The next evening, they finally returned to their sweet home. Willy wanted to spend those first quiet hours entirely alone with Tim, so he intentionally didn't tell a single soul that they were coming back to the city. Their bodies were completely exhausted from the long journey, so they decided to just lay down and rest. Willy rested his head gently on Tim's warm chest, his fingers softly playing with the new ring on his hand as he admired its sparkle.
Tim smiled softly, looking down at him. "I'm so glad you liked it, love."
Willy looked up, meeting his dark eyes. "I like you much more."
He leaned up and pressed a sweet, tender kiss onto Tim's lips. Right at that beautiful moment, a loud chime echoed from his phone on the nightstand. Willy sighed and checked the screen.
Seb: "When are you guys coming back? We all want to gather and celebrate your birthday tomorrow!"
Willy quickly typed back: "Tomorrow morning, let's just celebrate at my house. I'm incredibly tired and I don't want to go anywhere at all."
Seb replied almost instantly with a teasing smirk: "Ah, so you had your honeymoon and your birthday simultaneously. I don't even want to imagine how exhausted you must be right now."
Willy flushed red. "Fuck off."
He immediately tossed the phone across the mattress. Tim blinked in surprise at his sudden irritation.
Tim chuckled. "Who managed to make you angry so quickly, sweetheart?"
Willy pouted, wrapping his arms around Tim. "It was Seb. They want to celebrate my birthday tomorrow, and I suggested doing it here at our house because my body doesn't have the energy to go anywhere."
Tim stroked his back gently. "I get it. He was only joking because he knows you're tired, love."
Willy simply buried his face deep into the crook of Tim's neck. It was, without a doubt, his absolute favorite and safest place in the entire world. He loved nothing more than resting his head against Tim's broad shoulder, where his mind became entirely calm, leaving all his worries behind. He always fell asleep so easily in this position, surely because he was cocooned in the arms of the person he loved most. Unable to resist the sweet warmth of his skin, Willy leaned in and left a soft, lingering kiss on Tim's neck.
Tim let out a low, breathless laugh, his grip tightening playfully around Willy's waist. "Hey... if you don't stop doing that right now, you are going to be genuinely exhausted tomorrow morning."
Willy smiled against his skin. Perhaps he loved his husband's neck so much precisely because he knew this specific spot was incredibly sensitive for him.
Hearing the gentle warning, Willy immediately stopped his playful teasing. He knew his friends would look at his face and tease him even more tomorrow if he showed up completely worn out.
Willy looked up, his eyes shining. "Okay, I'll stop, but I want a proper kiss in return for being good."
Tim leaned down and playfully kissed him right on the forehead. Willy pouted angrily, narrowing his eyes as he pointed a finger directly at his own lips.
Tim laughed softly, pulling him closer. "I know, I know. That was just my little revenge. I won't make you angry again, I promise."
He gently took Willy's chin in his warm hand, tilted his face up, and kissed him with absolute care and deep tenderness.
The next morning, the sweet scent of cooking filled the house. Tim was already in the kitchen, carefully preparing breakfast just like he always did. Willy walked out of the bedroom a few minutes later, his eyes half-closed and his hair beautifully messy from sleep.
Tim smiled warmly at the sight. "Good morning, sweetheart."
Willy walked straight into his open arms, resting his forehead against Tim's chest. "Good morning, darling. I missed waking up like this so much."
Tim kissed the top of his head. "I missed all of this too, love. Honestly, during those weeks apart, I felt like I wasn't just away for work it felt like absolute torture. But it's all over now. I'm just waiting for my boss."
Willy pulled back slightly, looking into his eyes. "Your boss? You still won't tell me what it is you actually do for a living, Tim."
Tim always found a way to smoothly avoid talking about his past and his career. Willy knew this defense mechanism well and usually tried his best not to pry, but deep down, he couldn't help but wonder what heavy secrets his husband was shielding from him. They had been living together for a few months now, yet Tim still hadn't unrolled his history.
