This is it for this story everyone! If you want to read the explicit scenes, they are posted on Ao3 under my same user name and the title of the 4 chapter fic is "The Sex Scenes." My fluffy heart wrote approx. 14,000 of explicit content. (Don't worry, I don't believe it myself).

Thank you to every single reader, commenter, and supporter who has come to view this fic! All of you have meant the world to me and I think you from the bottom of my heart! Katsudon for everyone!

My next AU releases next weekend - The Law Firm of Katsuki, Nikiforov and Chulanont :)

Big Phichit Hugs until next time!

Epilogue

Year One – August

The front door lock clicks. Victor extends a hand in the final wave to the lawyers as they get into their overpriced cars, armed with generous amounts of food because Yuuri and Phichit cooked far too much for a four person celebration lunch. Smiling at his feet, Victor hurries through the foyer, returning to the middle of the restaurant and his three new partners. Accepting the glass that is offered to him, Victor clinks his shot glass against Mila's, Phichit's and Yuuri's, grinning as he dumps the burning liquid down his throat. Bouncing with the sheer power of joy, Victor collides with Yuuri, tasting the alcohol in his boyfriend's mouth as they share a celebratory kiss. Beside them, Mila and Phichit are hugging, making dramatic kissing noises and cracking each other up. Finally unleashing Yuuri, Victor throws his arms wide, gathering them together in one buzzing happy group hug.

Nikiforov's is no longer a sign of Victor's solo struggle to succeed. It is a team effort now, and Victor couldn't have asked for better teammates.

Year One – October

"Calm down!" Yuuri cuddles Victor into his side as they make their final approach to the onsen, "my parents are going to adore you. Trust me, it will be overwhelming praise and worship from here on out." Kissing Victor's cheek, Yuuri laughs when Victor spins him around to crush them together in a hug.

"Good, I could use some praise and worship," Victor laughs into the corner of Yuuri's mouth, "I get none of that in St. Petersburg." He laughs harder as Yuuri bites his lip, pulling back and then going in for the kiss.

The onsen doors open to reveal three figures. The shortest is smiling, tears squeaking from her happily pinched eyes as she claps in time with her welcome. Next to her is the only man, leaning against the door frame with his arm's crossed, sheepish smile prepared with a joke for the moment they are noticed. The last, hard eyes and pursed lips, is trying hard not to show her elation at the scene in front of her.

Breaking from their kiss, Yuuri and Victor slowly turn to face Yuuri's family. Blush overcoming his cheeks, Yuuri gives a small wave. "Hi," he glances between the four people, "Mom, Dad, Mari, this is Victor." He doesn't need to add that Victor is his boyfriend, he has only told them a thousand times over Skype and that should really be efficient enough.

Awkwardly waving, Victor places his suitcase on the ground. "Hi, Yuuri's family! I love your son!" Victor's face is split into a painfully awkward smile, almost begging them not to chastise him for making out with Yuuri in the middle of the courtyard.

Four bodies move at once. Yuuri's parents and sister dived at Victor, enveloping him in a group hug, even with Mari's obviously questionable participation. Yuuri dove onto the ground, anticipating the potential tackling and getting the hell out of the way. From his place on the stone, he looks up to see Victor's happy face leaking tears, arms full of Katsuki family. Yuuri is positive that he has never been so happy in his entire life.

Later, when they are alone preparing for bed in Yuuri's old room (after his mom's embarrassing remainder that they are far away from guests and shouldn't hold themselves back from each other), Yuuri spies a quiet smile peeking from the edges of Victor's lips. Reaching out to guide Victor into his arms, Yuuri tips up to kiss his chin. "What's the smile for?"

"I love it here," Victor sighs, hugging Yuuri close, and pressing their foreheads together. "Your family is wonderful. I want ten thousand hugs from your mother every day."

Brushing the hair from Victor's forehead, Yuuri kissed the now bare spot. "They love you. And mom will hug you continuously if you let her. I told you she would want to adopt you."

Getting into bed, Victor reached up to kiss Yuuri. "I can't wait to see the rest of the town tomorrow. And meet everyone else you told me about!"

Laughing, Yuuri pulled Victor back into a kiss. He couldn't wait to show Victor where he grew up… and maybe, just maybe, his evil side couldn't wait to see the triplets drill him with hundreds of questions. Letting his thoughts fall away, Yuuri worked open the robes that his mother had monogrammed for Victor, smiling at the sparkling blue thread on the green robe as he tossed it on to the floor.

