Addison felt his heart leap just a bit in his chest as he heard her reply. Have I heard that right? Did she truly just-- Rubbing his cheek shyly, he stood there, perplexed by the streams of words that left her mouth so casually. Everything about her first love, how blunt she was about Zuri's father, how she seemed to find humor in their parting. Pinching himself a little, he managed a short nod in her direction as she was told to treat her son well. "Thank you, madame, it was a pleasure. I certainly will take good care of him." He spoke up, smiling at what appeared to be some success.

Of course, he never did forget of the pain he saw inflicted on his loved one, but once their lips met and he felt himself falling backwards, there really was no helping letting it slip to the back of his mind for now. Addison was baffled, helpless to the barrage of affection he received as he returned the kiss with passion, but was too consumed by that quick confrontation to know how to react to the other kisses right away. It's... over... The combination of his own realization and Zuri's bubbly laughter drew a warm smile to his face. As he was hugged, he returned the embrace warmly, though perhaps there was a bit too much enthusiasm in Zuri's arms; it did hurt a little. Still, he smiled, and laughed a little himself. Kissing his partner's forehead sweetly, he looked down at his face, only to see the lingering pain.

The solemnity he suddenly found in Zuri, and the pain he must feel truly dragged down Addison's mood. He was furious with his father. Allowing such a thing to happen in his presence, rather, having to witness the means of his partner's relationship with his father, struck him right where it hurt. His eyebrows furrowing, sadness striking his eyes, he would stand in agreement and escort his partner into the kitchen. This place out of all, aside from the garden, Addison knew far too well. The number of servants in the grand kitchen was minimal, drawing Addison to lead his partner up to a stool surrounding the uninhabited kitchen's island. He went and gathered the ice himself, wrapped it in a cold, damp, and clean washcloth, and then gently pressed it to his partner's cheek for him. He did not sit, but instead stood in front of his love, pressing the cool wrap gently to his face with one hand while the other tucked a few strands of hair away from his face.

"Are you alright, my love?" he asked quietly, taking one of Zuri's hands and gently kissing his knuckles.

Zuri looked up at Addison with what looked like complete hopelessness. Even though his parents parted with him the day he had changed, it still hurt knowing that his own father would most likely never see him again. Even so, having Addison there made everything a thousand times better. He could have been in his room at the moment, wallowing in his self pity and telling himself how much he had failed his father and himself. Instead, his partner was with him; his lover, his happiness. He was there with him. But most importantly, he was not alone.

The ice was incredibly cold against his warm cheek, stinging a little before Collins down to a good temperature. Zuri grabbed his wrist that held the ice softly and looked up at him. He managed a small curl of his lips. "Why wouldn't I be alright?" He said, "I still have you don't I?" He kissed his lover softly on the cheek before putting most of his weight on him. He still felt a little hopeless, but he couldn't let his partner see that. All he could do now was hope that being around Addison will make him feel better.

He heard the footsteps of kitchen staff come into the room, but Addison seemed to stop them with some silent gesture. With a pause, he heard the footsteps as they exited the room. Zuri stood up from the stool his partner sat him on, wrapped his arms around him and stood there for a well drawn out hug. He let out a deep sigh and pulled back finally. He looked into Addison's eyes with more happiness in his eyes then previously, yet still some sadness lingered.

"Lets go to the pergola." Zuri made a small smile, "I like being outside, being around your garden." He took the ice from his cheek and placed it in the sink while he draped the cloth on the side so it would dry. He took Addison's hand and lead him outside and down the almost well-known path. Even if his partner didnt want to, Zuri didnt feel like being cooped up in his room; that would only make his mood stay a while longer. They reached the pergola and immediately he sat down in one of the benches. His body began to slump and eventually he laid entirely on the bench with the soft cushions. He rested his head on his hands and let out a deep sigh once more. Im...Im so sorry father...

The look drawn upon Zuri's face anchored Addison's heart, drawing it down under the weight of that hopelessness. Eyebrows remaining furrowed slightly, sadness rose to his eyes as he tried to find his partner some comfort. Wrapping his arms gently around him, he kissed his forehead a few times lovingly. "Yes, Zuri, you most certainly do." He replied earnestly, kissing his cheek gently once before the other stood up. Sighing softly as he saw his partner head outside, he trailed after him. I need to make a better effort. Maybe I can speak with his father...? Shaking his head already, he knew that that was a bad idea.