Tim's expression turned slightly serious, his thumb brushing Willy's cheek. "I am just waiting for a final answer from my boss. It's most likely all over now, and as soon as I get the official confirmation from him, I promise I will sit down and tell you absolutely everything."
Willy looked at his sincere face and nodded. He had already waited for months to find out the truth, so he could easily wait a few more days for his husband to feel safe.
Tim smiled, changing the subject. "Ethan wrote to me saying he'll be arriving here this afternoon."
Willy stretched his arms. "Great, that gives me some time to take care of my university homework and club matters first."
After a quick breakfast, Willy went back to his room, spreading his notebooks across the desk to sort out his studies.
While Willy was completely focused in his room, the front door quietly clicked open downstairs. The rest of the friends slipped into the house, carrying bundles of balloons and colorful decorations to prep the living room for his birthday. They had entirely lied about arriving in the afternoon because they desperately wanted to surprise him.
Tim looked at the busy group, then pointed toward the stairs. "I'll go up to his room and tell him I need his help with something down here. You guys hide behind the furniture."
Al looked up from inflating a balloon, smirking. "He won't believe a word you say."
Tim laughed softly. Willy's friends always fondly believed they knew more about Willy's thoughts than his own husband did.
Tim winked. "It won't even take me five minutes to bring him down. So get ready."
He walked up the stairs to the bedroom. A short while later, the friends downstairs heard the bedroom door click open, followed by the soft sound of approaching footsteps. Tim and Willy were coming down together. The exact second Willy's slippers crossed the threshold into the living room, the entire group jumped out from their hiding spots, shouting "Surprise!" in a loud, joyous unison.
Willy gasped, his eyes widening in absolute shock as he looked around the decorated room. "I had no idea you guys were here! When did you even arrive? Why didn't my ears hear anyone come through the door?"
Seb laughed loudly, throwing his arm around Al's shoulder. "If we hadn't quietly sneaked in and prepared everything like mice, what kind of surprise would it have been?"
Ethan stepped forward with a bright smile, handing him a drink. "Congratulations on a belated birthday and your beautiful engagement, Willy!"
The rest of the brothers and friends warmly crowded around him, showering him with hugs and sweet wishes. The grand table was already overflowing with delicious food, and a mountain of colorful present boxes was being neatly arranged in the corner. Willy's birthday party was officially underway, filled with loud laughter and music.
In the middle of the celebration, Tim quietly disappeared from the living room, returning a few moments later carrying a beautiful, custom-made wooden box in his hands.
Logan raised an eyebrow, laughing. "Another gift, Tim? Seriously?"
Miles rolled his eyes dramatically, looking at his brother. "I have literally never given Willy this many gifts in his entire life. Now he's going to think I'm an absolutely terrible brother."
Al patted Miles's shoulder, smirking. "You are a terrible brother, Miles."
Tim ignored their teasing, walking straight over to Willy and presenting the beautiful box. Willy accepted it into his hands, his heart fluttering.
Willy smiled softly. "Thank you, Tim... but you really didn't need to give me so many presents after everything you did at the race track."
Tim leaned down, whispering gently against his ear. "Then let your heart consider these as the missing presents from all your previous birthdays that I wasn't there to celebrate with you."
Willy's fingers carefully opened the lid of the box. Inside lay a magnificent, thick scrapbook album completely overflowing with their shared memories. There were sweet candid photographs, movie tickets, pressed flower petals from their dates, and tiny mementos from every single meaningful moment they had shared since meeting. On the very first page was the photograph Willy had taken of the digital scoreboard after his racing victory.
Tim smiled tenderly, pointing at the page. "Your mouth told me you would never forget that exact moment, so I decided our beautiful memory book should begin with this picture."
Willy looked at the album, his vision suddenly blurring as hot tears filled his eyes. He looked up at his husband, his throat tight with emotion. "I really don't know what to say to you, Tim... My heart is just so incredibly grateful that you became a part of my life. Look at me, you've turned me into a complete crybaby."
