"Well, goodness me. Everyone knows how long we've waited for this day to come. First of all, I'd like to thank everybody for coming to this truly special moment in our lives. It's only taken two decades to plan; but we got there eventually, didn't we?"

It is finally December of 2005. The Greek, whose features have matured greatly since the late eighties, gives a smile to the gathering of people that surrounds him. His slightly-greying stubble is still as flawlessly-neat as it was back then; his amber eyes are still enough to make people swoon; and his cedar locks have darkened to a deep chocolate shade. He averts his eyes to the most important man in his life, before continuing his speech.

"We met by accident, back in nineteen-eighty-six. I was a closeted gay man who was too afraid of being myself. But when Levi came into my world, everything changed. He was kind, and he was patient. I felt like a new man; I felt free. Eventually, I started to come out to the people who mattered most to me. My life was starting to get better, because of him.

"We've been through a lot in our almost-twenty-year relationship. We've gained and we've lost. We've laughed and we've cried. We've been successful and we've failed. But the most important thing is, we did all of that as a team. We've always said that it's us against the problem — not him against myself. It makes me the happiest man alive, that we still stand by it, even today.

"I want to thank him for helping me to be true to myself. Of course, I've had so many friends and family who have been truly wonderful; and I thank them too. But I do wonder where I'd be in life now, without my darling Levi.

"Although we still aren't technically married, the law has changed vastly since we first met. We proposed to one another on the hallway floor in my old home in London, with the promise to wait however long it took. Perhaps one day, we will legally be able to marry in the same way as everyone else can. But for now, this civil partnership means everything to me. To us, in fact.

"So I'd like to thank everyone for coming. Thank you to my parents and to Levi's, for being so loving since the start. Thank you to my 'best man', Andrew, for having my back since we were eleven years old; and to Nancy and Rosa for continuing to be fantastic. I'd also like to thank everybody else who has helped to guide me on this incredibly crazy journey. The list is far too long. But just know, that I appreciate every single person in this room.

"Now, I'd like to raise a toast." He lifts his glass, holding it high in the air. "To love, and happiness. And to equality."

The guests that are sat around the various tables in the room, all raise their glasses in unison. "To love, happiness, and equality."

• • •

"Now, I know you're twenty-one now, Tee, but just remember that your Uncle Yog is still open to having a dance with you." George rests his hands adoringly against his niece's arms, smiling widely at her. "Unless you're too cool for that, of course."

"Uncle Yog, I'd never be too old to dance with you." She beams at her beloved uncle, coiling her arms around his neck as they sway to the music that plays at the evening reception. "I want to thank you, anyway. You've inspired me."

"Inspired you, how?" George looks down at her, puzzled.

"With your story," she answers. "About coming out, and everything. You've been so brave since you were younger. Since before I was even born. Mum told me what happened when I was like, two or three years old. All the way back, when you and Uncle Levi only just got together. She told me how much you struggled with being yourself back then."

"It was difficult," George admits. "But it was worth it in the end. I'm the happiest I've ever been."

"That's exactly why I want you to be the first to know," Tee smiles, feeling confident in what she's about to say. "I've been seeing another woman, Uncle Yog. I'm attracted to females."

To this news, George beams at her. "Well, thank you for telling me," he says first of all. "What an honour; being the first person to know. I'm so proud of you for being yourself, with me. You know I'll always be a safe space for you to vent to about it, if you feel as though some people are giving you a hard time. So will Uncle Levi."

Tee grins, pulling George into her arms in a tight hug. "Thank you. I knew you'd understand." She withdraws from him, kissing his cheek. "I love you, so much."

"I love you too, sweetheart," George answers. "Now, go on. Go and mingle. You don't want to be seen with your old uncle on the dance floor, do you?"

"There's no shame in it," she chuckles. "But I will go and grab a drink. Have a wonderful night, Uncle Yoggie."

She rushes off, to go to the bar; leaving George alone for a moment. That is, until he feels a tap on the shoulder from behind. He turns around, delighted to see his three gorgeous godchildren stood before him.

"Congratulations, Yog," Rosa beams, bringing George into a quick hug. "Dad won't stop crying about it. It's kind of embarrassing."

George laughs at this information, glancing over at his lifelong pal, Andrew; who is sat in the corner of the room with Nancy. The couple are still married; and still just as in-love as they were back in the eighties. "Well, I guess he's just happy for me. It's a very special day, Ro."

"You've both got a sick taste in music," Alexander comments. Since he was born, George decided to move past the conflict that he and Stephanie encountered with one another; in turn, Levi and himself agreed to be godparents to the young man.

