So I'm finally putting the last chapter of this out. I hope it's not too disappointing, I know it's been a while.

"So, spill the beans."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

But he couldn't keep the faint smile from pulling at the corners of his mouth; his life had changed drastically and he was on his way to getting his own happily ever after.

Lenalee smirked and leaned on the counter towards him, engagement ring sparkling as she did so. The diner was busy as usual and had recently been handed off to her. Business was better than ever and she'd began saving money to plan her wedding.

"I can see that you've been in a good mood."

And she wasn't wrong, not at all. He'd graduated and gotten a real job, one that would allow him to provide for the life he planned to build.

"Are you ever just," he paused, thinking carefully of words to describe how he felt. "I don't know." He shook his head, knowing that she was likely just as ecstatic as he was. "It's just embarrassing." The smile was still there, small and gentle.

"Uh huh."

"This is the happiest I've ever been." He was playing with his coffee cup as he spoke, glancing down and thinking of the things that had happened to him.

"Allen," she was cleaning the spot two seats down now. "I can tell and I'm happy for you."

"Thank you and I'm happy for you, too."

"Hey," he called as he stepped through the door and placed his keys on their hook. On his hook, right next to Kanda's.

"Hey," the other called back from the couch. Allen could smell whatever was on the stove cooking and glanced around the corner to look at the other. His glasses were perched on the tip of his nose just as he'd come to love. He was sexy like this; intelligent and confident.

"How was your day?" He was taking his shoes off before he could go to sit next to him. Kanda nodded and placed his bookmark between the pages as he turned slightly to face him. He loved the way that the glasses fit his face but he loved how he looked as he took them off even more.

"It was ok."

His answers were short but words weren't what he needed. He'd learned to read his facial expressions and body language perfectly and today he seemed relaxed and content.

"Good." Allen leaned his head onto the older man's shoulder lightly, pulling himself slightly closer to feel the warmth of his thigh against his own. "Dinner smells good."

"You?"

"The same." Kanda gave a small hum and leaned his own head against Allen's for a moment before standing up and walking to the kitchen. This was their routine and they both fell into it comfortably day after day.

Allen followed behind him and wrapped his arms around his waist just long enough to breathe him in. As he pulled away, he gave him a quick kiss and walked to the cabinet to set the table. Over the past few years, he'd personalized the once minimalistic kitchen, along with the rest of the apartment. It had been slow at first; he wasn't sure how Kanda would handle decorations so he'd tried easing into it. He hadn't gone crazy, just a few things scattered throughout their home but it was enough to be reminded of what they were daily. Cooking each other dinner every night was his favorite reminder.

"Kanda," he said as he sat at the table facing the other man. He was pushing vegetables around in the pan on the stove as he glanced towards him. "I've been thinking about getting a house."

Kanda straightened and placed the spatula on the counter as he turned to face Allen. His face was still calm and it looked as if the gears in his head were turning quickly. A second later, he was nodding and walking towards the table. "We could do that, yeah. Why so suddenly?"

"Well, it wasn't exactly sudden. I've been thinking about it for a while but now we can actually afford it."

"Ok. We can start looking."

He turned to walk back to the stove and Allen couldn't help but jump up and squeeze him tight. He'd been dreaming about this moment for so long; to be able take the next step in their relationship and be together forever. He almost felt childish wishing for something so silly but his heart wouldn't settle for anything less.

And then dinner was ready and the small talk began.

"Kanda," he whispered as he laid his head down on his chest and pressed in close to the older man. This was his favorite moment; this was his time and the side of him that no one ever saw. "Do you ever think back to the day that we first met?"

"I do sometimes. Mostly to call myself an idiot for taking in a bum." He grinned slightly and ruffled Allen's hair as the younger man jokingly hit him for the comment. Allen laughed a little and sighed as he settled deeper into the other's arms, smiling as he rubbed his cheek along bare skin.

Lenalee's dress was beautiful. Allen had been there when she picked it out and he'd loved it from the moment he saw it. Planning out every detail of her fairy tale wedding had been stressful and arduous but now that the day had finally come, it all seemed worth it.

She was being walked down the aisle by her brother; slowly coming closer and closer to where he stood as the organ blared its tune. Bak was standing next to him, clad in the tux he'd also helped pick out and standing straight as could be with the smallest of grins on his face. Lenalee had been his best friend for years and he was proud that she was going to marry someone that he knew would cherish and take care of her, just like she deserved.

When the vows were said and done, the speeches spoken and cake cut, Allen sat comfortably next to his partner with a content smile. They were going to purchase a house soon and it was all he could think about, even if he should have been focusing on the wedding.

"Kanda," he spoke softly as he turned in his seat to face him. The music was blaring from the dance floor and others were yelling to hear each other over it but Kanda heard him anyway. He glanced downward toward him and his eyes turned soft when they met. Allen didn't speak and instead placed his hand on the other's thigh and scooted closer.

In the distance, he could see Lenalee dancing barefoot in a crowd of people while others crowded around the bar. Bak was standing with his friends and sneaking glances at his new wife, all the while smiling and Allen could see the love in his gaze; the same love that he knew he had with Kanda, even if they never planned anything nearly as extravagant as this.

"I love you."

It was soft and small and when Kanda continued staring, he turned his whole body to look at him and said it again, only louder this time. The older man's eyes widened for a moment and then softened as his lips curled into the slightest smile.

This little bit of nothing was all that they needed. Whether they lived in that small, rundown apartment building or a five bedroom home, it didn't matter. They didn't need a large wedding or expensive venue, just as they didn't need thousands of words to truly hear each other.

Allen stood and pulled the other by the hand as they stared at each other and Kanda knew where they were headed. He protested for a second but accepted it as he saw how happy the younger man looked.

The dance floor was crowded and loud, two things that Kanda hated, but seeing Allen perk up and move to the music relaxed him enough to sway back and forth with the other. Three songs in, and with Allen working up a sufficient sweat, he paused and placed his hands on the shorter man's hips.

It was then, surrounded by strangers and the scent of sweat, that the world seemed to stop. It was quiet and almost nonexistent, but it was there.

"I love you too."

I'm not really satisfied with this ending but I at least want to end this. This story was my pride and job years ago, I don't know what happened. I miss writing and hope I can start again.