Chapter One

Year of Peace

Alex stood on the porch of the small, countryside cottage, a steaming mug of chamomile tea warming his hands. The first tendrils of dawn were breaking over the horizon, painting the fields in shades of gold and soft lavender. He took a deep breath, savoring the crisp morning air, scented faintly of dew and the late-summer bloom of wildflowers. It was peaceful—a kind of quiet that had grown rare in his life before this past year. A whole year of tranquility, of calm, and of Liam.

He glanced over his shoulder and smiled at the sight that greeted him through the open door. Liam was in the kitchen, humming softly as he worked, his silhouette haloed by the early morning light that filtered through the curtains. The rich scent of coffee and butter filled the air as Liam skillfully flipped a pancake, a look of concentration on his face. Alex could hear the sizzle of the batter hitting the pan, followed by the soft shuffle of Liam’s bare feet on the wooden floor as he danced between the stove and the counter.

This had become their morning ritual—a quiet, almost sacred time before the world intruded with its demands. In the past year, they had carved out a routine that felt almost ordinary, but to Alex, it was extraordinary. The small moments, like breakfast together or watching the sun rise over the meadows, had become the ones that mattered most. After all the chaos, fear, and heartbreak that had characterized so much of their past, these serene days were like a gift.

Liam, as if sensing his gaze, looked up and caught Alex’s eye. He grinned, his dimples showing in a way that always made Alex’s heart flutter. He gave a little wave, motioning for Alex to come inside. Alex laughed softly and took one last sip of his tea before setting the mug down on the porch railing.

"Get in here before everything gets cold," Liam called out, his voice playful but warm. His gaze lingered on Alex—a look that spoke of all the love they had found in one another over the years, of the battles they had fought together and the victories that now allowed them this peace.

Alex stepped back into the warmth of the kitchen, his heart swelling with affection. He crossed the room to where Liam stood, setting the table. He pulled Liam into a gentle embrace from behind, wrapping his arms around his waist and resting his chin on his shoulder. Liam chuckled, leaning back into the embrace, and let out a contented sigh.

“You’re getting sentimental again,” Liam teased, but there was no mistaking the emotion in his voice.

“Can you blame me?” Alex whispered, his lips brushing against Liam’s ear. “It’s been a perfect year, Liam. No drama, no surprises—just you and me.”

Liam turned in Alex’s arms so they were face to face, his blue eyes searching Alex’s gaze. For a moment, silence settled between them, the quiet only interrupted by the gentle bubbling of the coffee maker and the soft crackle of the skillet. Liam reached up, cupping Alex’s cheek, his thumb brushing lightly along his jaw.

“It has been perfect, hasn’t it?” Liam said, his voice just above a whisper. “Sometimes, I wonder if we’re dreaming. If it’s all too good to be true.”

Alex shook his head, leaning forward until his forehead touched Liam’s. “If it’s a dream, I hope we never wake up,” he murmured.

Liam smiled, his gaze softening, and he closed the gap between them, pressing his lips to Alex’s in a kiss that was slow and tender. It was a kiss that spoke of everything they had endured—the sacrifices, the heartache, and the victories that had brought them here, to this place of peace and love. When they parted, Liam chuckled again, a light laugh that lit up his entire face.

“Alright, alright,” he said, playfully nudging Alex away. “If we keep this up, breakfast will burn, and I’ve put too much effort into these pancakes to let that happen.”

Alex took a step back, holding his hands up in mock surrender. “Fine, fine,” he relented, a grin tugging at his lips. “I guess I’ll let you work your magic, Chef Liam.”

Liam rolled his eyes but couldn’t help the smile that tugged at his lips. He turned back to the stove, finishing the last pancake while Alex moved to pour them both cups of coffee. They moved seamlessly around each other, a kind of quiet choreography that had developed over the past year, an understanding that needed no words. It was the kind of partnership that had taken time to build, forged through trials and tribulations, through love and forgiveness.

As they sat down at the small wooden table, Alex took a moment to look at Liam across from him. The sunlight streaming through the window bathed Liam in a warm glow, making his auburn hair look almost golden. He looked happy—truly happy—in a way that made Alex’s chest tighten with emotion. He reached across the table, taking Liam’s hand in his.

“To us,” Alex said, raising his coffee mug in a toast. “To a year of peace, and to all the years to come.”

Liam’s smile was radiant as he clinked his mug against Alex’s. “To us,” he echoed.

They ate in comfortable silence, enjoying the warmth of the morning, the rich flavors of their breakfast, and the simple joy of being together. Outside, the birds sang, their melodies drifting in through the open window, a reminder of the life that continued on around them. The world was still turning, full of people and problems, of chaos and uncertainty, but here, in this little cottage in the countryside, they had found a haven.

