Save the Date

Paradise

There hadn't been a day that Alan had cooked without Miles' wrapped around his waist, asking for his cuddles and attention. Kisses would be sloppily placed on Alan's neck until the point he would drop the utensils to turn and hug Miles properly, answering to his silent pleads.

Feather like touches, tender kisses and whispered 'I love you's' were what summarised how their relationship had been since the wedding. No mattered if the house was full or empty, with friends or not, they were always very much affectionate with each other.

The marriage made them even more close. It brought a welcomed sense of belonging and completeness Miles had never felt before. Like he was wanted and loved for exactly who he was. That certainly felt like paradise.

Simple, true, drama free.

It was a warm July evening, they had just got back from their two months honeymoon and the corny phase didn't look anything near its end. Miles and Alan were happily setting the table for dinner when something threatened to shake that stability.

Miles was laying the last piece of cutlery on the table when there was a bashful knock on the door. Miles heart seemed to have a life of its own when it pounded like crazy recognising the sound.

Shit!

"Would you get the door babe?" Alan asked heading to the kitchen to grab the food and take to the table.

"Eh...Yeah..." Miles was confused, tormented even. He knew it was Alex at the door.

Miles walked slowly towards the front door, terrified of having both Alan and Alex in the same room for the first time. Truth be told, he didn't know what Alex was doing here, he didn't contact Miles after the wedding at all. Miles had been missing him a lot, an old habit that it was now printed in his DNA.

His hand on the door knob was clammy, he inhaled deeply before turning it open.

"'ello..." Said Alex unsure. He was nervous as well, Miles could tell. There was an errant manner in the way he was standing. He was dressed all in black with sunglasses on, holding a white box in his hands. His hair freshly washed and his face newly shaved, just like Miles liked it.

"Alex!" Miles exclaimed with a smile. Suddenly all the severances looked like a blur on the horizon. He pulled the man into a tight hug, careful to not smash the box or his friend for that matter. Alex couldn't help but to lose himself in Miles scent, while the man embraced him with his bare chest. Alan had told Miles to put a shirt on, but he stubbornly refused it to wear it until was actually time to eat. It was a very hot summer after all.

"Who is it Mi?" Alan's voice was heard coming from the kitchen. Alex squirmed at the nickname, but he tried to keep a soft face mostly for Miles' sake.

"Ye won't believe it. It's Alex!" Maybe Miles shouldn't have sounded so happy and excited but he did sound precisely like how he was feeling. Alex was there! Sure there was more than excitement to it, a bit of worrying still, but as soon as Miles saw Alex's face and sweet smile, everything other than happiness felt unimportant and pointless. Miles stepped to the side to make room for Alex to come in, what he did reluctantly. He suddenly felt like a sheep being led directly to the wolves.

Slowly Alan came from the kitchen with a hot pot in his oven gloved hands, which he carefully and calmly placed on the table. He then turned to look at Alex. His face unimpressed.

Alan wasn't a great fan of Alex, but he didn't hate the guy per se. The fact that Miles had a history with him, and not just any history, but a hell of a history full of passion and heartbreak bother Alan to an extent that he would not admit to. Miles was his husband not Alex's anyway, so that should suffice.

Out of his no-limited-politeness Alan smiled, removed his oven gloves and extended his hand to shake Alex's hand. "Nice to meet you."

Alex grabbed Alan's hand firmly, as to mark his territory. "Alan right?" Alex joked glancing at Miles with a smirk on his face.

Miles in the mean time, was split between looking at Alan for his reaction and looking at Alex for his reaction.

"Yes, Miles' husband." Alan added sternly, taking a hand to his own hips and waiting to see where that all was going.

Miles looked attentively at Alex, looking for any giveaways on how he was feeling. Alex giggled looking down, because even thought he had glasses on he didn't want them to see how bothered he got when Alan said he was Miles' husband.

Right there Alex! That smile...not authentic...at all!

Shit!

"Well..." Miles broke the silence but not the ice. "I 'ope you are staying for dinner, 'cause me 'usband 'ere is a fucking Cordon Bleu Chef and made us something very special tonight. Right babe?" He said hugging Alan close and pecking him on the lips. Alan's hand landed on the top of Miles' arse, protective.

Alex felt inappropriate, he couldn't even make scrambled eggs. Also the peck really bother him. Miles' kisses were supposed to be his only, and he wasn't even gonna start on Miles' arse. Pretending had never been so hard.

Right there Alex...again! I can see you are bothered! As far as telepathy could go, Miles said it to Alex with a gaze. Alex of course understood every unspoken word.

"I...I...I d-don't no, I just c-came to give ya a wedding gift." He said handing Miles the white box, making Miles let Alan go of his arms. Alex smiled at that one small victory.

"It's simple really...I didn't know what to buy, so...I bought a lot of stuff. This is the first one." He said facing the floor, not really comfortable to face Miles or Alan.

"What?" Miles said puzzled looking at Alex and at Alan. Only Alex didn't look confused at all.

"Yeah, they'll keep comin' this week. I'm sorry, it's been two months already." Not that Alex is counting. "Just now I'm turnin' up with a gift, that's so inconsiderate of me." He brings a hand to his chest and almost took a bow earning a laugh from Miles and a timid smile from Alan.

Miles opened the box and revealed its contents. Two crystal champagne glasses with a 'M' engraved in one of them, and an 'A' engraved in the other.

Shit!

Alan naively appreciated the gesture, thinking that Alex was trying to be Miles' friend again. He would have to endeavour to like Turner. He knew he was important to Miles, and although Miles seemed happy without Alex around, he had never seen his current smile before today.

'For Miles.' He thought. "Alex, please have dinner with us." Alan invited sincerely.

Alex nodded.

Who is the sheep now?