Still, hearing his reasoning, he smiled a little. "I work my best to please you. I am glad that you enjoy it," he admitted bit shyly, holding his partner's hand and allowing him to lead them. Once they reached the pergola, Zuri parted, and he watched as he went to lay in the pillows of the bench. Grinning half-heartedly at his lover, he would linger beside one of the white painted posts. Leaning slightly on it, he looked up at the ceiling of purple blooms, swaying gently in the wind from the branches. Resting his eyes for a moment, he remembered back to when they first came out to this spot together. It had not ended up as planned, no, but it was the start of what they had. It was the beginning, here... Opening his eyes, he looked over at his partner again, then looked up at the nearest branch of wisteria.

Smiling warmly, he reached up and carefully plucked one of the purple bouquets of drooping flowers, some of its fresh green leaves coming along with. Approaching Zuri, he knelt in front of him casually, as he had the two times before. "Remember our first time out here, my love?" he asked, pausing only for a moment before continuing slowly, "I was so anxious about showing you this place, the pergola... It was one of my better contributions to what the estate already had." He held up the small bunch of wisteria blooms her picked so that Zuri could see, and twirled them in between his fingers thoughtfully. "The colors of the flowers were really setting off your eyes. They were icy, cold, blue at the time... but somehow I saw the same green that you've always had." He admitted, almost afraid of sounding weird when he was trying to be sweet.

"I-I was entranced by you. Part of me thinks I have been since I started working here. Under here, though... I became pretty sure of it. I saw my feelings for you in the affect you had on me in those moments, and I haven't lost sight of them since." He spoke sweetly, lying the wisteria down beside Zuri as he leaned up to gently kiss his partner on the lips, showing his sweet sincerity. "I love you." He spoke in a whisper just after parting the short kiss.

zZuri looked up at Addison when he began to speak. He started to recall their first encounter here. How retched he was, and how beautiful his partner was in comparison. How kind he was to him, even though he deserved none of it. And now they were together, they were each other's now.

"I wish I didnt run away from you the first time we were here." Zuri confessed after Addison kissed him, "I didnt know that...someone could see me like that. Especially someone who works for me. It sounded so impossible..." He turned his head to look up at the pergola's cieling. It was remarkably clean; no signs of mold or dirt whatsoever. He smiled at that, admiring how much work was put into the garden. He looked back at his partner, his lover. He pulled him onto the bench beside him and laid on his lap. Everything was alright when Addison was with him and he felt comforted being close to him.

"I just wish my father could have seen how amazing you are like my mother." Zuri touched his marked cheek in remembrance. He sighed softly and pulled himself closer to Addison.

He then realized what his partner truly did. He changed him back. Without him, he would have stayed this way for god knows how long. Even so, losing his own father wasnt the greatest feeling in the world. He looked up at his partner and put a hand to his face gently. He then remembered something else he wanted to require to Addison.

Zuri's fingers found one of his partner's strands of hair and began playing with it. "Tell me about your previous partner." He said, rubbing the strand of hair between his fingers, "If it isnt too much to ask of."

Addison chuckled a little, remembering how his heart had sunken in his chest when Zuri had ran from him. Quite literally, ran from him. He, on the other hand, hadn't the guts in himself to chase after him. Now, seeing their relationship having blossomed, it seemed so distant, and even foolish. It was only a few days ago, too. Smiling a little, he looked up at his partner fondly. "I don't think either of us knew quite what to do with ourselves." He admitted, perhaps a bit shyly. "Sometimes I am still not quite sure of our relationship's dynamics. It will come with time, though."

As his partner moved to lay in his lap, Addison adjusted in a manner that Zuri may be more comfortable, and then gently wrapped his arms around the other once he was situated. The words on his father drew his smile to fade, his expression remaining neutral, though rejection shone in his eyes. Sighing softly, he let one of his hands gently tousle his partner's hair. "I sincerely hope that he will, with time." He spoke gently, then hesitantly added, "I am afraid I cannot let that goal slip form my hands after today..." His words trailed off, though evident on his face now as he studied Zuri's cheek. Eyebrows furrowing slightly, he gently kissed it before sitting back a little, his hands still firm around the other.

