Sweet Dreams - Book 3

Twenty four

(Credit song lyrics: The Only One - Part Time Musicians)

"It's time", Gulf said aloud to his reflection in the dressing room mirror, eyes sparking with an electrical charge of steely determination. There was something he had to do, had been waiting to do for months and really couldn't go onwards any more without doing, he felt, as he stooped to lift an eleven-month old Nahm - cruising the furniture, nearing her first independent steps with each day that passed - to position her on his hip.

Then, grabbing the golden microphone he had been gifted by Mew's fan club some years earlier to hold it closely to his chest, he exited the room and began the journey up the long, narrow corridor towards the door looming fatefully at the end of it all: 'Stage Entrance'.

//

The vast arena swayed as one for Mew Suppasit, 100,000 people all there, shoulder to shoulder and phone torches held aloft in sweaty, clammy, jubilant darkness - the effect of smoke machines casting a dream-like haze over the scene - as he sang his final song, fighting to stay in control of his emotions.

It was the ultimate stage of an exhausting, exhilarating two-month long arena tour around South-East and East Asia. His homecoming performance in Bangkok - after which he would finally be returned to his darling family, on the day of his and Gulf's seven year anniversary no less.

His mate and daughter had accompanied the musician on several legs of the tour, of course - travelling together in the Philippines and South Korea - but the weeks without them had been bruisingly painful to endure.

"Don't think like that alpha, you're living your dream!" Gulf had remarked firmly down the phone line one morning, when Mew had called up in torturous pining after driving down an avenue of breathtaking Cherry blossom trees on his way to the concert venue in Osaka, Japan.

"But you're my dream", was the elder man's instinctive response, pleading for affection.

"Whiny", Gulf reprimanded, then "Ugh, that's right, good that you remember it". But Mew could hear the satisfied smile in his faen's voice, false bravado masking the dancing butterflies in his warmed heart. And it only made the alpha miss him more.

Yet he knew Gulf was right - after all, it had been the younger who had supported Mew to embrace his musical passions from the outset.

The thrill of performing, of hearing his own lyrics sung back to him under the blaze of stage lights, was an immense rush of pleasure, and one he would never again supress.

Music and Gulf Kanawut - the two addictions of Mew's lifetime.

And as he sang the final lines of Season of You - star jewels glittering in his slicked, dark hair, black leather trousers and ripped white Nirvana T-shirt accentuating his easy, broad, muscular form - he closed his eyes to capture the moment. To drink it all in, even as it played out before him.

Then, a last low bow to his enraptured audience, and a long list of heartfelt 'thankyous' into his blue microphone - the partner of which belonged to Gulf.

But as here he drew to an emotional close, Mew sensed a sudden movement from stage left. An unexpected figure entering - two, in fact - as Gulf strode out to meet him, their daughter on his hip and reaching arms out excitedly upon seeing her Phor.

"Gulf...?", the alpha was rendered speechless. Whether due to the shock arrival of his family, or the deathly low cut red v-neck shirt, leg-hugging black skinny jeans and heeled, studded black boots of his mate, was unclear.

Screams and confusion from the onlooking crowd. A buzz of excitement, anticipation, suddenly humming floor to ceiling in the cavernous setting. For it was a rare sight this, the notorious couple of the alpha and omega together at an organised public facing event.

None were more surprised than Mew himself, as he welcomed his daughter into his arms - tossing her up into the air, giggling and bouncy-cheeked, to catch her again and again as she fell back towards Earth. Like his own little shooting star.

He looked to Gulf's hands - always an indicator of the younger man's mood - saw trembling. Felt his adrenaline and racing heart through their soul bond. What...?

And then with a deep, steadying sigh and nod, the omega stepped forward into the pool of a bright spotlight - fought necessarily against every instinct of his own character - switched on his paired microphone, and began to talk in his straight forward way:

"Hello everybody. I hope you have all enjoyed the concert tonight. It was so incredible, right? For those of you who don't know, my name is Gulf Kanawut and this here, is my man" - he paused here for effect, gesturing towards Mew as the audience whistled and whooped, jumping and clutching on to one another in hysteria.

"We've been together for a long time now, he and I. Seven years today, in fact. We have a child together - here she is, isn't she cute? - and have stood by each other's side through every sunny and stormy day, enduring and fighting together, to get to this point right here".

"So before we all go our separate ways tonight. I wanted to say something to P'Mew in front of you all, to tell the world a little bit about how I love this good man. How proud of him I am. Is that ok?"

"YESSSSS" - affirmative nods and tearful shouts of 100, 000.

And with a wai to the appreciative audience, Gulf finally turned to face Mew, puffing out his cheeks as their eyes met and he breathed to calm his cartwheeling heart.

The alpha himself was pale faced, wide eyed, hands hanging slack at his sides (Nahm already carried off backstage by his assistant, P'Tamp, to be entertained by the doting Mew Suppasit Studio team).

Suddenly Gulf was addressing him directly - only him, as the rest of the world seemed to fade to the very air around them - and the softest voice said:

"Baby. You've held my hand so tightly, with a love that I didn't really know I deserved in the beginning. I want to promise you now, with every part of my heart, soul, body and mind, omega and human self...that I will always love you and hold your hand in return...."

Then his speech became rather spoken words, in the form of that long ago self-composed poem:

'Since you've stepped into my life
Like someone brought the vision to the blind
Every time that you smile
Like the sun that shines in the midnight sky

You are the only one
You are the only one

When you stand by my side
I want to hold you tight and stop the time
Anything that makes you cry
I'm going to find the way to make your tears run dry

You are the only one
You are the only one'

Here an interjection as the soft strings of Kaownah's strummed acoustic guitar joined Gulf's voice as, shakily at first, he began to sing...

'You are the only one who can rewrite my story
The only one who can rearrange my heartbeat is you
You are the only one who can remake the world I've seen
The only one who can replace my empty dream is you

If one day we have to say goodbye
My love will belong to you until the day I die

You are the only one who can rewrite my story
The only one who can rearrange my heartbeat is you
You are the only one who can remake the world I've seen
The only one who can replace my empty dream is you'

And then, finally, heart in his mouth, heart on his sleeve, heart in every place except the chest that it had leapt from...

He knelt down on one knee.

Pulled a cherry blossom petal encapsulated silver ring from his back pocket.

And asked his alpha - the alpha with hand already over his mouth as tears of utter shock and disbelief flowed freely:

"Will you marry me...darling asshole?"