Out

Epilogue.

"Dmitri, come on, I'm sure you're beautiful enough."

"I look old!" Dmitri called back from the bathroom as he prodded at his face. He wasn't the seventeen year old he had once been- though for the most part that was good.

"You're only twenty seven. If you're old, what am I? I'm going to be thirty next year!"

"Look," Dmitri started coming out of the bathroom, "this is a really important day, I need to look nice."

Nicodemus kissed his forehead.
"You always look nice my love, and my parents couldn't care either way. Remember, this is just about telling them the news, it's not a fashion show."

"Life, is a fashion show." Dmitri huffed, pulling his shirt on, trying to do the buttons up, and wincing in pain.

"Do your hands hurt again?" Nicodemus asked gently, as he did Dmitri's buttons up for him.

"It's not that bad."

"You're only saying that because you know it could be worse." Nicodemus said quietly, as he finished with the last button.
"Did you take your medication today?"

"I forgot."

"Then I'll get it for you. Deep breaths, this is happening, nothing's going to take this away from us."

Dmitri nodded, as he took a deep breath in, and out.
"What it falls through Nicodemus? I mean, things happen."

"Hey, things are okay now. You have some spasms in your hands, but you're alive, and we're together. We have our own place, steady income, and we're getting a baby. Things work out."

"Things work out." Dmitri echoed.
"Hey do you ever think about..."

Nicodemus looked away as he locked the back door.
"I try not to. It's been ten years, I think we're in the clear."

"Ok." Dmitri nodded
"I hope you're right."

"Alright, are you happy with how you look? Are we ready to go now? I mean, I've been ready for like... an hour, but are you?"

Dmitri rolled his eyes playfully
"Yes, dipshit, I'm ready."

"I can't wait to tell Mom and Dad."

Dmitri smiled.
"Their first grandbaby. Do you think Michael will ever have kids?"

"Doubtful. He's such a bachelor. I don't think he'll ever settle down."

"Then again, he's only twenty four."

"Yeah, but he's never cared about girls."

Dmitri raised an eyebrow as he grabbed the pink bottle of non-alcoholic champagne (sparkling apple juice) off the counter.
"Do you think he's....?"

"No."

"You didn't think you were either."

Nicodemus laughed, opening the door for Dmitri.
**********************************************
"I wonder what they think we're here for."

"Dad's probably hoping it's for games night. I bet he'll try to beat you at phase ten again." Nicodemus mused.

"I'm gonna whoop him, just like I do every time."

"Hey, take it easy on the old man. I bet mom thinks we're going to announce a proposal." Nicodemus laughed.

"A proposal?" Dmitri chuckled. "A proposal of what?"

Nicodemus stared at him blankly.

"Oh, like a proposal proposal. Well, it would be nice to get married."