Chapter 28

3rd person pov:

The days following Pond's reluctant approval passed in a blur of anticipation and quiet moments. Gemini had never imagined that courting someone could feel so delicate, so full of meaning in every action, every word exchanged. But now that Fourth had agreed, and Pond had given his blessing, he realized this wasn't just about winning someone's heart—it was about proving, every single day, that his feelings were genuine, steadfast, and unshakable.

Gemini knew that there would be no grand gestures—no overt displays of affection for the sake of spectacle. His courtship of Fourth would be more subtle, more intimate. Every little gesture would have to mean something, because the time they had was uncertain.

One morning, as the first light of dawn crept through the window, Gemini was already awake, preparing a simple breakfast. He didn't want to overwhelm Fourth with anything extravagant, but he knew that little moments like these—small, quiet gestures—would speak volumes.

As he placed the last of the croissants on the tray, he smiled to himself. Fourth had always preferred the quiet mornings, the ones where time seemed to stand still, as if the world outside could wait for a while longer.

Gemini gently knocked on Fourth's door, his heart pounding. When there was no answer, he pushed it open just slightly, his gaze falling on the form lying on the bed, still wrapped in the warmth of sleep. Fourth was curled up under the covers, his face peaceful, free from the tension that often marked his waking hours.

Gemini stood there for a moment, just watching him, before he carefully placed the breakfast tray on the bedside table. Slowly, quietly, he sat down beside the bed, brushing a few stray strands of hair from Fourth's forehead.

"Hey," Gemini said softly, his voice low, barely a whisper. "Time to wake up."

Fourth stirred, his eyes fluttering open to find Gemini sitting beside him. A faint smile tugged at his lips, but he looked at the breakfast tray with surprise.

"Did you make all this?" he asked, his voice thick with sleep.

"I did," Gemini replied, his voice soft but warm. "Thought we could have breakfast together. You deserve a peaceful morning."

Fourth sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes. There was something so comforting about the quiet between them, the way their hearts seemed to align without words.

"I don't deserve all this," Fourth murmured, though there was no bitterness in his tone—only a touch of awe. "You've already done so much for me, Gemini."

Gemini's heart ached slightly at the words. He wanted to tell Fourth that he deserved so much more, that his worth was beyond what anyone could give him—but instead, he simply smiled, reaching out to take Fourth's hand.

"You deserve everything, Fourth," Gemini said softly. "And I'm going to spend every day showing you that."

The days that followed were filled with little moments—quiet walks in the garden, shared cups of coffee, and stolen glances when the world felt too loud to bear. Gemini was gentle with Fourth, not rushing anything, letting their time together unfold naturally, as if they had all the time in the world.

One evening, as the sky darkened and the stars began to twinkle above, they found themselves sitting outside, their backs against the cool stone wall of the house. Gemini had brought a blanket, and they sat close together, the weight of the world outside forgotten for just a little while.

"You know," Fourth began, his voice soft, "I never really thought about love like this before."

Gemini turned his head to look at him, his heart swelling at the vulnerability in Fourth's voice. "What do you mean?"

"I mean... I've always been so focused on what I might lose," Fourth said quietly. "On what I might not have time for. I never really thought about just... enjoying the moments I have."

Gemini reached over, taking Fourth's hand in his, squeezing it gently. "You don't have to worry about the time, Fourth. Not with me. We'll make the most of what we have."

Fourth's gaze softened, his fingers lightly tracing the back of Gemini's hand. "I don't know what I did to deserve you, but I'm glad you're here."

"I'm glad too," Gemini said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'll always be here, Fourth. No matter what."

The words hung in the air between them, a promise that felt both fragile and unbreakable at the same time. For a moment, there was no talk of the future, no mention of the uncertainty that lay ahead. It was just the two of them, in this fleeting moment, and that was enough.

As they sat together, sharing the quiet of the evening, Gemini couldn't help but feel that this was only the beginning. The road ahead might be uncertain, but as long as they had each other, he knew they could face anything—together.