The Next Day

"Ares, I love you, but if you bring one more crate of unripe grapes into this house I swear that I'm going to let Ace lock you up in a Hephastean iron cage!" Ares scowled, but Joxer scowled right back. "You know damn good and well your digestion can't handle it. You have to use the chamber pot enough because our kid is sitting on your bladder without adding that kind of problem."

"They taste sour. I like them."

"You think I don't know about the sour cravings? Eat more pickles, or grab a lemon. At least that won't give you the runs, and you'll get some vitamins."

"What are vitamins?"

"I dunno, but Ace swears by them." Accord came into the front room dragging a comb through his long hair. "Come here and let me do that for you," said Joxer.

"Thanks, Dad." Accord came over and sat on a low stool in front of Joxer's chair. As Joxer began to work the teeth of the comb carefully through his son's hair, Accord said, "Will you braid it for me? I can manage it, but it usually ends up sort of lopsided, and I want to look good today."

"If that's the case, then maybe you should have gotten some more sleep last night," said Ares. "You look like you've been chased around Olympus." Accord looked up sharply. "Don't bother to deny it--that's a guilty look if I ever saw one. Besides, I had to get up last night for the usual reason--damn, the chamber pots are getting a workout--and you weren't in your bed. You weren't anywhere in the building, either. Son, I've come to terms with you and Bliss being interested in each other, but sneaking out..."

Joxer knew enough about his son to quickly jerk the comb out of his hair, so Accord managed to avoid being scalped when he jumped to his feet. "You checked up on me? I can't believe..."

Ares face reddened a little. "I just wanted to be sure you were all right." One hand stole down unconsciously to touch the swell of his belly. "I know I haven't done that for years, but for some reason..."

"Dad, I'm an adult now."

Ares had the good grace not to roll his eyes, but he said stubbornly, "An adult living under MY roof. And if you want to see Bliss, you should be out in the open about it. It isn't in your nature to sneak around and..."

Accord, proving that he might be officially a man, but was still in touch with his inner child, stomped his foot. "I didn't! Well, I did--sorta. I sneaked, but it was in a good cause."

"I have a hard time believing that Bliss would try to be secretive about being with you, so you..."

"I didn't go to see Bliss."

Ares blinked, obviously not expecting that. He examined Accord closely, but his son had never lied right to his face. Avoided telling the complete truth, yes--but not lied. "Then what did you do?"

Accord sighed, then said, "If I tell you, you have to promise that you won't tell anyone else. There are certain people who might just find it in their hearts to fireball me."

Joxer knew it wasn't good for either Accord or his pregnant husband to be so agitated, so he exercised his discretion as the God of Peace and sent a wave of calm through the room. He said quietly, "Cord, don't over react. I can't think of anything you'd do that would get that kind of reaction from anyone we know."

Ares was feeling a little ashamed of having confronted Accord about what he believed was a personal choice. "Cord, you can't be worried about how Cupid and Strife will react. I know that both of them would be happy..."

"Daaaaad." Accord heard the slight whine in his own voice and stopped, taking a long breath. His voice was deliberately low when he said, "Listen to me--I did not sneak out to see Bliss. It was something entirely different. It was about you."

"Me? I don't understand."

"Okay, I'm not being very clear." Accord had been pacing briskly, and when he did that he tended to toss his hair. Now it was hanging over his face like a curtain. He raked it back. "Rats. This mess is a pain in the butt sometimes."

"You could..."

"I'm not cutting it. Bliss likes it, and don't give me that 'a-ha' look. It's a pain, but I like it, too. Daddy Jox, will you go ahead and braid it?"

"Sure, but sit down again. I can't work with a moving target." Accord sat down and Joxer once again began to comb his hair. "Okay, you say this is about Ares? What concerning him could get you out of the temple in the middle of the night?"

Accord fidgetted, but held his head still. "I've been kinda worried about you, Pop," he said to Ares.

That surprised Ares. "But why? I've been perfectly all right. Well, aside from the nausea, swelling ankles, mood swings, back pain, lack of sleep, weird food cravings... You know what I mean--typical pregnancy stuff."

"Dad Jox was fine, too--right up till it was time to have me," said Accord quietly. "But you were afraid he was going to die. So was everyone else."

Ares began to pace angrily. "Damn it. I thought we'd all agreed that they weren't to worry you with stories about that time."

