Darren is on Daisy watching duty, he knows they were learning how to read, cuddled comfortably on the couch when he left them, so Chris has no idea what could have happened. He assumes Cooper broke something, by the bark that followed the shatter.

Chris clutches the doorframe when the glass breaks again and he finally sees what’s going on.

Darren is sitting on the floor with his legs crossed while Daisy is reaching for the ornament on the tree.

Darren turns his attention to Chris when he hears his elephant footsteps.

“Hi. We’re playing? I’m not sure what though,” Darren squeaks embarrassingly, knowing Chris will most likely get mad for making the mess and smashing the ornaments, and perhaps throwing off the perfect composition of the tree.

“Dada! They don’t bounce!” Daisy inspects the pieces of glass and fumes, puffing her cheeks and making that cute bouncy motion with her tiny feet.

“Oh my god,” Chris whispers, awed.

“What?”

“Get the phone, turn on the camera, we gotta have the evidence, my mom will never believe this…” He trails off, still shocked beyond belief that their daughter repeated something that he’s done himself as a kid.

Darren retreats with the phone, camera already on and pins it on Daisy.

“Honey, can you repeat what you just said for Daddy?” Chris crutches down to Daisy’s level and rubs her spine.

“They don’t bounce,” she whimpers and looks at Chris with her huge amber eyes, making Chris want to kick himself for not buying bouncy balls.

“Aww, baby, please don’t cry,” Darren chimes in, lowering the camera and crawls to sit on her other side. He kisses her dark hair and covers Chris’ hand on her back with his own.

Chris throws him a pleading look to take this one because Chris is too overwhelmed by emotions to do a parent talk right now.

“Did you want bouncy balls on the tree?” Darren asks sweetly.

Daisy gives a small nod and looks up at him.

“We could get bouncy balls for the next Christmas? Huh? How about that? Meanwhile, we could play with the big bouncy balls that you have upstairs?” Darren gives her the warmest smile a man could give to his teary eyed daughter and Chris-

Chris might not get to live past forty since Darren wants to give him a cardiac arrest every time.

“Okay,” Daisy says unsure and turns to Chris for the confirmation. Too smart for a three-year-old.

“You can go play with Dada upstairs after you finish reading the third chapter of Alice in Wonderland,” Chris tells her in a fake stern voice. He knows they’ve already finished it; otherwise Darren wouldn’t have let her play with the tree.

“We did, Daddy! We finished it!” Daisy squeals, grabbing Darren’s hand and swinging it back and forth. Chris’ eyes follow Darren’s symbiotic reaction to Daisy, his toothy smile lightning up his whole face and hands rocking Daisy side to side from the swinging.

“Oh did you? Well, I am very proud of you, sweetie.”

Daisy stumbles as she tries to sit in his lap, Chris catching her and setting her comfortably.

“Daddy, your hands are dirty,” she giggles and looks at her shirt. Chris notes with a horror that the back of her new shirt is covered in flour too.

“Crap.”

“Don’t worry, we will go change into a new fabulous outfit, right anak?”

“Yes!”

Daisy adores playing dress-up, painting her nails, doing her hair; she is their little princess.

Darren runs upstairs making airplane noises, Daisy on his shoulders, clutching his curls, and screaming through the whole house.

Chris blushes to the roots of his ears and shuffles closer to the woman to avoid shouting and attracting even more attention. “Yes, hi. Chris Colfer in the flesh.” He laughs awkwardly. The woman offers him her ticket and asks for an autograph, searching for a pen in her bag.

While Chris is making a small talk with his fan, asking things like, Where are from? and Did you like the concert? Darren sees a couple of women lingering nearby, looking at Chris and whispering.

The decision comes easy to him.

Before the women’s gazes could jump on him, Darren manages to unsuspiciously step into the aisle and walk away, into the hallway. Letting out a sigh he didn’t realize he was holding in, Darren texts Chris that he is waiting for him in the hallway, just to be safe.

He knew that Chris was famous, he just wasn’t ready for… this.

Darren has dealt with fans asking him autographs at public events. But being recognized everywhere?

No.

He is well aware that Chris is on the hottest, most popular show on television right now and that Glee cast was invited to the White House and to Oprah - he’s read the newspapers. But realizing that this is someone’s actual life before you witness it yourself is not tangible. Except... He will have to deal with it himself soon, won’t he? Everything Glee touches turns into delectable gold.

He can hear Chris and the women exiting through the doors, Chris’ voice ringing out goodbye’s.

Darren’s heart drops. Is this the only time Chris and he would get to be out in public? Would Chris ever want to do this again with him? Would they have the time?

“Hey.”

Darren looks up from his sneakers into blue orbs waiting for him.

“Look, I’m so, so sorry- I didn’t know they would-“

“Chris.”

Chris is so flushed all the way down to his neck, looking so small and apologetic.

“Chris, this isn’t your fault. You are famous. Therefore, these things happen.” Darren says the last part with a lilt to his voice.

“I should have warned you,” Chris says sheepishly.

“It’s okay.”

Darren puts his hand on Chris’ shoulder and squeezes it. If Chris sucks in a breath, well - it must have been an imagination on Darren’s part.

