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Tonight was special in a lot of ways. Scott and I had gotten back together, Cam and Tristan had gotten together and they were both leaving tomorrow as well. But I'd risen to the occasion without thinking it'd be so important.

It had been far too long since I'd prepared a proper spread for anyone.

But the ribs had been rubbed and marinated for hours before being grilled to perfection in a sticky barbecue sauce. To go with them, a tray of roast vegetables and a hastily thrown together garden salad and fresh bread from a bakery in town. I was proud of it but mostly I was glad to share this with others.

Cam and Tristan were beaming at me as I set the serving plate of ribs on the table. Their grins only sharpened as the delicious scent wafted over them.

Scott's hand grabbed my shoulder. "Can I stress how fucking amazing you are?" He stared into my eyes but announced it to the entire table.

"Yeah. I can't wait." Tristan licked his lips, Cam nodded an agreement.

Satisfaction curled my lips. "It's the least I can do." I dropped my chin. "Dunno what I'd be doing right now without any of you here but it wouldn't be good."

Scott barked a gruff laugh. "You're allowed to be praised you know."

"I guess."

"Asshole." He scoffed and started piling food onto his plate. Warmth sparked in my belly. I'd wanted to serve our guests first, follow some semblance of table manners but none of that shit ever really mattered to me. What mattered was that others appreciated what I did for them, and enjoying the food I'd made was exactly that. And Scott wasted no time showing that.

He bit into the tender meat of a rib and played up a loud moan.

"So fucking good." He smacked his lips and stared up at me. "Think I missed this more than the sex."

I snorted. "I'm not sure I believe that."

"Yeah, well. I dunno what else to say." He spoke with his mouth full. "It's delicious and you've spoiled us. So sit your ass down, act all modest or whatever but you've done more than you had to do for any of us. And it's good. Thank you." He accompanied his words with a point of a rib, now bare of meat and sauce.

Our guests both watched on a little awkwardly, but they nodded and started serving themselves.

I raised my hands and did as told, glad for his forcefulness.

And maybe I had outdone myself a little bit too, or maybe it was the significance of the day, but I wouldn't hesitate to call this my best batch of ribs. Scott agreed, and Tristan was heavy on the compliments throughout dinner. Conversation was a tad awkward until we'd finished eating. Mostly it was Scott asking about Cam and Tristan, with a bit in regards to how I'd been throughout the week. Tristan answered perhaps a bit more honestly than I wanted him to, but all it prompted was for Scott to keep his hand on my thigh and scoot his chair a little closer to me with an air of humbleness about him.

"I think all that matters," he said at one point. "Is that we see what we've done for what it is and move forward with full respect to it. We both hurt each other, but separation wasn't the solution else we wouldn't be back here again. But I've loved this dirty fucker since I was a cub and that's not changing." He dropped his head to my shoulder and cuddled my side as he finished speaking.

And I really didn't think it was possible to offload so much all at once, but feeling his weight on me only helped it sink in. This wasn't going to be a short-lived fling. This was serious.

I had doubts. I had fears.

They were gone.

I had him.

With that said, as soon as the food was put away he shifted gears.

From loving and emotionally vulnerable, he hardened up both physically and figuratively. He was not a subtle bear in the slightest.

"Since it's your last night here, how about a drink?" he asked, mostly to Cam.

To my surprise, the fox lifted his head. "Sure."

"That'd be nice, thanks," Tristan said.

I cracked a smile as they agreed. Scott was good at this sort of thing, and in a moment he'd mixed drinks for the four of us.

Which led to another round.

"Something harder this time?" Scott asked.

"Hmm, no thanks. I'm kinda a lightweight," Cam replied.

"Psch. Foxes are all lightweights, cmon, it's a night to celebrate." Scott had a way of insisting that was just charming enough.

"Fair, alright then."

Tristan had no such complaints.

And after that, a third round.

By which point, Cam was giggly and more talkative than I'd seen him all week.

Which was perfect, of course.

"How's your dad been?" Scott asked him.

"Yeah, pretty good, like. Old 'n lazy now but he's doing good." Cam sounded one shot away from slurring.

"Sounds like Kenneth, hey?" Scott nudged my chest.

