This event takes place a couple of mouths after the "Doorstep Incident".

Just Three Little Words.

The kissing was incredible. The lips against his were warm and inviting, skilled, and they tasted good too. Delicious even. Just yummy and he couldn't stop smiling. He was smiling and laughing, giggling more like it. He could hear deep, lovely laughter in his ears, vibrating against his chest. Large, warm hands were caressing him, stroking his hair and cheeks ever so carefully, like he was the most precious and fragile creature in the world. It was perfectly heavenly.

Maxi started to cry and Zexion opened his eyes lazily, his sight blurred and fuzzy. He was in bed, and his body was wrapped around one of the pillows, face buried into it. As he lifted his head, there was a string of saliva between the fabric and his mouth; the pillow had a damp patch of many kiss marks against it.

"…Ew." Zexion wiped his mouth on the back of his hand and briefly rubbed the wet spot before he crawled down the bed towards the Moses-basket sitting on a large, sturdy trunk at the bottom. He lifted the bawling baby into his arms and managed to sooth him in a matter of seconds, before taking him to the kitchen to get him his bottle.

He had been having strange dreams for what seemed like a long time to him, but it had only been a couple of mouths, and he knew perfectly well who is was in his dreams with him - Lexaeus. It couldn't be anyone else… It was quite embarrassing really. He knew that the man was about fourteen-fifteen years his senior, and he had a little son, and he was a widower, and he very likely didsn't like men like that anyway, but it just happened; but why did it happen? Slowly, Zexion sat down at the table and adjusted Maxi in the crook of his arm, then started to feed him the formula.

When they first met, Lexaeus and Zexion that is, it was just nice to have someone to talk to he was raising a child by themselves and understood the pressure of it all. Over time, they become good friends and became even closer after the incident on that nasty cold night. (It took Zexion a long time to forgive himself.) They would meet up for lunch from time to time, have talks on the phone and their sons seemed it get along just fine. Everything was going on smoothly… then the dreams began.

After Maxi's mother left, Zexion had not been in a romantic nor sexual relationship, solid or otherwise. Not even a one-night stand with someone from class. He didn't feel right doing so with just anyone. The baby needed most of his love anyway. But Lexaeus seems different. He is nice and kind, and makes the boy feel more wonderful then a quick romp in the sheets would… and not to mention a quite handsome man--

Zexion's eyes widened in sudden dawning of knowledge and his whole body tightened.

"Holy crap, I love Lexaeus."

His hold got stupidly strong and he almost crushed Maxi against his chest. Tired and uncomfortable, the tot started to cry again and accidentally spat some of his milk in distress. Zexion made hushing noises, rocking him from side to side. "Sorry, sorry, sorry. I wasn't thinking." He grabbed some paper-towel from the dining table and wiped his son clean. "I'm so sorry, little one." Maxi calmed down a little, blinking up at the man with his big, blue eyes. Zexion smiled weakly. "Everything is alright… Daddy was just thinking about something serious." It was serious.

The very idea of him, a poor, single-parent student thinking of a nice doctoring widower with a son like that. It's just horrible… maybe it was just something untrue. Zexion was properly just stressed and thinking about getting laid because it has been forever since he had been, and Lexaeus is a good example of a generally attractive person who someone like Zexion might have fantasies about… it's still didn't sound good.

Instant of brooding and moping over it, Zexion decided that it was high time to get ready for the day. Lexaeus was coming over for lunch with Lex, so he needed to get things sorted out. The day started out the same like all the other days - the two of them finished breakfast (Zexion normally just had jam and toast), followed by a nappy change for Maxi, then a quick bath together (safes time and water, and Maxi liked splashing his father.) They got dressed and Maxi had another feed, spat up and Zexion had to mop him up again. Another nappy change and Zexion tidied up a little bit while Maxi played with his toys on the floor. By ten o'clock, Maxi was ready to have a nap so Zexion put him back in his basket and finished tidying up and began making something for lunch.

By half-past eleven, Zexion had almost forgotten about the dreaming and his dribble-covered snogging session with the pillow, and he was more then prepared to face Lexaeus without having to blush or look downwards.

Quarter-to-twelve and there was a knock at the door. Giving himself a quick check-over in the mirror, the boy sighed and answered the door with a smile.

"Hey, you two."

"Hi Zexion!" Lex shouted from his perch on his dad's shoulders. Zexion put a finger to his lips.

"Shh. Maxi's napping at the moment."

"Oh. Sorry."

"We're not too early, are we?" Lexaeus asked.

"Of course not. Come in."

Zexion's flat wasn't much. It was small and a little cluttered, full of books piled up here and there. The tables bared lots of pictures of friends and family in frames, some already fading.

"I like your flat, Zexion."

"You don't have to flatter me, Lex. You can say to hate it."

"But I don't hate it."