"They didn't say much--but it was the way they didn't say it. It was so obvious that they were dancing around things. So I snuck into the Halls of Time and watched a few mirrors. You remember that time when I was about eight, when you found me up in the tree in the garden, crying? You thought it was because I'd gone too high and was afraid to come down."

"But you'd been watching what happened when you were born." Joxer had been dividing Accord's hair into three thick hanks. Now he paused and hugged his son around the neck. "Everything worked out okay."

"I know, but it might not have, you know? Before that I never thought much about having babies. People just did it. Then I thought, 'Hey, people can die from that.' And then you got pregnant, Pops." Accord turned wide eyes on Ares, eyes that asked for understanding. "And I got scared."

Ares tense posture relaxed, his expression becoming concerned rather than irritated. "Oh, Cord. Son, nothing is going to happen to me. I have Ace and Apollo watching me like hawks. Your other father is riding my butt like... What was it Strife used to accuse Cupid of being when he was carrying Impetua?"

"A pregnancy Nazi," said Joxer. "And yes, I am. It's natural for you to be worried, Cord. I wish you'd talked to us, though, and I still can't see what this has to do with you sneaking..." Accord started to stiffen up. "With you going AWOL in the middle of the night."

"I wanted to see what having a baby was like--not hear about it second hand, but see it. To do that I had to go to Earth. You remember those two mortals that Strife got in trouble messing with--Anieli and Damara?"

"Yes, I remember," said Ares. "What a mess. They're still alive?"

"And thriving. Boy, are they thriving. They had their fifth child last night."

Both of his parents stared at him, Joxer leaning around to peer into Accord's face. "You didn't."

"She screamed like a harpy and swore like Strife when he stubs his toe. Boy, and I thought that Hera didn't chose any priestesses who weren't prissy and ladylike."

Ares shook his head. "Brave boy. I got out of the birthing room when Cupid was born with a lump on my head. Dite threw a lamp at me. But how on Earth did you get them to agree to let you observe?"

"Um..."

"You went down there invisible? Have you finally gotten the hang of that?"

"Almost, but I didn't do that. I got Strife to help me."

"How--?" Ares broke off. "Oh, no. Tell me you didn't... Cord, did this involve you dressing up like Jayce is known to?"

"Of course not. That would have been way too flashy. I had to look demure." Ares sat down, putting his head in his hands. "Don't worry--it's not something I intend to make a habit of."

Joxer had begun to weave Accord's hair into a tight, neat braid. "You were taking a risk, Cord. Sure, there's not really anything they could have done to you, but it could have really been a mess if they'd penetrated your disguise."

"I think someone almost did. If Doran had put his hands somewhere other than on my arms when he kissed me..." Ares shot to his feet. "Dad--chill! He didn't, like, try to molest me, or anything. He thought I was a girl, and he was just being a guy. A pretty smooth one, too, actually. He gave me a line about my skin being as soft and white as moonbeams."

Joxer whistled. "Women love stuff like that. He's going to do well."

"How old is this guy?" growled Ares.

"You can take the murder out of your eyes," said Accord. "He's younger than I am. Remember, Anieli and Damara weren't married till just before I was born. Honest, it was pretty innocent. I think that if I'd kissed him back it would have startled the Tartarus out of him. But you can't tell anyone about this, understand? You know how Cupid gets if anyone tries to mess with Strife?" Joxer and Ares exchanged looks. "Exactly, and Bliss has probably inherited that tendency. If I thought there was any harm in the guy I might tell Bliss myself, but I'd rather not wish either death or the saddest life in the history of the world on him. And you can't let word of what I did get back to Hera, or anyone who might tell her."

"You're right there. You've been a bit of a pet to most of the gods and goddesses," said Joxer, "but stepping on toes when it comes to something that's an intrinsic part of someone's divinities..."

"Intrinsic?" said Ares.

"Occasionally I actually listen to Apollo. The point is," Joxer had gotten to the bottom of the braid. Now he tied it carefully with a leather thong. He started to tie it in a bow, then took another look at Accord and made a simple knot instead. "He's right. This is something that shouldn't leave the temple. We don't need to worry about Strife--keeping secrets is part of what he does. But Cord? I think you ought to tell Bliss about the kiss sometime soon. It'll be worse if he stumbles on the fact by himself."