I laughed. "Yeah." I hadn't seen Cam's father in a while but he was a pretty unchanging man.

Scott made a show of squinting at me. "You reckon he knows what you two have been getting up to?"

I opened my mouth to speak, shut it and snorted, shaking my head.

Cam looked shattered. "Don't tell 'em."

"Course not." Scott rubbed at his chin. "Rob's a pervert, bet it wasn't you who started it."

"Sorta." Cam looked to Tristan for some help, but the lion only smirked.

"Can't say I blame him for bothering a stud like yourself." Scott placed a hand on his chest, smiling across the table at Cam.

"I-I... uh, thanks." The fox cut eye contact, an awkward grin on his face.

"And he calls me the pervert," I muttered.

Scott glanced to me, then started undoing the buttons of my flannel. I leant back in my chair as he exposed my chest. "I'm more of a freak than a pervert," he said. "Important difference." He flicked a claw at one of my nipples.

I grabbed his wrist. "And what is the difference?"

He furrowed his brow. "You weren't meant to ask that."

I laughed, guiding his hand down to the front of my pants and shaped his fingers around my cock. Cam peered at us, eyes wide.

Scott massaged the bulge in my pants as his head turned towards Tristan. "You're a slut aren't you? How would you rate Rob in bed?"

Tristan cocked his head. "So-so. Six for effort I guess."

I squinted at him, not expecting the honesty.

"Six." Scott squeezed my cock. "Damn. What about Cam?"

"Uh." Tristan glanced to the fox and placed a hand on his shoulder. "A two, if he's lucky."

Cam made a throaty sound, not looking hurt just baffled.

"Wooah." Scott gaped. "Can't be that bad right?"

"Probably." Cam sighed. "I dunno what I'm doing man."

"I bet he's joking, you're pretty good aren't you?" Scott leant forward in his seat. "Bet you've got a nice prick."

"Oh he does," I added.

"Mmm." Scott licked his lips, rumbling to himself.

Cam glanced between us, even tipsy his nerves were obvious. "Guess so," he mumbled.

"Why don't you find out?" Tristan asked.

Cam froze up. "Man." He choked. "What do you guys want from me?"

"Cam. Buddy. I'm trying to say I want to suck your cock, and our boyfriends can watch or join in or do whatever. I just want your dick in my throat and your hands on the back of my head, got it?" Scott folded his arms.

"I-yeah. No, I know that. I just... fuck." He flicked his eyes to Tristan, who gave a nod. "Y'know. Yeah. Do it." He scooted back on his chair, fiddling with his belt.

Scott exhaled heavily as he stood. "Finally." He dropped out of his chair and crawled under the table.

Cam had his pants down around his ankles by the time Scott reached him. I followed Scott down, eager to join in.

"God damn." Scott growled as he nuzzled the inside of Cam's thigh, eyeing the fox's meaty cock. "Knew you had a nice one." He ran his tongue up the underside of Cam's shaft.

He arched his head back and moaned.

"Sensitive hmm?" Scott teased Cam's slit with his tongue. "My favorite."

Scott had two settings, one was hard and the other was fast and both of them were always on at all times. It came as no surprise to me when Scott shoved himself into Cam's lap and groaned as he took Cam's thick cock right down his throat. Scott growled as he bottomed out, pausing a moment to steady himself before he started bobbing up and down.

Cam's head lulled back as he moaned.

I yanked down Scott's pants, eager for more of him. But as I went to put my mouth around him, Tristan dropped down on the other side of him. Our eyes met, I grinned, licking up the side of Scott's cock. Tristan did the same.

We traced our tongues up to the tip, where they overlapped. I lunged forward to kiss him, but only for a moment. I turned back to Scott's cock, lapping at the precum that oozed from it. Tristan's tongue brushed against mine, he wanted it too.

At first, that sparked annoyance within me, but as our tongues pushed against each other Scott had to stop gagging himself on Cam's cock to stare back at us, panting and moaning as we lapped at his cock.

I pushed my muzzle against the side of Tristan's face, he turned part way back to me and we started making out, both with each other and Scott's cock at the same time.

Tristan tasted like him and that only made me hungry for the lion.