One Year – November

"Who the hell knew we had so much stuff?" Phichit stood with an exasperated look on the edge of the moving truck. They had been moving all day in the bone-chilling Russian winter and every one of them looked like a stressed out dragon puffing their frustration into the dimming skyline.

"Let's just get it to the house and then we can unload the last load tomorrow morning," Yuuri grumpily pulled his scarf back around his face, "I'm hungry and tired and ready to burn all our crap to the ground." He pouted when Victor tugged the scarf away from his mouth, relenting when Victor offered him a kiss.

Squishing together in the moving van, Yuuri and Phichit took one last selfie to record their final drive away from the apartment. Phichit had decided to move in with them, when Mila had announced she was moving out and buying a house with Sara. The day they had told Mickey about their relationship had been one of the funniest, loving, and most tear-filled days Yuuri had ever witnessed. Smiling at the memory, Yuuri sat back against the seat, sneaking a peak in the side view mirror at Victor's car following them with JJ, Isabella, and Chris while Yurio rode on the back of Otabek's motorcycle. How anyone could ride a motorcycle in the middle of winter, in Russia, was completely beyond Yuuri, but he had long ago realized that Otabek and Yurio were much tougher than he would ever be. Closing his eyes, he sighed again, relishing in the feeling of finally going home.

Year One – December

Victor's eyes fluttered opened, peering up at his ceiling. Yuuri had already left the bed, a fact that had Victor curious since normally Yuuri only got up after a series of tantrums. He was not curious enough to peel himself away from the warmth, instead snuggling down into the pillow that now permanently smelled like his boyfriend. It was the most wonderful smell in the world, one that had Victor smiling into the fluffy down.

Soft snow had covered their small piece of the world, giving them the excuse to close the restaurant for a few days. Even being off, it had been non-stop cooking and baking for Yuuri and Phichit who had prepared an insanely large feast for everyone arriving promptly at four p.m. for Christmas dinner. Victor hadn't properly celebrated a Christmas since his parents died, and even then it was a subdued event mostly thrown as a thank you party for the restaurant's biggest supporters. Last year's Christmas had been comprised of Victor locating the bottom of a vodka bottle, grumpily hiding in the restaurant office to avoid the party Mila had insisted on throwing. This year, however, was going to be different.

Feeling the excited nerves zing over his skin, Victor kicked from the bed, pulling a sweatshirt over his head and sliding into his slippers. Stepping through the door of his room, he immediately caught the smell of bacon and French toast. He always made pancakes and sausage, just like his father, never able to master bacon or French toast in the way his mother could. It was the smell of his traditional birthday breakfast wafting up the stairs that had his interest peaked and his stomach rumbling, so he found himself jogging toward the stairs.

The view of his kitchen table had him skidding to a halt. Balloons were tied to his chair, a bright red plate positioned in his place, with what appeared to be a cardboard crown resting on top of it. Dazed, Victor walked toward the place setting, noting the stack of crumpled cards tied with a blue bow. When arms circled his waist, Victor turned to stare at Yuuri.

"When we were moving storage containers around, I found a box labeled Victor Birthday," Yuuri spoke quickly, eyes searching Victor's in rapid anxiety, "there were pictures of you as a little kid. They looked just like this," Yuuri waved a hand over the table. With one arm still wrapped tightly around Victor, Yuuri stretched his free arm out for the bundle of cards. Gingerly placing it in Victor's hands, Yuuri looked up to study his face. "Your parents saved every birthday card they ever gave you. I couldn't figure out how to lament the envelopes, but all the cards are lamented. The print shop said it will help preserve the ink." Yuuri jumped when a tear fell onto his face that wasn't his. "Oh, I'm sorry, Vitya," Yuuri wiped a finger over his love's cheek, using the newly determined nickname for his favorite human. "I thought you would like it."

Squishing the stacks of envelopes between them, Victor hugged Yuuri as if trying to meld their bodies into one. Yuuri never had long speeches or flowing poetry which expressed his love. Instead, Yuuri's love sang through everything he did, the intensely thoughtful moments that made Victor's heart feel like it was going to burst. "It's perfect, Yuuri, so, so perfect," Victor let the tears fall freely, feeling so loved that he could burst from the overwhelming force of it. "Nothing could make it better."

