Growing Sideways

self (found)

"God," He sighs, breath falling against Liam's lips. So close. "When did you become my everything?"

Liam laughs, pulling Theo into himself to breathe him in, arms wrapping around the older boy's shoulders. Theo sighs into his neck, tears starting to dry, wrapping his own arms around Liam's waist.

He's just so fucking happy.

"Yeah," Liam mumbles, his lips brushing against Theo's ear with every word. "I could ask you the same thing."

"When were you going to tell me we were married?"

Liam laughs, loud and bubbly, it rattles his chest and Theo presses his smile into the betas arm before pulling away to face him head on.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Liam," Theo says, tone serious as he gestures vaguely to the entire apartment. "All of your shit is here. You sleep in my bed more than your own."

"I'm not sure how that can defend your marriage argument."

"You baby trapped me."

"I did no such thing!" Liam shouts, eyes wide and full of amusement. Theo's chest feels all warm again, heartbeat stuttering against his ribs.

As if to prove him wrong, muffin hops onto the countertop next to Liam, pawing at his shoulder. Theo looks between the two and scoffs.

"You were saying?"

Liam narrows his eyes, turning to look at muffin, mumbling, "Traitor."

Muffin meows, flicking her tail before hopping off the counter and running away.

"Maybe we're married." Liam grumbles. Theo smiles, kicking at Liam's shoe.

"Yeah, you stealth married me months ago. You completely bypassed the dating portion."

"Ah," Liam tsks, holding up a finger to stop Theo. "No, my stealth dating happened forever ago, but it stopped the night we got your christmas tree." Theo blushes at the memory, knows exactly what Liam is talking about. "You let me decorate your entire apartment and pick out what tree to get with no complaints. And then there was that thing with the mistletoe where you let me kiss your cheek and I decided after that I was going to baby trap and stealth marry you."

He says it so seriously Theo can't do anything but laugh, loud and unabashed. He's so fucking happy.

*

They spend Christmas together in the Dunbar/Geyer household. Theo uses his key to let himself inside and Jenna is beaming at him from the couch.

He doesn't make any hasty exits this time, sitting happily in Liam's space as presents are passed around and small talk is made.

Theo gets another small box handed his way and he's halfway to making a joke about another key before Jenna cuts him off.

"This was a last minute gift, but I think it's going to be the most important one."

He looks to Liam for any hints but the beta looks just as confused as he feels, shrugging his shoulders.

He lifts the lid to reveal a small card and a flash drive. He tilts his head, confused as he lifts the card, folding it open to reveal Jennas curvy handwriting.

To Theo, I hope this solves your Mac n Cheese goblin problem. Love, Jenna.

He looks up at jenna, still incredibly lost, not entirely sure how a flashdrive is going to help him out with the fact that her son is a fucking toddler.

"Thank you? I'm confused though.."

Jenna laughs, she sounds so much like Liam. "It's my Mac and Cheese recipe."