[Samuel x Roman]

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Samuel continued to listen to the girl while keeping an eye on Roman. He even got eye contact with Roman once, meaning he was aware Samuel was seeing the exchange. He also very much saw Oksana's effort to touch him. Samuel knew Roman's body and he knew Oksana was talking about his tattoo, and that could be perfectly innocent but given the context Samuel didn't like it. She was deliberately pointing out the deathly hallows one, rather than the just as visible two on his hand, one that was an S in Samuel's own handwriting and one that matched the daisy on Samuel's hand.

Suddenly even more uncomfortable Samuel decided to try to wrap things up with Stacey as quickly as possible. He asked her if she wanted to sort things out with Kimberly with the help of a teacher and if she would be okay walking back to her friends or if she was hurt and wanted to go to the nurse's office, she said no and was on her way. And the fighting would probably be forgotten in a couple of days.

Now Samuel could walk over to Roman and Oksana and he really wanted to. But he stopped himself. He didn't want his trust issues getting away of his relationship with a co-worker so he actually had to think about what he was doing. He couldn't march up there and accuse her of flirting with his husband during work hours. So he stayed but on that side of the school yard but caugth Roman's eye again and mouthed 'Do you want me to come over?' because maybe Roman could deal with the situation by himself, and Samuel needed to put that kind of trust into his husband so the situation didn't get out of hand.
 
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Oksana proceeded to chatter about her favourite Harry Potter characters, maintaining a sweet and girlish tone throughout. Roman couldn't tell if that was intentional or if that was how she talked usually, because he had only ever heard her talk like this. It was sort of similar to how Matilda and Shannon both spoke, but unlike with them, Roman couldn't find Oksana adorable, because she was flirting with him.

As Oksana spoke about Cho Chang, played with her hair and looked up at him adoringly, Roman glanced at his husband and noticed him mouth that small question. At that point Oksana's attention was claimed by a student who had called out her name in greeting. During the time it took her to frown but wave back politely, Roman nodded to his husband, then looked back at Oksana so she didn't notice.

Because as much as he didn't like her flirting, he couldn't find it in himself to be mean to her. There was something about her, some sort of innocence or vulnerability, that made it impossible for him to hate her, even if she was knowingly flirting with a married man. It was like ... it was like she was clinging to the attention he was giving her, because she didn't get it from anyone else.

"...And so that's why I really like Cho, I think everyone hates her because she sided with Marietta after she ratted them out to Umbridge, but she had just lost Cedric and how was she meant to cope with that loss? You know? I think she's just misunderstood."
 
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A nod of confirmation was all Samuel really needed and so he started to make his way over. He knew that he wasn't the best at dealing with this kinds of things but this time he was really going to try hard to deal with this professionally. Hell, he couldn't even be pettishly affectionate like he usually was with Roman when someone flirted with him because he was at work and needed to act like the adult he was.

When he joined the two others Samuel greeted Roman with a smile and grabbed his hand to give it a quick squeeze before letting it go. Appropriate, enough for their location. Enough for Okasana to actually see that they were very much a couple. Samuel knew she knew at that point, but he was trying to give har the benefit of the doubt by deciding that maybe she just didn't realise their marriage was very happy and loving since he hadn't really seen them interact together.

"Hello, Sorry Oksana, but would you mind me borrowing my husband for a bit," Samuel asked since Roman clearly wasn't really comfortable with the way she was acting with him Samuel figured the best way to act was to both show Oksana that they were married and to allow Roman an excuse to get away from her so he didn't have to offend her himself, "I got a text from, Harper's, uh, that's our kid, soccer coach about something and I need to discuss it with him," The excuse was probably a little excessive and Samuel clearly wasn't the best liar, Roman would definitely pick up on it but Samuel barely spoke to Oksana so maybe she wouldn't. He at least hoped it didn't seem like a jealous act, because for once he actually felt like he was doing something like this for the right reasons.
 
