Chapter Fifty-Two: Loving You

Author's Note: I MIGHT take a bit of a break after posting this chapter. The honeymoon is up next but I'm also starting a new job soon and I expect the first few weeks will be stressful, so I might not have time/energy to write this for a bit. But we'll see, maybe I still will. I still love writing this story and plan to continue it, so please don't give up on me. I just might need more time. But who knows, I might have a new one up by next week, we'll see lol. I have never promised a posting schedule for this story because I like posting them as I go and I worry having to adhere to a strict schedule would take the joy out of writing, and I certainly do not want that. Anyway, I WILL be back with more, I just can't promise when that will be for sure. Hopefully no longer than a few weeks, but I just wanted to give you all a heads up. Okay! That's all, enjoy!

Ash tossed Eiji gently onto the bed when they reached their room. Still, in his suit coat, he crawled languidly onto the bed, resting his hands on either side of Eiji's head as he positioned himself above him.

"Well," he began softly, "looks like you made it to the end of the week, lovely."

Eiji smiled at the blond staring down at him. "Ooooo, do I win a prize?" He teased, sweetly.

Ash made a show of loosening his tie. "Yes." He kissed Eiji slowly. "Yes, you most certainly do."

The silk of the tie hissed as Ash pulled it from the color of his dress shirt. He tossed the silk tie to the floor.

"Hey, Ash," Eiji began meekly.

Sensing the mood change, Ash pulled back, giving Eiji some space. "What's up?"

"I- uh- I just-"

With Eiji's further uncertainty, Ash maneuvered so he was now sitting beside where Eiji lay, rather than hovering over him. "Is something wrong?"

Eiji rolled onto his side and used an elbow to prop himself up. "No. I just…" he paused for a long moment. "Look, it might be stupid, but I just wanted you to know that just because it's our wedding night, doesn't mean anything has to happen."

Ash assumed a neutral expression. "Is that what you want? For nothing to happen? Cuz I get it if you're tired. It is the middle of the nig-"

"No, that's not what I mean. It's just- usually, you say exactly what you want- and I don't want you to feel pressure- look, just because it's our wedding night doesn't mean-"

"Eiji," Ash cut him off. "Thank you. I appreciate what you're trying to say, but you don't need to worry about me. Maybe that shoulda been one of my vows…" he reached for Eiji's wedding ring-clad hand. "Eiji, I vow to always tell you when I'm not in the mood even if it's some arbitrary holiday like Valentine's day."

"OR an anniversary or a birthday," Eiji added sternly.

Ash smiled at the thought of celebrating an anniversary with Eiji. "Yes." He bent forward and pressed a soft kiss to Eiji's wedding ring.

"I promise too," Eiji added just above a whisper. "Same thing. I promise too."

Ash gave him a small side smile. Eiji never called things off unless he sensed something with Ash was not right. Still, Ash appreciated the sentiment. And at this point, Ash rarely called things off either. The last time he panicked or even felt on the verge of panic felt like a lifetime ago. It had been several months now since Eiji had stopped asking before kissing Ash, per his request. Since then, Ash suggested they decide on a safe word so they could do the same with sex. Eiji refused. He said 'stop' means 'stop' and 'no' means 'no.' He said he'd always honor those words, a safe word was unnecessary. The last time those words were used was when Ash contracted food poisoning and told Eiji to stop before he projectile vomited onto him. Thankfully, Ash had managed to make it to the bathroom just in time, averting tragedy. Eiji worried Ash was having an episode until he came down with food poisoning just a half-hour later. They laughed about it later. Ash couldn't actually remember the last time 'stop' was used in earnest out of panic.

So Ash smiled now, partially because the mutual promise was sweet, and partially because unless they had another episode of food poisoning, he couldn't imagine Eiji not being in the mood.

Eiji sat and narrowed his eyes at Ash. "Don't laugh at me." Knowing full well the reason behind Ash's smile.

"I'm not laughing," but his smile spread wider across his face and his voice said a laugh was just an exhale away.

