Greg sat back in his deck chair and looked up at the beautiful blue sky. It was a Saturday, the kids were away at scouts, and the weather was amazing. They had wondered about having a barbecue, but Edward had complained that it would make the neighbors invite themselves over, and make the kids jealous, so they decided to just spend the afternoon together, enjoying one another's company. A bit of sun, a beer and chips, and a handsome man lying next to him in the sun, tanning.

Life never did go back to normal after he quit his job. Not that Greg had expected or wanted it to. “Normal” was just... wrong. And trying to be the way society expected him to be had just made everyone unhappy. He didn't want to be like that. He wanted to be happy and free.

There had been a brief period of struggle. The bank had not been happy with their change in financial circumstances, but Edward's mother had signed on as a guarantor for a few months, to reassure them. The kids had been terrified, and a little depressed when they tightened their belts, but eventually saw that life could be a little simpler without reverting to the painful childhoods they had each had. And a few friends turned out to be the sort of people who judged you for your income and lifestyle, but Greg had never wanted that sort of person around anyway and was happy to see them go. And then things started picking up.

He hadn't found it too hard to get a new job, and, surprisingly, neither had Edward, considering his decade of unemployment. Greg had found a new position a month after applying to a company that had tried to poach him two years ago. Back then he had guessed it would reflect badly on his CV that he had been disloyal to his employer. But it turned out that they loved his skills with clients and did not care about his last job. Edward, after struggling a little, found a niche in freelance proofreading and was making money on his own terms. He was still home for the kids, but never bored.

The kids hadn't adapted to the change. They had thrived. They were much happier now that their fathers were happier and lived for the weekends when the family did a few things together. Jill's birthday was coming up and Greg was glad to be the dad she deserved and not only get her presents, but actually be there for her.

As Edward walked out with two beers, Greg sighed. Edward's slowly tanning skin glistened with sun lotion and his swimming trunks outlined his butt perfectly. His sunglasses added an air of mystery that reminded Greg of their first date. Edward opened both beers and sat down in his own sunbed, turning over to look at Greg with a quiet, contented smile. Whatever had he done to deserve such a beautiful, perfect husband?

“So, what's new this week?” Greg asked. “Got anything to tell me?”

“The kids are asking for a dog,” Edward said, “so there's that.”

“Why a dog?” Greg asked, shaking his head.

“Some pop star has asked people to adopt rescue dogs and...” Edward chuckled. “I guess that's all it is.”

“So, you said no, right?” Greg replied.

Edward was silent.

“Right?” Greg insisted with a slightly less hopeful tone.

Edward shrugged. “I said I would ask you.”

“They do not care for those hamsters, they are not having a dog,” Greg replied. “We can get them robo dogs for Christmas. They don't mind being neglected and won't interrupt your work.”

“We should go on vacation,” Edward said out of the blue.

“Huh? Where'd that come from?” Greg asked.

Edward laughed. “I guess being out in the sun like this, lying back, nice beer, lovely view... I could do with a few days of this.”

“Not the resort,” Greg replied.

“Why not?” Edward said.

“Because it's weird, and the people there are weird, and the only reason it worked was because we were basically forced to spend time together. And besides, it's not fair on the kids.” Greg sipped his beer.

“True...” Edward replied. “Perhaps we should find some sort of resort or package for a family. Somewhere we haven't been, like Argentina, Finland or Kenya.”

“That actually sounds pretty good. Somewhere nice, with the kids.” Greg nodded as he spoke. “A good experience for them too, to see other cultures like we did.” Images flooded his mind of himself and Edward, backpacks loaded, traveling around like they used to when they were dating... but with the kids. Eating out as a family, visiting historic sites, taking the kids to theme parks...

Just because they were married with children didn't mean that life had to end. They had loved traveling together, they had grown for it. So what if society said people with kids didn't go on adventurous holidays to new and different places? Society's rules didn't matter anymore. His family mattered.

Greg stood up and sat himself back down on Edward's lap. “I think we should. Somewhere like Kenya sounds perfect.”

“Hey, you're too heavy for me,” Edward groaned.

Greg grinned and moved himself so he was brushing against Edward's crotch. “No, I'm not.”

Edward blushed. “You are... what were we talking about?”

“How handsome you are,” Greg replied, leaning down and kissing Edward. He really was. He was just perfect. And now he knew it. He wouldn't deny it any more, or feel ashamed, and would only ask for rough sex for the fun of it.

Seeing Edward so happy with himself made Greg profoundly happy too. It set the world to rights.

“I think we should travel everywhere,” Greg finally continued, kissing up and down Edward's neck and chest. “See everything we didn't get a chance to see before we settled. And show the kids everything we have already seen. Go back to those places where we really grew.”

Edward nodded and stroked Greg's hair softly. “Exactly. All this stuff... it's been a big change. But you were right all along. Change happens, whatever. We need to make the right changes.”

Greg moved up and kissed Edward's lips tenderly. “Where do you wanna start?”

“You said Kenya, didn't you? Let's do Kenya.” Edward grinned and pulled Greg into another kiss.

Greg smiled against Edward's lips. He couldn't wait.