( you & i )

“You’d better get used to hearing them because I think you’re going to be getting a lot of them,” Antonio said, a smile forming on his face as he looked over at Ethan. He still wasn’t used to this, his past relationships had never lasted too long and he hadn’t felt for any of them even half as much as he felt for Ethan so he knew that it wouldn’t have been fair for him to give them false hope. He had seen the way that some of them had wanted more from him but his heart had never been in it because it had always belonged to someone else. He hadn’t realised how he felt about Ethan back then but now his heart was full of so much love for the man that was lying in his arms and he felt his heart flutter as Ethan returned the kiss with ease.

Antonio had thought that perhaps he was the only one feeling nervous about their first time together but as it turned out Ethan had been as well and it was a relief to say the least. “You definitely didn’t screw up,” Antonio assured him. Last night had been perfect from start to finish and Antonio knew that he was never going to forget it. Ethan was right, it was a first for both of them but he was happy that it had happened. “I don’t know about you but I don’t feel nervous about it anymore, in fact it is something to look forward to,” he admitted. It could have easily been a disaster but they had figured it out together the same way they did everything else and any nerves that he had felt before were now long gone. Cuddling with someone in bed definitely wasn’t something that Antonio was used to but he knew that he could definitely get used to more mornings like this. “That took less persuading than I thought it would,” he chuckled as he pressed a gentle kiss to Ethan’s shoulder.

ETHAN ALVAREZ

“So you should,” Antonio said, a smile touching his lips as he looked over at Ethan. After everything that had happened with his parents Antonio knew that Ethan hadn’t had too many compliments from the people who were meant to always be there for him while he was growing up. They had tried to make Ethan become someone that he wasn’t just to please them and that wasn’t the way things were meant to be. Parents were meant to support their children and Antonio’s had to an extent but they’d had a certain kind of life in mind for him and that wasn’t what Antonio had wanted. They hadn’t wanted him to go to war either time but if he hadn’t done then he knew that he never would have met Ethan and that was something that Antonio knew that he was never going to regret. He doubted that his parents would approve of their relationship, especially considering that it had taken them a while to come around to the idea of him having children with someone that he wasn’t in a relationship with, but they had managed it in the end and with any luck they would accept this eventually too. Either way Antonio knew that he wasn’t going to let anyone ruin what they had and he knew that Ethan wouldn’t let that happen either. “In that case I’ll have to compliment you more often,” he added, his smile widening as he ran his hand gently down Ethan’s arm.

“Is that so?” Antonio asked as Ethan said that he was looking forward to it too, his smile turning playful at Ethan’s words. The events of the night before had ended up being so much better than he ever could have hoped for and the idea of a repeat of that was definitely something that he was looking forward to. Keeping his arms wrapped around Ethan, Antonio couldn’t help but laugh as he spoke again. “You have the same effect on me,” he admitted. No one else had ever had an effect like this on him and he knew that they wouldn’t again. Ethan had always been the one for him and he was happy that he finally had the chance to admit that. “Have I ever told you I love it that you’re the only one who calls me that?” he asked. To everyone else he was Antonio, the only person who called him Toni was Ethan and he was pretty sure that it wouldn’t feel right hearing that name come from anyone else. As Ethan said that he was happy right there, Antonio’s smile returned. “In that case it’s a good job we have the day off. We can do whatever we like today.”

ETHAN ALVAREZ

“You’d better get used to it then,” Antonio said, a smile touching his lips as he looked over at Ethan. He knew that Ethan wasn’t used to getting compliments and it was clear by the way he reacted whenever Antonio paid him one so he knew that he was going to have to make sure that Ethan got used to them. This was all still so new to Antonio but he knew that he wouldn’t have it any other way. It had taken him a long time to realise that he had been in love with Ethan all along but now he wasn’t afraid to admit that. They didn’t spend all of their time together all the time but whenever they were apart he found himself looking forward to seeing him again. He had always wondered what it was like to be in love and finally he was able to experience that for himself. “Good answer. I can’t wait for a repeat of last night,” he admitted. He had felt nervous about it at first but those nerves had soon given way to excitement and it had ended up being a night that he would never forget.