Tim's heart melted completely. He immediately wrapped his strong arms around Willy's narrow frame, pulling him close and gently patting the back of his head.
Tim murmured softly. "You're my crybaby, love."
He pulled back just enough to carefully wipe the falling tears from Willy's cheeks with his thumbs. It was true that Willy found himself crying a lot more ever since Tim entered his world, but these were always tears of absolute, pure happiness. He had never felt such an overwhelming, deep sense of love from another human being in his entire existence.
Miles watched them from the couch, his expression softening into a rare, genuine smile. "I honestly never thought I would see the day where someone could make my stubborn brother cry like that."
The group resumed their lively chatter, enjoying the beautiful afternoon, when suddenly the sharp, loud ring of the front doorbell echoed through the house. The entire room fell quiet for a second; they weren't expecting a single soul, because absolutely every friend and family member who knew about the private birthday party was already sitting inside the living room.
Tim's brow furrowed slightly. He walked over to the front door and pulled it open. Standing flat on the porch was the familiar lead Investigator from his past, accompanied by two stern-faced police officers in uniform.
Tim let out a cold, dry breath. "Please tell my ears that your boots are standing on my porch to deliver good news, and not because your department wants to arrest my frame today."
The officers offered zero smiles. Without saying a word, they walked directly past him and entered the warmth of the house. The moment the friends in the living room saw the stern Investigator and the police uniforms, the music seemed to fade, and a dead silence blanketed the room. Everyone stopped eating and stared, completely unable to comprehend what was happening.
The Investigator stopped in the center of the room, looking directly at Tim. "A formal criminal complaint was lodged regarding your name this morning, Tim. Someone successfully broke into your old family estate last night."
Tim let out a bitter, dark chuckle. "And let me guess... the local authorities automatically assume it was my doing."
The Investigator shook his head seriously. "The intruders didn't actually steal a single physical object from the house, but our department believes the break-in is directly connected to the ongoing murder investigation."
Tim's eyes turned cold and sharp as ice. "I wouldn't expect anything less from my foolish, greedy relatives. Personally, my soul holds absolutely zero desire to ever set foot in that miserable house again. And even if my boots did travel there, those idiots wouldn't even possess the brains to realize I was on the property. What exactly is your department planning to do about it now?"
The Investigator sighed softly. "For now, let's just say we officially questioned your line and verified that you hold a perfect alibi for last night, meaning there is absolutely zero need for you to accompany us down to the police station."
Tim stepped closer, his posture turning rigid. "Then please cut straight to the actual bad news, Investigator. Your feet didn't travel all this way to my home just to tell me I'm cleared of a petty break-in."
The Investigator glanced uncomfortably at Willy and the silent group of friends standing around the table. "Are you entirely certain you want to discuss these classified files out in the open here, Tim?"
Tim didn't hesitate for a single microsecond, his arm wrapping protectively around Willy's waist. "I trust every single individual occupying this room with my life."
The friends exchanged wide, worried glances, their hearts racing as they realized the sheer weight of the situation.
The Investigator took a step forward, his voice dropping low. "Then you know very well who was actually inside your old house last night."
Tim's jaw clenched, a dangerous fire igniting in his eyes. "I know. And your department knows damn well that the specific evidence he is hunting for isn't hidden anywhere on those old premises. Personally, my mind believed everything was completely ready and your teams were finally going to spring the trap to catch him. I didn't spend weeks staying far away from my husband in absolute isolation just so your officers could let the real culprit slip through their fingers yet again."
The Investigator looked down, his tone heavy with frustration. "We simply do not possess enough solid evidence to lock him away for good, Tim. Your efforts successfully helped our department capture his main accomplice, but the man is completely refusing to speak during the interrogations."
Hearing those words, something inside Tim's soul snapped completely. The heavy wall of calm control he always maintained entirely shattered, and his voice erupted into a raw, trembling wave of absolute fury.
