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Michael watched as Alex rearranged the snack bowls on their table. Their table. It still gave him a thrill to think of things as theirs. Their table. Their couch. Their bed. Their house.
“What are you worried about?” Alex interrupted Michael’s thoughts. He moved to stand in front of him and gently cupped the back of his neck, letting his fingers tangle in the curls.
“Are you sure about this?”
“Isobel and I are more than capable of planning a holiday party together. Yes I’m sure.” Alex smiled. “Do you think that Isobel will railroad me and I’ll have a terrible time? Or are you more worried that I’ll actually enjoy myself?”
Michael closed his eyes when Alex tugged on a curl. “Maybe both?” He shrugged. “I’m also worried that you’ll railroad Iz,” he added. “She’s a lot of headstrong determination but so are you. Also, how is it going to be fair to me if you two start ganging up on me?”
He pouted. Alex laughed and kissed it away.
“I’ll be fine,” Alex insisted. “Isobel will be fine. You’ll be fine.” He kissed Michael again. “Now go to work before Sanders fires you.” He shoved Michael gently away.
Michael laughed. “He’s been threatening to fire me since I started working there,” he said. “He never will.”
“That’s because you actually have a good father.”
“If he’s my father, doesn’t that make him your father-in-law?”
Alex’s laughter died in his throat and his eyes grew wide. Michael almost missed the trepidation in Alex’s expression. Luckily for both of them, he caught it.
“You know Sanders thinks of you like his son-in-law, right?” Michael said. “He told me ‘no boy should grow up the way your boy did.’ He loves you. You’re his family.”
“Family,” Alex repeated. He chuckled softly. “Guess I’m still working on unlearning all of that ‘family is what you’re born into’ and ‘family is blood’ bullshit.”
Before anything else could be said, there was a knock at the door followed immediately by Isobel Evans walking through.
“Hello!” she called. “I brought bagels!”
“In here!” Alex called. He turned to Michael and kissed him quickly. “Go to work. I love you.”
“Love you too,” Michael said, kissing Alex one more time.
He was pulling away when Isobel came into the room. “Aww,” she said teasingly. “Aren’t you adorable, baby brother.”
Michael rounded on her. “Technically, since you and Max both had pod soaks, I’m the oldest. Therefore, not your baby brother.”
“Oldest according to our Earth birthday,” said Isobel. She brushed past him and over to the table. “Weren’t you leaving?” she asked. She took a bagel from her paper bag and bit into it, staring at Michael expectantly.
“Call me if you need her to leave,” Michael told Alex.
“I heard that.”
“Good.” Michael kissed Alex again and then left them to their fate.
He really didn’t know what he was expecting to go home to. It probably wouldn’t go as far as a bloodbath, but he could picture Alex angrily washing dishes or Isobel blowing up his phone that his husband was unreasonable. He loved them both for similar reasons. Both ambitious, loyal, and fierce; they were very similar people. It wasn’t always a good idea to put two people like that together.
It worried him that neither Alex nor Isobel texted or called him all day. He was ready to come home to them sitting on opposite sides of the room glaring daggers at each other. He was hoping that they hadn’t found actual daggers. The kitchen knives would be more likely in that scenario anyways. Whatever he was expecting, it wasn’t to open the door to peals of laughter. It certainly wasn’t the sight of Alex and Isobel on the couch, three-quarters of the way through a bottle of wine and laughing like they were best friends.
“I can’t believe you said that!” Isobel laughed.
“I can’t believe I said that!” said Alex. “And then I get this job at Deep Sky and Eduardo’s all ‘the real question is: how do we start a conversation with aliens?’ and all I can think of is how I tried to start a conversation – with an alien – by asking him if he was cooking meth.”
Isobel burst into a fresh bout of laughter and Alex followed, their laughter ringing through the house. She reached for her wine glass when she had caught her breath enough. “To be fair, it’s not a totally unreasonable question. He’d probably do it just to prove that he could.”
Alex giggled into his wine glass. When he looked up he spotted Michael in the doorway and his face lit up. “Michael!” he said. “You’re home!” He stood up and wobbled unsteadily as the wine in his system caught up to his enthusiasm.
“Easy soldier,” said Michael, catching him with his telekinesis. Alex steadied himself and made his way over to Michael. “Today went well, I guess?”
“So good,” Alex said. He leaned himself against Michael’s solid frame and Michael wrapped an arm around him. He hummed happily and tucked his face into Michael’s neck, speaking into his shoulder. “We’re gonna do this again.”
Michael raised his eyebrows, taking in the inebriated state of his husband and sister. “I see,” he said. “Iz, should you be driving right now?”
Isobel studied the nearly empty wine bottle. “Probably not,” she said. “Kyle! He’ll come get me. He loves me.”