"I don't hate it either" Lexaeus smiled. Zexion fought down a slight flush.

"I guess it's not so bad" he shrugged.

"Do you might if I use your bathroom?" the larger man asked.

"Go ahead. I don't mind."

As Lexaeus locked the door behide him, Lex started to peer at all of the pictures on the side table. He gave a few a curious touch and poke.

"Are these all your friends, Zexion?"

"Yeah. They are." Zexion stood behind the child, crossing his arms. "Those are just snapshots from parties and stuff."

"Looks like you're having fun… everyone is smiling and pulling faces…" Slowly, Lex picked up one particular photo and blinks down at it once it was in his hands. "…Who's this guy trying to bite your ear off?"

Zexion snatched the picture away and held it to his chest, his whole face in a bright blush. He couldn't believe it. He… never thought twice about the picture. It was just a little snap of him and a ex, but they still talked and got along so he never took in down. It was a nice picture anyway. It's one of the few snaps where he wasn't pulling a twisted, stupid expression. Just a type that looks like he was squealing. Now, Lex found it. Was it child abuse to expose little ones to this sort of thing? Would Lexaeus disapprove? Maybe he would.

"Is that your boyfriend?" Lex asked, and that nearly knocked Zexion off his feet.

"Erm, well… You see…"

"Well?"

"…He used to be my boyfriend. A couple of years ago."

"Oh, right."

"…Don't you find that weird, Lex? A boy with a boy?"

"Nope." Lex smiled up at the boy, swinging a little on his feet. "I know it's normal. Daddy taught me that." Zexion breathed a sigh of relieve. He wasn't going to jail and Lexaeus wasn't going to hate him. He put the picture back onto the table.

"I didn't think little kids your age would know that sort of stuff."

"I'm used to it" Lex insisted. "I didn't understand it at first when I saw pictures from Daddy's medical school days."

"…What do you mean?"

"Didn't you know? Daddy used to dated some boys when he was younger."

Zexion's heart fluttered inside his chest, beating miles per minute. Lexaeus used to dated guys. Maybe he still liked them in a way. Maybe he had a chance with him-- No! He couldn't think like that. Not while standing in front of the man's child. It was just shameful. The bathroom lock clicked again and Lexaeus walked out. He smiled at the smaller males.

"Did I miss anything?"

"Not much" Lex shrugged. He yawned, rubbing his eyes sleepily.

"I think someone needs a nap" his dad chuckled.

"No, I don't." Another yawn. "I'm fine."

"He can sleep on my bed as long as he doesn't disturb the baby" Zexion offered. "The chicken will not be ready for awhile anyway."

"Come here." Lexaeus scooped the child up into his arms and carried him off into the little single bedroom. Zexion didn't know what to do with himself. First he sat down on the sofa, then stood up again, put his hands in his pockets, then he run them through his hair. He wasn't even sure if he liked Lexaeus like that… He could have, but it's been so long since he has been in a relationship he wasn't sure about his feelings or what it is like to be in love again. He started to pace as Lexaeus came back again, closing the bedroom door behind him with a smile.

"He's not tried, he said. The lamb more or less fell asleep straight away when his head hit the pillow… Are you alright, Zexion?"

"Yeah" the boy insisted, smiling up at him. "I'm just a little tried and restless. Oh, where are my manners? Would you like a drink? I have some wine and beer in the fridge."

"I can't. I'm driving, but I would like some tea if you don't mind."

"No problem. Make yourself at home."

As Zexion rattled about in the kitchenette, Lexaeus sat down on the sofa, watching the younger man carefully.

"Are you feeling alright nowadays, Zexion?"

"Brilliant, thanks for asking. Although Maxi likes waking me up in the middle of the night for no reason, so I'm very tried."

"You should try to nap when he is taking his. You will be able to catch up with your sleep then."

"Ha-ha. When I'm not studying, you mean." They fell quite for a moment, and Zexion shifted awkwardly. He opened the top cupboard and found the teabags. "…Lex told me something quite interesting while you were in the bathroom."

"Oh really?" Lexaeus chuckled quietly and shook his head slowly. "That boy is always tell people things. Mostly about all the things he learns at school. You want to be a junior teacher, right? You'll have lots of children telling you things when you start working." He picked up the TV guide from the coffee table and casually flicked through the pages to see if any sports games were on that afternoon. "So what did he tell you?"

"…That you are bi."

The magazine slipped onto the ground. Lexaeus' eyes widened ten fold.

"Excuse me!"

Zexion knew he should have keep his mouth shut. He should have bit his tongue until he bled so he couldn't say something that stupid and hurtful. He was such a nasty person.

"I-I'm sorry, Lexaeus. It's just… Lex told me that you used to date men. I know I shouldn't jump to conclusions and interfere with your personal life… It's just that you never told me yourself… which you might have a very good reason to not to. I just…" Zexion frowns. "I am sorry. Please don't hate me."

