"Adrian sweetie, you okay?"

Adrian's head slipped from the hand he was leaning on, almost head butting the plate when he looked back at his mom. "Huh? What'd you say?"

"I asked if you're okay?" Sally repeated to her son.

"No thanks, I'm not hungry."

Sally crouched down besides Adrian and enunciated every word by speaking loudly and slowly. "Are. You. Okay?"

Slightly embarrassed that he was caught daydreaming, Adrian coughed to get rid of the awkwardness he was feeling. "Yeah yeah, I'm fine."

Sally looked down at Adrian's enormous stack of food and noticed that it was barely touched. "That's unlike you, wasn't one of the main reasons you came down here was for the free food?" She laughed.

Adrian began poking the fruit salad with his fork, making holes in them without attempting to eat it. "Just distracted."

"You want to talk about it? I'm all ears." Sally offered.

Adrian couldn't stop thinking about the whole marriage thing, and it was extremely annoying him. It was one tiny slip up, he was at a wedding so it was a reasonable tangent, but then it manifested into a big deal - it was how things went with Adrian.

"Is this about what I said at the reception yesterday?" Adrian slowly nodded his head so Sally continued speaking. "Honey, I'm sorry if I was pressuring you or putting ideas into your head. Your relationship right now is fine with me."

"I know mom, I believe you." Adrian knew quite early on that his mom cared for Brody a lot, so it made their relationship a lot more easier. They didn't need to sneak around or hide themselves from her, they could relax when they were all in the same house together. "I just can't help but think about the future."

Right after Adrian said that, Alex passed by and slapped her cousin on the head.

Immediately flinching, "Alex what was that for?!" Adrian cursed as he held his hand over where he was hit.

Taking a seat with them, "What did I tell you yesterday, huh? You're relationship is still new, so stop worrying about this marriage nonsense, and stop getting your panties in a twist about nothing." Alex explained lovingly.

"Are my ears burning? Did I just here my newly beloved wife say that marriage is nonsense?" Jamie joked as she joined all of them, kissing her wife before she sat down.

"Oh my god, is there anyone else that wants to join in on this conversation while the invitation is still open?!" Adrian mockingly cursed as everyone around him laughed at his flamboyance.

Susie quickly slipped into the circle around Adrian, as Alex continued speaking. "For an 18 years old kid, you're really domesticated and dramatic."

When everyone began laughing at him, Adrian crossed his arms and pouted. "You only get away with that today because you just got married."

"Then I better make the most of it!" Alex joked. "But seriously Adrian, you can get married later on in life. There's no need to think about all that stuff now, just enjoy your youthfulness."

"I would kill to be young again." Susie added as she began reminiscing about her younger days.

Alex clapped her hands together as she attempted to liven Adrian's mood. "What's one thing we can do right now to cheer you up? I don't want to go to Italy without cheering you up a little bit before we leave."

Adrian thought about this very moment, and there was one thing he wanted right now.

"I want to go home and see Brody."

A collection of squeals and awws pierced through the room, like a collective group of hens were clucking away after hearing Adrian's confession.

"Kill me now..." Adrian whispered to himself as he was ready to die from corniness and embarrassment.

"Adrian, it's the 21st century, you know you can do video calls on your phone right?" Alex joked.

Adrian burrowed his brows at his cousin, "Seriously? Please tell me more, I had no idea at all." He exaggerated with a massive dose of sarcasm and sass.

Sally immediately thought of the great idea to video chat with Brody. "I'll call him right now!"

"Mom! Aren't you done embarrassing me yet?" Adrian reached for Sally's phone but was blocked by Alex, who was laughing hysterically with everyone else.

Other people began to mess with Adrian as they al helped block him from reaching the phone. It only took 3 rings before Brody picked up. "Hello?"

"Brody! Hi love, it's Sally." She greeted him cheerily.

Brody's hair was still wet and dishevelled from his shower as he looked back at the phone camera. "Hi Sally, how's everything going?"

"It's good," Sally turned to look at her son who was being held back from snatching the phone out of her hands. "Adrian's missing you, that's all sweetie."

Adrian's whole body was glowing red from second hand embarrassment. Everything his mom just said was true, but he wasn't going to exactly say it out loud in front of everyone.

"Mom! Hang. Up!" When it looked like Sally wasn't going to put her phone down any second sooner, Adrian yelled for anybody's help. "I'm being held captive by a group of crazy women!"

Brody heard Adrian struggling in the background over the video call and laughed. "Tell him I miss him too."