"Are you seriously telling me that right now?!" Tim shouted, his chest heaving as his hands clenched into tight fists. "I have spent thirteen long, agonizing years of my life helping your department catch dangerous criminals! If your officers have achieved a single victory in their careers, it is entirely because my own hands brought you every single piece of undeniable evidence you needed on a silver platter when your teams held absolutely zero clues! For thirteen years, the ordinary world has called me a heartless murderer, and my mouth kept quiet and endured the slander! Meanwhile, your department has postponed capturing the real murderer a million times over because you wanted to use me to trap even bigger targets! For thirteen years, my life has been forced to hide in the shadows, unable to remain in a single geographic location for long because I knew that if I stayed, he would find my tracks and kill me! I have not slept peacefully for a single night in thirteen years... and now that I have handed him to you on a platter again, your entire department still lacks the capability to catch him??!!! I am so fucking tired of this endless nightmare... You explicitly promised my heart that the previous case was my absolute last assignment, and that afterward, I could finally live my life in pristine peace!"
The living room was completely frozen, the friends standing paralyzed by the raw, agonizing pain pouring out of Tim's voice. Willy's heart shattered into a million pieces; he had never seen his strong, untouchable husband look so deeply broken and exhausted.
The Investigator looked at Tim with deep, genuine guilt in his eyes. "I give you my absolute promise, Tim... this will be your final job for us. But you are his primary, main target, and our department is completely powerless to bring him down without your direct assistance. If your line refuses to help us catch him now, you know with absolute certainty that your life will always remain in grave danger."
Tim closed his eyes, taking a long, shaky breath as he felt Willy's small hands trembling against his side. He opened them, his gaze cold. "I will deliver my final answer to your office later. I have to discuss this entire matter with my husband first."
He was just so incredibly tired of the running, of the danger, of the endless shadows. In the past dark years, his mind had frequently formulated thoughts of simply running away to the edge of the earth, if only his body held the power to escape the web.
The Investigator and the officers offered a tight nod, saying nothing more as they immediately turned and vacated the house.
The atmosphere inside the living room became deeply tense and heavy. The friends stood in absolute silence; they had just absorbed a massive, overwhelming mountain of shocking truth regarding Tim's past, and it was an exceptionally difficult reality for their minds to fully comprehend.
Without wasting a single microsecond, Willy turned and wrapped his arms tightly around Tim's shaking frame, burying his face into his chest.
Willy whispered, his voice thick with tears but completely unyielding. "You should have told my heart everything from the very beginning, Tim. I know your nature always wants to appear completely untouchable, strong, and take care of every single problem alone... but I am your wedded husband. I am standing right by your side, and your life can safely rely on my strength. You hold the absolute right to choose not to go. You can refuse to help them, Tim. Your soul is absolutely not obligated to risk your life for their department ever again after everything they put you through."
Tim looked down at him, his eyes filled with a deep, agonizing fear as his large hands cupped Willy's face. "I don't want to pack my bags and leave your side alone again, love. My heart is so terrified that if their teams fail to catch him this time, I will be forced to endure this dark cycle for the rest of my days. I absolutely refuse to let a single dangerous variable touch your life or anyone else in our family."
Willy looked up, fresh tears streaming down his cheeks, but his eyes were filled with an absolute, beautiful determination. He placed his hand over Tim's heart. "If your soul is completely incapable of living in pristine peace until that monster is caught, Tim... then your boots should travel and finish the job. Whatever final decision your heart formulates, my love will always support you completely. I know with absolute certainty that being apart again is going to be exceptionally hard for our hearts... but let your mind remember our vow: this goodbye won't be an eternal farewell. It is simply our sacred promise that we will meet again."
If this heavy dilemma had transpired in the old days, making a cold, calculated strategic decision would have been an incredibly easy task for Tim's isolated soul. But now, his entire universe contained Willy, and his heart genuinely held zero clues on how to act.