Iris


    Arthur sets me down gently, his arms lingering around my waist. We''re standing so close I can feel the heat radiating from his


    body, see every fleck of brown that''s hiding in the depths of his green eyes.


    My heart is pounding in my chest-I can''t believe he actually did it. He announced our rtionship to the world.


    Arthur, noticing my expression, smirks. "You''re blushing."


    I bite my lower lip in a futile attempt to contain my giddiness. "Can you me me?" I ask. "This feels like a dream, Arthur."


    He looks pleased. "I''m d you''re happy. And now, I get to woo you all over again. Properly this time, without hiding or sneaking


    around."


    "Woo me?" I repeat with a delirious little giggle.


    "Absolutely. You didn''t think I expected you to jump back into hot water with me,


    did you? I''ve already got dates nned for us. I


    want you to know just how serious I am about this."


    "I...


    I swallow hard. "I appreciate that," I mutter. "I think it''ll be good to take things slow for a bit."


    He nods, but then his expression turns serious. "All I ask is that we make a promise to remain exclusive."


    I can''t help butugh at that. "I haven''t exactly been dating other people, Arthur. There hasn''t been anyone else since you.


    His eyes darken slightly, and something in his gaze makes my heart skip. I know we''re both thinking the same thing; that neither of us has been... Intimate with anyone else since the breakup, and how good it''ll feel to finally connect on that level again, after five years of wanting.


    But... all in due time.


    "Yes," I finally say. "I''d like to be exclusive."


    Arthur lets out a small, relieved breath. "I''m d." He leans forward, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead that makes my heart flutter wildly in my chest.


    Suddenly, a small gasp from the hallway breaks the moment. We turn to see Miles standing there, eyes wide. "Are you and Daddy getting married now?" he asks,ing into the room and looking between us hopefully.


    Laughing, I crouch down to his level, brushing a strand of dark hair away from his forehead. "Not yet. But Daddy and I are going to start spending more time together. All three of us, as a family."


    "So Daddy''s living with us now?" Miles'' face lights up like it''s Christmas morning. "Or can we go back to the ce with the nice old people?"


    Arthur chuckles. "As much as Cliff and Augustine miss you both, you''ll be staying here for now, and I''ll be staying there."


    +20 Bonus


    Miles'' hopeful expression dims slightly. "So we won''t be a real family..."


    My heart sinks. "We will be," I assure him, ncing up at Arthur. There''s a muscle ticking in his jaw, but his eyes are gentle. "We already are. We just... need to figure out how to be one. But in the meantime, we''re going to have lots of family days together."


    we''re a


    The promise of family outings seems to satisfy Miles for now. He throws his arms around both of us, and for a moment, perfect little circle of arms and love and hope. I catch Arthur''s eye once more over Miles'' head, and the emotion I see there makes. my eyes prick with tears-but not in a bad way.


    Maybe we can really make this work. Finally, after five years of devastation and heartbreak and longing, maybe we''ve reached the


    end of the dark tunnel.


    "Now," Arthur says, standing up. "How about I help make dinner tonight?"


    Miles cheers, immediately racing to the kitchen. Arthur offers me his hand and pulls me to my feet effortlessly.


    We spend the evening in each other''spany, and the domesticity of it makes me feel like I''m walking on air. Arthur rolls up his sleeves and helps me chop vegetables, our elbows asionally bumping in the small kitchen space. He lets Miles give him tour of all his toys while the chicken is in the oven. He even sits on the floor, making Miles scream withughter as he points aser around the living room and makes the kitten chase it.


    It''s all so... normal. So easy. I catch myself daydreaming about what life could be like with Arthur by my side every day- mornings over coffee, quiet evenings after Miles is asleep, someone to share the burden and the joy of parenthood with.


    But I force myself to stay grounded, to not get ahead of myself. We''ve only just begun to rebuild what was broken. There''s still so much uncertainty ahead.


    “Bath time,” 1 announce after dinner, checking the clock. It''s past eight, muchter than our normal routine. But I guess there''s nothing "normal" about today. "Can Daddy help?" Miles asks immediately.


    pat


    I nce at Arthur, who perks up at the question. "I''d love to."


    I lead them both to the bathroom and show Arthur where everything is-the bubble bath solution, Miles'' favorite rubber duckies, the special shampoo that doesn''t sting his eyes. Then I step back, and let Arthur take the lead.


    What follows is twenty minutes of pure chaos. Arthur, it turns out, has never given a child a bath before.


    He uses far too many bubbles, creating a mountain of foam that immediately engulfs Miles. Water sshes everywhere as Miles demonstrates how his rubber ducks can ''dive'' beneath the bubbles. The kitten practically bounces off the walls as some droplets, touch his fur, nearly knocking me over in his haste to scramble out of the bathroom.


    Arthur''s deepugh fills the space, a low rumble that turns into an all-out guffaw. I try to cover myughter with my hand, but I can''t contain it when Miles begins to giggle uncontrobly, and soon, all three of us areughing.


    My heart is so full it hurts.


    20 Bonus


    This is what we should have had all along, but I try not to think about what we missed, and instead focus on the fact that we


    finally have a chance to make up for it.


    I already know I''m going to paint this scene-Arthur kneeling beside the tub, Miles engulfed by bubbles, an angry orange kitten hissing in theer. Chaos and joy andughter. I think I''ll call it "Lost Time".


    Eventually, Miles is clean and dried off and dressed in his pajamas. Arthur reads him a bedtime story and tucks him in. I lean in to kiss Miles goodnight, but he''s already fast asleep, exhausted after all the excitement of the day.


    When we return to the living room, Arthur checks his watch reluctantly. "I should probably go. It''s gettingte."


    Inod, trying not to feel disappointed. It wouldn''t be right if he stayed the night right away. It''s better if we give it a little time. "Thank you for staying. For helping with everything."


    "It''s what I should have been doing all along,” he says, taking my hand.


    We stand at the door, neither wanting to be the first to say goodbye. Arthur brushes a strand of hair from my face, then leans in to kiss my forehead before he reluctantly pulls away.


    "Oh. Before I forget," he says, pausing by the door, "there''s a g tomorrow night. I''d like you toe with me." He meets my gaze, and I feel my heart flutter for the millionth time all night. "Our first public debut as a couple."