It was Christmas Eve and Rath found himself standing in front of a little suburban house outside of Seattle, Keavy by his side with her hand clutched tight in his. The snow was falling gently around them, the streets quiet aside from the occasional passing car. Most people were home for the night, spending time with their loved ones
Somehow she’d convinced him to reach out to his…was he even allowed to call them his family? Legally they were, but he wasn’t sure they’d even want him around. He’d understand completely if they didn’t. After all, what sort of family just up and leaves after being treated and…and loved so well?
He was still surprised Keavy wanted him with her, after all that had happened. Surprised, but thankful.
“Thank you. For coming with me, I mean.”
“You’re my best friend. Of course I’m with you.”
And she was his, first and foremost. And more, he though, his thumb brushing over the ring on her hand as he started to let go. It was wedding planning that had sparked this whole idea, and he couldn’t deny that she made good arguments. His therapist agreed with her. The least he could do was try.
So here they were. Trying on a day he was certain everyone would be there. The Dar’jeeds weren’t Christian, they didn’t celebrate any holidays in December at all, but even when Rath was a child, they had always used the holiday break to be together. And it was so warm and so loving that Rath had always felt guilty just being there.
It was probable too late to return to them. He should have done it over a decade ago, before he ever joined Elysion. Maybe things would be different then. No. That was a dangerous thought path to tread. One deep breath, then another. There was no use dwelling on what ifs when he already had the best part of his life at his side.
He raised Keavy’s hand to his lips, offering her a small, shaky smile, before he dropped it, walking those few short steps to the door.
The man and Rath stared at each other, seeing familiarity but unable to place it. And then recognition.
One punch, straight to the jaw, sent Rath sprawling to the ground. He sat up slowly, rubbing at the sore spot. Yeah. He deserved that, if not more. But Ryan wasn’t done.
“You left! You didn’t even say goodbye, you just left us there! Like we meant nothing to you!” There was anger in his voice, thirteen years of hurt and disappointment that he didn’t bother to try to hide. And then he paused, drew himself up, and took a deep breath before continuing. “I don’t think I can forgive you for that.”
Rath looked down, shame coursing through him. He knew, deep down, that this was a bad idea. “I understand.”
He expected the door to be slammed in his face then. He didn’t expect for Ryan to reach down and pull him up into a tight bear hug. He didn’t even hug him back at first, too surprised at what was happening, but slowly, tentatively, his arms moved to hug his brother -was he allowed to call him that now?- back. Forgiveness. Acceptance. Until a year ago, Rath had no idea what those really felt like, but now he could name them just as easily as he could feel them. He held tight to the man in front of him, tears starting to well up in his eyes as he felt Ryan shake.
Only to then be sent toppling to the snow in front of Keavy as Rajan threw himself onto the brotherly hug, knocking all of them over in a laughing and crying mess. It was more reminiscent of twelve year old boys than thirty year old men, but it was the childhood bond that Rath had always denied himself. Ryan and Rajan had never stopped thinking of him as their brother, this was just the first time Rath had accepted it.
There was more crying when the Dar’jeed parents finally made it to the door, hugs and kisses abounding, even to Keavy. They welcomed both into the home, taking Keavy into the kitchen with the other significant others while the boys went upstairs to change. By the time Rath returned with his brothers, Ryan’s fiancee and Rajan’s boyfriend were huddled around Keavy, looking at all the awkward preteen photos of the three boys that the parents had. The Dar’jeeds cried more happy tears when Rath told them he was engaged, even more when he said he wanted them at the wedding. There was dinner, there was laughter, there was love.
It was the family Rath had never been able to accept before. He couldn’t thank Keavy enough for it.