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Five days had passed since the wedding and yet Manepear still found himself pausing at the smallest things
Sometimes it was the ring
Sometimes it was the word husband
Sometimes it was simply the sight of Wemmbu moving through the staircase
The tree house had changed in subtle ways since the wedding, though perhaps it was not the house itself that had changed so much as the feeling inside it
Their home rested high within the branches of an ancient tree whose trunk was so wide that it seemed less like a tree and more like a living tower rooted deep into the heart of the forest
Broad wooden platforms circled the trunk, connected by carved railings and hanging lanterns, while smaller rooms branched outward among the limbs like carefully built nests
At night, warm golden light spilled through the windows and glowed softly against the bark, making the whole structure look almost like a star caught among the leaves
This evening, the sky beyond the windows had begun to dim into shades of violet and blue
Mane stood near the tall mirror in their room, smoothing the front of his coat for what had to be the fifth time
Behind him, the bed creaked softly
Wemmbu, who had been lounging against the pillows with the sort of relaxed grace that seemed permanently woven into him, watched with open amusement
“You know” he said, voice warm with teasing “Most people do not prepare for dinner as if they’re about to walk into a battlefield”
Mane did not look away from his reflection “I am preparing for battle”
“Really?”
“Yes”
A beat of silence
Then Mane adjusted the collar again
That was enough to make Wemmbu laugh
The sound filled the room, bright and easy
Mane turned to look at him, unimpressed “You find this amusing”
“Oh, absolutely!” Wemmbu pushed himself up from the bed and crossed the room, stopping close enough that Mane could feel the familiar coolness that always seemed to linger around him “It’s just dinner”
Mane gave him a flat look “That sentence loses all comfort when the dinner is in the tundra and your family includes Dream and Technoblade”
Wemmbu grin only widened “Fair”
For a moment, they simply stood there
Then Wemmbu reached for Mane hand
The gold rings touched softly
That small contact was enough to ease something in Mane chest
Not completely
But enough
Together, they stepped out of their room and onto the main platform of the tree house
The forest stretched endlessly below them
Dark green leaves whispered in the evening wind, and the scent of cedar and moss rose from the ground far beneath
Lanterns hung along the wooden railings, their flames flickering in warm gold circles that cast soft light across the polished floorboards
The spiral staircase wound downward around the trunk in long gentle curves
Step by step, they descended
The wood creaked softly beneath their feet
By the time they reached the forest floor, dusk had settled fully around them
The air here was cool and rich with the scent of earth, bark and fallen leaves
For the first part of the journey, the forest embraced them
Ancient trees arched overhead, their branches woven together into a dark canopy that let moonlight filter through in soft silver
The path beneath their feet was familiar, a narrow line of packed earth and roots winding steadily northward
They walked in comfortable silence at first
Mane found the rhythm of it calming
The soft crunch of leaves
The whisper of branches overhead
The occasional brush of Wemmbu hand against his
Hours seemed to pass that way
Slowly, the forest began to change
The trees thinned
The air sharpened
A colder wind moved through the branches, carrying with it the scent of snow
Soon frost began to appear along the edges of the path, delicate silver tracing roots and stones like veins of light
Then came the snow
At first it was only scattered patches caught between tree roots
Then more
Until the earth itself disappeared beneath white
When they finally stepped beyond the last line of trees, the tundra opened before them in vast silence
Snow stretched in every direction, rolling outward in long pale waves beneath the moonlight
The sky above had deepened into dark blue, scattered with cold stars that seemed sharper here than anywhere else
The wind hit them almost immediately
It swept across the open land in long cutting breaths
Mane barely felt it
The warmth of a Nether Lion lived too deeply in his body for cold like this to do more than brush against him
Beside him, however, Wemmbu slowed
At first it was subtle
A slight tension in his shoulders
His arms drawing closer to himself
His hands disappearing deeper into the folds of his sleeves
Mane glanced sideways
Wemmbu expression remained composed, but something about the stillness of his movements gave him away “You’re cold”
Wemmbu didn’t look at him “I’m fine”
Mane raised a brow
A stronger gust of wind swept over the snow
This time the shiver was impossible to miss
Wemmbu entire frame tensed for just a moment before he forced it still again
Mane stopped walking
Wemmbu took two more steps before realizing, then turned “What?”
