Shelly walked in the front door at a quarter past five in the evening the next Wednesday. She didn’t see Sam’s car in the driveway and assumed he wasn’t there. Peeking her head into Sammy’s room, she discovered the boy wasn’t anywhere around either. She shrugged it off, knowing that sometimes Sam takes Sammy out to the park or movies or other fun outings the two of them enjoy doing together. 

As she walked further down the hallway, she heard a familiar sound that made her stop and tilt her ear in that direction. “What the hell…?” She followed the sound to the extra room where she did her sewing. She opened the door and stopped in her tracks. “Sy…?” The room was a disaster. Cut pieces of fabric were strewn all around the room, decorating the floor and hanging from various pieces of furniture. Sy let go of the peddle, turning to look at her. Shelly couldn’t help but laugh as she caught sight of his face. He had white and green thread hanging from his hair, as if he had rolled in it. His wide, round eyes showed panic at the mess, his inability to do whatever it was he was trying to do, and his being caught using her sewing machine.

“What in God’s name are you doing?” She couldn’t help but laugh at his state of affairs. 

Glaring at her as she removed the string from his hair, he sighed. “I’m trying to make Sammy a costume for his school hayride/pumpkin patch thing at his school on Friday. Of course he just told me about this last night as he was going to bed.” Shelly tried not to laugh outright, covering her face to hide her giggles. “I’m glad this is so entertaining for you,” he said dryly. “However, instead of laughing, or maybe while you’re laughing, you can help me?”

Still unable to stop her laughter, she said, “What are you trying to make?”

“Well, in the last year or so, Sammy has really been gaining a lot of interest in dinosaurs. I was wanting to make him a velociraptor costume. He’s really excited about it.” He looked around at the mess he’d created and back to her again. “You’d think as a gay man, I’d know how to sew a fucking costume.”

At this comment, Shelly couldn’t help but to burst out with a hearty laugh, and Sy couldn’t help but join her. “You’re an absolute mess. Where is the pattern that you’re going off of?” She looked around the mess trying to locate what she was looking for. 

“Pattern?” He seemed confused by her question and Shelly just stared at him.

“You didn’t find a pattern first? What were you trying to look at to get the design?” As he showed her a picture of a velociraptor that he had pulled up on Google images, she began laughing once more. “You can’t be serious?” she asked between bouts of laughter. “Stick to web design, Sy. This is obviously not your forte.”

Sy watched her, rather insulted, as she dropped to the floor in a crouch, her legs unable to hold her up amidst the breath taking laughter. “Gee, thanks, Shelly.” But he couldn’t help but to join in with her as he looked around the room. “I really did make a mess, huh?”

Shelly laughed and looked at him, “You really did.” Gently she cupped his cheek and he looked up at her. “It’s really good to see you smiling. I’ve missed it.”

His smile widened as he said, “It’s good to be smiling.”

Shelly took a deep breath and said, “Okay…first things first…we need to find a pattern for this costume you want to make. And we need to measure Sammy so it doesn’t end up six inches too short or six inches too long. Where is the bugger?”

“He and Sammy went out to the park for a while. He was very hyper when he got home from school so, he took him to run out some of that energy.”

Shelly laughed a soft laugh and looked at Sy, who was picking up the strewn pieces of ruined fabric. “He’s really good with him. He’s calling him Daddy more, I’ve noticed.”

Sy stopped what he was doing and looked at her, a small smile appearing on his face. “Yeah, he is very good with him. And yes…I’ve noticed. I’ve watched him when Sammy calls him that. Something comes over him…he gets this smile and air about him like…like he’s floating.” Sy smiled. “The other day I came home from grocery shopping and they were asleep on the couch. Sammy was sprawled out across his chest. Sam had his arms around him, making sure he wouldn’t fall, even while he slept.”

Shelly smiled. “He loves you too, you know.” 

Sy’s cheeks blushed and he looked away, nodding. “I know. I love him. So much. It’s still scary, though.”

“Honey, let me let you in on a secret. It’s always scary. Even without what you were put through. It’s normal to have nerves. Especially when there’s a kid involved. It’s okay to be scared. But you can’t let it stop you.”

Sy nodded. “I know. And I don’t want to let it stop me. I’m not letting it stop me. And that…feels good. It feels good to do something for myself, you know?”

“I do. Sy?” He looked at her with raised brows. “I’m really proud of you.”

Sy shrugged, more bashful than before. “Thank you. You know what?”

“What?”

He met her eyes as he smiled and said, “I’m pretty proud of me too.”

Sammy and Sam walked through the front door less than an hour later, just before dinner. Sammy was obviously tired, sweaty, and rather dirty. But the most important thing that Sy noted was that he was smiling. “Hey, kiddo. Did you have fun today?” Sy hugged the boy and ruffled his hair, who leaned tiredly into him. Sy chuckled and said, “Did you wear yourself out?”