Kissing Ethan back, Antonio let his hand rest gently against Ethan’s cheek. “I’ll never get tired of hearing you call me that,” he assured him. Even his parents had always called him Antonio and he was so used to everyone calling him by his full name but there had always been something so special about Ethan being the only exception to that rule and that still hadn’t changed. Just hearing Ethan call him Toni was enough to make his heart race and that was something that Antonio was getting used to. Now they had the whole day off together and it was something that Antonio wanted to make the most of while it lasted. “Same here,” he admitted before thinking about it as Ethan asked what he wanted them to do with their day off. “It’s tempting to stay shut away in here with you all day but we should probably get up at some point,” he chuckled. There would certainly be worse ways to spend their day but he knew that he would be happy as long as they were able to spend some time together. “Another date and having a lazy day both sound good to me, which would you rather do?” he asked, hoping that Ethan would have some kind of a preference.

ETHAN ALVAREZ

"I'm counting on it," Antonio admitted, a smile forming on his face as he looked over at Ethan. "It might be a bit early to say this but I want to spend the rest of my life with you," he added. They hadn't been together for too long and they had only just had their first date but they had already discussed plans to extend their family and Ethan was already living with them. The way last night had ended was a big step for them but it was an amazing one and Antonio was looking forward to the two of them being able to build their life together. Ethan was the only person who had ever called him Toni and the truth was that he had missed it during the time they had spent apart. The time they had spent together was short in comparison but Ethan had made a lasting impression on him and that definitely hadn't changed.

Wrapping his arms a little tighter around Ethan, Antonio kissed the top of his head gently. The idea of staying in bed all day was tempting but something told him that they weren't going to end up doing that. They were both the kind of people who were better at keeping busy but staying at home was definitely the better option as far as Antonio was concerned so he was glad when he realised that they were both on the same page. "I was hoping you would say that," he admitted, tracing his fingers lightly down Ethan's arm. Kissing Ethan back, Antonio groaned as he said they should get up, staying there for a minute more before climbing out of bed, washing up and getting dressed. Once he was ready he waited for Ethan to finish as well before holding his hand out to his boyfriend. "Come on, let the interrogation begin," he chuckled as he led the way downstairs and started getting breakfast ready.

ETHAN ALVAREZ

To anyone looking from the outside in it might look like the two of them were moving quite fast but the truth was that their relationship was over a hundred years in the making and considering that Antonio had watched Ethan die in his arms all those years ago and he had almost died himself a few months ago he knew that he didn't want to waste another second by not being with the person he loved. It had taken him a while to get his head around the fact that he had fallen in love with his best friend and that that friend was another guy and he had tried to figure out what that meant for him but it always came down to just one thing - the only person he had ever truly been in love with was Ethan and as far as Antonio was concerned that didn't need a definition or label. They had only been together for a few months but it felt like a lifetime to Antonio because the truth was that he had been in love with Ethan for most of his, he just hadn't realised it or even thought that it might be reciprocated until it was almost too late.

A part of him was worried that Ethan might think it was too early to say something like that but his words were instantly reassuring and for that Antonio was grateful. As Ethan said that he wants to spend the rest of his life with him too, Antonio's heart skipped a beat. "You would?" he asked, a smile forming on his face as he looked over at Ethan. "You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that," he admitted. Before Ethan showed up on his doorstep he had resigned himself to the fact that he would end up living the rest of his life alone. He had known that he would always have the girls, of course, but any possible romances had never worked out and now he knew why. He was happy with Ethan and the girls had instantly welcomed him into the family even before they got together so things seemed to finally be working out for them. Ethan's next words were enough to have Antonio's expression softening and he took Ethan's hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. "You won't have to go through that again, I'm staying right here with you," he assured him. "It was the same for me, I've lived without you once and I don't want to do that again either. You're the only one for me so you'd better never let me go at all," he warned, pretty sure that they wouldn't have a problem with that anyway.

