave Rain a chance to observe him for a moment, drinking in the sight of their lover. His hair was longer than it had been when they left, braided back from his temples to fall over his shoulders like waves of brown silk. When his intensely blue eyes finally flashed their way, an enormous smile took over his features. He jumped down and began walking toward them. Rain’s pace quickened until they stood face to face, and set down their pack.

“Hello,” Ivy said quietly, still smiling.

“Hello,” Rain answered, and flung themself into his arms. Ivy laughed and spun them around before setting Rain’s feet firmly on the ground to claim a deep kiss, which they returned with six months’ worth of anticipation. The crewhands began to applaud and whistle, but Rain ignored them, caught up in the feel of Ivy’s body against theirs and the taste of his mouth.

“I missed you,” Ivy said against their lips. 

“I missed you too.” Rain gave him another kiss, softer and more decorous this time. 

“How was traveling?” 

“The trip was delightful, but very long.”

Ivy looked over Rain’s shoulder and down the street. “Where is the surprise?” he asked in a whisper. 

“In Sam’s capable hands, for now. I was told in no uncertain terms to go home and rest. Everyone’s on board with it, and I can’t wait until tonight. How is Three coping? Is the secret still a secret?”

“He is completely in the dark, but he’s been so excited you were coming home we’re being driven mad. He and Two had the overnight watch last night. They were sleeping when I left.” Ivy kept one hand entwined with Rain’s as he picked up the pack and shouldered it. 

“I need to nap as well,” Rain said. The thought provoked a huge yawn. “Are Two and Ves doing well?”

“Ves is having nightmares, but we’ve been there for him. Oh, but something new is happening on that front.” Ivy expression brightened. “Ves started courting Two. He wants to do something special before he asks him to handfast.”

“Finally!” Rain exulted. “I’m so glad I didn’t miss it. Better late than never.”

“Ves has plans,” Ivy said in a conspiratorial tone. “We’ve gotten good at keeping secrets. I’ll fill you in when you’ve had a chance to settle back in. Did you finally get the experience you were supposed to have before certain gods fucked everything up?”

“For the most part. I’ve seen enough scurvy to last a lifetime and so much venereal disease it almost made me consider a vow of celibacy.”

“Almost?”

“Six months was a very long time. I don’t think I’m cut out for it.” Rain grinned at him. “I really wasn’t interested in anyone else, and the mirror experiment was lovely, but not an ideal substitute.”

“No it was not,” Ivy groaned, “and it might be a day longer. Tonight is nest night.” 

“Perhaps we can sneak away for a little while when Three is distracted?” Rain asked hopefully. 

“We’ll find a way,” he promised, the heat in his eyes like a blue flame.

When they got close to their tent, Ves and Two were sitting outside in the sun. A guitar was cradled across Ves’s lap as he played. Two’s eyes were closed, face upturned to the warmth as he drummed softly on the instrument between his knees. Ves saw them approaching and nudged Two, whose eyes went wide. They set aside their instruments and hurried to meet Rain and Ivy on the road. 

Two reached them first, grabbing Rain in a tight hug. “There you are!” he murmured. “We missed you. I’m so glad you’re back.” He held them for a moment before he stepped back for a quick kiss, his hands on Rain’s shoulders. “I’m relinquishing the supervision of Three back to you. Welcome home.”

Rain laughed, then turned to Ves, who wrapped his arms around Rain and engulfed them in a gentle hug that neither pulled back from for several long heartbeats. “Welcome home,” he said softly, his low voice rumbling against their ear. 

When they finally let go of each other, Ves pressed a tender kiss to their forehead. Rain stroked his cheek. They noted his still-shadowed eyes, the marks of poor sleep, but the four linear scars where his supernatural eyes had been were less prominent than when they’d left. There was a sparkle in his hazel eyes and a certain radiance to his smile that Rain didn’t remember seeing before. Ves looked truly happy, and it made Rain smile back. 

“It’s so good to see you,” Rain said.

Ves kept them in the circle of his arm as they all turned back toward the tent. “Three’s still sound asleep in the nest. He’s been bouncing off the walls for days. Bowman had to kick him out of the tower this morning to keep him from watching for you all day.”

“I am in need of a nap,” Rain admitted. “I want to tell you all about the surprise, but I think it will be better for you to experience it together.”

“That sounds ominous,” Two deadpanned. “Are we going to regret this?”

“Never,” Rain assured him. “It’s worth everything.”

They ducked through the tent flap, back into the warmth of their home. Rain grinned at the sight of the nest, fluffier and more gaudy than ever. The long, lean figure cocooned in blankets didn’t move, the rise and fall of Three’s chest accompanying the quiet, rasping exhale of his snore. Rain’s heart swelled with affection. They pulled off their long healer’s robe and hung it on a peg. Kicking off their muddy boots so they didn’t soil the mismatched carpets lining the floor of the tent, Rain walked with cat-silent steps to Three’s side. The sun-browned skin of his neck peeked from beneath blond hair, his face buried in one of the pillows. Rain eased down beside him and wrapped their arm around his narrow waist. 

