***

When Darren brought out the small backpack they'd lugged with them, Giovanni was just as in the dark as everyone else. So, though his boyfriend walked around their group of friends handing one wrapped or bagged parcel to each person, he had no idea what was in any of the packets.

Not even his own.

Darren froze in the centre of the circle that had naturally formed on the decking. “These are just tokens of appreciation for inviting me to this reunion, even though I don't really belong. I'm not one of you or...well, I didn't think I was. But now? Now, I feel like I might be and there's no 'thank you' that can properly express how I feel about that, so...” Taking a deep breath, he quietly clasped his hands and gestured to their gifts. “It's a silly sentimental gift, but I hope it goes some way towards thanking you for including me, for treating me like family and for letting me see that Giovanni really is alright.”

He smiled on hearing that last part, but it was partly sad, because he hadn't realised that was something Darren was worried about. When his boyfriend bounded over to sit next to him on the wooden sun lounger they'd snagged at the beginning of the night, he didn't know what to say.

“Open yours last?” Darren asked, slipping a hand onto his knee.

All he could do was nod his agreement, curiosity bubbling in his stomach.

“Can I go first?” Lachlan asked, staring excitedly at his small, square parcel. He only began to rip the plain brown wrapping paper when Darren gave a nod of approval. Then he gasped. “How did...I mean...” He looked up and his shoulders relaxed with a punched breath of laughter. “Thank you.”

For a moment, Lachlan held the book close to his chest, then turned to show Cormag and the others. It was a book of children's stories, with titles Giovanni vaguely recognised as being appropriate for under five year old's.

That made sense of Lachlan's 'how did...' question.

“Honestly,” Darren said, with a faint smile. “I didn't know. I just knew you loved books and I never really read much as a kid, but my dad read these to me a lot. Especially after...well, what happened,” he hinted, skirting around the issue in a way Giovanni hadn't seen him manage in such a long time.

He grabbed Darren's hand and squeezed it in silent celebration of that victory. It was a small one, but important. Darren always had a tendency to over think, to overreact or to downright panic whenever he mistakenly or had to deliberately bring up his past. He thought people would hate it, that they'd hate him or that he'd ruin the event. What he just did was so huge that Giovanni didn't have words. He hadn't limited what happened to him, but he hadn't panicked that he had to bring it up in explanation either. He had quite simply stated a fact. And it was beautiful to witness.

“Thank you.” Lachlan held the book tighter, as though the true meaning of Darren's words had made it a much more precious gift than previously thought.

And, knowing Lachlan, that might just be true.

“I'm next,” Cormag said, quietly dispelling the moment, only to grin as he saw his own gift. It was another book, by the shape and size. “This is fantastic, Darren. Thank you very much.” He opened the front cover and chuckled. “A real diary of a real soldier, from the nineteen forties. I don't know how you managed it.”

“Um,” Darren flushed this time, apparently embarrassed by the attention, “I took Nonna to an estate sale before we left home and she insisted on buying this massive collection of books. The diary was inside the collection and I just knew you'd appreciate it,” he confessed shyly.

Cormag nodded and smiled his gratitude in a more subdued, but just as genuine, manner than his husband.

Next up was Levi and Mack, who had two tickets to front row seats at a basketball game where the teams they each supported were playing off against each other. The pair laughed and joked about who would win and how they'd compete over who would be cheering the loudest.

When Casen opened a small bag and removed an envelope, he frowned in confusion that quickly morphed into tears, as he pulled out a voucher for a year’s worth of spa treatments from the day he registered his voucher. It was clear to everyone that he needed, appreciated and valued the gift.

It was clear to Giovanni that Darren knew his friends better than he thought. He'd hit a personal, sentimental button in them all, somehow knowing what they wanted and needed the most. Sometimes even before they did.

Tam's dual language book on Italian farming was warmly received and the way he began reading it right away showed that it wasn't feigned interest. Everyone knew that Tam loved the history of farming almost as much as he loved his own family farm.

“This is something that I didn't realise had perfect timing,” Darren said, as Konnor held the envelope he'd been given.

He looked to Grayson, who hadn't received a gift, frowning as he tore the envelope open and removed three pieces of paper.

“The first is a letter from me, explaining the details,” his boyfriend continued. “Then there's a list of suggested sights and activities and, the last piece is a brochure.”

Konnor stared and stared for so long that Giovanni wondered if they'd ever find out what the gift was. He was itching to open his own, but he couldn't do that until Konnor hurried up and explained what his was. Even Lachlan looked to be on the edge of his seat, still clutching the book to his chest, while Casen wiped away the tears caused by his own gift.

“It's...” Konnor finally looked up, as he passed the items to Grayson, who took a sip from the straw sticking out of his diet coke and choked on it. “A holiday. All inclusive, for ten days.” He looked around at his friends and couldn't seem to make sense of the gift, because he didn't smile, frown or do anything but stare in confusion. “It says we can pick from ten locations.”

Beside him, Grayson grabbed his arm and pointed to the brochure he'd just opened. “They include Orkney! You've always wanted to go there,” he gushed, before flipping the page and frowning. “Paris? London...even Amsterdam. How the hell do we choose?” he asked, lifting his head to stare at Darren.

As before, Giovanni watched the man he loved more than anything with awe. He barely blinked at the gratitude being swept his way except to shy away from it a little, by leaning against his shoulder.

“I didn't realise it would be for your engagement,” Darren admitted, with a smile. “But I'm glad it is. Now you can celebrate properly. Konnor,” he continued, only for Konnor to snap his head up as though surprised to be addressed, “before Giovanni, I didn't celebrate anything. Now, every step forward is a victory and we stop to appreciate it. I thought you should honour this victory, because you've worked so hard and earned the reward.”

Konnor was crying by the time Darren stopped talking. He quietly accepted the pieces of paper from Grayson and tucked them back into the envelope. Then he nodded to Darren in his version of a thank you.

The way Darren's face lit up with relief and happiness proved it was enough. Konnor's tears said more than words could ever hope to.

“Your turn,” Lachlan called out, grinning at Giovanni with that usual cheekiness back in his eyes.

He could only imagine what he thought the gift from Darren might be. Instead of waiting and speculating about it, Giovanni glanced at his boyfriend, only to get a nod of encouragement. Then he began ripping off the paper from the book-shaped gift.

The last thing he ever thought he might see was staring back at him.

A book.

With his name on it.

“I–” He stopped there, not knowing what else to say. “Darren, I don't...what is this?” he asked, turning to his boyfriend with confusion.

Darren reached out to lay his hand on top of the book. “Do you remember when I illegally copied and stole those copies of every story you ever wrote and submitted to your father's publishing company?” he asked, a hint of mischief in his eyes.

“Of course.” Giovanni laughed and shook his head, thinking back to that confession of guilt. It had been adorable, beautiful and terrifying all at once.

“Well, for the last few months, with Nonna and Stefano alternating their distractions,” he explained, with a chuckle that explained so many strange events. “I was able to compile them, properly edit and format them, and have a cover made. I hope you like it,” he said, his eyes soft and scared with worry that what he'd done wasn't good enough. “It's got all of your stories in it, from the first to the last, and a short introduction. It's the first and only copy, unless you'd like to make more.”

Unable to find the words to explain what it meant to him, Giovanni caught Darren's face in both hands and held him still. As his tired eyes took in every flicker of emotion, every hint of doubt and fear and memorised this moment for posterity, his heart overflowed with love.

He kissed him. Because there were no words in existence to say what caused his heart to skip a beat in that moment. No words to express just how truly exquisite Darren was, inside and out.

He may have suffered at the hands of a monster, but Darren was an Angel on Earth.