“I’ll call him,” Michael sighed, already reaching for his phone. Definitely not what he was expecting.
He deposited Alex back on the couch before stepping away to make the call. Alex went willingly and happily into Isobel’s outstretched arms. It made warmth bloom in Michael’s chest to see them getting along so well, but there was an almost stabbing sensation that came along with it. It was probably nothing.
“Guerin?” Kyle sounded confused when he answered.
“Valenti,” Michael said. “Please come get my drunk sister out of my house? I’ll bring her car back tomorrow.”
“Why is she drunk at your house?” Kyle asked. “And why can’t you drive her home?”
Michael sighed. “Because she got drunk with Alex while they were party planning, and I don’t want to leave him alone right now,” he said.
“At least neither of them needs stitches,” Kyle muttered with the same relief in his voice that Michael had felt earlier. Kyle was silent for a moment. Michael heard computer keys clacking and a drawer being shut in the background. “I’m on my way,” said Kyle. “Keep her out of trouble for like…twenty minutes?”
“On it.” Michael hung up and swept his eyes over the dining table. Isobel’s bagel bag was still there. Bingo. He picked it up and brought it to the couch where he handed a bagel each to Isobel and Alex.
“Eat up,” he said. “Kyle’s on the way.”
Isobel brightened. “Hey, hey, Alex,” she said, leaning into Alex’s space. “Did you ever have a crush on Kyle?”
Alex snorted. “Of course.”
“What?” Michael burst out. “But he was a dick to you.”
“Yeah but have you seen him?” said Alex. “It was purely physical. The guy is hot. Who wouldn’t have a crush on him?”
“I didn’t,” Michael muttered, but he was ignored by both Alex and Isobel.
“So hot,” Isobel agreed. “I almost hooked up with him in the Planet 7 bathroom like, two years ago.”
“Almost?” Alex questioned.
Isobel sighed. “Yeah. He turned me down. It was right before he dated what’s-her-face. The one who was dying and then broke up with him when she wasn’t dying anymore.”
“Steph?”
Isobel clicked her tongue. “Yeah that’s it!”
“Did you ever have a crush on Michael?” Alex asked Isobel. He chewed on his bagel.
“What?” Michael nearly shouted. He’d known this pairing would be a bad idea. He had never wanted to see Kyle Valenti as much as he did in this moment.
Isobel wrinkled her nose. “Yeah, once,” she said.
“What?” Michael was losing it. He was going to actually lose his mind if they kept going on like this. This wasn’t supposed to happen.
He couldn’t quite put his finger on why this was bothering him so much. Well, Isobel admitting that she once had a crush on him was a lot to take in, but there was something else. Some other reason why this newfound bond between his sister and his husband was making him squirm uncomfortably.
“You had a crush on Michael?” Alex asked, oblivious to everything except this new information. “For real?”
“It was for like, a week or something,” said Isobel, waving her hand (and bagel) through the air. “And I was fourteen! He had just helped to save my life so, yeah.” Alex giggled. Michael closed his eyes. “Then he called me his ‘Izzy Lizard’ and I was like, nope that is solid brother-only material.”
A knock sounded at the door over Alex’s laughter.
“Oh thank god,” Michael breathed out. He went to the door to let Kyle in. “I’ve never been happier to see you. They’re talking about past crushes.”
Kyle smirked. “I had a feeling they’d get along like a house on fire.” More laughter echoed through the house. “Good thing I carry a fire extinguisher,” he said, moving past Michael into the living room. “Car for Isobel Evans?”
“Kyle!” Isobel threw herself into his arms. “Did you know that Alex had a crush on you?”
Kyle paled and looked helplessly at Michael. Michael simply shrugged in response. Kyle had been warned.
“Okay, sensei,” said Kyle. “Let’s get you home.”
“Byeeeeee Alex!” Isobel called while Kyle guided her to the door. “Miss you already!”
“Miss you too!” Alex called back. The door shut. Alex sighed. “Isobel is awesome,” he said. “I gotta add her to my best friends group chat.” Michael only groaned, glad that the day hadn’t been a disaster but still bothered by the stabbing sensation he felt whenever he thought of Alex and Isobel being so happy and carefree together.
**
“Michael? Were you…upset earlier?” Alex asked as the two of them were lying in bed that night. “About Isobel?”
They’d spent the evening cooking, hydrating (Michael cooking, Alex hydrating and eating), and lounging to make sure that Alex’s inevitable hangover would be as minimal as possible. Now they were cuddled up in the darkness and Alex’s thoughts had gone back to the one thing that Michael didn’t want to talk about: the events of that afternoon.
Michael was quiet for a moment. Was he upset? Yes. Did he know why? No. Therefore, was it worth bringing up to Alex? He decided no.
