Chapter Twenty-Eight: Car Ride
Nowaki had indeed had fun yesterday at work, having been surprised, not just by his lovers surprise visit, but by his other surprise taking part in the employee lounges unused storage room.
He smirked, just thinking about how wanton his Hiro-san had gotten. Though today, as evening came and they both had it off, they picked up Niro from Miyagi's place. Shinobu hadn't any classes on Tuesdays or Thursdays.
Niro was giggling as he got into the car, that Nowaki and Hiroki still had from borrowing it from Akihiko. Even though the novelist had tried putting it in one of their names, Hiroki had strongly disagreed as had Nowaki himself. Borrwing though was a different matter.
Soon they'd be giving the vehicle back, but they were waiting at least another month, because of their concern for Niro's health though as always, he was a very sunny mannered child.
Niro, seeing the picnic basket to his left, he scooted to the middle of the back seat, placing on his belt and asked, "Are we going somewhere?"
Nowaki turned his head, as did Hiro-san, both affirming it, "Yes, a picnic."
Niro gazed at them, "Is Uncle Shinobu and Uncle Miyagi coming? Will Uncle Usagi and Uncle Misaki be there?"
Hiroki frowned, "No... why?"
"I thought... it would be more fun that way."
Nowaki glanced at Hiroki, "Today's just for the three of us as a family, but we can plan another picnic where all of us will be together."
Niro grinned, flashing his even white teeth, "Okay!" And leaned back against his seat.
Nowaki turned to gaze out at the road, "Ready to go Hiro-san? Niro?"
Niro giggled, "Yes!" And hugged his teddy bear against him, he never went anywhere without it after all.
Hiroki nodded, "Everyone's buckled in, the doors are locked with the child safety."
Nowaki smiled, revving the engine and carefully driving out onto the road, into traffic.
Niro nuzzled his teddy bears ear, hoping that his uncles would be happy, wanting them to get the children they wanted.
He had also been in the apartment, when Miyagi had proposed to Shinobu, just before his parents had shown up. He didn't know what they were doing now, but he'd seen Uncle Shinobu leap into Miyagi's arms and hook his own arms around Uncle Miyagi's neck.
"Papa, Uncle Miyagi asked Uncle Shinobu to marry him."
Nowaki blinked as he stopped at a red light, "He did?" The older man had beaten him to proposing. Although Hiro-san, he felt sure, would probably say no, despite all the changes that had occurred in the past month. Ever since the day they'd both made wishes at the wishing well, although he didn't think the changes in Hiro-san had any baring on the wish he had made.
Though he was curious to know what his Hiro-san's wish had been.
Hiroki's brows furrowed upon hearing Niro. Although he'd known Miyagi had intended to propose to Shinobu, he hadn't thought it would be quite so soon. He wondered where the professor would take Shinobu to get married, obviously, from what he'd mentioned yesterday, he'd given it some thought.
Yet to his way of thinking, he and Nowaki had been together the longest of either his friend Akihiko with Takahashi Misaki and his superior at work, Miyagi with Takatsuki Shinobu, so they should have moved forward first with their relationship. That hadn't happened however. He was surprised Nowaki had not yet proposed, but then again, he also said 'No' to a lot of things that Nowaki wanted to do, like meet his parents.
Akihiko's father and brother knew about his relationship with Misaki. Takatsuki's parents and sister and cousins knew about his relationship with the professor. Maybe, it was about time Nowaki met his, but he wasn't so sure that was the best idea.
Niro giggled, "Green light Daddy!"
Nowaki blinked and looked up at the light, chuckling, "So it is," and released the break and stepped on the gas, shifting gears as he turned down a road toward one of the parks and parked in the parking lot, turning off the car before getting out.
Hiro-san had gotten the picnic basket and blanket, while he helped Niro out of the car.
They were one of the only two gay couples there. The other two though, didn't have any child with them, but one could tell.
The light brown haired taller of the two gazed down into the light blue eyes of the dark haired man.
The smaller of the two smiled, "Tori?" before the other brought out some papers and pointed things out to him, though it had looked as though the two might kiss.
Niro smiled, "They look happy."
Nowaki and Hiroki both nodded and set the picnic table, first with the red and white checkered sheet and then the food they'd brought.
Nowaki hugged Hiroki, "Hiro-san, I love you," he whispered in his ear and for once Hiro-san didn't struggle – much. "It feels like we're really a family, doesn't it?"
Hiroki gazed down at the ground, allowing Nowaki to hold him loosely in his embrace, though he knew his own face was red as a ripened tomato, "Yeah."
Niro grinned at them, picking up a disposable camera his uncles had given him and took a snapshot of the two.
Both men blinked.
Nowaki smiled, "Taking photos Niro?" Though Hiroki glowered at the kid for daring to take such an embarrassing photograph of him and Nowaki.
Niro nodded, "Yep, Uncle Miyagi gave it to me."
Hiroki muttered beneath his breath, "I should have known."
Moments later though, all three of them were nibbling on their picnic fare.
Hiroki had to agree with Nowaki again, silently to himself, this really did feel as though they were a real family. And what a beautiful family he had. It was more than he'd ever imagined he'd have, smiling slightly, silently to himself, but it was hidden as soon as he took a bite of a sandwich Nowaki had prepared for the picnic here at the park.
Their family. His family. He never wanted to lose it, to lose them. He would do anything and everything he could, to keep them both, forever.