Eiji put his hands on his hips, despite his seated position. "I can't help it that you're so…"

Ash's smile reverted to a smirk. "So what?" When Eiji blushed but didn't answer, Ash supplied, "Sexy? Enticing? Tempting?" He ran a taunting hand down his body, starting at his lips and ending at his crotch.

Eiji lightly grabbed his hand and pulled it away. "Well, yes. But you're more than a body and I'm not an animal." He kissed the top of Ash's hand like one would a princess. "I was gonna say perfect, you perv," he teased.

Ash huffed a laugh. "Perfect, huh?"

Eiji narrowed his eyes again, expecting an argument, but Ash just laughed again and said, "Whatever, I'll take it."

When Eiji's expression melted like butter at the accepted compliment, Ash pressed forward and kissed him, soft and slow as he almost always did in the beginning. His lips left Eiji's after a moment, and he used his teeth to untie Eiji's bow tie.

"Oooo," Eiji teased, clapping his hands softly at the fingertips in response to Ash's theatrics.

Ash laughed gently, sending small puffs of air against Eiji's neck, causing his skin to raise with goosebumps. Then, much to Eiji's surprise, he inhaled shakily.

"What are you nervous about?" Eiji asked.

Pale fingers fiddled with the end of Eiji's bowtie. "Nothing. I'm not nervous...It's...just setting in." His eyes met Eiji's. "Ash Okumura...I like the sound of that."

Eiji smiled and wrapped his arms lazily around Ash's neck "Mmmmm, so do I."

Ash slowly reclined into the array of pillows gathered against the headboard as Eiji kissed him slowly, humming happily. He moved after a moment to settle his legs on either side of Ash's waist.

"Seven days felt like forever," he mumbled as he peppered kisses along Ash's jawline, eventually arriving at his earlobe. "Especially with all your damned teasing."

Ash made a small sound somewhere between humor and contentment. "Ya know, you weren't the only one who was tortured." He slipped his hands under Eiji's suit coat.

"Yeah?" Eiji's voice was hardly above a whisper, yet it seemed so loud with his lips on Ash's earlobe. Ash whimpered softly as Eiji nibbled it lightly.

"Yeah," Ash replied, "I'll probably cum embarrassingly fast."

Eiji, past the stage of blushing, simply chuckled into Ash's ear. He removed his arms from around Ash's neck just briefly enough to slide off his suit coat. "I'd take it as a compliment." He pulled the bowtie free from his collar and began fiddling with his shirt buttons.

"Good. You should," Ash smirked. While Eiji undid his buttons, Ash took the opportunity to slide out of his suit coat as well. Without a care in the world, he tossed it to the floor and fell back again onto the pillows.

Now unbuttoned, Eiji's dress shirt now hung loosely open, revealing his bare skin. Ash's hands instantly found their way under the open flowy fabric. Eiji settled once again on Ash's chest, lips returning to his earlobe, intent on bruising it with his tongue and teeth. It was the first time he'd ever left a mark visible for the world to see. All previous ones were left over old scars that littered his abdomen and chest.

"The guys are coming for a-" an airy gasp interrupted his words, "movie night- tomorrow. Don't forget," Ash managed, knowing full well they would tease them both over the mark.

"I really couldn't care less," Eiji muttered. "They're gonna say shit regardless."

"Mmmm, true."

Eiji's lips moved down Ash's jaw and neck, leaving more marks as he went. He began unbuttoning Ash's shirt as he reached it, lips never leaving his skin. Eiji's fingers sent goosebumps across Ash's skin like wildfire as he skimmed his flesh. Ash moaned as Eiji's fingers began to toy with his nipples.

Both men nearly jumped out of their skin when the bedroom door creaked open. Eiji scattered off Ash as if he were a high school boy caught by a parent, rather than a married man living in his own home. They both burst out laughing as Buddy jumped onto the bed. He ran up to them for pets before returning to the foot of the bed. He turned in circles several times before laying down. Ash, smiling with amusement, crawled to the foot of the bed and stepped down.

