Chapter 230: We weren’t the only ones scheming
Kellen fully expected that he would be in bad shape the next day. The fact that he could move, and stretch, with mild strain on his muscles meant that he felt good enough that they didn’t need to call on his Uncle Vance.
That was a small relief for Kellen, since he really didn’t want to call him to his apartment after everyone knew what he was planning to do that night.
It did make for a sweet morning where Rhys kept asking him if he was okay, if he needed anything, helping him stretch and giving Kellen so many kisses that he felt a little dizzy and even more in love with the man than before.
It was a miracle that he managed to get up, and even more so that he checked his phone.
He was glad that he did because his Dad had attempted to send off a text before Kellen had put his phone away to let him know that they wanted them for breakfast. It was early enough, but not late enough to reply so Kellen shot off a text before they truly got up for the day.
Rhys, wanting to be careful and tender, took care of Kellen in the shower. They didn’t get up to anything, simply because Kellen was too worried about the fact that he forgot to respond to his parents the night before. Rhys, all smiles, glittery ring on his finger, easily agreed with anything Kellen said.
When they got dressed, Rhys made sure to put on a nice outfit. Not overbearing, but nice. Kellen wanted to go in his sweatpants but Rhys would not let him. He led Kellen into a slightly nicer outfit, all grins, holding Kellen’s gloved hand in his own. Kellen had to wear his ring on the other hand because of his injury but Rhys didn’t seem to mind. He liked that everyone could see the rings easier when they were holding their hands together.
Kellen just smiled, happy that Rhys was so happy. He didn’t think that it would have gone poorly, but it still gave him a bit of relief in his chest that Rhys was over the moon that he’d proposed.
Rhys held his hand tightly as they left for breakfast, heading to the apartment that his parents had been given. Rhys stole a kiss in the elevator up, his yellow eyes warm and so pretty that Kellen had to steal another kiss as well. Rhys was the one who put a halt to it as he didn’t want to be any more late then they already were.
Kellen had a sneaking suspicion that he knew what was going on as they approached the door and the number that his Dad had given him once he had responded in the morning. The hallway was really quiet. Too quiet, but the noise that both Rhys and Kellen could pick up on was coming from the room that was presumably belonging to his parents.
Kellen and Rhys shared a look, and Rhys’ smile grew. He seemed truly delighted, while Kellen could feel his face warm. He was worried about what they were about to walk into, and he had a right to worry.
When he knocked on the door he heard the sound of someone hushing a crowd before the rapid footfalls of either one or two people. They were in sync.
The door was flung open and Kellen found that his parents were dressed up, a camera flashed behind them and they were grinning like maniacs.
"Congratulations, you two!" His Dad cried, reaching out and wrapping his arms around Kellen. Kellen hugged him back, startled as he realised his Mom was hugging Rhys as well. They were laughing, happiness seeping off of them as they traded Rhys and Kellen to the other parent. Kellen’s Mom’s incense smell washed over him, comforting and shocking in this moment. She gave him a very tight hug in comparison to his Dad.
"Did it go smoothly?" She asked quietly and Kellen knew what she meant. She knew that Rhys had said yes, since Kellen had told them, but she was asking about how it went. Kellen nodded.
"Yes. Better than I anticipated." Kellen told her seriously as she pulled back, pride in her eyes. She nodded, patted his shoulder warmly, before she turned back to look at Rhys.
"Welcome to the family, Rhys." She said and Kellen watched as Rhys’ eyes widened ever so slightly before he nodded. Kellen swore the man might even tear up, he seemed to be overcome with emotions. Kellen squeezed his hand, smiling at him when Rhys made eye contact with him. Rhys gave a laugh.
"Sometimes I forget that you come with a whole family, Kellen. Nothing bad, just..." He trailed off and Kellen, sensing that his parents and the others in the room were listening and growing sympathetic, leaned over. He pressed a soft, gentle kiss to his cheek, smiling when he pulled back.
"I know you meant nothing bad about that. You deserve a family that cares about you, Rhys. Now, come on in. I’m sure they have a whole itinerary." Kellen said, sliding a knowing and slightly disapproving look towards his parents. At least his Mom looked sheepish but his Dad was all smiles.
"How you know us, Kellen." He said with a wink. "Now, did you two want some coffee? Tea? Mimosas?" The fact that his Dad offered him coffee told Kellen that he was a little all over the place. His Mom just held his hand, watching him with a smitten expression before she smiled back at her son.
"I recommend the mimosas. Brent made them and he has a little station set up at the other end of the living room." She gestured to an area that was set up with a small table, a few jugs, and a grinning Brent waving his only hand.