Yuuri peered over Victor's shoulder, waving a hand to Phichit to come into the room. "Nothing, huh?" Victor jumped against him as the sound of scurrying feet erupted from the other side of the kitchen. "Are you sure about that?" Yuuri watched as the love of his life was tackled by a wiggling mass of brown poodle puppy, unsure who was more overjoyed at the meeting. "You have to name her, Vitya. We can't keep calling her baby." Yuuri winked at Phichit who hopped up on the counter to steal a piece of bacon from the waiting plate.

"Yeah, and she sleeps with you guys now. Hiding her in my room for two days has taken years off my poor fluffbutt's lives." Phichit peered down fondly, tossing a piece of bacon on the ground and laughing when the puppy bounced on it.

Rolling on the ground, Victor cooed and laughed as the puppy returned to cover his face with kisses. "Makkachin," he whispered into the brown poof of a belly, "I'm going to call you Makkachin."

Year Two – Day One

Yuuri was pissed. Slamming the door to the cab shut, he tossed money at the driver, only thinking to apologize for his rudeness after the man drove away leaving a dusting of Russian curses in his wake. It was ridiculous that after months of commuting together, both Phichit and Victor had managed to leave him behind at the house. Phichit had taken one car, Victor the other and Yuuri been left gawking at the empty driveway. Neither of them had bothered to answer their phones, and Yuuri had taken turns leaving screaming voicemails in both inboxes. He was late now, sweating from being in the overly warm cab, and nursing a powerful headache. Determined to focus his frustration on his boyfriend and his best friend, Yuuri stormed into the restaurant ready for a fight.

And was immediately struck dumb with the sight of hundreds of rainbow roses decorating every surface, highlighted by the twinkling of thousands of tiny white lights. Staring, confused and alarmed convinced that he had missed an event, Yuuri blinked several times when Minami approached him, handing him a single yellow rose. "Yuuri" read the tag attached. Minami high fived him and then walked over to the bar.

He missed Otabek's existence until he was directly in front of Yuuri's face. Silently, Otabek handed him a dyed-green rose. "Will" was stamped on this tag. Otabek nodded, patting Yuuri on the shoulder and moved to join Minami.

Mila popped up from the hostess stand, startling Yuuri and making him laugh nervously. She laid a single pink rose in his hands, grabbing his face to kiss his cheek. The tag read, "you" and Yuuri's brow furrowed with confusion.

A red rose was added to his stack, Chris winking at him and ruffling Yuuri's hair before moving to stand with the others. Confusion growing stronger, Yuuri stared at the single word. "Me?"

"Hey," Yurio stood in front of him, passing a white rose back and forth between his hands. "This shit is stupid," Yurio kicked his foot against the ground, finally making eye contact. "But I guess I'm happy for you guys." Yuuri squeaked in shock when Yurio hugged him. "Don't break up again, okay? Some idiot adults have to be good." Little tears pricked at the side of Yurio's eyes, as he added the last rose to Yuuri's arms. The word on this tag had Yuuri's heart jumping into his throat.

"Marry."

Music filled the room as Phichit excitedly skipped toward him, throwing rose petals while flashing a sign that put it all together. "Yuuri, will you marry me?" Before Phichit could even release him from the bone-crushing hug, Yuuri spotted Victor, dressed in a full suit, carrying a bouquet of deep red roses. "I'll take these," Phichit giggled, collecting Yuuri's roses and the bouquet from Victor's arms, whistling as he danced away to gather with the others. Yuuri's heart beat slammed against his ears, blood flushing to his cheeks as Victor dropped to one knee in front of him.

"Yuuri Katsuki, one year ago, you walked into this restaurant and changed my life," tears ran down Victor's cheeks and Yuuri hurriedly wiped them away with his thumbs. "I asked you to be my chef, you asked me to be your forever. So today, I am here, asking you to be my forever. Be my everything, Yuuri, as you always have been, since the first moment that you stepped into this place. Yuuri Katsuki, will you marry me?"

Yuuri tackled Victor flat on his back, kissing him in mid fall. As they landed in a heap on the ground, Victor's head carefully cradled in Yuuri's hand, cheers erupted all around them, every member of the Nikiforov staff joining in the celebration.

"So," Victor kissed back as Yuuri attacked his lips, "is that a yes?"