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Oksana visibly deflated a little when Samuel came over and took Roman's hand. That just confirmed that she knew what she was doing, which should have made it worse, but the fact that her reaction was genuinely disheartened, rather than angry or disappointed, didn't make Roman dislike her. No, it just made him feel bad, because he worried that he had done something to give her the impression that he was interested in her.

"Oh, no, of course not, that's fine,"
Oksana said, nodding a couple of times, staring at the hand that Roman had taken. "I was ... I have to ... um ..." She blinked several times, then shook her head to clear her own confusion. She opened her mouth to say something, then closed it, and then finally turned and walked away. She was wringing her hands together with her head facing the ground, muttering to herself softly.

"...Is it wrong to feel bad?"
Roman asked his husband, watching her go for a few moments. "Like I know she's doing the wrong thing, and she's an adult so she should know what she's doing, but ... it's like she's just another teenage girl that likes me? Or like I'm the only person who gives her any attention so she's clinging to it?"

Roman turned back to Samuel and put a hand on his shoulder. "Please don't think I want it, though, I'd much rather if she stopped."
 
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Oksana's reaction was so weird, she knew what she was doing, but her sadness made it look like the fact that Roman was married wasn't the most important to her. Like this wasn't just her flirting with a guy she found hot but someone she actually liked. And Samuel did not like that at all. Which was why when Roman said he felt kind of bad for her it actually kind of hurt a little in a way. Or well maybe not hurt but it did make him feel a little weird. Roman of course knew him well enough to know that it could cause Samuel to feel that way and he appreciated the reassurance. He knew he shouldn't have to need it. But it helped, not only to reaffirm that Roman loved him but just because it reminded him of how well they knew each other.

"Well I guess I can see where you're coming from," Samuel said, had she been flirting with someone else he had probably had an easier time feeling bad for her because her disappointment was kind of sad and she really was just acting like some girl with a crush, "I just feel like she really should know better because she isn't a teenager, and to me it feels like she is kind of actively avoiding attention by anyone but you,"

Samuel let out a small sigh.This was a tricky situation because he didn't know what was accurate and what was his trust issues but he really truly was trying to separate himself from his inability to trust strangers this time, "She might not be aware of it, but as someone who sees her every day that is what she looks like. And she might have her reasons, but I don't want to excuse her behaviour and I don't feel like it's because I'm jealous," Though part of him definitely felt all the usual feelings and kept comparing himself to the woman, "but because I'm your husband, if that makes sense?
 
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"Yeah, it makes sense," Roman said. Honestly, he was proud of Samuel for being able to keep his jealous feelings mostly at bay. It showed how much he had improved as a person over the years and Roman absolutely loved him for it.

"I don't know, I'm hoping that she'll just get over it, because it's not going to go anywhere,"
he said. "I mean, she's a nice girl and she's pretty, obviously, but I'm in love with you and like I've said in the past, you're not worth losing for anyone." Roman lifted a hand to affectionately cradle Samuel's face and run a hand over his lovely cheekbone. Oksana may be gorgeous, but Samuel was absolutely beautiful.

"You know I don't have a type, right? Physically, I mean. So even if you and Oksana share a few physical features it doesn't mean I find her attractive because of it?" Samuel hadn't outright voiced this concern but he knew his husband so he knew it was something he was possibly dwelling on it.

"I mean, I see everyone's beauty, but in you I see everything I could ever want and need, physically, emotionally and mentally. So if you're ever worrying about someone being better-looking than you -- which is impossible in my opinion, but, you know -- just know that even if it were true, which it isn't, you would beat them in every other category because you're my soulmate and no one could ever be as perfect for me as you."
 
