there's so much to say, i don't know where to start. i can't believe this is over, finally.

i guess, first off, thank you to all of you that have been with me for the entire time, or even just a portion of the time. all your lovely comments and kudos really helped me to finish this fic. i've gotten a lot from this fic, such as a better writing style, and knowing what not to do. i hope each and every one of you got at least something out of this fic as well, even if all it did was help time go faster. i love you all. really.

i don't know how many times i wanted to give up on this fic, or delete everything and start over. i owe my tenacity to all of you reading this. i also want to say thank you for bearing with me during that period where i edited and combined chapters - i know that was a huge pain in the ass.

i wanted to put these notes at the beginning so i know people will see them, because that's how much i care about everyone. i want everyone to know just how much i appreciate them. even if all you did was read, i appreciate it. this fic, and all these great comments and people got me through a lot of rough times.

i can write kenma as depressed, because i've had the same thoughts. i know what goes through the mind. i know how it feels. i have bipolar, so it really helped me deal with rough things in life when i could write it out, even if it was about a fictional character. so all the bad thoughts, everything bad that happened to kenma - it's real. the good that happened to kenma, too, after finding the right combination of medicine, friends, and support. i have that, too. but mental illness will always be there, and this fic really helped me as a coping skill.

so, that's all, i guess. just...

thank you. all of you.

Scratch

Chapter 25:

(Short) Epilogue

Ten years later...

One decade, two human additions to the family, three cat funerals, four big decisions, five incredibly awkward family dinners, six vacations, seven new pets (goldfish included), eight newly hired employees, nine fights, and ten years later, Kenma is still in love with Kuroo.

A lot had happened in those ten years.

They had came out to Kuroo's parents and gotten married, moving into a small suburban house they bought together. The house was perfect. It was located close enough Kuroo's veterinary office, which had been a big deal at the time. He had finally hired enough employees to make the veterinary office a true, 24/7 emergency animal hospital.

A dream come true.

Kenma and Kuroo had gone to several weddings. Too many, in fact. Kenma knew there was a joke floating around that gay people tend to stick together. Damn, that was so true. Hinata and Kageyama had gotten back together. Kageyama turned out to be a really cool guy after he realized how rude he had been. He worked hard to get back together with Hinata, and eventually, they did. They got married. Oikawa and Iwaizumi got married, too, along with Tsukishima and Yamaguchi. They all took advantage when the country finally ruled gay marriage as legal.

Kuroo used to joke with their friend group that they needed some straight friends.

A while after that, Kuroo and Kenma adopted a little girl, around six years old by then, named Mari, welcoming her with open arms. Kenma, to this day, thinks that Kuroo is a wonderful father. Mari always took the time to play with Kuroo's hair and do his makeup. Surprisingly, he allows her. She even coaxed him into doing a fashion show, with Kenma being paparazzi. He treasures those pictures with all his heart.

Then, they adopted a three-year-old boy. Adrian. He was very much like his sister, and looked up to her. He followed her around and was a huge fan of animals. It seemed like every time Kenma looked away, Adrian showed up with a new animal. A stray dog, another cat, a turtle, a bird with a broken wing, a squirrel with no parents. All of them. Eventually, Kuroo let him keep the bird, and bought him a few goldfish, but the rest of them were put back into the wilderness.

(For Adrian's seventh birthday, Kenma took him to the animal shelter and he picked out a cat. It was his mostest favorite birthday so far. His exact words.)

Many, many tears had been shed, too. Sugar, Clyde, and Lynn had passed away over the course of several years, leaving Kenma in a depressed state. Kuroo was always quick to cheer him up, putting on an extravagant funeral, acting as a priest. Mari was there, too, holding her father's hand and nodding along to Kuroo's sermon.

Of course, if someone asked her now, she will say that she wasn't crying. She's a strong, young lady that doesn't cry. Kuroo knows better, but doesn't say anything.

Kenma and Kuroo had fought many times. Most often though, the fight would end with tears, hugging and apologies. Words that were exchanged weren't true. One time, Adrian had caught them fighting, and it ended in a huge family group hug, with everyone sobbing.

