He... didn't know that he could sleep for fourteen hours straight. Marsh had totally wound him around his finger, and wrapped his lips around another certain object.

I didn't know someone sucking on you could feel so good, but also make you completely exhausted.

Walker looked across the bed at Marsh. He'd felt terrible about it, but once they'd stopped last night he'd asked Marsh to not touch him while sleeping. He'd gone a lot further than he'd ever done before, but that didn't get rid of his overall anxiety about being touched.

Thankfully, Marsh didn't argue at all. Well, he never did during important situations, and he'd also made himself pretty tired, because he was snoring before Walker had even drifted off.

Stretching, Walker felt his back pop a bit before leaning his head back and yawning. Once done, he slowly pushed himself up, only to feel eyes on him, drawing his attention over to Marsh again. The guy was definitely awake now, and grinning with a bright red blush on his face.

Damn, he's always so cute, even though he's so dominant.

He was about to say something when he heard his phone ring on the nightstand. Since they hadn't really been in the middle of anything, he swung his bare legs over the edge and reached for it, answering after the third ring.

"Hey Walker, would you guys want to come over to Heian's for a picnic? Nia actually asked about you, since she hasn't been over to our property in a while..." Ranger said.

A picnic?

Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Marsh tilt his head.

"I'm a good bear. I can behave," he said, making Walker grin as he turned back around.

"Is it okay if Marsh comes, too? He'll behave," Walker said, unable to hide the smile that likely leaked into his words.

Ranger was silent for a few moments, likely asking Heian. When he returned to the call he said that it was perfectly fine. They set a time, which was actually quite soon, and then hung up. Since they were short on time already, Walker hurried to his feet and headed for the shower, doing his best to act normally, even though he still wasn't the most comfortable being naked in front of Marsh. He usually, at least, had boxers on.

He was just beginning to feel his nerves start to fray when he saw Marsh run past him, giving the most childish, yet adorable roar as he held his arms out to the side and laughed. Walker stood there for a few moments after his streaking bear-man had disappeared into the bathroom, before he suddenly burst out laughing.

What in the world, Marsh!

The guy was quiet for a few seconds as Walker moved closer, hearing the other man turn the water on for the shower before he stepped inside the room. Since he was already there, Marsh straightened and turned to speak, instead of talking into his mind.

"Walker is my world. I made my world happy."

Walker felt his face heat and quickly lifted a hand to sift fingers through his messy hair. There were so many things he wanted to say, but he just didn't have the words, or guts, to say them.

"We're going to be late, I think?" Marsh finally said, snapping Walker out of his thoughts.

Making himself clear his mind, Walker hurried into the shower... and then he realized that they'd never actually showered together. Of course, he'd washed Marsh before, when he had just come there and didn't really care for getting clean. Granted, he still didn't, but he didn't complain and took showers most nights or mornings, especially if he'd recently gotten dirty outside.

Marsh was already there facing him, waiting with Walker's bottle of shampoo in his hands. Instead of taking it, Walker held his hand out, palm up. His husband gladly filled it with the bottle, a bit too much, before taking some for himself and quickly scratching it through his wet hair.

Cute...

Without really thinking, Walker reached over and gently settled his hands against Marsh's head. The guy responded by immediately stepping forward and pressing his forehead against Walker's chest.

Considering that an invitation to do as he wanted, Walker carefully began massaging the shampoo that was already in Marsh's hair down into his scalp. He honestly expected his bear's hands to begin wandering, but Marsh kept them comfortably tucked between their upper bodies as he happily stood against him.

He hadn't even realized how relaxing it could be to just stand there, working his fingers through someone else's hair, but after a while, the water began to get cold.

Oops.

Walker quickly helped Marsh rinse his hair, then added a little conditioner to make it easy to brush... though he knew the guy wouldn't bother. Once that was done, he stepped aside and let Marsh rinse his hair while he quickly got his own done. They both scrubbed their bodies at the same time, but he could tell that Marsh's attention definitely wasn't on his own while they were doing that little task.

Still being a good bear. Albeit a perverted one.

They stepped out once they were clean, then each grabbed a towel and dried off before Walker wrapped his around his waist and Marsh ran out of the room toward their bedroom with his waving over his head like a battle flag.

You're such a strange bear sometimes.

By the time he got to their room, Marsh already had on a pair of loose shorts and a shirt. He shook his head at the guy and picked his discarded towel up off the floor.

"Come here, you," he said, his words bringing Marsh front and center immediately.

He quickly dried his hair, then got himself dressed in a pair of khaki pants and a blue T-shirt. They then headed downstairs after he grabbed his phone and let his brother know that they were on their way.

Walker was surprised, however, when they got to the bottom of the stairs and noticed Nekosi still sitting on the couch.

Had he been there all night?

"I'd told him to wait, so he did," Marsh said as he walked over to the boy and patted his head.

"We are going out. Be good and stay outside," he said before walking over to the fridge and taking out a small piece of meat from the bin they'd started keeping for him.