The question he was faced with drew his eyes to widen, his mouth parting slightly as he looked down at Zuri, playing with his hair. Not quite sure of how to respond, he cleared his voice a little and rubbed the back of his neck. My previous partner...? Sighing a little, Addison would grin and nod at Zuri in compliance. "If you wish it, I will tell you what you would like to hear." He spoke calmly enough, letting his thoughts drift back to his past relationship; if one could call it that. Amory Blaine Drawson. An image of his past partner was not hard to conjure, though the reminders he had of their relationship were now more vague, as he hadn't let those thoughts dwell with him in quite some time.

"His name was Amory. We initially met while I was working with my previous employer... He worked on the wait staff, and I as a butler of sorts in the same household. I tend to converse easily with those I work with, so naturally, we ended up speaking once. That one time lead to several other occasions, and I found my younger self falling quickly for his charms." He did not smile while recalling this, instead his gaze remaining distant and averting Zuri's, and his tone hinted at a lack of romantic memories, despite his words. "In my younger years, I was fairly naive, and I trusted this man altogether far more than I should have. We did briefly have a relationship of sorts, but kept on the down-low, and it was extremely... high maintenance. One-sided. Poor quality."

Moments later, he shook his head a little at himself, and looked down at Zuri, smiling warmly. "It was not love. Love is still new, and far more wonderful." He leant down to kiss his partner's forehead, then the side of his face a few times in a sweet gesture.

Zuri nodded with every pause Addison put in his telling of his previous partner. When he finished he pursed his lips and felt bad for asking him. It was like his other partner, how he almost used her to satisfy himself. He touched his partner's cheek softly, almost a gesture as a way of saying sorry. He sat up and began planting soft kisses on the side of his face.

"I want to make you feel loved." He breathed, continuing to kiss his partner on the side of his face. After he was done, he nestled closer into his partner's arms. It felt odd to him, being particularly vulnerable and unsuperior with his partner. Of course it was all intended, but it felt extremely odd to him.

"A butler you say..." Zuri recalled Addison saying, then smiling at the thought, "I'm sure you'd look lovely in one of those suits." He let his fingers glide over the other's arms lovingly, "Speaking of, I want to go to town again. If my parents hadn't come, I wanted to go there a bit early. I want it so you have a bit more to choose from to wear. I'm sure wearing the same type of shirt gets boring..." Zuri rubbed the fabric on Addison's side, "And this shirt looks rather dashing on you." He grinned before giving the other a kiss on the lips.

He stood up from the bench and beckoned his partner to follow. "It'll be fun I promise." He gave a playful smile, turned on his heels and began walking back to the manor. Around the front, he saw his coach along with its driver. He tapped the door to get his attention.

"We'll be going to town shortly. Please make necessary preparations."

"With pleasure sir." The driver nodded, climbing down from his seat and getting the horses ready. Zuri lead Addison back into the house so that they could prepare. They first went into his study, where the master pulled a drawer out from his desk and took a few bills of money. He pushed the drawer back in and lead Addison back to his bedroom. He started to unbutton his shirt to change into something more comfortable.

"Let me know when you're ready," He paused for a second to look back at his partner, "...Darling." The pet name made his cheeks flare once more, but it made him just want to use it more and more.

The kisses Addison received through him off guard, though he didn't need any explanation to accept the affection. Instead, smiling, he let his thoughts relax and allowed his senses to drift back down to earth. He found himself once more focusing upon his love, the pergola, and the sweet feeling of the other's lips on his skin. Zuri's soft words made his eyes widen slightly, then a beat of silence passed before he let chuckle escape his lips. "I have never felt more loved," he admitted honestly, having found a bit of humor in his partner's need to say such a thing. It was truly sweet; it made him blush, but it also seemed silly to him, since he already felt more loved than ever.

A warm smile lit his face as he heard the compliment, Addison shyly replying, "Ah, why... Thank you." He didn't have any time to really digest Zuri's next proclamation as he returned the quick kiss and stood to follow his partner. New... clothing? The blush already present on his cheeks darkened a few shades. "If-If you believe so." He complied, trailing after him to the coach, though the idea of buying more clothing was a strange one. Addison rarely went into town at all, but now, not only were they going, but they were to purchase some clothing for him?

