"In the end, every moment with you was worth it".
~Anonymous
Both of them tried to shake off the jetlag as they navigated through the airport. They ended up out of breath, as they tried to stay a few steps ahead of Alex's fans. While the fans knew that the European leg of Alex's fifth tour finished the day before, most didn't expect them to return to California just yet. It did give them a head start, but they had learned not to give his fans the benefit of the doubt. While Alex loved his fans, he knew he didn't have the time for every one of them. At least not today.
Today was Aurora's birthday. Aurora's eighteenth birthday. And, in addition to that, today was also the day they would meet her soulmate for the first time. Richard, or Rick, was a year older than her, a tattoo artist and extremely punk. Piercings, tattoos, and colored hair, he had the whole package. It reminded Aurora a lot of how Alex used to be when he was Rick's age.
On the drive from the airport to their old home, Alex and Hunter had fallen asleep on each other. Aaron was the one to open the door, the soft smile he gave them warming their hearts up.
"Boys! I'm so happy you could make it!" he exclaimed, hugging them both. Wrinkles pulled against his skin and Hunter couldn't help, but notice the few silver hairs on his head.
"We're happy to see you too Dad," Hunter replied and slowly reached down to pet old Philip on the head.
"Come on inside. Everyone has been waiting for you," Aaron said and they all walked in the living room.
The first one to welcome them was little Castor, Laura's and Aaron's six-year-old son. After that followed fifteen-year-old Alexa, clinging onto her cousin as if her life depended on it. And then Aurora and Rick approached.
Neither of them could grasp the change Aurora had gone through in the past ten years. She had grown into a six feet tall woman with a thin body, thanks to all the dancing classes she attended. Her hair was now completely colored, half her hair being in a deep pink shade while the other half in a rich green shade. Piercings laced her ears and lips and her shorts revealed ink on her right thigh.
"Alex, Hunter meet Rick, my boyfriend," she said, introducing them. Rick seemed flushed as he extended his hand.
"It such an honor to meet both of you. Alex, I'm such a huge fan of your songs and Hunter your art style is something I wished I could replicate," Rick added.
"It's nice to meet you too," they both muttered, eyeing him up.
Everyone could make out why he was Aurora's soulmate. His hair was shaved to the sides and on top, a striking green peeked out of a beany. He had a piercing on his lips and his eyebrow, both ears also studded. His T-shirt revealed sleeve tattoos, delicate roses on both arms, and the rest of his outfit consisted of ripped jeans and combat boots. His style completely complimented Aurora's.
"So, Rick... we heard you're a tattoo artist..." Alex started once they sat down. Rick nodded along, shedding a quick glance at Aurora. "How good are you?"
"Uhm..." The question had thrown him off, he took his eyes from the singer and cleared his throat. "I suppose my best work is on Aurora... I mean, I did her... eh, her tattoo. I did her tattoo," he said, blushing and averting his gaze. Hunter did his best not to laugh at the poor boy, seeing as Aaron was already keeping his hard gaze locked onto him.
"That's amazing. I was thinking about getting another tattoo in memory of this tour. I would like it if you did it for me".
In a matter of seconds, Rick lit up and started talking with Alex about his new tattoo and what ideas he had about it. It was Aurora who interrupted them, coming up with a sealed envelope and sitting down with a sigh.
"You know... you can open that tomorrow," Aaron told her. The girl shook her head and both Alex and Hunter seemed confused.
"Is that the reply from Stanford?" Hunter asked, realization hitting him. Aurora nodded, took a deep breath and started opening the envelope. Her blue eyes danced over the page and then tearing up she looked heavenward.
"I'm in..." she muttered. And started laughing as they all congratulated her.
Are you hearing this Mom? I'm in. I'm in just like you were. I'll be an astrophysicist just like you.
After everyone had finished saying congratulations, they started talking about Alex's tour. Hunter had gone with Alex on the European leg as well as the Australian and Asian leg, but he hadn't gone to the USA leg of the tour, so a few details were new to him. It was when Alex pulled out his Memory Book –an album filled with pictures from tour and the names from some of his fans- when Aurora noticed it.
"Alexander Clifford Richardson, is that a wedding ring I am seeing on yours and my brother's fingers?" she practically growled. Both boys looked at each other.
"Yeah, but my name's Anderson now..." At that everyone gasped. All Hunter could do is grin and he pulled his husband closer.
"We eloped in Amsterdam!" Hunter revealed.
"But I didn't see the ring in the recent photos!" Aurora exclaimed.
"You've been married for the past five weeks and you said nothing about it?" Aaron asked back.
"We wanted to announce it after the whole tour hype," Alex muttered.
"That's a shit excuse. We're family," Alexa scolded them, both Aaron and Laura agreeing. Alex and Hunter looked at each other with sly grins.
"Sorry," they muttered in unison.
After cake and presents, Alex and Hunter ended up holed up in Hunter's old room. They were both sitting on the bed, their backs against the wall. Hunter was running his hand through Alex's locks, playing every once in a while with a few blue strands. Alex was getting sleepier by each second that passed, but he struggled to stay awake. His fingertips were running over the golden ring on his right hand, the four-strand braid still amazing him.
"What about Norway?" Hunter offered.
"We went there on my last tour. I got you that landscape painting from Norway, remember?" Alex muttered back with a yawn
"Oh yeah... Morocco?"
"Moroccan food is one of my least favorite".
"How about the Emirates?" Alex couldn't help but snort.
"Your gay ass really wants to go to an Arabian country?!" Alex asked back.
"Right. Okay. Hawaii?" Hunter settled, after thinking it through. Alex frowned. They had never been to Hawaii.
"Yeah, let's go to Hawaii!" he exclaimed. "I'll call my agent to arrange for tickets in a bit," he added, less excited as his phone went on with buzzing again.
"Just put it on silent," Hunter said.
"Nah, I like it. It reminds me that they know".
"They know what?" Hunter asked.
"That you're mine and I'm yours. Forever". Hunter smiled at him, as he tried not to think about the hateful comments that would be written under Alex's new post. Under the new post in which they announced their marriage.
"Do you have any idea how fucking proud I am of you?" Hunter asked Alex and he brushed his lips over his cheek.
"Yeah, almost as much as I am of you," Alex replied, closing his eyes and resting his head on top of Hunter's shoulder. "I love you".
"I love you too, Cliff".