A/N: Here we are… last chapter of the story and of the year… Hopefully 2016 will mean a lot of writing for me, in different projects! We'll see! J

The General's New Bride

Part 8

It didn't take long for Robin to fall asleep at all, and when his valet came to wake him he would have liked to continue snoozing, but stuck to his own rules, got up, dressed for the evening and shuffled downstairs.

"Hello, son, what are you doing out of bed?" his father greeted him.

"I've decided that I'm well enough to rejoin the living," Robin smiled and got a careful hug from his father.

"I'm glad. As long as it's not too taxing."

"Where are Slade and Red?" Robin asked.

"I believe they are talking with the stable master. I heard the general will be arranging for a new place for him? I guess he wanted to find out what he actually knows."

"Oh. Yes, of course." The young lord sighed.

"It's for the best, Robin," Bruce told him firmly.

"I know. It just doesn't feel like it."

"You don't want to lose all this, do you?"

Robin snorted. "Well, 'all this' doesn't mean anything to me!" he snapped. "But I don't want to lose my husband!"

Bruce blinked, obviously surprised that Robin felt that way. "Oh… well, good. Then forget about your young friend, hard as it might be."

"I'll never be able to do that," the boy whispered, and as he said so he knew it was the truth. The terrible, terrible truth. "I'll just have to learn to live with half a heart."

He glanced up at his father, but Bruce was looking past him, towards the doorway. Robin gasped and spun around and yes, both Slade and Red were standing there. He could see tears in the green eyes, but the single grey-blue was simply reserved, studying him carefully.

"Robin!" Neither of the men could or would stop the young redhead from rushing forwards and engulfing the other boy in his arms. Robin hugged back as hard as he could. He squeezed his eyes shut so he wouldn't see the disapproval he was sure to find in both the adult's gazes. Eventually the embrace had to end, however.

"I'll always remember you too," Red whispered and chastely kissed his forehead. "The stable master approved of me, they are going to recommend me for a position as groom, so I'll be fine. You won't have to worry about me, alright?"

"Alright," Robin mumbled. He now dared to look in his father's direction, but Bruce was in his turn glancing worriedly at the general. Robin swallowed and, ready for the fury, turned his eyes in Slade's direction. He was surprised to see the man looking only slightly tense and troubled, however. Not at all ready to rip the redhead apart, even though the young man's hands hadn't left Robin's waist.

"There's something I need to do," Red said softly. "For both of us, alright?"

"Alright?" Robin answered hesitantly.

The young man then took his arm and boldly walked him up to the general. Only as they stopped in front of the man did Robin realize what the stable boy was doing.

"Red, don't- You don't have to-"

"Yes, I do. Sir," the young man turned towards the general. "I would like to leave Robin in your care and remind you that I have access to pitch forks if you should mistreat him."

The corners of the man's mouth twitched in amusement, but he held up a hand, refusing to take Robin's arm which Red was offering him.

"Thank you, young man. I've learned that Robin doesn't take lightly to be treated as an object, however. I would be pleased to offer him my hand instead." Slade held out his hand, palm up, for Robin to take. The young man kissed Red's cheek and then took it with a soft smile.

"You are both insane," he half sighed, half chuckled.

After that, however, even though it still hurt to think about parting from Red, the tension between the three of them eased somewhat. The next evening they had the general close to tears from laughing, telling him about all the things they had gotten up to as kids. They were sitting in front of the fire, enjoying a simple evening meal of cheese, bread and wine and Bruce was getting grayer in the face by the minute.

"So that is how my prize bull got out! I should give you a belated spanking," he muttered at his son.

"Only my husband has that right," Robin snickered, actually taking advantage of the unfair laws he normally hated.

"And as you aren't my employer anymore, Sir…" Red said, pointed out that he was potentially safe as well.

"Alright, alright. You two were behind the blue sheep as well, weren't you?"

"Weeeeell…" Robin said, glancing at his friend. "It all started when we decided to mix blueberry with honey to attract bears-"

"There haven't been any bears in Britain since 1000 AD!" Bruce cut in.

"Yes, but we thought we saw one and that it might have escaped from a circus," Robin defended himself.