“You’re freezing”
“I am not freezing”
The wind answered for him
Another visible shiver ran through his shoulders
Mane stared
Wemmbu exhaled through his nose, clearly realizing the argument was already lost
“…The tundra atmosphere is unpleasant”
That nearly made Mane laugh
Instead, he stepped closer
Close enough that their shoulders touched
At first, Wemmbu blinked in surprise
Then Mane shifted his cloak, draping part of it over both of them so they walked half covered together
The difference was immediate
Mane could feel it
The heat that naturally radiated from his body moved easily through the shared space between them, warm enough to push back against the frozen wind
Wemmbu posture eased almost all at once
A quiet breath left him
Better
Mane said nothing
He simply kept walking, staying close enough that their sides remained pressed together
For a while, only the sound of their footsteps filled the silence
Snow crunched beneath their boots in steady rhythm
The tundra glowed pale silver beneath the stars
After several minutes, Wemmbu finally spoke “…Thanks”
The sincerity in those words caught Mane off guard
He turned his gaze back toward the endless white ahead of them “You do not need to thank me for something so obvious”
Wemmbu smile was faint but visible “Still”
The wind rose again, sharp and cold
This time, instead of pulling away, Wemmbu moved even closer, almost instinctively
Mane let him
Their arms brushed
The silver glinted faintly in the moonligh
Step by step, they continued across the snow together
The further north they walked, the quieter the world became
The forest was gone now
Only open white and distant frost covered pines remained
And then, at last
A warm golden light appeared ahead
Small at first
Then clearer
A cabin
Its windows glowed against the dark, warm and inviting beneath the snow heavy roof
Smoke curled from the chimney into the night sky
Wemmbu expression softened immediately “We’re here!”
Mane looked at the light spilling across the snow
Dream
Technoblade
Family dinner
Their first one
Instead of as boyfriend, as husbands
He exhaled slowly
Still nervous
Still overwhelmed
But with Wemmbu leaning against his side for warmth, somehow it no longer felt impossible
The closer they came to the cabin, the warmer the light seemed
Against the endless white of the tundra, it looked almost unreal
Golden firelight spilled from the windows in soft, welcoming squares that stretched across the snow
The thin curl of smoke rising from the chimney disappeared into the dark sky above like a quiet promise of warmth
By the time they reached the front steps, snow had gathered along the hems of their cloaks and the edges of their boots
Wemmbu, still tucked close against Mane side, let out a breath that clouded in the cold air “I missed this place”
Mane glanced toward him
There was something softer in his expression now, something fond and almost nostalgic as he looked at the cabin
It made sense
This was not simply a destination
This was home to people who mattered
Family
Before either of them could knock, the door opened
Warmth poured out immediately
Not just heat from the fire, but light, scent, and sound all at once
The rich smell of cedar smoke and cooked food drifted into the night air, carrying notes of roasted herbs, warm bread, and something sweet beneath it all
And standing in the doorway, framed by firelight, was Dream
For one suspended moment, the contrast between him and the tundra behind them was almost striking
He looked like warmth itself
Soft gold light caught in his hair, white and green layers falling elegantly around him, a smile already forming the moment his eyes landed on them “There you are”
The words came with such effortless warmth that something in Mane shoulders loosened before he could stop it
Dream stepped fully into the doorway, his smile widening as his gaze moved from Wemmbu to Mane and then to the fact they were still half covered beneath the same cloak
His expression shifted immediately into unmistakable amusement “Oh?”
Wemmbu, to Mane growing suspicion, looked entirely shameless “It’s cold”
Dream eyes gleamed “Yes” he said slowly “I can see that”
Mane knew exactly what that tone meant
Before he could prepare himself, Dream leaned lightly against the doorframe and added with dangerous softness “Should I assume this is newlywed behavior?”