He purred as he kissed me, I leant back and shoved him at Scott's dick while I took my pants off. I laced my fingers through Tristan's mane and forced him up and down and with my other hand I guided his hand to my cock. He started jerking me off.

Scott grunted, I leant back and started teasing his nipple with my tongue. He was gulping down Cam's cock, the fox's hands were hanging down on either side of him as he panted and shook. Cam's eyes shot open, he jolted upright and groaned his way through an orgasm. Scott rose up a bit off of his cock to catch all of the fox's seed in his mouth.

Without a moment's hesitation, Scott dropped down to the floor, his arms around me as he kissed me hard with a mouthful of Cam's cum. Tristan lay in between our hips, still sucking on Scott.

Scott pushed his tongue deep in my mouth, and I ran mine against it as I hugged him.

I shuddered as Tristan suddenly switched to start sucking on me. Pleasure coiled in my belly and I could hardly catch my breath with Scott filling my muzzle. All I could do was twitch and thrust back into the lion's mouth, groaning as his coarse tongue sent electricity up my spine.

Scott pulled away, turning so he could pick at Tristan's fly and free his cock too. With his dick now near my face, I pushed forward to bury my snout in his crotch. The three of us formed a triangle on the ground as we blew each other in a chain of pleasure.

I growled as I slurped on Scott, glad to have him to myself now. With the amount of pre dripping across my tongue I knew he was close. Tristan purred, the vibrations roared through my chest, each wave of it exuding pleasure that stole my breath. It was a lot to try edge out, and I was sure I could but why should I? There was something I could do to spoil Scott. I groaned as I crept up, pushing Tristan off of me. I leant over Scott's face and started jerking and I gave in to the orgasm building in my belly.

My cum splattered across Scott's cheek, snout and forehead. He growled as he started going more frantically at Tristan, rubbing his nose into the lion's pelvis. I took my spot back in the chain, slurping on Scott's dick. It hardly took a moment for him to grunt and he started thrusting hard into my muzzle. He threw his head back and exhaled loud and heavy, shaking as an orgasm thundered through him and he burst in my mouth, two hefty spurts of cum coated my tongue and filled my lips. Once his cock was done twitching, I rose up and spat it across his face.

Tristan leant forward, jerking his cock at a blinding pace until he shot over Scott's chest and face.

The three of us sat panting and shaky as the moment passed. Scott stared at me, his face dripping with jizz.

Cam stared down at us from his chair, a smile on his face. "That was really, really hot."

"So were you." Scott rumbled, crawling out from under the table, catching a runnel of cum with his tongue. He snatched up his pants from his ankles and grabbed his phone out of his pocket, growling as he stared at himself in the selfie camera. He went as far as recording himself pulling a strand of it out of his fur and slurping it into his mouth with the widest grin I'd ever seen him give anything.

Tristan and I got up, he threw his arms over Cam's shoulders and kissed his cheek. "Glad you went along with that."

"Me too." He scratched at his chin. "I dunno why I'm so hesitant, like, it's all good."

"If you want it, just go for it." Tristan rubbed his shoulders. Cam tilted his head up to kiss him on the lips. Seeing them show each other affection brought a spark of warmth to my heart. Cam snorted as he broke the kiss.

"You taste like dick." He was smiling as he said it.

Tristan smirked. "You'll get used to that from me."

"Yeah." Cam nodded. "I think I like it."

Tristan tussled his ears. "Hell yeah."

It made me smile too, watching Cam come at ease with sex. He'd been so skittish, and though he still was he was getting over it.

"What time are you guys leaving tomorrow?" I asked.

"Pretty early, got things to do." Tristan replied. "So we'll say our goodbyes then."

"Sounds good."

Scott left to wash his face while the three of us finished tidying and washing up after dinner. With the chores done and our bodies sated, we said our goodnights.

As I settled into bed, Scott came back and slung his arms around me. He kissed my cheeks and squeezed me tight.

"I dunno if you know this, but Tristan reached out to me a few days ago about you." Scott rubbed my shoulders.

"He mentioned." There was a tightness in my throat despite the intimacy. "I didn't know he'd done it until this morning. I hope you didn't feel pressured or something."

