A/N: Thank you all for being you.


"Do I really have to do this?"

Carlisle cupped Edward's cheek, tilting his head for a soft, quick kiss. It had been a few days since their fight. A few days in which Edward had gotten some sleep, cleared his head. He'd gone to work, but his and Garrett's schedules didn't cross. It was time to take care of this. "Did you get another job when I wasn't looking?"

Edward made an adorable pouting face. "No? But I'm sure I can get one soon."

Taking him firmly by the shoulders, Carlisle turned Edward around to face the door. The younger man grumbled, but he knocked.

Garrett appeared, shirtless, with that cocky grin of his plastered all over his face. When he saw who was on his doorstep, though, his smile fell. He cleared his throat and took a step backward. "Come on in. You can meet Kate."

~0~

"Hell yes, I'm attracted to your boyfriend. Hell yes, if I thought I could get him into my bed, I'd be all over that. And hell yes, what you have with Carlisle is something I wanted once upon a time." Garrett chuckled. "Hell, watching you have it is what drove me to this." He shot a look of mock-horror at Kate who smirked back at him. Laughing again, he looked back to Edward. "I also want you and Carlisle in my bed. I'm not surprised you thought any of this. Because I told you to your face every single one of those things."

Edward grimaced, and Carlisle squeezed his knee. Garrett's tone was a gentle tease, and he smiled as he continued. "I also asked you point blank if my blatant attitude was a problem."

"I know," Edward said, his tone timid.

Garrett turned to look at Kate. He picked up her hand and brought it to his lips. "I get the jealousy thing. It's like, you found this thing, this relationship you want to keep forever in a world where nothing is forever. Relationships are so fragile. You don't want anyone else to touch this awesome thing you've found."

He turned back to Edward and spread his arms wide. "I'm an open book, man. I am who I am, and I won't make any apologies for that. I like you, Edward. I don't have a problem with dialing down my natural flirtatious instincts. Respecting boundaries is what people like us do best, after all. Just, you know, you have to call red when that's what you need."

~0~

Carlisle knew Edward was chafing. He was too smart for his own good, and that meant he was used to being right, to understanding what to do in any situation. While his upbringing had left him no outlet or way to process his emotions, it had also made him a capable and highly rational person. He didn't like feeling young and silly.

He also didn't like Garrett. Not yet. He didn't like Garrett's honesty. He would have preferred Garrett say he wasn't even remotely interested. He would get over it, especially now that they were all on the same page, but he wasn't over it yet.

Carlisle knew this because he knew his boy.

So, he wasn't surprised when Edward was on him the second they were back home. Carlisle raised his hands, prepared to take control. There were things left to say, things that needed to be handled before they could relax again.

Those things were very difficult to remember when Edward's lips were on him. Good God, he was intoxicating. The taste of him, the smell, the feel of his fingers pressing into Carlisle's back. He whimpered with the enormity of the emotion that rocked him. He loved this man so much it scared him.

Cupping Edward's cheeks in his hands, Carlisle pushed him back gently. "We need to talk, baby boy."

Edward growled and tried to kiss him again. He wanted to reclaim his territory. Oh, they both knew without doubt they belonged to each other, but they were men. The need to leave their mark was nearly irrepressible when they wanted, needed someone so much.

Carlisle tightened his grip, keeping Edward still. He looked in his eyes, pinning him. After a few tense seconds, Edward sighed and nodded. "Okay."

They moved to the sofa and sat with their knees brushing, their bodies angled toward each other. Carlisle took a deep breath and looked to Edward. "Two things."

"First?"

"The other night, you said something about Esme."

Edward winced and started to shake his head. "Carlisle, no. I'm sorry. I was lashing out. I didn't mean it. I'm okay with that."

"You've said that before."

Edward closed his eyes. "Fuck. That hurts."

"Baby-"

"No." He opened his eyes. "You were right the other night. I'm the one who lied."

Carlisle hummed. "I have two best friends. One is my ex, who flirts openly with me... And you, and pretty much anyone who looks at him, but I digress on that point. The best friend I've ever had is a woman with whom I share a piece of what we have together. It's a small piece, little more than a favor, but it's a piece. You should have told me how you felt, but I was willfully ignorant. I should have known things had to change." He traced Edward's lips with the pad of his thumb and smiled. "I've lived a solitary life for forty years, sweetheart. Change is necessary."