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"Thanks I... I think I needed to hear that?"
Even if he was doing a good job keeping his jealousy to itself it was still there, "I guess It's just hard for me to know cus from the people I know you dated or were into in high school I wouldn't have really been what you naturally went for back then. But I don't doubt that you're attracted to me now, but when someone like Oksana who I've always kind of gotten an impression that you like," Which was seriously gorgous and actually pretty girly, like how Bronte or Tilly and even Indie even though Samuel didn't want to think about her at all, "that also kind shares some of my features, well It's hard not to think about,"

Samuel shrugged. He honestly didn't really want to talk about this in his workplace but the fact that Roman had reminded him of those things made it so he wouldn't walk around thinking himself into a hole so it was good that he had taken the chance to say them, "I want to try to deal with this maturely though, so I don't want to whine about it too much, like I'll tell you if something really bothers me but for now just know that I love you for being patient with me and trying to make sure things doesn't get awkward at work for me,"

Samuel gave Roman a small smile and then they were done with the topic for now. Oksana hadn't really seen them interact with each other before, but now she had and maybe she'd back of from Roman. Samuel wasn't sure of what he'd do if she didn't, then there might actually be a problem they needed to take care of but for now he could go about his day without to much of an issue. He talked some more with Roman, taught his classes, and Roman his. They went home together, picked up the kids and as usual fell asleep together holding each other close, which was a very nice reminder that Roman was his and he was Roman and that no one couldn't get between them, even if they were nice and pretty and looked kind of like him.
 
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"Roman, you're actually going to explode."

"Your lack of faith in my stomach capacity is insulting."


It was Elliot's birthday and as a celebration everyone -- including all the members of their group and all their kids -- had decided to go to an all-you-can-eat buffet. They had had to rent out five different tables that had been pushed together to accommodate their massive group of thirteen adults and nine kids. They had even had to rent out high chairs and everything. It was a grand affair, but it was worth it, because there were plenty of options for everyone to choose from and it was a lot cheaper than going out to a nice restaurant with everyone buying separate meals.

Roman sat down with a tray that contained three different plates. One one plate was several pieces of KFC-style (but spicy) fried chicken and a pile of fries. On another was a slice of lasange and a heap of ravioli, very carefully placed so they didn't touch one another, and on the other plate was a spicy lamb stew of sorts, sitting atop a bed of rice.

"Please tell me you're not going to even think about going back for seconds,"
London continued to complain, looking pretty average with her lame plate of salad and baked chicken.

"Well, I'll go back later but I mainly got all of this right away so I didn't get up in ten seconds and have to walk all the way over there again. And then of course there's dessert."
 
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"Jeez and I thought I was eating a lot," Evan said and gestured vaguely to his two full plates of food, "Samuel you're married to a human garbage can, just so you know,"

"I'm aware and I'm also severely disappointing because the human garbage can knows I'm trying to teach the kids that we take one portion of food at a time so we don't have to throw anything out," Samuel didn't doubt Roman would eat his three gigantic plates of food but that didn't mean it couldn't influence the little once to try to do the same. Luckily Samuel had made sure to help them all load their plates up with normal amounts of food for their age and he had also loaded up his plate with a fairly normal amount, though he tended to go get more later.

"Aww Samuel don't be so boring we're at a buffet and here to celabrate, let loose, let us all eat until we explode," Gabi said, she also had way too much food on her plate, Samuel didn't know what the deal with their friends and food was.

"No I'm right! Aren't I Edie?" Samuel asked the little boy, simply because he had just told him and his sister about this when they had put food on their plates.

"Yes! Fiwst one plate then if you mowe hungwy get mowe," Eden said sweetly and stabbed a fry with his fork.
 
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"Samuel why must you spread this propaganda to our children," Roman said. "They're little bundles of joy and happiness and therefore their minds shan't be soiled with these tainted thoughts."

"Wow, Roman, you apparently use the most intellectual of words when arguing about food. Pity you don't show this intellect any time else,"
Cameron said, which was followed with a chorus of 'oooooooooooooh' from their friends. Roman looked at him with a deeply offended expression, as if he couldn't believe the other man would say such a thing.

"Wow, Cameron. I thought we were friends."


"We're not friends, you still have my Fall Out Boy T-shirt, I saw you wear it the other day."

"What T-shirt?"


"The one with the American Beauty/American Psycho cover on it."


"...I got that from you in high school!"


