Now that Tristan was exactly where Caleb had so desperately dreamed of, he was not prepared to let things fall apart.

"Caleb... is the name of your company 'Caffray'..?"

He prayed to whichever god that would listen, for Tristan's curiosity to be founded in anything other than his memory.

"That's right" he said, his hands gripping the steering wheel a little tighter, "But you don't need to concern yourself with that right now. You're not well, Baby, just close your eyes and wait until we get home. It'll all be better soon."

Tristan had to stop Caleb from carrying him from the car to the elevator of their building. His hands were shaking as he tried to lift him. Tristan could tell that he was panicking under the weight of his question; he'd never seen him so agitated before.

"Just lie down for a little while. I'll make us something to eat... it was probably drinking on an empty stomach that made you feel so unwell."

Caleb pulled himself together and made a quick and easy chicken dish he knew that Tristan liked. It was fine. Everything was as it should be. Whatever blip he might have imagined had already passed; Tristan was in the bedroom, his husband was in the bedroom. There was no need to spiral, questions were okay. The only time he'd need to worry was if the questions turned to statements.

In the darkened room, Tristan tried to make sense of things. He couldn't fathom why the president of his company would be play-acting that they were married, but it didn't seem to matter anymore. He was living in his house and sleeping in his bed; what difference did it make if the man had been his boss? 

Having finished cooking, Caleb splashed his face with cold water and took a seat across from the bedroom door. He was in two minds as to whether he should wake him or not. After another moment of silence, he couldn't take it, he had to make sure that he was still there. Anything could have happened while he was in bathroom.

"Is the food ready?" asked Tristan from the bed.

Caleb slowed his breathing.

"It is... do you want to rest a little longer..?"

Tristan shook his head. He could see that Caleb was sweating, that his eyes were full of fear; and in that moment he pitied him. He was even more pathetic than he was. Swinging his feet onto the floor, Tristan sat on the edge of the bed and watched him nervously waiting.

As he tried to stand, his body still felt weak. He could have managed to walk alone, and yet... why allow himself to suffer any more than he already had?

"Help me to the table..?" he asked.

Caleb ran to his side and offered his hand, leading him gently through to take a seat at the dining table. However insane his former employer might be, he was nothing if not devoted. Tristan began to realize, that until he decided what to do, he could hide beneath the shelter of Caleb's delicately constructed fabrication.

After they'd eaten, he made another request.

"I'd like to go on a boat" he told Caleb plainly, "and watch the sunset."

Caleb was overjoyed at the prospect. A romantic cruise beneath the setting sun, two glasses of champagne... a toast to their future...

"And I'd like Tibur and Millie to join us."

The disappointment was discernible. But no sooner had Tristan asked, than Caleb began to make arrangements. A new perspective was being formed. The same employer, a different role. So long as he performed the duties that Caleb's requested, shouldn't he be entitled to a little compensation?

When the time came to find a new job, Tristan would be able to bid him goodbye, safe in the knowledge that their 'marriage' had been advantageous to them both. For the right incentive, he would even be willing to improve his performance.

"What about Fraser?" asked Tristan.

Caleb had forgotten that his brother was lurking around somewhere. Everything had nearly come crashing down when he arrived in Modesh without warning. One word to Tristan about Caleb's behavior in Cabi, and it was likely he would have scared him away. 

Dr Sharab had told him... the dark recesses of peoples' minds can terrify and enlighten in equal measure. When we lack the ability to determine which of our impulses are unhealthy, then society will determine them for us. There was very little chance that Tristan would appreciate the lengths to which he had gone to bring them closer, from what Caleb understood, there were few very individuals that would be able to accept his way of thinking at all.

When he tried to explain this concept to Fraser, his brother had a more casual turn of phrase he ascribed to it. 'It would be almost impossible to find someone willing to match your freak little brother...'

For as long as he could keep the appearance of normality, then Tristan would stay safely by his side. Little did he know, that Tristan had never once believed his lies. He knew from the beginning there was something in Caleb that he ought to be afraid of. Why he didn't run remained a mystery even to himself.

Fraser didn't return from his meeting with Bruce in the afternoon, so Caleb and Tristan left without him; picking up Tibur and Millie from the store on their way to the dock.

The boat was moored and waiting for them. 

"Hurry up! Hurry up!" cried Millie, dragging Tibur and Tristan towards the boat and ushering them into two vacant spots on a u-shaped couch at the stern. "You too, Caleb! Hurry up and join us!"

Squished together on the padded seats, Millie was very pleased with herself.

"We were lucky to get here first" she said; "We can hold seats for each other when we want to get up and walk around."

Caleb didn't quite catch her meaning, but he was happily pressed against Tristan, so whatever she meant, he didn't really care. When the boat set sail with only their group onboard, only Caleb remained unphased.

"Where are the other passengers?" asked Millie.

"No one else" said Caleb, "It's just us four."

Millie embarrassedly shuffled over along the couch and gave the others some space.

"I see" she said, "sure is nice to have money."

As the boat was carried out to sea, Millie pulled Tibur away to talk to him in private.

