Epilogue

~ Vic ~

Three years later

V ic turned the knob and let the door swing open, already reaching up to undo the bow tie they wore to work. The sight that greeted them was… Well a lot more than what they expected. Tawson stood in the middle of the living room. Their living room. He'd pushed the furniture to the walls, leaving the floor open. Tawson stood on a blanket, surrounded by gold and white balloons, candles flickering shadows along the walls and ceiling. There was something that smelled mouthwatering wafting through the air. Vic shut the door quietly and dropped their things where they stood.

"What is this?" Vic asked. Vic didn't know where to look. The whole apartment had been transformed. It had storybook romance all over it. Even Tawson. He was dressed to the nines in a pair of navy slacks and a matching blazer, with a white shirt underneath. In his hands was a large bouquet of purple flowers.

"I wanted to show you how proud I was of you," Tawson said. Vic finally stepped out of their shoes and walked to meet Tawson. "Your first day teaching on your own. How did it go?"

"As expected with a group of middle schoolers," Vic said. "I crushed it."

"Of course you did, baby." Tawson handed off the bouquet and kissed them. "Now, you have exactly five minutes to go to the bedroom, put on what I've laid out, and get back here for dinner and dessert."

Vic smiled into the second kiss and then walked through the apartment. The lights were all off and there were more candles in the bedroom. A trail of rose petals led to the bed. Tawson also changed the bedding. They had a grey duvet for the longest time. But now, the bed and pillows were covered in white. Vic trailed their fingers over the blanket. It was thick and soft to the touch. Standing closer, they could see the small designs stitched into the corners. Swirls and flowers, all purple embroidery. Vic smiled at it. Tawson showed his love in all sorts of ways.

The outfit that Tawson laid out wasn't really an outfit. It was more like straight lingerie. The underwear was cute, though, and Vic immediately fell in love. It was a deep royal purple color, already a bonus. Vic absolutely loved wearing anything purple. Lavender was their favorite shade. The front of the underwear was soft cotton, the added front pouch in the shape of a flaccid cock. The back of the underwear was the money maker though. Black ruffles lined across the rounded part of their ass. The bottom half of the backside was sheer lace with tiny hearts in a diagonal pattern.

The top laid out on the bed was lightweight and just as soft. It was a matching purple, thin straps that crisscrossed their back and over the shoulders.

Vic slipped out of their clothes, throwing them in the general direction of the laundry hamper. They slipped the shirt on first. It was longer than the typical shirt, but not quite a nightgown. It wasn't until they were situating the underwear that Vic realized what Tawson did. The pouch that held their cock didn't give way much. It was a beautiful form of a cage that Vic couldn't even be mad.

The full-length mirror next to their bedroom door caught their attention. They spun left and right, looking at every angle they could. The whole thing looked and felt amazing. "I think you really got it with this one!" Vic called out. There was sound coming from the kitchen.

Their apartment was set up pretty simple. The front door opened into the living room. The kitchen was beyond it, open concept, with a small four-person table not unlike the one that had been in the house Tawson rented on the ranch. The kitchen itself had plenty of counter space, a double sink. It had a stacked fridge and freezer, nothing too fancy. They kept it well stocked between the two of them. A short hallway to the right led to the bedroom on the left and the bathroom on the right.

Tawson found and rented the place after the first semester of university. Vic stayed at the apartment on campus since they'd already paid for it. They still stole nights away whenever they could. Vic continued to work on the ranch and Tawson would visit with them from time to time.

Vic was overwhelmed with the love and forgiveness that followed the initial reaction of their relationship. They'd felt like they had to come out to explain their relationship with Tawson. It wasn't how Vic pictured telling any of them. But Paxton was the first to apologize the next morning.

Then their parents. That had been a long conversation with both Vic and Tawson. Not because they fought it. Vic was old enough to make their own decisions. But they wanted to understand when their relationship started, how it happened so quickly. Neither of them had an explanation. There was no set moment. One point they were laughing and walking on campus, the next they were in Tawson's kitchen kissing. Vic repeated again and again that everything was consensual.

They talked about the way Vic identified. They wanted to understand, to know how long Vic had felt like they had to hide. Vic was completely honest. They explained the fear they had of disappointing them, the way they felt more themselves when they could express the inside on the outside. Vic's parents asked questions, good ones, and Vic did their best to answer them.

Their parents seemed to finally come around with it when Vic explained how much Tawson helped them. How he made Vic feel safe and cared for. How Tawson was funny and they laughed together more than anything. It must have shown on Vic's face or something, but they finally ended that conversation with the promise to do better. On all ends.

William was the next to reach out. They met at the campus apartment. He apologized for not standing up, for staying silent while Vic came out to the entire group. He gave Vic the longest hug. A much needed hug after three days of not seeing anyone. William explained that he forgot that Vic had grown up too. Their parents had said something similar. Everyone saw Vic as the youngest, the baby. Not as the one that could make decisions for themselves and be in a serious relationship. Was Vic still young? Yes. But did they know their own feelings? Absolutely.

"You look incredible," Tawson said. The sound of his voice brought Vic back to the present. It'd been a long road, but they were all in a good place now. Vic's mom still invited them over for family dinners at least once a week. After the first year, Tawson got the upgrade to know the passcode to the gate. Vic's grandma, Palma, loved Tawson. Said she did from the second she met him. That meant a lot to Vic. "I'm so proud of everything you've done, Princess."