Nekosi was already out the door by the time Marsh followed him with the food. The boy gladly accepted it, then hurried off toward the barn.

Walker watched him leave, sighing. He didn't like that the boy was so wild, but he couldn't do much about it.

I'll just be grateful that he gets along well enough with Marsh and behaves enough for us to feed him.

"That is all that we can hope for with him. He will slowly gain weight and get bigger... at that time, I'll have to chase him away," Marsh said, making Walker's heart squeeze tightly in his chest as he closed and locked the door.

They started down the stairs, intent on walking to Heian's property.

"I wish I could do more..." he mumbled, mainly to himself as he watched Nekosi disappear into the barn in the distance.

Feeling a hand slide into his own, he gently squeezed it and let out another stressed breath.

"I suppose I'll just have to accept whatever happens. I'll try my best to help him, but I won't put myself, or you, or anyone else, in danger just to try and keep him with us," Walker said, earning a nod from Marsh as they easily got over the first fence.

Their horses hurried to them, though stopped a few feet short because of Marsh. They were getting better with him, and he them, but there was only so much trust to be had between a horse and a bear.

The horses followed them at a safe distance until they hopped another fence, then disappeared from view. The crisp morning air felt amazing and Walker found himself quite enjoying the walk.

"Hey, Walker?"

Looking slightly down, Walker tilted his head with a smile.

"Hmm?"

Marsh released his hand and ran ahead a little ways before turning to glance over his shoulder.

"I forgot something. I'll meet you at the Ranger's horse's field, okay?"

Forgot something?

He didn't think Marsh even had a thing to forget, but Walker simply shrugged and smiled.

"Alright, don't take too long," he said, earning a nod from a stripping Marsh.

Before Walker could question him further, the guy was a big fluffy bear adjusting the glasses he'd gotten a bit ago onto his long snout with even longer claws. He had no idea how they even fit there without falling off, but he wasn't going to question it... mainly because his bear was gone a few moments later, having run off into the forest.

He continued on his way after picking up Marsh's discarded clothing, taking his time but making sure that he wasn't late, either. By the time he was out of the forest and could see Heian and his brother, as well as their two kids sitting in the field beneath a large apple tree, he figured that Marsh would be a bit late.

To his surprise, however, he heard something fumbling toward him at that moment, drawing his attention over his shoulder as his large, plump, fuzzy bear came barreling toward him with something in its mouth.

Huh?

As the bear got closer, Walker felt his face warm slightly. His husband had brought him a piece of Heian's bee hives. Marsh skidded to a stop in front of him, his tongue lolling out of his mouth behind the chunk of hive.

Walker was just about to chastise him, the slightest amount, for digging into the poor guy's hives again, when they both noticed a remaining bee buzzing up at Marsh's bear's nose. He watched him lift a paw to smash it, but quickly leaned forward to grab the paw, then gently shoo the poor bee on his way.

"They're important. Don't want to kill him for no reason," he said as Marsh slowly sat down on his fuzzy backside, then grunted around the beehive in his mouth.

They stung me.

Walker raised an eyebrow at that.

"You did just take a huge bite out of their home..."

Marsh's bear glanced away for a moment, then back at him. He repeated that action several times before grunting again.

I don't like logic.

Walker chuckled at that as he reached forward and took the hive from his bear.

"Thank you for this, my sweet bear," he said as he turned and began walking as soon as Marsh was up and beside him, still choosing to remain in his bear form.

He didn't mind. In fact, he was happy that Marsh didn't feel obligated to shift.

I love my husband, Marsh thought to him happily.

Walker grinned sideways at him, receiving a snort and a toothy grin in response that was probably supposed to be something close to a smile.

"And I love my bear," he replied right before getting to the group waiting for them.

Heian had taken a seat, and to Walker's surprise, Toshi was in his lap, not Nia.

"Hey guys, thanks for the invite," Walker said as Marsh settled down in the grass and got busy cleaning honey from his lips and claws with an eager tongue.

"How have things been going with you guys? I see that you have a new addition," Walker said as he sat down next to Heian, a warm smile on his face, even though he knew Toshi couldn't see it.

"Hello, Toshi, my name is Walker. I've heard quite a bit about you, so it's nice to finally meet you," he said cheerfully.

The boy hunched a little closer to Heian, but he also reached out a hesitant hand toward him.

So sweet.

Walker gently took it, shaking a little bit before the boy pulled it away.

"Things have been great. There are some officers coming later to check on things. During that meeting I'm going to request temporary custody so that I can take him to the doctor and make sure I can do whatever I need to in order to make him happy here," Heian said with a glow to his expression that warmed Walker's heart.

You got a good guy, bro.

Speaking of his brother, though, Walker looked around the area.

Where did he go?

Then he noticed a familiar gorgeous horse thundering toward them as a smilodon cat pushed itself to keep up.