He shook his head a little in disbelief, then chuckled and smiled as he undressed. He folded the lush clothing carefully before replacing them with his own, this time a touch less formal than normal. Just a touch. He wore black pants, but the green button up he wore with them he had folded up to show his elbows. Addison left it partially unbuttoned near the top, realizing that he had been asked to dress in something comfortable. On any given day, while he did need to dress in uniform, this was what his idea of casual was. He looked at himself in the mirror, fixing his hair a bit before finding himself presentable and walking out to carry the clothing he had borrowed to the laundry. Then, re-approaching Zuri and remembering the pet name, he spoke smoothly, "I am ready now, dearest."

Perhaps there was a hint of humor in his voice while he spoke, but only because he found it undeniably adorable- yet strange- when his partner spoke of him with the pet name. Addison did speak with earnest however, in a loving a manner as always. To show that he truly likened his partner to his words, he kissed his cheek gently and gently grabbed ahold of the other's hand so that they could head out to the coach.

Zuri blushed when Addison returned his pet name and lead him to the coach. Once outside, he nodded to the driver, opened the coach's door and allowed his partner to step in before he went in himself. As he closed the door, he felt the coach rumble then move at a steady place to the town. His eyes fell on his partner shortly after they departed and soon began to interlock his fingers with his. His other arm went to touch the other's bicep.

"We'll have fun today, I promise." Zuri curled his lips and leaned in to kiss Addison's forehead. In almost no time at all, they arrived at the intersection in which the town resided. Once they were at a complete stop, he opened the door and held it open for his partner so that he could climb out. He nodded to the driver, who nodded in response and went off toward the direction of the manor. Zuri took his partner's hand and lead him to one of his favorite clothing stores.

Just a bit off from the main road was a store that sold everything from tailored suits to fancy casual clothing. It was two stories and was a family-owned business that knew Zuri's family very well. He pushed the door in which made a bell sound. A clerk looked up and gave the master a warm bow. On her way up she looked at Addison quizically. Zuri gave her a nod that meant they were together. She bowed once more and lead them to the top floor. "What will you be shopping for today, Master Zuri?" She asked in a high trill.

"We need a little bit of a change for Addy's wardrobe." Zuri put his arm around Addison's waist so that she would know who he was referring to, "Nothing extremely upper class, but something different than what he's wearing right now."

The clerk bent forward to peer at Addison, then straightened and nodded again. "Certainly, sir! I will find something wonderful for Master Addison." Before either man could react, she quickly went off to find different styles of shirts and pants. Zuri looked at Addison and kissed his forehead and smiled.

"Already looking like a rich person." He said before playfully nipping his cheek. The clerk came back with a large pile of clothes. She smiled through the clothing and blew hair from her eyes.

"I'm sure you'll find something to your liking, sir!" She nodded at Addison and gave him the clothes.z

She pointed to the nearest dressing room and Zuri went to sit on the nearby chair. "Let me know if you need my help." He gave Addison a playful smile, "Honey."

Addison let his thoughts swirl off course as they boarded the coach, only swerving back to reality as his he felt his partner's hand. Lifting his gaze and letting it focus on the other, he smiled faintly. "I believe we will," he replied thoughtfully, willing himself to relax. It would be a new experience-- he knew he would feel out of place, rather lowly compared to those around him, but with Zuri by his side he hoped that he could overcome this anxiety. I have to try. His free hand knotted itself into a loose fist as they exited the coach, and he felt his insides churn. Zuri is right here. For a moment, he did not want to move forwards, but looking to his side, at Zuri... That was enough to bring a grin back to his face and coax his legs into motion.

As they entered the clothing store, he had to force his shoulders back and chin up. Addison did not wish to visually appear as shy and uncomfortable as he truly was. Naturally, he lived far too scarcely to even be seen in a place near this quality. It wasn't right. His body screamed that it was wrong; that he wanted to leave. I am still so out of place. Closing his eyes for a moment, troubledly, he rubbed his neck and took solace in not having to view his present surroundings. What am I doing here? He remembered the sweet suggestion his partner had made. Sighing softly, he opened his eyes, lifted his gaze just enough to look at Zuri as the woman approached. Her voice was high enough that he could not presently focus on most of what was said, not with his head toiling away with how strange this all was. Then, a phrase struck him. Master Addison.