"What's wrong Tiger?" she asked him, "You've been weirdly quiet all day. Are you still thinking about ways to pay back your neighbor?"

The smell of salt was everywhere. It's like Tibur couldn't escape the memory of Michael's kiss.

"I'm not being quiet" he said defensively, "I've already got work lined up at the marina, there's nothing left to think about. You're just imagining things."

Tristan was gazing out at the setting sun. Caleb was glued to his side, watching the reflections in his eyes. The sight was so beautiful, he had to stop himself from crying.

"Are you happy, Baby?" he asked him.

Tristan was as happy as he could hope to be. His arm was broken, his life was a fever dream, and yet the sun's rays on the gently lapping water were surprisingly calming. Even the warmth of Caleb's body was comforting. He closed his eyes and nodded, as the sea breeze lightly tousled his hair. 

In that moment, Caleb would have dared to kiss him.

"How much longer until it sets?" asked Millie.

Caleb glared at her until Tristan's eyes flickered open.

"Another nine minutes" he replied as he checked his watch.

Millie thought she must have seen it wrong; Caleb was already smiling again.

"We should start to plan our trip north" she suggested to Tristan, "It can't be much longer now until your cast comes off and it's better to beat the rainy season. I'll pay for Tibur's share of the taxi."

Tibur wouldn't stand for such friendly generosity.

"Let's just wait until the door's paid for and I can save for it myself" he said, "I don't need anyone's charity."

"I would have expected you to pay me back!" said Millie, fed up with Tibur's shitty attitude, "And I'm not just 'anyone', I'm your friend..! Or maybe not... maybe that's why you won't tell me what the hell is wrong with you lately."

Caleb held Tristan's hand. The romantic atmosphere had vanished, and he needed to rein in his rising temper. Nothing's ruined, he told himself, Winds change... You cannot control the wind. 

Tristan could hear Caleb steadying his breath.

"There's nothing wrong with me!" said Tibur, "You always have to find something to pick apart, even when things are perfectly fine. If you're not trying to find some drama in Tristan's relationship then you're trying to force me into one! We don't exist for your amusement, Millie." 

The argument was getting out of hand.

"Let's just sit down and take a breath" said Tristan, trying to mediate, "We can talk about our trip another time. For now we should enjoy the view."

"How am I supposed to enjoy the view when I'm just going to pick it apart?" asked Millie.

Tibur huffed and walked off to find a seat at the other end of the boat.

"For fuck sake!" she said, "What the hell is his problem?!"

Caleb's body was shaking. Tristan had asked him for one thing, and this was what it had come to. Fuck the changing winds. It had all gone to shit.

Tibur sat at the bow as the sun sank down into the water. He knew exactly what was wrong. All he could think about was Michael; their kiss, his angered expression as he rejected him, the sounds ringing out from his apartment... He held his head in his hands and faced the overwhelming truth. Despite everything, there was no one else he wanted to see the sunset with but him. 

In the quiet darkness, the air was heavy.

"Fuck this" said Millie, crossing her ankles and leaning her head back on the couch, "Let's just get back on land already. I'm sorry Tristan, Caleb... It was a really nice idea to come out and do this. I don't know what's going on with Tibur right now. Maybe he'll talk to one of you about it..."

Caleb squeezed Tristan's hand a little tighter.

Things couldn't remain like this. Tristan couldn't bear to see Millie and Tibur fighting, it's not like he had many friends of his own; he wanted to keep them all together. As he tried to stand, Caleb pulled him back.

"I'm going to go and speak to him" he said softly.

Caleb didn't like it. He didn't like that things had descended into chaos, or that Tristan would go to comfort Tibur. Nothing was how it was supposed to be. His mantras had failed him. The only thing left to ground him was Tristan.

"I won't be long" said Tristan, trying again to break free. "Please... Husband."

As though under the effects of a magical charm, Caleb released his grip on Tristan's hand.

"Thank you... Husband" said Tristan, rewarding him with a second incantation.

Leaving Caleb under his spell, Tristan went to find Tibur.

He sat with him for a while, waiting for him to speak when he was ready. The boat was already making its way back to the shore, the cool breeze whipping at their faces as they sped across the water.

"Is Millie really mad at me..?" asked Tibur, the wind drying the tears on his face.

"She's worried, that's all" said Tristan, "But you don't need to tell her what's happening if you don't want to. Just bear in mind, that it's hard for people to support you when they don't understand what you're going through."

"Even I don't understand myself..." Tibur confessed.

Tristan rested a hand on his shoulder. He remembered his dad doing the same when he was figuring things out in his teens. He hadn't needed to say a word, just having someone there had been enough.

"Can I ask you something personal?" Tibur put to him.

Tristan nodded, "Okay." If there was something he could help with then he would do his best to answer.

"Maybe you can't remember the very first time... but it must have happened since. How does it feel, when Caleb kisses you..?"

A chaste peck on his head was all he could remember.

"Well, um..."

Tristan pictured Caleb's face; his searching eyes, his parted lips... he didn't know how it would feel to kiss him. Probably not terrible. In his role as husband, wouldn't it be inevitable..?

"I'm not sure" said Tristan, "but I'll tell you tomorrow..."