It has been just over a year since Athelstan had held his fundraiser, hoping to raise money to fix up the community centre's garden. But instead, a handsome stranger and his son had walked into the centre, and the stranger had offered to fix up the garden himself. It has only been a year, but the meeting has led to so many things, and now that they are all here in the community centre's garden, it makes Athelstan realise just how much has changed.
"It looks great," Lagertha says, a big smile on her face. "Ragnar did a great job."
"And Bjorn, Rollo… even Floki," Athelstan admits, as he looks around the garden. "I've been meaning to say thank you."
"I didn't do any of the work."
"Not for the garden, but for everything. I know I…"
"You are not to blame for what happened between me and Ragnar, Athelstan," Lagertha reassures him, a small smile on her face. "What happened, that was… it just happened."
"I know."
"I'm just happy he has you," Lagertha says, as she grabs his hand. "He loves you so much, he… I shouldn't be telling you this, but he…"
"What?"
"I was in denial about it for a long time, but I knew he was in love with you the moment he first told me about you."
"But then why…?"
"Did I invite you into our bed? Into our home?" Lagertha asks, a mischievous smile on her face, and Athelstan nods. "Because I wanted to get to know you. I wanted to see what he saw in you. I wanted to know who you were, before…"
"You got rid of me?"
"No," Lagertha laughs. "I am not a jealous woman. I was hurt when he cheated on me with Aslaug, when he left us for her. But when he fell in love with you, that was different. He never lied to me, he never did anything behind my back."
"If you knew he was in love with me, why didn't you stop him from seeing me? Why not try to keep him…"
"Why not lock him in the house, keep him from the man he loves?" Lagertha suggests. "That is not how I want my relationship to be. That is not real."
"But…"
"What you two have, that is real. That is something worth fighting for, Athelstan."
"Why didn't you fight for what you had?" Athelstan asks, but as soon as the words have left his mouth, he feels ashamed for having said them. "I mean… I'm sorry, I…"
"You wish I would have kept him from you? Make him feel miserable, and hate me in the end?"
"No…"
"Because that is what would have happened if I had tried to fight for him," Lagertha explains. "But don't you ever think that I did not love him. Because I love him, more than you will ever know. He is the father of my son, and…"
"He is Gyda's father."
"Yes." Lagertha nods, looking down at her hand, which is still wrapped tightly around Athelstan's.
"Will you be okay?"
"Of course. I finally get to travel the world, and go to places I have wanted to go see since I was a little girl, so… who knows where I'll end up."
"Who you'll meet."
"I think I'll stay on my own for a while now. I quite like the peace and quiet," Lagertha laughs, as she looks over to Ragnar and Rollo. "It's quite the change after spending so long with the Lothbroks."
"You think your dirty looks will make him go away?"
"I…," Rollo begins, but Ragnar shakes his head, laughing.
"He's not going anywhere, you know?"
"There is something off about him. I don't trust him, Ragnar."
"I do."
"Why can't you see…?"
"I love him, Rollo," Ragnar interrupts him. "He is a good man, and he…"
"He made you leave Lagertha!"
"He didn't make me do anything!"
"He got into your head, he told you his sad little story, and he…"
"Don't you dare," Ragnar warns him.
"I will never forgive him for what he made you do. You broke her heart, Ragnar."
"What happened between me and Lagertha is none of your business."
"I care for her too, that makes it my business!"
"I see," Ragnar says, a mocking look on his face. "If you care so much for her, why don't you ask her out, huh? Here is your chance before she leaves. I will not stop you, brother."
"I…," Rollo begins, but there is an embarrassed look on his face, and it takes a moment for Ragnar to understand why. But once he understands, he can't help but laugh.
"You have already asked her. She said no, didn't she?"
"I am with Gisla," Rollo tries, but there is nothing convincing about it.
"You have been in love with Lagertha for years. It is why you outed me to her, and it is why you…"
"Shut up!" Rollo warns him, but Ragnar continues.
"You would do anything to be with her, but she…"
"You better keep your mouth shut, or I will…"
"This has nothing to do with Athelstan," Ragnar continues. "This has nothing to do with me being with him. This has to do with you and Lagertha. That is what is has been about all along."
"I…"
"But Athelstan isn't going anywhere," Ragnar says, and his brother looks like he is about to explode from rage. "So you either accept it, and start treating him right, or…"
"Or what?"
"Or we're done, brother."
"You will find out what he's truly like," Rollo tries one last time, but it only makes Ragnar laugh. "You would really choose him over me?"
"You would really make me choose?"