"Blame Levi for the Michael Jackson tunes," George titters, folding his arms at his chest. "It's still crazy to me; seeing how much you've both grown. I remember your mothers being pregnant with you both at the same time."

"Do you remember when I was born, too?" a teenage boy, by the name of Drew, asks. He was born in 1990, to his parents Stephanie and Harrison; the pair stayed together after Stephanie's split from George, later marrying in 1993 — when Alexander was six, and Drew three. Immediately after finding out Stephanie was pregnant the second time, George was offered the role of godfather like with Alexander; to which he agreed. The two boys share the same godmother: Nancy.

"Of course I remember, Drew," George assures him, ruffling his ashy blonde hair playfully. "Your parents were so excited about it. And everybody loved you instantly. It's funny, to see all three of you so grown-up, now. It only feels like yesterday, when you were tiny." A new song starts to play; George concludes his discussion with the trio. "Go and have fun, now. Tonight is all about partying. Enjoy yourselves."

The teens all head to the centre of the dance floor, throwing shapes like nobody is watching; this gives George a good giggle. His eyes scan the room, as he simply takes a moment to let everything soak in. Never in his life, did he anticipate that he'd be stood where he is; as a forty-two-year-old man; on the dance floor celebrating his own legally-binding partnership. Seeing everybody rejoicing at the love he shares with Levi is a surreal experience; so much so, that he cannot help the tears that cluster in his eyes, from the joy he feels. Despite how loud the noise level is in the room, everything is silent to him; for he is lost in his own bubble of thought. The only thing he does manage to hear, is the sound of his favourite voice.

"George?" Levi calls to him, from behind.

George rotates his body to face his stunning civil partner; the ebony wisps of hair still fall perfectly like they did when they first met. He gently neatens Levi's suit jacket collar, smiling up at him. "We did it," he whispers.

"We did," Levi grins. "I told you we'd wait, didn't I?"

"You did," George acknowledges. "And it was worth every minute. I love you, Mr Panayiotou-Jones."

Levi chuckles at the prolonged surname. "I love you too, Mr Panayiotou-Jones."

Levi rests his hands against George's waist, leaning in to plant a soft kiss upon his lips; some guests cheer and whistle at the sight, but it doesn't startle them, nor deter them from enjoying the moment. In fact, the only disturbance comes from an unwanted stranger, who decides to gatecrash the event.

"Get a fucking room! Disgusting!" A middle-aged man jeers from the doorway to the function room. "And keep the noise down!"

George withdraws from Levi, glancing over his shoulder to see the man. "I've waited twenty years to be able to be legally bound with the love of my life without society telling me I shouldn't; so forgive me for wanting to party." He gives the man a sarcastic smile. "I'm not interested in trying to please people who don't approve of me."

"Let me show you the way out," Stephanie intervenes, ushering the stranger away from the party. "That's it; off you go. We don't care for homophobic bastards like you."

George waits for Stephanie to make eye contact with him; then, he smiles warmly at her as a means of thanking her. She returns the smile, reclaiming her seat at a table with Harrison so she can continue to mingle with other guests. George turns his attention back to Levi, snickering. "Now, where were we?"

"I think I remember," Levi jibes quietly.

"Me too, now you mention it." George shakes his head in amusement, before sealing the small gap between them both in another drawn-out kiss.

• • •

"Gem! Kieran! Dinner's ready. Don't keep your father waiting. He's worked hard on this," Levi calls from the kitchen downstairs. The year is 2014, and things have changed drastically since the pair began their civil partnership. "Come on guys!"

"Coming!" a young female voice calls back. The shouting comes from an eight-year-old girl; she has the same dark hair Levi had in his youth; moss green eyes; and the same natural elegance that he has. She emerges a few moments later, taking a seat at the dining room table. "Hi."

"Hello sweetheart," George greets softly, setting out cutlery on the table before her. "Where is that brother of yours?"

"He'll probably be finishing a game or something," she responds, rolling her eyes at her sibling's typical behaviour. "Do I have to wait for him to come? I'm so hungry."

"It's the polite thing to do, darling," Levi explains, giving her a sweet smile. "And we both know you're a polite person, don't we?"

"I guess," she acknowledges, leaning back into her seat. With her small height, she is barely able to see over the table; this causes the men to laugh.

"Kieran!" Levi calls once more. "Come on, now, please."

"Okay Daddy." The tiny voice of their son can be heard from his room upstairs; he finishes his game as rapidly as he can, then makes his way down the stairs. This adorable little boy is the spitting image of George; with irises of a gorgeous amber shade; cute brown curls like George had when he was younger; and identical dark Greek brows and lashes to his father. He arrives into the dining room moments later, with an irresistibly forlorn expression. "Hi Daddy. And hi other Daddy. I was just playing."

