“Dad? Baba?” I yelled into my parents’ house for the second time in a few weeks and suddenly Cosette appeared, leaping onto me and making me laugh.

“You came back!” she wiggled before looking over my shoulder, “oh. Who you be?”

“Me? My name is Alexi,” Alexander smiled, patting Cosette on the top of her head, “I’m your Uncle Caelan’s boyfriend.”

Cosette gasped, looking into my eyes and I nodded, making her squeal before she reached for Alexander, “Are you being nice to my Uncle? He’s the bestest.”

“Of course,” Alexander immediately took Cosette from me after placing the suitcase we were sharing onto the ground, “I would be the worst if I wasn’t nice to him. He makes me happy.”

“Good. Um… oh Uncle. Auntie has a surprise.”

“Really, baby?” I picked up the suitcase and closed the door behind the three of us before leading Alexander into the living room and stopping, my eyes growing wide, “what in the world?”

“Hey you,” my sister Calliope laughed, struggling to get to her feet, “god sorry. I want to hug you but Annamaria sorta makes that hard.”

“How many months?” I rushed over and hugged Calliope, “god I haven’t seen you in like two years.”

“I’m 7 months now. It took a lot to convince Bobby to come out to the wedding. He’s worried about me but whatever. Dad told me you were bringing someone so I knew I had to be here,” she smiled and pressed her lips close to my ear, “Your friend is so hot.”

“I know,” I whispered back, my face flaring, “Alexi?”

“Hm?” he smiled as Cosette hung from his back.

“What in the world are you two doing?”

“Cozy wanted to be a monkey and I got used to Zeke doing this so I don’t particularly care. She’s having fun, that’s what matters.”

“Ah. Got it. Well, Alexi, this is my younger sister Calliope. Callie, this is my boyfriend Alexander Bennett.”

“Wait boyfriend?” Calliope smiled brightly and I nodded, “Oh that’s amazing! It’s so great to meet you, Alexander.”

“Call me Alexi. Caelan has talked about all of you a bit so it’s really nice to meet you finally. Where’s Cadence?”

“I’m over here!” Cadence yelled and we all started to look around before she came from the kitchen, dirt-streaked down the right side of her face, “Sorry for being so messy. Layla and I were out in the snow for a while and I fell. I was trying to fix my receivers before I showered.”

“Jesus,” Calliope rolled her eyes, and I looked over at Alexander to see him studying my sisters.

“They aren’t fully identical,” I called and he nodded, smiling when Cosette finally hopped off his back, “but it’s probably easier now than it was before to tell them apart thanks to Annamaria.”

“Very true,” Calliope giggled, “oh! Cadie!”

“No,” Cadence scowled, “I’ve gotten you enough water and snacks today.”

“Not what I wanted but if you were feeling up to it, I would love another water with some lemon. Anyway, that’s Caelan’s boyfriend.”

“I know, I could hear you from the kitchen,” Cadence rolled her eyes before stomping over to Alexander, “hm. Fine. You’re cute,” she patted his arm, got water for Calliope, and disappeared down the hallway.

“That was odd,” Alexander whispered, making Calliope and I laugh, “is she always like that?”

“Yep. Says what she wants and disappears. Callie? Where is everyone?”

“Sunny is at his parents. Cruz, Baba, Dad, and our various grandparents are in a party tent in the back with Penny, Cash, Cam, Carson, and I think Cyrus. They decided to have the wedding here instead. I have no idea why to be fair, I stopped questioning what Cruz does. It’s too exhausting.”

“Got it,” nodding, I kissed her forehead before leading Alexander into the tent, “oh fuck me,” I whispered as we both came to a stop.

The tent was decorated from top to bottom in fake sunflowers, roses, vines with white flowers, and sparkling lights. There were enough chairs on either side of the aisle to fit a small army and Cruz was glaring at Teodoro, both of them ignoring Remington who was doing his best to smooth things over.

“Alright, what is it now?” I yelled over the noise and everyone stopped talking, turning to look at me, “I swear you always do this before a big event. So stop yelling, and talk about things.”

“Dad won’t walk me down the aisle,” Cruz grumbled, walking over to hug me, “said that Baba has to do it.”