After breakfast, they made their way outside to the garden. The late summer sun was already warming the earth, and the flowers Liam had so lovingly planted were in full bloom. The garden was a riot of color—roses, daisies, lavender, and sunflowers stood tall, their bright hues a testament to the love and care that had gone into them. Liam knelt beside a patch of roses, his fingers gently brushing over the soft petals, while Alex stood back, watching him with a smile.

“You know, I never thought I’d have a garden,” Alex mused, his voice thoughtful. “I never pictured myself living this kind of life.”

Liam looked up, his eyes meeting Alex’s. He smiled, a soft, understanding smile. “Me neither,” he admitted. “But I think that’s what makes it so special. It’s unexpected. And it’s ours.”

Alex nodded, his gaze softening as he looked at Liam. There was a time, not so long ago, when he had believed that happiness was something fleeting, something that could be taken away at any moment. He had spent so much of his life waiting for the other shoe to drop, for the next crisis to tear everything apart. But now, as he watched Liam tending to the flowers, he felt something he hadn’t allowed himself to feel in a long time—hope.

He walked over to where Liam knelt, crouching down beside him. He reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair away from Liam’s face. Liam looked up, his eyes questioning.

“Thank you,” Alex said softly.

Liam’s brows furrowed in confusion. “For what?”

“For this,” Alex replied, gesturing to the garden, to the cottage, to everything around them. “For giving me a life I never thought I could have. For showing me that it’s okay to be happy.”

Liam’s expression softened, and he reached out, taking Alex’s hand in his. He squeezed it gently, his gaze never leaving Alex’s. “You deserve to be happy, Alex,” he said, his voice steady. “We both do. And I’m going to spend the rest of my life making sure you know that.”

Alex smiled, his heart swelling with emotion. He leaned forward, pressing a gentle kiss to Liam’s lips, a silent promise of all the love he held for him. When they pulled apart, Liam smiled, his eyes shining with unshed tears.

“Come on,” Liam said, his voice a little shaky. “These flowers won’t tend to themselves.”

Alex chuckled, nodding as he helped Liam to his feet. They spent the rest of the morning in the garden, working side by side, their hands covered in dirt, their laughter echoing across the fields. It was simple, it was quiet, and it was perfect.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, they took a break, sitting on the porch steps with glasses of lemonade in hand. Alex leaned back, his eyes drifting closed as he listened to the sound of the breeze rustling through the trees, the distant hum of bees, and the steady rhythm of Liam’s breathing beside him.

“Do you ever think about the future?” Liam asked suddenly, his voice breaking the comfortable silence.

Alex opened his eyes, turning his head to look at Liam. He could see the uncertainty in his eyes, the hint of worry that lingered beneath the surface. He reached out, taking Liam’s hand in his, his thumb brushing soothingly over his knuckles.

“Sometimes,” Alex admitted. “But I try not to dwell on it too much. I’ve learned that the future is unpredictable. All we can do is make the most of what we have right now.”

Liam nodded; his gaze thoughtful. “I know. It’s just… sometimes I wonder if this will last. If we’ll always have this.”

Alex squeezed his hand gently. “We will,” he said, his voice filled with conviction. “No matter what happens, we’ll always have each other. And that’s all that matters.”

Liam looked at him, his eyes searching Alex’s for a moment before he smiled, a small, hopeful smile. He leaned over, resting his head on Alex’s shoulder, and Alex wrapped an arm around him, holding him close.

They sat like that for a long time, watching as the sun continued its journey across the sky, the world around them bathed in golden light. It was a moment of peace, of quiet contentment, and as Alex held Liam in his arms, he knew that no matter what the future held, they would face it together. “Sometimes,” Alex admitted. “But I try not to dwell on it too much. I’ve learned that the future is unpredictable. All we can do is make the most of what we have right now.”

Liam nodded; his gaze thoughtful. “I know. It’s just… sometimes I wonder if this will last. If we’ll always have this.”

Alex squeezed his hand gently. “We will,” he said, his voice filled with conviction. “No matter what happens, we’ll always have each other. And that’s all that matters.”

Liam looked at him, his eyes searching Alex’s for a moment before he smiled, a small, hopeful smile. He leaned over, resting his head on Alex’s shoulder, and Alex wrapped an arm around him, holding him close.

They sat like that for a long time, watching as the sun continued its journey across the sky, the world around them bathed in golden light. It was a moment of peace, of quiet contentment, and as Alex held Liam in his arms, he knew that no matter what the future held, they would face it together.