The phone call was loud enough for everyone to hear. Adrian's heart swooned after hearing Brody, and his mind was then filled with embarrassment when he heard everyone around him share the same reaction.

Turning to look at her son, "See Adrian? That wasn't so hard was it?"

"Mom..."

"Is he clenching his fist together?" Brody knowingly asked from over the phone. He felt all of Adrian embarrassment from across the phone, and he knew Adrian was losing it.

When Sally nodded her head, Brody asked about another tick that Adrian showed when he was too embarrassed or frustrated. "And is there a little vein popping out on the left side of his temple?"

Brody laughed when Sally pointed out everything he had asked about. "Can I speak to my boyfriend now? If I don't step in now then I'm afraid he will blow a gasket."

Everyone let go of Adrian as he rushed to the phone, desperately taking it away from his mom. "Brody! Just forget everything you heard just now."

"Aww, are you not going to say you missed me in person? Or do I need to get your mom to convince you to say it?" Brody teased as he pouted over the phone.

"Are you kidding me? Everyone around me has eagle eyes." Adrian looked past the phone and saw everyone watching him talk to Brody.

"I miss you." Brody sang from over the phone, enjoying the blush on Adrian's cheek as he continued to play with him.

Adrian spoke loudly over Brody as he wanted Brody to get away from his corrupting family. "I'll call you back later, bye!"

Adrian hung up the phone whilst Brody was still wholeheartedly laughing at him. Looking at everyone around him, "I hate you all."

"You know Adrian, your boyfriend is super cute and hot. If I wasn't a lesbian, and I was single, I would totally go for him." Alex told Adrian as he complimented his boyfriend.

Jamie shoved Alex as she laughed. "I'm sitting right here!"

"Anyway..." Alex then turned back to talk to Adrian. "Don't you feel so much better now? The guy's missing you just as much as you're missing him."

Adrian shook his head as he was ready to embarrass himself even more, "Talking over the phone isn't the same..."

"Holy shit! You are so whipped!" Jamie bursted out loud with a crowd of laughter.

"New love and young love makes us feel that way." Sally pointed out on behalf of her son.

~~~~~~~~~~

Dinner with the grandparents was a very pleasant evening later that day. Enjoying a roast beef dinner, Adrian was halfway through his meal when his sad mood was pointed out by grandma June.

"What's wrong Adrian? Is the beef not cooked well enough for you?" She asked tentatively.

"I think we may have went too far earlier." Sally pointed out, as she felt she may have overstepped the line by calling Brody.

Abraham then asked about what Sally was inferring to.

Adrian joined in the conversation that was about him. "They embarrassed me in front of my boyfriend."

Adrian did a double take when he shocked himself after realising that he just came out to his grandparents.

"You have a boyfriend Adrian? That's so cute." June said, unfazed after learning that her grandchild just told them that he was gay.

"Who's this boy that has got my favourite grandson in a certain mood?" Abraham asked supportively.

At this point, Adrian kind of just forgot to come out to people. It was mainly natural for him to carry on with life like everything around him was normal - like when he was straight. Given that they had just attended a lesbian wedding, Adrian knew that they wouldn't care about having a gay family member.

"You remember my friend from Thanksgiving? It's him." Adrian explained to them.

"Oh that boy!" June turned to her husband and spoke the next part to him. "Wasn't he just the sweetest?"

Sally piped in as she praised Brody. "He really is, and Adrian's just having a little bit of separation anxiety since he broke his hand."

"Oh yeah, I forgot to ask, how did that all happen anyway?" Susie asked.

"He got into a fight protecting me from someone who's been harassing me for a while." Adrian revealed.

Adrian then continued to explain everything in more detail. He told them how long it had been going on for, he toned down the things Elliot has been tormenting him with, and Adrian scaled back how much of a beating Elliot got from Brody.

"My baby!" Sally immediately stood up and ran to hug her son who was sitting opposite of her.

June was quick to point out the amount of damage that Brody must have done if he hurt his hand so badly that it's in a cast. "Aren't you scared of him? A boy that strong probably isn't safe to be around."

Adrian immediately dismissed her worries, understanding where her fears came from. They were family, and family wanted the best for each other.

"I can never be scared of him grandma, I actually love him more than ever. I think that's why I'm just a bit down lately, he's hurt and I'm all the way over here."

Placing a sloppy kiss on his cheek, "Sweetie if that's it, then just go home." Sally told Adrian affectionately.

Excitement bubbled in Adrian's eyes, "You all don't mind?" This week was meant to be about spending time with family, and Adrian understood the value and importance of family.

"Sweetie let's face it, you're going to have the face of a slapped arse if you keep moping around like this." Sally told him bluntly.

"Mom!" Adrian shouted, alarmed she spoke like that in front of her elderly parents.

"Live a little, kid." Said Abraham. "I prefer to see you happy rather than a miserable bastard."

This was when Susie decided to join in too, "They're both not wrong, Adrian."

"Does everyone in this family have such a filthy mouth?" Adrian laughed as he joked with them, with a loving undertone. "Do I need to get a bar of soap to rinse everyone's mouth?"

The love in the room was unmeasurable as Adrian felt it from everyone around him. Adrian was glad he had such an understanding and caring family, and he felt lucky to be a part of it.

"Just make sure the next time you come here, you bring him round." June offered as a sort of deal, eager to formally meet her favourite grandchild's boyfriend.