"You have the worst timing, my Little Man," he told Buddy affectionately. With a labored grunt, he scooped Buddy up in his arms. The dog licked at his face and bare skin as Ash carried him from the room. Eiji chuckled as he heard Ash toss Buddy onto the guest bed and run back to the room, Buddy hot on his trail. Buddy whimpered and scratched at the door as Ash clicked it shut. "He'll get over it," Ash said humorously.

Buddy let out a piercing bark as Ash was climbing back into bed. He glared at the door and jumped back off the bed. "Be right back."

He opened the door just enough to slip out into the hall. Eiji heard his footsteps carry him downstairs and then back up only seconds later. "Here ya go!" He heard him tell Buddy. When the door opened again, Eiji could see Buddy gnawing on a bone in the hall.

"What a brat," Ash said jokingly as he closed the door once more. "Well, while I'm up…" he wriggled free of the remainder of his clothes and left them in a pile at his feet.

Eiji took the chance to do the same, tossing his dress clothes to the floor as well.

Ash smiled at Eiji's already aroused state as he climbed back into bed. "Wow," he gawked with teasing fingers grazing Eiji. "Now, where were we?" He positioned himself over Eiji, knees pressing into the mattress on either side of him. There was an intense passion when their lips met; a direct result of a week of celibacy and an emotional rollercoaster of a day, filled with love and tears and joy. The bed creaked as they kissed passionately and grinded against one another. When Eiji's hands slipped indecently low to cup Ash's ass, Ash broke away from his mouth with a breathy moan. Out of breath and very much in a state of bliss, Eiji panted along with him. It was at that moment that Ash knew his joke earlier was hardly a joke, neither of them was going to be able to last long.

His lips returned to Eiji's and his hand fumbled blindly into the nightstand drawer.

"Which way?" He managed to ask Eiji between fierce kisses.

"As is," Eiji managed. He wrapped a leg around Ash to further communicate his answer without words.

"M'kay," Ash answered breathlessly. "But I'm not gonna-" he kissed Eiji greedily before finishing his sentence, tongue plunging into his mouth. "Last long," he finished at last.

Eiji's hands found their way to Ash's hair and pulled him down into another kiss. "Mmm...me neither…'s fine."

Ash's fingers fiddled masterfully with the bottle of lube and worked to prepare Eiji as he continued to kiss him in that special way that made both their heads spin and brains go offline. After a few minutes more, Ash pulled away from Eiji and admired him. With blushed cheeks and swollen lips, he gazed up at him with dilated pupils and heavily lidded eyes.

Ash brushed his hair from his forehead. "Still good?"

"Yeah," he whispered and pulled Ash back in for a final kiss. "Really go for it. Don't hold back."

Ash would have laughed had the words not been so arousing. Instead, he nodded with flaming cheeks and began to do as Eiji asked.

The room was filled with a breathy cry as Eiji's head tossed on the pillow when Ash entered him. Ash did as Eiji asked, not holding back, causing the bed to creak and the headboard to thud rhythmically against the wall. Eiji wrapped his legs tightly around Ash, grinding against him in time with Ash's thrusts. Surprisingly, it was Eiji who came first, untouched by Ash's hands, but Ash was only seconds behind him. Both cried out into the night, restraining not the volume of their voices.

Buddy, thinking something was wrong, whined and scratched at the door. Caught up in the moment, they hardly even noticed.

With several "I love yous" tumbling freely from his tongue, Ash collapsed on Eiji's chest, limbs like jelly.

Eiji ran delicate fingers through his hair. Between heaving breaths, making up for lost oxygen, he managed to say, "I love you...Ash Okumura."

Ash's head shot up to meet his eyes. "I" he kissed his chest, "fucking" he propped himself up on his elbows and kissed Eiji's shoulder, "love" he kissed his neck, "you."

Eiji giggled as Ash plundered him with swift, ticklish kisses that fell upon his neck, jaw, cheeks, and finally his lips.

