Jack-O-Lanterns Burning Bright (Sean)

The telepath turned his head, rested his chin against Josh’s hair once the other man had settled his head on his shoulder again. Inwardly, he conceded, as he always had, that their multitudes of relationships to one another were complicated, and essentially all of them qualified as family in one way or another. But this was the best way it could be, the purest form of family that society recognized, absent legal standing.

“I’m glad that you’re coming around to my way of thinking,” the telepath remarked with a teasing smile. He knew that discussions remained difficult for his partner – memories of the weeks and months leading up to Josh’s admission on the sofa filled his mind – and he was grateful that the other man was willing to make the attempt for him and for the good of their relationship. He had few expectations, which is why the attempts were all the more meaningful.

Sean gave Josh a light squeeze before letting his arm slip from around the younger man’s body. He untangled himself from Josh’s arm and rose to his feet. He picked up his glass and brought it over to the counter, where he refilled it, pulled down a second glass from the cupboard, and filled that as well.

Crossing back, he sat back in his chair – if he was lighter, perhaps he would have sat in Josh’s lap but the thought never crossed his mind – handed one glass to Josh, and then lifted the other in a toast. His eyes lit with affection. “To family, and to adventures in carving jack-o-lanterns.”