#tia lucy walks in the front door and holds her pose while the studio audience applauds

[louis-ii-reyes-strand]

thank you @cold-blooded-jelly-doughnut @thisbuildinghasfeelings @birdclowns @lemonlyman-dotcom@tarlosmalec @heartstringsduet @carlos-in-glasses for the tags. I wouldn't have written anything today (again) without you 🖤🖤🖤 I plan to dive into your snippets very soon!!

Carlos pulled TK to a stop just before the steps leading up to the front porch. He’d never noticed how rickety they looked before, made a mental note to offer to fix them up when he had a free weekend. “Before we go in. If meeting everyone all at once is too much, we can leave right now.”

TK frowned. “It’s your birthday, babe. I’m sure I’ll be fine.” He tried to move but Carlos’ increasingly tight grip on his hand stopped him again. He considered Carlos for a moment, then realisation dawned on his face and he stepped into Carlos’ space. 

As he used his free hand to cup Carlos’ cheek, TK said, “Are you okay with doing it like this?” 

“Yeah.” TK gave him a look that told him he wasn’t as convincing as he had been trying to be. “Yeah. It’s just… a lot.”

“That’s–” 

“I want you to meet them, I want them to meet you and for them to know you’re the most important person in my life and that I love you.” Carlos pulled TK even closer so he could drop his forehead to TK’s and closed his eyes. He’d found over the past few weeks that it was easier to talk about his feelings when he couldn’t see how anyone else reacted to them. “But I don’t know that they’re not going to be horrible.”

“They’re all here,” TK reminded him gently.

Carlos shook his head, screwing his eyes shut. “I don’t know if they all know I’m bringing you.” 

The longer TK was silent, the more Carlos wanted to be sick. 

“We can leave right now. You don’t have to do this for me, Carlos. Not if you don’t want to.”

“I do want to," he said. Then on an exhale, "And that’s what makes it so hard.” 

TK took a step back from him. Carlos’ body sagged for a moment. 

“Look at me,” TK said softly. He waited until Carlos opened his eyes, then shifted slightly so he could catch Carlos’ gaze from where he had trained it on something over TK’s shoulder. “How many steps do you think it is to the door?” 

“What?” The absurdity of the question shocked a half-laugh out of him. 

“How many steps do you think it takes to get to the door?” 

Carlos tilted his head. There were three steps up to the porch and he had long legs. “Five, maybe?” 

“So we’ll start with five steps.” TK dropped his hand and took the five steps towards the door. He had to shuffle a little bit closer to be within knocking reach. Then he looked back to Carlos, holding his hands out in show, as if to say look how easy it is.

Seeing TK, brave TK, standing alone on the front porch of the Reyes family ranch house, it struck Carlos how incredible he was. He should’ve been more nervous than Carlos, he should be the one needing reassurance that Carlos’ family was going to love him, but he put it all aside because Carlos was struggling. 

It was so simple. 

Carlos bounded forward, only needing three steps to reach TK as his momentum carried him further.

“I love you so much. You’re incredible,” He said breathlessly, then didn’t give TK time to respond as he pulled him into a tender kiss. 

“Let’s go in,” he whispered as he broke away, smiling at the dazed look on TK’s face. 

TK nodded. Then shook his head. Then nodded again. “Let’s do it.” 

Carlos pushed the door open but was held back by TK not moving. 

“Should you not knock?” 

Carlos grimaced. “Tía Lucy would wring my neck. I don’t think my extended family ever knocked on our door when I was growing up.” 

TK seemed horrified by the thought.

open tag for anyone else wanting to do this because i've been offline all day and missed everything!!