"I love you, I love you, I love you…" Ash chanted playfully as he scoured his skin with his loving lips. Then, without warning, Ash stood and scooped Eiji up in his arms, further encouraging his laughter. Ash kicked his leg to free it of blankets as he stepped away from the bed.

"Where are we going," Eiji wondered with a goofy smile that spread from ear to ear and crinkled his eyes into oblivion.

"Whyyyy to the shower of course!"

"Ahhh! No!" Eiji wailed in laughter. He squirmed and kicked his legs in Ash's arms, to no avail.

Just a few steps later, they stood in the shower. At least Ash had the decency to let the water warm before stepping inside.

"Youuu gonna put me down?" Eiji asked with a smile.

"Nope!" Ash chirped and slid the shower door closed with his foot. Warm water streamed down both their bodies.

"But I must be heavy."

"Ehh, not much different than Buddy."

"Buddy's only 75 pounds, Ash." Ash didn't respond, just simply adjusted Eiji in his arms slightly. Eiji rested his head against Ash's chest and pressed a kiss to his wet skin. "Just don't drop me."

Right on cue, Ash's body jerked, pretending to drop him. Eiji squealed and Ash laughed at his own actions. "It was too easy! I had to!" He finally let Eiji down after that and handed him a bar of soap. They washed up and soon retreated back to the warmth of their bed.

"I met that co-worker of yours tonight," Ash began as he rested in Eiji's arms, wet hair quickly soaking through his pajama top.

"Mmm, Suni," Eiji mumbled sleepily. He tugged the corner of the blanket and shimmied it under Ash's head. "Your hair is freezing cold," he complained mindlessly.

Ash lifted his head so Eiji could adjust the blanket further. "D'ya know what she said to me?"

"Hmm?" His hand rested on Ash's arm which turned out to be much warmer than his hair.

"She came up to me after our first dance, said she could see why you fell for me. If that's how I am on the dance floor she can't even imagine me in bed."

"Ha!" Eiji laughed, "She did not say that, Ash." He used his shoulder to jostle Ash in his arms.

Ash chuckled, "Yeah, okay she didn't."

Eiji sighed, "She was probably thinking it though."

Ash chuckled, "Nah, didn't seem like the type."

Eiji made a doubtful noise in the back of his throat. "I dunno, she's pretty obsessed with the idea of us...Hides it well...but I think she's worse than Miyuki."

"Really?" It was less of a question and more of a simple curiosity.

"Mmmm, she was the reason I was able to order that white kimono."

Ash shifted in his arms to better see him. "I was wondering how the hell you pulled that off. I had to go to Tokyo and I still barely got them to make it for me."

"Yeah, I was having the same problem. I checked every store in Izumo and no one would sell me one. I was complaining about it at work and that's when Suni offered to buy one for me. We're completely different heights and measurements, but she just pretended to be buying one for a sister."

"Huh," Ash huffed with amusement. "So that's why yours looked more feminine."

"Well, it's technically for a woman. I still can't believe you got someone to make you the male cut in white."

"All thanks to Mom. She's the one who persuaded the dude in the end. She went all mama bear on him, making a fuss in the store and shit."

Eiji chuckled, he was hardly surprised. Still, "You're telling me you're letting shop owners push you around now? What happened to those dagger-like eyes of yours that used to scare the shit out of everyone?"

"Fuck you," but Ash was smiling. "It's your fault, you know?"

"Oh my fault, huh?"

"That's right. You can't steal someone's money and then yell at them for supposedly spending it."

"Ha! Oh and that's what I did, huh?"

"That's right! You turned me soft, so I don't wanna hear any complaining outta you, mister!" He poked Eiji between the ribs, making him squeal in surprised laughter.

When their laughter subsided, a lull of silence fell and they both knew sleep was imminent. After a few minutes, Ash glanced at the clock to find it was nearly 4:30 AM. "Holy shit it's practically," a yawn interrupted his words, "morning."

