Disclaimer: Don’t know, have never met, am in no way looking to cause offence.

Slash but nothing graphic in the slightest.

Boxes littered the room, the removers were due in less than an hour.

They had finally decided to move out of the city and into the country, buy a farm with plenty of acreage for both the dogs and the kids.

Mark stood for a moment just contemplating the house that held so many memories, good and not so.

A sharp, incessant tugging on his sleeve broke him out of his revelry.

‘Dad, Daddy’s crying.’

Mark bent down to his youngest by fifteen minutes. ‘Where is he?’

‘In your room.’

‘Ok. Go join your brothers outside and watch for the removal van.’

He watched her go, her blond braids bobbing along, side-stepped a dog, near tripped over the other, called out an after thought. ‘Jason, put Bessie and Doze on their leashes and keep them with you please.’

From the direction of the open front doorway a reply was called back that sounded vaguely like an acknowledgement.

Mark climbed the two flights of stairs that led up to the master bedroom, smiled as he passed the now empty rooms of their children. Pink walls for Lucy, blue in Tim’s and black in Jason’s. Jason having reached fourteen and being at that ‘self-expression’ stage.

The door to the bedroom he had shared with his partner for the last six years was ajar and a soft, stifled sobbing could just about be heard in the still house.

He knew what he would find, what the cause of the tears were. It took a lot to make his love cry, in fact he could only remember it happening three times since he had known him. The first time they had made love, the day he had told Mark about his past and the day they had been told that they could adopt the twins.

But only one thing could make him cry like this. Silent, shuddering sobs falling unchecked.

‘Dan?’

At his entrance a dark blond head turned, smiled sheepishly, ‘Sorry.’

‘Hey no need.’ Mark crossed over to kneel in front of him.

‘Just having one final look before I seal the box down.’

Mark took the photos gently from Daniel’s hands, laid them carefully on the bed beside him. ‘Its ok I understand. This was his house too.’

Daniel wiped his tears away with the back of his hand, looked around the room, decorated so differently from when he had shared it with Darren.

‘You know moving doesn’t mean you’ll forget him. He’ll always be here.’ Gently Mark entwined their hands and put them over Daniel’s heart.

‘I know.’

‘But if you want to stay just say the word and I’ll phone the removers, phone the agents…’

‘Sssh,’ Daniel put a finger over his lips stopping him short. ‘I want to move, I want to go live in the country with you and our children.’

Mark picked up the photo that lay on the top of the pile. It was one of Daniel and Darren on holiday somewhere. They were sat on a wall, Darren resting back against Daniel, the sun slowly setting into the sea behind them.

‘You know I think this one is good enough to frame.’

Daniel smiled, ‘You reckon?’

‘Sure. You know I am more than happy for you to put pictures of the pair of you up. In fact I wish you would.’

‘I know.’ Daniel blew his nose, signalling that the tears were coming to an end.

‘And this one too.’

‘Oh no, not that one.’ Daniel pulled a face. It was of the two of them dressed up for one of Darren’s infamous Halloween parties. For some reason Darren had thought it would fun for them to go as women, goodness knows why. Darren as usual looked stunning in the blond wig and shimmering dress, Daniel thought that on the other hand he just looked like a drag queen on a bad hair day.

Mark felt a tug at his heart as he saw which one lay beneath the picture in his hand.

Dan followed his gaze and picked the photo up with reverence. His and Darren’s wedding day. Even although his face had been gaunt and pale, the disease that destroyed his body in full evidence, the love that burned in his eyes was as bright as ever.

‘He looked so handsome.’ Daniel said quietly and Mark nodded his agreement.

‘You both do.’

He looked down at Daniel’s right hand, at the ring he still wore, albeit on his other hand now. Mark knew that he and Dan would never get married, understood his reasons why, looked to his left hand to the ring that he did wear there. Not a wedding ring but a ring of love. A ring that symbolised that Daniel had been ready to move on, to keep his promise to Darren and allow himself to fall in love again.

A shout outside signalled that some minor fight had broke out amongst the kids. The dogs joining in the cacophony.

Daniel made to rise, to go and sort out whatever it was, to separate child and beast, to try and restore some semblance of harmony to their madcap family.

Mark stopped him. ‘Let Jason deal with it. He’s old enough. His mother is always saying he needs more responsibility.’

‘There’ll be blood split.’

Mark shrugged. ‘So let them spill it. The new people can always clean it up.’

Daniel smiled again, this time with more conviction. A smile that Mark never got tired of seeing. A smile that lit up the whole room. The smile that had first attracted Dan to him when he had seen it across the room at the media gig they had both attended.

Daniel gathered the photos together, put them back in their worn box, back with all the letters, cards and other keepsakes of his life with Darren.

A stray dried rose petal drifted down and Mark picked it up, carefully placed it with the other items.

‘How about we take this box with us in the car? It’s far too precious to leave to the removers.’

Daniel nodded, put the lid on, pulled Mark to him and gave him a soft kiss. ‘Thank you.’

The noise from below intensified, Jason’s name clearly being heard shouted by the other two.

‘Err I hate to break it to you but I think far from controlling the situation your son is probably the cause of it.’

Mark rested his forehead against Daniel’s. ‘I think unfortunately you might be right my love.’

‘If he’s teasing the dogs again…’

‘Relax, I’ll sort it.’ Going to the open window Mark stuck his head out and yelled. ‘Jason Hammond if you don’t quit that now I’m going to make sure that your PS2 is the last thing unpacked when we get to the new house.’

A grumble floated back up.

‘And if I hear you using language like that in front of your brother and sister again your bass is going to be off limits for a month.’

‘Oh you’re a hard father.’ Daniel laughed coming to stand behind Mark.

Mark returned his grin. ‘But a softie when it comes to you.’

Daniel rolled his eyes. ‘Go on get out of here.’

‘Want a few minutes?’

‘Yeah if you don’t mind.’

Mark held him close and kissed his hair. ‘Take all the time you need.’ And he left Daniel alone with his memories.

The removal van was loaded, the car itself bulged with all the things they would need for the first few days before the bulk of their stuff arrived. The twins excited at the prospect of ‘camping out’ in their new house and the ponies they had been promised now that there would be room to keep them. Jason sat on the back seat sulking, his headphones firmly in place. Bessie and Doze lay in the rear of the car, separated from the children by a grill and probably extremely grateful for the respite.

Daniel’s precious box rested at Mark’s feet as Dan finished locking up their old house and got in the driver’s side.

‘Ready?’ he asked in general.

‘Yes!’ Tim shouted enthusiastically.

Daniel turned the ignition and was just about to pull out when he stopped.

A sparrow had alighted on the bonnet of the car.

‘Look Daddy,’ Lucy said. ‘a bird.’

Mark looked at Daniel, slid his hand quietly to rest on his thigh.

Daniel looked at the bird and it seemed to him that the bird looked back. They regarded each other solemnly for a few moments before the sparrow cocked its head and, spreading its wings, took flight. Flying ahead of the family off down the road they were heading.

A/N: In dream interpretation a bird flying freely can represent the spirit, set free and soaring towards the Divine.