"Rats. I think you're right, but I'm not looking forward to it," said Accord glumly. Then he brightened a little. "Though I might be able to put him in a mood good enough so that the reaction won't be quite so strong." He reached back and pulled his braid over his shoulder, examining it, then stood up and gave Joxer a kiss. "Thanks, Dad." He hugged him. "For everything. I know there are ways to stop being pregnant if you don't want to be. I'm glad you decided that you wanted me."

Joxer returned the hug, saying softly. "There was never any internal debate, Accord. I wanted you from the moment I knew you were there--maybe before."

"I did, too," said Ares.

Accord went over and hugged him, pressing his face against Ares' shoulder. "I wasn't going to ask--I already knew that." He stepped back. "Can I ask a favor from you guys? Can I have the garden to myself this afternoon?"

"Sure," said Joxer.

Ares nodded. "Just lay a ward over it in case anyone decides to just drop by without having the courtesy to come through the front door."

"Thanks. I'll see you guys later." He left the room.

Joxer went and stood behind Ares, embracing him, rubbing the War God's belly. "Three guesses as to where he's going, and the first two don't count."

Ares grunted. "Sorry, but that would be so easy that there would be no sport in it."

Bliss was working at Aprhodite's potion brewing station. When he'd taken up his duties, he'd learned that it was a lot easier to spell something and use it rather than trying to instigate every instance of joy as it were by hand. It was why Cupid worked with arrows. With that method a little energy went a long way. Bliss had figured out his own methods. He had concocted a variety of dusts that would induce various types of joy. Right now he was working on one of his stronger varieties, so he was working with a cloth tied over his nose and mouth. He was draped in a sort of poncho, and wearing gloves to avoid skin contact. It wasn't that the dust would be harmful to him, but they could work on him, too, and if he got a dose of 'prideful triumph'... He used that mostly for major sports competitions, or on parents watching their children perform some major accomplishment (like walking) for the first time. If he got hit with a dose of that he'd be pretty useless for anything but strutting around for awhile, and he could end up with everyone thinking that he was vain, because what did he have to inspire intense pride?

*There's Accord,* he thought, carefully filling a tiny sack with the pale blue dust, then tying it shut. *But that's still more or less a secret. Tartarus--an open secret. I think almost everyone on Olympus knows by now that we're sweet on each other, but we've never actually discussed it with each other. Not since that kind of half-discussion in his garden.* Bliss started to rub his eyes, and stopped just in time. *Crud. I think we need to talk again. I love what we're doing, and I'd never try to push him, but every time we make out I end up so hard I could pound nails. Then I either have to pretend it isn't there till it goes away, or go somewhere private and take care of it. I don't care what everyone says: that can't be healthy, if for no other reason than the strain on my heart.*

One of the house priests came to the door. "Lord Bliss, you have a visitor."

"Mm? I'm kind of busy here..."

"It's Lord Accord."

Bliss sat up abruptly, almost spilling the dust that he'd worked so hard on. "Tell him I'll be right there. Get him a drink, or snacks, or something." Smiling knowingly, the priest left. "Geez, does everyone on Olympus know?" He quickly and carefully put the dust in a specially designed metal box. It was lined with treated cloth, and when shut it was practically air-tight. He locked it for good measure, and put it away on the shelf that had been designated for his use. He paused for a moment to admire the shelf. That was one way that he'd known he was being taken seriously as an adult. Each member of the House that was active as a full divinity had a shelf for the tools, ingredients, and creations that they used in their duties.

One shelf held the tools and feathers that Cupid used to fletch his arrows, another the various ingredients Dite used to concoct her love potions, and another held Strife's stuff. That could REALLY be hazardous. Once one of the supports had cracked while Bliss was playing underneath it, and the contents had gotten dropped on his head. Oh, he hadn't been hurt by any of the falling objects, but he'd spent the next week in absolute misery: scratching, sneezing, belching, pooting, and peeing lavender.

His room was near the distilling room, and he stopped into it for a moment. He flashed on a fresh kilt and ran a comb quickly through his short yellow curls. He took a quick sniff at his armpits, then magiked up a basin of warm water and some herbal scented soap, giving himself a fast sponge bath. Then he had to change his kilt again. By that time he was muttering swears, thinking that Accord was going to be wondering what happened to him--hoping that Accord was feeling a little impatient to see him. As he went down the hall toward the salon where most visitors were sent he thought, *Oh, I've got it bad. I just wish I could be sure he felt the same way. Sure, we've been smooching up a storm, but it never goes much farther than that, and I want it to--bad.* He forced himself to slow from a lope to a stroll just before he entered the room.

