Chapter 52

The next morning they take their time waking up. Only when Alex hears Zero scratching at the door he finally gets out of bed to take him out for a walk.

"Let's walk towards my home together. We can tell Dana how it went yesterday.", Daniel proposes.

"That's a good idea. I wouldn't have had the courage if it wasn't for her encouragement."

Daniel feels a tinge of jealousy but lets it go. He knows Alex is right. Dana represented for him a family member giving her approval. It was something Daniel himself wasn't able to grant him.

They take their time walking the long way. Often they just walk minutes next to each other without speaking, only enjoying the company of the other. When they finally arrive at the mansion Daniel walks inside while shouting "Dana, we come bearing good news."

"No need to shout till the neighbors hear everything.", she walks down the stairs laughing.

"Judging by your smiling appearances everything went well yesterday?"

Alex steps forward and smilingly bows his head a little. "Yes and I couldn't have done it without you. Dana, thank you so much for everything."

"Oh, you cute little thing. Daniel, you better treat him well or I will snatch him away from you."

Alex blushes but before he can refuse Daniel already shouts "Keep your hands of him. He is my boyfriend and I won't share."

"Uncle Daniel, what's a boyfriend?", Peter pokes his head in from the garden. He doesn't realize the gasps and sighs his question arose from the adults. He just delightedly exclaims, "Teacher Alex, you brought Zero!"

"Y-Yes." Alex looks at Daniel in want of help but only is met with a reassuring smile.

"Dana, I think it is time I tell him." He smiles warmly at his sister.

"Well, not that you leave me much of a choice, flaunting your relationship in everyone's face." She sighs exaggeratedly but smiles.

Daniel crounches down in front of Peter. "Peter, you asked what a boyfriend is. Let me tell you." Peter just looks at him mildly curious. He does not really get why everyone is so excited about this topic. It was just one question out of many.

"You know that people who love each other can be in a relationship or even marry one another?"

"Yes, you marry the person you love the most.", Peter replies, proud that he knows the answer.

"You are exactly right." Daniel praises. "And if you are in a relationship with a girl, she is your girlfriend. That is just the term you use to describe her."

Understanding shows in Peter's eyes. "So if you are in a relationship with a boy, he is your boyfriend?"

"Yes, very good." Peter smiles at the praise. Daniel breathes in. The next part is going to be important and he feels a little bit nervous. "And I am in a relationship with teacher Alex. Since he is a boy, he is my boyfriend."

Peter doesn't really understand the fuss but that revelation leads to one big question. "So you love him the most?"

Daniel smiles at him and without hesitating says "Yes, I love him very much." Dana's eyebrow shoots up at hearing her brother declaring his love in front of everyone.

"Then are you going to marry him?"

Alex and Dana gasp a little at the question. In their country same-sex marriage is possible and acknowledged but they only have been dating for three months. This was a little fast for a developement.

But Daniel isn't ruffled as quickly by these questions. Instead he looks up at Alex while he answers seriously "In the future, if he will have me." Alex blushes but still gives a little nod that lets Daniel hope for the future.

"Will he and Zero then become our family?" Peter asks with clearly hopeful eyes.

This time before Daniel manages to speak, Alex answers in his stead. "It would make me very happy, if we can all become family."

Peter shows him a bright smile. "Me too."

The moment lingers a bit between them before Dana interrups "How nice that we are all on the same page but there is one thing you missed to explain." She turns to Peter. "Peter, come here a bit." She kneels in front of him, taking both of his arms. Peter tenses. This is the position she always tells him big and sad news. "Peter, it is good that you accept teacher Alex in our family like that. But their is something you have to understand. Other people not all accept a relationship between two boys." Peter looks at her with his eyes showing nearly the shape of a questionmark. He clearly doesn't understand. "Don't worry, it is a good think to love someone no matter boy or girl. But I want you to know that you shouldn't talk about it with other people carelessly. It could cause trouble for your uncle and teacher."

"But why, if it is a good thing?"

Dana sighs. How do you explain prejudiced people to a child? But then Alex speaks up. "Peter, this is like when other people found out your uncle is part of the mafia. There are people with all kinds of opinions. Some will be in your favor and some will be against you. That's why I ask you to not carelessly talk about the relationship between me and Daniel. Please." Alex' eyes are sad when he says this. Peter still doesn't really understand why someone would be mad at them for loving each other but he also doesn't understand why everyone told him he was scum when they learned about his uncle's job. He comes to the conclusion: Other people don't make sense. But it made him sad and he doesn't want teacher Alex to feel the same way so he vows to himself not to talk about it.

"Okay." His eyes show all the determination a four-year-old can muster. "I solemnly swear to not talk carelessly about your relationship."

"Thank you, Peter."

"Aaargh, you boys are all adorable." Dana stands up and pulls them all together in a huge hug. These big and little boys are not bad to have as a family. "I love you all."

Alex and Daniel let themselves be pulled into this family hug. Above Peter's and Dana's shoulders they smile tenderly at each other. They know that whatever may come in the future, from this point on they will be happy.

- The End -