Ask Midam - Archive

“Your family doesn’t trust me,” Michael commented, “Or like me for that matter. Your grandfather is very suspicious of me and thinks I had something to do with your ‘kidnapping’,” he grumbled, resting his head on the window, “I never wished for any of this to happen to you, Adam, and for them to think that I did-”

“Whoa,” Adam said, glancing in the mirror before signaling, pulling off to the side of the road and putting the car in park. He turned to Michael, “Mike, I know you never wanted anything to happen to me.”

Michael stared at him.

“I wouldn’t be with you if you did,” Adam took his hand, “I wouldn’t want to wake up every single day next to you if you did.”

Michael swallowed, looking down at their linked hands for a moment, like he was still fascinated by it after being together for months. He quickly checked his coat pockets with his free hand, pulling out a small box, “I know this isn’t technically for today according to your traditions but it’s important to me that you have it now. It feels right.”

Adam smiled weakly, “I left yours at home, Mike.”

“I want you to have this now,” Michael told him, pulling his hand away, “It’s very important to me that you have this. It could help you in a situation where I would not be there o-or if you couldn’t find me.”

Adam blinked in shock at the serious tone of his voice, “Nothing is gonna happen, Mike.”

Michael just stared at him for a moment before opening the box.

Adam tilted his head, staring at the small vial attached to a chain, “A glowstick?”

Michael rolled his eyes, an oddly human thing to do, before handing it to him, putting it in his palm.

Adam blinked in shock at the familiar, warm feeling, “Oh...Michael, is this…?” he trailed off.

“A vial of my Grace, yes,” Michael explained, “If I were to ever disappear, you could use this to track me. There’s a lot of other...things we should discuss about it, but we are going to be late,” he quickly took the necklace from Adam’s hand, helping him put it on, “It will always keep me close to your heart.”

Adam grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling him into a kiss.

Michael blinked in surprise before melting into the kiss. He fumbled slightly for Adam’s seatbelt, only to be stopped by his hand on his.

“We can’t be late,” Adam told him quietly, “We have all the time in the world for that later.”

Michael let out a sigh before nodding in agreement, sitting back in his seat. He quickly grabbed Adam’s hand, not saying a word as they sat in comfortable silence.

                                                               ...........…

“Why are we only here just to leave again?” Michael huffed, “It is a waste of time. I could easily teleport us.”

“We’re all going to the tree ceremony together,” Adam laughed quietly, “And then coming back here for cookies and we’re gonna watch a Charlie Brown Christmas…”

Michael just continued to be huffy about it, crossing his arms, “It is a waste of time.”

“Like I said, Mike, all the time in the world,” Adam rubbed his arm before getting out of the car.

Michael sighed before getting out of the car as well, following after Adam quickly. He smiled a little when Adam took his hand and walked up on the porch of the older looking big house with him.

Michael went to knock on the door but Adam simply opened it, walking inside and pulling Michael along with him.

“Nan?” Adam called, “We’re here!”

“Right on time,” Adam’s grandmother, Katherine, laughed as she walked out, “At least one of my grandkids can manage to show up on time.”

Michael watched as she pulled Adam into a tight hug and blinked in shock when she pulled him into one right after.

“It’s good to see you two,” Katherine said, “C’mon in, you’re going to catch a cold out there,” she said quickly, closing the door behind them, “Go on in the living room, we’re still waiting on Keith and the kids.”

“C’mon, Mike,” Adam said softly, pulling him into the living room and smiling, “Oh, Mr. They-Don’t-Like-Me.”

Michael huffed, crossing his arms and sitting beside him on the couch. He’d never had time to dwell on human comforts until he met Adam. But sitting in a warm house in front of a fireplace in a very cozy living room with Adam sitting so close their legs touched? That was what comfort felt like to Michael.

“They know we are together,” Michael said softly.

