“As some of you guys know, I wrote that song because of one man.”

Here it was. Leo’s finger rested on the shutter button, his focus already set. He knew where it was going to happen—the mark had already been laid in tape on the stage. So did the lighting guys, and most of the crew, actually.

How the hell everyone had kept the secret so well, Leo didn’t know.

But he’d gotten pretty good at photographing people again over these last few months, as quickly as the brothers had found work for him. Thank God, because this was a night he didn’t want to mess up.

“And now that I’m playing in my hometown, I get to really embarrass him. Come on up, Nico.” Deen gestured with a finger, curling it to beckon Nico up. He was grinning as he shielded his gaze to get a look at the front row where his boyfriend—and all their friends—sat.

Leo was snapping photos every few seconds leading up to the big moment.

“I’ve also got a bunch of my friends here tonight. These guys are incredible. The kind of guys who would give the shirts off their backs. Aw, don’t blush, guys. I won’t make you come up here. Just stand up and give a wave. That’s it.”

Leo grinned to himself. Dustin would be dying of embarrassment right about now.

“And one more guy, the one who’s been scooting back and forth here all night—our wonderful event photographer—he’s part of the group, too.”

Deen was talking to fill the time until Nico made it up to the stage, Leo was pretty sure. He was going red himself with the eyes of a crowd of thousands on him, but he just gave a quick wave and went back to photographing Nico climbing up onto the stage.

“All of them are phenomenal. They’ve reminded me how important family is. Whether that’s born or chosen family, doesn’t matter. The people who have your back.”

And had they ever. Throughout the last few months, a careful word in people’s ears had returned results. They’d found out and relayed to Leo that a handful of complaints against Victor for discrimination in the last few years had been mysteriously dropped after Victor’s dad intervened.

But Victor had promised to change, and so far, he actually had. Whatever had prompted his change of heart, he’d been willing to openly admit that he’d confirmed to his dad that the two of them were dating, and he’d even said—to both of them—how bad he felt about it.

Apparently, knowing a bi guy made him think twice about the stuff his dad said, and then… well, he’d realized he was being a dick.

They were never going to be friends—not like Leo was friends with the brothers now, practically a brother himself—but at least they weren’t enemies.

And the photography business was going fine. A couple of straight police officers had even approached Leo, asking for family photos or wedding photos or engagement photos. They’d wanted to show support as HR reviewed its policies. The tide felt like it was turning.

The audience was cheering and clapping now.

Nico joined Deen now, eyes down as he stepped over wires to the empty spot on the stage, marked only by the tape X. Did he suspect? If so, he didn’t show it. Turned out the park ranger who gave small press conferences now had been an astronaut before, used to way bigger press conferences and photo ops. He handled the stage okay, though he was looking at Deen more than the audience.

“And nobody has had my back more than Nico. My boyfriend. Come here, babe.” Deen planted a kiss on Nico’s lips while people hooted and hollered. “If it weren’t for him, man. I don’t know where I’d be. When he agreed to come up on stage, he had no idea what he was in for, guys.”

The audience went silent now and Nico glanced over at Deen, looking startled.

Carefully, Leo documented every expression, moving around to capture angles of both of them. Exactly when they’d planned it, Deen dropped to one knee.

Nico looked confused at first. Then, at last, it hit him. He gasped, covering his mouth with both hands.

The awww from the audience, and even Deen’s words—it all faded to a distant murmur as Leo focused on snapping photos.

“The man who’s made me whole, who showed me the sky and kept me grounded… you are the smoke on my mountains, the North Star in my sky. Would you make me the happiest man alive and be my husband?”

Only years of training kept Leo’s eyes dry as he photographed Nico nodding yes, and Deen’s expression shifting from nervous and tentative hope to delight.

Deen sliding the ring onto Nico’s finger, the dimmed lights overhead glinting off the metal.

Nico rose to his feet, grabbing Deen and kissing him while the audience cheered—none louder than the guys in the front row, right behind Leo.

He didn’t let himself tear up until it was over, Nico back in his seat and Deen singing the next song. Finally, Leo rejoined the guys in the front row for a few minutes.

“You guys all knew,” Nico hissed, leaning over them.

They grinned back smugly.

“You’re all secretive little fuckers. God.” Nico wiped his eyes again. “The lights. Really bright up there.”

“Uh huh. They were pretty bright down here, too,” Leo teased.

Dustin took his hand and squeezed. “Relax and enjoy the rest of the set,” he said. “You’ve done your job.”

So Leo stayed with him, only letting go of his hand to clap. His face hurt from grinning by the end of the evening, when everyone else had filed out and Deen had emerged from his dressing room ready for a wild celebration. And what a well-documented kind of wild celebration it was.

The best kind of all, because Dustin was there, and everyone was happy. Even for those without boyfriends or fiancés, brotherly love was never far away. Looking at his photos at the end of the night, Leo had to wipe his eyes one more time before he joined Dustin in bed.

Turned out he could capture love on camera.

Who knew?