Chapter One--Safe Haven
The front door creaked open, making Luis turn from the pot he was stirring as Simon rushed in, throwing his bag over the end of the kitchen counter, and wrapping his arms around Luis’s waist.
“Papa! How was your day?” Simon cried, beaming up at him.
His black hair was a wild mess atop his head and his green eyes were wide and bright as he smiled.
“It was good, little one,” Luis murmured, ruffling Simon’s hair. “What happened to your hair, it was so neat this morning!” He asked, chuckling.
“We had PE,” Simon said, “we played tackle!”
“Sounds like fun,” Luis said as he turned back to the pot, stirring the stew inside.
“What’s for dinner?” Simon asked, peering inside the pot.
“Lamb stew,” Luis murmured, “Now stand back or you will burn yourself,” he gently tapped Simon the nose with the wooden handle of the spoon.
Simon giggled.
Nathan came over and wrapped his arm around Luis’s waist, Luis looked up to kiss him.
“EW! Can’t you two do that in your room?” Simon asked, pulling a disgusted face and sticking his tongue out.
Nathan laughed. “It’s just a kiss, Simon!” He said, ruffling Simon’s hair.
“Yeah, but you don’t need to do it in front of me!” Simon pulled another face, “It’s gross!”
Luis laughed, smiling down at his son. He bent down a little to be eye level and held out his arm. “Want a hug to make up for it?”
Simon sighed and hugged him, snuggling into his neck. Luis squeezed him, kissing his forehead. “How about you set the table?”
“Ok, Papa!” Simon smiled up at him before heading to the drawers.
Nathan set the plates down on the counter for him. “You’re still too short to reach the cupboards,” he murmured with a small smirk.
Simon pouted. “Just because I’m seven doesn’t mean I can’t use my tiptoes!”
Luis looked over at him from where he was stirring the pot and smiled. “We don’t want them to drop, like last time,” he murmured.
The last time Simon had tried to grab the plates, he had smashed the lot. Luis had had to take him to the supermarket to buy more. Simon hated shopping, so it was the best punishment Luis could think of.
Simon muttered something before taking the cutlery and the plates to the small dining table between the kitchen and living room. The table had a small white cloth runner down the middle, and a bowl of fruit, along with salt and pepper shakers.
Giving Nathan a quick kiss on the cheek, Luis picked up the pot of stew and set it in the middle of the table. He started spooning out the chunky lamb stew.
The sweet, earthy smell wafted up from the pot, a familiar smell to Luis, one that always made his mouth water and took him back to seventeen, when he first met Nathan.
“It looks good, Papa!” Simon murmured, picking up his spoon.
“It tastes good too, love,” Nathan added around a mouthful.
“Nathan!” Luis laughed as he sat down at the other end of the table, “you’re meant to wait till we’re all seated!”
Nathan smirked around his spoon. “It looked too good to wait!”
Luis laughed as he lifted his spoon to his lips, shaking his head.
They sat in comfortable silence for the rest of the meal, just the sound of spoons on ceramic filled the space between them, and Simon’s quiet humming.
“What did you think?” Luis asked when he was finished, looking at the two satisfied faces before him, smiling slightly.
“Can I have seconds?” Simon pleaded, looking at him with large green eyes.
Luis laughed and shook his head, smiling at his son. “You know what the answer will be, Simon,” he murmured.
“But it tastes so good!” Simon muttered.
“You can have some for lunch, mate,” Nathan murmured, standing up and gathering the empty plates.
“But I want more now!” Simon whined, crossing his arms and watching as Luis picked up the pot.
“If you have more now, it won’t taste as good tomorrow,” Luis murmured as he walked behind Simon to place the pot on the bench as Nathan started washing the dishes.
Simon just grumbled.
“How about you start drying up, Simon?” Nathan asked, looking up, “come give me a hand.”
Simon sighed and rose from his chair. He snatched the tea towel from the oven handle and started to dry the plates.
Luis ruffled his hair. “I will give you a big serving tomorrow, ok?” He murmured.
Simon looked over his shoulder and smiled, showing the gap in his teeth.
Luis pulled the covers gently over Simon’s chest. “Good night, little one,” he whispered, kissing him on the forehead.
Simon rolled over and smiled sleepily. “Good night, Papa… Good night Father.”
Luis smiled and walked over to the bedroom door where Nathan was leaning on the frame. He grabbed the door handle, the metal cold against his skin.
“Good night, mate,” Nathan murmured as Luis flicked off the light before shutting the door with a soft click.
Nathan led him back down the hall as Luis leaned on his shoulder, taking a deep breath of his scent of sea salt and sandalwood.
“Tired?” Nathan asked as they entered their bedroom.
“Hm,” Luis murmured, pulling away and heading over to the bed, pulling off his simple grey T-shirt as he did so.
Nathan’s warm hand came to rest at the small of his back, sending a tingle of desire up Luis’s spine. Luis leaned into the touch, leaning against Nathan’s chest.
“Hey…”
Nathan smiled and kissed his temple. “Hello,” he whispered.
Nathan’s hand trailed down Luis’s arm, following the long, short, and round scars that decorated his skin. Luis called them hideous; Nathan called them beautiful.
Nathan looped his arms around Luis’s waist. “What do you want to do tonight?”
“Honestly, sleep,” Luis mumbled, leaning his head back and looking up at Nathan.
Nathan chuckled, his breath stirring Luis’s hair. “Alright,” he murmured, giving him a squeeze before pulling away.
Luis pulled his pants off before grabbing his pyjamas from under his pillow, chucking the shirt to the other side of the room.
“You’re honestly making it difficult to just sleep,” Nathan mumbled as he climbed in on his side of the bed.
“Get your head out of the gutter, Nathan,” Luis muttered as he pulled his pants on.
Nathan let out a huff of light laughter, throwing his arm over his forehead.
Luis smiled as he climbed onto the soft bed, the covers warm and rough against his bare torso. Nathan rolled over and looked up at him, blue eyes looking over every inch of his face, his blond hair falling over his forehead.
“Remember our vows?” Nathan asked softly.
“Hm…” Luis smiled and rolled onto his side. “How I'd do anything for you?”
“Yeah,” Nathan smiled.
“You know I meant it. I’d do anything for you and Simon,” Luis whispered, kissing Nathan’s nose, “anything. I’d let the world burn for you.”