“You can warn me about all the other things when we are stuffing our faces with food.” It ends up sounding like a hopeful question to Darren’s ears.

“Give you a 101 on Life as a Celebrity?”

“Yeah, tell me about it, stud.”

Darren knew that Chris was actually his favorite everything partner.

They had known each other since they were little, when they still used to chase fishes around vast waters. Everyone knew they were inseparable.

A loud laugh interrupted Darren's thoughts.

"Are you thinking about Chris again?" Snickered his brother.

"Am not."

"Yes, you are, I know. You just have that dumb look on your face whenever you're thinking about him." Chuck tilted his head doing something that resembled a lovestruck smile and sighed heavily, mocking him.

"Shut up."

"So, when are you gonna give him your necklace? I know you've been making one since the elders proclaimed his passage to adulthood."

"I told you to shut up, 's none of your business," muttered Darren, blushing heavily. It would have probably shown down to his fin, but luckily the pinkish color of his tail was enough of a disguise.

Chuck was right, though. He had been making a necklace for Chris. It was tradition, you had to give it to the one you wanted to be your other half. It hadn't been long since his own passage, but they weren't allowed to give necklaces until they were both welcomed into adulthood by their elders. Since Chris' recently happened, he had started looking everywhere for the most beautiful seashells and today he had finally found the last one. He had already noticed other mermen and mermaids looking at Chris differently and it filled him with jealousy.

They can go fuck themselves if they're starting to notice him just now. I've been waiting forever for this moment and I'm gonna be the first to give him a necklace.

Darren would absolutely respect Chris' right to refuse it, even if it would break his heart. But he had to be the first one.

He had been thinking about it since that day when they were kids.

They had been swimming and playing around until they noticed Chris' aunt approaching a merman. They quickly hid behind a rock and watched in awe as the merman gave her a beautiful necklace made of seashells, just like the ones their parents wore everyday. Darren remembers Chris looking at him and whispering, "When we're older, I'll give you one too". Chris had probably forgotten about that, but Darren never did.

Darren had been trying to act nonchalant about the way he felt for Chris, but the last few days had been particularly difficult for him. Today he had finally found the most beautiful seashell to complete his necklace - it was perfectly round and it had some blue nuances he knew Chris would love. Darren put the necklace in a satchel and left to meet Chris at their cave, like they did almost everyday.

As soon as he saw Chris waiting for him, Darren could feel his heart trying to thump out of his chest. He knew he needed to get this over with immediately. Approaching Chris, he hid the satchel behind his back and replied bashfully to Chris' hi.

"I- I've got something for you," he said, looking down and feeling his face heating up, while he took the necklace out of the satchel and gently thrusted it in Chris' hands. "I wanted to give this to you before anyone else could and- and I- that one in the middle matches the blue in your eyes a-and your tail so I thought you would like it."

When Darren looked at him, Chris’ eyes were wide in a mix of surprise and what Darren hoped was happiness.

Chris grinned. “Wait a second!” And he disappeared into the cave.

Darren stood there, not sure of what was happening. If Chris hadn't gotten back in less than a minute like he did, he would've probably started to panic. But there he was, holding his necklace in one hand and something else in the other.

"I made one for you too," Chris said shyly. "I told you I would. It's not as cute as yours but-"

"You remember?” Darren whispered wide-eyed. He turned the necklace over in his palms, caressing the shells with his fingers, taking in every detail.

“I love it.” Darren smiled at Chris, his eyes crinkling and shining with happiness. His body became giddy with excitement and he couldn’t wait any longer. “It's perfect, put it on me."

“Only if you put yours on me. And of course I remember, you dumbass. How could I not?”

Darren could only nod as Chris got closer to him and he could feel his fin tickling his own. He slid his necklace around Darren’s neck and waited until Darren did the same. They felt like they were wrapped in their own magical moment and Chris couldn’t help leaning towards Darren to let their noses gently rub against each other. Darren took his hand, holding it as if he was never going to let go, then his lips skimmed against Chris, pulling him into the sweetest kiss. Chris’ hand came up to Darren’s, stroking the lines of his cheekbone as the waves moved them around and neither of them cared.

“You look beautiful,” whispered Darren against his lips.

“It’s because I’m wearing your necklace.”

“We could go up and see the sky later… Do you want to?”

Darren is so out of it, he doesn’t question Chris grabbing his waist and pretty much dragging his whole body weight to their bed. Chris mentally pats himself on the shoulder for the workout, but the circumstance leaves a bitter taste in his mouth. Seeing Darren so vulnerable and defenseless-

It makes his heart clench.

Chris busies himself with pulling the blankets from under Darren, struggling with his butt, in particular.

“Oh come on, help me out here, we’ve had a good relationship so far, haven’t we?” He looks pointedly at Darren’s ass.

“All those orgasms meant nothing to you? I knew it.”

The butt doesn’t reply. How rude.

“No wonder your name is an asshole.”

Chris rolls Darren over on his side and pulls the blanket out with all of his might.

Darren moans.

