The Crooked Tree barbecue was in full swing by the time Rob made it there. He’d taken a job at the hospital he’d been treated in, in charge of security strategy, and it was coming up on his two year anniversary of joining them. The board told him they’d never felt so safe, probably because he ran the security with a grip of steel and didn't hesitate to do what it took to keep everyone safe.

Somewhere along the way, he’d realized that this was what he was good at; ensuring other people’s lives weren’t at risk.

He’d approached them directly, wanting something real to work on, and he and the boys had moved into Aaron's place in town, extending it enough so the boys had their own rooms. Bran and Toby slept in the same bed for the first month, but after that, they began to enjoy their individual space. Neither of them scared that anyone would hurt them or separate them. Both of them at the local school and thriving.

Toby loved reading, and that was something Rob could help him with. They’d moved on from teddies in the attic, and he was rereading Narnia out loud to his nephew every night. They were reading Prince Caspian right now, but both agreed that The Magician’s Nephew was the best one.

Bran was heavily into football and had all the moves. Rob couldn’t work on tackling with him, limited to catching and throwing long, but he did his bit. He also laughed at Aaron when his lover ended up on the ground with Bran on his chest holding the ball and yelling in victory.

And now Aaron was waiting for him in the parking area, impatient, smiling and hugging him hard.

“You made it!” he said and began to tug Rob over the bridge to Branches. Justin was in charge of the barbecue, much to Sam’s horror, but it all seemed good so far. He stopped halfway across the bridge, a sudden memory of him and the boys sitting under the tree talking about Suzi. Aaron stopped tugging him and instead rounded on him immediately.

“Are you okay?”

Rob laughed. That was the same old question, and Aaron never stopped asking it.

“I’m fine,” he said. “No pain, no headache, no nothing. Stop worrying.”

Aaron cupped his face. “I’ll never stop asking if you’re okay, you know.”

He’d been one of the lucky ones. He’d survived the operation, hadn’t lost much feeling, although some days he had to resort to a stick for walking. But the headaches were gone, his memory clear, and he had a whole new life now.

Another car arrived in the parking area, and they glanced back to see Saul and Grace along with Louis, now a toddler who’d flourished with the adoration of two people who loved each other so much.

He and Aaron didn’t have long alone now. He knew he'd want to hold Louis, talk some more about maybe extending their family, adopting a kid who was as lost as Toby and Bran had been. He felt so good, invincible, with his whole life in front of him. He just had one thing to do now before they joined Luke’s birthday barbecue.

Rob lifted a hand to cover Aaron’s on his face, then turned to press a kiss to Aaron’s palm.

“I think the next celebration here should be for our wedding,” he said.

Aaron blinked at him. “Our wedding?”

“Aaron, I love you so much. Me, you, the boys, we’re a family, so let’s do this. Will you marry me?”

Then they kissed, and Aaron was laughing, and in the middle of all of that, he was saying yes, over and over.

Rob knew one thing. He should never have thought to give up on life. Not when he had all of this.

Hand in hand they walked up to the barbecue. Toby and Bran ran to them, hugging Rob. They had stories to tell him. Bran had caught a really high ball Luke had thrown him. Toby had drawn an elephant. Normal stuff.

Real life.

Family.