.:Author's Note:.

Please excuse any mistakes.

This chapter is unedited because I've had this draft in the works for weeks now, and I wanted to give you all something before finals week begins.

***

Jonathan's POV:

"Mr. Russell, Dr. Patel is ready for you in the back." A nurse said to me as I sat in the waiting area of my doctor's office. Putting my phone in my pocket, I stood and followed her through the doors and into the examination room. There, my doctor was waiting for me at his desk with – what looked to be – my files in a folder.

"Jonathan." He greeted with a grin. "Please, have a seat. Thank you, Nurse Johnson."

"You're welcome, Dr. Patel." Nurse Johnson replied before she left the room, closing the door behind her. I sat in the seat across from Dr. Patel and took off my jacket, setting it to the side.

"Hey, Dr. Patel. Got any news for me?" I questioned.

"Not necessarily. This visit should be quick." Dr. Patel began. "Your blood test results show that your body is responding to the PrEP pills well. There aren't any unsafe side effects that you need to worry about. In addition to that, you are still HIV-negative, so no need for any further procedures. I assume you've been taking the HIV prevention medication daily since your last visit."

"Every morning." I nodded.

"Good. Good. Using condoms?"

"Yes." I answered bashfully. Doctor or not, talking about this – even at forty years old – was slightly embarrassing.

"Good. Good. Well, with the pills you're taking and the use of condoms, I see no reason for you to worry. However, getting tested every three months is still ideal. I wouldn't say that you're in the window period since you started the pills before beginning sexual activity, but anything can happen. It's really just a precaution. But, you're a grown man, and I'm sure you know how to take care of yourself."

"That, I do." I chuckled, causing Dr. Patel to do the same.

"Well, good! That's all, really. I'll send in a prescription for you at the pharmacy to get a refill. Do you have any questions?"

"Say I wanted to have unprotected sex with my boyfriend, will I be in harm's way?"

"Does he have a detectable viral load?"

"He does not." I answered. "He's been taking medication for over ten years now."

"Ah, then you'll be fine. You're both on meds, and since he has no detectable viral load, he can't necessarily pass the HIV virus on. Issues will only arise if he decides to stop taking his medication, which I doubt he will if he's been on it for so long."

"That's good to know."

"I bet it is." Dr. Patel smirked, making me laugh. "Anything else?"

"No, that's all." I replied. "Thanks, Doc."

"No problem, Jonathan. See you again in three months."

"Three months." I agreed as I stood from the seat and picked up my jacket. With a final wave, I left Dr. Patel's office and headed home.

***

"Daddy! Daddy! Look what Winston brought us!" Alyssa and April said to me as I walked through the front door. I glanced down at my girls to see them both with toy plush bunnies in their hands. One was pink and the other was purple.

"They're very cute, girls. Did you say thank you?"

"We did." Alyssa said before smiling widely. "Now we have Snowflakes of our own."

"That's good. Where is Winston?"

"He's in the kitchen." April answered. I nodded, sending them on their way, before heading to the kitchen. There, I found my boyfriend sitting at the counter, frowning as he looked at his laptop.

"If you continue to frown like that, you'll get lines on your forehead." I joked as I walked over to him. I pressed a quick kiss to his forehead then sat on the stool beside him. "What's got you stressing?"

"My mother." Winston grumbled in response. "I keep asking her what's with her sudden visit, and she has used tactic after tactic to avoid the topic. So I've been trying to get in contact with my family back in Indiana, but they're being hush-hush about it. I think something is wrong."

"Something like what?"

"I don't know. My mind is thinking of the worse thing possible, but I don't want to speak it into existence." He sighed. "I'm just going to wait until Mom finally has the balls to speak up."

"Okay." I chuckled. "In the meantime, let's get your mind off of Indiana. Thanks for watching my girls."

"You're welcome. Honestly, it was no problem. Plus, it's not like I had to make the troop from my place. I was already here."

"Oh, I know. You kept my bed pretty warm." I smirked, causing Winston's cheeks to tint.

"Jonathan! Be decent. How was your doctor's visit?"

"It went well. Still HIV-negative and I got a refill on my medication."

"That's a relief." Winston spoke softly. "I'd feel like the worse kind of human if I infected you."

"You have nothing to worry about. Not only can you not pass on the virus, but I also took the necessary precautions to keep us both afloat."

"I know, but you know that I can't help but to worry."

"I do." I grinned. "Which is one of the many reasons why I love you so much; you're always looking out for me and my girls."

"I am pretty lovable, aren't I?" Winston laughed.

"Very much so." I replied teasingly before kissing him. It was a slow sweet kiss that I enjoyed for the few short seconds it lasted. Unfortunately, my sister had to come in and ruin the moment.

"Ew, stop being gross." Macy groaned as she walked over to the stove.

"We're all adults here." I replied gruffly after licking my lips. "Are you just waking up?"

"I am." Macy shrugged. "I went to bed late."

"May I ask why?"

"Because some people don't know how to keep it down at night."

"Oh my gosh! You can hear us?" Winston asked with obvious embarrassment. "Jonathan, seriously?! What if April and Alyssa can too?"