“Rain?” The groggy mumble was thick and sweet.

“Shhh. I’m home,” Rain whispered, kissing the back of his neck. “Go back to sleep. I need a nap, too.”

Three turned over. His eyes stayed shut as he scooped them into his arms and held them closer. Rain leaned their forehead against his chest and breathed in his scent: lemon and woodsmoke, and the faint ozone breath of magic.

Ivy slid in behind Rain and covered them with a blanket, his arm settling around their waist below Three’s. 

Yes. This was homecoming. Rain closed their eyes.

****

Sam’s inn was crowded, noisy, and joyful during the celebration which followed the handfasting ceremony of a flatboat captain and one of the healers. Rain sat at the bar near Sam and listened to the music their partners played from the loft, grateful to be back in Elysium among the people they loved. Aspen and their partners had been there for a short time to wish the couple well, so another reunion had occurred without any effort. 

The party wound to a close as the new couple began to dance their way toward the door, where the guests would escort them home by torchlight. Once they left, the festivities were over – for the wedding guests, at least. There would be a smaller gathering afterward when Rain presented Three with his surprise. 

Their instruments were set aside as Ves began to sing a traditional song, which the wedding guests took over as they escorted the couple out. Many voices joined his rich baritone, some of them loudly enthusiastic and out of tune. A surge of people followed the pair out the door, and when the crowd thinned, there were only a few people left in the common room. Sam’s staff began to collect mugs and reset the pushed-back tables to their usual positions. 

Ves continued to sing softly to himself as the men descended the stairs, earning a grin from Two. To everyone’s surprise, Ves took Two’s hand and swept him into the dance the guests had been performing a few moments before, still singing. Two looked bemused a moment before, laughing, he allowed Ves to lead him in the pattern of steps for a few measures. Two’s face was alight with rare joy, and Rain couldn’t help but smile at them as Ves spun Two out by the end of his fingertips, only to reel him back in for a kiss.

“Insufferable,” Three sighed. “All four of you are going to be shagging non-stop. I’m going to have to take a room here for the next month if I want to get any sleep, aren’t I?”

“Not tonight. It’s nest night,” Ivy reminded him.

“Besides, you have been waiting very patiently for a surprise, haven’t you?” Rain said. Three brightened.

“Yes! What is it? Where is it?”

“Part of it has been up in the loft with us all night, and you didn’t even notice,” Two said, leaning into Ves’s side.

 “What?” Three took the stairs in huge strides and burrowed into the shadowed recesses of the loft, where the instruments not played tonight were housed under light cloths to keep the dust from them. “Wait, what is this? I don’t remember it being there before.”

While Three was distracted in the loft, Rain gave a quiet signal to Sam, who slid out from behind the bar and went upstairs. A sharp gasp came from Three, who emerged from the back of the loft with something large held reverently in both hands as he descended the stairs. The instrument was long-necked and round bellied, with four thick strings running the length of its fret board. 

“It’s a saraceni,” Three breathed. “Rain, you brought me a saraceni!” 

He ran his long fingers lovingly down the polished wood and plucked one of the strings. A clear, deep note vibrated through the air in the room. When Three raised his gray gaze to Rain, his eyes were glassy with tears. “Where did you find one?”

“I can’t take the credit for that,” Rain said, giving him a mischievous smile. “It came with what I really brought you.”

“You brought me something else?” Three sputtered in disbelief. “What can be better than this?”

“You’re right, of course,” said a husky voice from the top of the stairs to the guest rooms. “A good instrument is much better than a pair of old goats.”

Three froze, his eyes going wide. He raised his head slowly, the tears spilling over to streak down his face as he stared at two brown-skinned, silver-haired but sprightly men coming down the steps. Both were smiling, one crying just as openly as Three. Ivy reached out and gently took the instrument from their partner as Rain clasped his arm.

“Are they real?” Three whispered. 

“Why don’t you go and see?” Rain gave him a gentle nudge.

Three lurched forward as the men reached the bottom of the stairs and rushed toward him with their arms wide. He made it two steps before he fell to his knees, sobbing, and his fathers rushed to his side. Three flung his arms around their waists and crushed them to his chest amidst tears and laughter and murmured endearments, a knot of love and reunion.

Yes. This was a homecoming, too.

Rain couldn’t stifle a sob of happiness at the scene, their hands clasped over their mouth. Ivy, Ves, and Two, who was also red-eyed and sniffling, came and surrounded them with hugs.

“Well done,” Ves said softly, kissed the top of Rain’s head, and then Two’s. 

“All I did was arrange lodging with Sam,” Two deflected the praise.

“And I didn’t really do anything but give them a ride.” Rain laughed and wiped the tears from their face. “Amir and Marek were the ones who showed up at the infirmary. Somehow they knew where to find me.”

