Patton got up first thing to finish reading Remus's book, so Remus had decided to write some poems. They always helped him sort out his feelings, and boy did he have a lot of them. The main one, though, was fear. He had jumped out of planes, swam with sharks, broken bones four wheeling, gotten into fights with guys twice his size, and none of that scared him. He'd do it all again. It was so much easier than what was to come. When this get together was over, he had no clue when he'd see Patton again. His parents were letting him crash at the cabin until he found somewhere else, but he'd need to make sure he could find a job, and while he was great at picking up odd jobs, he only really made enough for backpacking plus a little extra. Staying in one place was not something he was used to. He supposed he could publish his writing, but it would take a while to get any money from them. The others all lived within an hour's drive of each other, but he would be living on the other end of the coast. He was scared that he had finally tasted happiness and peace and would never be able to again. So he pulled out a leather bound notebook he had made himself and flipped to an empty page.

The sun rose upon me for the first time in years
I held it close as I fought back the tears
Finally I would get to see the beauty it rears
But I still can't seem to fight back these fears
The sun will set as it's supposed to
But I can't tell if after it will rise anew
I was used to the darkness it was all that I knew
But I can't go back now that I've found you

"That is so cheesy. It really has been a while."

When you leave will you remember me
Will you dream of the sun setting behind the trees
Will you curl up with a bear just how I wouldn't let you freeze
Will I matter when you go or will you set me free
Is it ok that I have nothing to give
Would you let me make up for it as long as I live
You can trust my words don't have to go through the sieve
And I promise they'll be nothing but corroborative

"There really aren't enough words to rhyme with give. This is a nightmare."

Despite it being a nightmare, it was working. Free form was easy enough when he knew what he wanted to say, but when he didn't, trying to rhyme always seemed to bring it out of him and it also calmed his fears as he had to think.

I guess what I'm saying is I want to stay together
Maybe somewhere with warmer weather
A place all our own to be our tether
So I could be blessed with that smile when and where ever

"Alright. Not the best, but at least now I can look at it and not have to think it over and over. What goes on in my head is nothing I want to be a part of."

He wrote a few more things before announcing to himself that he deserved a snack. And by a snack he meant sneaking to the kitchen to get a cookie or seven. Patton happened to just finish and look for Remus in his room. When he saw that he wasn't there he was about to leave and find him, but something caught his eye. There was a notebook he hadn't seen before lying open on the bed. He looked quickly down the hallway then went straight to the bed to see what it was. On the left there was a beautifully realistic drawing of a desert mountain filled with flowers and cacti. On the right there was writing. He didn't mean to read it, really. Well, ok maybe he was just a bit too curious for his own good. There was no mistaking its recentness, and there was no mistaking just who it was about.

"Oh… Oh, Rem." Patton was nearly in tears.
"Patton?" Remus said re-entering with some cookies.
Patton whipped around, unable to hide his tears quickly enough. "I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't have, but your journal was right on your bed and I got curious…"
"And now you're going to say you don't want to be with me anymore?" Remus looked sadly at his hands.
"What?! Of course not! I was going to ask if you wanted to move in with me."
"Huh?" Remus nearly dropped his cookies in shock.
"Well, I have plenty of space, and I didn't want to say anything, but I kind of make a lot, so it wouldn't be a problem to support the both of us until your books gain traction, oh! And we could get a puppy! I'd love a cat, but-"
"You're allergic and your face gets all puffy. I remember."
"Oh, yeah. I kind of forgot you were there for that." Patton rubbed the back of his neck. "And I mean obviously you don't have to, I just wanted to let you know it was an option."
"I'd love to, but are you sure? Isn't that a little quick? I don't want to take advantage of you."
"The fact that you're worrying about that tells me exactly what I need to know. I'm sure, Rem. And we don't have to get a puppy if it's too much-"
Remus put his cookies down and pulled Patton into a tight hug. "How about a corgi?"
"Can we get a toasted one?"
Remus laughed. "If that is what you desire then it shall be what you receive."
Patton giggled. "Ok. Oh! And I finished reading! I cannot believe you! That twist was crazy. I mean all of the evidence was there, but I really thought it was going to be Suzanne! Oh and the rat thing? Crazy. Though I do feel a little nauseous."
"You can thank Logan for the book he got me a couple years ago about all things Medieval."
"And I loved what you did with Caldwell's backstory. Are there going to be follow ups? More stories? I'm so invested!" Patton grabbed Remus's shoulders and lightly shook them.
"I can see that. I wouldn't be opposed to writing more Caldwell stories. You think I should do a series?"
"Definitely!"
"How about I make that my New Year's resolution and you can hold me accountable?"
"I'd agree to that. But I think maybe we should do something to seal the deal?"
"Hmmmm," Remus pretended to think. "A firm handshake?"
"I was thinking something a little more intimate?" Patton tried to play along.
"Ah. A fist bump."
"No! A kiss silly."

Remus laughed at Patton's eagerness. Patton had tried to hold out, but sometimes Patton just wanted a kiss and who was Remus to deny him? Once they had had enough of tonsil hockey they talked more about the book. They only allowed themselves to be interrupted for meals, because taking care of yourself is important and they'd both be hypocrites otherwise. After dinner Remus asked Patton to follow him under the guise of more book talk since the others were around. In actuality he wanted to show him the hats he made for them and their bear.

