Here it is, folks: the last chapter ;-;

This is mainly an epilogue to the rest of the story, to tie all the ends together, so prepare for some serious fluff. There'll be a longer note at the end, but for now – enjoy!

Chapter Seven

It would've been cold; sitting on a picnic blanket in the damp grass, waiting for the clock to count down to midnight, if Matthias didn't have his warm arms around him, holding him securely to his chest. He's sitting between Matthias' legs, his head tilted back against his shoulder to look at the stars that are partially concealed by a thin veil of mist. Emil has caught sight of a few of his school friends across the field and moved to sit with them, and Lukas can see their shadowed figures laughing and talking and waving glow sticks, their blurred silhouettes reflecting the dim light.

Lukas closes his eyes, breathes in. The air smells of smoke and anticipation.

"That's another year gone," Matthias says. His voice vibrates in his chest, his breath visible in clouds of frosty white. "It's been…a lot."

"Mhm." Lukas thinks back to where he was at the start of the year; stressed and lonely, in a job he hated, each day struggling to stay afloat with the knowledge that Emil needed him. He thinks about where he is now. "But I don't regret a moment of it."

"Neither do I."

They've been dating for six months now, and it would be a lie to say that everything has been perfect. They've had their fair share of arguments – Matthias being too eager to please, Lukas unable to accept his help after managing for so long on his own - but they've always made it through stronger. Emil has had two visits to the ER in the past few months alone, but it's easier now they have each other to hold onto. Matthias had travelled back to Denmark for a fortnight after the unexpected death of his maternal grandmother, resulting in nightly Skype calls where Lukas had listened to Matthias sob over the line about how he hadn't been good enough to her, about how he hadn't visited her enough, about how the last time they had spent together they had argued over his sexuality, and he had wanted nothing more than to take him in his arms and hold him, but he couldn't. He would give anything not to hear Matthias cry like that again.

But between all that, there are the good things. Every morning, waking up in a warm bed with the sheets rumpled and the mattress indented with Matthias' shape beside him, the smell of rich coffee drifting up the stairs; the tiring but satisfying days at the bakery, with a quietly supportive Berwald, bright, bubbly Tino and sweet little Peter, with complimentary pastries at the end of the shift "to take home to your boyfriend"; Matthias working his way up at the rec centre, from assistant coach to coach to team manager, teaching kindergarteners how to play football. He's started working with children with disabilities now, and nothing makes Lukas feel happier than when he brings him his lunch and watches them all laughing and playing together, free in a way they could never have been before.

And then there's Emil. He's fifteen years old now and a real teenager, going out with friends, talking on the phone well into the night and snapping at Lukas. He's become more independent than ever, and in some ways it hurts, because Lukas is used to feeling needed, but he's never been more proud than the times when he can step back and watch Emil grow into a brave, indestructible young man ready to take on the world.

So much has changed in these past few months. It makes his heart ache just to think about it, but he wouldn't change any of what they've been through for the world.

He's startled from his reverie when a cheer rises up from the crowd. Matthias leans close to his ear, whispering, "One minute to midnight."

"Oh." People are hurrying about at the end of the field, striking fuses. Children are lifted onto their parents' shoulders for a clearer view.

"We need to make a wish."

"Oh? I thought it was a resolution that you're supposed to make at New Year's."

"Maybe." Matthias' voice is coy, teasing. "But when have we ever played by the rules?"

And so, as the chanting begins, Lukas takes a deep breath and makes a wish.

Lukas doesn't close his eyes. He opens them wide as the first firework soars into the sky and explodes above them, sending tiny particles of stardust shimmering down to earth, a trail of fluorescent smoke in its wake. Then the next, and the next, and the next, firing off in quick succession, painting a nebula of light against the night sky.

A few fields over, another display begins – behind them, another illuminates the sky. All around them, people are hugging and kissing and crying because this is it. Lukas has no idea what this year has been for them, but now it is over and they're all starting again. Maybe, somewhere across the ocean, his parents are looking at the sky and thinking of him.

It doesn't matter. He has everything he needs right here.

"What did you wish for?" Matthias asks in a murmur, his eyes glued to the sky.

"I'm not telling you, stupid, or it won't come true."

"Fine. Then I'm not telling you mine, either."

"Fine." They pout at one another for a moment, then dissolve into soft laughter and melt against each other as muted fireworks continue to light up the sky.

"I love this," Lukas says, once the display has finished. Matthias raises his eyebrows.

"This?"

"Yes…just, this." He gestures around them, at the crowds of smiling strangers and the sparklers weaving trails of gold through the air; at Emil, sitting and laughing with his friends, by himself but not out of sight, and at themselves, sitting close together on a blanket on the grass, tiny and insignificant amongst the masses of people but still shining, like a star on a clear winters' night. "I want to do this again and again and again every year, and every year I want to feel like this."

"You will," Matthias promises immediately. "We will. In a year's time we'll be back here, together, looking up at the fireworks and not telling each other the wishes we've made."

"Oh, I don't know," Lukas says slyly. "I might decide to tell you what I've wished for, one day."

Matthias just sticks his tongue out childishly and holds him closer. "You know," he says. "Most people kiss at midnight."

"Oh well, it's six minutes past midnight now. You've lost your chance."

"Noo." He nuzzles his face into Lukas' hair. "But a kiss with the one you love is supposed to bring good luck in the New Year. We'll have bad luck if you don't."

"Tch." He already knows he's going to kiss him, of course. Why wouldn't he? "Well, then, you'll have to make it a good kiss. I want all the luck this year."

"Of course." Matthias takes his chin in his hand, tilts it upwards. Lukas turns to face him fully and brushes their noses together. "You know I would never let you down. I'm by far the best kisser."

"Oh really? We'll see. We'll see who has the best luck next year."

"It'll be me, it'll definitely be me." His breath is hot against Lukas' chilled face. Matthias leans his face closer and whispers in his ear, "I'm so lucky."

No, I am, Lukas wants to say, because with Matthias here, he feels like the luckiest man in the world. But instead, they're leaning in and they're kissing; lips chapped and sweet with hot chocolate, intertwined fingers numb with the cold, breath warm in each others' mouths, hands moving slowly underneath thick sweaters; not hot and passionate but slow, serene, savouring every inch of each other and committing their love to memory. It's warm and radiant and deeply infinite, a supernova against a sky of stars, and Lukas thinks it could go on like this forever.

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.

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Fin

Wow, that's it. We have come to the end of the story. This is my first ever completed multi-chapter story, so it's been a really exciting journey to write, edit and publish this. Thank you so, so much to everyone who read this fic, especially those who commented, favourited and followed; it means a lot to me that others are able to enjoy and encourage my writing.

And of course, I want to say a huge thank you to Pasta and Sin, who did an absolutely amazing job of beta-reading this entire story and putting up with my bombardment of chapters to be edited. This story wouldn't have been the same without your advice and encouragement!

In the notes from the previous chapter, I asked about a sequel to this story. From your feedback, I can confirm that there definitely will be a HongIce sequel! I aim to prewrite it as I did with this fic, so it might take a few months, but stay tuned for that! This story isn't over yet! :D

Anyways, thank you so much to all you wonderful readers, and I hope to see you soon! Feel free to shoot me a message if you have any questions, requests, or just want to chat – I love getting to know everyone!

- NordicsAwesome