"Exactly. The fourth of June 2015, at 1.24pm, to be precise, you left my house with it on and never gave it back. I hate you."
 
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"That's your shirt?" Samuel said, honestly surprised that that old T-shirt Samuel had had for over 12 years weren't his originally, he supposed it was kind of funny though.

"I mean is it really Cameron's if Roman had had it since high school?" Delilah pointed out from where she was seated next to her girlfriend. Samuel wondered a little how it was for them to be the only couple without kids there now that they knew they couldn't have their own in the way they planned. He hoped they didn't really think about it and did not intend to bring it up either.

"Yeah maybe it was actually the shirt who just wanted to be with Roman and it is now where it is happy," Matilda suggested sweetly, as if the shirt actually had thoughts and feelings of its own.

"Okay no, but the important question is why Roman had kept a T-shirt for over ten years?" Matthew said,clearly having different priorities when it came to this conversation.
 
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“Some people develop emotional attachments to clothes, Matthew, especially things like band merch,” Elissa said with a laugh, putting a hand on her husband’s arm. She was eating a delicious looking pasta and was occasionally feeding Will a small spoonful of the sauce.

“Yes, that’s right, I would know, I have mourned that shirt for years,” Cameron said dramatically.

“Oh my God if it was really that important you would have asked for it baaaaaaaack,” Roman whined in a nasal, annoying voice.

“Maybe I let you keep it because you were always very happy when wearing it, and I am a good person and I want you to be happy.”

“...You pushed me over once to get to the KFC counter before me,” Elliot recalled.

“You deserved it, you were going to buy the last Pepsi.”
 
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"No offence put your friend group was weird," Matthew decided and Samuel nodded in agreement.

"Right?! I've been thinking that for years," Samuel said jokingly, "Physical violence to get to food is only okay if you have starved for like a week in my opinion."

"Naah I'd get it, I'd shove you if you tried to take the last Pepsi as well," Evan laughed, "But Pepsi isn't healthy, which means you won't drink it and that's why I'm your friend,"

"Wow," S
amuel pretended to be offended, "Maybe you all should start behaving like adults in regards to fast foods because we have a lot of children here and you need to put up good examples,"
 
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"Psssh, nah," said Roman, waving a hand dismissively. "There's only, like, nine kids here."

"And most of them are infants who don't know what we're talking about," said Elliot. "Right, Ruby?" he asked his sleeping baby girl, carefully nodding her head up and down to mime reiteration.

"Seriously, though, how do we have nine kids that's insane," London said incredulously.

"It's because Roman and Samuel are selfish and have four."

"They should pop out another one so we can have an even ten."

"...Well ..." Bella said, biting her lip. She looked up at Delilah. "Do you want to tell them?"
 
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"Oh yeah, sure if you want to?"
Delilah said and suddenly all attention was on the two of them. Given the context they could only be meaning to say one thing, really. But since it was Bella and Delilah and Samuel and several other of their friends knew the situation they were in that couldn't really be the case. But still the words that came out of Delilah's mouth next were the expected ones,"we're having a baby, and we're not at a just planning it sometime in the future stage like last time we said it, we're actually having one sometime next year,"

There was a small shocked silence, this was certainly happy new it just weren't expected at all, "Are you adopting?" Samuel asked carefully but Delilah shook her head and said, with a small smile, "I'm pregnant," there was another stunned silence, once again happy news no one expected. Samuel was fairly certain everyone there would have thought Bella be the one to get pregnant but seeing as that wasn't an option this was a pretty logical solution to them.

After a moment or two of everyone processing the news the group started to bustle with happiness, "Omigosh! Congratulations!" Matilda said in the sweetest excited tone.

"Yeah that's great guys," Gabi agreed excitedly.

Despite it being happy news though, it was in a way also heavy news, because it meant they knew Bella having the child wasn't an option at all for them, so they had had to settle on Delilah, which was fine but everyone knew it wasn't what they had planned.
 