He couldn’t think of a logical reason why he would be upset about Alex and Isobel being friends. Alex was friends with a lot of people. Kyle, Liz, Maria – and Michael didn’t have a problem with any of those friendships.
“No,” he said eventually. “I wasn’t upset.” He swallowed thickly as he partially lied to Alex. He hated that he was hiding this from his husband. “Just surprised that you two hit it off so well.”
“Great,” said Alex. Michael could hear the smile in his voice. “We’re going to keep planning the party tomorrow, so I said I’d drive her car over.”
“I’ll pick you up after work,” Michael said. He rolled over onto his side, facing away from Alex, and tried to ignore the negative feelings building inside of him.
**
A week later, the Alex-Isobel bond was showing no signs of lessening.
Michael drained the last of his coffee and moved to put his cup in the sink. Alex had barely looked up from his phone all throughout breakfast. He was probably texting Isobel. The thought gnawed at Michael’s insides.
“Hey, can you drop me at Isobel’s?” Alex asked, confirming Michael’s fear. “Since you want to steal my car for the day.”
“It’s seasonal maintenance, not grand theft,” said Michael. “Why are you going to Isobel’s?”
“Decorating for the party,” Alex told him, already back to texting. “She says you can help too, but I know you have work today. And my car.”
Michael rolled his eyes. “Again, not grand theft,” he said. “Sure. I’ll plan to pick you up when I’m done working unless you tell me that someone else is going to drive you home.”
Alex grinned and put his phone down long enough to kiss Michael. “Love you.”
“Love you too!” Michael called after Alex who was disappearing into their bedroom. He emerged again before Michael had even left the kitchen and went straight for his coat hanging up by the front door. He reached for it and turned to Michael.
“Ready to go?” he said, shrugging into the coat.
Michael was still standing in the kitchen door. He glanced down at the socks – not boots – covering his feet and then up to the messy curls hanging over his eyes.
“Give me a minute,” he said.
As he pulled on his boots, he tried to pinpoint why he was so bothered by Alex and Isobel’s newfound friendship. What made this situation different than any other? Alex texted with all of their friends nearly every day. His thoughts plagued him throughout the drive to Isobel’s. When Alex gave him a quick peck before jumping out of the car to be met with a warm hug from Isobel at the front door, the feeling only worsened.
**
Michael went to Isobel’s house when he finished work because Alex hadn’t told him that he didn’t need a ride. He let himself in and followed the sound of soft voices and a Glee Christmas album. Definitely Isobel’s choice.
Tinsel and garland and bows decorated the walls and doorways. Fake snow was sprayed into the windows. There were at least three trees, all with a different theme. And amidst it all, Alex and Isobel sat on the floor by her coffee table, cutting paper into snowflakes. Alex’s were standard two-dimensional shapes. Isobel’s were three-dimensional. They hadn’t noticed Michael yet so he leaned in the doorway to watch them.
“They’re not actually as complicated as they look,” Isobel was saying. “I learned it from a YouTube video.”
“I’m not doubting my abilities,” Alex told her. “I just think it would be good to have variety.”
“Fair point.”
They went back to their respective snowflakes and hummed along with the music. Alex was usually so opinionated about music, but Michael hadn’t heard a complaint about it yet. Or maybe it was a testament to how close Alex and Isobel were already. Neither of them ever relented to Michael’s music choice, so what was so special about their friendship with each other? Were they really so in tune that their tastes in music had aligned perfectly?
At one point in their snowflake creation, Isobel said, “Can I?” and Alex wordlessly handed her a small pair of scissors without looking up. He tapped on the table a minute later, and she passed them back.
Oh, Michael thought as the pieces clicked together in his brain. After seeing the wordless communication, he was starting to understand what had been bothering him so much. That it was less about Alex letting someone in and more about who Alex had let in. In fact, he was starting to understand that this wasn’t about Alex or Isobel at all. This was about Michael.
**
That night, Michael’s mind raced. Thoughts, feelings, memories, calculations – they all warred in his head.
“You’re thinking very loudly,” Alex said in the dark. “What’s been bothering you?”
Michael shrugged awkwardly.
“Is it Isobel?” Alex asked. “Are you upset that I’m friends with her?”
Michael exhaled slowly. “No,” he said. “Not really. Not at you anyways. I just…I don’t know how to explain it.”