“The cards never lie, child,” Amir proclaimed, running the back of his hand over his eyes, the other cradling Three’s head to his chest. “They told us where to find you.”

“So you said.” Rain’s journey from the port to Elysium had been full of fascinating stories about traveling the world, exotic music they’d never heard, and magic, so different from Three’s but familiar since he’d learned more from his dads than from the wizard from whom he ran away. Rain already loved the men and could see where Three’s enormous capacity for mischief sprang from. 

“Thank you, Rain,” Three said through a watery smile, still crying. “Thank you for bringing my dads to me.” He stood, towering over the older men, and swiped his sleeve over his wet face before gesturing to the rest of them. “Dads–this is my family.”

****

They all talked around a table until Sam’s watch candle burned out in its holder. Rain’s foster brother had prepared a special meal for the reunion, and it was consumed down to bone and crumb amid cups of ale and a bottle of Elysium’s famous spiced liquor. By the end, Amir and Marek had claimed everyone else as their family as well. 

“I don’t want to leave you yet,” Three said plaintively to his dads. “I’m afraid I’ll wake up and this is all a dream. Everyone I love, all in the same place. It’s too perfect.”

“You don’t have to leave if you don’t want to,” Two said. “There’s another bed for you in their room upstairs. You can stay with them whenever you like while they’re here, until everything’s sorted on living arrangements.”

Three bit his lip and looked at Rain. “Would … would it be okay if I stayed here tonight? I know it’s nest night, but we could flip it to tomorrow and tonight could be sex night for you instead.”

Rain’s skin flooded with heat, and they covered their face for a moment. Their voice was muffled behind their hands as they said, “Yes, of course it’s fine, Three.” 

“Ah, child, never be embarrassed by the act of love,” Marek proclaimed, nudging them with a lascivious wink. “It’s a natural, beautiful thing. And a hell of a lot of fun.”

Laughing, Rain finally dared to look up as Ivy rose and said, “Let’s help Sam clear the table, then.”

“No, you two go home,” Two said, waving a lazy hand at them. “We’ll help Sam clean up, and then walk home very slowly.”

There was no protest from either of them as Rain and Ivy said their goodnights and walked through the silent town. The warmth of the day hadn’t completely dissipated, but they kept their arms around each other. No words were exchanged, just a growing anticipation that blossomed low in Rain’s belly as they neared their home.

Once inside the tent, Rain took Ivy’s hand and led him to the side alcove where their bed was. They lit a lamp at the bedside and turned it down low while Ivy loosened the curtains and tied them, shutting out the world. He turned to them as Rain stood before him, his hands running down their arms. 

“You’re shivering,” he said, concerned. 

“It’s not from cold,” Rain whispered. They reached up and began to unbutton Ivy’s tunic. He bent his head and kissed them as his fingers worked at the clasps of Rain’s clothing. The kiss set Rain on fire, their hands fumbling more urgently with Ivy’s shirt. They broke apart for a moment so both could strip out of their clothes. 

“What’s this?” Ivy said softly, and turned Rain so the lamplight fell on the skin of their left hip. His fingertips, calloused by the strings of his guitar, traced lightly over the spray of delicate green ivy leaves tattooed there. 

“I learned which tattooists are trusted by the healers,” Rain said. “It’s for you. No one else will see it unless I want them to.”

Ivy’s laugh of wonder was breathed out against their lips as he kissed them again. Rain pulled him down into the bed, relishing the warmth and weight of his body against theirs as they collided on top of the blankets. They gasped as his mouth moved unhurriedly down their throat, kissing the point where their pulse hammered beneath the skin and his teeth grazed the surface. He straddled their thighs and sat up, his gaze taking them in with the gravity of adoration while his hands reacquainted themselves with the lines of Rain’s body in slow caresses. 

The flat of his palms passed over their nipples in a feather-light touch and Rain gasped as the sensation went straight to their pelvis and something clenched deep inside, a delicious spasm of want and need. Ivy continued his unhurried exploration of their body, down over their ribcage and abdomen. He shifted down, one knee sliding between their calves, to press his mouth to their chest and leave butterfly-gentle kisses down to their navel, to just above their groin. Rain’s breathing stuttered as they threaded their fingers into his hair, and Ivy needed no further urging to taste their growing desire. 

A groan was torn from Rain’s throat as they surrendered to Ivy’s mouth, individual sensation fading out to one glowing source of pleasure that quickly crested and left them hungry to reciprocate. 

They pressed him into the mattress, short nails raking lightly over his chest until he shivered. Rain teased his nipples with their tongue and traced blade scars with their lips, drawing a moan from Ivy. Their hand glided over his belly, into the curls between his legs to find him hard and eager. They sucked him into their mouth, relishing the sweet-and-salt taste of their partner and the sounds he made until Ivy begged them to take him, his voice rough with need. 

They were no longer two, but one, chasing pleasure together until Ivy cried out and gripped their hips. Rain followed him over the edge, falling into stars from a shuddering height until they both lay spent in each other's arms.