"I'm not the screamer." I shrugged, causing my boyfriend to punch me in the arm. Hard. "Fuck! That actually hurt."

"I was only kidding, Winston." Macy spoke before he could cause any more harm. "I actually had no idea you two were frickle fracking last night."

"See?" I whined like a child. "Now, kiss me and make me feel better."

"No way." Winston blushed as he spoke. "If you couldn't hear us, then why were you up so late?"

"I may have met someone." Macy grinned shyly. "And we may have been on the phone all night."

"Excuse me?"

"Jonathan, please, don't go into overprotective brother mode. As you said, we're all adults."

"Pebbles, how can you expect me not to?"

"Because I didn't go into overprotective sister mode when you started dating Winston."

"That's different. You knew my baby long before me and you were already aware of how amazing he is. I don't know this new person."

"All you need to know is their name, which is Blaine."

"Male or female?"

"Non-binary."

"Bring them over for dinner. I want to meet them." I finalized, making Macy pout.

"Jonathan!"

"Tonight."

"You're not my parent."

"Would you like me to call our parents?"

"You two are the funniest set of siblings I've ever met." Winston cut into our conversation, causing Macy and I to laugh. "Teasing and loving at the same time."

"It's the best relationship, honestly." Macy stated.

"Winston! Winston!" April and Alyssa scurried into the kitchen. "Can you help us with our homework?"

"I – Um, sure I can." My boyfriend replied nervously before glancing over at me. "You don't want your dad to help you instead?"

"Daddy and Aunty Macy help us all the time." April said while playfully rolling her eyes.

"Yeah. Now we want you to help us." April followed up.

"Oh, okay. Jonathan is that okay with you? I don't want to overstep."

"It's more than okay, baby." I answered, giving him a soft kiss on his cheek. "I'll be in here with Macy."

"Okay." He grinned before my girls dragged him from his seat and out of the kitchen. I watched them go before turning to face my sister, who was already looking at me.

"Have you asked him yet?" She questioned excitedly.

"I haven't. I'm scared."

"Scared of what?"

"That we might be rushing things. I don't know. What if he says no?"

"Why would he? Winston has been here almost every night since you two have been together. The only reason he leaves in the mornings is because he has his clothes, pet bunny, and essentials back at his place. I don't think you should be scared to ask him to move in with you."

"I know, but it's been less than three months. What if he thinks that we're moving too fast and bolts?"

"Then you chase right after him because you love him." Macy smiled warmly, making me do the same.

"Okay, fine. I'll run it by the girls before bringing it up with him."

"You know Alyssa and April aren't going to object the idea. Winston practically mothers them."

"I've noticed." I chuckled lowly while thinking of all the times Winston has taken on a parenting role with my girls. The moments were always endearing to witness. "He's just so amazing, Pebbles, and he doesn't even believe me when I tell him so. Have you ever been so in love that it hurts sometimes?"

"I can't say I have." Pebbles grinned sadly. "But I'm hoping to get there."

"Which is why you have to bring Blaine over so I can see if they're the one for you."

"Oh my gosh, Bugsy. Let it go."

***

My phone rang on the bedside table as Winston, my girls, and I watched some television. After my talk with Macy, we all had breakfast together before my sister went out to meet with one of her support groups. That left me, my boyfriend, and my twins alone for a couple of hours. We decided to spend that time in bed together, relaxing. Yes, I changed the sheets beforehand.

Picking up the device from the table, I frowned when I saw that it was a call from Amanda.

"Sorry, loves. I have to take this." I spoke as I untangled myself from the many limbs sprawled across the bed. Winston glanced over at me worriedly, but my words were ignored by April and Alyssa. I sent him a playful wink before leaving the room, answering the call in the kitchen.

"Jonathan, darling! I thought you were going to let my call go unanswered." Amanda's voice came through the receiver, causing me to grit my teeth.

"Amanda. What do I owe the pleasure?" I questioned sarcastically.

"I wanted to know if you've changed your mind about letting me see my daughters."

"I have not. The only way you will get within ten feet of my girls is if it a judge orders me to let you do so. I will not soil Miranda's wishes for the likes of you."

"Miranda's wishes? What do you mean Miranda's wishes?"

"Oh, I didn't tell you? Even in death, your ex-wife wanted me to keep Alyssa and April as far away from you as possible if you did decide to pop back up; and look at you now."

"Excuse me?! She had no fucking right!"

"Yes, she did. Did you forget that you signed over all of your parental rights to her?"

"You know what, I didn't call you to argue, and I don't care what Miranda thought she wanted. I had a feeling that you hadn't changed your mind, so I wanted to know if you've received a letter in the mail containing your subpoena."

"I haven't as yet, but you really want to go through with this?" I asked menacingly.

"Of course, I do. I never took you as a vile person, but keeping my daughters away from me is cruel. You have no care for mothers everywhere!"

"I'd feel bad if you had actually been a mother." I responded gruffly. "See you in court, Amanda. I hope you have a good lawyer for all the trouble you're causing."

The line went dead.