“I think they always kind of assumed,” Adam laughed quietly, “Pretty sure it was just you and me that weren’t aware we were dating before we were, Mike,” he said, resting his head on Michael’s shoulder.

“I have learned that it isn’t normal for friends to sleep together every night,” Michael said softly.

“Felt right though,” Adam whispered.

“Yes,” Michael agreed softly, linking their hands again, “It did.”

The archangel was a little frustrated when Adam moved over as soon as his grandfather came into the room, but didn’t comment on it. Humans were odd...they loved to show affection -in Adam’s case, at least- but not in front of people they knew...especially elder relatives.

“Good to see at least someone made it on time,” James grunted, sitting back down, “I swear, ever since…” he trailed off, “Well, no one’s been showin’ up to anything ‘til now. Biggest turnout we’ve had was on Thanksgiving and it’s ‘cause you came back.”

Adam smiled softly, “You’re gonna make people think I’m your favorite, granddad.”

“Well, you showed up on time!” James gestured around wildly, “Already doin’ better than your uncle.”

Adam just smiled softly, going silent.

“So, Mike, what do you do for a living?” James asked, causing Adam to choke on the air he was breathing.

Michael stared at him, confusion written all over his face.

“Mike is between jobs,” Adam said quickly, rubbing Michael’s arm.

“Did you…” James trailed off, clearing his throat, “Did you escape with Adam?”

“Granddad-” Adam started.

“Yes,” Michael nodded, “We escaped together.”

“Well,” James told him, “Thank you, Michael...you got Adam back to us.”

Michael stared at him for a moment before clearing his throat, “Excuse me,” he said, getting up and walking out of the room as quickly as possible. 

He knew Adam would follow him, a part of him hoped he wouldn’t, but he knew him too well at this point.

Michael shoved his hands in his pockets, staring off the porch. Adam’s grandparents didn’t even live that far and they lived on a small farm. 

It was so peaceful.

“Hey, you okay?” Adam asked quickly, struggling to get his coat on as he walked out. 

“Yes, I…” Michael trailed off and sighed, looking up at the stars.

“Words, Mike,” Adam encouraged softly.

Michael swallowed, “I was uncomfortable when your grandfather insinuated that I got you back to them when I was the reason you were gone in the first place.”

“God was the reason I was gone, not you,” Adam sighed, grabbing his hand, “You just did what your father said. I don’t blame you, I blame him.”

Michael stared down at him with a sigh, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

“You don’t believe me,” Adam said softly.

“I don’t,” Michael shook his head, “I blame myself. I try to see things your way but I do not.”

“I love you, Michael...nothing about what happened is going to change that,” Adam said, holding on his arm and looking out at the farm as well, “Let’s go inside, it’s cold.”

Michael just nodded, putting his arm around Adam as they walked back inside.

                                                              ...........…

“Adam!” Joy yelled happily as Adam walked in hand-in-hand with Michael to Windom’s little town square. They ran up, Martin following close behind with identical grins on their faces.

“Watch it, bro, Erick is around and wants a story,” Martin added before they could even say hello.

“Erick?” Michael asked seriously.

“He’s a reporter for our town’s paper,” Adam explained, rolling his eyes, “We went to high school with him.”

“He’s a little asshole is what he is,” Ryka said, walking up with her hands stuffed in her pockets and Dawson following close behind, “He just made a professional career after being a gossip in high school,” she scoffed.

“Is he a threat?” Michael asked seriously.

Adam elbowed him, “He’s just a jerk, Mike, don’t get all...you,” he said quietly, but there was a fond smile on his face.

“I haven’t seen this thing light up in ten years,” Dawson commented, looking up at the huge, unlit tree, “Pretty sure the last time I saw it was when all of us were together.”

Adam’s lips twitched, like he wanted to smile but he didn’t. He stared at Dawson for another moment before tearing his eyes away, looking up at the tree, “I swear, they find a bigger one every year,” he said, changing the subject.

