23. Thalen #2
“And somewhere along the way, I realized that teaching you wasn't what made me happy.” I paused.
“It was simply having you there.” I took the ring from Jesse.
“Love doesn't care what world you're from.
It doesn't care what species you are. It doesn't care what you know or don't know when you arrive.” I slid the ring onto Evan's finger as tears began to fall down his cheeks.
“It only cares that, somehow, you are the person who makes the rest of the universe feel like home. I choose you, Evan. Today, tomorrow, and every day after that.”
I lifted his hand, kissing the symbol of my love that I’d placed there. He reached with his free hand to cup my cheek before holding it out to take the other ring from Jesse.
He looked down at it for a moment before looking back at me.
Then he took a deep breath and let it out before he spoke.
“I grew up in foster care, mostly in a group home. When I was a kid, I used to watch other children celebrate holidays with their families.” His voice trembled.
“I'd watch their parents come to family lunch days at school. I watched them make cards for mothers and fathers for Mother’s and Father’s Day, and have someone to actually give them to instead of throwing them away on the way to the bus.
I'd see mothers and fathers waiting at their cars and at the end of their driveways, hear them talking about things they'd done together, and wonder what was wrong with me that nobody seemed to want me.”
My throat tightened, my hearts hurting for that lonely kit he’d once been.
Evan smiled through his tears. “I thought for years that maybe I simply wasn't meant to have that.” He looked at me.
“Then I found you.” His gaze moved to our boys.
“And I finally understood.” He took my hand.
“I wasn't unwanted. I just hadn't met the people who were meant to want me yet.” His voice broke. “You were worth waiting for.”
Then he looked at Vrann and Jason. “And so were they.”
The boys moved closer, holding hands together as they moved in front of us to lean into a group hug. My vision blurred as I blinked back tears of my own.
“You three are the family I spent my whole life believing I'd never have.“And I would wait every year of my life all over again if it meant finding you.”
I leaned forward and kissed his forehead. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” He slid the ring onto my finger and then laid his head against my chest.
Johree waited until we had composed ourselves. “There is one more promise to make.” He looked at me. “Today you have chosen Evan.” He glanced over at Evan. “And you have chosen Thalen. Today, you both also are here to celebrate your family, and to let them know that they too have been chosen.”
I knelt so I was level with Vrann and Jason. Both kits looked at me wide-eyed. I held out my hands.
“I don't need a blood tie to call you my sons.” Vrann took one hand as Jason took the other.
“Blood may make some a family. Love can make one, too, all on its own.” Their much smaller hands tightened around mine.
“I promise to protect you, teach you, listen to you, and love you. I promise that wherever this life takes us, you will always have a father to come home to.”
Both boys threw their arms around me.
“I love you, Pata!” Vrann sobbed.
“Me too,” Jason cried.
My eyes misted over again as I hugged them in return. Evan fell to his knees beside us, placing his arms around the crying boys.
“I promise to do the same,” he cried. “I will always love you, no matter what, and be there for you.”You will never have to wonder whether you belong. You belong with us. You are our sons, and nothing will ever change that.”
I had to glance away for a moment. When I looked back, Doran was stepping forward.
“I wasn't planning to interrupt.”
“You're interrupting,” Evan said, laughing wetly.
“But I have something to say.” Doran crouched before the boys. They looked at him curiously, their sobs stopped for now. “I am your godfather now.”
Vrann frowned. “What's a godfather?”
Doran grinned. “Someone who makes sure you have family.” Then his expression became serious.
“Life has already been unfair to both of you.
You've lost people you should never have had to lose.” He placed a hand on each boy's shoulder.
“But hear me carefully. You will never be without family again.
Not while I'm breathing.” He looked at Evan and me.
“And I'll help your fathers teach you how to become good males and the very best citizens.
The sort of people who look after others when they're needed, just as they do.”
The boys nodded solemnly.
Jesse wiped his eyes, and I heard someone crying quietly in the crowd behind us. Doran stood up. And Johree nodded at him approvingly.
“And now, I hereby declare Evan and Thalen mates and husbands, and devoted fathers of Vrann and Jason.”
“And Doran as their godfather,” Jesse added. “And now, I believe Thalen has one more thing.”
I stood up, nodding. “That I do.”
Evan stood, looking puzzled. I held my hand out to Doran who grinned as he reached into his pocket, pulling out a single small silver key which he handed to me. I held it out to Evan, who took it, glancing at it in confusion.
“What’s this for?”
“This,” Jesse called out as volunteer workers from the spaceport pulled the tarps off with a flourish. Evan stared open-mouthed.
“You…you got me my dream tractor and combine?!” he squealed.
I grinned back. “I did. And there’s some fields at home waiting for you to use them on, two that will always be just yours.”
He flung his arms around my neck before leaving me to race over to look at his new machines.
“I think he’s gonna be there a while,” Doran chuckled.
I laughed. “I think so too!”
That was more than fine. His reaction to my gift was everything I could have wished for.
“Come on, let’s go check out the monkey bars and swings,” I said, leaving my love to swoon over his new toys while I took our sons to play with the other kits streaming towards the playground now that the ceremonies were over.
“Last one to the monkey bars is a rotten egg!” Jason cried out, streaking on ahead, with Vrann racing behind him to try to catch up.
Life couldn’t get any more perfect.
The end for now.