"Turned out to be a neighbor's new shaggy pony," Red shrugged. "But we didn't find that out until the next day."

"When it was a bit too late," Robin added.

"Seems you got up to a lot of things climbing out that window of yours," Slade chuckled.

"Doing what?!" Bruce groaned.

"That reminds me, you haven't seen the drawings I made from Rome and Pompeii," Robin said to Red. "There are even photographs that we bought. We had one taken of us at the ruins but it's a bit blurry. It's all in my journal, do you want to come up and see?"

"Sure!" Red answered excitedly.

"And since that journal is in our bedroom I'll be bidding you goodnight, Bruce," Slade said.

"Slade…" Robin said, looking like a kicked puppy.

"It's not that I don't trust you, but it is late. And I didn't take a nap today," the man told them.

"Very well. Good night," Bruce said and stood up. "No more climbing out of windows, Robin."

"No, Sir," the young man grinned.

When the boys reached the bedroom, with Slade trailing behind them, Robin felt flushed and tired but definitely on the mend. He found the journal and sat on the bed, letting it fall open in his lap so he could spread out the drawings and photos tucked in between its pages.

"Come sit here so you can see," he told Red and patted the bed next to him. The stable boy joined him and soon they were both transfixed by the images and the stories behind them.

Slade watched them with a slightly amused expression. He had sent Wintergreen away and had undressed down to his shirt, but of course he could go no further with a guest in the room. He couldn't send Red away when Robin was enjoying himself so much, though. And as the boy was gushing over his husband as he told his friend about their travels there wasn't any real harm in it all, Slade decided. Instead he grabbed a book he was reading, about Greek myths, and joined the boys on the bed. He lit his reading lamp and prepared to enjoy the stories for a while before kicking the redheaded brat out the door.

"What book is that?" Robin asked him after a while. "I don't think I've seen it before?"

"It recently arrived," Slade answered. "It is about the old Greek gods."

"Oh, can you read some to us?" the boy asked. Slade looked up to see two pairs of eyes curiously watching him, one pair blue, one pair green. The man had a soft spot for lecturing and passing on his knowledge, so he agreed to read about Hades and Persephone. After that the boys eagerly asked for more. As he was reading the third story he heard a soft snore from the other side of the bed. As he looked over he discovered the young men sleeping soundly, their heads leaning against each other.

Robin woke up with a smile on his lips. He hummed sleepily and tightened his arm around Slade's waist. Then he felt a puff of air against his neck and an arm around his own middle. His eyes flew open, wide. He met Slade's calm and somewhat amused gaze.

"Wha-what?" Robin gasped and looked over his shoulder. "Red?"

The other young man frowned in his sleep, sighed deeply and then hugged Robin even closer. That made the boy squeak in fear of his friend's life. That woke up Red, who, as he understood the situation, pushed Robin away like he had the plague and shuffled away until he fell on the floor with a frightened squawk.

"I didn't mean to!" Red called from the floor.

"Calm down, both of you. You fell asleep. Nothing indecent happened, I made sure of that," Slade told them.

"You're not going to kill me, Sir?" Red asked, still from the floor.

"No, not this time," the man snorted.

Robin lifted his blanket and blinked. "You tucked us in?"

"I couldn't let you freeze," the man stated.

"Why didn't you just wake me up?" Red asked, now back on his feet, looking a bit sheepish.

"I didn't want to disturb Robin, as I thought he needed his rest. He obviously did, since it's rather late in the morning. I suggest you wash up and change for breakfast.

"I can't believe it! I always wake up at four or five!" Red exclaimed. "That was the best bed in the world. I'd marry anyone just for a bed like that."

"Get out," Slade said, but with a chuckle in his voice.

"Yes, Sir!" The stable boy flashed the man one of his trademark grins and scurried away.

Robin sighed, already longing for that feeling of warmth and love he had waking up, and then he stretched, yawning. He then looked up at Slade, who was still stretched out next to him, with an expectant smile.

"Oh, no, you're not well enough for what you're thinking about," the man warned him.

"Aw… I feel fine!" Robin objected.

"Maybe tonight. As much as it kills me to put it off," the man muttered.

