Page 83 of Shifter Omegaverse AU

Unfortunately, they were both only children. How was Milo supposed to help their fated mate navigate tense family dynamics when the last remaining member of their family was—

Milo sighed and buried their face in Ray’s hair.

“Maybe Ruben and Rowan should go to the cabin this weekend. I bet there’s lots of dirt up there for them to roll around in,” Ray said.

“Is that really what you want? To give up one of your weekends with Ruben?”

That was so very unlike Ray. He usually clung to every second he could get with a significant other.

Ray sighed. “I mean, not really, but short of that, I’m not really sure what to suggest.”

Admittedly, Milo didn’t want to give up their weekend with Rowan, either. They really needed the chance to get away from the city, where every street corner and quiet park reminded them of Anabelle.

“Maybe they’ll have totally figured it out by the time we get back out there, and we can enjoy a nice, fun dinner,” Milo said, rubbing their cheek against Ray’s ear.

Milo’s pony snorted, and Milo was glad they weren’t the only one too tired to deal with this today.

Ray cupped Milo’s cheek again, tilting their head down so they were practically eye-to-eye. “Well, regardless of what they do, you and I can still have a nice dinner. We can even go to a different table, and I’m sure they would still pay for it.”

Milo let out a tired laugh. “They probably would.”

“I think they both mean really well.”

“They do.”

“And we like them. A lot. Even if they’re sort of acting like disgruntled children.”

Milo ruffled Ray’s hair and gripped him tightly around the waist, so when they stood up, he was able to get his feet under him. “Maybe it’ll actually be good for them to go home together next weekend. Their moms might be able to set them straight.”

Ray’s ears retracted, and he ran his hands back through his hair. “Maybe.”

Ever since receiving that final call from the retirement home, Milo hadn’t been a big fan of surprises. Even good surprises tended to leave them feeling flatfooted and thrown off. That was why, when they walked back to their table and found Rowan and Ruben talking cordially, if a little stiltedly, Milo was more exhausted than relieved.

“If it’s okay with the two of you, we were thinking we could all four go home to meet our parents next weekend,” Ruben said, once again looping his arm around Ray the second he was within reach.

Ray cozied up to Ruben’s side and threw Milo a hopeful smile.

Of course there was no way they could say no after that.

“Is that okay with you, baby?” Rowan asked quietly.

He waited until Milo had fully taken their seat to gently press his thigh against Milo’s. They much preferred it to the out-of-character leg grab earlier.

“If that’s what everyone thinks is best, that’s fine with me,” Milo said. “I would really like to meet your family, but if it’s not the right time—”

“It’s the right time,” Rowan said, casting his older brother a sidelong look. “For both of us.”

Ruben looked happy as can be, reaching up to rearrange a stray lock of Ray’s hair. Ray looked happy, too, so Milo just nodded and pressed their leg against Rowan’s.

They wouldn’t go so far as to say dinner was fun, but as drinks were served and Ruben and Rowan ordered a plethora of interesting sounding appetizers and side dishes for the table, Milo was at least able to relax.

Ruben had driven to the restaurant, while Rowan, Ray, and Milo had walked from their respective offices. Ruben offered to drive Ray back to his car, and Rowan said he’d happily take Milo home if they wouldn’t mind walking the extra few blocks to his car first.

The weather was lovely, chasing away some of the tired chill from Milo’s bones. Rowan also put off a fair amount of heat, which Milo did their best to drink in as they walked side by side.

They were both quiet on the drive back to Milo’s place, and when Rowan pulled up to the curb, Milo assumed it was going to be a wave goodbye kind of night. They’d had many of those with Anabelle, since she usually tried to avoid awkwardly reaching across the center console for a hug.

Milo would give up their left pinky toe for just one more of those awkward hugs. Their pony whinnied, offering up some of their whiskers as well.