The Things That I Know || George Michael

eleven - all we have left

"So, this is Big Ben. Well, actually — the tower itself isn't Big Ben. The bell inside the tower is Big Ben. But a lot of people get confused about that."

Gemma and Kieran glance up at the large structure in awe as Levi gives them the sweet tour of the city; they have heard about this famous clock in school, but seeing it up close is an entirely different matter to them both. George stands behind the children, resting his hands on Kieran's shoulders as he reminisces the times in the early seventies, when he was the child and his dear mother was stood in this same spot with her hands rested on his own shoulders. He used to marvel at the attraction just the same as his kids are doing in this moment; but since getting older, the novelty has worn off, to some degree. Seeing Gemma and Kieran reacting to the landmarks around the city he grew up in, brings him a strange sense of nostalgia that almost moves him to tears.

"It's so tall," Gemma comments, her eyes scanning up the architecture. "How did people make it if it's so big?"

"Because they'd have special ways of doing it," George answers. "They would've had ways of climbing up to reach really high. Maybe with ropes or ... ladders?" Admittedly, he is also unsure of the orchestration of a huge project such as the tower. "Point is, they did make it. And you're seeing it right before your eyes."

"It's so cool." Kieran grins, turning his head to look up at his parents. "Can we see the big wheel thingy now?"

"The ... The London Eye?" Levi suggests, with a chuckle.

"Yeah!" Kieran confirms. "Can we go on it, Daddy?"

"I mean." George rubs the back of his neck; he doesn't want to let his children down, but he acknowledges that The London Eye is rather expensive to go on. "Th-There's plenty of other things to do in—"

"It's funny you should ask," Levi interrupts, a smirk rising onto his face. "I booked tickets already. We have a two o'clock time slot."

"Yes!" Gemma squeals, jumping up and down on the spot. "Are we going on the big wheel?"

"That's right," Levi assures her, clearly satisfied with himself for hiding this plan. "So I hope you like heights, sweetheart."

"I can't wait!" Kieran cheers.

George averts his eyes from the excitable children, to his husband. "You really didn't need to do that. It's a lot of money."

"I just want to see you all happy," Levi explains, touching his hand briefly to George's jawline. "I don't care what it costs. Money can be replaced any time if I put the hours in at work. But time? You only get a moment once, and I want to make as many of those moments happy, as possible."

George gives Levi a mellow smile, appreciating such a kind gesture and thoughtful sentiment. "What did I do to deserve you, hey?"

"You brought light into my life," Levi responds. "So now I'm going to bring The London Eye into yours."

"Soppy git," George snickers. "Who knew that the key to a man's heart was through English capital city attractions?"

"See, I could have gone a step further and said that you're my English capital city attraction," Levi quips.

"That's not accurate anyway," George points out. "I'm a Greek-English capital city attraction."

"Alright, Mr Technicality," Levi teases. "I try and make a cutesy remark and I just get shot down."

George laughs at this. "In case you forgot, it isn't a technicality. I'm a full fifty percent Greek. Just because I have a London accent and swear all the time, doesn't mean anything. I thought the name, and the hair being ... absolutely everywhere, would suggest something to you."