When the night came Robin did get his wish fulfilled, but he had to complain a bit in the middle.

"You're being too gentle, I'm not going to break," he said sternly.

"You might cough up a lung, though," Slade defended himself.

Robin tightened his legs around the man's waist, drawing him in deeper.

"We'll just have to risk it," he said, deadly serious.

Afterwards the young man decided that it was time to bring up an important subject.

"I'd like to work one day. Once I finished my studies."

Slade took his time replying.

"What with?"

"I don't know yet," the boy admitted.

"The gentry aren't supposed to work, Robin. Not outside of managing our affairs, something many lives are depended upon and which takes quite a lot of skill."

"You did. You chose a military career, you never had to do that."

"No, but it's traditional in my family. And you know me, I hate being bored." The man smiled down at him, as Robin was resting on his arm.

"Well, so do I."

"As long as you choose something proper, which won't take you away from me and will gain our estate in some way, I won't say no."

"Maybe I can teach? Some of the village children who show prowess? We could maybe support a few of them through an education?"

"That would be a good idea. You have to finish your own studies first, of course."

"Of course," Robin agreed. "Thank you," he added solemnly.

"I'm having the hardest time saying no to you," the man mockingly complained.

"Speaking of that… Am I a disappointment to you?" the boy asked, his voice quite small.

"What are you talking about?"

"Well… I know what you wanted from me, demanded from me, and… it didn't quite work out that way, did it? I'm not your good little wife, the perfect hostess… I barely make a difference here."

"Never say that. You make all the difference," Slade claimed. "Maybe I wasn't clear on what I wanted, but believe me; it's you."

"It's not like you're not stuck with me" Robin pointed out. "Divorce would cause quite a scandal, after all."

"It would, but I've never considered it. I've considered keeping you in the dungeons a few times, though…" the man deadpanned.

"I'd like to blame you for that, but I can't," Robin muttered and then sighed. "I have to apologize, Slade… for what happened the day before our wedding. I had made a commitment to you but when Red showed up I… I panicked. I wanted to run away from everything. It wasn't even that personal, I just wanted away from the responsibility, from the… sacrifice. I'm sorry. I understand that you wouldn't trust me after that… and my letters to Red. I think I'll be able to let him go now, though. It feels… better."

"But not good?" the man asked.

"I wish my heart had any sense!" Robin complained. "I wish it was whole and was all yours, I really do! Everything would be so much simpler… But it is happy with you, it really is."

"I wish that too, but we can't help what we feel," Slade told him. "Don't feel guilty, it is my fault it is torn, after all. It is my mission to mend it."

Robin smiled at the man. He didn't know what the man could do, how he would succeed, but he was going to give him a chance.

Robin's siblings and old Alfred arrived on the evening of the twenty third, tired after a long, uninterrupted trip. They had been able to sleep some in the sleigh, however, and the arrival gave them new energy. They had brought the puppies of course. They had grown quite a bit and were very excited, running around and creating havoc. When they first arrived Slade had tried to point out that these were outdoor dogs that belonged in kennels, but he soon gave up and just gave Bruce a glare whenever something ripped or crashed to the floor. It was like the house instantly filled with life, and Robin could feel himself grinning from ear to ear more often than not. Red continued to be 'part of the family' which posed no problem from the Wayne-children as they, especially the girls, had gotten close to the young man when they taught him to read and write.

Because of Robin's illness they had decided to cancel the lavish Christmas feast Slade usually hosted and spend Christmas with just the family. Robin loved the idea and beamed at Slade when the man informed them of his decision.

On Christmas Eve Robin, barely, got permission to join them as they set out in a few sleighs packed with food baskets and distributed them, as well as gifts of cloth and shoe leather, to the more needy families under Slade's jurisdiction. Robin was forbidden from going in or coming too close to the poor as many of them were sick and the boy was deemed too feeble by his husband to risk catching anything. The young lord therefore had to stay in the sleigh, swathed in blankets and furs. The rumor of his near death had spread, however, and many came out to, from a respectful distance, thank him and wish him a speedy recovery. The boy decided, then and there, that he would do whatever he could so no Christmas baskets were really needed next year.