“That makes no sense. Baba took Penny down the aisle so it’s your turn, Dad,” I looked over at Teodoro and he shrugged, “okay wait. Baba took Penny and Cadence. You took Calliope. So it is your turn, Dad.”

“I… fine,” he shrugged and I tilted my head, “Sunny’s parents don’t particularly like us. They’ll be at the wedding but they’ve been really weird since they found out I’m trans.”

“They were also uncomfortable with me being non-binary,” Hyacinth called softly.

Alexander let out a sigh and I turned to look at him, “sorry. It sounds to me as if Sunny’s parents are okay with their son marrying a man. I’m guessing they have nothing against marriage of those kinds. But they might not agree with gender expression. They could be, and remember I’m simply stating my opinion, transphobic. Not homophobic, but rather being transgender may be against some beliefs that they hold. I’m not sure why they would be uncomfortable with you being non-binary but it could be along the same thought process. It shouldn’t matter, but some people make a big deal of it.”

“That’s absolutely what it is,” Cruz smiled, “thank you, oh random Kiwi standing in my wedding tent.”

“Oh God,” Alexander rolled his eyes, making me laugh, “who told you?”

“No one. It’s your accent. A bit different than Delaney’s so I figured you weren’t Australian. New Zealand made more sense to me and hence, you’re a Kiwi. Who are you?”

“Alexi Bennett,” he held his hand out and Cruz shook it, “I’m a doctor back in South Bend. Oh and Caelan is my boyfriend. I feel that was what you meant.”

Cruz flummoxed, looking up at me and I smiled, making him laugh and hug me, rocking us both side to side, “oh my God! Cae!”

“It’s… thank you,” I hugged him back as my grandparents came over to us, “alright. Fine. This is my boyfriend. Call him Alexi. Babe, these are my grandparents. Oliver, Sebastian, Hyacinth, and Thélio,” as I said their names, they would raise their hand and Alexander would nod politely, “let’s see. Oliver is from here, Sebastian is from France, Hyacinth was born in Idaho, and Lio is from Portugal.”

“All over, my word,” Alexander smiled, shaking hands with everyone, “it’s lovely to meet all of you.”

“You as well,” Sebastian smiled gently, “may we borrow you?”

“I suppose,” Alexander shrugged, following the four of them from the tent after giving me a kiss.

“He’s so sexy,” Cruz sighed dreamily and I smacked him on the back of the head, “hey!”

“My boyfriend. Mine. You’re getting married tomorrow. Don’t look at him.”

“Can I?” Cyrus called and I scowled at him, “fine! Rude.”

“Shut up, I am so tired of you already.”

“You be nice,” Cassian patted my back and I sighed, looking at my shoes, “no one here would try and steal your partner, Caelan. We’re all very excited you found someone and honestly super proud of you for actually being in a relationship.”

“I met him because of Laney. They’re roommates. But I am glad we met. He takes,” I gripped my chest for a moment before coughing, “sorry. He takes good care of me.”

“Still sick?” Teodoro rushed over and I shook my head rapidly, “Caelan.”

“I’m not sick but my chest is still really tight. Being out here is hard on me, that’s all. I have my rescue inhaler, don’t panic. I’m already off the antibiotics and I go back to work in two days. We leave tomorrow. Alexi has a few patients to meet with when we get back as well.”

“Doctor dating a doctor,” Penelope giggled and I hugged her gently, “it’s cute.”

“He’s more of a doctor than I am to be fair. He works with leukemia and lymphoma patients pretty regularly.”

“Don’t discount what you do,” Alexander whispered in my ear suddenly, his arms wrapping around my waist, “I know for a fact you helped a four-year-old walk again a few weeks ago.”

“God you scared the shit out of me!” I gasped, covering my chest, “Don’t do that!”

“Sorry,” he laughed, “your grandparents are sweet. Drilled me for information about my family.”

“They do that,” Teodoro snorted, “my grandpa Sparrow was so much worse. Scared the crap out of my Pai.”

“Pai?”

“Oh, I mean Lio. I call him Pai.”

“Got it.”

“Hey?” Cassian poked Alexander and he nodded, “You’re a hematologist?”

“Mhm. I know you’re a dentist.”

“That I am. But why hematology? That’s a super specific practice.”