A long silence follows, before Rollo looks over to Athelstan again, who is chatting to Lagertha. He sighs, as he looks back at his brother.
"I suppose you could do worse."
"You have no idea," Ragnar laughs. "You should have seen some of the people Lagertha and I brought home. We…"
"Yeah, I do not need to know about that."
"When did you get so boring, huh?" Ragnar laughs, before putting an arm around his brother's shoulder. "Come on!"
"You're going on tour?"
"Mhm." Bjorn can't hide the proud smile on his face, as Halfdan joins him. "It's only a short tour for now, but…"
"This is only the beginning. Before you know it, we're touring the world."
"Yeah, let's get this over with first, yeah?"
"Can I come?" Sigurd asks.
"You have school. But dad will take you to a couple of shows, I'm sure."
"Is it okay if I come?" Alfred asks, a nervous look on his face, and Bjorn can't help but laugh.
"Of course. You two come as a set now anyway, don't you?"
"You never see one without the other," Halfdan adds. "You stole my friend from me!"
"Oh, I'm sorry, I…"
"That was a joke," Halfdan laughs. "You need to learn how to relax. We're not going to bite, you know?"
"I'm just a little…"
"He feels like he doesn't fit in," Sigurd explains. "Because we're all… you know…"
"It can be a little tough when you first meet the family, because it's a big group, and it can feel a little intimidating," Halfdan says, but then he flashes a smile. "But they mean it when they say you're one of them. They don't just say that."
"But you're all family, and I…"
"You're family too," Sigurd says, and the younger boy looks down at the ground, a blush on his face. "You're our little brother. I don't care if you're blood or not, you are family."
"He's right, you know?" Bjorn agrees, flashing a reassuring smile.
"Oh, for fuck sake," Ivar says, as he joins them. Sigurd is about to tell him to keep quiet, but his brother puts an arm around Alfred's shoulder, and flashes a smile. It's a sight which makes them all a bit weary of what is about to come. "I don't often agree with my brothers, but they are right."
"But…"
"Athelstan is family, that makes you family," Ivar continues. "You can be my little brother, then at least I'm not the youngest anymore," he adds, and Bjorn can't help but smile. "So now stop moping, will you?"
"I…"
"Put a smile on your face and enjoy the party," Ivar says, not giving Alfred a chance to speak. "With your brothers. Well, not Halfdan. He's not your brother, because he is hooking up with Bjorn."
"We're not…," Bjorn tries, but Ivar holds up his hand, to stop him.
"Shut up, Bjorn."
"Hvitserk, come here."
Hvitserk joins Ubbe and Torvi, and they sit down in the seats by the flowers. Hvitserk has been staying with Ubbe ever since he and Margrethe have ended their relationship, and Ubbe has been helping him through it. But he knows that everything is about to change, because Ubbe is about to move out, into his and Torvi's apartment. Which means that he will have to move back into his own room, back at his mother's house.
"We want to ask you something," Ubbe says, but his brother just stares at him, a blank look on his face. "Torvi and I have been discussing it, and we would like for you to move in with us."
"What?"
"When we get the key to our own place, we want you to move in."
"Why?" Hvitserk asks, and Ubbe and Torvi look at each other.
"Because you're my little brother, and I know you need your own space, away from mum. But also from everyone else. I know you'd still have to put up with us, but…"
"But this is your place," Hvitserk says. "Your first apartment together."
"We want you there," Torvi reassures him, as she puts her hand on his arm. "We think it will be better for you too."
"But what about… are you sure?"
"Yes," Ubbe laughs. "We want you there, brother."
"Then yes."
"Do you remember when we spent the night here?" Athelstan asks, after everyone has left. He and Ragnar are lying in the grass, looking up at the stars. They are in the exact spot where the shed had been, and where they had spent the night together, all those months ago.
"Of course," Ragnar laughs.
"That was the first time you told me 'I love you'."
"It was?"
"Yes. The morning after we…"
"I do remember that," Ragnar whispers, before kissing Athelstan's neck.
"Stop it," Athelstan giggles, but Ragnar continues to kiss him, and it isn't until rain starts pouring down on them, that he stops. "We had our first kiss in the rain."
"We did," Ragnar laughs, as he looks back up at the sky. "I can't believe it's only been a year. It feels like…," he says, but then he sighs. "We will be here again next year, won't we?"
"And every year after."
A/N. Hi guys! I just want to say thank you to everyone who has read the whole story. It was my first Ragnar / Athelstan story, and I hope you enjoyed it! And maybe until next time! Xx
