"We've been looking into schools for the kids," Tadashi said to Alexander as they drank together at a bar. It was only the two of them, with an excuse of catching up with each other.

          "That's the same thing we're thinking about for Anna. Plus she has no interest in her old school," Alexander shrugged.

          Tadashi had heard the whole story. He knew Anna was Mason's niece but he'd never met her. And he knew that they were raising her now. He didn't know about the child's mother but the little girl seemed to be the newest addition to the family.

          "Alexander Kane, raising a child," Tadashi shook his head. "Who would've thought?"

          "I love her," he replied. "Even while I'm working, I keep thinking of spending time with her."

           "That's something," Tadashi said before taking another sip of his drink.

          "You should see her with Jet," he chuckled. "It's like they're meant for each other." He had a dreamy look on his face. "And the little cub thinks he's bad with children."

          "He hasn't met me," said Tadashi with a chuckle.

          "Oh no," Alexander was quick to disagree. "If Puffball can listen to you, then you have nothing to worry about. You're great with kids."

          "All the credit goes to Lin," said Tadashi, then he rubbed his brow with one hand. "Look at us, taking about family and kids, huh."

          "Very typical of you," Alexander answered to the first part. Then to the second part: "I wouldn't believe it if it wasn't happening."

          They sat in silence for a little while, just enjoying each other's company as music played in the background.

          "I've been thinking a lot," Alexander broke the silence.

          "Thinking about what?" Asked Tadashi.

          Alexander swallowed. "I'm thinking of asking them if... well if we could have a baby...or we could adopt several, I don't care either way."

          "Several? I didn't think babies were your thing. Not at all," Tadashi expressed his surprise, drink forgotten.

          Alexander's eyes widened slightly as he turned to Tadashi, looking genuinely offended. "Really?" He asked.

          Tadashi nodded and shrugged.

          "So it would surprise you if I admitted that I was actually the type of guy who wanted an army of kids?" Alexander asked.

          Tadashi looked at him like that was the only obvious option. "Pretty much."

          "Wow," said Alexander. "What sort of signals have I been giving off?"

          "At work or with your boyfriends?" Asked Tadashi. "Because the two are not the same."

          "I think this friendship has outrun its course," Alexander said solemnly as he pretended to get up and Tadashi pulled him back down.

          "Best-friendship," he corrected. "And you've never exactly been the type to open up, especially about such things."

          "Look who's talking," he replied simply. Alexander sighed and just looked into his drink almost distractedly. "Okay, listen Tadashi, I love kids. I've always wanted them, but I didn't think... I'd ever uh... have some to raise them with."

          Tadashi slapped his hand on his back and squeezed his shoulder. "You've always been too hard on yourself, I'm glad you have them to prove you wrong."

          Alexander chuckled. "I'm really dying to ask them, I know, it feels a little too soon and I know we'll probably have the conversation and agree on a few years from now..."

          "Alexander, you're blushing," said an amused Tadashi as he studied him.

           His boss blew out a breath and rubbed his face. "I guess I really want this," he said.

          "I think you should go for it," replied Tadashi. "I think they'll be excited."

          "You think so?" He asked hopefully.

          "Have you met them?" Tadashi asked. "Plus, with how much they love you—it's unrealistic by the way. And you're even worse."

          "I'm not taking that with the way you look at Eden and Linder," said Alexander. "I didn't think the day would ever come when I'd catch you daydreaming several times."

"You and me both, so shut up," Tadashi smiled and took a sip of his drink. He cleared his throat nervously. "As I was saying, with how much they love you, you guys will figure it out."

Alexander nodded, inwardly putting all his hopes on the words he'd just heard. "Guess what I just remembered."

"What?" Tadashi asked suspiciously.

"That speech you owe me," said Alexander. "Let's hear it."

Tadashi wished the ground would open up and swallow him at that moment. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Alexander smiled devilishly. "It won't be that easy. Start talking."

Tadashi rubbed a hand at his nape. "Uh..."

"Nice intro, do go on," said Alexander, not really helping the situation.

          "Oh God... Could you not be smug for like one second?" Tadashi asked and Alexander smiled his smuggest yet. "Well, I think you're great."

         Alexander nodded and continued to smile.