"Nah, it just kicked my ass into gear." He draped himself over my back, arms around my neck and rubbed his cheek against mine. "I did want to reply to you, just didn't know how and couldn't think about it right. Knowing you weren't doing great, yeah, that kinda lit up something in my head, had to set it straight. And like I told you this morning. I'm making it up to you." He kissed my cheek. "I know I'm a shithead at the best of times, but I do love you and I'm gunna prove that to you so hard you perv." He bit my ear.

I was smiling. Couldn't help myself. "You'll make me cry if you keep going." Lightness filled my belly once more. I wanted to scream, wanted to sing. Wanted him to feel just how much he meant to me.

"If you do I'll call you a bitch but also be quite moved."

I tilted my head. "I don't think there's anyone else for either of us. Not out here at least."

"And fuck moving to a city." He wrestled me into the sheets, pinning me under his weight as he propped himself up. He stared down at me, looking tired. "It's crazy to me that we left it a year and within a day we're like this again." He kissed my snout. "Wouldn't trade it for anything."

"Makes me even happier you're so keen." I smiled and pulled him down onto me.

For the second night in a row, I slept in Scott's arms. I rest my head against his shoulder, his arm wrapped around my back, his other hand on my belly as he rubbed it idly. I could hardly calm myself enough to sleep, for a time I simply lay there in his hold and listened to his breath, each one soothing me further and further until I passed out with my heart warmed through.

By morning, joy had crystallized within me. I was stronger, more alive than I'd been all year. I could hear Cam and Tristan gathering their things. They'd decided not to stay for breakfast, which was fine, I didn't have anything in mind.

But I guess I wasn't prepared to realize it wasn't long until I'd be alone with Scott. And maybe things would feel different? I wasn't so sure. I doubted they would and yet I still worried, more than I should. Even recognizing I was overthinking it did nothing to abate that anxiety as it scratched at the joy that sustained me.

But then Scott got out of bed and clothed in a pair of my blue-checkered boxers and a grey t-shirt, strode over to me and kissed me hard on the lips. "Morning."

I was smiling already, worries cast aside. "Morning."

And that's all it was. He made some coffee, then came and cuddled up to me while we waited for Cam and Tristan to finish getting ready.

When they finally stepped out of their room with suitcases in hand, we got up to send them off.

Tristan beamed at us, Scott with his arms around me as we both tiredly chugged our way through mugs of coffee. "So glad this is all happening. Wild week, but good and worth it. Can't say it was what I expected at all." He chuckled, I did too. I got up and walked right into his arms. He embraced me, as warm and as caring as he'd been all week.

"You both helped me so much. Thank you, you're welcome back any time." I buried my snout in his mane and squeezed him as hard as I dared.

When he stepped back, Cam raised a hand to the back of his own head. "Rob, like, until this week I was kinda thinking I might be asexual or something." He started, marginally less awkward than usual. "Like, all that stuff just never felt right for me I dunno. But I think it's ok now, like, I like it and all. I know it's kinda not what I was meant to learn from you, but between that and the advice you gave me about Tristan, think I learned something better anyways." He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me.

"Proud of you." I clapped him on the back.

Scott crept up behind me and as soon as I released Cam, he dove in for a tight hug. "You're hot as fuck." Scott growled and tossed the fox's ears. "Next time we meet, you're gunna act like it, okay?" He stepped back, staring into Cam's eyes.

I expected him to shy away, instead he laughed. "You guys are all so..."

"Horny?" Scott suggestived.

"Submissive." Cam snickered. "Like fuck, surely one of you can step up to bat. Doesn't have to be me all the time."

I barked a laugh. "We'll see, next time."

"God." Cam shook his head. "I'm actually... kinda looking forward to that."

"Aye, much better." Scott rumbled.

"Won't be long, you'll be back in a month or so for the start of logging season." I glanced to Tristan, a smile on my face. "Better get him ready."

"Oh he will be," the lion replied.

Cam grabbed his suitcase. "We should get going."

"Alright." I smiled at them both one last time. "See you guys again soon. Stay safe and look after each other."

"See ya." Scott waved them off.

"Bye." Tristan returned the wave and followed Cam towards the front door and a moment later, they were gone.

I released a heavy breath.

