Tycho wiped his lovers tears away, at a loss as to what their options might be. Lingering dreams he'd had of their future gone to dust. They were still possible, he supposed. But only if Ford decided he could keep this going, if he himself decided he could keep this going with Ford a married man. But there would always be a third factor. And the dream of someday living in old age together as confirmed bachelors was very much gone.

"We could disappear together - we even prepared to do such a thing," but even as he said it, Tycho knew Ford was unlikely to agree. Not if it meant leaving his beloved siblings to deal with scandal fallout on their own. He held Ford tighter to him, as if the other might disappear into smoke at any moment. "Never mind. Forget I said anything."