Robin woke on Christmas Day finally feeling completely healthy again. He told Slade the good news and the man decreed that he would remain skeptical for a while longer. Robin just snorted at him and called for Johnson to come help him prepare for Christmas breakfast. First Garfield insisted on opening the presents, however, which Alfred had brought from the manor. Robin fetched his presents as well, excitingly wondering if his siblings would like them. They did. Robin also very much appreciated his own gifts, like the horse Red had carved and Garfield had painted for him, the sketching paper and pens he got from Raven and Starfire and the book of Chinese inventions his father had found. As he handed over his gift for Slade he felt a bit ashamed though. It was bought with the man's own money, after all, something Robin found hard to accept. It was a pen, a very nice one the man had seemed to admire in Paris and which Robin had bought under the pretence of getting it for his father. As the boy felt that it was far from enough he bent close to the man's ear.

"You'll get your real present in bed tonight," he whispered, blushing at his boldness in front of his hopefully unsuspecting family.

"Funny, you will as well," the man whispered back to him and grinned.

Robin received a new pair of riding boots with matching gloves of the finest leather from his husband, as well as several books on different subjects.

Red's present didn't come from the trip; it came from Slade's own library. Robin had found two copies of an illustrated book about horsemanship and asked if he could have one. Slade hadn't even asked what for, just told him that everything in the house was his anyway.

"As you can read now," Robin grinned at the redhead as he unwrapped it.

"Thank you… my first book!" Red beamed back. "Wait, now I have to build a bookshelf," he added, making the room laugh.

After breakfast Slade and Robin enjoyed a walk in the winter garden. The snow was covering even the smallest branch, creating a beautiful landscape. Robin took Slade's arm as he admired the view.

"I have to admit," he said in a teasing tone, "that even though nothing, of course, can compare with Wayne manor, we have a pretty little place here,"

"It will have to do," Slade sighed jokingly and held him close. "You're sure you don't want a puppy, though?"

Robin was still laughing when they reentered the house half an hour later.

They all attended mass at the chapel in the evening, Robin sneaking glances at Slade and smirking as the priest almost raged in his attempt to make it a memorable sermon. The man smirked back and seemed to roll his only eye at certain parts, making it very hard for his young husband not to burst out in a very inappropriate fit of laughter. Afterwards a splendid Christmas dinner awaited them.

They all spent the evening around the fire in the large sitting room and Robin never wanted the night to end. On the other hand, he had promised his husband another Christmas gift and was quite excited for that as well. As the fire started to die down he made eye contact with his husband, letting his eyes convey his naughty thoughts.

"It is getting late," Slade immediately stated, standing up. "I'd like to bid you a good night."

Everyone knew a dismissal when they heard one, but as Robin and Slade was about to leave the room the man turned back.

"I forgot your present," he said. "You go on ahead."

Robin did, wondering if the man had misunderstood what his second present would entail and in fact expected a wrapped gift, and was even more confused when Slade caught up to him, seemingly empty handed.

Once in their rooms the general dismissed Johnson and Wintergreen at once, wishing them a good night, and then he turned to Robin. The boy grinned as he could see by the expression on the man's face that he had definitely not misinterpreted his gift, and he met him half way for a kiss. Slade began undressing him, right there in their outer room, but had only gotten as far as removing Robin's shoes, jacket, cravat and almost finished unbuttoning his shirt when there was a knock on the door.

"One moment," Slade told him and went to open it. Robin expected it to be Wintergreen who had forgotten something and was stunned when he saw an insecure looking Red in the door as well.

"Look at that," Slade purred. "Your Christmas present has arrived."

Robin gaped. Then he understood what Slade meant.

"You mean that he can stay?" he asked.

The man chuckled. "That's not quite part of the present."

"Then… I don't understand?"

"I'm giving you him. For one night at least."

Robin backed away, the shock plain on his face. "No! No, I would never! How can you even think..? I thought you trusted me, Slade, is this some kind of test?!" The alarm gave way to anger. "How dare you?!"

Red looked equally taken aback. He had obviously not been let in on the plan.