He lifted his head when Eiji didn't respond, only to find his eyes already closed in sleep. Ash smiled warmly as he gazed at Eiji. He lay there with pink cheeks and mostly dry hair that was still wet where it was smashed against the pillow. Ash slowly reached to turn off their bedside lamp. Eiji stirred but did not wake from the soft click and the lighting change. Ash settled back against his chest, placing a soft kiss to his t-shirt. Eiji wrapped his arms around him as he slept and Ash couldn't help but wonder how on Earth this was his life now...and forevermore?

Eiji's tired eyes blinked open around noon. Ash was right where he fell asleep, head on Eiji's chest and their limbs entangled. Half of his body was numb where Ash lay, still breathing slowly in obvious deep sleep. Eiji desperately had to pee, but he knew there was no way to do so without waking Ash. It was only a few minutes past noon, he decided to drift back to sleep. He'd pee later.

Ash woke a half-hour later. Eiji woke from his light sleep the moment Ash moved from his chest. "Morning," he muttered sleepily before stretching his hands high above his head, a sleepy groan escaping from his lips.

"Eiji?"

"Hmmm?"

Ash flopped back to the mattress, his head sinking into his own pillow rather than Eiji's chest. "Why the fuck did we think it would be a good idea to have people over today."

They would leave for their honeymoon the following morning. Luckily, they had already packed, Ash made sure of that. But a particularly late wedding night and an early flight the next morning meant they could use the extra sleep.

"Cuz who knows when we'll see everyone again?" Eiji shuffled out from under the blankets and made his way to the bathroom. The bathroom door clicked shut and Ash wait for him, resting his tired eyes while he waited. Eiji returned minutes later with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Whaaaaat?"

He shook his head with a stupid grin and jumped back in bed, burying himself in blankets. "I didn't say anything."

"Uh-huh...but you're thinking something."

"Well, if you must know…"

"Whaaat?"

"You must not have noticed yet but you're covered in marks," he poked a bruise on Ash's neck. "And the boys will tease you till...what's that expression you Americans have? Till the...cows come home?"

Ash laughed, "Yeah, sure, that's the one...but they're gonna tease you too, ya know?"

Eiji shrugged, "I don't care. I'm sore and I plan on playing that up," he answered with a shit-eating grin.

Ash sat and rolled his eyes, "Sick." He disappeared with cat-like grace into the bathroom. "Shit! You weren't kidding!" Several dark marks covered his neck...and clavicles...and his right earlobe. Several more littered his chest but those could be easily concealed.

Eiji cackled from the bedroom.

"Laugh while you can! I'm sooo getting you back for this!"

Buddy's barking announced their visitors' arrival before they had a chance to knock. Much to his surprise, Miyuki was the first person Ash saw when he opened the door. Behind her were all the New York boys, save the Glenreeds.

"M-Mi-chan?" He stuttered, suddenly painfully aware of his low neckline and bruised skin.

"Sing invited me!" She said cheerfully.

Sing's face burned with embarrassment...and fear. Ash was never his boss, but he still knew what the man was capable of and he feared him all the same. "I-I- I swear I didn't!"

Ash glared at him.

Miyuki shoved past Ash, "Okay, finnnne, I invited myself!" She eyed Ash's neck. "Wow," she teased.

Ash rolled his eyes. "EIJI! Tell your sister to hit the road!"

"What?!" Eiji shouted from upstairs. "Mi? What the hell?"

"I'm just teasing!" She called upstairs. With a more suitable volume for indoors, she turned back to Ash. "I actually just came to get a key. For tomorrow. Ya know, so your dog doesn't starve while you're gone?" Her smirk rivaled Ash's typical one. "I just thought I'd give you a scare."

He rolled his eyes and snatched a key from the hook by their door. "Here."

"Not even a 'thank you?'"

"Thanks, Mi," he said sarcastically.

She grabbed the key. "Oh, and this time I expect a souvenir."

"Uh-hu, sure, I'll think about it." He shoved her through the doorway, breaking through the sea of gangsters. "Thanks again, see ya when we're back!"

"HaVe fUn!" She called over her shoulder as she walked down the driveway.

