Noah returned not so very long later looking like he had never been upset at all. He perched atop the back of the couch and tilted his head.

Veli and Taavi were talking to one another, heads close. Taavi's unblinking gaze turned to Noah, and Veli turned around to see him. He smiled, standing and going to hug him.

"So, what do you have planned."

Noah shrugged, hoogling his Veli.

"I dunno. Show your dad around town?"

"That does sound interesting." Taavi stood carefully, rolling his sleeves down again and going for his coat.

Veli made a little humming noise, rubbing his cheek against his Noah.

Noah heaved a deep sigh and pet Veli's hair as he usually did.

"Come on. It'll be alright."

Veli looked up at him, not looking too worried. Good for him. He gave Noah a kiss on the cheek.

"Mmm... Let's do some scenic stuff. Be tourists."

"I am a tourist."

"We know, Dad."

Noah chuckled.

"Alright, that's fine with me."

So they did the whole tourist thing, seeing the monuments. Taavi seemed to like the reflecting pool the best, and Lincoln's monument. It made him smile, looking up at the giant statue.

"Things have changed a lot since I've been here last."

Noah stared up at the statue, giving a smiling sigh.

"Old man."

Taavi looked over at him and smiled. "Indeed." He said, reaching out to trace the rock with his fingers. Hell, even Veli didn't know how old his father was. One of those things that didn't come up. "It's changed, but I like it. I always have enjoyed more urban areas."

"Ah, I'm more of a country boy," Noah shrugged, "but I really don't mind any of it."

"Mmm." Taavi nodded. "I've been out in the wilderness for a while. I prefer the hustle and bustle. It's easier to be in the wild, sometimes."

"That's reasonable," Noah reasoned, shrugging. He'd grown up on a farm, himself.

Taavi smiled at him after a bit, patting him lightly with his fingertips. He looked up at the statue for another minute before turning around. Such an odd way to remember the dead.

"Perhaps it is time to head to some place else?"

"Anywhere you like," Noah nodded. Today was for the father, to take his mind off of much more complicated things.

Ah, but the day soon passed into night, and they had to return back home. Veli at least looked calmer. Now, if he could only give his peace to his beloved... then they'd be getting somewhere.

But poor Noah looked horrendously drawn, so thin and pale and awful. He was frightened out of his mind.

Veli reached up and kissed his temple, nuzzling at him. "It'll be okay." Oh, Noah. You didn't have to do this...

Noah inhaled deeply; exhaled slowly.

"I know."

Veli nuzzled, his eyes closed. He leaned up and softly kissed Noah's cheek.

"I love you, My Noah. You know that, right?"

Noah put a hand to Veli's opposite cheek and kissed the other. His voice had a sad, quiet tone.

"I know. I love you too."

So the night passed, and so the did the next day. Taavi left, no doubt going south to Florida. Veli was puttering around the house when he stopped, head up and nose wiggling. Huh!

He went looking for Noah, hoping he wouldn't be busy.

Noah as sitting on their bed with his laptop. He hadn't left. He was morphing a bizarre model on his screen, gnawing a knuckle and not blinking.

"Um... Noah?" Veli said quietly, looking kind of nervous. "Um... Someone's... Coming. For... The ceremony."

Oh, Nervous Veli was Nervous.

The knuckle left Noah's mouth for only a moment to speak.

"Who."