“It’s okay, I’m just getting you ready for bed,” Chris whispers sweetly, gently turning him in his original snow-angel position. Darren must feel like his whole body got shredded through a garbage disposal and then sewed together. He wants to make this as painless as possible.

Chris rubs the nape of his neck. “Now the fun part.”

Pants or shirt? Chris critically eyes Darren’s arms looped through the holes in his shirt and decides that tugging jeans down his legs will be much easier.

He only manages to pop the button when Darren’s hand stops him.

“Don’t touch me, I have a husband,” Darren slurs confidently.

Chris pulls away and straightens up.

So. Chris’ life is now officially screenplay worthy.

“I love him. My husband.”

Darren continues to talk in phrases, eyes closed and a smile in the corner of his lips.

Chris side-eyes him at first, but studying Darren’s glowing face changes his demeanor and makes his heart grow three times bigger. How did he get so lucky that his absolutely drunk-off-his-ass husband is trying to protect their relationship from Chris himself?

“Out of curiosity,” Chris drags the words, “What’s his name?”

Darren lets out a dreamy sigh.

“Christopher Paul Colfer.”

Can’t recognize me, but can say my full name without stuttering in drunken stupor. I chose the right man.

“I guess I won’t give you a goodnight kiss, since you are… married.”

“Uh-huh.”

Chris smiles at his husband before turning off the lights.

“Goodnight, dummy. I love you.”

And I am so not letting you off the hook tomorrow.

What’s worse is that he doesn’t really feel like talking about it with Darren. He was about to lose him. Stupid fucking nightmares.

He just wants to be around Darren and see him smile and laugh and talk to him like he always does. But he knows that Darren would immediately notice. 

Chris decides to take a peek at the living room - turns out Darren is napping on the couch. He feels a nagging need to lie at his side, his arm on Darren’s stomach,  Darren’s unmistakable smell all around him. His legs almost drag him there of their own volition.  

He lies there, only god knows for how long. He’s looking at Darren but he’s not really seeing him, he just can’t stop thinking for one stupid minute. That’s probably why he hasn’t realized that Darren is looking back at him, sleepy and confused. 

Waking up to see Chris looking so upset is really not the best thing ever. Darren doesn’t know what’s happening or how to make it better, he feels helpless. 

“Hey, love, what happened?” asks Darren, cupping Chris’ cheek with his hand. 

“I- I don’t-” 

“You don’t have to tell me if don’t want to, but at least let me do something. Get closer. Here, lie your head on my chest, honey.” 

Chris complies as Darren soothingly strokes his back. They stay that way for 10, maybe 15 minutes? Darren has no idea. Chris can’t do it anymore he needs to blurt everything out. 

"You know, you're not allowed to die until we're 90 and old and full of wrinkles. I won't let you. Promise me you will never do that to me. I don't know if I- how I-" whispers Chris on Darren's chest, holding back his tears. The grip he had on Darren's hip is slowly tightening as Darren gently kisses his hair. 

"I promise, I promise, I promise. I will do anything I can. But you have to promise me the same. Everything would be so dull without you by my side." 

"I love you so, so much" sobs quietly Chris, lifting his head to look into Darren's eyes. 

"Chris..." sighs Darren "Just- just come up here I wanna hold you properly." Looking at Chris being so sad made his eyes feel watery too.

Chris slowly moves to be eye to eye with Darren as his arms immediately fly around his chest, holding him tight. Darren holds him just as tight, keeping their foreheads one against the other.

"I love you even more than anyone could ever understand. I was thinking that- you know how kids open their arms until they can't anymore to show you how much they love you? It's more than that." 

But sometimes there’s no need, when they both realize the triviality of it.

When Chris is still sulking on their bed, Darren comes in waving his white flag made of chocolates, jokes, smiles, and kisses. Sometimes, Chris cracks a smile, we're so dumb, and lets Darren in.

When that's not enough, Darren knows that Chris needs his space. Before leaving the room he asks "I'm gonna sleep in the other room, okay?" He doesn't really like sleeping alone, but he can. Chris' whole face falls.

"I- no- I don't w- sleep here. Sleep here."

"Ok. I still have stuff to do around the house, but I'm gonna sleep here," smiles Darren, relieved.

Chris busies himself with his writing when Darren leaves the room, giving himself an outlet to shake everything off. An hour and a half later Darren comes back into their room to sleep and Chris closes his laptop. He lies on his side, his back turned to Darren's side of the bed. He still feels tense as Darren lies down, there's still space between them. He sneaks a glance in Darren’s direction, before slowly scooting back.

"Hold me." It's a whispered request. Darren can't help the smile that creeps up on his face, sliding his arm around Chris' waist, holding his hand, nosing the hairline on the back of his neck.

"I'm sorry" "I'm sorry, too" they whisper.

"I love you." Chris feels calm, Darren's presence all around him grounds him, his lips whispering I love you more against his skin make him happy.

“Okay no, we are ordering food, we are drinking our probiotic beverages and I’m dragging you away from this damn computer,” Chris told him in his stern grandmotherly voice and immediately giggled after.

“But,” Darren clicked on his mouse, “I’ll just- just a second.”

