Long hiatus is long... I'm sorry, everyone. I know I've been posting one-shots lately when I have this waiting. But because I had to change course on this fic's direction I needed to regain my inspiration. Life has not been fun lately. But I'm back now. With news that this story is now finished. It was originally going to be a lot longer, but I had to drop some plans due to RL stuff. I couldn't bring myself to do what I planned after certain events at the beginning of the year. And also, since then more things have occurred that prevent me from going through with my plans. So this is the final chapter. I hope that you enjoy it and forgive me for my change of heart.

Watanuki never would have imagined that his life would turn out this way. But all in all, he couldn't really complain. He was surprisingly happy with his life, and with whom he'd chosen to share it with.

He supposed that from an outsider's perspective they didn't really look happy for the most part. Doumeki could still be an annoying guy when he wanted, and Watanuki still reacted to his teasing with all the sweetness of a wet cat.

Yet it was in the little things that he discovered the most joy. Simple, silly little things. Like Doumeki's complete lack of romance. Somehow, it was endearing to watch him fumble with anything and everything related to seduction.

"You're not so perfect after all, you big idiot." Watanuki would tease, often right before stealing a kiss.

"I can be perfect. Just let me work on it." Doumeki answered one time.

Watanuki had swatted him irritably. "Don't you dare!"

They had been officially in a relationship for nearly a year now- although they'd only actually announced it to everyone three weeks ago. Not that their announcement had actually surprised everyone. Those closest to them had been able to read the signs for themselves.

"It's about time you fess up." Yuko stated, lounging in the shade beneath a tree in her backyard. "We were considering starting a pool on how long you'd take to admit it."

"I'm glad we didn't have the chance. My money would have been on another two months." Taka admitted, only half-teasing.

"I would have thought at least four." Himawari replied, lifting Ayame into her arms.

"You mean you knew?!" Watanuki exclaimed, suprised.

"Watanuki-Kun, anyone who saw the two of you together could tell." Kohane informed him.

Watanuki had finally finished high school, no thanks to Doumeki. Studying with his boyfriend had been anything but easy. Most days he had to chase him out of the room if he wanted to get any work done. When he graduated, Yuuko had thrown a party. He'd been surprised to find that she'd managed to get herself a little tipsy at the event, and reacted to her claims of 'lowering my daily liquor consumption' with complete incredulity.

In a private moment, she'd pulled him aside to explain to him that all of his hard work at her shop had been part of the price used to save him, and that if he still desired his original wish, he'd have to start from scratch. Watanuki had turned her down. His plans were taking him in a different direction- Doumeki had convinced him to try his hand at cooking professionally.

That had landed him with a position in a restaurant owned by a friend of Yuko's. He planned to get his own restaurant in the future, but that was a ways off for now.

Himawari and Taka often let Watanuki watch Ayame when the need for a babysitter arouse.

"Your sure you don't mind?" Himawari asked, concernedly as she shifted her child into Watanuki's arms.

"I never mind. She's a little angel." Watanuki replied, cuddlying the little girl against his chest and earning some happy baby gibberish in return.

"Not always. Just yesterday she gummed my paycheck until it was wet a soggy!" Taka said with a laugh that suggested he found the incident more adorable and endearing than anything else.

Sometimes Doumeki would try to help out with this task. But usualy he just watched from afar.

Doumeki stood, leaning on the door frame with his arms crossed over his chest. He was watching Watanuki feed Ayame in her highchair. She was getting more food on herself than in her mouth. But she was burbling happilly, and Watanuki had a bright smile on his face.

"You look really happy when your with her." Doumeki commented.

"She's so cute! I can't help but smile just looking at her!" Watanuki replied, wiping baby food off her tiny hands with a rag.

"Yeah. But you look like your enjoying playing mommy."

"Don't you mean 'daddy'?" Watanuki asked, shooting him vaguely annoyed look.

Doumeki ignored this. "You ever think about kids of your own?"

Watanuki looked suprised. "W-well... I guess. Sometimes. But..."

"But we're both guys, right?" Doumeki asked, reading his lover's expression. "You think kids aren't an option?"

"They aren't." Watanuki answered, setting the rag aside and lifting Ayame from her chair.

"They are. There's always adoption."

Watanuki was silent for a moment. Then he turned and carried Ayame past Doumeki, kissing him on the cheek as he went by. "Even so, I don't think either of us is ready for full-time parenthood."

Watanuki was happy with where his life was. He could no longer look on his lost years with regret. Sometimes he felt that the missing time was his price for his current life. Would he be where he was today without that event in his life? You never could tell. He couldn't imagine himself in any life other than the one he now lived.

The future was uncertain. But at least he knew what this moment in time held for him. And that's all anyone could ask for.

"I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance."---"I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack