---
Two years later.
Aiden sighed as he stepped into the apartment, grocery bags in hand. The first thing he saw was destruction. Blankets were everywhere. Pillows had exploded. And in the middle of the chaos was a very guilty golden retriever.
"Leo!" Aiden cried. "This was a brand new couch!"
From the kitchen, Sion peeked out with flour on his nose. "It wasn't the couch's fault—it looked at him funny."
Aiden glared. "This was your idea to adopt a dog."
"And it was the best decision of our lives," Sion said as he kissed Leo's head, then sneakily pecked Aiden on the cheek. "Besides marrying you, obviously."
Aiden raised an eyebrow. "Uh huh. You spoil him more than me."
Sion gasped dramatically. "That is defamation! I buy you snacks every week!"
"That's because you eat half of them."
"…Okay fair."
As Aiden began cleaning up the mess, the doorbell rang. Sion opened it to find an old college friend—tall, good-looking, and very flirty.
"Oh, wow, Aiden!" the guy grinned. "You look amazing. Married life suits you."
Sion's eye twitched.
Aiden blinked. "Oh, hey! What are you doing here—?"
"Just visiting. Thought I'd say hi to my favorite classmate."
Sion's fake smile was so tight it could cut glass. "Do you need water? Coffee? Directions out of my house?"
Aiden gave him a look. "Sion…"
But when the friend leaned in a little too close to hug Aiden goodbye, Sion stepped in and hugged Aiden first. "Mine," he said plainly.
"Okayyy," the friend laughed nervously and left.
Aiden turned, arms crossed. "Really?"
"You're mine. I'm allowed to mark my territory."
"You're worse than Leo."
"Thanks. I take that as a compliment."
---
That night, after a round of "who destroyed my work folder?" (Leo), and "who burned the rice again?" (Sion), the couple lay tangled on the couch with the dog between them like a furry child.
"Still glad you married me?" Sion whispered, eyes closed.
Aiden smiled and leaned into his chest. "You're annoying, clingy, dramatic… but yeah. I wouldn't trade you for the world."
Sion grinned sleepily. "Good. 'Cause I already called dibs on your forever."
Their living room was a mess, their calendar a chaos of vet visits and client meetings, but in that little bubble of love and fur and laughter—life was perfect.
The End. For Real This Time.
---