Lleuad, finished with the dishes, came upstairs to join this family moment. "How about a movie? Netflix seems to have a new release."

Dorian considered for a few seconds, then tucked in his bookmark and closed the book.

"You pick." Lleuad handed him the remote, then sat down beside Suolan, arm draped around his shoulders.

Dorian clicked through a few options before settling on a science fiction film. Aliens invading Earth, a hackneyed plot, but the special effects in the trailer looked decent. He pressed play and reclined into a relaxed slouch.

The movie had barely begun when Suolan got up and went to the kitchen, returning shortly with a plate of homemade Swiss rolls from the refrigerator. These sweets would serve perfectly as an after-dinner treat.

"That spaceship design is hilarious. It looks like a flying deformed jellyfish." Partway through, Lleuad ate directly from the Swiss roll in Suolan's hand.

"The designer clearly wanted to invoke thalassophobia, throwing in every disgusting element possible. Pity it's not very effective." Suolan let his hubby eat his cake; there were still several pieces on the serving plate anyway.

When the film reached the scene of aliens demonstrating their technology, Dorian frowned. "This doesn't make sense. They can travel across galaxies, but they don't know Earth has microorganisms?"

"Movies need plot holes to be entertaining. Too perfect and there's nothing for online critics to get heated about." Lleuad remarked with casual amusement.

Suolan's warm weight leaned against his shoulder, breath carrying the creamy sweetness of Swiss roll. Most of Lleuad's attention was on Suolan; strands of hair brushed against his neck, ticklish and warm. He tightened his arm, drawing his beloved closer. Suolan glanced up at him, then adjusted his position slightly, finding a more comfortable angle to nestle against.

Halfway through the movie, Dorian's eyelids began to droop. Today's math homework and training had drained considerable energy. Drowsiness surged in like the tide. He forced his eyes wide open, not wanting to miss the exciting scenes, but his lids grew heavier and heavier.

Suolan noticed his son's fatigue, tenderness welling in his heart. "If you're sleepy, go to bed. You can finish the movie tomorrow."

"Mmhm..." Dorian gave a great yawn, physiological tears beading at the corners of his eyes. "Are we still going to the market tomorrow morning?"

"Leaving at eight. We'll have breakfast there, so you can sleep in a bit." Suolan pressed a goodnight kiss to his forehead.

Dorian stood, then turned and bent down to hug both parents at once.

"Goodnight, Papa, Dad."

"Sweet dreams, Little Milkshake." The two spoke in unison.

Dorian's footsteps faded downstairs. Suolan and Lleuad continued watching until the end. The protagonist saved the world, of course, and the aliens were wiped out entirely by Earth's bacteria. A clichéd but family-friendly ending.

＊

The credits began to roll. Lleuad pressed the remote; the screen went dark. The family room fell suddenly quiet, with only the ticking of the clock remaining. Suolan stretched lazily; the day's fatigue finally clamored to the surface all at once.

"Want to head up first?" Lleuad began gathering the plates and forks from the coffee table.

"Mm." Suolan gave a small yawn.

Ten minutes later, having finished brushing his teeth, Suolan turned on the tap. Hot water gushed into the white porcelain bathtub, thin wisps of steam rising from the surface. He blended ten drops of Aromatherapy Associates compound essential oil into a carrier oil, then poured it into the tub. The slightly viscous amber liquid dispersed in the water, quickly turning transparent and vanishing, yet the fragrance of Damascus rose and Grasse jasmine lingered, claiming dominion over the master bathroom.

"How's the water temperature?" Lleuad had finished tidying the dirty dishes and entered the bathroom, coming up behind him.

"Just about right." Suolan turned his head, seeing his husband's blood red eyes reflecting the bathroom lights, shattered into tiny points of starlight.

Lleuad reached in to test the water temperature, then began undressing. His shirt slid off to reveal a physique honed by years of training, muscle definition pronounced, explosive power evident at a glance. Suolan admired his beloved; even after countless times, he was still drawn to this body.

The two rinsed off quickly, then sank into the hot water. Suolan nestled into Lleuad's embrace, his back against that warm chest. Lleuad's fingers pressed into his shoulders with masterful technique, each stroke dissolving a point of tension. Suolan closed his eyes, letting the hot water and massage carry away all his fatigue.

"What do we need from the market tomorrow?" Lleuad's voice sounded beside his ear, his chest vibrating as he spoke.

"Tomatoes, spinach, fresh mozzarella." Suolan grew even more languid from the relaxation. "Little Milkshake used up the last chicken thigh today. I think we should restock."

"Any seafood?" Lleuad's hand moved to the side of his neck, thumb pressing that spot prone to soreness, drawing a contented sigh from Suolan.

"We'll see what's fresh. If there's good red mullet, we could pan-fry it."

The water gradually cooled, and their skin slowly began to wrinkle. Suolan opened his eyes and turned to face Lleuad. Water droplets slid along Lleuad's jawline; Suolan couldn't help reaching out to catch that drop, then kissed him.

"We should get out." Suolan said this, yet made no move to do so.

"A little longer." Lleuad tightened his arms. "Just a little longer."

In the end, they rose before the water turned completely cold. They dried off and blow-dried their hair; Suolan's took longer to tend to because of its length. His skin had been flushed pink by the hot water and warm air. By the time he changed into his pajamas and climbed into bed, the clock had just struck eleven.

He curled up in Lleuad's embrace like a cat, finding that most comfortable position. Lleuad's heartbeat sounded steadily by his ear, like the world's finest lullaby.

"Goodnight, my darling." Suolan left one last kiss on Lleuad's chin, the scent of rose and jasmine still lingering on skin.

"Goodnight, mon trésor." Lleuad kissed the top of his head, one hand gently stroking his back.

Suolan closed his eyes, listening to Lleuad's breathing, feeling the warmth of his embrace, letting drowsiness slowly overtake him and carry him into dreams.

The hillside villa in Tuscany finally fell completely silent in the deep of night. The light in the annex was still on; Dorian had secretly gotten back up to continue his reading adventure. He had completely forgotten his fatigue and the early morning ahead, lost in the magical world of Hogwarts.

In the garden, the repaired irrigation system activated on schedule, fine mist arriving as promised. Venomous snakes began their nightly hunt, gliding silently through the shrubbery, ensuring not a single mouse nest remained on the property. Venomous spiders spun new webs between leaves; dewdrops would gather on the silk, transforming into strings of crystal necklaces by morning.

Doing laundry and cooking, watering plants and feeding scorpions, helping a child with homework, repairing the irrigation system... it was these small moments woven together that made up a family of three's weekend routine.

The happiest of routines.

＊

Translation note: "Mon bien-aimé" means "my beloved." "Mon trésor" means "my treasure."

Note: Dorian's actual Italian terms for Lleuad and Suolan are "Papà" and "Babbo" respectively. Both are affectionate, colloquial terms for "dad."