“Hooo-neeey…”

Chris singsonged and grabbed Darren by the shoulders, shaking him.

“Okay, okay, I’m yours.”

Darren spun around in his chair and grinned at Chris, grabbing his arms and coaxing them to slide around his own neck.

“Your voice is,” Darren paused to emphasize his point, “out of this world. Thank you for agreeing to do this in my shitty, dirty, tiny apartment.” His eyes searched Chris’ because he truly wanted him to understand what this meant for him.

Chris felt so much love for this man and his never-ending compliments, which got right into his core and soul. His eyes flickered to Darren’s lips and he couldn’t help himself any longer.

Darren got his breath knocked out of him when Chris sat into his lap and surged to kiss him, moving and sliding his lips across Darren’s, making Darren tilt his head higher to put more pressure and taste him properly.

Finally, they separated with a pop, their lips slick and shiny and love-bitten. Darren looked up at Chris through his eyelashes with black dilated pupils, still hungry for more and smiled.

“I want more thank you’s like that.”

Chris’ gaze was still fixed on Darren’s lips.

“You wish.”

Darren at least looks sheepish and apologetic.

“Sorry.”

“It’s fine. I’m just having a breakdown, as always. That’s all.”

Chris sniffs and pretends to dust off his suit.

Darren frowns and grabs his shoulder to shake and pat him.

“Says the best speech giver in the history of Golden Globe acceptance speeches.”

“And now I’m having flashbacks to one of the most embarrassing moments of my life. Is your second name Satan, by any chance?”

Darren bites his lower lip and wills his face to remain expressionless. Sometimes Chris isn’t even aware of how much harder he’s making this hiding thing for him.

“Come on. You’ll be fine. I’ll drop my pants if you forget your speech, just to distract the audience. We all know who the real fool is anyway.”

Chris lowers his head as rosy blush appears on his cheeks. Bastard.

“Diet coke.”

Darren’s insides melt.

Chris doesn’t use their code for “I love you” nearly as much as Darren does, and he doesn’t need to, not really. Darren constantly needs to pour out those words, to see Chris’ reaction. Like flowers need their water, Darren needs the musical sound of those words in the air. Chris doesn’t need that, he is simply different. Chris would rather bake him cookies, do his laundry that he always forgets to do or buy him a DVD box set of The Legend of Korra. Being loved by Chris means having his whole-souled care and attention. Darren always knows that Chris loves him. But hearing those words is like receiving an extra portion of love.

“Diet coke, too. Very much.”

Chris sneaks a look at him from the corner of his eyes.

Darren turns on his back, letting out a sigh.

“-‘ry much.”

“But how much?”

“Um?”

“How muuuuch?”

“More than- more than…”

Darren lets out a loud snore.

End of the video.

***

Darren walks into Chris’ office.

“You posted this?”

Darren sounds frustrated.

Chris grins.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Christopher Paul Colfer.”

“What, Darren Everett Criss?”

Chris’ smug expression makes Darren want to wipe it off with a kiss.

Darren sighs.

“I love you, you sneaky little bugger. But, for the record, I love sleep more. ”

He slides into Chris’ lap and wraps arms around his neck.

“Good. Because then we’d have a problem.”

“What?”

“I definitely love sleep more than you.”

“Ouch. Well, at least I wasn’t an asshole about it.”

Darren’s fingers slide through Chris’ hair at the nape of his neck.

“Fine. I love sleeping with you?”

“I love fucking with you, too.”

Darren and Chris shared a meaningful look, a small smile on both of their faces.

"What a shame, though. We could’ve been the best dressed couple for once, instead of the biggest couple of nerds," Chris joked.

“You know, I heard around that we’re a shoe-in for the “Nobody Thought You Were Actually Straight” and “Cutest Half Of A Couple” titles. They’re both mine, obviously.” Darren looked at Chris who had promptly snorted. “If I’m feeling generous I might leave the second one to you. You know what? A kiss and you’ve got yourself a deal.”

“You’re an idiot,” whispered Chris before pressing their lips together in a chaste kiss. “If you want a kiss you just need to ask but I’m totally winning that one on my own.”

“Mmh you’re right,” said Darren, holding Chris’ face between his hands “Man, look at this cutie face, how could I ever stand a chance? Absolutely the cutest. Lucky me, I’ve got such a cute boyfriend.”

“Oh my God, shut up,” laughed Chris.

Darren kissed both of his cheeks and then his lips with a noisy mwah! “So cute.”

Chris felt like shaking his head at him and grinning like an idiot at the same time.

“Oh, you think I’m embarrassing right now? Just wait for tonight,” beamed Darren. 

“God, please, no. Come on just put your suit on so we can go.”

“But mooom,” Darren whined jokingly, before putting on his suit. “You know what? We should totally wear matching ties! Just lemme take a look… Ah! These ones!” He held up two ties in front of Chris, letting him choose one of them.

“Ok, ok, whatever you say. Just hurry up, we’re gonna be late,” smiled Chris, picking a tie and putting it on. “You know we don’t have to do this, right? We can just wait, there are gonna be other occasions and-”

“No, no, no, I wanna do it, I told you, I’m sure. Are you sure? If you’re not it’s ok, not a problem." 