The temperature of his insides breached a steaming point, his mind whistling like a tea kettle through his body as his joints stiffened where he stood. He absent-mindedly accepted the pile of clothes, then stood there, dazedly. Looking over at Zuri, eyebrows slightly furrowed, his gaze showcased a severe sense of confusion and discomfort. It is just clothing. Swallowing the lump growing in his throat, Addison would grin a little and hesitantly scurry into the dressing room.

Once inside, he placed a hand on the wall beside him, holding himself there and letting his head droop as he attempted to clam himself. The situation began swimming through his mind in a fast-paced downward spiral. How that woman addressed him as only a lord should be. The reaction Zuri's parents had to him earlier that day. The way Zuri dressed him that morning. The girl that Zuri had nearly won over, but shooed for his sake. How he had labored for his love, but never expected a reciprocation. Slumping against the wall there, he sat, head in his hands for a good few minutes. "I can't do this," he murmured, shaking his head. His gaze shifted to the pile of clothing sitting beside him, where it remained for a minute.

I love him, but... His thoughts finally reeled. Yes, I love him. What am I doing? Standing up, he pulled himself from the depths his thoughts had been descending into, and began to undress his self. He folded and placed the clothing he had worn in off to the side. He replaced them with the first outfit; a white, button-up, long sleeve shirt that was partially woven with silk, a fine pair of deep grey pants, and a light grey blazer of sorts to wear over it. He looked at himself in the mirror for a moment, perplexed with the wear, but shaking his head, he stepped out of the dressing room for Zuri to see.

"Well...?" He asked hesitantly, clearly shy and unsure of how exactly to fashion himself in this clothing.

Zuri looked up when he heard Addison's voice. His lips curled into a gentle smile as he began examining his partner in the adorned clothes. He could admit that Addison did look a bit awkward in the garments, but that was only because Addison himself looked like he felt awkward in them. Zuri couldn't blame him; he would feel the same way if he were put in a situation like this. He stood up to kiss his lover on the forehead. "I like the blazer." He curled his lips again, "It looks smart on you." He began to lightly squeeze his shoulders and biceps. He didn't mean it in a sensual way; he just really enjoyed feeling his partner's defined muscles.

"If you see anything you like, don't hesitate to tell me." Zuri put a hand to the other's cheek and rubbed it with his thumb. His eyes trailed down to look at the rest of Addison. He did look smart; a significant change from his mundane work clothes. The fabric sat well on him and as time went on, Addison sat well with the fabric as well. "Try another one?" Lights played on his eyes as his exuberance showed, anticipating what else Addison would try on. He gave his partner one last kiss before returning back to his seat.

As Addison left, Zuri began to get lost in his thoughts. His mind kept trailing back to the event with his parents. The result, he knew in the long run, was good. Nevertheless, it still hurt to lose a family member. As if a part of him was suddenly cut off from his limbs or body. Despite that, a new piece was put into him. One that fit him just as perfectly, perhaps even better. That piece was Addison. At the thought of him, Zuri smiled once more to himself. The clerk clicked with her heels and bent slightly to peer and check up on the master. Zuri nodded and the clerk clicked away.

Well Addison's seen my parents, Zuri thought to himself, Now I have to meet his. I just hope they're as understanding as my mother. Or just better in general. He got distracted from his thoughts when Addison appeared once more, this time in a different outfit. He wore a blue-green jacket with tails, a white shirt with a ruffle on its breast, complimented with black dress pants. This outfit made Zuri raise his eyebrows. The jacket suited him very well, matching his eyes almost perfectly. "I like this one." He muttered and smiled, as if one were watching their prom date try on an array suits or dresses. "Do you like it?"