"That's definitely a yes, just…" Yuuri said, "don't check your voicemail." Laughter filled their kiss as they continued to lay tangled in the foyer of the restaurant, in the exact spot where they had first met.

Year Two – September

The jail visitor's room smelled of stale cigarettes and disinfectant. Every wall was a dull gray, making the jumpsuits of bright orange seem weirdly out of place. There wasn't a happy face in the entire room, and Victor felt the grief and terror soaking into his skin in equal measures. Searching for reassurance, he found Yuuri's hand squeezing it tightly as they waited.

The trial had taken six days. Together, they had faced each day, listening to the prosecutor's evidence with numb ears. On the day that they had testified, they had returned to their hotel room, falling into bed together to make comforting love until the wee hours of the morning. They were alive. Their part was over. Celestino was gone.

The verdict had been swift. Guilty on all counts, sentencing to take place in less than a month. Together, they had left the courtroom, satisfied and sick. It was almost over with only their victim impact statements left to handle.

The letter had come within two days of the final verdict. Externally addressed to Victor, internally acknowledging both of them. It hadn't asked for forgiveness, instead asking them for a chance to explain.

That's how they found themselves in the visiting room of the prison on a Thursday afternoon, nervously pressed together in a room of unpleasant looking people. Victor had wanted to come, Yuuri didn't, but in the end Yuuri had agreed because he would do anything to help Victor heal.

Celestino was ushered in, flanked by guards on each side and anchored to his metal chair by the cuff in between his hands. He was thinner, the angle of his nose looked sharper against the sunken cheeks. Yuuri had only been physically close to the man twice, but the fire and fight he remembered had vanished completely. This was a man living with his life's choices.

"I'm surprised you came." Celestino's voice was gruff, but not menacing, the sound more tired than aggressive.

"You asked us to," Victor indicated with a flick of his wrist, "I thought we should hear what you have to say." Celestino had always been larger than life to Victor, especially when he was a young child. This man was not a man Victor would ever recognize.

Speaking into his hands, Celestino flexed his fists, "greed is a powerful emotion, Vitya." Victor flinched against Yuuri, who squeezed his hand tighter. "So is grief. Your parents were my best friends. We started Nikiforov's together. We always said it would stay in the family." The rough voice stopped talking, Yuuri watched as the unshaven Adam's apple bobbed in Celestino's neck. "I guess it did. I'm not going to make excuses for my actions. There are none. I just wanted to tell you that I was wrong." Finally looking up, Celestino leveled his gaze at Victor. "You turned out to be everything your parents believed you to be. I should have had more faith in you. I should have had more faith in them. I'm sorry I didn't."

Victor leaned forward, taking Yuuri's hand with him. "Why them though? I can understand why you came after me, but why them? They loved you." Yuuri heard the strangled noise accenting Victor's words and squeezed his hand harder.

"Because I was a greedy, jealous old man. I never found happiness like your parents did in each other. I thought if the restaurant was mine, then maybe I would."

"Bullshit," Victor slammed his fist on his leg and Yuuri held up a hand to the guard to let them know everything was alright. "You killed them to find happiness? What kind of crazy is that?"

"I didn't promise you answers, Vitya," Celestino scowled when Victor winced again, "I don't have any good ones. I wanted you to know that I screwed up, and as dumb as I am, I am smart enough to know that you didn't. You did everything your parents expected you to do and more. Be proud of that and know that, even if it doesn't mean much, I'm proud of you." Nodding at the guard, Celestino waved him over. "I'm done." Standing with the help of a surly looking man, Celestino nodded again, this time at Yuuri. "Congratulations, I see the ring. I hope you do a better job at life than I have." And then he was gone, shuffling away with the rattling metal grinding between his ankles.

Outside, Victor breathed in the cold air, slumping against his car. Yuuri rubbed his back, patiently waiting. Victor's head was spinning. Celestino hadn't said anything earth shattering, but his world felt all cockeyed anyway. Resting against Yuuri's shoulder, Victor took a few deep breaths, before shifting to open the passenger side door. Stealing a kiss from Yuuri, Victor felt the warmth of Yuuri's lips anchoring him back to reality. Running around to climb in on his own side, Victor reached for Yuuri's hand. "Do you think…" Victor didn't finish his question, shaking his head because he didn't know how to convey his thoughts.