"I love you," Vic said in return. Tawson led them to the living room, carrying two plates of food. Vic sat on the blanket, Tawson only a foot away. Their plates were the only thing separating them. "And thank you. For sticking by me."

"I should be the one thanking you, Vic. You changed my life for the better and I can't wait for us to start the next chapter of our lives."

Vic raised their glass of wine to that. Vic celebrated their twenty-first birthday with family and friends at their usual spot, Albert's Ale. Well, it was now known as A.J.'s Lucky Charm . Because in a surprise that no one saw coming, A.J. proposed to Lucky, the ranch hand that worked with the Lawson family for years. Vic knew they'd been dating, but everyone announced their thoughts that Lucky would be the one to propose. Lucky still worked on the ranch during the busy seasons to help out, but he and A.J. ran the bar and were planning on buying the empty space next to it to open a restaurant side too.

"I'm excited," Vic said. "I know it was just the first day, but I think it's going to be a good thing."

"It's a great opportunity," Tawson said. Tawson cut into his steak and popped the bite into his mouth. Vic didn't mind cooking, but Tawson never made a bad dish. The steak was tender, juicy. Cooked to the perfect medium rare. Vic did their best to not mess up the new outfit. At least not with food. "Being able to start teaching while also still earning your degree. I wish I had that."

"And I don't have to pay for it as long as I keep the contract with that school. Which I think is going to be easy. Wylon has already introduced me to the teachers he knows and they've all been welcoming."

Wylon, Brett's husband, was an elementary school teacher, but he was well known and even more well-loved in the whole district. After Vic's first year at the university, he proposed a new program that the state was rolling out to find more teachers. The state would pay for students to finish their degree if they signed an exclusivity contract with the district for five years. Vic had no plans of moving away, so it seemed like a no-brainer. There was a process to go through. Applications, deadlines, grade checks, class hours. Vic had to do one more semester at the university before their application was approved. That was at the end of the last school year. They'd moved out of the campus apartment and in with Tawson at the beginning of the summer.

"And you're not enrolled at the university anymore," Tawson said. He loved to remind Vic of that fact whenever they went out for a date night or Tawson kissed them goodbye after Vic met him during his lunch hour on campus. Vic still joined the Queer club meeting as Tawson's partner at least once a month. Vic switched to an online school for their last year, a different school that had a more focused degree they could do on their own time. All of their credits transferred over and it allowed Vic to be more flexible with working during the day. "You amaze me every single day, Vic. Doing online classes, working full time, being the greatest partner I never imagined I'd have. "

"You don't have to butter me up," Vic said. They scooped up a forkful of homemade potatoes and stuck their tongue out seductively. Vic wrapped their lips around the spoon slowly. They took their time swallowing. "You know you're getting lucky tonight."

Vic's cock was trying to get hard at the change of mood between them. With the lit candles, dim lighting, the effort it took to decorate the place; Tawson was definitely getting whatever he wanted. But the damn underwear was forcing Vic's cock to remain half hard at most. It was frustrating but sexy as hell.

"I'm being serious," Tawson said with a smile. He'd grown his beard out a bit thicker over the last year. It wasn't more than a half inch thick, but Vic loved to feel it scratching against their skin. He'd started going to the gym with Clark as well a few times a month. Tawson's biceps and legs were delicious and he kept up the abs too. Vic loved him, inside and out. "You came out of nowhere, Vic. I admire everything about you. Bravery, love, kindness, work ethic. You're the total package."

Vic took another bite of steak, letting the words settle into their mind and heart. Tawson told them how much they were loved every day. Vic never got tired of hearing it. Vic reached over to grab their glass of wine once more. "Here's to the rest of our lives together," they said. "To whatever the future holds and wherever we go. As long as we're together, we'll be okay."

They settled into one of their easy conversations. Vic recounted more about their day while Tawson told the story about regretting not buying a small thing of helium for the balloons. He'd laid on the floor for nearly ten minutes trying to catch his breath.

The topics jumped around. Vic caught him up with the family, close and extended. Zaya and Paxton were talking about adoption through the orphanage. They'd had an all-out wedding last year. Zaya spared no expense for Paxton to have the perfect day. Vic was in tears the entire day. Paxton had asked Vic to be part of the bridal party, to stand next to her at the altar. The topic of kids lingered between them as they finished their food.

"What about you?" Tawson asked. They cleared their plates and Tawson pulled Vic down to lay on the blanket. Vic curled around Tawson's body. "I know you want kids someday. Is that sooner or later?"

"In a couple of years, maybe. I'd like to get my degree and be well established with a job first." Tawson had stripped out of his jacket and unbuttoned his shirt during their dinner. Vic ran their palm up and down his body. Their fingertips brushed over the dusting of hair on Tawson's chest. "What about you?"

"I used to think I'd have at least one by now, if I'm honest." Tawson shifted, rolling onto his side so they were face-to-face. "But I like the idea of being us a little longer. Plus, you know adoption works much better for a married couple."

"Tawson Lancaster!" Vic sat up, putting both their hands on Tawson's chest. "You are not proposing to me while I'm in lingerie!"

"I wasn't proposing to you, Vic." Tawson was laughing. He reached up and pulled Vic down against his chest. "I wouldn't do that to you, baby. But maybe I might be thinking about it."

Vic relaxed just a little. "Don't do that to me," Vic grumbled. They pouted their lips, but Tawson lifted his head to kiss them. Again. And again. Vic let out a little squeal when Tawson flipped them so Vic was lying flat on their back.

"Here's to the next chapter," Vic whispered just before Tawson sealed their lips together.