“I had lots of fun, Daddy. I met a new friend.” The boy smiled up at his father. “She’s really awesome. And a grade ahead of me. But she plays baseball really well. Which is what we were playing at the park. One of the kids had an extra glove he let me use. Next year can I sign up for baseball?”

“That’s awesome you found a new friend, sweet one. And if next year you still want to play, we'll sign you up for little league. Deal?”

Sammy grinned a big, boyish grin. “Thanks, Daddy.”

“You’re welcome. Now, how about you go shower and get your pajamas on. Dinner is going to be ready soon.”

“Okay, Daddy.” Turning to Sam the boy said, “I had fun. Thank you for taking me, Daddy.”

“You’re very welcome, little one. It was my pleasure.” Kneeling to the boy’s level he said, “How about this weekend we go down to the sports store and get you a good glove and a bat and helmet and stuff so you can have your own equipment the next time they’re all playing at the park. Sound good?”

Sammy's eyes lit up with excitement, a huge, happy grin spreading across his face, uncontained. “That would be awesome! You really mean it, Daddy?” The boy’s eyes went to his best puppy dog expression.

Sam laughed. “I really mean it. Pinky promise, even.” He stuck out his pinky and Sammy connected their fingers. 

“Now it’s carved in stone!” And the boy scampered off toward the bathroom for his shower.

Sam laughed as he stood up, his grin turning into something else entirely as he looked at Sy. The smile was bigger as their eyes met, yet softer than it was a moment ago, Sam’s eyes lighting up with a love that Sy couldn’t remember ever seeing so clearly. Not even when they were kids. Sam leaned in and kissed him, nuzzling his nose against his in a tickling Escomo kiss. Sy laughed and kissed him again. “Have I mentioned today how much I love you?” Sam asked him, wrapping his arms around Sy’s waist. 

Sy tilted his head with a face of concentration and pretended to think. “Hmm.” He grinned as they looked at each other. “I think I remember you mentioning it once or twice.”

“Well…just in case you’ve forgotten, let me remind you. You,” Sam ran a knuckle down his cheek, his expression now serious and full of admiration and love, “mean more to me than the air I breathe. You’re my sun, my light. And while I knew that during the time we were apart, my world was dark…but now that I can take your hand…or kiss you whenever I want…” he accentuated his point by leaning in for a small kiss. “I realized that my world was darker than I knew…and now that you’re back at my side…it’s brighter than I ever thought it could be. I love you.”

Sy’s eyes watered at his words, a happiness spreading through him that provided a type of warmth he didn’t know he was missing, the smile on his face untamable and his face beamed beet red. “I love you, too, Sammy. So much.”

Sam smiled and walked past Sy toward the kitchen. “So did you get the costume made?”

Sy sighed and made a face. “No. Not all the way, anyway. Apparently, I have no idea how to use a sewing machine. Did you know that I needed a pattern thing?”

Sam laughed. “Yes. I tried telling you that you couldn’t just look at a random picture off your phone, but you didn’t want to listen.” Sy glared at him playfully as he tasted the pasta on the stove. “This is done.”

“Just you shush about the costume. I need to measure Sammy. I’ll do that tonight before he goes to bed and finish it with Shelly’s assistance tomorrow. And it’ll be done in time for his school thing on Friday.”

Sam nodded and pulled down some plates from the cabinet. “What is his school thing again?” He started loading up the plates with the pasta. “Is the chicken still in the oven?” Sy nodded and watched him move around the kitchen. “Is Shelly here? Is she eating with us?” he asked before he filled the empty plate in his hand. 

“To answer your first question, his school is holding a hayride and pumpkin patch thing. There’s a hay maze and everything. He’s very excited. And yes, she is. She’s in her room doing…uh…whatever it is she’s doing.” Sy shrugged.

Sam laughed and scooped the pasta onto the plate. “You wanna go check on Sammy and tell Shelly this is done?”

“Sure.” Sy leaned in and gave him a kiss that he leaned into. “I love you.”

Sam kissed him again, smiling. “I love you.” Turning he went first toward the bathroom to check on Sammy and when he saw that the boy was nearly dressed, informed him that dinner was ready before going to find Shelly and tell her the same.

It was five o’clock on Friday evening and Sy found himself laughing as he watched Sammy chase his friends through the hay maze, making his best impersonation of a velociraptor. They had been here since three o’clock and Sammy did not look like he was going to tire out any time soon.

Sam sat next to him at one of the picnic tables that had been set up for the evening’s event. He watched Sy watching his son, noting the smile on his face, the color in his cheeks. He was pleased to note that over the last few days, Sy seemed to be in better spirits. He could tell he still felt bad over how upset Sammy had been, and seemed to be doting on the boy just a bit more than usual, but he wasn’t about to mention it. Sammy was smiling again, the last week seemingly vanishing from the boy’s memory.