Wemmbu laughed
Mane, meanwhile, felt the heat rise to his face despite the frozen air
“We were walking through the tundra for hours” he said with what he hoped was dignified calm “He was cold”
Dream smile softened at once, the teasing remained, but now there was genuine affection beneath it “That was thoughtful of you”
The simplicity of the words caught Mane off guard
Before he could answer, Dream stepped aside and opened the door wider “Well, don’t just stand out there freezing, come in”
The moment they crossed the threshold, warmth wrapped around them completely
It was almost startling after the cold
The cabin interior glowed in amber and gold
A fire burned low and steady in the stone hearth, its light dancing across cedar walls and polished wooden beams overhead
Thick woven rugs softened the floor beneath their feet, and lanterns hung from iron hooks near the windows, casting a gentle glow through the room
The entire place felt lived in
Comfortable
Warm in the kind of way that only comes from years of being loved
Dream closed the door behind them, shutting out the wind with a soft thud
Immediately, the silence of the tundra gave way to the quiet sounds of the cabin, the crackle of firewood, the faint clink of dishes from somewhere deeper inside, the low murmur of another voice
Technoblade
Mane felt himself straighten almost instinctively
Dream noticed
Of course he did
His expression is so unbearably gentle that Mane himself can not believe this is the Chaos god “You can breathe, Mane”
Mane blinked “I am breathing”
Dream gave him a look that was suspiciously close to laughter “Yes, but in a way that suggests you’re preparing for judgment”
Wemmbu snorted beside him
Mane turned very slowly “This is your fault”
“It usually is thought” Wemmbu said brightly
Dream actually laughed at that, the sound warm and easy as he reached out to brush snow from Wemmbu’s shoulder
Then his gaze returned to Mane
For a moment, something quieter settled into his expression
Something almost fond “I’m glad you both came”
The sincerity in his voice settled gently into the room
This wasn’t ceremony
Wasn’t legend
Wasn’t the overwhelming spectacle of a wedding hall full of impossible names
This was simply Dream, standing in his own home, happy to see them
Some of Mane remaining tension eased
“Thank you for inviting us” he said and meant it
Dream smile softened “What with the formality?”
From the next room, a familiar voice called out, dry and unmistakably calm “Are they standing in the doorway having an emotional moment, or are they actually coming inside?”
Wemmbu lit up immediately “Pops!”
Before Mane could even gather himself, Wemmbu had already moved deeper into the cabin toward the voice, leaving Mane momentarily standing beside Dream
Dream watched him go with the long suffering fondness of someone entirely used to chaos
Then he glanced sideways at Mane “He has been talking about this dinner for days”
Mane looked at him “…He has?”
Dream smile widened “Oh, constantly”
Something about that landed quietly in Mane chest
A small warmth
Before he could respond, Dream gestured toward the main room “Come on, before Techno starts pretending he’s annoyed”
The words, paired with the warmth of the cabin and the lingering scent of dinner in the air, made something inside Mane finally settle
Not completely
Technoblade was still in the next room
But enough
Enough to follow Dream further inside
Toward the firelight
Toward his now new family
———————~*~———————
The main room of the cabin opened before them in a wash of firelight and warmth
It was larger than Mane had expected, though still intimate in the way only a true home could be
Thick cedar beams crossed overhead, darkened slightly by years of smoke and winter fires, while the walls were lined with shelves filled with books, old weapons, folded blankets, and small objects that suggested a life built slowly over time rather than arranged for appearance
The hearth dominated the far wall
A broad stone fireplace glowed with steady orange light, flames rising and curling around thick logs that crackled softly in the quiet
The warmth from it filled every corner of the room, melting away the last lingering bite of the tundra from Mane skin
And standing near the fire, one hand resting lightly against the carved mantle, was Technoblade
For one moment, Mane stopped
It was not fear
Not exactly
More the sharp, instinctive awareness that came from standing in the presence of someone whose name had long ago become larger than life
Yet here, in the warm golden light of the cabin, Technoblade seemed somehow both less and more overwhelming than he had at the wedding
Less distant
More real
He was dressed simply, far more casually than he had been in ceremonial attire, but the effect was no less striking
The firelight traced along the sharp lines of his profile and caught in the edges of his hair, casting a soft amber glow across features that still held the unmistakable steadiness of a god
His gaze lifted
Met Mane
For one suspended second, the room seemed to narrow into stillness
Then Technoblade mouth curved not into a broad smile, but into something small and unmistakably warm “You made it”
The words were simple
Unceremonious
And somehow that made them far more grounding
Wemmbu, who had already crossed half the room, immediately closed the remaining distance and threw himself into a side embrace against Technoblade with the sort of shameless affection only he seemed capable of “Of course we did”
Techno exhaled through his nose, the sound suspiciously close to amusement, and rested one hand briefly against Wemmbu shoulder “Good”
Then his gaze returned to Mane
The smile remained faint, but there was something undeniably welcoming in it “Greeting Manepear”
The way he said his name was steady and direct, not formal, not ceremonial, simply acknowledging him
Mane inclined his head slightly “Nice to meet you, Technoblade”
“Chill, Techno is alright”
Wemmbu immediately looked between them with visible delight
Dream, from beside the hearth, leaned one shoulder lightly against the wall and smiled in the way of someone already enjoying the unfolding atmosphere
For a moment, Mane found himself uncharacteristically unsure what to do with his hand
At the wedding, there had been ceremony
Protocol
Distance
Here, there was only warmth and firelight and the unsettling reality that he was standing in someone home
A family home
Technoblade seemed to notice
Of course he did
His gaze dropped briefly to Mane hand, where the gold ring caught the light
Then lifted again “How the aftermath treating you?”