It wasn't pretty, but they grew from it.

There were still times that Kenma was depressed. Still are, and always will be. There were days when Kenma didn't want to get out of bed, days that he felt nothing, when he couldn't do anything productive at all. There were still days that he felt the ache and loneliness that he had always grown up with.

It was a slow going process. Kuroo was always there to help whenever he could. Even their kids understood as much as kids can. Adrian caught butterflies and brought them to his dad, pouting when he was told to let them go. Mari made him grilled cheese sandwiches. Both of them cuddled their father and watched Disney movies together.

Kenma would always be depressed, but it was okay. There were coping skills he had, things he could do to help. He knew what he could do, and he knew when sometimes he just had to survive. He had people he could depend on, his friends, people he loved, his new family.

So much had changed, and Kenma is fine.

More than fine, really.

A sound of padded footsteps startles Kenma out of his memories. He realizes he had been staring at the wall in the kitchen, and the food he was making nearly burnt. The footsteps are easily recognized as his husband's.

"What are you thinking about there, Kenma?" Kuroo asks, wrapping a welcomed arm around his husband. Kenma leans back into the hug and shrugs noncommittally. "You feelin' okay today? What type of day is today?"

"Mm, I'm happy," he answers, closing his eyes, breathing in and out slowly. He can hear the soft pit patter of kitten claws on wood floors. He can hear Mari and Adrian testing out his newest video game in the next room. The house hums with small noises that make the house feel like home. But mostly, he can feel Kuroo laugh behind him. "What's so funny?"

"You're acting all nostalgic. Care to elaborate?"

"I was just … thinking about us. When we were younger."

"Oh?" Kuroo chuckles and Kenma knows a smart-ass response is coming. Kenma can almost see the raised eyebrow, half smirk look on his face when Kuroo says, "I haven't lost my boy-ish charm since becoming a loving husband and doting father, right?"

Kenma snorts and rolls his eyes. "Did you ever have that to begin with?"

Kuroo pauses, pretending to think. "No. No, I don't think I ever did. How did I ever get you to date me, again?"

"You saved my cat," Kenma replies, turning around and leans against the kitchen counter. They both know that isn't completely true. Sugar had just been pregnant, not dying. But Kenma doesn't say anything. Instead, his lips twitch up into a smile. Which is obnoxious, when he's trying so hard not to smile. "I must have a hero-complex, or something. Otherwise, I haven't a single clue."

"Oh, shut up," Kuroo laughs, taking a step closer to Kenma. He leans into his face, smiling the smile that his husband always thought was gorgeous. "You love me!"

"I do," Kenma says, kissing him on the lips, and smiling. He pauses, just enough to hug his husband and say, "I do love you."

"I love you too."

Kenma is engulfed in Kuroo's big body, a giant bearhug and is swung around the kitchen. Kenma has to control himself to not scold him. He laughs instead, don't swing me around in the kitchen, you'll knock something over! He's put back onto solid ground, and Kuroo kisses him again.

He's so glad he met this giant goofball of a man. Always doing something ridiculous. Like he is right that moment, as he swats Kenma's butt playfully. What a dork. But Kenma wouldn't have it any other way.

Adrian and Mari come into the kitchen, expecting snacks, but instead get their dads in a disgustingly cheesy embrace. They look at each other, roll their eyes, and shrug, joining in the family hug. Kenma sighs. He's happy, he's so happy, even when he's depressed, he can still be happy. The medicine change he finally got prescribed is working. He has coping skills that work for the most part. His family loves him and he loves his family. He has friends he can count on for almost anything, and dear god, he's happy.

He's happy.

Kenma breathes out slowly, ruffling Adrian's hair blissfully. (It looks remarkably like Kuroo's, even though they're not genetically related. It's just as fun to play with as the original.) He sighs again, and murmurs something just loud enough for the people he loves to hear:

"I'm so happy. I love you three with all of my heart, and more."

fin