It had been two days since Kristof and Armin had sex for the first time. Their first time had become a magical moment that wonderful night. They'd been up all night cuddling, touching, kissing, caressing, and just loving each other.

Three times, they'd made love. Sadly, after those three times, Kristof refused to do it again, because he didn't want to put Armin's body through too much stress.

The younger had been bummed out because if Armin was honest, he couldn't get enough of it! It had hurt a little, sure, but that didn't dampen the good feeling in the slightest.

So this was what actual sex felt like. The kind of sex his friends had spoken about. Armin understood it now. And it had felt better than he could have imagined it to feel.

The day after, Armin had felt a little sore. Though it wasn't that bad, Kristof had said he didn't want to make love to him again until the pain was over! Armin found that Kristof overreacted. It hadn't even hurt that much afterward.

But there were also more things on their minds. They had attended the funerals of the mineworkers. It was a hard day, especially for the families, but also for Kristof and Adam. The funerals were heartbreakingly sad, but also beautiful in a way. All men had gotten the most respectful burial service that was possible.

Armin had never seen so many grieving people in his life.

The mine supervisor had said the cause of the explosion was a methane gas leak that happens naturally in mines. The chances were slim for one to happen in a diamond mine instead of a coal mine, but these accidents sometimes happen. Nobody was to blame. None of the families held Kristof responsible, even though the man himself still sometimes felt that way.

Armin had told Kristof he shouldn't do that to himself. It really wasn't his fault.

After seeing the respect that all families had for his husband, Armin once again saw what a unique soul Kristof actually was.

And then came today. When they sat for breakfast, May had come with the post; a letter for Kristof. It was from an old acquaintance. A man named Tristan.

"Oh, wow." Kristof laughed.

Armin saw how the older's eyes started to twinkle and a wide grin appeared on his face as he read the letter.

"What is it?" Armin asked.

"This letter is from a man I haven't seen for ten years and actually never expected to see ever again. And now, he asks if he can visit."

"What will you write back?" Armin asked.

"Actually...This is the man I told you about. Do you remember? The foreigner?"

"Oh..."

The foreigner.

"His name is Tristan."

Armin remembered the foreigner. It was the man that Kristof had considered a former lover and who was his...his first.

Kristof noticed how the subject Tristan made his husband uncomfortable. Even though he knew he could never feel for Tristan what he felt for Armin, he understood it wasn't fair to Armin to let the man stay with them as a guest.

"Don't worry, Armin. I am not planning on letting him stay here. But I was wondering if it was okay if we invited him to the party?"

Armin thought about it. He knew it would be ridiculous if he would say 'no'. He was glad that Kristof wouldn't let Tristan stay at their home, and that Kristof asked him if he could invite Tristan instead of just doing it.

"Of course. And thank you for asking me," Armin replied.

That afternoon, they went to town together to pick out their outfits for the party, which would be held in four days. Armin chose a light blue fabric suit which was decorated with copper curly embroidery and navy-colored roses. Kristof picked out a navy suit and a light-blue cravat that matched with the light-blue buttons of his jacket.

When they were done having their measurements taken, they went to a bar to enjoy some tea before heading home.

Armin felt people stare at them, but he didn't care anymore. Let them stare.

"So will the party be busy you think?" Armin asked when he sipped on his tea. "Oh, hot, hot!" He burned his tongue.

"Be careful, you silly. I don't know. Last year there were about three hundred people," Kristof said, thinking back.

"Three hundred!" Armin stood perplexed. "So many people?"

"Maybe even more. And this year your family and friends are also joining."

"Why do you organize such a party anyway?"

"I don't know. It's good to mingle with people I guess. And it's also good for business."

"You shouldn't always be so nice to everybody. Some don't deserve it," Armin said.

"It's something I promised Isoldi on her deathbed. She asked me to please always be the kind person she knew me to be."

So that's why Kristof was the way he was. Always the helper. Always the kind, gentle person. God, now Armin loved him even more. "Kristof, I--"

"Kristof!" came a voice from the back, cutting Armin off.

Armin turned around when he saw his husband smiling at someone.

It was a beautiful, slightly older man. His hair was curled and golden. His eyes had the same color as the turquoise lake. And a little beard made him even more attractive than he already was.

Armin had never seen a man with such an appearance and with such piercing bright sparkly eyes. Who was this man? He was gorgeous.

Kristof stood up and shook the hand of the stranger, sharing a brief moment.

"Tristan," Kristof then said.

Armin heard the word fall from Kristof's tongue and his ears were as wide as they could be.

This man was HIM. He was the one.

"How have you been? It's been so long." Tristan lovingly asked Kristof, stretching his hand to touch Kristof's cheek.

Kristof wouldn't let him and flicked his head back. He knew that Tristan didn't mean anything with the touch, because the man was a very free-spirited soul, and he touched everyone like this. He knew that, but he also knew that Armin wouldn't understand.

