In the morning everything was fine, surprisingly. Freddie expected a little bit of awkwardness but Leo was just Leo. He indulged Georgie, and treated his mother like she was a commanding officer. They laughed together as Freddie butchered BTS lyrics. When they got to Leo's apartment, Freddie took the hint as Leo lingered leaning across and placing a soft kiss on Leo's lips. They both left smiling and Freddie figured the night before had been a blip.

Sunday rolled around and Freddie was excited to see Leo again that evening. Until he told his mum about the invite and things god awkward again.

"Sunday dinner is family time," Freddie's mum said when Freddie told her Leo was coming over.

"Yeah I know I'm going to be here, but Leo can come right?" Freddie asked.

"Is Leo family now?" her mum asked.

"No but you let Lydia come before," Freddie finally realized he might have read the situation wrong.

"Lydia was a special exception," his mum said.

"Can Leo be a special exception?" Freddie asked.

"What makes him special?" His mum asked catching Freddie off guard.

"He's a friend," Freddie said.

"You've got lots of friends why should I make an exception for Leo?"

"He's my best friend," Freddie said.

"Lydia's your best friend do you want to revoke her exception?"

"No!" Freddie insisted quickly.

His mum gave Freddie a look that said 'I am right about this let it go.'

"He's my boyfriend," Freddie blurted desperately trying to stop the conversation from disappearing.

His mum stopped and Freddie held his breath.

"Alright," his mum said slowly. "Your boyfriend can come to family dinner."

Freddie let out the breath, jumped over and gave his mum a kiss on the forehead.

"Alright alright, but if he wants to sleep in your bed again we're gonna have a talk."

Freddie didn't want to have that talk so he rushed out of the house claiming he had to work even though his shift didn't start for another hour. While he sat in the car park
with a hot chocolate he texted Leo to tell him what had happened.

Mum wanted to know why you were coming to family dinner so I said you're my boyfriend is that okay? He sent.

Okay, Leo replied.

Cool see you at six, Freddie sent.

Freddie spent the rest of the day counting down the moments until he got to see Leo again. When the doorbell rang at six on the dot Freddie dropped the knife he was holding and raced Georgie to the front door. Opening the door he was excited and surprised because Leo was wearing a tie. Not only that he was holding a bunch of flowers.

"Are those for me?" Freddie asked a little confused.

Leo blushed, "they're for Carol."

"For me," Freddie's mum said appearing out of nowhere taking the flowers from Leo. "Thank you Leo."

All Freddie could do was stare in confusion as Leo did a small bow.

"Thank you for having me," he said.

"Of course darl come on in," Carol said.

She had to physically push Freddie back out of the way because he was so confused. Georgie was confused too.

"Are you my new dad?" she asked.

Everyone froze and turned to look at her.

"What do you mean?"

"Dad buys mum flowers and Leo buys mum flowers."

Carol turned to muffle her laughter for a second.

"Leo's not your dad he's your brother," Carol said and Freddie. "Come on let's leave your brothers to talk and put these flowers in some water."

"So they don't die," Georgie said matter of factly.

Leo and Freddie stood awkwardly frozen in place until the sound of Georgie shouting the names of all the flowers she knew drifted away.

"What's going on here?" Freddie asked.

"I don't know," Leo said slumping a little.

"I appreciate the effort but this isn't necessary."

Leo looked sick, "I'm trying. I don't know I ant her to like me."

Freddie's face softened, "she already likes you."

"As your boyfriend, I want her to like me as your boyfriend," Leo said.

That stopped Freddie, he took a step back, took in every inch of the man in front of him. The realization hit him like a gust of wind.

"You're my boyfriend," he said smiling.

"You said?" Leo said looking a little confused.

"I know what I said I told you I'm a little slow sometimes," Freddie said.

"If you don't want—" Leo started but cut off when Freddie grabbed his hand.

"Come on boyfriend, you can help me cook."

Freddie ignored the way his mum looked at their hands intertwined as they walked into the kitchen. He was too happy to care about judgment or smugness. Leo Lee was his boyfriend and that's all that mattered.