          "As cheesy as this is going to sound, it's true," Tadashi started. "I was lost until I found you."

          Alexander coughed as he almost choked on his drink. "That is indeed very cheesy, damn."

          Tadashi rolled his eyes. "What I'm trying to say is, I wasn't sure about myself or what to even do with my life right before I met you. Life had just been one gigantic hellhole and I started to think that maybe there wasn't anything in it for me. And then I met you. And I felt like we were one and the same. You were devastated and in so much pain... I just... felt like I needed to protect you."

          Alexander's smile slowly dropped as he listened intently.

          "So I did everything I could for you, and tried not to get close. You were very prickly at the time," Tadashi laughed. "But we got past that. You've been there for me too. I know it was you who left anonymous presents on my desk when I was having a bad day."

          "How could you possibly know that?" Asked Alexander.

          "I learned to read you. And the ways how you express yourself to the people you care about–very unusual sometimes. It was like the first time anyone had ever cared about me. And it felt confusing but I'll admit, it was refreshing," replied Tadashi. "I don't tell you this, and you probably don't know but you brought me back to myself. And I still can't believe you called me your family. Because you're mine too."

          Just like the first time, no one knew who moved first, but both men were engulfed in a tight hug. How long it went on for, didn't matter.

          "Could we never give speeches again?" Tadashi asked, still in the other man's embrace. "Except maybe for our weddings?"

          Alexander chuckled. "Deal," he replied. "Okay will you stop hugging me now?"

         "Oh my God, you piece of shit," replied Tadashi. "You, should stop hugging me."

          "It's okay to admit that you like my hugs Tadashi-chan." Alexander laughed as Tadashi groaned and pushed him off.

•••

           Eden knew a lot about opening a business. He knew that the first stages were the most critical and would have anyone working as hard as they could. So it was only natural that his boyfriend worked his ass off at any chance he got.

            What he didn't understand was why he just had to look so hot doing it. He watched him intently. Linder had his hair tucked behind his ear as he bent over the papers he was working on.

          He watched his eyebrows furrow in concentration. He'd not even heard him walk in.

          Linder bit his lower lip and Eden's heart beat a little faster. Linder then stared at the papers before him like they weren't making any sense. Finally he sighed, then sat straighter. He got a hair band and put it between his lips, folding them to prevent the band from falling off.

          Then both his hands went to hold his hair into a short ponytail before he took the hairband and tied the hair. Why was even a tiny gesture enough to make his knees weak?

            He'd only come in to give him a drink and possibly a massage because he was working so hard, but only his entrance made everything different.

          Eden took the drink to Linder and as he approached, the man in glasses finally looked at him. "Hey babe!" He actually sounded excited just to see him. "Is that for me?" Linder smiled and pointed at him.

          "Yeah," Eden's voice cracked, so he cleared it. He held the glass towards Linder for him to take.

          "Thank you," Linder set the glass down. "But I wasn't talking about the drink."

          Eden realized he was just standing awkwardly and not really doing or saying anything. He was also suddenly aware of how Linder's eyes fixated on his crotch, where he had pitched a tent and was as hard as a rock.

          He shuddered when Linder touched him. "I could really use a break," he said while looking up at Eden.

•••

          They didn't hear him come in, so Tadashi closed the door softly and watched them for a while. They were both shirtless and moving frantically to take the rest of their clothes off. Eden under Linder, trying to unbutton his pants.

          Tadashi felt so horny, he took his shirt off and finally made his presence known. He got to the bed and trapped them beneath him, running his nose down Linder's back in a needy gesture.

          Linder sighed and moved so that he was now shoulder to shoulder with Eden, both of them looking up at Tadashi.

           "What's with that look?" Asked Linder, as his hand reached out to trace the scar on Tadashi's stomach, his voice almost worried. "What's wrong?"

          Was he so lost in his thoughts that he didn't even know what his face was doing?

          "I just love you both so much," Tadashi poured his heart out. He wanted to live the rest of his life with them, but he didn't know how to tell them.

          "Aww, baby..." Eden reached his hand out and pulled Tadashi down between them, where he buried his face.

          A look passed between Eden and Linder, and they both got to work. It would be Tadashi's best night yet.