“The state of California hereby orders Beachview Elementary School to pay a compensation fee of $2.5 million for breaking the Equality Act with a member of their staff to Mr Brian Haner. Case dismissed”

Brian couldn’t help but jump up and yell happily, hugging Matt as tightly as he could as everyone in the court stood up, some even venturing to clap in celebration. Feeling his friend start to cry on his shoulder in pure happiness, Matt gingerly pulled away and handed the hysterical man over to his fiancé, who looked just as excited- and not just at the prospect of $500,000 more than what the court had initially asked for.

Glancing around, out of the corner of his eye, Matt spotted Tuck holding Kennedy in his arms, the two of them doing a little dance in celebration and as the two men stared at each other, Matt jumped over the barrier like Brian had and wrapped his arms around Tuck, pressing his lips against the other man’s. He had won- he’d won the case. He was going home, he and Tuck were getting out of the prison.

“I’m so proud of you Mattie, so, so fucking proud. Oh God, you’re gonna make me cry!” Tuck said as soon as he pulled away, wiping away his tears and smiling up at the other man, who gathered Kennedy into his arms and kissed her cheek.
“Daddy’s coming home soon, baby. Are you excited?” he asked Kennedy, who squealed in delight and hugged Matt’s neck.

“Is Matt coming with us Daddy? Cause you were kissing- are you gonna get married like Uncle Zacky and Uncle Brian?” she asked, resting her head on Matt’s suit clad shoulders and catching the grey eyes of the other man, he smiled, neither denying or agreeing to the matter.
“Maybe, Kenney. If he wants to, of course”

On the other side of the court room, Zacky and Brian were still locked in an embrace, trading vicious and passionate kisses for much sweeter and more loving ones, that made the gay rights people on one side of the court sigh happily as they filed out of the room.
“Didn’t I tell you everything was going to be OK? Brian Haner, how come you never listen to me?” Zacky smirked as the pair of them broke apart and rolling his eyes, Brian smiled. A year he’d been engaged to this man now, and soon they were getting two little babies as their very own. It had been quite a strange year.

“Baby, look at me” Zacky suddenly whispered and Brian stared his fiancé right in the eye, almost drowning himself in the glorious green that stained his irises. Zacky glanced over his shoulder, where the two Matt’s, Kennedy, Jimmy and Ellen were all stood, still talking happily about the case, and then smirked.
“Next Saturday, clear your schedule”

“Why? Is something happening that I should know about?”
“Baby, that’s the day we’re getting married. I’ve organised a venue, and Ellen’s helped me with everything. You were so stressed about the case; I decided it was time for us to become husband and husband. Especially seeing as in two weeks, we’ll have Winter and Teddy with us”
He couldn’t help but laugh. All those nights Zacky had spent working overtime at the office, he’d really been organising the wedding with Ellen.

“I love you so much Zee. I couldn’t do this without you” Brian whispered, pressing another chaste kiss to Zacky’s snake bitten lips as the other man smiled, tightening his grip around his torso.
“I love you more, Bri-Bear. Next week I get to call myself your husband” Zacky said in a sweet reply as sun began to shine through the large windows in the courtroom and onto the happy couple. One day, they’d look back on his moment and feel nothing but a pure, unadulterated love for each other.

One day, they’d be happy. And as Brian collided his lips with Zacky’s again, smiling as he kissed his fiancé, he could almost feel the love radiating through his chest, his heart beating in time with Zacky’s.

***

“We’re rocking around the Christmas tree, in Brian and Zacky’s new house, it’s got a fucking huge Christmas tree inside…” Brian sang out of time as he danced around the large Christmas tree that sat in the living room of the new house that he and Zacky had moved into just weeks before. It had been just over a month since they won the trial, but Matt was no closer to getting out of prison. There was a lot of paperwork to fill in, as well as having to get a letter of freedom from the judge of the court case, but both Tuck and Matt had faith they would make it out for New Year’s, or even Christmas is lucky.

Meanwhile, Brian and Zacky, who were now married legally and blissfully happy had invited everyone over to see the new babies, who had been brought back from the adoption agency after the Haner’s had moved into their new home. With Kennedy balanced on his hip, he glanced over at Jimmy, who was entertaining himself with the two new babies and Ellen, who was kneeling next to the stove with Zacky in an attempt to work out how to turn the damn thing on.

“You owe me twenty dollars Uncle Brian! No swearing!” Kennedy announced happily as she tugged her red fluffy Santa hat further over her ears and held out her palm to which Brian gingerly handed over the money.

“I genuinely think you guys missed an opportunity by calling your daughter Winter. Christmas time is awesome is such a good name” Jimmy joked from the corner of the room where he was trying to balance both of the two children in his arms, something that wasn’t exactly the easiest of tasks. Dropping Kennedy onto her feet, Brian helpfully lifted Winter out of Jimmy’s arms and pressed a kiss to her soft little head, feeling a huge rush of warmth fill his heart. Happiness, he concluded, wasn’t as far away as he’d always figured it to be.

Squeals resounded from outside, and Zacky walked in with Kennedy balanced over his shoulder, both of them laughing happily, Ellen wrapping her arms around Jimmy’s stomach as she rested her head on his shoulder, staring into the wide eyes of Teddy.
“He’s so cute. Reminds me of my brother when he was that small” she whispered, kissing his neck sweetly and closing her eyes, the same warmth filling her own heart.

“So Kenney what did you ask Santa to get you for Christmas?” Brian asked as Kennedy stood in front of the tree, staring up at it in all its splendour. She thought about this for a moment, when suddenly there was a soft click from the hallway. Brian stared over at Zacky who just smiled and nodded, catching Jimmy and Ellen’s eyes, if only to warn them that someone hadn’t just broken in, because he knew exactly who had walked into the house.

“I asked for Daddy to come home, cause I miss him” Kennedy whispered softly, not even turning around as she looked at the bright shining star that lived ontop of the large tree. And every heart in the room seemed to melt when Matt, carrying a bag that contained all of his belongings, walked into the living room, a tear in his eye and a smile on his face. Carefully, he walked over to his daughter without making a sound and knelt down behind her.

“Then I guess your Christmas wish came true, Baby” he smiled as she turned around and gasped, throwing her arms around her father’s neck and hugging him tightly. Holding her, Matt knew he had done the right thing pushing Lexi away and bringing Matt closer to him. He had a child, he knew exactly what it was like to be in Matt’s position.
“Are you staying forever and ever, Daddy?” she asked softly, her eyes wide with expectation and hope.

Glancing over his shoulder at his friends, all of whom were close to weeping with a strange mix of happiness and relief, Matt turned back to his daughter and nodded, pressing a kiss to her forehead and picking her up in his arms.

“Forever and ever Baby. Merry Christmas Kennedy”