"I think he was sincere," Yuuri pondered, laying back against the seat. "Even an idiot would know they should be proud of you." Yuuri smiled when Victor gave a weak chuckle.

"I'm going to ask them to be lenient on him," Victor glanced to Yuuri, seeing the supportive nod and appreciating every second of it, "two wrongs don't make a right. He isn't a good person, but I don't have to match him there. I don't have to wish for his demise. Maybe then he'll change."

"You're a good man, Charlie Brown," Yuuri joked, enjoying the more genuine laughter rumbling from Victor. "Honestly though, you should do whatever feels right to you. I am going to support you, no matter what that is."

As the car stopped at a traffic signal, Victor leaned over the center to press a loving kiss to Yuuri's lips. "How did I get so lucky?"

Smiling as the cars behind them started honking, Yuuri settled back in his seat. "You needed a chef."

"You needed a forever." Victor smiled.

"That's it, that's our story. Wedding vows written!" Yuuri high fived their joined hands with his free hand making Victor laugh. Together, they left the hurt Celestino had caused them behind, drowned out by the roar of never-ending love.

Year Three – Month Two

"You have to calm down!" Chris had Victor by the shoulders, preventing the nervous man from continuing to pace trenches into the ground. "Holy hell! JJ help me!" Grunting appreciatively, Chris yanked the tumbler glass from JJ's hand and shoved it into Victor's. "Drink, we'll all do it. It'll help the nerves."

Staring hard at the dubiously colored liquor, Victor clinked glasses with his groomsmen and chugged.

3

"Yuuri! You are making me nervous!" Phichit's foot bounced as he stretched across the limo set. "Please stop wringing your hands, they are going to get chapped. Chapped hands plus cumshots will be a fast way to ruin your honeymoon. OW!" Glaring at Yurio, who hand landed a solid punch on Phichit's upper arm, Phichit pouted, "don't be a baby, you're legal now. It is time you learned about adult things." Grimacing again as Yurio kicked his shin, Phichit kicked back at Yurio, missing and making the youngster laugh.

Isabella's hands carefully covered Yuuri's, bracing them in her lap. Thankful, he let himself lean against her, feeling his sister's hand pat his shoulder. If three years ago anyone would have told him that he would be on his way to his wedding, Yuuri would have said they were crazy. If someone had told him that his parents, sister, and family friends would travel all the way from Japan to see it happen, Yuuri would have fainted from the ridiculousness of the idea. But here he was, clad in a white and blue tux, riding in a limo toward his restaurant, watching his best men kick the hell out of each other while his best women tried to hold him still. It was surreal and beautiful, all at the same time.

3

"It's time, man," Chris shook Victor's shoulder. He pointed at JJ and Mila, signaling the need for them to take their places. Turning back only briefly, Chris wrapped Victor in a tight hug. "We'll all be out there with you. We are so happy for you, Vitya." Chris smacked a loud kiss to his cheek and disappeared out of the office doors and onto the patio, Makkachin happily prancing next to him on a leash. Victor took a few calming breaths, positioning himself at the door of the office, waiting for the music to begin.

Yuuri hugged each of his friends, smiling as they linked up with the friends that made up Victor's side of the bridal party. Victor's side was in black with pink flowers, Yuuri's side was in white with blue accents. It was a good looking group of friends that led the way down the aisle, exchanging smiles and quick jokes as they took their places to either side of the altar. Humming to himself, Yuuri bopped up and down on his toes waiting for the change in the music.

Victor heard it first, the opening cords to their very first song together. It wasn't traditional, but neither were they and Victor wouldn't want it any other way. Taking his steps in time with the beat, he reached the opening to the patio, suddenly overwhelmed by the group of smiling faces. Everything smelled like flowers and spring time, the crisp scent of the promise of a new season hanging in every corner. Reaching the altar first, Victor nodded to Georgi and turned to wait for the love of his life.

The renovated patio was covered with twinkling lights, the exact lights that had covered the restaurant on the day of their engagement. Hanging from the carefully placed hooks were baskets of flowers, all variations of colors and types. Familiar faces smiled at Yuuri as he rounded the corner of the aisle, beaming at him in a reflection of the emotion that was surely painted on his own face. Lifting his eyes, Yuuri took in Victor, from toe to head, feeling his heart jump up into his throat. The slim black tux was eye-catching, but the man smiling in it was breath-stealing stunning. Yuuri struggled to breathe as he took his final steps, linking hands with Victor in front of all their family and friends.