Chris took a deep breath. "Hey, no, we promised. No chickening out. I was just checking, I don't want to feel like I'm making you do something you're not sure about. We're both sure, we're gonna do this. We're gonna do this and we're gonna be awesome. After all it's nothing big, half of the people there already knows, just a party where everyone will know that I'm your boyfriend and you're mine." 

In a second Darren was hugging him tightly, burying his nose in Chris' neck and inhaling his scent. "Yours. I like how that sounds." 

Chris hugged him back, a faint blush staining his cheeks. 

"Let's go. We can't keep everyone waiting." 

*

They stepped out of the car and walked towards the door, stopping for a second and intertwining their fingers. 

"I guess this is what we're gonna do. Can't be clearer than this." 

"Well we could make out in front of everyone, that would be clear for sure," grinned Darren. 

"Darren," said Chris, side eyeing him. 

"Just throwing in some other options, just say the word and I'll do it." 

"Oh, you're such a poor generous soul." 

Darren barked out a laugh and squeezed Chris' hand.

Chris stops sipping his drink as he glances over at Darren.

"Well, have you?"

"I wouldn’t object to it, per se."

"So is that an offer?

"It could be, if you wanted."

"Huh." Chris thinks about it for about three seconds before he continues, "Double pleasure seems like fun."

"More like reciprocation, right?"

"I knew you were going to make fun of me."

"The offer still stands."

"Just like your dick."

"Oh, it’s on."

***

"Can I try them on?"

"Go ahead."

"Hmm..."

"What?"

"You have a better sight than me."

"I guess."

"So… How do I look?"

"Honestly? They don’t really fit you, Darren."

"At least they look cute on you."

"Well, but still not as cute as your black ones on you."

"Nah. You’re a total cutie with them on. Especially when you’ve just woken up with your hair all messed up. Makes me want to snuggle with you."

"If so, then give them back to me. I want to snuggle."

"Okay. Here come the snuggles!"

"AHHH, Darren!"

***

"How do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Make me want you all the time."

"Darren-"

"Okay, okay. I’ll take out the trash. Shit, I thought that would work."

"Well, obviously, not on me."

"Yeah. I’ll have to come up with something better next time."

"Don’t even think about giving me sexual favors, Darren. Doesn’t work on me."

"Damn."

*** "Hmm..." Chris looks in the mirror over his shoulder, tracing his eyes over his tight dark jeans, up and down. Then, his gaze settles on his ass, the swell of it hugged so tightly, it almost hurts. He can see the crack, the lines of his underwear drawing over his cheeks. Chris feels so much confidence, because yeah, his ass looks fucking fantastic.

"Chris?"

Uhm...

"What are you doing?"

"Tell me, Darren... Does my ass look good?"

"Good is an understatement of the century. It's a piece of art."

Chris hums and finally turns to face Darren.

"Piece of art you say? Would you like to, ah, estimate its cost?"

He thinks of his smile, so radiant from the day they met. He can’t even bear the sight of sadness on Darren's face, it almost breaks his heart. How small he becomes in his arms, how running his hand up and down Darren’s back always seems to calm him down. Chris just wants to kiss all of his pain away. 

Sometimes it hits him just how in love with Darren he is. He wants to squeal into his pillow and hug it tightly, a lovestruck smile on his face and his heart thudding wildly.

Chris just wants to hold Darren and to be held by him forever.

Lately, this thought of “forever” has been more insistent in his mind. He used to be wary of anyone who believed in this strange concept. But now, when he thinks about his life in like, 10 years or so, there’s only one consistent presence, Darren. 

He wants to fall asleep holding Darren's hand and to wake up on the edge of the bed, because Darren is sprawled on 3/4 of it. 

Darren who never pretends to listen to him, because he’s actually interested and he’s always willing to give him a piece of his mind.

Darren, who kissed him that night back in January and has never stopped. He kisses him good morning and he kisses him goodnight. But mostly he kisses him just because he can. And he always kisses Chris back.

And, God, I could kiss those soft lips for hours, tasting him again and again.

I could make him laugh everyday, just to see the crinkles by his eyes and his genuine, beautiful smile. I want to be able to make him laugh even 30 years from now and I want to still tell him how lame his jokes are, trying to hide my smile.

I want to love him for the rest of my life and I want him to love me for the rest of his life. I want him to always look at me the way he does, when his eyes look like they’re shining.

“Yeah, no shit! So what is he like? What did you talk about? I want every little detail.”

“He is sO cool, like- oh  and the stories he told me-“

“What stories? Baaabe…”

“After we talked about the movie and Noël Coward and all that stuff-“

“Yes?“

“-I went full on nerd crazy on him and told him I am a big fan of his work, and that I have action figures of Gandalf-“

“You told him that?”

“My mouth was going 100 miles per hour, Darren.”

“Did you hit someone? What is the speed limit in London?”

“[Laughing] You idiot. Anyway, I think he was a little taken aback, I mean, I don’t know why, I still look like I’m thirteen.”