"Now what?" Scott looked to me, the corners of his mouth turned up. A look I'd seen thousands of times before. All it meant, was that he was horny.

I had a silly idea that flirted with something dangerous. I knew exactly how Scott was going to read this and he wasn't going to read it well. "What'd you think about what Cam said about someone stepping up to bat?"

Panic flashed in his eyes, quickly dampened by a scowl which he eased off of and tried to keep himself neutral, but that moment of distress said it all. He'd reacted to me suggesting I was going back into my old ways of pressuring him to fuck me. "Might be a bit perverted," he muttered.

I grabbed him by the wrist, my claws pressing firm against him. There was a fraction of resistance in him as I pulled him towards our bedroom and shoved him onto the bed. I could see protest building in him, his hesitation, his discomfort. These were all things I unfortunately used to be familiar with seeing in him.

I disliked seeing them now, but this would be better.

We'd long come to the understanding that we were both bottoms, and on rare occasion he'd be willing to switch. But I'd spent years selfishly wanting more out of him and all this time I'd never really considered a need he had but didn't really express.

He was respectful about a boundary I placed, I didn't really like topping, but fuck it, I was more than willing to move it if it'd make him happier with me. In a strange way, that shitty sex I'd had on the forest walk with Cam and Tristan helped convince me of this. Nothing could be as bad or as awkward as that, and this wasn't even likely to be bad. I'd enjoyed Tristan riding me in this same bed only a few nights ago.

I threw my weight on top of him and bit his lip. I tore at his clothes. I yanked his shirt off of him and rumbled as I bit his neck. He gasped and curled his body in my grasp. "Call me a pervert again." I growled.

He was breathing heavy as I shoved his face into the sheets. "You're a nasty pervert," he muttered, voice low, still guarded, still hesitant. I forced my snout under his armpit and breathed in his scent, shuddering as it filled my head. I started licking at his sweat, I bit at his fur and he grunted, writhing under my weight.

Fuck, I was more into this than I really thought.

I ground my hips against his leg as I tugged at his pants. He tried to push me back, a little frantic and weak. I wrangled his arms and pulled his pants off.

And I think that's when the penny dropped for him. In an instant, his demeanor changed. Not hesitating, inviting.

I slapped his ass with a meaty smack. He grunted, wincing as he tried to squirm away. Only there was no force behind it. It was playful. I pounced back on him, wrestling him face down against the bed until I trapped his hands against his back. He bucked his hips, trying to throw me off.

I squeezed his balls, he jolted and called out. I pushed my pants down and let my cock flop against his ass. He stared back at me, teeth bared. "You're a freak." He snarled. I smacked him even harder on the ass. He grunted and tossed in my hold.

I know how this sounded.

But this was a side of Scott I seldom forced out.

This wasn't him telling me he didn't want it, far from it. This was my boyfriend craving cock. I hadn't topped him in well over a decade, it was something I decided I didn't like doing long ago and eventually this fell from our sexual repertoire. But I owed him far better than that. For all the shit I'd demanded unfairly from him, the least I could do was fuck him like I knew he wanted to be. I'd been spoiled by him all those years, taken his willingness to please me for granted.

It really wouldn't happen again.

I forced two fingers in his mouth, he started sucking them, moaning as he kept trying to wriggle away from me. I tore my fingers from his lips and shoved them in his ass. His entire body coiled as he tensed under me and he groaned. I wasn't gentle as I jabbed my fingers in and out of him. He started whimpering with every penetration, his squirming stopped. I ripped my fingers out and spread his ass, shoving my nose against his stubby tail and licked as his hole. He shivered and moaned.

Fuck, it made me so horny feeling his body tremble as he submitted to me. I pressed my tongue into him and flexed it. He didn't take a lot of preparation, I mightn't have fucked him in a long time but that didn't mean I hadn't spent half a lifetime fingering and rimming him already. He also liked it a bit underdone.

So he was as ready as he needed to be. I grabbed his nuts as I lined my cock up with his asshole. He whimpered, moving his hips back towards me to try ease the pressure on his balls, which only made it easier for me to thrust into him.

I wasn't gentle.