“Take your time.” Alex rolled over and tugged Michael into his arms. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Thanks,” Michael said with a soft smile. Alex’s warm embrace helped to calm the perfect storm in his mind, like it always did. “I think that’s actually part of it. Like, I’m always afraid I’m going to lose you.” Alex’s grip tightened. “You and outer space have always been the constants in my life. You keep me centered. But then seeing you with Kyle or Liz or Maria, it reminds me that I’m not the only constant in your life. And yeah, I had Max and Iz but I kept them at a distance. You were the only one I let in. So seeing you get so close with Isobel so quickly…I think I was jealous? Of you. And how quickly you bonded with her.” He was quiet for a moment. Alex’s thumb rubbed along his forearm. “I might have been a little upset with Iz. Like she was stealing you away from me or something.”
“Not my type,” said Alex. “I like my aliens in the form of cowboys with curly hair.”
Michael chuckled. “Good thing I know one like that,” he said. “I still think that you and Isobel ganging up on me is going to be the death of me.”
Alex pressed a kiss to the back of Michael’s neck. “Or maybe,” he said, “I’ll rein in her sisterly torture a bit, huh?”
Michael grinned and, for once, sleep came easily.
**
The holiday party was scheduled for Christmas Eve. Somehow, it was the only day that all of their friends could get together.
Michael had to admit that Alex and Isobel had done a spectacular job at planning the party. It was also easier to admit now that he was fully on board with their friendship. But the party was incredible. The decorations had somehow increased in quantity since he’d last seen them, they had sweet-talked Arturo into providing food for everyone (and then still paid him full price, with a generous tip), and they had even organized a selection of games to play if the party needed a pick-me-up. And, just for fun, there was mistletoe everywhere.
Slowly, everyone started to make their farewells and hit the road until eventually Alex, Isobel, and Michael were the only ones left standing. Well, sitting, in the case of Isobel and Michael, and curled up on his side in Alex’s case. He’d taken off his prosthesis and put his head in Michael’s lap to get comfortable. Michael’s heart swelled with love and pride as Alex stripped himself down to his most vulnerable state. It was one thing when he did that in their own home, but here at Isobel’s – with Isobel – was a different matter entirely. He trusted her completely. He proved that further when he fell asleep in Michael’s lap as Michael combed soft fingers through his hair.
“This is a big deal, isn’t it?” Isobel asked quietly. She telekinetically put another small log onto the fire in her fireplace. “For both of you.” She nodded to Alex’s sleeping form.
Michael nodded. “I can’t speak for him, but yeah. It definitely feels like it’s a big deal. He doesn’t usually fall asleep in new places. Or in front of people.” He paused and bit his lip. “I’m sorry that I’ve been shutting you out,” he said.
Isobel frowned. “The last few weeks? You haven’t been.”
“Our whole lives,” Michael corrected. He must have tensed his muscles because Alex snuffled and shifted in his sleep, grunting unhappily. Michael relaxed his body, and Alex settled, sighing as Michael returned to stroking his hair.
“I’ve been moody the past few weeks because of how close you and Alex got so quickly,” Michael explained. Isobel opened her mouth to protest, but Michael cut her off. “Because I was jealous. I was jealous of how easily he let you in when I’ve always been so afraid to. I’ve always kept you and Max at arm’s length because I didn’t know how to let you in. To see me. And then you and Alex spent one afternoon together and you were both sharing things that I didn’t even know.”
Isobel opened her mouth and then closed it again. She hesitated. “I’ve experienced a lot of bad things,” she started. “You know that.” She paused, hesitant. “You know everything I’ve been through because I’ve always had you and Max to lean on. Always. The one time I thought I was completely alone, Max still came through for me. And you have always been there for me. Through everything.” She paused again. “But…I don’t know much of what you’ve been through because you were alone for most of it. And I wish I could’ve supported you like you support me. But here’s the thing.” She leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees. “You might keep me and Max and everyone else at arm’s length from your trauma, but you have never shut us out entirely. You love us as much as we love you, and we know it because you show us and tell us. Every day. You are more than the scars on your heart. You are the most caring person I know and I’m so glad you’re my brother.”
A tear escaped Michael’s eye and rolled down his cheek.
“She’s right you know,” Alex murmured into Michael’s leg. “You might not always open up, but what you feel is always written across your face. Also, you clench your hands when you’re stressed or anxious, and I was sleeping.” He kissed Michael’s denim-clad thigh.
Michael unclenched his fingers from Alex’s hair and gave him a whispered apology. He started stroking it again to make up for the accidental hair pulling. Alex’s breath started to even out again, and Michael looked back up at Isobel.
“Do you – would you – could I –” Michael stopped. Took a breath. Tried again. “If you want, sometime, I could show you some of my less-than-fond memories?” he offered. “I think I might be ready to let you and Max in some more.”
“I’d be honoured,” said Isobel.
Outside, snow began to fall, covering the town in a blanket of white and quiet. Inside, the fire crackled, the lights were dimmed, Isobel was smiling, Alex’s hair was soft under his fingers, and Michael thought that this was the best Christmas he’d ever had.