Ash's eyes came back to rest on Sing. "What?" he spat.

Ash said nothing in return, he simply moved aside so the boys could enter. Bones gawked at the hose as he entered. He wandered around from room to room, shamelessly exploring. Kong took an instantaneous liking to Buddy. Cain and Alex wandered into the living room, making their exploration a little less blatant than Bones's. Sing's eyes immediately found the picture of Shorter and Ash. Without even really thinking about it, his feet carried him to the shrine Eiji and Ash had created for their fallen friend. Just as it always did, the small table that sat beneath the picture held a vase of fresh flowers and a candle, where currently an orange-scented one burned. Ash joined him beside the picture.

"Sorry...probably shoulda warned ya."

Sing shook his head. "It's fine. I just fuckin' miss him."

"Join the club, man."

"And I don't have many pictures of...well of anyone, let alone Shorter. Kinda...nice...to see him again."

Ash nodded in agreement. "Eiji took this," he pointed to Eiji's shadow at the bottom of the photo. "Got me this for my birthday."

"Hmm, that's sweet." He looked at Ash, eyes finding his neck. He could no longer hold his sarcastic remarks at bay. "And from the looks of it, he's pretty sweet to you in other ways too."

Ash shoved him. "Asshole."

Sing smirked at him in a way that reminded him of Shorter. "You didn't even try to hide it. Neither of you." He gestured to Eiji who had previously limped slowly down the stairs and was now sitting gingerly on the couch beside Alex and Cain.

Ash huffed a sarcastic laugh, "He's playing it up to try to embarrass me. Only I don't get embarrassed too easily. He and Miyuki play this stupid game where they try to get to me. He's just trying to earn a few lousy points while you guys are here." Ash raised an eyebrow, "Speaking of Miyuki...you better not get any ideas when we leave tomorrow."

"I'm leaving tomorrow too," he ground out through gritted teeth.

"Good." Ash began to step away but Sing halted him.

"Ash."

He turned back to Sing. "Yeah?"

"Shorter…" he began with eyes trained on the floor. A burst of bravery shot through him and he met Ash's piercing green eyes. "He'd be proud of you man. Happy too. You won. You got out and you're free now. Healing even. And...and considering your life, you did the impossible...you found love. Not someone you can just tolerate sex with...love. He'd be happy for you."

Ash smiled softly. He knew it was true. Shorter was his best friend, of course, he'd be happy for him, proud even. He also had been to enough therapy to know what projecting looked like. He'd bet a handsome chunk of cash that Sing felt those words too, but he didn't want to say them outright. It was much easier to project them onto Shorter's ghost.

"Thanks, man." He clapped him on the shoulder. "He'd be proud of you too."

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound, and smell, of popping popcorn. In the living room, Alex was passing out beers he'd brought with him. Bones was halfway through his first beer in the time it took Ash and Sing to walk to the living room.

"Alex, we have a rule in this house," Ash began ominously, stealing the room's undivided attention. "And that's that we don't let Mr. Eiji Okumura get drunk." Eiji's ears glowed red. He tried to hide behind the bag of microwavable popcorn he was currently emptying into a large white bowl.

"Oh yeah? Why's that?"

The boys gathered around Ash like fish on a hook.

"Cuz he's a fool when he's drunk. And I don't feel like telling him what stupid shit he did in the morning when we're trying to catch our flight."

"But we wanna see Eiji drunk!" Bones protested.

"I've learned my lesson," Eiji chimed in. He threw another bag of popcorn in the microwave. "And Ash is right. It's not a pretty sight."

Alex walked to the kitchen and handed him a beer. "Surely one beer is fine." His tone was light and teasing, clearly hoping one beer would not be fine.

Eiji turned it over uncertainly in his hand. "I...guess so."

"But I wouldn't count on it," Ash reasoned.

Eiji kept the bottle but didn't open it.