His back arched, he groaned loud as I pushed harder into his hole. His tight ass didn't want to give way to me, but I'd make it. He was so much warmer than Tristan, so much tighter. It made me giddy, felt so fucking good. With a final shove, my hips pressed against his rump. He whimpered, staring up at me with his eyes widened by pain. His mouth hung open, his body trembled.

But he was the first to grit his teeth. He tensed forward, both of us moaning as he moved up and then back down on my cock.

I started humping him, slow at first to ease him open but the pleasure arcing through my chest was overwhelming. I started going faster, he started groaning louder.

He'd always been a glutton. I should've done this sort of thing more, always knew he'd wanted it. But we had time to set the record straight.

And there was more I could do too. I shoved him forwards a bit and lifted my leg to slam my foot down against his snout. I ground his nose into the sheets as I fucked him. He whimpered and shivered, fighting back against my weight.

But not to escape it.

He forced his snout to the side to bury it between my toes. His breaths became entangled with moans as he lapped at my foot.

I started thrusting into him with fervent intensity. Gasping as the pleasure soared through me. I grabbed his dick and started jacking it harder and harder.

The sounds of his pleasure became disordered. His hips were bucking out of time with me, his breath both rushed and paused as his body contorted.

He gave a final shudder, crying out with weak voice as his cock twitched and shot a jet of cum right up his belly. As the muscles in his body tensed from his orgasm, he squeezed harder on me and it was more than I could take.

I was panting, eyes clenched shut as I came in his ass. I kept thrusting into him, groaning as an orgasm rocked my body. I fell against him, heart pounding out of my chest. He lay there, face in the sheets as his breath came ragged.

I had no strength in me but there was more I could do. I ripped my cock out of him and shuffled down. His chest was heaving, I put hands on his back and forced my tongue into his hole. He moaned weakly as I licked at him, then I sucked as much cum out of him as I could.

I lunged for his lips and kissed him hard, forcing my tongue into his mouth. He shuddered as he lapped my orgasm out of my mouth. He was filthy, but he was my boyfriend and I loved that about him. I'd never take him for granted again.

We lay there for almost an hour, basking in the warmth of each other, surrounded by bright morning sun. Eventually he pecked me on the lips and shuffled even closer.

"You're a damn good batter," he said.

"I'll never take you for granted again." I rubbed his back.

He nuzzled my neck. "I know."

He laced his fingers in mine and said no more.

I exhaled softly, my distress a distant memory.

I was still healing, I knew it'd take longer than this but it was something I was capable of now, something Scott had already helped a great deal with.

We'd fought and made up so many times in the past already, but this was different. This felt special. We didn't have time to waste being dissatisfied, but we had energy to spend on making sure things were better.

And this time, it would last.

Epilogue

The winter logging season came and went without much trouble. It was a joy to see Cam and Tristan again, both more comfortable with each other. Cam especially. He'd grown past his awkwardness about sex and most evenings my lodge became a den of sweaty sex the four of us partook in however and whenever we felt like it.

It definitely made the otherwise exhausting period much more enjoyable.

But it was more than them. Scott and I had never been closer, after decades of being together we were finding new ways to please each other almost daily. Things we hadn't thought to try. Things we hadn't given enough of a try. I was at peace around him and every passing moment only reaffirmed the love we shared for each other.

Today was Cam and Tristan's last afternoon with us, they'd stayed on another week when the logging season had ended to relax and mess around. By this point, we were all tired out of sex and just wanted to put on a nice lunch.

I made ribs again, of course.

Once the food was almost ready, we gathered in preparation. I sat at the table with Cam and Tristan while Scott prepared our drinks.

He was frowning into the bottom of a wine glass as he carried over two glasses of red wine.

"You ever have really good intentions, only to find out you're an idiot?" he asked, a little meek about it.

"Often." I squinted at him. "What'd you do?"

"Well." He set down one of the wine glasses on the table. "You're going to hate this I think. For a lot of reasons." He chuckled and shook his head. "You know that thing in movies. It's dumb. But they usually use champagne or white wine. I've only just realized there's a reason why."

"Hmm?" I tilted my head.

He reached his fingers into the glass, giggling as he withdrew something, red wine dripping from his fur. "I just saved you from choking, so you should probably spend the rest of your life with me." He held out a ring.