Michael watched Adam, not saying anything.

“Joy said that you were trying to find Jared,” Dawson said suddenly, looking at Michael, “Any luck?”

“No,” Michael said simply, not taking his eyes away from Adam despite the feeling of guilt in his chest for not telling Adam and his friends about the fate of their friend.

“Good detective you got there,” Dawson snorted, “Don’t worry, me and Ryka are already looking into it.”

Michael went to say something, but was cut off by someone calling out “Adam Milligan!”

“Tried to warn you,” Martin chuckled, stepping aside as who only Michael could assume was Erick ran over.

“I’ve been trying to get ahold of you,” Erick explained, “I talked to your grandparents, have they not been forwarding my messages?”

Adam shrugged, “Sorry, must have missed the memo,” he said, smiling weakly, holding onto Michael’s arm. 

“And who is this?” Erick asked.

“Off the record, this is Michael,” Adam smiled, though there was a little bit of sarcasm in his tone.

“Could we possibly talk on the record?” Erick asked, “It’s a big story for our little town, y’know…would be nice to get the big scoop.”

“There is no scoop, I’m back now,” Adam said, shrugging, “There’s no story to tell.”

“You look the same,” Erick commented.

“Good genes,” Adam said simply, gripping Michael’s arm a little tighter.

Michael could sense the anxiety starting to radiate off of his former vessel, he knew it was either the questions or the amount of people, he wasn’t sure which was making it worse.

He went to say something, but Adam’s grandmother did before he could.

“I thought we told you to beat it,” Katherine snapped, practically shoving Adam and Michael behind her shorter figure, but Michael swore she had enough fury to even scare him.

Erick put his hands up in surrender, “I was just seeing if he had gotten my message, Kat, calm down,” he said, taking a step back.

Katherine just continued to glare until Erick just sighed, nodding, and walking away.

“I admire your grandmother’s fury,” Michael said quietly to Adam, causing him to laugh and bury his face in his shoulder.

                                                              ...........…

“I will say,” Michael said softly, looking up at the now-lit tree before looking around at the crowd, “Your tiny town is nice, for a bunch of humans. It is nice they found something to do with their brief existence.”

Adam rolled his eyes, but smiled fondly, holding Michael’s gloved hand with his own as they walked back to their truck.

“I’ve always enjoyed observing human holidays,” Michael explained, “But I never actually took part in celebration before.”

Adam smiled slightly, “Not even Michaelmas?”

Michael smiled softly, “While I do appreciate your people celebrating me...no.”

“Well, next year we’re just gonna have to celebrate our birthdays together,” Adam said, linking their arms and pulling him close.

“I do not have a birthday,” Michael huffed.

“We’ll just have to go to the next closest thing then,” Adam smiled, “Just so happens to be my birthday as well.”

Michael scoffed, “That is not a coincidence, you were meant to be my vessel. Originally that was intended to be your brother’s birthday, but that date was pushed up in hopes of starting the apocalypse sooner.”

Adam rolled his eyes, “Well, tough luck, buddy, I’m your boyfriend now.”

“That is not tough luck,” Michael said, leaning down and pressing his lips against his.

                                                         ...........…

“Eat your food, Mike,” Adam whispered encouragingly as they sat at the dinner table.

“I enjoy pizza,” Michael whispered back, looking down at the plate.

“I know, but you can try new things too,” Adam bumped his shoulder, “Just try it and if you don’t like it you don’t have to eat it.”

“Can we get pizza after?” Michael huffed.

Adam just pressed a soft kiss to his jaw line, patting his leg as he continued eating.

“So, Michael,” Keith said suddenly, “What do you do for a living? I feel like you and Addy are so close and we know nothing about you.”

“I recently acquired a job at the shipping yard,” Michael said before taking a bite of the ham and making a face, but swallowed it.

“How’d you meet Adam?” Keith asked.