Edward smiled. He took Carlisle's hand and pressed it to his cheek. "We're working on Garrett. I meant what I said about Esme." He huffed. "I don't like it, but I told you that. They're your friends, and you love them." He smirked. "Not like you love me."

"No, love." He caressed his cheek. "Not even close."

"I know that." Edward put his arm around Carlisle's neck, pulling him close to bump their foreheads together. "I know that. You're compromising about Garrett, changing your relationship with him for my comfort, because I can't cope with other people eye fucking a man whose heart and body belong to me."

"It's-"

"Only human. I know." He sighed. "It's childish and selfish to wish I was your whole world."

"You are everything to me."

Edward shook his head, looping the other arm around Carlisle's neck. "I can't be. I'm going to want you forever. Which means I can't keep you all to myself. That never works. We need full, complex lives and friends."

Carlisle tilted his head and kissed Edward, a reverent kiss. His heart was painfully full. "You really want me, this, forever?"

Edward raised his head, looking him in the eyes. A tiny flicker of uncertainty flashed through his eyes. "Surely you don't doubt that."

"No. I don't." He'd known, of course. He was still incredulous-how had this beautiful man wandered into his lonely life-but he knew Edward had always been honest about what he felt for Carlisle. He'd taken all the risks for them, had been the brave one.

Now it was Carlisle's turn to take a risk. He pulled back slightly, running a hand through his hair. His stomach twisted with nerves. He took Edward's hand and brought it to his lips. He kissed each knuckle and then ran the pad of his finger over his initials on the cuff Edward wore. "So the second thing," he said, his voice tight around the lump in his throat.

"What's the second thing?"

Garrett had explained what Carlisle had assumed-he hadn't expected anyone to be in his bathroom. In considering his burgeoning relationship with Kate, he had dug the relic out of its usual hiding place, contemplating the only other time in his life he'd considered more. It had been a fluke-nothing more. The fact Garrett had a cuff like this had to hurt, if only irrationally. Garrett's was then-a time that belonged to him but one that he wouldn't ever display openly again. Edward wore his cuff every day, every minute that he wasn't in surgery. Still, it had to hurt.

Carlisle took a deep breath, looking up at Edward. "I've told you a hundred times I have no idea how this works. And the timing of this... I can't tell if it's good timing, all things considered, or horrible timing." He blew out a breath. "This might just be crazy. Or is it needy? I'm not sure."

Edward looked at him, perplexed. "You aren't making any sense."

"I know." Carlisle tapped the cuff. "Our relationship, what you mean to me, what we are to each other, has changed tremendously since I gave you this." He took another deep breath, willing his stomach to stop fluttering. "I have something for you. I've had it for a little while."

"Oh." A curious smile played at Edward's lips. "I was wondering when you were going to start to spoil me. What's the point of having a hoity-toity doctor boyfriend if you can't get spoiled, hmm?"

Carlisle had to laugh. His nerves eased somewhat. He did so much adore this snarky brat. "Yes, well." He got up and crossed to the shelves at one side of the room. Heart pounding, he took a box from behind a few of his books. He walked back to the couch and sat beside Edward again. He put the box in Edward's hands.

His eyes bright with excitement, Edward opened the box. Inside was another cuff. This one was better quality all around. Crisp black leather. The crest was made of real silver. It was also a much different design than the cuff on Edward's wrist.

"What is this?" Edward asked, running his hands over the design-an open hand, a roaring lion, three clovers. "This is a family crest.'

"It is." He swallowed hard. "It's my family's crest. The Cullen crest."

Edward's head shot up, his eyes gone wide. "What are you…"

His words fell away as Carlisle slid off the couch onto his knees. He took Edward's hands in his. "This is too fast. I know that, but to tell you the truth, Edward, I don't care. You told me once you wanted everything with me. Well, everything I am, everything I have is yours. I'm yours. That's a foregone conclusion. I want to make it official. I want to marry you."

Edward stared, his lips pursed in a perfect o, but he didn't speak. He blinked. Carlisle's stomach twisted violently. "If that's not what you want-"

"No!" Edward shook his head. "I mean. Yes. I mean…" He pressed his lips together briefly and then tried again, a smile beginning to twist his mouth up. "Yes. Yes that's what I want. And yes. Yes. Yes."

For a second, Carlisle couldn't breathe. Though he was sure of Edward's feelings for him, part of him still hadn't believed he would get a yes to this most important question. Then, as realization dawned, he smiled. The biggest, most foolish smile of his life. His fingers trembled as he took the old cuff from Edward's wrist and replaced it with the new one. He wondered if there had ever been a more profound sight than that-the visual promise that they would have everything, be everything to each other.