“My mum had leukemia. Stage two when I was 10. I thought she was going to die. It was terrifying. But the doctors she had in Auckland were amazing. I wanted to save someone the way that they did. She’s been in remission for 20 years.”

“Cancer is never fun,” Thélio sighed as he came back into the tent alone, “that is why I have one leg. Tumor in my shin. They could do nothing to shrink it so I had them take my leg.”

“I’m glad that you’re still here with us,” Alexander smiled gently and Cassian pulled me away from him to a corner of the tent.

“Dude, what the fuck?” I hissed and Cassian smiled.

“He’s perfect. Too perfect. What’s his flaw? There has to be something or I’ll tell you to walk away immediately. No one is this good of a person.”

“He has a temper. Easily annoyed. Forgetful as all hell. Clumsy. But nothing crazy in his past. I asked Delaney and she won’t lie to me. We’ve been friends as long as they have. He’s genuinely a good person, Cash and I trust him.”

“Good. I just wanted to see. It makes me nervous, all my babies out here falling in love, finding partners. Except for our whore of a little brother.”

“You can’t call me a baby when we’re barely a year and a half apart, Cash,” I snorted, running a hand through my hair, “I can protect myself.”

“I know. Trust me.”

“I missed you,” I whispered, rubbing the nape of my neck.

“I missed you too,” he hugged me tightly before pushing me back to Alexander who immediately wrapped me in his arms.

“Well. The wedding is tomorrow,” Teodoro sighed, watching Remington hang the last of the lights, “so I guess we should get dinner and go from there.”

“Sounds great,” I nodded, using my inhaler before following everyone inside.

After a long dinner with my massive family, I led Alexander to my childhood bedroom and collapsed onto the bed, exhausted. He laughed softly, locking the door before laying down next to me and taking my hand.

“I want to be at your house,” I grumbled and he rolled on his side, cradling my cheek before kissing me deeply, a soft moan escaping me, “Alexi…”

“I’ve barely kissed you today,” he whispered against my lips, “I hate it.”

“You’re so dramatic,” I laughed before whimpering as he moved to my throat, his hand sliding under my shirt as he gently caressed my chest and sides, “babe…”

“I just wanted to touch you for a second. I’m so tired. I’m also not ready to do anything yet.”

“I know. I’m wiped. Can we not travel again until May?”

“God yes.”

“Did you buy our tickets?” I smiled, cuddling close and Alexander pressed the side of my head to his chest, holding me tight.

“Of course. We’ll stay in the second house on the farm while we’re in Taupaki to have privacy. I will warn you now, Zeke is probably going to try and stay the night with us at least once.”

“I would love that,” I tilted my head to look at him and Alexander kissed me just as gently as the first time.

“Really?”

“Of course! He’s your brother. He’s important to me. Plus he’s little, it’s no surprise he’d want to be around his big brother. Cruz was the same way,” I rolled on my back to look at the ceiling, resting my hands on my stomach, “he followed me everywhere. I adored it. Sitting and reading to him, watching as he grew. The girls wanted Cassian but Cyrus and Cruz always picked me. It might seem like I don’t want to be around Cruz sometimes, but he will always be my baby. I see that little bundle of snow my parents brought home sometimes. It’s still weird to know he’s a dad. I look at Cosette and know that she was always meant to be with us. Holding her the first time… made me miss when Cruz was little. He was a sweet baby. Now he’s… so sassy. A pain in the ass, headstrong and fierce. I wouldn’t want him to be any other way though. I miss that kid but I’m proud of the man he is now.”

“I can tell,” Alexander laughed, running his hand through my hair, “I hate weddings. I hate the pomp and decorations. The posturing of it all. For what? To declare your love? You shouldn’t need everyone in your world there to know that you love the other person enough to agree to spend your lives together.”

“I absolutely agree. When I get married, I want it to be private. Even just going to the courthouse to file the paperwork. I’d know they were my husband or wife. I’d rather spend all the money from a wedding on a big trip with my spouse. Spend a month or something in various countries climbing and camping.”

“Same here,” he kissed my forehead as I let out a yawn, “sleep. Tomorrow is going to be annoying, I can already tell.”

“Mhm. Hey, Alexi?”

“Yeah, baby.”

“Thank you. For coming to Montana with me.”

“I’ll go anywhere in the world as long as you’re with me.”

“I know. Me too.”

“I know.”