Ivy kissed their forehead, their eyelids, and their mouth, a loving ritual that Rain melted against in the aftermath of desire. 

“I love you, Ivy,” they whispered to him. 

“I love you. I’m so glad you’re home.” 

Rain blew out the lamp, and they settled into a warm tangle of limbs beneath the blankets. Their eyes grew heavy as Ivy cradled them against him, solid and comforting against their back. 

The low voices of Ves and Two sounded inside the tent as they arrived, whispering to each other. Knowing Three was reunited with his dads sent a thrill of happiness through them, and as Ivy’s breathing smoothed out into sleep, Rain let it carry them away, too.

Chapter Text

Part 5: VES

As was his habit, Ves woke before anyone else in his family. 

Two still slept beside him, unbothered, as sunlight began to push through the seams of the curtains around their bed. Ves took a moment to drink in the sight of him. His light brown hair was tousled out of its neat ponytail and fell over his closed eyelids, forehead smooth and relaxed in slumber. He always looked younger without the ever-present worry line between his eyes, shaped in a V for Ves, as Ivy liked to tease him. 

 Love surged through Ves like a tide, making his breath hitch and his eyes sting with gratitude. Ves’s best friend and musical partner of more than a decade had been his lover for a year now. He was sometimes unable to believe Two was still there after everything they’d been through. Two had stood with him through the darkness that was Sleep’s possession of his body and spirit, never once wavering in his support despite the things Ves had done as the avatar of a now-eclipsed god.

 Ves couldn’t remember many details from his half-life as Sleep’s general in the War of the Gods. His renewal in the Infinite Baths swept most of it away. Glimpses still flayed his conscience in nightmare dreamscapes he mercifully could not remember by daylight, but he always remembered Two at his side.

Today was the Summer Solstice - the triumph of light over darkness. 

It was the perfect day to ask Two to be his husband. 

Plans were made. The day was set with their partners in on all the events he’d planned leading up to asking, and so far, Two seemed not to suspect anything beyond a family gathering, which most people would do during the long day leading up to sunset. 

He reached out and tenderly swept Two’s hair away from his eyes. His love stirred with a sigh and opened one devastatingly blue eye to peer at him. “Morning,” he mumbled. “You’re staring. I can feel it.”

“Good morning,” Ves said, kissing his forehead. “Just thinking how lucky I am that you love me.”

Two smiled, a sleepy, scrunched expression that sent another ridiculous wave of affection through Ves. “I don’t know what’s got its teeth in you these days,” he yawned, and wriggled a little closer so he could lay his head on Ves’s shoulder. “All this romantic talk, and the letters. Not complaining. I like it.” His hand stroked Ves’s abdomen on its way to drape over the other side. “Be careful, or I could start to expect it every day.”

“That can be arranged.” Ves rested his chin on top of his head, pulling him closer into his side, his fingers curled over Two’s hip beneath the sheet. The smooth skin there revealed his lover wasn’t wearing any clothes, drawing a deep hum of surprise and interest from Ves’s throat. 

“It was too hot for clothes last night,” Two said with a little more clarity. “It’s nice this morning. Feels like it might be warm again, though.” His hand began to drift down Ves’s side. 

“You think so?”

“Mmhmm,” Two sighed into the curve of his neck, his lips trailing against Ves’s collarbone. Ves angled his head down for a kiss that started innocently enough, but bloomed into something else as Two’s knee slid over his thigh. “Lose those sleeping pants before they get in the way,” he ordered.

Ves obeyed, undoing the drawstring one-handed and pushing them down. He kicked them off as Two continued to kiss him. Finally free of clothes, he turned against Two’s body, the growing hardness between them impossible to miss as their legs entwined. “What do you want?” he whispered against Two’s mouth.  

Faint sounds rose from the kitchen area on the other side of the large tent. Two raised his head to listen, then smiled down at him, his pupils wide and dark against the blue. “Something quick and quiet, I think,” he said, his voice low. “Can you be quiet for me?”

Sudden heat bloomed through Ves and his breathing stuttered. He nodded wordlessly.

Two rolled him over to his back and straddled him. “Oil,” he mouthed. Ves shifted, suddenly glad to be long-limbed as he reached for the bottle on the floor beside the bed and gave it to Two. His lover poured some into his hands and rubbed them together to warm the oil as Ves returned the bottle to its place.

The first touch of Two’s hand nearly made him break his vow to be silent. Ves bit his lip, fighting to keep his breathing quiet as Two set a slow and languorous rhythm, his body rocking against Ves’s as his oil-slick hands worked them both side by side, his gaze never leaving his lover’s. Ves let his fingers rake down the top of Two’s thighs and back up again to cup his backside, the muscles taut beneath his hands as he gripped them, raising his own hips to mirror the motion of the other man’s.  