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Roman was purely and totally elated for his friends, but at the same time he couldn't help but feel a little worried for Bella. He leaned around Samuel to shoot her a questioning look. She mouthed, "We'll talk about it later," and gave him a big, genuinely happy smile, complimented with a thumbs-up. Roman smiled and nodded. Bella seemed to be handling this well, and Roman was of course nothing but happy upon hearing their lovely news.

"I'll forgive you for hijacking my birthday because I'm really happy for you guys,"
Elliot said with a laugh.

"Aww, thanks for your consideration, Ell,"
Bella said with a bit of good-natured sarcasm in her tone.

"What route did you go down, if you don't mind me asking?"
Elissa inquired, seeming genuinely curious.

"Nah, it's fine. We used artificial insemination. My brother Nathaniel is the donor, because having kids biologically related to me was always something that I wanted, that's why I wanted to get pregnant myself. But since that wasn't an option this was the next best thing."
 
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“And we’ve been talking a little and this way they’ll be related to bot of us genetically, and while it wasn’t ever really a priority for I think it’s still kind of nice,” Delilah filled in with a little shrug. It was kind of a nice to turn it around like that, it wasn’t what they had wanted but the situation didn’t have to be terrible.

“Yeah I think that’s a good way to see things maybe, I’m very happy for you,” Matilda said, “you’re both are going to be amazing mothers, I just know it”

There was a couple of agreeing sounds amongst the friends before Samuel decided to ask, “have you started thinking about names yet?” Because it didn’t feel right not to ask them questions they’d ask any other parents just because they had had problems getting pregnant.
 
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"Well, we have a few names in mind, but I want to honour my brother in some way so the middle name will probably be Nathaniel if it's a boy or Natalia if it's a girl," said Bella. She was a very sentimental person so Roman wasn't surprised to hear this at all. Plus, her brother Nathaniel had always been a great guy, Roman had always liked him a lot, so even if he hadn't been the donor, honouring him would always be nice.

"That's really sweet,"
Blake said, rubbing Bella's arm a little. Roman knew she would have been one of the first people Bella told about her infertility, because they were the absolute best of friends and despite the conflict they had had at the beginning of Blake's pregnancy, they had made up and Bella had been unfalteringly there to support her. Roman just loved how tight-knit and loyal their whole group was. It made him so happy to know that he was fortunate enough to be part of a group that was filled with love and support.

"Thanks,"
Bella said sweetly to Blake. "Honestly I'm just happy that we found a way to do this, because I was worrying we wouldn't be able to? Have kids, I mean, or at least we wouldn't be able to have biological kids. And I know that isn't the most important thing but it was something we wanted."
 
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“I mean different things are definitely more important for different people,” Samuel agreed. He didn’t blame Bella at all for wanting biological children, it was what she wanted based on her experiences in life and it didn’t make Samuel and Roman’s relationship with their kids any less important or valid. She and Delilah wasn’t and would never say that having a biological child was a better alternative it was just something they wanted, “I’m really glad you could figure things out,”

“We are too,” Delilah smiled, “I feel like if there had been no other option we could have adopted because being a parent is still the same but this just feels so much better for us, so I’m really happy you all understand,”

She smiled softly first at the friend group and then at Bella next to her, and that smile was truly the kind of smile that signaled all the happiness in the world. Even if the road to get where they were now had been rocky it was good to see them in a happy place.
 
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"Oksana was flirting with me again today."

Roman and his husband were sitting on a park bench while their children played on the playground. They had trusted Harper to take care of little Letha and so he was nicely pushing her on one of the small baby swings. Eden and Stella were off doing their own thing. Roman was wearing an Exogenesis band T-shirt and black shorts. Everything should have been normal and comfortable.

But it wasn't, because it had happened again. Oksana had blatantly flirted with him again, knowing he was married with four kids. Roman was honestly starting to get a little annoyed now and was running out of reasons to excuse her behaviour. If it continued he might have to actually do something about it to get her to stop.

"Like, she was being all doting and adoring like she usually is when I went in to drop off your lunch while you were in class,"
he said. "And she touched my arm when she was walking me out the door."