[Michael took that unspoken poetry, the promise of vows, the knowledge that this was forever and poured his own right back, kissing Max with an intensity he had never known before. It's a heady slide of lips and tongue and he's holding onto Max so tightly, practically pulling him into his lap in his need to be closer. Max had already shown him so many highs, taken him to so many peaks, it was hard to imagine there could be more yet here they were.]

You didn't misguess. Not at all. You just took me by surprise. After everything you went through and the other day you said this ritual would be like our own kind of vows better than a marriage so I didn't think you were interested or ready for that...

[He trails his lips across Max's jaw, down his neck, over his pulse point as he slips a hand under the hem of his t-shirt, fingertips marking a path over the smooth planes of his abdomen, reverently tracing the scar that runs the length of his chest, a reminder of what it took to get to this moment. His lips part on a soft sigh and he lifts his head to look into those warm brown eyes that show such sincerity, his future reflected back to him.

With Max, there was never any doubt. This man knew him so completely, mind, body, and soul and still wanted every part of him.]

This ritual can be the date. We can go to City Hall, do the paperwork and this can make us husbands but... if we're getting married, like the real deal, if you're going to be my husband I want to celebrate that with the people in our lives. It doesn't have to be a wedding, it could just be a small thing. I know it's stupid. You can laugh. It's just I want people to know, I want to shout it to the world. I know before you were looking forward to a wedding and you deserve at least a part of that.