The boys chose a movie while they waited on popcorn. They fought over which genre to watch much like siblings would. Once they decided to watch an action film, they fought over which movie. Bones suggested something that the other guys said was lame. Alex's suggestion was shut down by Kong because he claimed Alex only liked that movie because of a certain hot actress. But Alex argued that Kong had no better ideas. Ash sat back and took it all in. This type of thing often drove him mad back in New York. He never thought he'd actually come to miss it. He decided to savor the moment while he could.

It was Cain Blood who picked the movie in the end. Baby Driver; a film that follows the life of a get-away driver. Alex argued that it wasn't a legitimate action movie, but rather, it was more of an action-comedy. Cain said it was an action movie with elements of comedy...very different. They fought over which genre it fell into for several minutes before Ash had enough. Sure he missed their bickering a weird, sentimental way, but there was only so much he could take. And they didn't seem to be getting anywhere. He snatched the remote and pressed play. All bickering stopped as they took his decision as gospel. Eiji handed out popcorn and settled himself in Ash's lap.

"So I guess you decided against the beer then?" Ash asked Eiji quietly as the opening scene began to play.

He shook his head. "Nah, I've decided to share yours." He stole the bottle from Ash's hands and pressed it to his lips. Ash stole it right back and took a swig for himself.

Eiji really had learned his lesson. As embarrassing as it was being caught drunk in front of his family, he could only imagine the relentless teasing that would ensue if he were to get drunk now. So, much to Bones and Alex's dismay, he took a few sips and left the rest for Ash to drink.

The movie was loud and exciting and filled with an array of music that fit the same bill. Still, Eiji hardly made it halfway through the movie before he fell asleep against Ash's chest.

"Boss," Bones hissed from across the room. Alex and Ash looked up simultaneously. Alex rolled his eyes and focused his attention back on the TV when he realized Bones was speaking to Ash. "Eiji fell asleep," he whispered as if it were some massively exciting secret.

Ash nodded as if to say, 'duh.'

Bones waved his phone, "Can I take a picture."

As if on cue, a quiet, serious scene began to play on screen. Everyone else seemed to hold their breath, prepared for Ash to lash out at Bones's request. But Ash didn't lash out, didn't even scowl. In fact, he actually smiled. It was the smallest of smiles, barely visible in the dim light, but it was there nonetheless.

"Go for it."

He didn't even ask him to turn off the flash and didn't flinch when it nearly blinded him. Instead, his focus was trained on the TV screen, letting Bones have a candid photo to look back upon later. When the phone flashed a second time, Eiji stirred in his arms and Ash's hand instinctively shielded the sleeping boy's eyes.

"Hey," Ash hissed at Bones, "knock it off, you're gonna wake him."

Bones hissed a "Sorry," in return and pocketed his phone.

"Hey," Ash hissed once more. "Send me those."

"Who are you?" Alex muttered under his breath.

Eiji woke when the movie ended. Kong had to wake Bones who had also fallen asleep. They said their goodbyes and Ash promised them all they'd see each other again soon. After all, he wasn't planning on missing baby Glenreed's arrival into this world. He'd brave America again for that. They disappeared into the night and they all wished each other safe travels.

Exhausted, Ash and Eiji both trudged up the stairs. Eiji flopped into bed without even changing and was asleep before Ash finished using the bathroom. Ash climbed in bed beside him. He opened the pictures Bones had sent him, instantly smiling fondly at the first captured image. The first picture showed Eiji asleep in his arms, a bowl of abandoned popcorn sat loosely in his arms, in danger of spilling. Ash had one arm wrapped around Eiji, while his other hand held the neck of his empty beer. Both boys were illuminated by the TV's blue light. And both boys looked peaceful. Eiji, peaceful in sleep, and Ash peaceful with Eiji in his arms.

The second picture made Ash chuckle. Eiji's eyes, even in sleep, were squinted tightly due to the second bright flash. Ash wore a pissed expression on his face as his eyes were also squinted. Movement blurred his hand halfway to Eiji's eyes, not quite quick enough to shield them from the flash.

He saved both pictures to his phone and then texted them to Eiji with a simple line of text. 'Thanks for not getting drunk.'