A Fluffy Tale (21 page)

“Yes, I know. Pyon, what do you think?”

Pyon chirped, licked Julian’s face, then
jumped over to Zachary for a cuddle. He ran up Zachary’s arm and sat
precariously on his shoulder next to Linis, who gazed at them all with a vague
air of kemmish superiority. “He approves,” Zachary announced.

“My father’s going to faint.”

“I doubt it. Uncle Leo will convince your
mother, and he assures me that if the mother approves, the husband will go
along. I don’t know about such matters, but he does.” He tilted his head.
“Didn’t you
want
to tell them?”

“Yes! Just not at my brother’s wedding!”

“Leo said it’s the perfect place for a
proposal. Did I do it wrong?”

Julian sighed. Pyon and Linis stared at him
with big innocent eyes as he stood up and took Zachary’s hand. He leaned in for
a kiss, not caring who could see them, not after everything else. “No, you did
it perfectly, and I accept. I expect a wedding ring, though.
And
a honeymoon.”

“Of course. Uncle Leo told me these things
are necessary. I want to do everything correctly, Julian.”

He looked so worried. Julian grinned and
kissed him again. “You did, you do. Well, come on—if you’re going to be part of
my family, then I better start introducing you as my fiancé. I warn you though,
you might regret it later.”

“No,” Zachary said firmly, “I won’t. I'll
be brave.”

“Good for you.”

Julian took his hand, took a deep breath,
and plunged into the crowd of relatives. Zachary had no idea what he was
getting into—but that was okay. Julian did, and he was good at this stuff.
Zachary could be good at lots of other things instead. They made a great
team—Zachary, him, Leo and their meddling kems.

His family wouldn’t know what hit them.

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