After visiting with his family

Dexter stroked his fingers down Gabriel's back, tenderly, trying to comfort without the man noticing. If, years ago, you'd told Dexter that Gabriel would be the one who would feel the pain of separation the strongest, he'd have laughed. But now he'd grown accustomed to Gabriel's struggles with depression. And he knew how to deal with them, rolling the other man onto his back, he kissed him gently, refusing to take no for an answer.

 

"Hey you," Gabriel's voice was soft; his fingers slipped into Dexter's hair and held him still.

 

"Hey yourself," the man replied, nuzzling into Gabriel's neck. Gabriel relaxed a little, enjoying the contact, the touch. Dexter could only vaguely understand why Gabriel got this way, personally he was happier staying separate on a relatively permanent basis, he got to be his own person. The first few years had been hard, he could remember having near hysterics on several occasions when they'd been separated for too long, but now? Now he was whole again. It was Gabriel - the one who had striven so hard to increase their time apart - who'd discovered that once he had something, he didn't actually want it. He was too proud to admit it though. So every time they combined and separated again he moped for a few days, with Foster and Dexter walking on eggshells around him. The blues.

 

Dexter couldn't even remember when the tradition had started. The younger generation hadn't really grasped why Uncle Gabriel and Uncle Dexter were so unpopular with the majority of the other family - all except Uncle Foster and Grandma, who wholeheartedly approved of Gabriel. So it had started as a peace offering, years ago. If you can stay civil, I'll just be one person, so you only have to tolerate half as much of me at dinner, let's not upset Foster again. It worked. It was uncomfortable, Martha still looked daggers at them over the candied yams…but it worked. Every once in awhile he and Gabriel became one again, then split apart until next time. It just took a little while to recover from it. 

 

He stroked his fingers down Gabriel's cheek, gentling him. Gabriel crooned and kissed his hand, moving into the caress. It would be a few days before he was back to his usual aggressive self; Dexter knew it for a fact. In the meantime he was determined to enjoy the novelty. 

 

 ***

 

Gabriel stroked his fingers through Dexter's hair, fascinated by the texture of it against his skin. The other man wore his hair slightly different, and always carefully combed, it was deeply satisfying to rumple it up, leaving him looking sleep tousled and cute. The strands of silver that streaked it nowadays only served to heighten the look. For some reason Dexter's hair had started to grey. Gabriel wished he'd dye it, but Foster had said it looked distinguished, and Foster always won on such matters. Sighing, the man submitted to Dexter's ministrations, the other always got so clingy after dinners. Gabriel could only assume it had something to do with being apart again, so he bit down on his frustrations and played along for a few days. Anything to keep Dexter stable. 

 

Dexter nuzzled into his throat, making Gabriel relax happily. Even after all this time, he loved it when Dexter came to him for comfort, for touch. Deep down we were still one person, closer than twins could ever be. He kissed Dexter's fingers as they stroked down his cheek, enjoying the caress.

 

"Are you two hungry? Or should I give you some private time?" Foster asked from the doorway. Gabriel glanced up at him, felt Dexter do the same beside him. 

 

"Might want some private time for all three of us," Dexter replied mischievously, licking a damp trail up Gabriel's throat. Foster grinned and padded in, putting his tray on the nightstand and climbing into the bed with them. Gabriel growled at him and pulled his shirt off.

 

"And I'm hungry," Gabriel whispered, working a trail of kisses down Foster's belly. He writhed a little, making him all the more determined to attack.  It wasn't just food he was hungry for.

 

"Well it's a good thing I brought breakfast with me then," Foster murmured, kissing Dexter. "I don't want you biting me...again."

 

 ***

 

Foster watched from the doorway, knowing the pair hadn't noticed him. They always got this way after parting. Gabriel quiet and a little sad, Dexter clingy and attention seeking. Sometimes he wondered why they didn't combine again more often. He watched as they kissed, and stroked, gently touching each other for reassurance.

 

If he closed his eyes, he could remember how that felt, he knew every inch of both his lovers, inside and out. He knew every expanse of smooth skin, every scar, every imperfection. Had watched as the savage purple weal down the middle of their chest and back had slowly started to fade with time. Had mourned the passing of every little blemish, the appendectomy scar, the leftovers from Dexter's tussle with a car, the savage looking scar under his ankle both Gabriel and Dexter had found mystifyingly embarrassing, until Dexter admitted that it had been inflicted by a pet bird. 

He'd nursed them when they were sick, held them when they cried, or felt lonely and lost. They'd fought like demons, both side by side and against each other, and loved so hard it felt like war. He knew their limits, their strengths and weaknesses. He knew what it was like to give them the amount of hurt they craved. 

Opening his eyes again he watched the pair for another long moment, pushing away the memory of their fight, concentrating on the present.

 

"Are you two hungry? Or should I give you some private time?" he asked, not moving from the doorway. They both started like guilty schoolboys and gazed up at him.

 

"Might want some private time for all three of us," Dexter replied, squirming suggestively. Foster felt his cock stiffen just watching as the tall man licked (what must have been) Dexter's throat. Grinning, the nurse decided to join them, putting the plate of fruit and rolls down. Gabriel seemed eager too, trying to rip his shirt off.

 

"And I'm hungry," the man added, starting to explore. Foster felt goose-bumps rise in his wake, that soft mouth could do things.

 

"Well it's a good thing I brought breakfast with me then," Foster murmured, he claimed a kiss from Dexter, enjoying the sensation of two identical mouths. "I don't want you biting me. Again."

 

"Would I?" Gabriel growled mischievously. 

Foster growled, "Yeah, and I might seek vengeance, for once."

 

"You wouldn't…" Gabriel gazed up at him, unsure.

 

"Please," Dexter giggled, "if there's one thing I've learned from the past few months, it's that there is no limit to Foster's reckless streak."

 

Gabriel made a show of considering that, then pulled up and kissed Foster full on the mouth. "This much is true," he whispered. "I'm not going to risk it."

 

"Wuss," Foster teased.

 

"WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME?!"

Gabriel.