“So how many laws did I break when I sucked you off right before you left..?”

“If you think of me as a thirteen-year-old next time we’re having sex, you are going to be a solo artist, if you catch my drift.”

“Drift certainly caught. Go on, my sexy hot twenty-four-year-old lover.”

“Thank you, old man.”

“Ouch.”

“Yeah. Okay, so- What was I saying- Oh! He told me that he’s flattered, and that [British accent] It will be a pleasure to work with a fan.”

“Wow. And I’m not only talking about your British accent. So did you-“

“…I told him that my boyfriend is a big fan, too.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. And he said that he has to meet him, too.”

“No way? Am I-?”

“I think so, yes!”

“Yes? Oh my God YES!!!”

“Please, don’t break the lamp like you did last time!”

“I won’t, I promise! But oh my God, Chris.”

“Yes.”

“I wish I could kiss you right now.”

“…Skype in 30. I’m on my way to the hotel now. I’ll take a shower and then-“

“Yes. Yes. Okay. I’m gonna shower, too.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too. So much, Chris.”

“Me, too. See you.”

“Later. Bye.”

The one that really catches Chris' eye, though, is a turquoise pair, framed with black contours. As he takes them out to get a good look, Darren gets back into the room, eyes wide and his face acquiring a faint red shade. 

Chris' mind, that didn't really have the time to register the fact that it was Darren owning all of this and so, obviously, wearing it, gets flooded by endless scenarios that leave him looking just like Darren. But for a completely different reason. 

Chris immediately drops the pair in the open drawer as Darren starts mumbling. 

"I- hmm- those are- yeah, hum- mine-" 

"I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have- but," says Chris, licking his lips. "You- you'd look good in these." 

Darren lets out a relieved, "Yeah?" 

"I think you could- you should show me." Chris picks up the pair he dropped. "These? Please?" 

He walks up to hand them to Darren, kissing him chastely on the lips. 

"Just, yeah, go." 

Darren hurries to the bathroom, leaving Chris sitting on the bed, his mind racing. He had never even thought about this possibility and even less about the fact that it would leave him as turned on as he is.

When Darren comes back, nothing had prepared Chris for the sight before him. Darren's groin, clad in the tight lace that also hugged perfectly his ass. He could trace the shape of his cock and the crack of his ass with his eyes. An erotic sight to say the least. 

Darren feels mildly flustered like that, so open and trusting, and Chris can see it. He gets up from the bed and reaches for his hand, caressing his cheek with his other hand. 

"You look so hot and beautiful and perfect," whispers Chris in his ear. "I will eat you out in a second." 

"You will? You should. You really should." 

Chris slides his hand on Darren's cheek to grab a fistful of his hair and smash their mouths together. He thrusts his tongue in Darren’s mouth, tasting and exploring it. Darren kisses back just as fervently, sliding their tongues together and gripping Chris’ face with both of his hands. Chris slides his hand down Darren’s back to grip his ass and traces the crack with his finger. 

“Bed,” pants Chris, sucking on Darren’s lip. “Bed, now.”

The kiss ends with a smack as Darren rushes to the bed, lying down on his stomach. He juts his ass out, breathing heavily into the pillow. Chris stares at the display in front of him, pupils blown out of proportion, his mouth watering. He presses his hand on his cock, almost completely hard, to get just a bit of relief.

Hastily, Chris gets rid of his shirt and shoes and he gets on the bed, kneeling in front of Darren’s lace-covered ass.

Chris licks his lips. “You look so gorgeous like this, honey.”

"Chris, p-please," Darren breathes out in response.

Chris slides the lace down Darren’s cheeks, just enough to grant him access. He licks a broad stripe between his plump cheeks, spreading them with his hands. Licking carefully around his entrance, he sends Darren into a panting mess. 

Chris' chin barely touches the lace down there and it works as a sweet reminder that makes him thrust his tongue into Darren's entrance. He slowly works him open, groaning with appreciation. 

Darren is moaning loudly, begging for more. 

"I need to- Chris, please- touch me." 

Chris stops to move a hand towards Darren's cock, throbbing and leaking pre-come through the fabric. He strokes him through it slowly, just to relieve the tension, but not enough to let him come.

"No, no, you can't come yet, okay?" whispers Chris in a sweet, soothing voice. "We're not done yet. Can you do this for me?" 

Darren mumbles something into the pillow. 

"Dare, can you do this for me?" 

"Y-Yes, yes, yes, just d-don't stop please," breathes out Darren.

"You look so pretty like this, open and pliant, just for me. Now I'm going to open you up some more and fuck you bare. Is that okay, hon?" asks Chris caressing Darren's thigh. 

"Yes, please." 

Chris takes off his pants and gets the lube from the nightstand, starting to coat his fingers with it. He can easily start with two fingers, Darren's hole still wet and just a little stretched because of his tongue, scissoring in and out until he can add a third one. He thrusts his fingers in, stretching him just enough and hitting just for a second that bundle of nerves that makes Darren's body spasm in pleasure. 

Chris gets more lube in his hand to stroke his cock and he slowly pushes into Darren, stilling when he's fully inside, until he sees Darren nod at him. He pulls out almost completely to just move back in with more force.