"Sir, I wouldn't either. Not anymore. I thought… I thought we understood each other?"

Slade sighed and pinched the bride of his nose. "This is obviously not going the way I planned it. Both of you, into the bedroom, right now."

"No, I-"

"Right now, Robin."

Robin decided that it would be better to yell at his husband with another wall between them and the hallway, where nosey servants might be passing by, so he huffed and obeyed the man. Red looked like he feared for his life as he did the same. Slade entered the room last, closed the door firmly and stood in front of it like a guard dog.

"Now listen to me," he said firmly. "This is not a test, for either of you. This is a gift, but it's for all of us. Only, of course, if Mr. Ecks is willing to give it, but I assumed he would be."

"I will not break my vow!" Robin snapped back, unwilling to take in what the man had just said, much less considering it. Red, on the other hand, now remained quiet.

"You won't be if you have my permission," the general told his young husband.

"Well, I won't anyway!" Robin snorted and crossed his arms. Discussion over.

"I've watched you for the last couple of days. Even when sick you seemed to come to life in a way I haven't experienced since Rome. I missed that Robin. I missed those smiles." The general's voice was deep and passionate, even Robin couldn't doubt the sincerity of it.

"Well, it will just take me some time to get used to things here," the young lord decided.

"Perhaps, but you haven't succeeded thus far," the man told him. "I think you need this, Robin. I want you to be happy, and you can't be while pining after what could have been. Enjoy his company tonight and we'll see what happens."

"No. It's wrong. You are my husband," the boy insisted, but couldn't help but glance at the redhead.

"And I'll be right here. When I thought this present up I intended to leave you, but I soon realized that that would be impossible for me. Sharing you is hard enough, but the boy can serve us both."

"Are you sure you're not doing this for yourself?" Robin muttered, a hint of jealousy in his voice.

Slade heard it and chuckled before coming up to the young man to kiss him. Robin felt his shirt being pushed down his shoulders as the man's lips met his.

"I still don't think this is right… I don't want to betray you," Robin said softly as their lips parted. He gasped as Red answered him, standing so close behind him that he could feel the stable boy's breath on his neck.

"How about we, together, do this for your husband?" Red suggested. "I have a lot to thank him for as well, you know."

Robin looked bad at his old friend, biting his lip in thought. "So we would be pleasing him?"

"Yes."
"Would you like that?" the young lord then asked the general.

"Very much. But remember it would please me to see you enjoying yourself as well," the man told him with a little smirk.

"Well… I guess…" Robin still hesitated. He had a feeling the priest would have plenty to say if he knew…

"Let's get you more comfortable, Sir," Red offered and helped Slade out of his jacket. Robin was still idle when the boots came off, but rushed forwards as Red started on the shirt buttons.

"I can do that!" he stated.

"Jealous?" Slade chuckled.

"A little," Robin admitted with a grin. "Besides, as your husband I should get some perks, shouldn't I?"

"You should have all of them," the general agreed with a grin.

Red snickered as well, busy removing his own clothes. Soon he was completely naked and threw out his hands in a shrug. "Well, you're joining me?" he asked.

"You have no shame in your body, do you?" Slade asked, but he sounded amused.

"Well, do you have anything to be ashamed of, Sir?" Red asked cockily.

His friend's playful attitude made Robin remember the good old days and he relaxed a little. He sank down on the floor in front of the general and, looking back at Red, grinned. "You know he doesn't," he said as he proceeded to show the stable boy some proof.

"Care to show him how to make me very happy?" Slade leered down on him.

"Yes, Sir," Robin grinned back. For once he thought he might have the upper hand over Red. The older boy had always been the one who knew more about these sorts of things, but surely he had never seen or done something like this? As Robin let his tongue play over the man's length he glanced over at Red and into his wide, green eyes. The stable boy looked quite happily surprised, though, and his body was showing definite signs of approval.

"Want to come and help me?" Robin purred.

"Oh yeah," the redhead said and joined the other boy on the floor in a flash.

Slade seemed to enjoy their attention but after a little while he took hold of Robin's chin. "I think you taught him quite well, already. Stand up, dear. You," he added to Red, "keep doing what you're doing."

