Everyone has their own definition for peace. A common one is "absence of war or fighting." Another is "something achieved when all fates and past mistakes are accepted." The American Heritage College Dictionary defines peace as "inner contentment; serenity." Matthew likes all of these definitions. He thinks they're all very straightforward and short and meaningful.
However, what peace means to him is different.
Peace to Matthew is waking up each morning with the knowledge that it's a new day. Mistakes are behind him, and it's time to start fresh.
It's enjoying his job so that it never really feels like work.
It's taking things slowly, one step at a time, and going at his own pace.
But mostly, it's taking the time to appreciate the simplest and most mundane things about life in a new light.
(This is Matthew's favorite part about peace, because it involves his most important person in the world.)
Things like waking up early and making pancakes for Gilbert, because it's so sweet the way he'll walk into the kitchen following his nose with a groggy smile, and then cling to Matthew until he's given a plate.
Things like spending hot afternoons sprawled over air conditioning vents like children to keep cool, and complaining about the miserable outdoor weather while eating ice pops.
Things like having a scary dream and waking up in the middle of the night, only to see Gilbert lying in bed with him, snoring away with a slight upward curve to his lips that never seemed to fade, and feeling safe and warm and comforted just because he's there to hold like a big teddy bear.
These are the things that Matthew includes in his definition of peace because they are things that make his world go 'round. Without them, he'd be very lost and very sad.
He likes those other definitions a lot, too. It's just that his meaning is better.
A/N: Looks like it turned out fluffy :)
~Jel