~~~~~~~~~~

Brody was reading a book when he put it down to answer his phone. "Is it safe to talk? Cough once for yes and twice for no."

Adrian coughed once as he played along. "Just wanted to check on my favourite guy."

"That's sweet babe, I'm doing better now that you called." Brody cooed as he spoke softly to Adrian.

"I was actually talking about Ollie."

A moment of silence was then met with Brody's laughter. "He's good as gold."

"What you up to?" Adrian asked as he was getting ready for bed.

"I was just reading a book with Ollie when you called."

"You're with Ollie?" Adrian asked confused.

As if on queue, Ollie jumped up onto Brody's lap so Brody could then pat his head gently. "Yeah, I think he noticed that you were all gone and he was sad. I didn't want to leave him alone so I've been sleeping in your bed since you left."

Adrian didn't know his heart could be anymore full than it already was. His heart was bleeding with affection and tenderness, after finding out that Brody was taking such care of Ollie like that.

Looking softly at Ollie, Brody spoke to him as if he understood what he was saying. "You missing Adrian buddy? Me too."

Adrian thought that Brody's gentle and loving nature would make him a great dad one day, maybe. "You ever think about having children when you're older?"

"That's a random question," Brody told him, "What's brought this on?"

Adrian tried to play it cool and not let Brody know that marriage, kids, and him were all on his mind that last couple of days. "Nothing much, just wedding fever and baby fever at the wedding."

"I want 3 kids in the future," Brody shared. "What about you?"

"At least 3 also, just so they don't get lonely." Adrian smiled sweetly. "You thought about what kind?" Adrian innocently asked.

"If I could choose, then I would go with 1 boy and then 2 girls after." Brody told him without missing a beat. Brody knew he was bisexual from an early age, and that didn't stop him from wanting kids in the future.

Adrian was spooked out after hearing what Brody wanted. "Have I been talking in my sleep?"

Adrian wanted a son that would act as a big brother to the younger sisters. They would all share a passion for sports, and would be at least mediocre academically wise.

Brody chuckled into the phone. "I guess we really are just that compatible. I'm looking forward to Friday already."

"I'm actually coming back tomorrow, I talked to my family and they were cool with me getting the train in the evening." Adrian shared, he was equally excited to come home to Brody.

"Aww, so you did miss me?" Brody joked. "I don't think Adam and Ashley will ever let you stop hearing about you cutting your trip short because of me."

Adrian had been thinking about this for a very long time, and he gained a rush about thinking about it. "Don't tell Adam and Ashley I'm back tomorrow, I want it to be just us - a special night."

Brody didn't want to jump the gun just yet, but his pulse picked up just then. Adrian may have just used those words without a proper meaning towards them, so he tested the water as he spoke softly to Adrian. "Special night?"

"I'm ready." Adrian told him firmly.

Adrian's heart settled from admitting it out loud, but it was also pounding like a steam train at the same time. After such a long wait to take their relationship to the next level, tomorrow was the perfect timing.

"You sure? We can still wait if you want, I'm comfortable with-"

"Tomorrow, I don't want to wait any longer. I mean if you're alright with it of course." Adrian didn't realise that Brody neither confirmed or denied if this was what he wanted, he had just assumed.

Brody knew that he had to be patient with Adrian. Given that this was his first relationship, a gay one also made it a big deal. And that's why he took everything slow with Adrian, he was practically a baby gay, and he didn't want to scare Adrian off.

But if Adrian was ready, then so was Brody.

"Tomorrow night it is then." Brody declared as he confirmed the reality for the both of them."

"I'll see you back at mine tomorrow then."

"Can't wait."

==========