His heart started thumping as he saw the slim figure sitting on the couch. Accord was hunched over, elbows on knees, chewing on the end of his braid. *He does that when he's nervous, he's bored, or he's thinking real hard. I wonder which it is this time? I wonder which I'd rather have it be?* "Hey."

Accord looked up at him, dropping the braid so he could smile. "Hey."

Bliss went over, bent down, and kissed Accord lightly, then sat beside him. "What's up? Is this business, or a social visit..." He wiggled his eyebrows in a move he'd learned from Strife, "or a social visit?"

Accord slapped his shoulder, but said, "Do you have anything that you have to do this afternoon? Say no."

"No," said Bliss obligingly.

"Good. I want you to come somewhere with me for a little while." He stood up, reaching down to gently tug on Bliss' curls. "C'mon, slow poke."

"Okay, impatient." He stood up. "Where are we going?"

"Don't worry about it." Accord reached over and took hold of the waistband of Bliss' kilt. Bliss looked down at Accord's pale fingers curled around the soft linen, against the tan of his skin, then looked up at Accord questioningly. "I'll drive this time. Ready?"

*Flash*

Bliss looked around, then looked at Accord questioningly. "What's so urgent that we needed to come to your garden?"

"Not yet. Come over and sit with me." He led Bliss over to the smoothest, shadiest patch of grass, an area right under Sofia's oak tree. When Bliss peered up through the branches, trying to see into her hollow, Accord said, "I put her in my room for the day. I know she's discreet, but, well... She is sentient, and I get embarrassed enough when Mjau comes in to watch me get dressed." He gestured and a soft blanket was spread on the ground, then he dropped down to lounge on it.

Bliss sat beside him, looking around. "You're keeping up the garden you started when you were studying with Demeter."

"Me and Joxer together. I was right--the second the ban on my getting assistance was lifted he was up to his wrists in the dirt." He cleared his throat. "I suppose you're wondering why I asked you here today. Why are you smiling?"

"Because you remind me of Strife when you say that."

"I want you to make a concentrated effort to not associate me with Strife right now."

"Why?"

"Because it might raise some issues, since he's your dad."

"You're not making sense."

"Well, stop asking me questions!" He took a breath. "Sorry. I'm a little nervous."

"I noticed."

"Bliss..."

"Sorry. Go on, I'm listening."

Accord related what he'd done the night before with Strife. Bliss chuckled through the entire tale--till Accord came to the final part in the kitchen. Then he got very quiet, his eyes darkening. "Bliss? It didn't mean anything. He didn't mean anything. He thought I was a girl. Actually, if I was a girl, and I didn't know you personally, I might have found it really flattering. You're not going to, like, swoop down on him, or make sure that he has a crappy life, are you?"

Bliss' voice was tightly controlled. "Are you sure that it didn't bother you?" He sounded like he was both hoping for and dreading the possible answer.

"No, it didn't really bother me--except for thinking about how it might bother you."

Bliss' expression softened. "Good." He looked down, picking at a thread on the carpet, and said casually, "So, how did you like it? That's the only time anyone else has ever kissed you, right?"

"He wasn't really kissing me. He was kissing a girl named Accordia." Accord frowned. "It wasn't repulsive, but it was just..." He shrugged.

"Good."

Accord flushed, then said quickly, "I need to ask you a question. The way we've been with each other the last couple of months... I need to know. Do you just think I'm hot, is it because you like me better than anyone else who's around lately, is it because you feel comfortable with me, is it because you think it'll be easier for me if my first love affair is with someone I feel safe with, is..."

"Whoa!" Accord's voice faded away. Bliss said quietly and clearly, "A question? Accord--I love you. That's why I've been seeing you."

Accord's smile was brilliant. "I'm so glad you said that." He lunged, knocking Bliss flat on his back.

Bliss' head thumped on the ground with moderate force. "Oof!"

"Aw, geez! I'm sorry." Accord had been half-lying on Bliss, and now he scrambled off him. "I didn't want to knock your brains out, Bliss. I just..."

Bliss reached out and grabbed Accord's shirt, jerking him back down. "Where do you think you're going?"

