Two years later

"Why does coming back home feel like such a chore?" Delaney whines as they move through the crowded airport. Elias looks at Delaney with a blank expression. He's carrying both of their carry ons and pulling a luggage cart. Delaney flashes a sweet smile and pats Elias' arm. "I said what I said."

"Please tell me what part of you walking through the airport free of luggage is a chore, my dear husband?"

A nice warmth spreads through Delaney's body, followed by the scent of happiness. He's still not used to being referred to as "husband" despite the quiet and small ceremony they had on Elias' vineyard, which Delaney was shocked to learn existed. He fingers the dual bands on his ring finger before answering, with a question of his own,

"What are we going to tell Malik, Tris, and Jay?"

Elias struggles to situate all of their luggage into the rental. He slams the trunk with a loud huff, swiping the hair out of his face. Italy has been wonderful to Elias. In the past two years, he's let his hair grow, the length reaching just below his armpits. The longer it becomes, the curlier it gets and Delaney can't help but laugh at how Elias' hair resembles a lion's mane due to the humidity. He's darker now, his skin a beautiful complexion that makes Delaney pause in awe from time to time. "We tell them we were spontaneous and didn't have enough time to try and juggle multiple schedules. They'll understand."

Delaney scoffs as he slides into the passenger seat. "Have you met Tris?"

Tristin stares, unblinking, at the pair. "So, you two decide to get married on a whim? And didn't invite your best men and Jason?"

"Hey!" Jason exclaims as he walks out of the kitchen. "I would have also been a best man."

Tristin teases Jason, "Would you, though?"

Jason narrows his eyes at Tristin. "Would you?"

"Considering I am Delaney's only and best friend—,"

"He has me," Jason pouts.

"I would have been the only one to stand by his side. But," he whips his head around to stare at Elias and Delaney, "back to you two. The wedding I can somewhat understand as Delaney hasn't been one for pomp and circumstance. But" —Tristin gestures to the small, sleeping bundle in Malik's arms— "a whole baby? How do you hide an entire child from us?"

Delaney glances at Malik, a soft smile on both of their faces. Malik coos softly at the sleeping baby, completely unaware of whatever conversation is taking place. "I didn't want to jinx the adoption process."

Elias wraps an arm around Delaney's waist, pulling him tighter into his side. "We weren't sure we'd be selected, and honestly we didn't want to pay to jump the line. We wanted to wait because we know there were hundreds of couples that have been waiting for years for a newborn, but Delaney—," Delaney cuts him off to share the story.

"Elias accepted a position to teach for three years, and it just so happened that an omega in his program fell pregnant. He was scared, he didn't know who the father was, and he wasn't ready to be a parent. I didn't befriend him with the intent to talk him into adoption," Delaney assures the trio, none of whom believes that was intent, "I just wanted to offer him support, but he confided in me that he wanted to give the baby up for adoption and asked Elias and I if we wanted her. I—I was afraid to tell you because I've heard of parents that say they'll give their child up for adoption, find a willing couple, and then change their mind once the baby is born, but he didn't want to even hold the baby. As soon as he gave birth, we signed adoption papers, the birth certificate, and well," he finishes by gesturing toward the child.

Malik's voice is airy as he points out, "She's perfect."

"We're actually doing non-gendered parenting," Elias proudly states. "We will let them tell us who they are."

"Makes sense," Jason interjects, "since both of you hate being told who you are."

Elias points at Jason, nodding. "You get me."

"So," Tristin starts, "What's their name?"

Delaney and Elias have given their child's name a lot of thought. They waited to get the baby home, let them get a bit of their personality. If it wasn't for Elias' love for anime, Delaney wouldn't have agreed to give them a name that symbolized what they were to their parents.

Elias and Delaney both answer, "Megumi."

Four years later

"I swear this time difference is going to be the death of me," Tristin yawns.

"Where's Megumi?" Malik asks.

Delaney huffs, "A hello would be nice."

Malik bows his head apologetically. "You're right. Hello. Where's Megumi?"

Elias comes into frame, fussing, "I don't care if you want to wear the shoes that Uncle 'Lik sent you. They're sandals. It's raining. Put on the boots, Megumi!" He plops down next to Delaney, exhaling an exasperated breath. "I swear to god they're more like you every day."