Armin looked at Tristan with eyes that could kill.

"I've been very good, Tristan. And, please, I want you to meet my husband. This is Armin."

Tristan knew immediately what Kristof meant.

On their day of separation, Tristan had told Kristof that one day he would meet his soulmate. And he wanted Tristan to know that he had been right all along. He did meet his soulmate, and it was Armin.

"Ohhh, he is beautiful," Tristan said while he gazed at Armin. He stretched his hand which Armin shook with some reluctance.

"Nice to meet you," Tristan said.

"Thank you," Armin said.

Kristof felt slightly ashamed of Armin. He could also have said 'likewise', or 'nice to meet you as well'. But he knew Armin wasn't the kind of guy to tell a white lie.

Tristan joined them at their table and they talked about everything that had happened since they parted. Tristan seemed very proud of Kristof and all he had accomplished with the mine.

Kristof said he posted an invitation to Tristan this morning and that he would probably get it by tomorrow. Tristan didn't wait for the invitation to arrive. He simply said he would gladly go to the party.

And all Armin could do was watch them. Kristof tried to mingle him into their conversation, but Armin just had nothing to say. He felt like an outsider. It wasn't a pleasurable feeling.

After an hour or so, Armin was glad they headed back home again. He stayed quiet the entire ride in the carriage.

"Armin...?" Kristof asked.

"Hmmm?"

"Are you angry with me?"

"No. Why would I be angry?"

He wasn't angry. He just didn't know what he felt. But if Armin had to pick one feeling that would describe his emotion, it would probably be jealousy. And he hated that.

"I don't know...You seem so quiet for the past two hours," Kristof replied.

"I...just had nothing to say. I can't talk about travels like you can, or catch up on your old memories."

"I'm sorry," Kristof said.

Armin looked at his husband. Kristof looked so guilty.

The poor sweet man.

"You don't have to be sorry. You did nothing wrong." That much, Armin knew. He was the one acting childish.

It was night. Armin lay in bed, not able to sleep. He felt so stupid about being jealous today.

Jealous that Tristan also had the experience and pleasure of sleeping with Kristof.

His Kristof.

Did Kristof moan for Tristan too? It made Armin see green with jealousy, knowing that Tristan was the first. The very first.

He rolled over and watched his husband. He was sleeping so peacefully. Armin scooted closer and smelled his shiny black hair. God, he smelled so good. There was no way to describe it. Armin couldn't hold back and gently kissed his forehead.

"You know...I'm not sleeping," Kristof told Armin with his eyes still closed. "At least not anymore."

Armin was a little startled. He pulled back. "Sorry, if I woke you," he said with shame.

"Ooh, come on. Don't stop." His older lover whined when he didn't feel Armin's touch anymore.

Armin smiled and kissed Kristof's cheeks and chin.

"Hmmm, I always want to wake up like this." Kristof opened his eyes. "Can't you sleep? Or are you awake again?"

"No, I haven't slept yet..."

"Why?" Kristof asked, even though he had a hunch.

"It's...nothing."

"Does it have to do with today? With Tristan?"

Armin didn't want to hear that man's name again. He felt a little mean too because Tristan had been nothing but nice to him and he was acting so unreasonable and dumb.

"I know I'm stupid but I just don't like him." Armin rolled around until his back faced Kristof. God, this was shameful.

Kristof softly laughed.

That made Armin turn around again to look at his husband.

"I'm sorry, I laughed. But, I think...you are jealous?"

"..."

Armin got out of bed.

"Where are you going?" Kristof asked.

"You, go to sleep again."

But Kristof didn't want to go to sleep like this. He got up as well and lit a few more candles other than the small one that was already shining. It was brighter in the room now.

"What are you doing?" Armin asked, sitting in a chair in front of the window, watching the moonlight. "You should sleep. Don't mind me. I'll try to sleep later. I just can't right now,"

Kristof took Armin by his hand, making him stand, and together they walked over to the mirror, and stood still in front of it. It was a huge golden baroque mirror. Kristof hugged Armin from behind.

They looked at each other through the mirror.

"You see that man there?" Kristof asked, pointing at Armin's reflection in the mirror. "That is the man I want. The only man."

Armin blushed.

"I don't want Tristan. I don't love Tristan. I want you. I love you. You are better than Tristan in every way," Kristof said while he tightly cuddled Armin.

It made the butterflies go wild inside Armin's stomach.

Kristof's hand traveled to the front of Armin's shirt, which he started to unbutton, skillfully with one hand.

"What...what are you doing?" Armin asked while looking at the other in the mirror.

"Hmmm...I was just thinking about your capability to remember things so excellently, and I want to give you something to remember for a long time...So make sure to memorize all the little details you are going to see in front of you now, okay?" Kristof replied with a husky voice while he sniffed at Armin's neck.