Achievement

I was stressed as shit after two weeks of studying/working for my bar exam. Noel, Chloe, and even the guys at my station had been helping me study. JoJo and Chanel had also been texting me a few questions to help out. I had laid the foundations of knowledge now all I had to do to ace a six-hour long test that has been placed in front of me with at least an 820 out of a thousand, and I'd have a guaranteed job at Ozman and Richards making sixty thousand my first year. I was scared as hell because if I failed I would be stuck with fifty thousand in debt making thirty-five thousand a year as a firefighter.

"Begin," one of the facilitators said, and I began moving on autopilot knowing that with every answer I was sealing my fate...

Twelve whole weeks was the amount of time that I had to wait for the results. Ten weeks of stress and talking myself up as well as down. Ten weeks of me checking my computer to see if the scores were released early despite that never happening in the past.

"Oh my God," I heard Noel shout from his living room. I jumped off his bed and walked to his living room which Chloe was packing up so she could move her stuff from storage inside.

"I got approved, they are going to let Amar live with me," He said with tears of joy in his eyes. He had been busting his ass to get Amar out of the orphanage he was being kept at since he was released into the states care six weeks ago. Everyday Noel would go up there to see about him, make sure he had food, clothes, and just hung out with him. I'd gone down there about twice a week and gotten to know the little dude and had to admit he had a fantastic, joyful personality. Always happy and always wanting to play board games or watch television.

"Congratulations, now can you help me pack so I can move my stuff in, well after I paint in here," Chloe said having been back on her feet financially speaking for a few weeks now. I walked over to Noel and kissed him, "Congratulations."

"Thank you, now go check your results," he told me with a raised eyebrow. I turned around and went into the room where my computer was still sitting on the bed. I clicked the mouse pad and navigated to the results page using my information to log into the website where the number nine hundred and twenty-seven was next to my name.

"I fucking passed," I shouted jumping up and down on Noel's bed like a kid. Noel walked in and smiled at me before climbing on the bed himself and jumping into my arms kissing me.

"Congratulations Austin, you worked really hard," He said then gave me another kiss.

"Congratulations Austin now back to work," Chloe said walking into the room with a fresh box. That ended the celebration, and we were back to packing up the rest of Noel's stuff to move into his new place.

"Hey they said I could get him today if he has his room set up by five," Noel said after a half hour to us, and it was like a fire was lit under our asses. We were moving at a run breaking a few things, but Noel didn't seem to care as his primary focus was getting Amar. We packed all of his stuff in under two hours then called the movers to pick the boxes and gave them his new address. We both went to our cars, and I followed behind him as he drove to his building. I saw my office building not too far from Noel's place which I should be working in next week. It would be sad saying goodbye to my firefighting buddies, but it had to be done. Pulling into the parking lot, I jumped out my car and caught up with Noel who was already directing the movers. I liked seeing him take charge and give orders it turned me on. He was working up a storm in what was going to be Amar's bedroom while I made sure the movers didn't break anything while they unboxed stuff. By four thirty Noel had completed Amar's room, and I had placed most things away in the kitchen.

"Holy shit, I'm about to be someone's parent," Noel said to himself. I knew him well enough to know that he was freaking out, so I walked over to him and bombarded him with kisses.

"You're going to be good at this, and I'm always here to help," I said and gave him another kiss before I went to set up his television. I was tired but was happy to help my boyfriend.

Knock... knock...

My head shot up as I was testing the sound system.

"They're here," Noel said while smoothing out nonexistent wrinkles in his shirt. He walked over to his door obviously nervous before opening it revealing a middle-aged Asian woman with grey hair and Amar who was holding her hand. His face lit up at the sight of Noel, and he let go of her hand and ran over to Noel who crouched down and hugged him. Noel looked healthy a little tired, but overall he seemed fine.

"Hello Mr. Smith, I'm Nona, Iliana couldn't make it, so I brought Amar and the papers you need to sign as well as making sure his room is up to par," she spoke with a Midwestern accent, and I noticed a suitcase behind her that she rolled inside.

"What do you have to sign papers for, why do I get a room here," Amar asked. Noel not wanting to get his hopes up decided to not say anything to Amar until he was sure.

"Well, Mar I'm going to Foster you here so you won't have to stay at that home. You'll have your own room, and I bought you a ton of hot wheels," Amar smiled wide at the mention of toys.

"Will you be here," Amar asked turning to me.

"Yeah I'm going to visit a lot, how about you watch a movie with me while Noel gets you set up here," I said smiling at him. Amar walked over and plopped down on the couch. Noel didn't have cable yet, so I popped in the movie Cars and sat down next to Amar who stared at the screen while Now gave Nona a tour of the place.

"Is Noel going to be my new dad. The other kids talked about getting new mommy's and daddy's," he asked out of the blue.

"He's going to be your foster dad so kinda, but you don't have to call him dad unless you want to," I told him.

"You're his boyfriend so will you be my other dad. One girl got taken by two dads'," he asked now looking at me.

"I'm not married to Noel, but you can always come to me if you need something... Can you keep a secret," I asked him in a whisper. He nodded his head at me. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a container for mints and opened it pulling out a silver band with a diamond.

"I don't know when but I'm going to ask Noel to marry me. I have to wait for the right moment because he gets overwhelmed easy. Don't tell him I want it to be a surprise," I said placing the ring away and he held his pinky out. I smiled then made the pinky promise he was promoting.

"Well congratulations Amar, you have my number if you need anything," Nona said while making her way to the door.

"Thank you and tell Ilana thanks for all her help," Noel said meeting her at the door letting her out.

"I know you were doing this for Amar's sake but would you consider being open to accepting another child if there is ever the need," She asked Noel who stood there and considered for a while before nodding.

"Alright then, the chances are slim, but I'll put that in your file, goodnight," she said before leaving down the hall as Noel shut the door.

"Buddy you want to see your room," Noel said to Amar who jumped from the couch and followed behind Noel. I got up myself to see how he reacted. I just heard a shriek of excitement and saw Noel standing in the doorway smiling as Amar jumped on his bed with toys in his hands.

Noel looked so happy in a way I knew meant he felt fulfilled. I wrapped my arms around his waist.

"I love you too," he whispered to me. I tossed my head back in shock.

"What," I asked him.

"Three months ago you told me that you loved me. I heard you, and I love you too," he spoke to me still watching Amar. I smiled and brought my face down to his neck happier than ever. As the day went on, we got things put away, and Amar took a bath before falling to sleep around nine. Noel was sorting next to me on the couch dozing off which was what I was waiting on before I went home and got some sleep before my last shift at the station. When he was softly snoring, I got off the couch and went to get him a blanket. I walked into his room and grabbed his fluffy blanket then stopped by Amar's room making sure he was asleep then closed his door. I walked back to the living room shutting the lights off as I went through the apartment then covered Noel before leaving out to my car. Since it had been a full day, I didn't even realize that I had forgotten my phone. I saw that I had multiple calls from a number that had an area code that I remembered. I selected the number from my call log and redialed the number it rang until it stopped and went to a voicemail that wasn't set up. Thinking nothing more of it, I turned my car in and started driving until I made it home. The moment I parked I heard my FaceTime ringtone from that number. Being curious I answered it and saw two people I didn't expect to hear from ever. My brothers Shawn and Maxwell.