The question caught Mane slightly off guard
Not because it was difficult
Because it was so ordinary
So startlingly human
A faint warmth rose in his chest
“…Quite overwhelming” he admitted after a moment
That earned a low sound from Techno that might have been approval “Sounds about right”
Dream laughed softly from behind him “That’s one way to put it”
Wemmbu looked deeply pleased with himself “I think he’s adjusting well”
Mane turned very slowly “You deliberately failed to mention your family includes gods and legend figures”
Wemmbu lifted a brow “And yet… you survived”
“That remains debatable”
This time, even Technoblade let out a short laugh
The sound, low and dry, startled Mane far more than it should have
Because it was warm
Not the distant, terrifying presence of a legend
Just laughter
Dream moved further into the room then, stepping toward a long wooden table set near the fire
Dinner had already been laid out
The sight of it immediately shifted the entire mood of the room
Warm bread still steaming from the oven
Roasted vegetables brushed with herbs
A large iron dish resting at the center of the table, rich with the scent of cooked meat and spices
Bowls of fruit preserved from autumn
Glasses already set
Candles flickering low between them
The whole room smelled of cedar smoke, rosemary, butter and warmth
Dream looked back toward them “Come sit before it gets cold”
Wemmbu glanced sideways at Mane with immediate wicked amusement “You hear that? Something here is actually cold before me”
Mane closed his eyes for one second
Dream burst into laughter
Even Technoblade expression shifted into visible amusement
The teasing should have been embarrassing
Instead, it did something unexpected
It made the room feel easier
Lighter
Like this truly was just dinner
Just family
Nothing to survive
Nothing to prove
As they moved toward the table, Techno pulled out one of the chairs with quiet, almost unconscious courtesy
For a moment, Mane hesitated
Then sat
Wemmbu immediately took the seat beside him, close enough that their arms brushed
Dream settled across from them, while Techno took the chair at the head of the table nearest the hearth
The fire crackled softly behind him
For a moment, there was only the quiet sound of dishes being passed and plates being filled
Simple motions
Domestic
Warm
Then Dream looked up over the rim of his glass, eyes bright with unmistakable mischief “So…”
Mane immediately froze to the suspicion tone
Dream smiled “How has the first five days of marriage been?”
Wemmbu lit up like someone had just handed him a weapon
Mane realized, too late, that this dinner was about to become dangerous
Dream smile had the unmistakable look of someone who already knew the answer and was asking purely for entertainment
Across the table, the firelight caught in his eyes as he lifted his glass slightly, waiting
Wemmbu, predictably, was the first to react
His entire expression brightened with dangerous delight
Mane saw it happen in real time
Saw the exact moment his husband decided this conversation would become a personal attack
“It’s been wonderful!” Wemmbu said smoothly, turning just enough to glance at Mane with the sort of fondness that always made him suspicious “Even though we had been together before that, he still has been adorable”
Mane turned toward him very slowly “…Adorable?”