"I don't hate you." Lexaeus stood up slowly, never taking his eyes off the lad. "I just don't understand. Why did Lex tell you that?"

"He-- um-- Oh Gods…" Zexion was really blushing by then, red as a beetroot. He shakes his head a few times. "Let's just forget about it. Forget I said anything. I was just being foolish."

"…Zexion, my sexuality isn't making you uncomfortable, is it?"

"What! No! Of course not! Look, can we just move on from this? I'm sorry I ever started--"

Bang!

Zexion head-butted the left-open cupboard door and stumbled backwards, clutching onto his foreword in pain. His face creased the feeling. "…Ouch."

"Zexion!" In a moment, Lexaeus was by his side. The man closed the cupboard, and helped to support his friend. "Are you alright?"

"No. I'm not. It really hurts… Shit, my head."

"Here. Come and sit down." Carefully, they managed to get to the sofa, and Zexion slouched with his head thrown head, eyes closed and hand over his head. He blinks weakly as Lexaeus moves his head away, and places his own palm over the top. He was in doctor mode again. "You've really banged it. We should put something cold against it to stop it from swelling badly."

"…There is a ice-bag in the bathroom cabinet" Zexion mumbled. Lexaeus nodded and fetched it straight away, returning to fill it with ice from the freezer. He carefully placed it against the boy's bump.

"Is that alright?"

"Yeah. Thank you… I'm sorry about what happened just now."

"It's alright. We both overreacted a little. It's a good thing we didn't wake the children, hmm?" They smiled at the statement, and Zexion felt a little better.

"It's not going to bleed, is it?"

"No. It will darken into a bruise--"

"Oh great."

"But it won't be so bad. You can hide it under your hair." The man was kneeling on the floor in front of him, and he was really close. Zexion could even smell his breath. He wanted to giggle; it smelt pretty good and surprisingly sweet-scented for a big guy.

"It's lucky that you're a doctor. I would have been sat in pain and with my head between my legs if you hadn't be here."

"Can you actually put your head between your legs?"

"My body is surprisingly supple" the boy smirked, going to little stretch. Lexaeus chuckled, shacking his head slightly.

"How I envy you. Sometimes my joints just lock up for no reason."

"Poor old man."

"Watch your cheekiness, child." Slowly, Lexaeus pulled the ice bag away and brushed his thumb over the cold-and-purple spot. It tickled Zexion a little. "It's not so bad… You always seem to be hurting yourself."

"I know. It's a miracle that I can still function--"

Then for some reason Lexaeus kissed the bruise.

An awkward silence filled the room. Zexion blinked curiously up at the man, resting his hand over his bump. Lexaeus looked utterly embarrassed, and he was blushing slightly. He backed away a little.

"…I-I'm sorry. I don't… know what came over me."

"Lexaeus, it's--"

"I didn't mean to come on to-- I mean that wasn't my plan-- I mean I should have stopped myself--"

"Lexaeus!" A small hand gripped onto his shirt, pulling his closer. Zexion was smiling at him, his eyes bright and full of shine. He looked so beautiful and Lexaeus felt a strong shiver pass through his solid frame. "I don't mind" Zexion said lovingly. His fingers cupped a hollowed cheek. "I… actually liked it."

Lexaeus stared at him, confused, the cogs of his mind turning. His dark eyes lidded and he smiled warmly. He leaned forwards and pressed his lips against Zexion's, who just simply tilled his head to the side, locking their mouths perfectly. Muscular arms wrapped around his waist and he was pulled forwarded, chest-to-chest. He tangled his fingers into earthy brown curls, smiling into the kiss.

Better. It was far more better then the dreams and make-out sessions with the pillow. Feeling his flesh and breathing in his smell was far more better. After a moment, they pulled away, a feeling of content shared between them.

"…That was nice" Lexaeus chuckled.

"I was, wasn't it?" Zexion laughs, stroking a bushy eyebrow with the back of his finger. "You know that most people don't get a kiss off me until they buy me dinner. You are one of a lucky few."

"I do feel lucky." Moving to sit on the sofa, Lexaeus took hold of Zexion's hand. "It's… been awhile--"

"--Since you felt like this. Me too."

"Maybe we should take things slowly."

"Yeah. That sounds logical…"

"…What are we going to tell Lex when he wakes up?"

"…Surprise. He won't hate me for liking you, would he?"

"He adores you… He often says I shouldn't be lonely all the time. He tried to get me paired up with his form teacher once but he already had a boyfriend. I think he would approve of you."

Zexion chuckled. He nuzzled up against Lexaeus like a kitten. "Well, while he and Maxi are still sleeping, maybe we should have more kissing practice. You know, because we haven't kissed properly since forever. We don't want to be sloppy now."

Lexaeus chuckled, and pulled the boy close again. "No. We don't."