Smiling, Accord settled his torso at a slant across Bliss', and kissed him. The first kiss was almost chaste, but then Accord licked at Bliss' mouth. The God of Joy's lips parted in a smile, then he returned the favor, and in a moment they had settled down to a leisurely oral exploration of each other.

As they kissed, Bliss groped and found Accord's braid. He took hold and began to use the very tip to tickle Accord's throat. Accord started to sit up, and when Bliss would have clung to him he said, "Let me go for a minute. I promise you'll like it."

Curious now, Bliss did as Accord asked. Accord took hold of his braid and examined the tip, then turned his gaze on Bliss. Bliss shifted. That look was hot and gleeful--sort of like the look Daddy Strife gave Cupid before he did something that would get him flung over Cupid's shoulder and carried to the nearest bedroom. Accord leaned down and began to brush the tip of his braid along the rim of Bliss' ribcage. "Oh, no. You're not going to..."

"You try to stop me and I will stop."

Bliss settled back, waiting to see where this was going. He wasn't as ticklish as Strife or Cupid, but he was still susceptible. Accord used the tip of his braid to outline the well defined muscles that showed about Bliss' waistband, then he drew it up the center of the older boy's chest. Bliss was starting to feel aroused. He'd always found Accord's hair attractive, and since they'd started going together he'd indulged himself by spending a good bit of time playing with it and stroking it, but this... This was edging over from fooling around into foreplay. His voice a little hoarse, he said, "Accord, do you know what you're doing?"

Accord slanted dark eyes up at him, then lightly brushed the hair across first one of Bliss' nipples, then the other. As Bliss shivered he said, "I don't know. Do I?"

"Oh, Tartarus, yes! Can I have some more of that?" Accord trailed the soft, tickling touch back down Bliss' body, circling around the shallow dip of his naval. Bliss closed his eyes, concentrating on the sensations. When the maddeningly pleasurable touch stopped, he didn't open his eyes, but growled, "Accord, do something."

He was hoping for another kiss, and he got it--sort of. He felt a soft, moist touch on his straining right nipple, and his eyes flew open with a gasp. Accord's dark head was bent over him, and by craning his neck Bliss could just see the pink flicker of his tongue as he licked Bliss again. *I think we've just reached a new plateau,* he thought, dazed. Accord nibbled at his firmed flesh gently. *Screw plateau, he's heading for Mount Olympus.*

Bliss found that he'd put his hands on Accord's head, cradling him close. Accord moved father down, nipping lightly, letting his teeth barely scrape the tanned skin of Bliss' belly. Bliss felt Accord's hands on his legs, just above his knees. He'd closed his eyes again, but there was no way he could have mistaken those hands--long fingered, smooth, and warm. They slowly started to slide up under his kilt, and he squirmed in anxious anticipation. Their petting had by unspoken agreement been limited to body parts that could safely be uncovered in mixed company. Did Accord plan on going farther? *IhopeIhopeIhope...*

Accord's hands continued to move slowly, and they slid around to caress the inside of Bliss' thighs. Bliss immediately spread his legs, giving the other boy more room, and silently inviting him to do whatever he wished. The hands kept moving, and Bliss closed his eyes again. *He's going to do it. Isn't he? Tartarus, please let him really touch me this time. I'm going to have to go roll in snow if he doesn't...*

Bliss' breath hitched as a warm hand cupped over his genitals, pressing his awakening erection down lightly, and Accord rubbed. "Oh, shit," Bliss muttered.

"It's all right, isn't it?" There was a hint of doubt in Accord's voice.

"Cord, there are times when 'oh, shit' is bad, but believe me--this is not one of those times."

"That's good." He gave a soft squeeze. "Because I don't want to stop."

"Thank the Fates."

"I'm not really sure of what to do, Bliss. Is it all right if I just sort of wing it?"

"I really wish you would. Accord, anything--anything--you want to do right now is more than fine with me, just please keep doing it." The hand was removed. "Cord!"

"Gimme a second." Now Bliss felt his kilt being pushed up till it was rucked up around his waist, exposing his lower body. Bliss shivered as a warm breeze blew over his bare skin. Then he shivered again as he heard the soft sounds that told him that Accord was unlacing his breeches.

When he felt Accord's hands on his shoulders he spread his legs in invitation, and groaned as Accord settled into the space, lowering himself till he was lying prone on Bliss' body and their cocks were pressed side by side between their bodies. He found that he was panting.