Sam knew this wasn’t the case. There had been many times where he had caught the boy watching his father with a look about him that belied his not quite seven years. It was as if he figured something out that he had yet to share with the class. Sam often wondered what exactly that was, but didn’t ask.  

Snapping out of his thoughts as a giggling dinosaur approached, Sam noticed that he had a young girl with him. It was the same girl he had been playing with at the park a couple of days ago. She smiled at him and waved. “Hello again.”

Sam smiled and waved back. “Hello. Are you two having fun?”

Sam got two cheeky grins and excited nods as an answer. “Daddy,” Sammy said, turning to Sy, “this is my friend, Lizzy. Lizzy, this is my daddy, Sy. And you already know my daddy Sammy. I’m named after him!” Sam said with a proud smile and a tiny puff of his chest.

“I have two daddies too. They adopted me when I was a baby. I still see my mommy sometimes, though.” Turning to Sammy she said, “Do you know your mommy?”

Sammy shook his head. “No. My mommy died when she was having me.” Sy was happy to see that Sammy didn’t seem to become saddened as he said this, as there had been times where it had been a sore spot for him. “But I’ve always had my daddy and now I’ve got two daddies. And I have a Shelly.” The boy giggled and Lizzy frowned.

“What’s a Shelly?” she asked with a small giggle of her own, her blonde hair being accented by the sun at her back, giving her a bodily halo. 

Sammy giggled again. “My aunt Shelly. She’s my mommy’s sister. She’s always been with me too.”

It was then that Lizzy heard a call of her name and turned toward the sound. She waved and the man started to make his way over, a smile on his face. That smile faded as he approached and caught eyes with Sy, whose smile remained in greeting. “Daddy,” Lizzy began as he stopped, “this is Sammy’s other daddy–”

“Sy…” the man said, an expression on his face that Sam couldn’t explain. 

Sy frowned for a moment, wondering how this person knew him. And as the thought crossed his mind that he looked familiar, his expression went slack and the color drained completely from his face. Sam watched the two of them, staring at each other as if they had both seen a ghost. “Is…it can’t be…”

Sam got Sammy’s attention, who was standing within reaching distance of him. “Hey, Sammy boy, why don’t you and Lizzy go play for a bit.”

Sammy nodded, watching his father, knowing something wasn’t quite right. “Okay, Daddy.” He looked at Lizzy, “Come on. The hayride is about to start!” he said in sudden excitement as the announcement went over the loudspeaker. With one last look at his father, Sammy followed his new friend. Sam turned his attention back to Sy, who was still staring in disbelief. 

“Casey?” The name was whispered as if the weight of the word was too heavy to properly speak. “You…they told me you died…they blamed…” Sy shook his head and stood. “You survived…”

Casey watched his friend go through a gambit of emotions before he took a small step toward him. “I survived.” His voice became choked as he looked upon the best friend he could have had at the lowest point in his life.  

“I don’t understand.” Sy shook his head at an internal thought. 

Sy glanced at Sam, his eyes expressing something Sam couldn’t quite read. “Whatever you need. I’ll watch the kids.”

Without a word and a quick glance at Casey, Sy turned and hurriedly walked away. So many things were going through his mind. Racing and raving and raging at everything that happened to him after Casey had supposedly died.

Casey watched Sy’s expression contort as he wrapped his arms around himself and walked away. He wanted to go after him, but it had been so long since they had seen each other. Did he even want to see him? Casey looked helplessly at Sam, who was watching him intently, asking silently what he should do before turning back to the direction Sy had headed. He was still in sight, but getting further away. “By far it is from me to tell you what to do, but if you are looking for advice…go after him. He’s really missed you.” His expression was one of thanks before he ran to catch up with his long lost friend.

Sy’s mind was going a million miles a minute. It was all too much for him to just stand there in the throng of laughing children and parents and staff while another piece of his past suddenly appeared in front of him. He stopped some distance away from the crowd, his head falling backward as he inhaled deeply in an attempt to control himself. He heard footsteps approaching behind him and his chest tightened, knowing instinctively that it wasn’t Sam who followed him.

“Sy…I–” His speech was cut off as Sy launched himself into the man’s arms, wrapping his arms around Casey and holding on tightly. Casey could feel Sy shaking with the emotion he was feeling and tightened his grip just slightly. “I’m okay, Sy. I’m alright.” He whispered this softly into Sy’s ear, but didn’t attempt to pull back until Sy let go several, long minutes later. 

Sy wiped his hands down his face, a full smile breaking out onto his face, despite the tears in his eyes. “I can’t believe it’s really you.”

Casey smiled. “It’s really me.” He could see that Sy was trying his best to keep himself together while in this very public setting, and if he were honest with himself he was nowhere near as calm inwardly as he presented himself outwardly. “Can we maybe walk for a few, catch up some?”

Sam watched Casey chase after the man he loved, wanting nothing more than to catch him should he fall. But he knew that the time wasn’t now for him.