Kellen wanted to be surprised. He really did, but he couldn’t find it in him. They had been scheming behind his back. He should have known better. He let out a short laugh, shaking his head as he took in the apartment around him along with all of the people inside. He had come expecting his parents and maybe Brent and Sergei, and his Aunt Dina but instead he found that almost everyone was there. People were scattered throughout the apartment, chatting with coffee cups and champagne flutes in their hands. Music was playing from somewhere, but Kellen couldn’t locate the exact location. It wasn’t loud, just a simple background sound that took the pressure off of others to fill the air with chatter.
That didn’t seem to be an issue. Everyone was grinning, chatting, and Kellen even saw a few faces that he hadn’t seen before, or had only seen once in a while.
Balloons were all over the room, a banner was up in the living room. Most of the furniture had been pushed to the side to make space for the large table his parents had brought in and set for breakfast.
The space where Brent and obviously, Sergei were standing was a part of the area that had been made by pushing the furniture all into one corner. Kellen didn’t even want to know the state that his parents’ bedroom must be in if they had made this much space for the planned party.
Most of the Phoenix Guild Lieutenants were here, along with a few tablets that were placed around some necks that held the moving images of Hill, Taylor and Gunther. Kellen was a little surprised that they had gone this far, but also deeply moved. He was glad that they hadn’t been forgotten, even if the time zones were different for them.
As soon as Hill saw them she let out a holler.
"Woo! Here comes the happy couple!" She cried, her smile going from ear to ear. Her hair was wet, but her brown eyes were so bright that they almost looked orange. Her emotions were at the forefront and Kellen could see genuine happiness in her gaze.
"Thank you, Hill." Kellen told her, smiling softly and sliding his gaze to Taylor. She was radiating happiness, her eyes green and watery. She was sniffing, her eyes a little red-rimmed and Kellen watched as a hand reached for her from the other side. Kellen knew exactly whose hand it was since she was looking to her left.
"I-I’m so happy we were able to keep it a secret." Taylor managed to get out, sniffing loudly. Rhys’ laughter filled the space.
"You really did surprise me. I can’t believe you planned behind the Time Esper’s back, and it worked." That got a loud laugh from the room, everyone grinning. When Kellen met Gunther’s gaze he was a bit worried that Gunther might be upset. However, he found Gunther’s shoulders were relaxed, his eyes kind as he met Kellen’s gaze.
"Congrats you two. I’m glad that you finally did it. Though, I am a little upset that Kellen didn’t rope me into the plans." He teased and Kellen paled.
"I am so sorry. I should have." Kellen took it personally, and Gunther’s eyes widened as he raised his hands, waving it off.
"I’m joking, Kellen. You didn’t have to." Gunther argued but Kellen felt his stomach drop.
"No, I should have. I was so caught up in the other details that I forgot to ask you for Rhys’ hand." The room paused as Gunther’s eyes widened further and Rhys sucked in.
"Why would you need to do that?" Rhys asked Kellen, and Kellen gave him a look like he was an idiot.
"Of course I should have done that. I need to ask your family for their blessing. You aren’t telling me that if the roles were reversed you weren’t going to ask my parents before you asked me?" Kellen asked and Rhys opened his mouth before he closed it. He was smiling, his eyes so bright and warm that everyone was having an issue looking at them.
He leaned in and pressed a kiss against Kellen’s forehead.
"Mmm. You’re right. I absolutely would have asked your parents. It’s okay though. Theo gives his blessing, right?" Rhys turned his question towards his friend, his brother, and Gunther gave a laugh.
"I would be an idiot not to. I’m the one who talked you out of kidnapping him and using your words instead, remember?" Rhys turned bright red and several of the Espers in the room exploded in laughter. Kellen rolled his eyes. It wasn’t a funny joke, but the point was made. Even his Mom was smiling and rolling her eyes.
"You could have tried. Kellen would give you a run for your money." She declared, a woman confident in her son. Brent, when Kellen caught his gaze, rolled his eyes as well and shrugged. Rhys pulled Kellen close, wrapping his arm around his shoulder.
"I know that now. I just needed some sense knocked into me. I wasn’t receiving proper guiding at the time." Rhys mumbled, excusing his insane behaviour. Kellen, knowing a hint of how badly Rhys had it before him, softened slightly.
"If you had gone through with it," he began softly and the room went quiet, "I would have used full physical force to escape. You know that, right?" Kellen told him, turning his gaze towards the man who had melted under his tongue in bed last night.
Rhys’ nostrils flared, his eyes dimming to something deeper, more carnal. Golden.
"I..." He trailed off, then raised his head and cleared his throat. "Brent, I hear you’re making a mean mimosa. Can I have one?" He was blushing and everyone was laughing at him. Kellen let Rhys pull away, his own smile on his lips.
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