“Keith,” Katherine snapped at him, “Eat your food.”

Keith rolled his eyes, “Oh, I’m just grilling the new guy, ma. I’m an uncle, it’s my job to make sure little Addy is being safe.”

Adam narrowed his eyes, “Thanks, Uncle Keith,” he said sarcastically.

                                                      ...........…

“We all have ornaments with our names on them,” Adam explained, “The tree is already decorated, but we always hang our family ornaments on Christmas Eve,” he told Michael, “Gran makes them, her dad used to make them before he died,” he said before going to hang a few on the tree that Michael recognized as some earlier people in the Milligan line. 

“We also celebrate the Winter Solstice,” Katherine added, smiling at Michael.

Michael nodded, staring at her, “Happy Yule, ma’am,” he said quietly, not loud enough for Adam to hear.

Katherine smiled, “You’re pretty smart, Mike,” she said before handing an ornament with his name on it.

Michael stared down at it, “It is not traditional for a new boyfriend to be welcomed into a family this fast.”

“Do we seem like a normal family, Mike?” Katherine raised an eyebrow.

“No, ma’am, you don’t,” Michael explained, “The Milligan line has many witches and I believe that you are one of them.”

“And I believe that you’re the Michael and not just Michael,” Katherine smiled at him before handing him a clear looking ornament, “This is for the tree in your new home.”

“A new home blessing,” Michael said quietly, admiring it and then his vessel’s cheeks tinged slightly, “I’ve always found witch traditions sort of fascinating.”

“Do you sense it in him?” Katherine asked.

Michael went silent.

“It’s late for him, I know, but...after everything he’s been through…” she trailed off, “He didn’t have his mother to guide him and James and I think that the time away might have...stunted his growth, if you know what I mean.”

Michael pursed his lips, “The Milligan line has a very high number of witches in your blood...I sense that in Adam, but it’s not as strong as with you or your husband. I do not know if he will ever grow into his powers after the time we spent in Hell. He did not age.”

Katherine nodded, smiling sadly, “Well...if you do sense anything, you know where to find us. We’ll take him in as soon as it happens, it’s what we do.”

“Did gran give you your ornament?” Adam asked, walking over quickly and looking at it, “I told her the colors you like.”

“It is nice,” Michael told him, slipping the other one into his pocket for when they got home. He smiled at Adam, taking his focus back to him, “Show me where you’d like me to hang it?”

Adam nodded, grabbing his free hand and leading him over to the large tree where his ornament was hanging along with his mother’s. He quickly adjusted it a little more, making sure her name was on the outside before smiling at Michael, “You can hang it beside ours.”

Michael hung his ornament before his lips twitched, looking at the tree names together.

                                                              ...........…

“Maybe you’re vegetarian,” Adam considered on the way back to their house, driving their truck.

“Maybe,” Michael said, staring out the window while holding his hand, “I do not appreciate eating things that were once alive.”

“We’ll start getting pizza with just cheese on it, then,” Adam smiled at him as he pulled in their driveway and put the truck in park before hopping out and running to the front door quickly, “I have to give you your present now, since you gave me mine,” he said, fumbling to unlock the door.

Michael smiled softly, leaning on the truck for a moment and watching Adam run inside, picking up Aira as he did and holding her close. He shut the door before hurrying after him, watching as his partner ran over to the tree, grabbing a small box.

Michael closed the door and locked it behind them before walking over to the tree as well. He discreetly hung the ornament from Adam’s grandmother before turning to smile at Adam.

Adam handed it to the archangel, an excited look on his face, “Open it!”

Michael opened it, blushing slightly at Adam’s gaze on him. 

“I-I know we’re not ready to get married or anything, but...I still wanted to give you something to remind you of me while you’re working. I-I’m so proud of you for getting that job, Mike.”

Michael opened the box, smiling down at the ring, “I love it, Adam,” he told him, pressing his lips against his, “I love you.”