"This," Shane sighed as they got back to the cottage, "has been the weirdest day of my life."
He didn't know what he had expected when he'd walked into his parents' cottage with Ilya by his side, but it certainly hadn't been this. Sure, the conversation had been awkward at first, but somehow his parents had understood and even helped him make a plan so maybe, just maybe, he and Ilya could have a future together…
Fuck, he loved his family so much—even more now that Ilya was a part of it.
He reached for Ilya's hand and smiled. Ilya had been quiet on the way home, but Shane hadn't thought much of it—until, to Shane's horror, Ilya began to sob.
"Ilya!" Shane said, alarmed. "Hey, hey. Come here."
"Sorry," Ilya whispered, hiding his face against Shane's neck.
"No, don't apologize. It's okay. Shh, it's okay."
Shane held him as he cried, gently rubbing his back and whispering sweet nothings until the tears finally stopped.
"Sorry," Ilya repeated. "Was just a lot. I was not prepared for this."
Shane sighed. "I know. I'm sorry today was such a nightmare—"
"No, not that." Ilya interrupted him. "I did not expect to have a family again."
There was a soft, hopeful smile on Ilya's face, and Shane felt like his heart was going to burst with how much he loved him. "Ilya," he breathed, eyes filling with tears, and pulled his boyfriend back into his arms. "Fuck, I love you so much. You never have to be alone again. We're your family now, okay? Forever."
Ilya grinned through the tears in his eyes. "Forever, yes?"
"I mean, yeah? If you want us?"
Ilya responded by kissing him hard. "Of course I do."
Shane smiled. "Then welcome to the family, sweetheart."