Francis opened the shutters to stare into the summer air choked with fresh dirt and green leaf scent. A few lazy clouds wandered across the sky and the field that lay beyond their yard. He dragged in a deep breath and sighed. This was the smell of perfect. After two long years of working hard he felt the happiness overtake him.
A phone's ringing echoed through the rustic home that might one day turn into an elegant farmhouse, but right now, just looked like a half-finished, half-rundown old building. The structure was sound though, even if chips showed on the shutter's maroon paint. It was their lucky break and Antonio's dream. On cue, Antonio yelled from the other room. "That bed your mum got as a housewarming gift just came in. Can they deliver it today?" Francis chuckled, remembering that conversation. As casual as could be, his mother said they needed a rather large bed and on their paychecks, they'd do good to buy a tiny one. After all, three people shared that mattress. Francis choked at the time. He never got around to explaining his relationship with Antonio and Gilbert, but she understood anyway. And was surprisingly okay with it. His mom just laughed and asked if he considered her an idiot. For so many years, she asked him and Antonio to share a room like they did when kids and he never complained. Clearly they had a relationship. When Gilbert showed up that one Thanksgiving, she just knew.
"Yes, Toni. God yes!" Francis called back. After living in their new home for a week with few more possessions than they owned back in Los Angeles, he felt ready for upgraded furniture. The structure housed enough rooms for all of them and Antonio and Gilbert kept a lot of their things elsewhere, but the biggest bedroom—and what a big room it was—was for all of them. Francis shook his head, his eyes somewhere far more distant than their acreage.
They felt so lost when the lease ran out on their old place, like for a second they didn't know what they already knew they really wanted. Gilbert never planned to stay in the states after he got his degree and yet the decision came easy. Somehow, after that fateful night in the parking lot, the right things changed. He declared his major as Criminal Justice in order to pay forward all the times he got saved. It made them both very proud. They never saw Alfred after that and he became an unspoken angel in their home.
It still hurt to leave that little place with its garden and mismatched furniture though. So many memories happened there. The couch stained with more than anyone could ever guess got put out on the curb as trash. They even said a prayer over it in mourning. Maybe another hopeless romantic would pick it up and take it home. Gilbert admitted he bought it up at a garage sale from some old couple with grey hair and wrinkly smiles, holding hands even after all those years. As much as they loved LA though, they needed to go. Call it a fresh start maybe, or just chasing the rest of their lives.
For some time they lived with Antonio's family as they saved up money for their own place. There, they came across the deserted bit of farmland out in the San Joaquin valley his family hailed from. They fell in love at first sight and now here they were. Gilbert gained his American citizenship because he decided he couldn't leave any of this behind. Francis became a university professor, something none of them expected. And Antonio, he planted the first of their tomato crop this morning not long after starting his precious daycare job. They couldn't have their own kid, but they made due.
A smile crossed Francis' face as he pulled away from the window. He caressed the objects in his pocket, listening to the metal clink. Today would be special no matter what news Gilbert brought when he stomped through the door any second here. Francis glanced at the clock then went to check the kitchen. Everything looked perfect, as he expected. "Toni…hey, aren't you off the phone now? Where'd you go?" he asked when he saw no sign of the other man.
"Dunno, haven't seen him." Gilbert dropped his bag on the hall table and Francis jumped.
"Christ you! I didn't hear the door," he complained. How could Gilbert always do that? Francis needed to put a bell on him or he might lose that guy at some point. He felt pretty sure Antonio would second the idea in a second.
Gilbert smirked and kissed Francis in greeting. "It's because I cracked and put detergent on those hinges. Worked like a charm. That squealing hurt!" He shook his head and eyed the covered food set out on the table. "Oh? Do I get a special dinner?" He lifted a plastic cover to sniff what lay beneath and Francis swatted his hand away.
"Let me go find Antonio first, so just stay put, kay? Be a good little adult," he chided as Gilbert pouted at him. Even after school and jobs and life, Francis still claimed the role of big brother. The household belonged to him, except in the mornings and he didn't rule the acreage outside, but hey, it was good enough. Antonio got the fields, he got the kitchen, and Gilbert got to clean and put everything in order again when they got too insensible.
Francis whirled away to pop his head into the many rooms, most of which still remained empty. Not finding Antonio, he flipped on the porch light and stepped outside. "Gil's home. You out here?" he yelled into the darkening space beyond. A meow answered Francis. He froze as a sick feeling descended on him. Antonio jumped into sight from under the porch, grinning with excitement. He held up a dark brown cat with matted fur for Francis to see.
"Can I keep it?" The cat mrowed again, unhappy with the awkward way Antonio held it out with. Francis looked at them in horror.
"Did you just find that outside? If it's feral, then put it down now!" he snapped. Francis wouldn't have someone getting bit by a rabid animal tonight. He put too much planning into it.
"Aw, but he seems so nice. He even let me pick him up." Antonio turned the cat to look at him. The cat's ears stood upright and it's tail swished about, but other than a few whiny meows, the animal didn't look terribly upset at the handling. Let didn't seem like quite the word though. Antonio looked like he caught the cat up and abused it with love. "I swear I'll take care of him."
Francis groaned and resisted the urge to bury his face in his hand. "Exactly how much money do you think we have? You can barely feed yourself and you want me to feed that too? Be reasonable here. I'm not rich anymore!" These brats expected too much from him.
Antonio pouted with his lower lip quivering. The cat twisted and finally dropped out of his hands, disappearing without either noticing. This man still made the best puppy-dog eyes Francis ever saw. "How about a dog then? If I find a dog, can I keep that?"
"Toni!"