"You take me so well- so gorgeous," moans Chris appreciatively as Darren's ass clenches around his cock. 

"Faster, go faster." 

Chris picks up a faster pace, gripping Darren's sides tightly with his hands and slamming his hips hard against his soft cheeks. It takes him a couple of seconds to find that sweet spot he teased moments ago that makes Darren scream out in ecstasy. Chris makes sure to keep the same angle, pounding with force into Darren's ass. 

Darren grips the sheets, rocking back and trying to meet Chris' thrusts. As he cries out his name, Chris can feel himself on the edge of his orgasm, heart pounding. With a final thrust, he's filling Darren's tight ass with his come, fingers digging deep into his hips that turn into caresses and whispers of praise. 

"So good, so good for me, Dare," sighs Chris, dropping sweet kisses down Darren's spine. 

Darren makes a low noise "Can I- please, Chris."

"You can't wait, can you?" says Chris as he tucks Darren's ass back into the lace. "Turn around, honey." 

Darren frantically gets on his back, breathing heavily and shallowly, his cock straining under the lace that’s wet with pre-come. His eyes are begging Chris to give him what he finally needs, feeling so spent but still so eager. Chris' mouth goes dry seeing how wrecked Darren looks and he kisses him softly.

"What do you need, honey?" asks Chris.

"I need to come like yesterday, fuck."

Chris pretends to think about it for a couple of seconds and answering “What if I let you fuck my mouth, would you like that?”

"I would never turn down that pretty mouth of yours."

Chris slowly traces the shape of Darren’s hard cock with his finger and lowers his head to kiss the tender skin of his inner thighs. He mouths at his cock over the fabric, making Darren squirm. 

He gets rid of Darren's underwear, making him spread his legs. As Chris starts licking the head of Darren's cock, he groans with pleasure. He sinks his mouth deeper, slowly dragging his lips and lapping his tongue along the shaft. Darren lifts his hips tentatively, his right hand going to grip Chris' hair tightly. Chris relaxes his throat and encourages him, pressing a hand on his back and making him thrust up his hips more confidently. 

After a couple of thrusts, Darren can feel he's about to come. 

"Chris, fuck, I'm gonna- can I- please tell me I can-" 

Chris hums affirmatively around his cock, the vibrations sending Darren right into his orgasm, while Chris swallows around him. He's moaning so obscenely that Chris almost feels his cock trying to get hard again. 

Darren slumps on the bed sighing, followed right after by Chris, on his side. 

"Hey," whispers Chris, turning his head too look at Darren, his voice still raw. 

"Hey, you." Darren turns around, hooking his leg around Chris' and smiling at him "So I guess this is a thing for you, uh?" 

"Can't say I saw that one coming, I'm just going to place all the blame on you, sorry." 

"Don't you always?" grins Darren. 

"But I'm just gonna throw out there that I also saw a thong that would display your ass marvellously." 

"Heya kitty, hungry?"

"Meow," Brian looks at him pitifully from the fridge door.

"Darn cat, there is lots of food in your bowl, what else do you want?"

"Meeow."

"Ah, human food is better, isn't it, Bri?" Darren crunches down and strokes Brian's back. "Buddy, you gotta lose weight, because Daddy and I want you around for a long time. Speaking of long time..."

Darren takes the tiny box out of his pocket and puts it right in front of Brian's snout.

"See this thing, Bri? This is a ring for Daddy, but you gotta help me present it to him, you know, in a special way- oh god, what do you know, you are a cat. Okay, let's do this..."

Darren takes out a fancy blue collar made from lace, puts the ring through it and puts it on the fussy hungry-for-human-food Brian. However, his fingers stick to the collar a bit, so Darren licks them clean. Horrible habit, impossible to get rid of. But it has its perks when he want to get Chris in the mood for something dirty.

“Must be from that donut that I ate earlier…” Darren ponders. “Ain’t I a fucking mess. Hope it didn’t get on the ring.”

"There. All done. You look handsome as fuck, bud. Oh, sorry," apologizes Darren, remembering Chris' attitude towards swearing in front of their children. Pets. Children pets. He will indulge Chris. Plus, it will be a good practice for their actual future children-

"Getting ahead of yourself there, Darren," mumbles Darren to himself.

"Okay,” he announced, clapping hands. “Now we just gotta wait for Daddy to come home and voilà! Right, Brian, right?” he coos while rubbing Brian’s ears.

“Meow.”

***

Darren goes to the bedroom to put on the dark navy suit which he bought specifically for this occasion to fancy himself up. He combs his hair, puts on light cologne and all that primping shit. He had texted Chris half an hour ago to ask when he was coming home,“I will be on my way in a minute. Heat up the leftovers, please? I’m starving.” So Chris could be home any minute. With a last look in the mirror, Darren skips down the stairs to find Brian.

But as he comes closer to Brian, Darren sees the collar lying on the floor, ripped apart and nothing shiny anywhere near the cat. Darren’s heart starts beating faster. Finally, he crouches on his knees in front of their cat and his heart completely drops when he sees a tiny pool of vomit in front of Brian.