I dipped my chin, eyebrows raised as I stared at him. My heart started thundering in my chest. "You're an idiot. But, sure." I could hardly hold myself in for as long as it took to speak those words. I erupted into laughter and jumped out of my chair to throw my arms around him.

The first time we seriously talked about marriage was over twenty years ago. From that point, it only seemed less likely that it would happen the more time went on. We were complacent. Mostly we were happy together, but our issues kept tearing that apart. Especially in our forties. Last year had taken a toll on the both of us.

Only now we'd finally learned.

I kissed him on the lips, he pressed back harder into me. He broke away a moment later.

"I owe you Rob." He sighed, still smiling. "We've put each other through so much shit, but if you'd never messaged me we'd both still be suffering for it. I love you, I do. I really, really do. And knowing what happens when we're not together. Knowing how much we've both changed. I stopped asking myself if we were going to get married and started wondering when. But these things don't just happen. Someone's gotta make it happen." He clasped my hand and held it firmly. "Figured it was my turn. And there's so much more I want to say too, I'll probably keep rambling until you say something. So-"

"I love you too Scott." I lunged forward to kiss him once more. He sunk into a tight embrace, I shut my eyes and breathed him in.

Isolated in our own world for a few moments.

Joy and certainty beat through my heart and strengthened me. All that suffering of the last year now seemed worth it. I could reconcile it with what was to come of our future. Just another mark on our relationship.

And that was fine.

Tristan cleared his throat. "Congrats, both of you."

My eyes flickered open. I could've forgotten we had guests in that moment.

"Yeah, that's really sweet." Cam added, grinning at us.

Scott backed away first, drawing in a long breath as he stared at me. "I kind of don't know what to do now. Damn I did not plan that well at all." He stared at his wine-soaked fingers and grabbed a napkin off of the table to dry them on. "Can we sit down and eat or is this going to be hanging over us or what?" He eyed us all wearily.

I smirked. "Think this definitely ruined the lunch."

"Yeah, well. Whatever. It was worth it."

"Damn right it was." I kissed him again.

As it turned out, no, lunch wasn't awkward at all.

All four of us were excited by the engagement, and while most of the conversation was Scott and I recounting stories from our youth about each other it was pleasant in its own way.

It was a weird connection to make, but Scott had said if I hadn't messaged him this wouldn't have happened. But the only reason I felt capable of doing that in the first place was because of Tristan. So near the end of the lunch, I took him aside and explained that as best I could.

He stared at me, a thin smile on his lips.

"Nobody deserves to feel what you were feeling. So I'm happy I helped make that difference for you, that you were able to start doing the things you had to do to set your life straight. Sometimes all it takes is a push from someone else, and I get that." He scratched at his mane. "Never know when something kind pays out well, but I know it can. So I wanna keep being like this, cuz it's worth it." Then he leant towards me and gave me a warm hug. "Happy for you Rob, really, really happy for you."

I clapped him on the back, and hugged him so tight I was sure it might've hurt, though he never complained. "Thank you." I sighed, content. "How's things with Cam?"

"Good, great even. Don't think we'll be proposing to each other any time soon, but it's good. Keeps me happy, still likes me messing around with other guys, beyond just you and Scott. Perfect for me, I think."

"Good. That's what I like to hear." I smiled and released him from the hug. "You both should hang around here whenever."

"Thanks man, it'd be good to see you and Scott from time to time."

"Least I can do for the guys that helped save my life."

He smirked. "Sounds a bit more extreme when you say it like that, but yeah. You're welcome dude. Love the energy, love you."

It was electrifying to hear that. I'd never really had friends who'd say something like that, let alone want to hear it from me.

"Love you too Tristan." I ruffled a hand through his mane, and the both of us sat back down at the table. I draped myself over Scott's shoulders and kissed his cheek. He turned, a smile lit up his face as his eyes fell on me. It still warmed my heart, the small things.

It wasn't just that all this turmoil had turned into joy. It was the way it happened too. Someone I didn't know at all showed me kindness and from that, so much love had spawned. It helped me out of the hardest period of my life. I'd grown a lot from this, still had even more growing to do. But I was capable of that now. I was ready to move forward, Scott was too and we were doing it together.

I couldn't have hoped for more.