"I'll let you off this once," George chuckles, ruffling the small mop of waves on Kieran's head. "But settle down now; Gem has been waiting patiently for you."

"Yeah — I'm so hungry Kieran!" Gemma protests, with a childlike playfulness.

"Sorry Gemma," Kieran apologises kindly.

"Good boy," Levi praises. "Now come on — let's actually eat something." He joins the children at the table, lifting his knife and fork ready to begin the meal. "Enjoy everyone. And say thank you to Daddy for making it for us."

"Thank you Daddy," Kieran and Gemma speak in unison.

"Thank you, darling," Levi adds afterwards.

"You're all very welcome," George answers back, grabbing hold of his cutlery to start eating, too. Before he does this, however, he takes a moment to observe what's going on around him. He glances from Levi, to Gemma, to Kieran; then, he feels himself beaming with pride. All he ever wanted when he was younger, was a typical family life; in fact, he would talk about it day in, day out. He used to dream of the day where he'd be sat at the dinner table with the love of his life, and a family of his own; and now, here he is, living in that exact moment he yearned for so much. The other element to that dream, was to be married to Levi; this became a reality only last year, in 2013, when same-sex marriage finally became legal in England. The pair dissolved their civil partnership in favour of getting married; they had a small ceremony with close friends and family, followed by a gathering at the Village Hall in Goring, to celebrate the occasion.

As the children become immersed in their own little worlds, George leans across the table to gently touch his fingers to Levi's hand. "Hey, Levi?" he whispers, not wanting to disturb Gemma and Kieran.

Levi glances over to his husband, intrigued. "Yeah?"

George can't even get the words out of his mouth; for he is smiling too much. This joy triggers Levi to smile just as widely; until they're both near-silently chuckling together. George tries to regain his composure; his eyes move downwards for a moment, allowing him to become more serious. Calmer now, he looks back up at his lover, sliding his tongue over his lips to rid the dryness.

"We did it," he finally utters.

"We did," Levi agrees quietly. "We really did it."

"I love you," George mutters to him.

"I love you too," Levi answers.

"Hey!" Gemma suddenly blurts. "Do you love us too?"

"Yeah! What about us? Can we join in?" Kieran follows up.

The men laugh, with Levi answering first. "Of course we love you both, too. We have the most perfect little family, don't we?"

"Yeah," Gemma smiles. "And we have a pretty house."

George grins at her statement, for he knows it's true; in 1998, George and Levi finally saved enough money together to purchase their first home. George fell in love with one particular place in Goring when he first started visiting in 1986; but never in his wildest dreams did he ever anticipate becoming the owner of the stunning Mill Cottage. Every time he heads out into his garden, he is greeted by the same views he found tranquility in when he was only twenty-three. Nearly thirty years later, he still adores the pretty waters and beautiful nature just as much.

"We do have a pretty house," George replies. "The prettiest in the world."

"Do you think I can have a pretty house when I'm older?" Gemma asks.

"Whatever you want to achieve, you can do it," Levi encourages her. "As long as you believe you can."

"Your father's right," George adds. "As soon as you put your mind to something, you can do it. Never tell yourself that you can't do something, because that's not the right attitude to have."

"Can I go on holiday all the time?" Kieran questions. "Because I believe that I can do it."

"It doesn't quite work like that," Levi snickers. "But nice try."

• • •

Dear Diary,

I must confess, it's been a long time since I wrote in this silly little book. But I must also acknowledge that it saved me a lot in my youth. I used to rely heavily on writing my feelings down in here, but now I only need to on the odd occasion.

Life is as perfect as it could possibly be, now. I'm married to the love of my life — my darling Levi — and I've been blessed with two children. Although Kieran is biologically mine, and Gemma is biologically Levi's, they are both ours in terms of love. Blood isn't always needed.

I'm just forever thankful for what I have now. If you'd have told me thirty years ago, where I'd be now, I wouldn't have believed you. I'm truly the luckiest man alive.

If I've learnt anything in my lifetime, it's that I could never be happy while I was worrying about how others would react to my choices. If I could change anything, I'd have come out so much earlier. I never needed to be scared. I never needed to be worried. If I'd have done everything for me, that time would have been a lot easier. Hindsight is a powerful thing.

The things that I hid were slowly ruining my life, but it was my own fault. I know that now. And as they say, better late than never. When I was younger, never did I ever expect to say these words and mean them:

I'm truly happy.

Yog xx

• • •

The Things That I Hide

Completed August 13th, 2022.

And there we go! I really hope you enjoyed The Things That I Hide, as much as I enjoyed writing it! Thank you for reading! xx