“Brian? What happened?” Darren asks frantically while searching for the ring on the floor.

Brian doesn’t move an inch and if cats could look pale, Brian would look like a ghost right now.

“Oh god. Oh shit, shit, shit…” Darren’s hands fly to his hair as he starts circling Brian, but it doesn’t take more than ten seconds for him to make a decision.

“Hello? Dr. Mitchel? This is Darren, yes, Brian's owner…”

***

As Darren hangs up on him, Chris isn’t sure how he hasn’t killed any pedestrians yet, but he thanks whatever power that he doesn't have to explain to his lawyer why “Ex-Glee star Chris Colfer kills 10 people on the road”. He isn’t quite ready for that spectacular role yet.

Finally, he swipes his phone to call Darren and rushes through the clinic doors, heading for the waiting room.

***

“Chris,” the relief in Darren’s voice goes right into Chris’ stomach as he runs into his familiar arms.

“Darren. What happened? How is he? …Why are you in a suit?” Chris drawls out. His mind is full of horrible thoughts of his baby cat dying in a million ways, so he distracts himself with Darren’s first choice of clothing to go to the vet clinic.

“Chris. He is fine, he is alive, please calm down,” Darren strokes his spine in a calming fashion and lifts his chin to look into his anxious, scared eyes. “Dr. Mitchel is doing his X-rays. He told me to wait five minutes and then he’d call us to come in. And um, my suit…”

Darren takes a step back and laughs nervously, looking everywhere except Chris.

“You see,” he starts, rubbing the back of his head. “I had a ring-“

“A ring?”

“Can we sit down, please?” Darren pleads with his big eyes.

They lower themselves into nearby seats and Darren takes Chris’ soft, slightly trembling hands to hold between his sweaty palms.

Darren’s throat contracts as he swallows.

“Look, I wanted to- to propose. To you.”

“To me? Not our cat?” Chris might be in a little shock of everything that’s happened in the last twenty minutes. He doesn’t know what to say.

“I had this dumb idea - it didn’t seem dumb at first – to put the ring through Brian’s collar and then have him come to you, and then I would have come out and gotten on one knee. The whole shebang.”

Chris’ eyes soften and his curled fingers go limp in Darren’s hands.

“And obviously you haven’t thought about the fact that Brian eats everything, and especially shiny objects? Or that he was jealous he hadn’t gotten a ring, too?”

Darren’s sweet laughter is like a balm to Chris’ soul and limbs after a tiring day and the whirlwind of emotions.

“Didn’t think that through, no. Does Cooper want a ring, too, eh?”

“No, our baby is too young for that, how dare you.”

“He is coming of age, I mean he is four,” Darren whistles.

Chris’ musical laughter rings out in the relatively silent waiting room. Chris hits Darren’s bicep and then buries his face in his shoulder.

“I love you,” he whispers in Darren’s ear. Darren will never get tired of hearing those three words coming out from his Chris.

“And, for the record, I would have said yes,” Chris adds shyly.

Darren’s heart bursts out of his chest, the blood pounding in his ears, nothing else matters.

“Mr. Criss?”

Except Brian.

Their heads immediately turn to the door, where a head is sticking out and prompting them to come in.

“Come on,” Darren intertwines their fingers, as they make their way to the office.

***

“So we just wait?”

“Precisely. The ring’s diamonds are carefully set inside the ring as Darren described,” the vet gestures to Darren. “So it shouldn’t harm any of Brian’s internal organs. You have to wait for it to come out the natural way. But if he refuses to eat, coughs up blood or his throwing up repeats, or anything,” he looks at them with a pointed look, “unusual happens, call me immediately and we’ll schedule a surgery.”

“Okay, thank you so much, Doctor.”

“So much.” Chris adds sincerely.

They bid goodbyes and take Brian away.

*** 

The ride home is quiet, both Darren and Chris calming down, their bodies losing the tension of worrying, but still staying alert to see if anything happens to Brian, who is laying in the backseat and trying to sleep.

Darren finally breaks the silence.

“I’m sorry.”

Chris casts a glance at Darren’s somber face.

“Darren, this isn’t your fault. I know you love taking responsibility for everything, but this couldn’t have been foreseen. Who knew Brian would take it for a cronut.”

“Donut.”

Chris smiles.

“Donut.”

Darren puts his hand on top of Chris’ on the shifting gear.

“I will propose again. Successfully. I promise.”

Chris’ eyes and heart melt.

“You better.”

***

One day later, after a heavy meal, Brian barfs out the ring.

Chris orders Darren to throw it out, and Darren refuses until the smell hits him.

The ring is thrown away.

***

25 days later Darren proposes in Italy.

They have the wildest, hottest sex of their lives and completely ruin the villa they are staying at.

***

44 days later Chris proposes on a hot air balloon.

Chris totally wins.

(Just don’t ask Darren.)

***

234 days later Darren and Chris become Mr. and Mr. Colfer.

When Chris asks Darren why he doesn’t want his name to stay the same, Darren replies,

“Because I’m not losing a Criss, I am gaining one,” with a cheeky smile on his face.