It was warm.

Itachi noticed and welcomed the feeling – because he knew where the warmth originated from. He could tell by the strong arm draped around him and the chest on which his head lay. Shisui's chest rose and fell with each strong breath, his skin was permanently warm and Itachi always felt untouchable in his fiancé's arms. But, by far, his favourite sound was the strong heartbeat of his soon-to-be husband.

His eyes lazily scanned the clock and saw that it was passed nine in the morning, Sasuke would've already left for school by now – and Itachi felt a little guilty for not making his brother breakfast, however the younger Uchiha had assured Itachi that he could do it himself.

It was Friday – which meant that soon Shisui would be gone for his bachelor party while Itachi did the same and they wouldn't see each other until their wedding day on Sunday.

The thought of not seeing Shisui at all – even if for twenty four hours – precipitated an ice cube in the Uchiha's heart.

"We can cancel", Shisui's scratchy morning voice responded to Itachi's thoughts, "We don't have to have separate bachelor parties and we can discard the tradition of not seeing each other the day before the ceremony..."

Itachi nuzzled himself to Shisui's neck, "I've tried – believe me. Mellissa won't have it – and once she's set her mind on something, there is no loosening her grip..."

Shisui kissed the top of Itachi's head, "I don't want to get up just yet – Kakashi will drag me away around lunch and then..."

"And then we'll only see each other at the wedding..." Itachi finished his fiancé's worried sentence in an equally disheartened tone.

They were quiet then – soaking in the reality of not seeing each other again as fiancés but rather as husbands. The silence was great in magnitude – it was large. But, in no way, was either male afraid. As long as they were next to one another, lying together with their skin kissing one another's then they could face any hardship in the world.

"Should we be thinking about moving?" Itachi wondered out loud.

"Only if you want to", Shisui answered.

"I like this apartment – but I want you to like it too..."

Shisui gently took Itachi's hand, caressing the finger with the ring on like he often does, "Itachi, wherever you are is where my home is."

Once again they were engulfed in comfortable silence, laying in bed with the orange morning sun kissing them through the window. They were at peace – their minds calculating formalities and possible alterations. But, in a proud, breezy way.

"So Sasuke will be my brother-in-law", Shisui realised.

"And your mother and father will be my in-laws", Itachi clicked.

They both chuckled silently, "It feels weird doesn't it?" Shisui asked delightfully.

"Only because we already considered them as family before – now it's just legal terms", Itachi provided, pressing himself further to Shisui.

"Wait, so Mellissa will be my..." Shisui left the sentence open.

"Aunt-in-law?" Itachi suggested uncertainly.

"Do I call her Aunt Mellissa from now on or?"

"I actually don't know...test it and see what she does", Itachi sat up to stretch but Shisui grabbed his wrist and pulled him back down onto his chest.

"Just a little while longer", Shisui pleaded.

"It's... It's not too late, Shisui", Itachi whispered.

The older male looked down at his raven fiancé, "To do what?"

Itachi hid his face in the Shisui's chest, "To cancel... You don't ha-"

"I guess it'll be a job of mine to remind you that you don't control everyone... I know I don't have to. I want to... Are you getting cold feet?" Shisui asked gently.

Itachi sighed, "No, I just... I feel too lucky."

Shisui tucked a strand of Itachi's midnight hair back behind his ear, "I feel too lucky as well."

Simple words were truly the most effective. Itachi smiled and lifted his head, pecking his fiancé on the lips, "Should we just lie here and pretend we died? They can't drag you away from me then."

"Nothing and no one could ever drag me away from you", Shisui said intensely – gazing into Itachi's eyes.

"You know I love you, right? You know that deep down?" Itachi asked, straddling his fiancé.

Shisui sat up, supporting Itachi, "I know – do you know how much I love you though?"

"I know", Itachi whispered.

Their lips met – it wasn't hungry. It wasn't a heated kiss. It wasn't even gentle or tender. It was a manifestation of adoration that no single word could accurately capture.

*****

Itachi's eyes were misting up, but he tried to act as nonchalant as possible when Shisui slowly dropped a duffel bag at the front door. Kakashi was waiting for him.

"So...I'll see you on Sunday?" Shisui said, but his voice was thick with emotion.

It was too much – Itachi couldn't bare it. He lunged at Shisui – who easily caught the Uchiha.

"I'm cancelling the bachelor party – he's staying home!" Itachi shrieked.

Kakashi sighed, "Obito – I told you."

Shisui fiercely gripped onto a teary eyed Itachi, "I'll call you every hour. We'll be okay!"

Obito pried Itachi off Shisui as Kakashi dragged Shisui out the door, "I love you!" Itachi screamed while fighting against Obito's hold.

