A/N: I don't own Dexter, Saracen, Valkyrie, Anton or Larrikin. I apologize since this isn't the chapter I had planned out in my head, but enjoy!

Dex had taken Saracen for a walk, mainly to get some privacy, and give Saracen some time to get used to seeing Anton with Valkyrie. "What's bothering you about it?" Dex asked, taking Saracen into his arms.

"He's just- Doesn't he give you the willies, Dex? And he so hideous, I'm sorry but he is." Dex laughed softly and bundled Saracen close. "Seriously, I think he's going to kill her one of these nights." Dex tilted Saracen's face towards him and kissed him softly.

"Hush. You're letting him get to you. He likes scaring people, that's true, but sometimes he can't help it. In a lot of ways Anton is worse than his Gist, but he won't hurt her, not ever. He's too attached to her." Dex murmured before kissing Saracen again. But Saracen was distracted.

Dex sighed. He didn't like giving out people's past histories, but Anton had opened the door. "Anton and Larrikin were lovers. I don't know about Anton, but he was Larrikin's first. And when it was time, he was gentle with him. And I know because Larrikin told me."

"He did?"

"He knew about me, somehow, and he was terrified his first time with a man would be the nightmares you hear whispered about when you enlist. But Anton was very protective and nurturing towards Larrikin. He built the hotel in his honour, because in a large part he blames the Sanctuary for the war."

They walked back in silence, and Dex knew it was a lot to absorb. Anton was ugly, there was no way around that. The man looked like a gargoyle with his hooked nose and weird silvery eyes, and he loved scaring people with that quiet voice of his and dressing like a funeral director. Yet when they got back he saw the loving adoration Anton was looking at Valkyrie with as he brushed his fingers tenderly across her cheek.

Anton kissed her, gently, chastely, murmuring words of love, and Dex was happy for the couple. He could tell that for whatever reason Valkyrie felt nothing but love when she looked at Anton and he was happy for her, because the tall man had the capacity to protect her from anything. He and Saracen silently went past, and when they reached the third floor he realized Saracen had tears in his eyes. "Sorry." Saracen said, wiping them away. "It's just that she really loves him, it's so obvious. And he loves her."

"True, they are in love. But so are we. Saracen, there are always going to be people that wonder how we got together, and I'm not talking about the people who will judge us for being a gay couple. There will be people that pity you, or pity me, or pity us both, but we can't let them inside here," he touched Saracen's temple briefly, "or here." He touched his heart. "All right?"

Saracen smiled his understanding, then gave Dex a quick kiss before retreating to his room. Dex smiled after him. It had taken his first lover two years to win his trust, so he knew to be patient and gentle with Saracen, the same way his lover had been with him. But seeing their friends together had given him a lot to think about as well.

Because sometimes a new love could stir up old wounds and he hoped Anton had at last forgiven him and the Sanctuary for Larrikin's death. Dex would never forgive himself, but he needed someone to tell him it wasn't his fault.

Aww. The feels. Now I need a hug.