His eyes fluttered closed as the sensations grew more intense, the oil softening some of the rough skin on Two’s fingers and palms, but still leaving enough friction to provide a delicious bite to the firm grip he had on him. Two’s thumb stroked through the slick fluids leaking from the tip, and rather than cry out, Ves bit his own palm, looking up at Two. The intense heat in his lover’s eyes was intoxicating, his slim body silhouetted by the growing light against the curtains draped around their bedroom alcove. 

“You’re being so good for me,” Two panted in a near-silent whisper, his gaze half-lidded with pleasure. Ves’s fingers dug into the meat of Two’s thighs as he sped up the pace between them.

The sounds of a waking village floated up from the valley as they strained against each other: the bell of a departing flatboat, the faraway hammering of the blacksmith. Ves stifled a laugh as their pace matched the sound of anvil and iron, and Two shook his head at him, his eyes full of mirth. And then it was only sensation, the feel of Two’s skin beneath his palms as a delicious tension began to build. Two did nothing to delay their climax, his mouth falling open in helpless ecstasy as he continued to frot them both, silky, hard skin and tight fingers rubbing together until Ves’s body shuddered and spilled over, electric pulses of pleasure sparking along every nerve. He pressed both hands over his mouth and swallowed the soul-deep groan that threatened to erupt as his body shook. Two followed him a moment later, his face contorting in beautiful torment as he came with only a soft, convulsive “Ah” sound that drew another shudder from Ves as he gently brought them both down from that height, and then collapsed against Ves’s chest. 

Their bodies were damp with sweat and mingled fluids. Ves stroked Two’s back as he recovered, both floating in the tender aftermath until Two rose with another yawn and poured water into the washbasin on top of their wardrobe. He brought a wet cloth to Ves and cleaned him up before completing his own care, and came back to bed. They lay on top of the sheets, half dozing against each other until the sunlight on the canvas roof was full and bright.  

Delicious scents began to percolate through the tent. Two raised his head and sniffed.

“I smell cinnamon. And … coffee?”

“Must be breakfast,” Ves muttered, still drowsy. He knew it was. Ivy and Rain were preparing Two’s favorite breakfast, the first family event of the day. It was confirmed when footsteps from outside the tent heralded Three’s arrival home from the night’s Cliff Watch. His long shadow against the sunrise passed over the conical roof before the tent flap was thrown back.

“I have the eggs,” his voice proclaimed in exaggerated displeasure as he came inside. “Have I mentioned I fucking hate chickens?”

There was shushing from Rain and Ivy and a guilty, “Oh,” from Three. Ves and Two stifled their laughter.

“I guess it’s time to get up.” Two kissed him one more time and sat on the edge of the bed to pull on his trousers. Ves got up and found his own clothes as Two finger-combed his hair back into a ponytail. He hugged the smaller man from behind, settling his chin against his shoulder, and Two put his arms over Ves’s, leaning back into the embrace. 

“Definitely could get used to this,” Two said. 

“What if it was forever?” Ves murmured.

“That’s my plan,” Two said, kissing his cheek before taking another breath of spice-scented air, and the plaintive growl from his stomach was loud enough for Ves to hear. “Are they making what I think they’re making?” he asked eagerly.

“Go find out,” Ves said. “I’ll be right there.”

Two ducked through the curtains, and Ves quickly opened the wardrobe and found the gloves Three had knitted for him, stored away in warm weather. A silver ring fell into his palm as he unrolled them. The oval blue sapphire set into the top sparkled at him like Two’s eyes, and a flare of excitement ran through him. Ves returned the ring to its hiding place, where he would collect it later in the day.

****

The village’s party for the solstice was planned for the still-bright evening hours. Commander Bowman accepted that their music was as important a job as their service in the Cliff Watch. The townspeople were adamant that they play on their scheduled nights at Sam’s or on seasonal festival days, and grumbled to the Watch commander if he dared to schedule them for duty. 

On the warm nights of summer, Three’s dads had joined them to play a few times. Amir played a stringed instrument called a rubab. Marek was comfortable with several different instruments, and though his greatest love was the saraceni, he would play drums for a special song that evening. 

They had rehearsed the piece for the last month whenever Two wasn’t present, relying on Rain or Sam to keep him busy. It was strange at first to let his partners see the lovesong he’d considered too personal and emotional to perform. But hearing it played out loud, a testament of the love he felt for Two translated into lyrics and melody, he knew it was the right thing to do for the most important moment of his new life. The proposal would be a private affair, witnessed only by their family.

The second event came in the early afternoon. Rain’s small wagon, driven by Amir and Marek, was loaded with food the older men had cooked in Sam’s kitchen, since their new home behind the family tent was under construction. They traveled upriver to a spot Rain knew, with heavy, red shade and a deep, slow-currented bend in the river. Ves knew Two loved to swim, and he hadn’t had an opportunity to enjoy the water yet that summer. 

The day was hot, and while it was less than an hour’s walk, all of them were ready to plunge into the cold, clear river by the time they arrived. Three stripped off his clothes and waded in naked. He dived beneath the surface and disappeared, only to surface and shake his head like a wet dog. “Come on, you lot!” the tall sorcerer yelled, water dripping from his pale hair. “It’s perfect!”

