honeysuckle ✔️

36 years old

An adult Rowan made sure to rock in the chair back and forth slowly. His tempo matched that of the breezing wind, swooping through and blowing his hair in all directions. He took in the summer air, smelling the scent of summer.

He looked down at the bundle of joy, a sleeping baby that had yet to see the word and all its beauty. But Rowan will make sure that the child sees the beauty. Both of the children.

He turned to the left and saw his husband, Tanner Brandenburg, playing with their 7 year old son Scotty. Tanner would throw the ball and let Scotty catch it. Despite the boy not being very good, his fathers still told him he was the best baseball thrower.

"Alright kiddo, stay here. I'll be back." Tanner said. He kissed his son on the forehead and made his way to Rowan. "Hey, babe." He said. Rowan looked up and both shared a kiss. Scotty could be heard in the background gagging.

"Shhh." He hushed his husband. "Chris is sleeping." He said. Both men looked down at the baby who carried Tanner's red hair gene. They really thought the baby was going to get the surrogate's black hair but this miracle decided to reject that and get his father's genes.

"Watch Scotty for me, I'm gonna get you your pills." Tanner said. He walked into the house they live in. The same two-story home that belonged to the late Ava Brandenburg. After her death, which was a long tough battle with cancer, she left all her property to Rowan because she saw him as her own son.

Rowan watched as the curious Scotty walked around their backyard and looked at everything. Despite living with the Brandenburg's for two years already, this place will always feel new to him. He's just thankful he was rescued from his horrible home.

"Here, baby. Drink up." Tanner said. He placed the pills on a napkin and set a cup of water along.

"Thank you, Tanny." Rowan responded.

"No problem, Ro." Tanner kissed his husband again and walked off to his son to continue their catch and throw session.

Rowan, carefully, reached over and took the two pills and put them in his mouth. He then took the cup and drank them down. His anxiety and PTSD had gotten horrible to the point he needed a therapist. Even though his trauma was almost four decades ago, sometimes he wakes up screaming that his father was going to come in and hit him. The abuse and trauma Rowan faced will never go away. Only Tanner knows all of it, the sexual assault, torture, starvation, all of it. But Tanner makes sure he protects Rowan.

After Rowan moved in with Ava, it seemed that he lost contact with his father, or step-father. He was one day called in to a local hospital where his father was on kidney failure. His father didn't want to talk to his son to apologize. He wanted to ask Rowan for some money for the surgery. Rowan lashed out and told him that he never wants to see him again.

Then three days later he found out his father died, alone with no one. Rowan cried for days, wondering if he did the right thing. Tanner stood by his side and let him know that whatever he thinks is what's right. Meanwhile, Rowan's biological father was questioned. Using a DNA test, they found his biological father but to this day, Rowan has decided not to contact him out of fear for what he might do. Rowan already has a life with everything he wants. He doesn't need more.

Rowan went back to rocking Chris back and forth and looked up at the puffy, white clouds. The sound of his husband's and son's laughter filled him with joy.

Rowan and Tanner did what they promised all those years ago. They promised to love each other and never let go. Tanner returned from his studies abroad and immediately went to his boyfriend.

From then, Tanner decided to take up his parent's business up north. They both lived in Ava's house until she died to which Tanner moved in as an official couple.