Dream immediately laughed
Technoblade, seated at the head of the table, lifted a brow with quiet interest
Wemmbu looked entirely unbothered “Yes”
Mane stared
Wemmbu, apparently deciding that dignity was no longer a relevant concept, continued with shameless ease “He keeps checking his ring”
Silence
Dream smile widened
Mane felt warmth rise to his face almost immediately “That is not-“
“It absolutely is!” Wemmbu interrupted, far too pleased with himself “At least three times a day”
Dream let out a soft, delighted laugh
Techno mouth twitched
Mane looked down at his plate for one brief, traitorous moment, which was enough to confirm everything
Wemmbu saw it
Of course he did
“There” he said, pointing at him as if presenting evidence before a court “See?”
Mane lifted his gaze slowly “You are enjoying this far too much”
“Oh, absolutely!”
Dream actually laughed into his drink
The room felt warmer somehow, the teasing softening the edges of the lingering nervousness that had followed Mane all the way from the tree house, across the long white silence of the tundra, and into this cabin
Then Dream leaned forward slightly, resting one elbow on the table “And how has our dear newlywed been spending time together?”
Mane opened his mouth
Wemmbu answered first “After the wedding, he keeps rearranging things”
Mane went still
Dream blinked once
Then smiled
“Oh?”
Wemmbu nodded with the expression of someone deeply delighted by his own survival instincts being tested “The bookshelves”
Mane immediately spoke “They were out of order”
Dream looked fascinated
Technoblade looked almost amused
Wemmbu continued mercilessly “The kitchen shelves”
“The spices were placed illogically”
“The blanket chest”
“That was a matter of practical storage”
Dream laughter filled the room, bright and warm
Technoblade let out a low, dry chuckle
Mane closed his eyes for a moment
This was, somehow, worse than the wedding
Because at the wedding, at least, he had been allowed the dignity of public formality
Apparently in here, dinner came with character assassination
Wemmbu leaned slightly closer, voice dropping into something softer and far more dangerous “He also keeps waking up before me just to make sure the fire is warm”
Mane breath caught
That was not something he had expected to be said aloud
For a moment, the teasing shifted
Not gone
Just gentler
Dream smile softened immediately
Techno gaze lifted from his glass and settled on Mane with something quieter than amusement
Understanding
Mane looked down
The warmth in his face spread deeper now, but not from embarrassment alone
He had done that
Every morning
Because Wemmbu always ran cold
Because the chill clung to him in a way it never touched Mane
Because the Nether warmth in his own body made it easy to rise before dawn, stir the fire and wait until the room was warm enough for Wemmbu to sleep peacefully a little longer
He had never thought of it as something worth mentioning
It was simply what love had become
Small habits
Quiet care
Wemmbu fingers brushed against his hand beneath the table.
A soft touch
A thank you
Dream noticed that, which of course that a literal admin right there, expression turned almost unbearably fond “That sounds lovely”
Mane glanced at Wemmbu
Wemmbu smiled
The kind of smile that always made the entire room seem smaller
Safer
Then, unfortunately for Wemmbu, Technoblade set his glass down and looked across the table with the sort of calm expression that always made danger feel deceptively quiet
“Well” he said, voice dry with unmistakable amusement, “It’s nice to finally meet the person we’ve been hearing about for years”
The words landed with perfect precision
Mane blinked
Slowly, he turned toward Wemmbu
Wemmbu froze
Dream, who noticed this to, smile widened immediately “Oh, we are absolutely talking about this”
Wemmbu let out a long sigh that sounded dangerously close to defeat “No, we are not!”
“Oh yes we are” Dream replied, leaning back in his chair with obvious delight “Do you have any idea how often he talks about you?”
Mane stared
Then looked back at Wemmbu
For once, the abyss demon seemed almost caught off guard
That alone was enough to make Mane suspicious
Techno expression remained composed, but the faint curve at the corner of his mouth made it clear he was enjoying this far too much
“It started long before the wedding” he said “At first it was just little things”
Dream lifted his glass, already smiling “Little things~” he echoed, as though the phrase itself were a joke
Mane brows lifted slightly
Dream continued, voice warm with amusement “He’d come back from seeing you and suddenly every conversation somehow turned into Manepear”
Wemmbu groaned softly “No”
Dream ignored him magnificently “We’d be discussing winter stores, and somehow it became ‘Mane would organize this better’” He said while mimicking Wemmbu voice
Technoblade added in the same calm tone “Combat strategy”
Dream nodded immediately “Yes, ‘Mane would have seen that flaw immediately’”
Mane slowly turned toward his husband
Wemmbu looked deeply offended by the betrayal
Dream smiled brighter “At one point, I asked him how his day was”
A pause
Then Dream, with perfect imitation, said “‘Mane looked beautiful in the firelight this morning’”
Silence
Mane stared
Very intensive
Wemmbu looked away
Dream burst into laughter
Techno let out a low chuckle, far less restrained this time
The fire crackled warmly behind them
“…You said that?”