Edward tugged on his hands, and Carlisle stood again. Edward pulled him back down on the couch, and straddled him. He kissed Carlisle-a kiss rough with the intensity of the mood welling between them. He threw his arms around Carlisle's neck and pressed his body as tight up against him as he could. Carlisle kissed him back with just as much urgency. His heart was about to pound right out of his chest, but not with nerves now. No. He was running on pure joy.

It hadn't been so long ago that he gave up the idea he would ever be someone's husband. Edward was a dream he never would have believed could be his. But it was no dream. Edward was real and warm in his arms.

They broke, breathless, and Edward laughed. It was such a breathy, happy sound. They kissed again. And again. Tiny kisses now. Sweet, quick kisses. Teasing.

"When?" Edward said between kisses.

"Um." Did Edward really mean to hash out the details while he was writhing on Carlisle's lap like that? "I, um. There's no rush." He stole a trio of kisses. "After your residency, even."

Edward made a disgruntled sound, and he nipped at Carlisle's lip. "Why wait?"

"Because, I-" He sighed, tightening his hands at Edward's hips. "Then there will be time to plan. Prepare. You hardly have time to breathe right now, let alone plan a wedding."

Edward snorted. "You think I want a big fancy to do?"

Carlisle pulled back just slightly, cocking his head to give Edward a superior look. "Who said anything about what you want? Maybe I want something lavish." He tilted his head, taking in the sparkle in Edward's eyes, the happiness painted all over his features. "Intimate, I think, but lavish. Beautiful. Like you." He kissed Edward again, a soft kiss. "Like this. Like us."

Edward stared at him with a look Carlisle hadn't ever seen before, one he didn't know how to identify. He pressed his lips together. The corners of his mouth were still turned up, but he seemed to be holding something back.

Before Carlisle could ask what it was, Edward started to laugh. It was a giddy sound, airy and breathless. He ducked his head, covering his eyes with his hands. "Fuck," he said.

Carlisle furrowed his eyebrows, shock running through him as he recognized the shake in Edward's voice and shoulders. "Baby... are you crying?"

"Ugh. No." Edward wiped furiously at his eyes and laughed again. That same, slightly maniacal, but bubbling sound. He sniffled. "Of course I'm not crying. I hate crying. I don't fucking cry."

Carlisle raised an incredulous hand and brushed his fingers down Edward's cheek. They came away wet with tears. Edward laughed again and threw his arms around Carlisle's neck, hugging him. "Dammit. I must be a masochist to consider marrying you. Stop making me cry, you prick. You suck."

"We'll, if you're going to throw around accusations like that... " Getting a firm grasp on Edward, Carlisle pushed him over onto his back, quickly pinning his boyfriend-his fiancé -beneath him. He kissed his eyes, his nose, his lips, his neck. He took Edward's hands, pausing to press a kiss against his cuff, and then pressed them above his head to the couch. He kissed him until they were both senseless. His hips pressed down and Edward's up, grinding, sliding.

Slowly, Carlisle made his way down Edward's body. They pulled their shirts off, and Carlisle licked and nipped at his skin. He swirled a tongue around Edward's nipples, reveling at the hot moans and sighs he could draw out of the other man. He ran his tongue along the sensitive skin around Edward's belly button, and rubbed his palm over the hot bulge in his pants.

Edward's fingers tangled in Carlisle's hair, alternately tugging and pushing as he slid his pants down. Carlisle took him in his mouth, his cheeks hollowed as his tongue teased and stroked in turns. He cupped Edward's balls, tickling and rubbing. He was good with his tongue and better with his hands. It didn't take long to reduce Edward to a writhing, mewling mess.

"Carlisle, please." Edward gave his ear a not so gentle yank. "Want you in me." He bucked up, meeting Carlisle's lips. "Please."

They rearranged themselves. Carlisle sat on the couch and Edward straddled him. He took Carlisle's cock inside him in one, two, three pushes. They moved together, hard and fast, tongues and lips and arms tangling all at once.

Afterwards neither of them moved. They stayed wrapped up together, heads bent as they nuzzled each other and pressed tiny kisses to hair and cheek and ear. "I love you," one of them whispered.

"Forever, " the other answered, and sealed that promise with a kiss.


A/N: I have the most amazing fandom friends and readers. Thank you all so much. You have no idea how your words touch me.

One more chapter, lovelies. We're winding down.