"Or a rabbit? A fox? Do parrots live here? Oh, how about a snake? That would be awesome!" Francis suppressed a shudder. Dear god no. "Oh, this is the best one. How about a hor-"
A scream interrupted the list Antonio counted on his fingers. The two turned back to the door. Francis left it cracked open and they ran inside, following the bloodcurdling noise. What they saw left their eyes wide. Gilbert stood in the middle of the main room, balancing on one foot with both arms above his head. He tried to keep hold of his bird that couldn't quite fly away, but did a good job of flailing and off-balancing him. With his other leg, he tried to shake off the cat determined to climb up his pants. "Antonio! Get this thing off me!"
The other two traded a look in the doorway. "Oh right…the bird…" Gilbert still kept the fat canary that he carried around like his best friend. Francis burst out with a chuckle. Then he doubled over with laughter as Antonio jumped across the room to pry the cat away. He couldn't help it. Everything looked too ridiculous. No matter how much they matured, some things never changed.
Antonio pouted as he carried the cat back outside and Gilbert collapsed to the floor. "I'm sorry kitty, but it looks like I can't keep you after all. I don't want my boyfriend to cry. Don't worry though," he whispered as he set the cat beside the porch once again. Leaning close, he continued to whisper once out of earshot from the others. "I'm sure Francis will feed you no matter what he says. Do you want to be a mouser for me instead? Protect my veggies, George!" With that, he let loose the animal and slipped back inside.
Francis made Antonio wash his hands, then they all sat down for dinner. "So guys…" Gilbert started.
"Did you get it? Did you pass your test?!" Antonio exclaimed. Gilbert leaned back and crossed his legs in a show of superiority.
"Of course I did, moron. I had that in the bag from the start." Never mind that he pulled his hair out for nights before going through the written exam and then the oral exam today that he truly dreaded. Only the physical test didn't phase him. Gilbert steepled his fingers, still grinning. "I get to start the police academy now. Of course that's months of training, but if I pass that, you'll have your very own cop!" Finally, his dream sat on the very near horizon. He'd struggled a little with exactly what path to take, but since that day almost two years ago now, he wanted to join the police force. He loved his criminologist classes too, but they lacked something. He wanted to touch the crime and physically fight for people. He had the brains for the smart side of crime, but not the heart. So, he chased this dream down until the end and now he could taste it in his throat like one of Antonio's omelets.
Francis pulled him in for another kiss. "Congratulations. I knew you could do it." At that moment, he realized just how perfect the moment felt. Better than anything he could plan himself, and he did plan, a lot, for this. Francis wanted to save his surprise for 'dessert,' but with the warm atmosphere settling over them, he knew he couldn't wish for a better moment. He grasped Gilbert's hand and pulled one of the rings from his pocket. "I love you," he whispered as he slipped the ring on. Gilbert stared down at his left finger, now sporting a band with black, gold, and silver twisted around it. "Whether you passed or not, I wanted to do this today because either way, I want you for life." After kissing Gilbert's finger over the ring, he turned his attention to the other shocked occupant of the table.
"Toni, give me your hand." Antonio did and Francis slipped an identical band onto his ring finger. "I can't legally marry the both of you, but I thought it was about time I told the world my boys are taken. I'm never going to stop loving you guys, so be mine?" He pulled the third ring from his pocket and held it out to them, waiting for the inevitable return of the gesture. "…Ah, are you crying, Gil?!"
Gilbert pressed a hand to his eyes as the tears leaked out. "Sorry. I'm so freaking happy right now I don't even know what to do." He offered the other two a watery smile before he took Francis' hand. Nodding his head, Antonio took the ring and slipped it into place. They were official now. Antonio kissed Francis without hurry or lust, then the three sat there with their fingers intertwined, just admiring the rings.
"They're perfect," Antonio whispered. He found himself blinking back tears too and once he started, Francis joined in too.
"Shit, now I can't stop," Gilbert blubbered. He wiped his eyes and pulled his hand back to fiddle with the ring. He couldn't keep his hands off of it. Marriage never crossed his mind, or the idea that it would make him so happy. His tears didn't even hesitate though. He wanted to share his joy with the world. Judging by the way Antonio held his ring up to the light, never blinking, he thought the same. "Man, I need to text Lud a picture of this. He'll flip his lid for sure. You're amazing Francis. I love you. I love you so much!" he exclaimed as he dropped a quick kiss over the older man's lips.
Antonio laughed with the pureness of a child. "Here, take a pic of the three of them together. Text everyone we know!" He wanted to keep the moment to himself and love it forever, but also scream it to the entire world like some kind of firework. These two were his. Always and forever his. A possessive feeling rose in him as he held their hands, feeling warm flesh and cold metal binding them together. "Mine."
Francis shook his head, but the warmth surrounding him dizzied him so much he feared he might topple over without these two hands grounding him. "Damn, I wonder what my parents will say." Though he didn't propose on a whim, he kept it as a surprise from everyone, including his mother. All the planning and saving meant so much more that way.
Gilbert snorted as Antonio burst out laughing. "Probably 'about time' or something like that!"
Francis smiled and echoed the words. "Yeah, it's about damn time." Then Gilbert snapped a picture and there was no more going back.
(Here is the final chapter, everyone. Thank you those who read this all the way through, especially with the hiatuses. Even if it was a long journey, this is still one of the stories I'm most proud of. I hope one day I can make something of it.
On that note, I am considering writing a RusAme sequel to this story because I believe Ivan can be redeemed. I regret that he became such a bad guy so one day, he may be the hero of his own story. Let me know if anyone is interested. And once again, thank you for all you wonderful readers.)