As Robin stood he was drawn into another kiss and then he felt Slade's hands pushing his trousers down. Red helped from the floor and soon they were all naked.

"That's enough," Slade ordered Red, who stood up as well and smiled at Robin.

"May I kiss him?" he asked Slade.

Robin huffed. "You're my present, I say you may," he decided and pulled the young man close.

It was different. All the innocence of childhood was gone, the clumsiness clearer, leading Robin to admit that Slade had been on to something when he suggested that he'd practice with a 'man' instead. It still made his head spin however, and he deepened the kiss eagerly. As it ended he needed to feel his husband's lips as well, and pulled the man down towards himself. Slade seemed to feel he had something to prove and did it well, but Red's lips on Robin's left nipple distracted the boy a bit. He was even more distracted when the redhead resumed kneeling on the floor and warm lips closed around his weeping length.

They moved to the bed shortly afterwards and Slade instructed Red in the fine art of preparing their dark haired young lover while the man was doing the same thing to the stable boy. Red squirmed and groaned, not used to the feeling, while Robin was just enjoying himself immensely.

"Please… I need you," the young lord eventually moaned.

"Me?" Red asked carefully.

This time Robin looked to Slade. The man's face was somewhat tense but he nodded in agreement.

"Yes," Robin whispered and drew the redhead close.

"You can only have him if I can have you," Slade told the stable boy, who hesitated before he agreed. Robin nodded his consent as well, but understood Slade's reservations; it did feel strange to allow your husband to be that close to someone else, even Red. Still, the pleasure took charge, drove him and he succumbed to it, gasping as Red breached him. He imagine it feeling less exciting as the stable boy was considerable smaller than his husband, but even though it felt different it was an equally good feeling. Red was also young and eager, snapping his hips forwards fast and sharp, and after angling his hips just right the thrusts set the good place inside him on fire. Robin was close to coming, way too soon, when Red suddenly stopped and gasped himself.

"Oh… god… it's… big…" he groaned.

"You can say stop," Robin promised on behalf of his husband, who probably wasn't willing to openly offer the same reprieve to the redhead.

"I can take it if you can," the young man stubbornly said, making Robin chuckle and draw him down for a kiss to distract him. He could feel Red's length softening inside him and knew that he needed something else to focus on until the discomfort went down. True enough, not long afterwards the redhead had firmed up and Robin could once again enjoy his movements.

Still, it was inevitable that the beginner wouldn't last long, leading Slade and Robin to finish together, with Red's hand around Robin's length and the young men's lips locked together.

Afterwards they all collapsed in a sweaty pile on top of the bed.

"That… was amazing…" Red gasped.

"Not bad," Slade agreed.

"We're all going to hell," Robin concluded.

"If there is one, it was worth it," the general chuckled.

"I concur," Red nodded.

"Well… maybe," the young lord had to admit in the end.

"I was thinking that Red might join us as your new valet, Robin," Slade told them. "Possibly live here as a friend of the family, although the first option would mean that no one would question what he was doing in our chambers. You'd have company when I was away, and you'll have him as well as me. Your heart will be whole. Settled?"

Robin looked over at Red and met his eyes. They shared a moment and then smiled at each other.

"Thank you," Robin started. "But no thanks."
"What more could you possibly want?" Slade asked, frustration bubbling up in his voice.

"We could have been lovers, we know that now," Red explained, "but I think both Robin and I felt that the connection between you two is stronger. We have friendship, lust and curiosity, but you two have love."

"I still love you," Robin told Red, "but not as I love my husband," he added, smiling at Slade. "And I won't share him with anybody."

"You can keep him, my ass feels like I have a hedgehog stuck up there," Red snorted and then laughed with the other two.

"But are you sure?" Slade asked.

"Can we still keep in contact? Write to each other?" Robin wanted to know.

"And being friends will be enough?" the man wanted to make sure.

Robin and Red again looked at each other and nodded.

"Yes," they agreed. "It will."

"Then of course you can keep in touch. Red can still stay here, if..?"

"I quite like the position we discussed as groom," Red cut in. "It's time to start anew, and it's a good opportunity."