Delaney ignores Elias. "Megumi is currently deciding what she wants to wear to school."

Tristin exclaims, "I have a niece?!"

Elias answers with a yawn. "Or a nephew. Or just a relative that you love dearly, depending on the day."

Malik interrupts, "I'm happy for her, but can I please say hi?"

"Didn't you just call her last night?" Tristin and Delaney both ask.

Before he can answer, Megumi pops into the screen. Her dimpled smile is bright, showing off the hole where the tooth she proudly told Malik she pulled all on her own used to be. Her brown hair was bleaching just a bit from time spent out in the sun. "Uncle 'Lik!! Daddy said I can't wear the shoes you got for me."

"Daddy sure did," Elias co-signs.

"But Papa said I can wear them when I get to school."

Delaney's eyes widen and he refuses to look at Elias who is currently boring a hole into his face. "Did he now?"

Megumi bounces in and out of frame, nodding emphatically, "Yup! Papa says the storm is gonna be done soon and when it is I can wear my cute new shoes!" She runs away, presumably to get said shoes.

Elias sighs loudly, throwing his head back, "Seriously, Dee? You said I was going to be the push over."

"I never said I wouldn't be," Delaney snaps, "But let—," Elias claps a hand over Delaney's mouth, silencing him.

"No, no, no. Don't stop him. Finish, Delaney." Tristin looks at him and somehow Delaney knows he knows.

Delaney narrows his eyes, studying Tristin who is mirroring his expression. "How do you know?"

"I know everything."

"When?"

"No more than 4 months ago."

Elias whispers, "Holy shit. How did he do that?"

Delaney wears a shit eating grin as he proclaims, "I know too."

"If you didn't I would have questioned everything about our friendship."

Malik questions, "What's happening?"

At the same time Delaney and Tristin excuse themselves. Elias shrugs his shoulders, scratching at the back of his neck. His grin is slightly sheepish as he hears Delaney approaching.

Delaney's voice is filled with so much love as he asks, "Wanna meet your uncles?" Malik gasps softly as Delaney introduces a sleepy, almost five month old to him. "They just woke up because someone," he glares at Elias, "kept them up all night."

Elias defends himself. "They asked for another story!"

"They have no language, Elias! How exactly did they ask?!"

Malik clears his throat bringing their attention back to him. "I would assume by now that you two know you are the least of my concerns and I only speak to you in order to speak to Megumi," he jokes.

"Oh, right!" Delaney turns the sleepy baby towards the camera, kissing the back of their head and brushing a mess of curls out of golden eyes. "Meet your uncle Malik. Malik, meet Elijah."

Tristin has returned and is staring at the screen with wide eyes. "They look like—," Elias proudly interrupts,

"Like Delaney."

"With your hair? But you..." Tristin trails off, blinking at Delaney.

"Still can't have kids, but with a rich husband, surrogacy was possible."

Malik asks the question that he's sure Tristin has, "Why do you hide this from us?"

Delaney doesn't really have an answer for that, well he does, but he's not sure how it would work if he used the same reasoning as he did five years ago. "I didn't want to jinx it. And then honestly, we just got busy. Life really lifes when you have an infant."

"We didn't believe Delaney had viable eggs, but he does. And well a little shake and bake and five months later—," he hedges gesturing towards Elijah.

Megumi runs back into the room, repeatedly squawking, "Papa. Papa. Papa. Papa. Where's 'Lijah? I went to their room and they weren't there?" She pushes Elias' arms out of the way and crawls into his lap. Upon seeing their younger sibling, they visibly relax. "Morning 'Lijah," she coos in Italian. She uses Elias like a jungle gym to lean over and give the baby a big kiss. After she's done, she looks back at Elias. "Ready Daddy!"

"Wait!" Delaney stops Elias and Megumi. "Uncle Tris has news."

Tristin holds up an invitation, his smile slightly shy as a blush settles on the apples of his cheeks. "It's in six months. Can you make it? And—," Delaney cuts him off,

"If you had asked anyone else to stand beside you on this day I would have flown across the globe just to strangle you with your own necktie."

Tristin wiggles his eyebrows, "Kinky."

Elias and Delaney groan loudly. Surely enough, Megumi's little voice can be heard, off camera,

"What does kinky mean?"