Wemmbu lifted one shoulder, clearly trying and failing to recover any dignity “You did look beautiful”
Dream immediately made a delighted sound “Oh don’t worry, it gets way worse”
Wemmbu closed his eyes “Dad, no”
“Yes” Dream said brightly “It absolutely does”
Technoblade leaned back slightly, arms crossing loosely “He talked about the way you prepare tea”
Mane blinked “I- what?”
Dream nodded enthusiastically “The exact way you hold the cup”
Wemmbu put his head in one hand
Mane looked at him in complete disbelief
Dream continued mercilessly “Apparently you always warm the cup first so the tea doesn’t cool too fast”
For a moment, Mane could only stare
That was such a small thing
So small he barely even thought about doing it
Yet somehow
Wemmbu had noticed
And remembered
And talked about it
The warmth that rose in his face this time had nothing to do with embarrassment
Dream expression softened just slightly beneath the teasing “He notices everything about you”
The words settled more gently than the laughter had
Across the table, Technoblade gave a small nod “It became difficult not to know your entire routine”
Wemmbu looked up immediately “That sounds worse than what it actually is!”
Dream laughed again
“Oh, it is exactly as bad as it sounds”
Mane turned toward Wemmbu, eyes narrowing just a little “So while you were teasing me for checking my ring…”
His voice remained calm
Too calm
“…And you were apparently telling your parents every detail of my existence”
Wemmbu blinked once
Then smiled
A slow, shameless smile
“Yes”
Dream nearly lost it
Techno actually chuckled openly this time
Mane stared at him in silent disbelief
Wemmbu leaned closer, expression softening at the edges “What was I supposed to do?”
Mane lifted a brow
Wemmbu smile gentled “You became the most important part of my life after i gave you that horn”
The room quieted
The teasing remained, but the warmth beneath it deepened
Dream grin softened into something fond
Techno expression grew quieter, more thoughtful
Wemmbu hand found Mane beneath the table
His fingers slipped between Mane with practiced ease
“So yes” he said softly, never looking away from him “I talked about you”
Mane felt something in his chest tighten in the gentlest way
Then, because mercy clearly did not exist in this family, Dream leaned forward at Mane again, eyes bright “And what did you give him after all that devotion?”
Wemmbu grin returned immediately “Oh, this is good”
Dream looked delighted “Hmm”
Mane looked at the table
Then at Wemmbu
Then finally answered “…Heels”
Silence
One beat
Two
Then Dream laughed so hard he nearly choked
Techno actually stared
Wemmbu looked gloriously proud
Dream set his glass down, still laughing “You gave him heels?”
Mane voice remained level, though the warmth in his face betrayed him “Tailored”
Wemmbu lifted a brow “And they were perfect”
Dream was still laughing
Techno expression had shifted into something dangerously close to genuine amusement “I have to admit” he said dryly “I did not expect that answer”
Wemmbu leaned back in his chair with shameless satisfaction “They’re gorgeous orange heels”
Mane exhaled slowly
Of course this was the conversation now
Dream looked between them with bright delight “You two are impossible”
Wemmbu immediately smiled “That’s why it works”
Mane should have been offended.
Instead, he found himself laughing softly
Because somehow, sitting here in the warm cedar cabin with the fire crackling behind them, with Dream smiling across the table and Techno dry amusement settling over the room like part of the winter air itself
It felt easy
The teasing
The warmth
The stories
The way love revealed itself not only in grand moments like weddings and vows, but in fires lit before dawn, in remembered habits, in tiny details noticed and cherished, in gifts chosen because one person knew exactly what would make the other smile
And as Wemmbu hand found his beneath the table once more, fingers threading with quiet familiarity, Mane realized something
This was no longer overwhelming
This was home, too
Not just the tree house
Not just the warmth of their shared rooms
But this
A table
A fire
A family
And the impossible comfort of belonging within it despite how chaotic this family is