Yay, another chapter where they just cuddle and kiss a bit. Well, I still don't know why you, still read if you need this warning, but anyways, happy new year, dear!
"Our neighbors are completely crazy," Cedric said in awe, his head thrown back so he could watch all the fireworks explode over their street.
"Frohes neues Jahr!" the German mother from the house beside them laughed, coming over to where Ian and Cedric stand, Cedric's head leaning back on Ian's shoulder, his love's hands slung around his middle.
Cedric guessed the women wished them a happy new year, so he extended his hand, giving his best wishes back, smiling at her. Ian did the same without stepping around Cedric. Their neighbor didn't seem to find anything by it. They introduced themselves.
"Is your husband a professional at fireworks?" Cedric asked with wide eyes. The chuckle beside his ear made him rethink if that was a proper first question.
"No, he is just a professional lunatic when it comes to holidays," Marlene answered, breaking out into joyous laughter. "Next big one in line is Easter, so prepare yourself to be dragged over to help the kids search for eggs!"
After three quarters of an hour the street in front of the Schmidt's house was hidden under an ankle deep layer of fireworks residue and Marlene dragged them into their home for wiener wurstle with bread rolls and potato salad.
A few fork full of salad in, Ian was holding their youngest at three months old on his arm like he did nothing else in his life.
The tiny boy was laying with his belly on Ian's arm, his own arms and legs dangling, his bright eyes blinking from beside Ian's elbow to Cedric.
Cedric was busy with a four year old kneeling on his thighs, pointing out things like "eyes" and "nose" in his funny accent while poking Cedric's face.
"Honey, don't do that. I told you already!" Marlene growled but smiled at the same time, snatching her son up from the lap he had climbed on his own, pretending to snap and bite at his backside, making him squeak and giggly in delight.
The six year old girl was fast asleep in her bed.
"Shouldn't I help your husband outside?" Cedric asked a second time, unsure.
"No, if he has to blow up one month of his income and take part in pollution, he can very well clean up his own mess," Marlene reassured him again fondly. "He promised me to dial it down a bit, but I think we have to practice that a bit more."
So Cedric gave himself over to the heavenly salad on his dish in a house that looked very much like their own. Boxes over boxes.
Where they had moved in two days before New Year's, the Schmidt's had entered the neighborhood on December 31st in the morning into the second half of the house they were living in now.
Cedric loved the garden with the view on the bay and the city below. And the blue shutters. And how Ian connected to his inner architect and decorator, making plans of what to buy for their house and how to paint it. He had decided to dip into his savings and do nothing for three months until he was able to join one of the inner city fire departments but transforming their house into a home.
He did cheese and teasing things like yelling 'dinner's on the table, honey' when Cedric came home from a run to the supermarket or wearing a frilly apron Cedric had no idea where it came from.
He loved every silly minute and was curious how his job would start in a few days.
Now, he just enjoyed the salad, Marlene talking about holidays in Germany and to his own surprise Ian with a little bundle of kicking legs and fuzzy hair.
Fuzzy was very happy under the table with a wiener of his own.
Cedric was stunned how much the dog had grown since he first saw it, pressed to Ian's chest.
He was happy.
Ian leaned over, kissing him softly before chatting on with Marlene.
It was the best way possible to start a new life.
Now. Done.
A little New Zealand hotness for us all above.
Thank you all so much for reading and following Cedric and Ian through their story, approaching Christmas Day! This really was an awesome experience for me and I hope I will have a new story completely ready for you this year (2018) coming Dec 1st, so you won't have to wait for the last chapters to trickle in until you're all blue :-D
You are such a wonderful bunch of readers, some of you vocal, some of you silent, all of you an amazing support!
Have a great year 2018 and wait for Valentine's Day, maybe... who knows... ;-)
Cheers,
Lulu