Leaning into Yuuri's ear, Victor whispered, "hey handsome, come here often?" Yuuri giggled into his shoulder. "The things I would like to do to you," Victor continued, pulling back to wink at Yuuri.

His cheeks were bright red as Georgi began their ceremony, leading them through the standard language before giving them their individual cues to recite their own vows. It had been a huge deal to Victor that their vows be their own words, and Yuuri had happily obliged, despite the level of stress it caused him. This would be the most romantic thing Yuuri could ever do for Victor, and it had to be perfect. Stealing himself against the drowning emotions, Yuuri fixated his gaze on Victor.

"Yuuri," Victor paused, hands shaking in Yuuri's, eyes already beginning to tear, "when my world was dark, you were the light. When I thought love was a myth, you were my myth buster," he paused to let the chuckles die down, "when I thought I had to do everything on my own, you were there to show me that I wasn't alone. I was surviving blind, unaware of the amazing people and love I had in my life, until you stormed in with your unrelenting need to tear my blinders off." Victor cleared his throat, unwilling to release Yuuri's hands and letting his tears fall freely. "I don't know if there is a word big enough to describe what you mean to me. Love is the closest I can come to describing it, but even that isn't enough. You are everything I ever wanted, the first person who I wanted to keep forever, and the person who made me see how wonderful my life already was. My life is better because you are a part of it. You give me a reason to fight and a reason to believe in happiness. I promise to spend every day of my life showing you what that means to me, and doing the same thing for you."

There wasn't a dry eye on the patio and Yuuri felt his own lump bobbing in his throat as he tried to gather himself. Breathing deeply, Yuuri focused on Victor's blue eyes and the sense of calm they brought to him. Pulling Victor a fraction closer, Yuuri began to speak. "Vitya, you are my everything. You are my forever, you are my partner, you are my friend, and you are the love of my life. Before I met you, I thought that no one who understood me could ever love me, especially not in a I-want-to-marry-you kind of way. My world was also broken and dark, and I had lost my vision. My drive to succeed was gone, and I was floundering. But even with all my wrong turns, I found my way to you. And when I discovered you, ink stain and all," Yuuri took his own pause to chuckle along with everyone in the room, "that light came back on. You were the first person I wanted to physically hold, the first person who reached into my heart and dragged out all of the emotions I had stuffed away. You made me come alive again. I promise to spend every day treating you like you are the most important person in my world, because you are the most important person to me," Makkachin woofed at their feet making everyone laugh. "I said person, Makka," Yuuri smiled and patted their dog's head. "I will love you and cherish you with everything I have. And I promise to always cook you good food…"

"And not make me fat," Victor joked.

Yuuri snorted, "and not make you fat." He leaned forward to Victor's ear and whispered, "I promise to make sure you work it off every night." Leaning back, Yuuri smirked triumphantly as the red flooded Victor's cheeks.

The final words from Georgi and the rings retrieved from their place on Makkachin's collar to find their homes on the groom's ring fingers had the couple eagerly bouncing together in their first kiss as husbands. As the applause rumbled through the patio, Victor and Yuuri continued to kiss, cementing their intentions to love each other forever.

Year Fifty

Two figures sat together, hands intertwined, on a stone bench overlooking St. Petersburg. The arch in front of them still contained its ivy and pink flowers, with the company of red roses woven in between. At their feet, the garden was a rainbow of blooms, circling the weathered tombstones. The restaurant behind them was booming with music and laughter, the overflow from the patio reaching all the way to their ears.

Between them, they had raised twenty foster children, teaching each child the skills that they could, before successfully sending them into the world with constant love and encouragement. They came home for holidays and called on birthdays, and generally were the best children that they could have ever asked for. Two were currently inside, acting as the successors of their legacy under the watchful eye of head chef Yuri Plisetsky, five time world champion figure skater and self-trained five star chef. His attitude was still questionable, but his food was outstanding, and his kitchen staff lived to please him.

After fifty years, they still held hands when they walked together and told jokes that only they could understand. They ate pancakes on Sundays and French toast on birthdays, and never let a day go by without saying I love you. Together, they had brought the three most important L-words back into their lives, and they lived with the strength of those words every single day.