Nia did a few laps of their little group when they got to them, but Ranger's cat collapsed onto one of the blankets that was spread out and groaned. Heian didn't hesitate to reach over and pet his head a few times with a chuckle as he watched his daughter's horse bolt around them in excitement.

Marsh behaved and didn't try to chase her, or even growl, but he did inch a little closer to him, clearly a little nervous with the larger animal coming so close while running.

He wanted to tell Marsh that he didn't have to worry about her accidentally stepping on him, but he knew that he didn't have to. Marsh was being a very good bear, and a very good, protectively-cautious husband.

Nia did a few more laps before she finally shifted right beside Walker. There were some clothes on the blankets in front of them so Walker helped her into them, then was surprised when she crawled up into his lap and settled in.

"She missed seeing you. She loves Ranger, but you were always really sweet, too," Toshi said, drawing Walker's attention over to him again.

Oh right, they have a bond.

Walker hugged her gently.

"I missed you too, sweetheart. You and Toshi are welcome to come visit anytime," he said happily.

Are you okay, Ranger? He asked, checking on his exhausted brother as he laid there in his shift form that he'd been terrified to let out most of his entire life.

You've come so far in such a short time.

Ranger slowly lifted his feline's head, then immediately let it drop to Heian's leg with a grumbling hum.

I'm still not great with Toshi, but as long as Heian or Nia are around, I'm okay.

Walker started taking some food out of the baskets that were brought for their lunch, making sure that the two kids had their sandwiches first before taking a few grapes for himself and his bear.

I'm sure they won't let you do anything to him, and heck, soon he'll be just as special to you as Nia has become.

Ranger flicked an ear as a little hand hesitantly brushed it before hurriedly withdrawing. He wanted to give a warning growl not to touch him, but he also knew that the boy was just that, a little boy. He was curious and scared, abandoned by his parents and forced to live in a new, strange place.

"Good boy," Heian praised, though Walker wasn't sure who, exactly, he was praising.

Both of them, came Marsh's response through their connection.

That actually made sense. His brother was awesome, but it took a lot of effort to control his cat while it was out. Having someone praise his animal's behavior was not something that happened often... if ever.

Good boy, he added, earning a quiet hiss in response before Ranger began digging into one of the baskets he easily knocked over with a massive paw.

Ah, steaks. Heian came prepared.

"So Walker, what are your plans?" Heian asked, drawing Marsh's attention up to Walker as he slowly chomped on grapes.

Your glasses are crooked...

He reached forward and easily corrected them before returning his attention to Heian. He wasn't really sure how to answer that question, since he doubted that it actually had anything to do with their farm work.

Returning his attention to Marsh, he let an abrupt bit of laughter slip out as he noticed his own grapes mysteriously missing and his bear's mouth awkwardly full, stems and all.

"I think I have some important life decisions to make... but at the same time, I feel as if they're already made, and I'm just hesitating a bit too much," he said, a faint blush finding its way to his face as Marsh's bear tilted its head.

That bear has been yours from the moment you saw him, bro.

Walker's face warmed a little further as he reached forward and took a few more grapes, if only to have something to fill his mouth to keep him from having to talk anymore.

I have some other suggestions on that... Came his brother's unhelpful response that nearly made him choke.

Oh yeah? It looks like you have yourself a husband, too, you know... Walker quipped back.

Ranger's cat stopped gnawing at a large bone and looked up at Heian and Toshi.

I do... and two sweet kids, too.

His brother's words actually surprised him.

I was surprised, too, by how much the thought of not having them terrified me.

Walker looked down at his bear again and was surprised to see Nia offering him a grape from her own bit of fruit. Marsh was being the best bear in the world as he took the tiny fruit super gently with his lips. She gave him two more before Marsh settled his chin on her knee, allowing her to reach over and pat his head.

I don't ever want to lose my bear, either. Our relationship definitely isn't perfect, but I love it the way it is.

There was a comfortable silence between everyone as they ate for a while, then his brother's cat gave a huge yawn and licked a paw.

I suppose we have weddings to plan.

Before Walker could choke on his last bite of sandwich his brother's cat was being pulled into a super tight hug from Heian. He squirmed a bit, but eventually settled down, even closing his eyes as Toshi nervously reached forward and touched one of his long canine teeth.

Walker looked back down at his own bear, large teeth, giant claws, glasses and all, allowing Nia to gently pet his ears and muzzle.

"I think we've got a bit of an extended family now," he said, meaning for it to be a thought to his brother, but not minding at all that it was spoken out loud.

Heian chuckled at his words as he handed Toshi a big piece of watermelon, much to the boy's delight.

"I believe you're right," he said, then looked over at him with a warm, knowing smile.

"Would you change it?"

Walker didn't hesitate to shake his head as he hugged Marsh's fluffy head to his side and pressed a kiss to the top of Nia's soft hair, who, in response, stuck her tongue out at him.

"Not for anything."



-End

There will be a big epilogue when I get to it, thank you for reading :)