"I love you too!" Shisui shouted back as Sasuke closed the front door.

"You two are so weird", Sasuke mumbled in shock.

The apartment suddenly felt so cold, so vacant. All light had been drained from it the moment the front door closed on Shisui.

"I can't do it Obito – I can't go a day without him. I'm going to get him", Itachi rambled.

Obito grabbed Itachi, "Itachi, calm down – it's custom. It's bad luck if you two see each other the day before the wedding."

"I don't care about any of that!" Itachi snapped.

The front door burst open, "I do." Mellissa announced as she carefully placed a bag on the floor.

"Now grow up my dear nephew, he's having a party and so are you", Mellissa beamed.

"But Shis-"

"I don't care, tonight, with us, it's all about you. But", she held up her index finger, "I will allow a phone call before you fall asleep."

That seemed to slightly calm the Uchiha down. Mellissa registered that.

"Sasuke, I ordered you pizza. It's your job to answer the door and get it – do whatever tonight. Your brother will...not be as...rational as usual tonight", she spoke cryptically.

"Wh-" Itachi began but was cut off

"Roger", Sasuke interrupted.

Mellissa backed Itachi up onto a couch and Obito sat beside him, the pair worked quickly to retrieve Itachi's cellphone and Mellissa placed it in her pocket.

"So – I bought this", Mellissa fished out a bottle of vodka.

"I don't drink", Itachi deadpanned – his mind still focussed on Shisui's absence.

"Well tonight you do", Mellissa announced, "You wouldn't let me take you to a club so you have to meet me half way here."

"Oh my God, where is he going to sleep tonight?" Itachi fretted over his fiancé.

Mellissa huffed, "I made arrangements with his parents, he'll be fine." She filled up a shot glass and passed it to Itachi.

Itachi could smell the alcohol, it smelt...clinical.

"I don-"

"Itachi...darling", Mellissa smiled darkly, "You can either have fun on your own terms or I can make you have fun."

Itachi swallowed thickly, Mellissa was a wild card and he didn't want to see the extent of her wildness. He gently took the shot glass and threw his head back, downing the burning liquid. The burn travelled down his throat and he coughed slightly.

"It tastes better the more of it you have", Obito replied easily after taking a shot as well.

Mellissa joined in and soon the three of them were laughing – Sasuke had retreated to his bedroom. Itachi couldn't remember who had started playing music but it seemed to match his light-hearted mood – the music was spinning and weaving a web with the air. Itachi started laughing for no reason and Mellissa and Obito joined in. Joyous, boisterous laughter.

Shisui flashed in Itachi's mind, the handsome man he was set to marry in just a day – as he saw it was now midnight. Shisui's eternally kind eyes, his messy black hair and gentle, warm skin.

"Itachi, why are you crying?" Obito asked softly.

Itachi looked at him in confusion, he touched his cheek and it was wet. He was, indeed, crying.

"I- I just miss him so much", Itachi confessed, putting down his shot glass.

Mellissa checked the time on her watch, "Well, we made it longer than I expected." She handed Itachi his phone.

Itachi had never hit call as fast as he did in that second.

The line rang once before Shisui's voice answered, "Are you okay? Are you having fun? I miss you so much!"

Itachi started sobbing, "I'm having so much fun", he snivelled, "Are you? I just, I miss you..."

"I can't come over – Kakashi took my car keys and my parents all but locked me up... I love you. I love you so much!"

"I can come to you! I'll be th-" The phone was snatched from Itachi's hand.

"Shisui, he's drunk. He won't be going anywhere – he's actually about to go to sleep so say your goodnights, okay?" Mellissa handed the phone back to Itachi.

"Remember the view of the stars from our field?" Shisui asked softly.

"I do", Itachi snivelled.

"Well, if we feel alone tonight, let's make a deal to just look up at the sky – knowing that we'll see the same stars..." Shisui whispered.

"Deal...I love you..." Itachi held back another wave of tears.

"I love you too...Sleep well, Ita", Shisui whispered, obviously holding back his own emotions.

Itachi didn't want to hang up, so Mellissa did it for him.

"Okay, bed time – we need you to sleep a little for tomorrow because then its grooming and fittings and organising", Mellissa helped Itachi up.

Obito and Mellissa led Itachi to his bedroom that suddenly seemed much too big for his liking. They turned to switch off the light when Itachi grabbed Obito's wrist.

"Please...pass me the yellow hoodie", Itachi whispered.

Obito grabbed the hoodie from the closet and gave it to Itachi. The Uchiha took a deep whiff of it and he seemed to relax, clutching the jacket to him like it was irreplaceable. 

A/N: Ah, to be loved like that - so sweet, don'tcha think? Do this little snowflake a favor and leave a sweet comment and hit that vote button ❤️