It was evening by the time the truck pulled in.

The sky was streaked with crimson and orange, a vivid contrast to the white and pale pink clouds. The fields were full; whitish flowers from the corn plants reaching towards the sky giving the air a sickly smell.

Sammy drove towards the edge of the field, the little green tractor still working fine despite the years passed since its last check-up. He pulled it to a stop, the tires causing grooves in the soft dirt. It had been nine years since the lady in purple had shown up and given his brother a job. He was thankful, in a way; Carter sent home ninety percent of his paycheck and the ranch was thriving like never before. Hell, Sammy could have retired a couple of years ago if his pride hadn't had stopped him.

The trunk trundled to a slow stop, dust billowing up in clouds from under its tires as it creaked to a halt in front of the house.

As soon as the door to the truck opened, Sammy hurtled from the tractor and sprinted towards it, leaping through the fields and batting the stalks of corn out of his way. The horses, startled, ran from him as he dashed through their fields. He vaulted over the fence the second his brother stepped out of the truck's driver-side seat and stretched.

"Sammy!" Carter called out to him before immediately being engulfed in a warm hug, Sammys still-too gangly limbs encircling him tightly. Carter was as broad and stocky as always and Sammy buried himself in his neck as his arms squeezed tightly around his midriff.

He hadn't noticed the man circling out of the passenger side until he was a few feet away. He had unloaded the bags before standing a little awkwardly.

"It's so good ta see ya again," Carter chuckled, a warm hand stroking down his back. "Been too long, huh?"

"Definitely." Sammy eventually pulled away, smiling, eyes darting downwards to the suitcases and bags. "But you're staying, this time?"

"You're stuck with us." Carter nudged him with his elbow before bumping shoulders with him. "I'm finally claiming that old bedroom of mine back. I'll fight ya for it."

"Trust me, he'll win." The other man said over his shoulder as he settled the last case down. Sammy frowned a little, watching as he straightened up, clicked his back, and then wiped sweat from underneath an army helmet.

"Sam, I want ya ta meet someone."

Carter was smiling the widest Sammy had seen him smile in the longest time. He moved to the other mans side, clapping a hand on his shoulder and resting against him, like he'd known him his entire life. Maybe in a way, he had. There was no mistaking the way his big brothers cheek pressed into the newcomers broad shoulder like the two fit together. After a moment's hesitation, the helmeted mans hand stroked down the small of Carters back.

"This is Dale. He's gonna be staying with us. If that's okay?"

Sam swallowed, and Dale held out a hand. After an awkward shake, Sam scratched the back of his neck.

"Hell, Cart, this one's built ready for this place, huh?"

"Don't worry," Engineer was chuckling and he gave a light nudge with his fist to Soldiers chin. "He's the best damn worker I know. I give it two hours before he's out there liftin' bales and tamin' horses."

Despite a slight twist in his gut warning that Soldier may have just signed himself up for more than he bargained for, his lover's warm smile and pat on the back melted those doubts away. Together they lifted up their suitcases and carried them into the house.

Dale had found a rather nice spot on the ranch that he liked to sneak off to, now and then. He'd spent most mornings doing the chores that they had split between the three of them; he'd taken to an especially grouchy horse Sam had bought a few years ago and after some gentle lessons from Carter he had started to enjoy riding him around the ranch, making sure the cows were in the right place and checking on the fences to make sure none needed to be repaired and that the crops were growing well.

The two brothers hadn't seemed to really noticed that he snuck off now and then - or if they did, they never mentioned it.

There was a little spot where the fences met up, right at the edge of the main corn field, under a big old oak tree. He'd let the horse roam a little, because he never strayed too far and if he ever decided to take off and run, saddle-sores be damned Dale was almost excited by the thought of chasing after it at top speed, purely as a challenge for himself.

Sometimes he'd sit on one of the thick trunks that hung a little low. Sometimes he'd sit in the grass sprinkled at the base of the tree. Usually he'd just think.

The place needed a dog, he thought often. Carter would like that. They had a rather decent amount of money in the bank, if he did say so himself - Carter deserved a gift. Something to show he cared. RED had paid handsomely and the ex-Soldier couldn't help but feel it burning a metaphorical hole in his pocket.

"...Guess I'll just have to spend it all on the best gift I can get, huh?"

No one replied and he leant more against the tree, looking up through the leaves under his helmet. The sunlight filtered down and the breeze stroked the smell of apples through the air.

"...Maybe someday." He let out a long sigh through his nose. The horse inched closer, pulling up tufts of grass and munching, nudging at Dales hand. He absent-mindedly stroked down the horses nose. The world, for once, felt much too big for him.

He let the sun set around him, watching the clouds move with lazy determination. The ranch really felt like home now, more than any he'd had before, and while he was happy with the hand life had dealt him Dale wanted nothing more than to make Carter happy.

It felt like it took a long time, his body rooted to the ground, but he stood and slowly slipped up onto the horses back. Together they slowly plodded back towards the farmhouse.

Dale completely ignored the warm tingling sensation all across the back of his neck that someone had been sat by him the whole time and was now watching him leave.

It was something sneaky, something that made them feel like ridiculous teenagers again.

Sam had already long gone to bed and the night was silent and littered with stars. Carter had grabbed a blanket and ran across the field with it wrapped around him like a big kid while Dale had followed him, piles of pillows scrunched up under his arms.

Carter had been laughing, snickering as quietly as he could, cheeks burning red with the thought of Sam hearing them - he knew he couldn't, of course not, but the distant thrill was still there. The ex-Engineer had climbed the ladder up first, blanket draped over his back like a thick cape while Dale simply threw the pillows up over his head, hearing them land softly in the crinkly hay.