Kissing Ethan back, it was with a great deal of reluctance that Antonio pulled back and they headed downstairs. It was only when they reached the kitchen that he let go of Ethan's hand and Antonio nodded as he said that he would start setting the table. "Alright," he nodded as he started making breakfast for the four of them in the form of bacon, eggs, sausages and toast. It didn't take too long to make and the food was almost ready by the time Ethan started making coffee and Antonio was about to answer when Ethan called him babe and he stopped in his tracks even as his smile returned. "You know, you're the only person to have ever called me that was well, I like it," he admitted as he moved to start dishing up the food. "Sure, I'd love some."

ETHAN ALVAREZ

Antonio couldn’t help but feel happy as Ethan confirmed what he’d said. There wasn’t any hesitation there and as Antonio’s eyes met his, he could tell that Ethan meant it. They had been apart for such a long time and the truth was that Antonio hadn’t thought that he would ever get to see Ethan again. Having him show up on the doorstep after saving Eli had seemed so surreal but that had ended up being the start of something that was turning out to be pretty great. It had seemed like too much of a coincidence at first that his daughter had been saved by someone who looked just like the brother he had lost during the war but it hadn’t taken him long to figure out that it really was his Ethan. Antonio hadn’t even realised how he had felt about the guy back then and it had taken him almost dying for the two of them to realise what they meant to each other and that they wanted to be together regardless of what their parents had taught them while they were growing up. They had the girls’ blessing and ever since then Antonio had been enjoying every moment of his time with Ethan. The bond between them had grown into something so much more than he had ever thought that it would and the truth was that now he was looking forward to seeing what the future was going to hold for them.

Ethan’s next words were enough to make a smile form on Antonio’s face and as Ethan told him not to go where he can’t follow, the dragon felt his heart melt. “I’m not going anywhere without you, I give you my word,” he vowed, his smile returning as their lips met once again. It wasn’t too long ago that he had thought that he was never going to get to know what it was like to kiss Ethan and even though he had teased his boyfriend when he’d said that he could get addicted to kissing him Antonio couldn’t deny that he was just as addicted. This was still so new for both of them but it felt right and after all the years he had spent on his own Antonio knew that he wanted to enjoy this for as long as he could.

“You have. Probably in more ways than you even realise,” he chuckled as he looked over at Ethan. Ethan was the only one who got to call him Toni, he was the first person who had become a brother to him and his first love to name just a few and now he was the first person to call him babe. Antonio never knew what he was going to get from one minute to the next when he and Ethan were together but the truth was that he wouldn’t have it any other way. “You’ve done well. I’ll leave that to you from now on,” he grinned, unable to deny that he was amused by just how pleased with himself Ethan seemed to be. It wasn’t long before the girls arrived and Antonio dished up the food, making sure that they all had plenty. Slipping into the seat next to Ethan, Antonio poured the drinks as they all began to dig in. He could see that Ela’s eyes were full of questions but before he knew it Ethan was passing some coffee to him and piling food onto his plate. “Thanks babe,” he said as he leaned forward and stole a quick kiss, the word falling from his lips with just as much ease as it had from Ethan’s just before. Soon enough the interrogation began and they took turns answering Ela’s questions while they ate their breakfast. By the time they had finished eating the questions had come to an end and the girls disappeared to get ready for school. “You’re right, it wasn’t,” he agreed with a laugh. “Now we’ve survived that we can face just about anything,” he added with a grin as he started clearing the table. “Any idea what you want to do with the rest of the day?” he asked, not sure whether Ethan had any plans for their day off since they had agreed to stay home or not.

ETHAN ALVAREZ