Author's note: I LOVE the thought of Kieran, Mark, and Cristina together! And with all the angst in Lord of Shadows, I wanted something a little light. Even though the first bit is a little heavy, a majority of this will be light and fluffy and fun.

The title comes from the song of the same name from the movie Once.

Much thanks to my bestie writingbutunpublished for helping me come up with ideas for this story. You should go read her stuff!

Happy reading!

Falling Slowly

Kierarktina fic

Prologue

Mark sat at the kitchen table with Helen and Julian. Both had matching looks of worry. Mark knew his own face wore the same expression looking back at them.

Helen twirled her wedding band around her finger and looked out to the dark sky beyond the patio doors. "Aline and I can't take all four of them on. We don't have the space." She said softly. "And even if we did, it wouldn't be a good thing to uproot them all, especially Ty. He needs his routine." She looked to her younger brothers. "I can talk to Aline about moving closer, but—"

Julian cut her off. "Your research, Helen. You can't abandon the research."

Helen waved her hand. "It's just allowing someone else to take the credit." Helen looked directly at Julian. "But you want them, don't you?"

"Yes." Julian glanced toward Mark.

He was still silent. Mark was in no position to take on the kids. He was still in college, living with his sometime-boyfriend Kieran, and partying. He couldn't possibly take on four kids. He didn't even have a real job.

"Mark, what do you think?" Helen asked.

Mark swallowed. "Julian has the gym. Julian has the house. Julian should have custody of the kids. He's been groomed to it for years. Long before we were ever in the picture." He stood and walked out of the room toward the stairs before either of them could speak again.

He looked in on each of the kids before stepping into his own room. His phone lit up with a text as he walked toward the bed. A text from Kieran.

When are you coming back? I miss you.

"Right, I'm sure." Mark mumbled as he typed out his reply. Soon, Kier.

Not soon enough. He loved his family, but Kieran was more home lately. Even when they were in the off-again portion of their relationship.

Julian knocked on the door and leaned against the frame. "You could make a case for them if you want."

Mark shook his head. "They're yours, Jules. They've always been yours. I wasn't even around until a few years ago. I really don't have a claim to any of this."

"You're still a Blackthorn, Mark." Julian walked into the room. "You're still their brother."

"I am." Mark sighed. "I just can't take them. I've still got a semester of school and I have to have an internship before I'm even considered for any jobs. And it's like Helen said, Ty needs his routine. They all do. Now more than ever."

"Thank you, Mark." Julian looked toward the hall and then moved forward. "Do you think it would make any difference with a judge if I married Emma?"

Mark smiled at his brother. "You are the most stable thing to them, Julian. And so is Emma. You were already making plans to marry her, so you might as well. It would show your effort to the court."

"You really are going to be great at this, Mark." Julian squeezed his arm. "Are you going to be okay?"

Mark took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I am. Are you?"

Julian shrugged. "I'll have the kids and the gym to distract me." He smiled sadly. "And Emma." He looked his brother over. "I hope you have someone, Mark."

With a shrug, Mark looked at his vibrating phone.

Kieran: Mark, I'm bored!

Mark put his phone down without answering. He looked up to Julian. "Your parents were very proud of you, Jules. I know they were."

"Our parents were proud of you too, Mark." Julian walked out of the room, pausing at the door. "I know you have to get back to school, but I hope this won't keep you away more than before."

"I'll be around as much as I can. I promise." Mark gave his brother a reassuring smile. "You're not getting rid of me so easily, Julian."

"And I don't want to, Mark." With one last look, Julian left.

Mark picked up his phone and wrote his reply to Kieran. Bored and horny are two different things, Kieran. Be honest.

Kieran's response was a picture of his face looking bored. Boredom written all over my pretty face.

Mark: It is a pretty face. And I wish it were here kissing me right now.

Kieran: I could be there in just a few hours. If you really mean that.

Mark considered it a moment and then typed out his reply. Best if you don't. I'll be back in a few days.

He started getting ready for bed. His phone went off again as he was settling against his pillows. He opened it to find a picture of Kieran standing in front of the huge mirrors that adorned two walls in his massive bathroom. He was completely naked with a smirk on his face.

The accompanying text read, In case you forget what I look like.

Mark let out a loud laugh, covering his mouth quickly to muffle the sound before he woke his siblings. He typed out, You are magnificent, Kier. I cannot wait to get my hands on you again.

He opened up the picture and placed his phone on the pillow beside him. He stared at Kieran's perfect figure until his eyes drooped closed.