It was a thrill, christening the hayloft. The duo felt young and dumb and this was theirs and no one could take it from them.

Carter let out a faint little chuckle, still winded as Dale practically flopped down at his side, clothes abandoned somewhere in the old barn, hay stuck between his toes. Dale rolled, swooping the blanket over the both of them and curling in tight to his side, warm skin flush against each other.

"This was the dumbest idea." Carter chuckled, laying waves of little kisses across his lovers hairline. "You have the filthiest ideas, you know that?"

"I'm full of 'em, you don't know the half of it, Engie." He was practically purring, pressing his face against his partner's shoulder. He wriggled a little, scootching upwards to press in closer - in doing so his foot caught something; a dull 'thwump' came from below and they both peered over the edge.

The ladder had fallen, wedging itself between two bales in what felt like miles below.

"...Dale, are your clothes up here?"

"No. Your overalls are down there, too."

"...I swear to God. Sams never gonna let us hear the end of this."

Carter couldn't help breaking into a grin as Dale struggled to hold back his snickering, the two of them trapped up in the old hayloft until morning.

"The dumbest idea-"

"The dumbest."

"Christ, Sol, what am I gonna do with you?"

"I dunno. Stay with me up here forever?"

"Pffft," Carter shuffled, getting as comfortable as he could with aging wooden planks as a bed. He draped an arm over Dale and let his eyes droop, as faint stars glinted down at him from the gaps in the ceiling. "I suppose one night up here is a start."

Carter was elbow-deep in soapy water at the kitchen sink when strong arm wrapped around his waist. They'd lived here for a little over a year now, and for Carter it was like riding a bike. Everything came back so naturally and the house was filled with warmth and laughter and the two men he loved the most. The ranch had become his life now, their lives, far away from the fighting. It was peaceful and everything ran smooth with Carter's hands running the machinery again. Dad would have been real happy.

He smiled as Dale pressed a gentle kiss just under his right ear. He could do with a shave, but the rough prickle left a warm tingle in its wake. Dale seemed real happy here, getting his hands dirty, learning the ways of the land like Carter had so long ago. Back home on the ranch, at last. It was where the duo were meant to be. Tonight he'd made a casserole and he and Sam had bickered over who got the biggest chunk of potato before Carter had stood and taken both pieces on his fork, silencing the pair of them with a grin.

Carter smiled as he was squeezed, a gentle hand skimming under his shirt to feel the soft skin beneath. Dale hummed near his ear and Carter could feel that soft, lazy smile he adored. They shared a long moment of quiet, as they so often did. They didn't need words. Carter usually could tell exactly what Dale was thinking before he said anything, now, and knew Dale, for the most part, could do the same for him. Carter wanted a hot mug of coffee right about now, and to curl up in a toasty blanket once these dishes were done, with Dale wrapped around him and probably snoring in his ear. Things were a lot simpler now.

"... you'll marry me one day, won't you?"

Carter would be lying if he said he'd expected that. But he didn't falter in his washing of the dishes, swallowing a little as his mind went a little blank. The question had almost seemed like a thought that had escaped the ex-Soldiers lips, tumbling out before he could stop it. One of Dales hands came up pre-emptively to cup his own jaw protectively as he tilted his head away slightly, just in case.

"...only if Sammy is my best man."

"Deal. But Frederick gets to be my maid of honour."

"Hell, ol' Doc'll look killer in a dress." Engineer looked back over his shoulder, lightly pulling his partners hand away from his mouth to press a kiss where an invisible scar once was, a lifetime ago. "But you'd make one heck of a groom, hun."

That lazy, crooked grin split wider and Carter was squeezed even tighter, Dales hands possessively kneading the skin of his belly. "We'd have to go somewhere nice for a honeymoon. Maybe...not somewhere so sandy."

"Nothin' wrong with sand."

Dale made an unamused noise in the back of his throat. "Dontcha think we've seen enough sand for one lifetime, Engie?" He huffed, burying his nose in the crook of Carters neck.

"What, you don't wanna run around out there again? You don't miss all that heat and adrenaline?" Carter turned and pecked his cheek. "...I could always nab your helmet again, settle that old score of ours."

"Don't you dare." He rumbled. Carter felt his voice shoot down his spine. "I swear, after I marry you I'm taking you somewhere where there ain't sand for miles."

He pulled away, filling the water pot and turning it on to heat, getting mugs ready for that coffee he knew Carter was starting to want.

"So you don't miss it." It wasn't entirely a question. Carter wasn't looking at him, focusing on rubbing the sponge in little circles on one of the plates. Dale let out a hum.

"...Not entirely. The rush, sometimes. But things change, I guess." Dale leant on the counter and crossed his arms. "I don't think either of us need the fight anymore. Ranch needs us, we need it." He shrugged. "I wanna be here, this is home now."

Dale watched as the smuggest look he'd ever seen pinched the corner of Carters mouth and he split into a shit-eating grin as he glanced over.

"...I tamed ya."

"Yeah, ya sure did." He slid back over behind his partner and pressed against his back. "You're stuck with me now. Trapped, forever. That's what ya get, you seduced me and now you'll never be rid of me."

"Aww, no." Carter chuckled, dripping with sarcasm and flicking his hands free of suds. "What'll I do now, huh?"

"Maybe the two of ya should get a damn room." Sammy called from the dining table, a room away, the sound of his chair scraping away from the vacant table distant but there. "God, I can hear ya smoochin' from here."

Dale sniggered lowly, grinning into Carters neck. "He's jealous. ...So, wanna go get a room?"

"I think I deserve that coffee, first."

~End~