Amir and Marek shed all their clothes quickly and joined their son in the water, hooting at the chill as they balanced carefully on the rocky bed of the river.

“So that’s where he gets it,” Two said, and Rain burst into stifled laughter. 

The rest of them splashed in with minimal covering and spent the afternoon lazing in the water. Ves loved watching Two carve through the river like a dolphin, swimming upstream against the current to float back to him, starfished with his head thrown back and his eyes closed in bliss. Ves plucked him from the water each time, pulling him into his arms for a kiss.

Lunch was spread out on blankets upon the bank. Three’s fathers had prepared delicious roasted vegetables and chicken heavy with herbs and garlic, eaten with flatbread, and a sticky, sweet pastry with nuts and honey. Two lay back on a blanket in the dappled sunlight after lunch, his eyes reflecting the clear sky, making them more blue than ever. Ves lay beside him, propped on his elbow, as Two sighed and patted his full stomach. 

“This has been a very good day,” he sighed, smiling at Ves, “but I feel like I’m missing something.” 

“Like what?” Rain said drowsily from Ivy’s lap. Everyone was relaxed and sleepy after the exertion of swimming and the excellent meal they’d just eaten. Three was already conked out between his partners and his dads.

“I don’t know,” Two said, still smiling. “This feels like it’s all for me. My favorite foods. Swimming. My family, all together.” He stroked Ves’s cheek. “I can’t remember being this happy. Marek, what did you put in that pastry?”

“Nothing but love and nuts,” Marek quipped, and Two erupted in a rare, full-throated laugh that sent a shiver of joy through Ves. 

“That’s enough, I suppose.”  He cupped Ves’s head and drew him down for a kiss. “I feel like this was your idea.”

Ves didn’t answer, just gave a pleased hum as Two’s lips lingered against his. He lay beside him as his lover’s eyes fluttered closed and his breathing smoothed into sleep. Ves drifted off too in the warmth of the day, his hand tangled with Two’s. 

****

The village celebration officially ended at sunset, though plenty of people still lingered in the torchlight in front of Sam’s inn. As they prepared to carry their instruments home, Two suddenly lifted his head and asked, “Where is Rain?”

“They walked home before dark with Amir and Marek,” Ivy replied. “They wanted to show Rain the progress on their tent.”

“All right,” Two said, bemused. “It was still half a circle of posts when we left this evening. What changed?”

“Nothing,” Three shrugged. “They’re just excited.”

“All right, then.” Two hefted the standing drum onto his shoulder with an amused glance at Ves. He grinned back, the first hint of nerves making his hands shake as he slid his guitar into its leather case. The four of them walked together toward home, the sky suffused with the deep blue light which came after sunset, a few early stars sparkling above the valley. 

Soft lamplight shone from inside a number of the tents as they approached the hillside. Their home was still dark, but on the far side, where Amir and Marek’s home was being built, a faint, firefly glow illuminated the trees.

 “What’s happening back there?” Two wondered aloud.

“No idea,” Three said with exaggerated innocence, and Ivy snorted. 

“Nice, mate. That was completely believable.”

“Now I know something’s going on.” Two glanced up at Ves, his suspicious expression barely visible by nightfall. 

“Maybe,” Ves replied. His palms were damp with sweat. This was it. He felt for the ring in his pocket, reassured by the circular shape beneath his fingertips.

As they rounded the side of their tent, they all stopped and stared. Ves had known what Rain and the older men were doing, but hadn’t expected it to be so beautiful. 

The half-circle of tentposts had silky tapestries draped between them, metallic threads glittering in the moon-white glow of tiny, fluttering magelights Marek and Amir had conjured. Bunches of summer flowers were tied to the posts. Amir sat on a bench with his rubab in his lap, and Marek stood behind his husband with his hands on his shoulders. Rain walked forward, smiling.

“I’ll take that,” Three said, motioning for the drum.

“What?” Two automatically handed him the drum, his expression dumbfounded.

“Come sit,” Rain said. They clasped Two’s hands and led him to the single chair in the center of the arc. 

“What’s going on?” Two asked Rain as they sat beside his chair. 

“Something special.” Rain winked.

Ves took a deep breath and stood beside the older men as Ivy and Three quickly readied their instruments. Two turned his gaze on Ves, his blue eyes wide with curiosity. Ves smiled at him, tears already threatening. He needed to do this now, or he’d be too emotional to sing. He nodded at Marek, who began to drum a soft rhythm, setting the cadence for the rest of them. Three’s saraceni added a resonant counterpoint to Ivy’s pure, crystalline guitar as he began to pick out the melody. Amir’s rubab added delicate flourishes and gave the song an exotic beauty. 

You guide me in

To safety and silence, oh

As you breathe me out

I drink you in, oh

Two blinked, his expression of keen interest transformed into wonder as Ves sang to him. 

And we go beyond the farthest reaches

Where the light bends and wraps beneath us

And I know as you collapse into me

This is the start of something

Ves saw Two swallow hard as he realized the song was for him. He wasn’t able to keep the emotion from spilling over into his voice any longer, and had to close his eyes against it in order to keep singing the next verse. When the instruments rose around him in sweet crescendo, he opened his eyes and gazed directly at his love, unashamed of the tears streaking down his face.

Let the tides carry you back to me

The past, the future

Through death

My arms are open

We go beyond the farthest reaches

Where the light bends and wraps beneath us

And I know as you collapse into me

This is the start of something 

Two was on his feet, walking toward him before he’d finished the final verse. He took Ves’s face between his hands and gazed up at him in wonder. “Is there something you’re trying to say?” 

With a deep breath, Ves knelt. Two continued to tenderly cradle his face as their family played softly behind them. 

“I want forever with you,” Ves said, his voice shattered by love. “I’m yours, flesh and bone and soul. No outward symbols could ever make that more real, but I want the world to know you chose me. Will you handfast with me, and wear my ring?”

He held up the silver ring with a shaking hand, the sapphire gleaming in magelight. Two’s breath hitched as he whispered, “Yes.” 

Ves wrapped his arms around him, and they held each other tightly for a moment until Two pulled back and wiped his eyes. 

“You won’t believe this. I was starting to think you’d never ask me, so I took matters into my own hands.” He fumbled in a pouch at his waist and drew out another silver band, joining Ves on his knees as he lifted it up. “Will you wear my ring?”

Ves stared in disbelief at the band engraved with an interlocking knot, turning back on itself in an infinite loop. He began to laugh while the rest of their family howled with surprised delight. 

“Yes. Yes I will,” he said. They exchanged rings, drawing each other into a kiss as the others set aside their instruments and gathered around to congratulate them. 

“Finally!” Three exulted. “I can’t wait to start planning the ceremony.”

“Something small,” Ves warned, and Three waved off his protests.

“Oh, no! I am not letting you take this away from me. It’s happening.”

 Amir said eagerly, “We can help.”

“Oh, fuck me,” Two muttered. 

“Don’t worry.” Three beamed at Ves and Two before dragging them both into a breath-stopping hug. “I’ve been thinking about this for years.”

****

So it happened that Ves and Two pledged themselves to each other on a crisp, sunny fall day beneath a canopy of ancient gods-blood trees near the river. Their family was joined by people who had become their dearest friends in Elysium: Sam, Commander Bowman, Merry, and Aspen and their two partners, Yanira and Branin.

Two and Ves wore crowns of golden autumn flowers and scarlet leaves, and new coats Amir and Marek had made for them. Ves was beginning to think there was nothing the older men had not done in their lives when Three explained that his dads were in charge of costuming the traveling show he grew up in. Two had privately fretted that leaving Three, Amir, and Marek in charge of their handfasting ceremony would leave them both looking like clowns, but he’d had nothing to fear. The stylish coats were deep forest green trimmed with gold piping, the hem brushing just below the knee of loose black pants tucked into the men’s boots. 

They trailed behind the guests, hand in hand, until they reached the grove. 

Everyone fell to the side to let them pass except for Aspen’s partner Branin, who walked ahead of them. He wore a flowing robe with geometric patterns, his graying, waist-length hair worn loose down his back for this formal occasion. Branin turned and waited for them beneath the trees, red and purple leaves floating gently through the air. 

“We are here to celebrate a long-standing love, one which has endured through many trials,” Branin said. “Ves and Two came to Arcadia to begin anew, and found their future here among us in Elysium with their partners. But first they found refuge in each other, built upon a love of music and a friendship that could not be divided even in the darkest of times. That friendship turned to love long before either was prepared to acknowledge it. Today, Ves and Two have decided to let their love for each other shine, though most of us have already seen and marveled at its brightness for a while now.”

“Some of us longer than others,” Three said. Laughter sparked through the gathering as Two cast a good-natured glare at their partner. Ves squeezed Two’s hand tighter in his.

“As they are private people, and there was a plea for brevity in this ceremony, we will keep it short in order for the true party to begin,” Branin said with a grin. “At this time Ves and Two will offer vows to each other. Speak with love and truth, and without fear.” He moved away to give them privacy. 

Two looked up at Ves, his gaze earnest. “You’ve been showing your love to me in song and in letters these past few months,” he said quietly. “I’m not gifted with words like you are. But I want you to know: every drumbeat I have ever written with you was my heart reaching for yours, as far back as the beginning. I was afraid to show it, and you had a very good reason to hide yours from me. You were protecting me, just as you did in every battle we fought. A little over a year ago, we were able to finally lay down our swords, and we were given a chance to make it real. Watching you learn to live without fear, to allow yourself to be happy, to allow yourself to be loved, is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever witnessed. I want to see it for the rest of my life. You said you want the world to know I choose you, and I do. I do, with all my heart.” 