"If it doesn't turn out the way you want you can always come back, though, can't he?" Robin, who was still sad to see his friend go, asked Slade.
"Of course," the man agreed. "So it's settled?"

"Yes."

"Good. I'd hate to share you. Nothing personal, Red."

"But you still would?" Blue eyes blinked up at the man.

"If you haven't figured it out yet, it's very little I wouldn't do to keep you and to keep you happy. Please don't take advantage of that," the man added quickly.

"Oh, I won't. Promise," Robin said so innocently that Slade groaned and Red burst out giggling.

"You have three seconds to stop ogling my husband and get out of here," Slade told him in a joking growl.

"You are a cruel man, making me leave a bed as good as this one," Red complained with a chuckle and stood up. "Ow… ow… ow…" he muttered as he gathered up his things and got dressed. "Cruel indeed," he added with a glare.

Robin just laughed at him, but now appreciated even more that Slade had taken things slowly on their wedding night. As Red left the room Robin smiled at the man and kissed him, holding him close. Slade's arms engulfed him.

"I love you," Robin whispered.

"And I you. You're the best little wife I could- OW!" The man's nose was suddenly wedged between Robin's fingers.

"One more word and I'll break it," Robin hissed.

"Husband!" Slade corrected himself with a laugh and he was finally released.

"Better," the boy sniffed.

His husband just chuckled and kissed his lips. Then his jaw. Then his neck.

"Slade, are you-? Did you want to-? Aga- Oh! Oh, I see," Robin concluded and snickered.

In the week up to New Year Robin and Red had time to make sure everything was settled between them and finally their old friendship was back full force; no hesitations, no barriers and no grief.

As they said farewell on the second of January, a few hours after the Wayne family left, Robin remembered something quite important.

"I don't have your address!" he told Red. "It was supposed to be a secret from me, and you forgot to tell me where you're going."
"It's the Harper's residence, just three or four hour's ride from here, or so I'm told." Red smiled.

"I have the full address," Slade told him. "You're going to write him tonight, aren't you?"

"I think I will," Robin grinned,

"Maybe you should just wait until he's done and take the letter yourself. Will save me the money," Slade chuckled and then held out his hand. "Good luck, thief. Try to stay out of trouble."

"I will have to try," Red grinned and shook the man's hand. "Goodbye Sir. And thank you for everything. Including not killing me."
"Well, I didn't live to regret it. Yet." Slade shrugged.

"There, there," Robin laughed and patted the man's arm. He then let go to hug Red before he stepped into the sleigh Slade had lent him. "Write often. Even if it's about a boy… who I already hate, by the way."

"I will. Continue to train your husband. I think you're about half way."

"I will," Robin grinned, as Slade huffed behind him.

He waved for as long as he could see the sleigh and then turned to hug his husband.

"Thank you. He was the best present you could ever have given me."

"Did it feel that good?" Slade smirked.

"Idiot," Robin sighed and rolled his eyes. "I'm not thanking you for his body... I'm thanking you for something much more important to me. His friendship."

The End.

A/N: I wavered back and forth about the ending up until I wrote it. I had more or less decided that Red would get to stay, just as Slade suggested, but Robin just didn't agree with me… present-time Robin wouldn't have any problems, but victorian Robin? Nope. About where Red is going… it was Cinnamontips who in a review suggested that Speedy (Roy Harper) could hook up with Red. I hadn't considered it, since I thought Red would stay, but when he didn't, I decided to just insert the teaser about the "Harper Residence"… Why not "Queen residence"? Because I don't think the last name "queen" would have been around back then (but I didn't to extensive research on it) and it would be confusing to read as the story has a king and… yeah…

This story was about love and friendship and how alike/different those can be… I hope the last chapter highlighted that.

Now, time to review! Last chapter and all, you have to! It's the law! ;) And I have to remember to make this story as 'finished', which I probably will forget as I post this chapter, so you can remind me of that too… ;)

Future projects? I will be done with my university class in about a month, hopefully, and I won't be starting anything new before then. I kinda wanna work on an original story next, but not sure what… might be a sladin one instead… we'll see!

And before I forget: HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Love
Wynja