The gentle smile he was greeted with loosened his nerves considerably, but Addison still lacked the proper mind set to accept the clothing. His movement lacked fluidity; it was rigid at best, though he did put forth an effort to try at least for mental relaxation. With the kiss to the forehead, he realized it was not so difficult to manage, and he soon found himself allowing a small smile onto his lips. Feeling a bit more bold, if only a few hairs, he let his gaze fall to the mirror standing against the wall of the sitting room. Observing his form, he felt like a bit of a stranger to himself, but instead of rejecting the sight he felt a tad of curiosity rise. Hearing Zuri's compliments and feeling his partner gently grasp his arms, he smiled warmly, and turned to kiss him on the cheek affectionately. "Thank you, my love." Addison replied sweetly, letting his hand gently rest on the other's back for a moment.

At the mention of clothing he liked, Addison almost shyly tucked a stray piece of his hair behind one of his ears. "R-Right," he managed in soft response. He was truly appreciative of the offer, and did not doubt that the clothing here would no doubt pique some of his interest, but the idea of having them bought for him brought him a twinge of embarrassment. In some ways, it was another reminder of how financially incompetent he was in comparison to his lover. Not that this mattered in their relationship, but in a practical sense, it bothered Addison to some extent that he could not provide nearly as well. Shifting his gaze back to rest on Zuri, he saw the enthusiasm there, and let a little chuckle escape him. "Of course," he complied, nodding a little as he grinned and went to try on the next outfit the welcoming woman had procured for him.

Taking a bit of a deep breath as he changed, Addison did manage to loosen up his tensed muscles a bit. After all, this was time he was spending with Zuri. Who else was there to judge him? What did his lover care of his status? He is already aware of who I am. Feeling a bit more casual about this, Addison walked back out into the fitting room with an improved mood. Peering into the mirror, his eyes widened a bit. Lips parting slightly, he leaned in slowly, as if unsure of what had happened to him. The fabric matched his eyes nearly perfectly, and the quality and fit of the fabric was better than he knew how to express in words. After a few moments of initial surprise, he leaned back up and straightened himself to stand tall before turning to look back at Zuri. A bit of playfulness danced in his eyes and a radiant smile cast over his face. "I... I really do like this one." He admitted softly, as if shy once more, one of his arms rising to rub his neck.

Zuri looked up once more and smiled radiantly. The fabric did look wonderful on Addison, bringing out the sky color from his eyes. He got up and began to run his fingers down the soft shirt. It fit his frame perfectly, and from the attire it was impossible to tell that Addison was a gardener at an estate. That was not Zuri's intent, but if Addison liked it, so did he. He pressed his lips against his lover's and kept them there for a while. When at last he parted, Zuri looked lovingly into his partner's eyes. His eyes do look much brighter. Though from the clothing or from his mood, I'm not too sure.

The clerk came back shortly after and blushed when she saw them displaying their affection. When Zuri noticed her, he nodded. "We'll take this one." He called, a hand rising to Addison's shoulder.

"Certainly, sir!" The clerk chirped before clicking away back downstairs so that she could ring them up. In the mean time, Addison went back to change into his previous clothes. When he was out, Zuri took him by the arm again and lead him downstairs with the outfit in hand. The clerk put the clothing in a bag and began punching numbers on the register. "Right, so that'll be three hundred and fifty dollars, please."

For Zuri, the money was no problem. But for Addison he figured it would feel awkward for him. It was not like spending money as if it were burning was a daily thing; it had been a while since Zuri had been out and buying things, especially for someone else. Though he had to admit, he had to stop overly spending so much in one week or else he was sure to go bankrupt. Zuri produced a silver card, which the clerk took and ran it down a scanner, which beeped and completed the transaction. The clerk smiled and gave the card back to Zuri. He put that back in his pocket before taking the bag for Addison, taking him by the arm and gently leading him out of the store.

"Have a nice day, sers!" The clerk chimed before the door closed behind them. Zuri naturally smiled, though he could see that Addison felt a little overwhelmed. He turned to him, pushed some hair from his face and kissed his cheek. "I am sorry if this is all overwhelming for you." He looked down and pursed his lips, "Old habits die hard." He kissed Addison once more on his cheek and needed a hopeful smile at him. "Maybe next time you can spoil me." He put a hand to his lover's face and gently caressed him. He knew it would be fun getting spoiled from his lover, in his own special way. He would have to get used to the money restraint, but nevertheless it would most certainly be meaningful. That was all he could ever wish for.