“Why does being happy make me cry so often?” Ves laughed as slow tears escaped his lashes. Two wiped away the tracks with his thumb and let his hand linger against his cheek. Ves leaned into the touch and turned his face to kiss Two’s palm.

“At this moment, I am almost at a loss for words,” Ves said. “Knowing you love me is a gift so large I can scarcely comprehend it. Because of you, I learned to accept that I’m worthy of love. How could your heart, so strong and fierce, exist in this world and love me if I were not deserving?” He bit back a sob, and a ragged chuff of laughter escaped instead. “I had something worked out in poetry that I was going to offer you, but I think this was shorter.” 

Two laughed with him, and Ves leaned over to press his forehead against his love’s, their flower garlands mingling. “I love you with every particle of my soul. You are my breath and the blood in my veins and the joy in my heart. That’s all I want to say.”

They took a moment to collect themselves before turning to Branin. Two gave him a nod, and Branin favored them with a broad smile.

“Normally, I would perform the handfasting,” he said to the group. “But Two and Ves asked if their partner Rain would join them at this time, to tie the ritual knot.” 

Rain’s hands flew to their mouth in surprise as Ves and Two smiled at the healer. Rain moved to stand in front of the couple. Ves lifted Rain’s hand and pressed it reverently to his lips.

“This day never would have happened if it weren't for you, love,” he said for their ears alone. “You saved my life more than once, in ways no one but the five of us will ever know.”

“No one would believe us if we did tell them,” Two said. “It doesn’t seem fair. We wanted you to be the one to bind us together, to know how grateful we are, and how much we love you.”

Rain’s eyes grew shiny with tears. “I love you both. Thank you for this honor.”

Branin gave Rain a cord Amir and Marek had woven in the same colors of Ves and Two’s coats and shirts: cream, gold, and dark green, with delicate blossoms of pink silk flowers sewn into the braid. 

Rain draped the cord in an infinity loop, curling around each man’s wrist, crossing over the top of their joined hands and tying it below. They pulled the knot tight and rested their hands atop Ves and Two’s.

“Two people, entwined by love, become one with the binding of this knot,” Branin said. “So are your lives now bound. I pronounce you husbands, and you may kiss if you desire.”

“Hell yes,” Two said, and drew Ves down with his free hand. Through the cheers and laughter, Ves was only aware of his husband’s sweet mouth, the movement of Two’s lips on his, and an elation so complete he thought he might levitate were it not for the cord binding them together.

****

They ended up playing at their own wedding party. How could they not? Music was how it started after all, Ves reflected. The supernatural bond he, Two, Three, and Ivy once had under Sleep’s influence was long gone, but dedication and talent united by the love of music had given them a more enduring connection. All of them were smiling at each other, the flower crown on Two’s head slipping sideways over one eye as he attacked the standing drum during a particularly energetic song. 

Attendance grew beyond the dozen original guests after a delicious celebratory lunch in the public room at Sam’s. Ale and spiced liquor flowed with generous abandon, and by the end of the celebration, all five of them were happily intoxicated. Rather than be escorted by torchlight, the couple and their partners weaved unsteadily home on their own, their arms around each other.

“Should I sleep at my dads’ tonight?” Three slurred. “Is it going to be a sex night?”

Ves and Two looked at each other. “Nah,” Two said. “Too drunk and tired. Ecstatic, but tired.” He lurched upward to kiss his husband, and Ves met him in the middle. 

“Ecstatic. Yes.” Ves nodded vigorously, his flower crown slipping sideways. “It’s a regular nest night, anyway.”

“Sam said he would bring breakfast in the morning,” Rain said with a hiccup. “I told him just leave it on the table if we’re still asleep.”

“Still passed out drunk, you mean, darling,” Ivy corrected them gently.

“I’m not that drunk,” Rain protested, and ruined it by giggling, which set Three to cackling too.

“SSSHHHHH,” Two said loudly. “The Cliff Watch will arrest us for being public nuisances.”

“We are the Cliff Watch,” Ivy reminded him.

“Oh, that’s right.”

“Plus Bowman and Merry were as drunk as we are. I saw them snogging in the corner,” Three said gleefully.

The group made it through the flap of their tent, stripping off coats and boots and leaving them where they fell, pulling tucked shirts out to billow loosely around them before stumbling to the nest. Ves pulled off his wilting flower crown and tossed it on the table. Two attempted to do the same thing but overthrew and fell into the cushions. 

Ves managed to fold his long body down to the blankets without incident and pulled Two into his side. Ivy settled beside them with Rain, and Three made it down to his knees before toppling over beside the healer. 

“ ‘M so gonna regret this in the morning,” the sorcerer muttered. 

“You and the dads did a fantastic job planning everything,” Two said. 

Ves gave a happy, alcohol-fumed sigh. “It was a great day.” 

One by one, Ves heard his family’s breathing change to the deep inhalations of slumber. His husband was at his side, and Ves kissed Two gently on the forehead before he closed his own eyes. When his dreams came, they were of the future, and they were sweet.