Connor for all his occasional clumsy awkwardness could skate, before his mother had died she'd taken him out on the ice every winter, leading him as he leant to turn and race and spin.
It was what he had used to remember her, he'd go out on the ice every winter and he could almost feel her there with him, her bright smile as he landed a difficult spin, the bright green parker she had worn every winter in his memory.
His first winter with Nick and Stephen he wasn't sure what to say, what they would think of his ritual, so he'd just gone out by himself late in the evening, when the ice was empty and they were asleep.
He'd thought he was fooling them, he'd been careful not to wake them and he thought he was quiet but he must have been wrong, because as he spun on the ice two figures flashed in his vision. As he let his arms out for balance the two figures became Stephen and Nick lacing their skates at the edge of the ring.
Connor pushed off and glided over to them, a blush heating his cheeks. Stephen was just finishing tying his skate as he stopped in front of them and he looked up at him.
"We thought we'd come and skate with you tonight." Stephen said breezily, before standing up and reaching a hand down to help Nick.
Connor's heart started beating again and he smiled brightly and a little wetly at Stephen and Nick. Stephen returned the smile before yanking Nick to his feet. Nick flailed, clutching at Stephen's hand and shoulder as Stephen laughed.
Stephen pushed them both out onto the rink and Connor twisted on the ice, feet shifting easily underneath him so he was moving backwards, facing Nick. Stephen slid gracefully even as Nick floundered and clutched at his hand and Connor laughed, surprised.
"God Nick, you're from Glasgow, how can you not know how to skate?"
Nick just scowled and then his eyes went wide as Stephen let him go and Nick windmilled for a moment before his feet went out from under him and he landed on the ice. He glared as Stephen just laughed and raced off across the rink, Connor in hot pursuit.