The New Year brought with it many changes.

For Rick, it meant new opportunities and a relationship he had never dared to hope for.

For Teo, it brought a feeling he hadn’t experienced at home in a long time. For the first time, he spent so much time there and even learned how to spend time with his brother again, though their relationship was still healing. The following weeks—and months—would show that they were still finding their way back to each other. Outside the house, where they had an excuse to talk and simply be in each other’s presence, things didn’t come as easily, but neither of them gave up.

As for Orion, the conversation with his mother finally took place. On the very first day of the year, he woke up early and waited for a moment when she would be alone in the kitchen. She greeted him with a smile, unaware of the conversation that awaited her, and although she ended up in tears by the end, Orion did not stop pressing her until she promised to make everything up to Teo.

Teo did not expect an apology from his mother, which made it all the more surprising when it happened. When she knocked on his bedroom door and he found her there with red eyes, he knew Orion had kept his promise and talked to her. Teo wanted to brush her off, seeing how much the conversation with her older son had affected her, but she wouldn't let him. Instead, she apologized and promised him that she would never again make him feel unwelcome in his own home. She claimed she regretted her actions and admitted she should have apologized as soon as he returned.

Teo accepted her apology, but, like with Orion, he reserved true forgiveness for the time he would see that they had genuinely regretted their actions and were ready to work to regain his trust.

With the new year came a new semester, and Teo soon returned to school. As he and Rick had agreed, he spent most weekends at Rick’s. The first visit was particularly significant, as Teo’s trip to Brassford meant he didn't just get the chance to spend time with his boyfriend.

“What are you doing this weekend?” Orion asked Rick during a lunch break,enjoying a moment of peace from all the paperwork, responsibilities, and Evelyn’s shouting.

“Teo’s coming. Didn’t he tell you?”

Orion shook his head. He didn’t want to feel left out, recognizing that his brother and best friend needed time alone as a couple. At the same time, he hoped that his relationship with Teo had progressed enough that Teo might at least mention he was coming to Brassford for the first time.

Rick suggested they could all do something together, but Orion stopped him, saying he understood they wanted to be together as a couple and that he was fine with it. “Really, it’s fine. I was just surprised he’s coming, that’s all.”

Though Rick dropped the topic afterward, he revisited it when he finally had Teo in his arms and a chance to show him his apartment.

“I wanted to tell him, but I didn't know what he’d say. I didn’t want him to feel obligated to spend time with me.”

As it turned out, both brothers were walking around each other so cautiously that they had convinced themselves the other needed space, even though the opposite was true.

“He was afraid you wouldn't want to spend time with him.” Fortunately, Rick had no problem acting as the bridge between them.

“Really?”

“Uh-huh. He looked disappointed when I told him you were coming and he didn't know about it.”

Teo bit his lip guiltily.

After the holidays, he hoped to find ways to spend more time with Orion, even just exchanging messages, but after years of not talking, it was hard for them to find topics. Simply asking how the other was doing felt too trivial to both of them. So, they were trapped somewhere in the middle.

Luckily, Teo got an idea, and after roping Amelia into it as well, they appeared at Rick's door on Saturday night.

“What are you doing here?”

“Movie night.”

Rick held up a pillow and a blanket he had under his arms, showing both to his surprised friend, who had just opened the door and clearly wasn't expecting more company, especially with Amelia contentedly smiling behind his back.

“It was Teo’s idea.”

The brown-haired man stepped aside to give his friend a view of his brother.

“Hey,” Teo offered a cautious smile, hoping it seemed warm. “I realized I’ve never seen your apartment, and I wanted to fix that, if you don’t mind.”

“Of course not.”

Orion quickly regained his composure and stepped aside to let them in.

And so, almost two months after Christmas, a familiar scenario repeated itself—but this time it felt more natural and less awkward. A few movies, a few cans of beer, and the brothers found themselves talking more and more.

Amelia and Rick exchanged subtle glances at a particular moment when Orion and Teo were engrossed in a discussion about a film, almost as if they had forgotten there were other people in the room.

After weeks of agonizing over how to start a conversation, they now didn't know how to stop it.

So, after all these years, a happy ending came not only for Rick and Teo but also for Orion—though his main story was still being written.

THE END