Accord kissed him again and again: cheeks, lips, eyes, throat, ear. He whispered, "Is this all right?" as his hips moved and he rubbed his erection against Bliss'.

Bliss clutched at Accord's back. "Cord," he moaned, "don't ask stupid questions." Accord laughed, and Bliss could feel it rippling through his body. It made him even more aroused. Bliss was feeling a little stunned by Accord's sudden show of amorous aggression. He'd usually taken the lead in their cuddling sessions, but he was perfectly happy with this new turn of events. In fact it was sexy as Tartarus. He wasn't expecting full on intercourse this time, but he knew that whatever happened this was going to be a defining moment--something to measure the rest of his life against.

Accord was having a hard time restraining himself. There was just so much of Bliss there, and it was all so fucking luscious! He was tempted to just bite him--so he did... gently. He started nipping Bliss as he rubbed against him, laying soft pinches of teeth on Bliss' throat and shoulders. Bliss liked it, if you could judge from the way he moaned and started humping up to meet him. Accord liked that a lot. He'd started to get hard while he was sitting in the salon at Cupid's temple, from the moment that Bliss had kissed him hello.

He'd intended to move a lot more slowly--ask Bliss if he wanted to go a little farther than they had before, maybe discuss what they'd do. Actually the methodical part of his nature had been at work, and he'd been unconsciously considering a time-table for their activities. Something along the lines of 'hand job now, dry humping next week, blow job a week after that..." Then Bliss had said he loved him, and it all flew out the window. In his deepest part, Accord had known that Bliss loved him, but he'd needed it to be said outloud. The declaration had triggered a burst of joy that neither realized had automatically energized Bliss. In any case, Accord threw out any plans and just acted on instinct.

It worked out well. When his hands slid up under Bliss' kilt he found him already beginning to harden, and he just went from there. Now he was lying between Bliss' legs, humping against him in an abandoned manner that... Well, the very idea of doing anything like that before he knew how he felt about Bliss would have embarrassed him. Now it seemed not only natural, but right.

Bliss was quickly going out of his mind. He felt the urge to roll them over till Accord was beneath him, taking charge of the encounter. But the urge wasn't too difficult to resist. He wasn't about to balk Accord in anything right now. This was the first of what he prayed would be many, many firsts. There would be time enough later to experiment with various roles, positions, techniques... Right now he was just going to enjoy. He reached around and grabbed Accord's ass, squeezing and pulling him even harder against his body.

Then Accord jerked hard, and Bliss felt the warm gush bathing his belly. He looked up into Accord's face, and saw the beginning of doubt and apology in his eyes. He quickly hooked one arm around Cord's neck and pulled him down into a hard kiss. The other hand went between their bodies, gave Accord one loving squeeze, and then he finished himself off with a couple of hard strokes. When Accord felt Bliss' release, he relaxed, a pleased smile gracing his lips.

Now Bliss did roll them over, putting Accord beneath him. But he didn't continue the activity. He just held Accord, lying on top of him while their breathing slowed toward normal. Finally Bliss put his palms on either side of Accord's flushed face, kissed him, and said, "Stud." That sent Accord into a fit of giggles, and Bliss smiled, enjoying the feel of Accord's body hitching with laughter. Finally Bliss said, "What brought that on? I mean, I know we've been moving toward it for a long time, but why now? Why here?"

"I could pull a Strife and say 'why not?'" Bliss pinched his hip. "Ouch. But I won't. Why here? This place is kind of important to me--I guess to us. This is where you first told me that you were interest in me THIS way. And remember when we almost got drunk on that tipsy trifle?" Bliss smiled. "Yeah. Right before that, this is where I was finally, absolutely sure that this was going to happen some day. Why now?" Accord pushed at Bliss lightly, and the God of Joy obligingly rolled off him. Then Accord snuggled up to him, till he was lying comfortably against Bliss' side, head resting on his shoulder as he was embraced with one arm. "I finally realized that I'm not really gay--" Bliss started to say something, and Accord said, "Stop. I already had that discussion with my dads. I'm not gay--I'm in love with you."

He waited for Bliss' reaction. He was a little surprised that he felt so calm. He really wasn't worried about Bliss' response. He wasn't disappointed.

Bliss kissed him softly, and said, "It's 'us', then?"

Accord cuddled closer to him, pushing his head up under Bliss' chin. "Yeah. I like how that sounds. Us."