"Awwww! They're so cute! Thanks, Rem. I love them."
"Well I love you."
"You dork."
Remus gasped. "Are you calling me a whale-"
"Yep."
"I'm too shocked to be offended. Innocent little Patton saying such things."
"Only to you."
"I'm not sure whether to be flattered or more offended."
"Would a kiss help you decide?"
"This is a tough one, so I might need a couple."
"Well I suppose I could spare a few," Patton feigned reluctance before smiling and diving in.

A bit later everyone else had gathered in the living room.

"It's almost midnight. Where did Patton and Remus go?"
"I think Patton went to take a look at what Remus has been writing."
"I see. Virgil, come with me?"
"Why can't you go by yourself? It's down the hallway."
"Pretty please?" Roman batted his eyelashes. "I'll make it up to you."
"Fine. But only because I'm getting compensation."
Roman found Remus's door slightly ajar so he opened it the rest of the way and found something he was not prepared for.

"Oh my God!"

Remus and Patton broke apart and whipped around, lips swollen from their impromptu make out session.

"What is happening?" Virgil was incredulous.
"We were kissing?" Patton offered weakly.
"Ok. Why?" Virgil asked.
Patton turned to Remus who then answered. "We're dating?"
"You're… You're dating."
"Since when?!" Roman was beyond confused. He felt like he should have noticed if his best friend and brother were dating.
"Christmas?" Patton said.
"Why is every reply a question?"
"Because you're really freaking out!"
"You're right. Ok. Ok. So. Patton, my best friend, and Remus, my brother, are dating. Simple enough. Virgil, any thoughts?
"I'm gonna need a minute. I'll be in my room if you need me while I reassemble my world view."
Roman was still a bit confused. "So… You and Remus."
"Yeah."

Patton did his best to explain what happened with Remus helping fill in any missing details. Roman was shocked that Remus had had a crush on Patton all that time and no one ever knew about it. Once he heard the whole story he was fully on board being the romantic that he was, and Roman decided he would stop at nothing to make sure his friend and his brother were happy. He then remembered the reason he had went to Remus's room in the first place and went to drag Virgil back out to the living room. He yelled at the new couple to follow them on his way past.

"Logan! Dee! You'll never believe it!" Roman exclaimed upon entering the living room.
"Loud and energetic as always." Logan remarked.
"Do tell, but try not to burst our eardrums," Dee requested.
"Patton and Remus! They're dating!"
"Oh, is that all?" Logan nodded.
"Wait, what?!"
"Well it was clear they were into each other and I was pretty sure they had made it official. Whenever he would call we'd always somehow end up talking about Patton. Plus they both had crushes on each other in high school. That and they've been pretty inseparable this whole time and sleep together, oh and Dee and I saw them kissing in the kitchen."
"In high school? How did you know but I didn't?!"
"You were too busy swooning over Virgil to notice."
"Was not!"
"You kinda were," Virgil agreed.
"I'm suing!"
"Who, how much, and why?"
"Oh hush."
"Well now that we're all here, should we announce our New Year's resolutions?" Dee asked.

It was a tradition for them so they knew what to help each other on for the coming year. One year Dee had decided to learn how to cook all the good things he'd been tasting so they would have biweekly dinners where he would cook for them all. They went around passing an unspoken vow that they would keep each other on the right track.

There was about a minute left and they all waited for the clock to strike midnight. They popped their party poppers and cheered followed by the customary New Year's kiss. After which Logan got down on one knee.

"You know I'm not very good at this, but I've been practicing a bit so I wrote you poem, well I tried, but nothing quite seemed to capture how I feel about you. Words weren't enough, they never have been, so I'm asking if you'll let me continue showing you what words can't describe. Will you marry me?"

Logan looked up at Dee with shy eyes and an unsure smile. So much about this could be wrong. The words, the time, the ring.

"Of course. Who else would help me with the morning crossword and cuddle with my snakes and stock my cabinets with a comical amount of Crofters? I really don't know how you fit it all in there."
"I've had practice." He slipped the ring on Dee's finger.
"Now stand up and kiss me."
"Awwwwwww!" Patton nearly had a melt down at how cute his friend's were.

Remus gave them two thumbs up and mouthed to Logan, "I told you he'd say yes." To which Logan rolled his eyes. Virgil gave a congrats and pats on the back but ended up being pulled into a hug by an emotional Dee, which he pretended to reluctantly accept, but they all knew he was happy for their friend. Once he was released he turned to look at Roman.

"So where's my proposal?" he joked.
"You'll see." Roman smirked.
"Wait really?" Virgil gasped. As dark and edgy as he could be, he was also incredibly soft and wanted to be a blushing bride.
"Welp, I'm going to bed."
"Hey wait! You can't just say that then go to bed!"
"I think I can." Roman grinned and sprinted down the hallway.
"Heyyyy!" Virgil ran after him.
"Well I'd dare say we should all be headed to bed, seeing as we'll all have to head out tomorrow."
"Oh! Remus! We'll need to get you a ticket!" Patton exclaimed.
"That's ok. I'll grab my things and drive down. I'll be able to meet you in a couple days, ok?"
"Are you sure? Won't it be lonely."
"I'll go knowing this will be the last road trip I take alone, and I won't even have time for loneliness knowing you're at the end of my journey."
"Why are they more mushy than we are? We're the ones who just got engaged." Dee smiled softly.
"I think that just might be how they are." Logan nodded.
"If they ever stay with us I'm locking them in the basement so I don't have to see it."
Logan gave him a look.
"What? There's a bathroom and a kitchenette down there. Plus they can get out the back way."
"I guess."