Chapter Text
I walked across an empty land
I knew the pathway like the back of my hand
I felt the earth beneath my feet
Sat by the river, and it made me complete
ISAK’S POV
He was standing in a church. They had been home for four weeks now. They decided to move the wedding up, so that they would be able to have a honeymoon and some time at home before they had to leave again. If they had to leave again. As he heard the song starting to play he felt a smile on his lips. He was ready. He had been ready for this moment for years. No matter where they were going, as long as they were together, everything would be fine.
Seeing as they were both male and neither wanted the other to play the female role in this wedding, they both walked down the aisle. Even with his mother, and Isak with his father. Equality.
-
As soon as they had come home and gotten a good night’s sleep (yes, they both stayed at Eva and Jonas’ place) they both went to visit Terje together. And invite him to the wedding.
And Terje had been so happy to see them both, asked them questions about what it had been like over there and hugged Isak a lot. Since that day Isak had visited his dad every day until he got out of rehab. And he had asked him to walk him down the aisle.
“Isak…” his father had been in tears. “Of course I will.”
“I love you dad. I know I wasn't always the kindest son. And I know I blamed you a lot for… everything. But I love you.
“I love you too son. So so much.”
-
Isak looked at his father as they begun walking down the aisle.
“You ready?” Terje asked, smiling brightly.
“Yes.” Isak answered breathlessly.
“I’m proud of you son. Your mother would have been too.”
“Thanks dad.”
It was more beautiful than he could ever have imagined. Seeing Even standing there, waiting for him at the end of the aisle. The flower-decorations. Silje as a flower girl. Jonas standing there, smiling brightly at him. Isak was sure his own smile couldn't have been brighter if he tried.
Walking up and standing next to Even, he almost lost his voice. “Hey.” he breathed out.
“Hey.” Even smiled back.
“Ready?”
“Always.”
They had chosen to write their own vows.
“Isak. From the first moment I laid eyes on you, I knew I would love you forever. I know it sounds like a cliche, and I don’t really care. I only care about you and us and how much I love you. I loved you then. I’ve loved you since I was 19. I will love you forever. And I know I have screwed up in the past. But I promise I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you. Because you're worth it. Isak Valtersen, I love you, with my heart, body and soul. You're my soulmate. Forever.”
“Even. I’ve loved you since I was 17. I took some time to accept it and myself, but I’ve loved you every day since then. I lost sight of that along the way, but found my way back. To you. Even if I had to fly to the other side of the planet and fight through a war, I found my way back to you. I will go to the end of the earth for you Even Bech Næsheim. I love you, forever. You're my soulmate. My love. My forever after. I will love you till the day I die.”
Oh, simple thing, where have you gone?
I'm getting old, and I need something to rely on
So tell me when you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired, and I need somewhere to begin
The reception had been just as beautiful as the ceremony itself. Isak had watched his father talk with Even’s parents, play with Silje and dance with Eva. And he didn't seem one bit interested in the alcohol. Neither was Even. Isak was on his third glass of champagne when Even grabbed his arm and whispered in his ear to slow down.
Isak laughed. “Are you watching out for me?”
“Yes.”
“I thought that was my job, Næsheim.”
“It’s Valtersen-Næsheim actually and you're right. We have to watch out for each other.” Even smirked and dragged him out on the dance floor.
“Right. That’s going to make things awkward when we go back down, don’t you think?”
“Why?”
“Us sharing a last name. Well never know whether they need a medic or a sniper.”
“We’ll manage.” Even laughed.
“We will.” Isak smiled fondly.
“So we’re going back down then?”
“If they need us. But you promised me a honeymoon first.”
“And we will go on one.”
“And I just realised that we need to buy a new apartment.”
“We have time for that later.”
“Yes. We do.”
They danced to a few more songs, and then there was time for best man speeches.
Aleksander went first.
“When I first met Even, I had only heard about him from rumours. I was actually a bit scared of him, he had quite an impressive resume. But when I got to know him, I learned what a softy he really is.” People laughed. “But I also learned how big his heart is. How much he cares about others. How brilliant he is at his job. How he is willing to sacrifice so much for the ones he love and care about. And after spending more than a year together in Afghanistan, seeing horrible things every day, I am so glad to be standing here today to see my best friend get the man of his dreams. I learned to know Isak a bit while we where down there. And I’ve never met a couple who fits more than these two. I’ve also never met to people so stubborn and oblivious.” more laughter. “They took some time, finding their way back. But it was a privilege to watch. And it’s a privilege to be here today, and witness them having this moment, witness them sharing this happiness. I love you both, and I wish you all the best. A toast, to Even and Isak!”
Everyone cheered, and when Isak lifted his champagne glass this time, Even didn't stop him, but simply lifted his own, smiling. Isak could swear he saw tears in Even’s eyes.
Next up was Jonas.
“I have known Isak since we were kids. I have watched him grow, adapt and become the amazing person he is today. I have watched him fight and struggle to get where he is. And I am so proud to be his friend. Through thick and thin, hell or high water, we have stuck by each other. Which is why I am ashamed of how negative I was when he wanted to go down to Afghanistan. Because Isak is smart, and I knew deep down it was the right thing for him to do, to go after Even. I guess I was just scared of never seeing him again. But I’m so glad he went against me and went anyway. Because I don’t think I’ve ever seen Isak this happy. And it warms my heart. Like he told me before he left; Love conquers all. And love is a battlefield. Ever since he admitted to me at 17 what I had known all along, I have watched Isak grow into this magnificent person, with Even by his side. Like Aleksander said, it is a privilege to be here today, to see you two get you happily forever after. Isak, Even, I love you guys. I wish you the best of luck, but I don’t think you need it. I have this feeling, that as long as you're both together, you will be fine. To Isak and Even!”
Now Isak was the one crying. And he didn't care one bit, he just leaned his head on Even’s shoulder and cried, smiling.
I came across a fallen tree
I felt the branches of it looking at me
Is this the place we used to love?
Is this the place that I've been dreaming of?
Oh, simple thing, where have you gone?
I'm getting old, and I need something to rely on
So tell me when you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired, and I need somewhere to begin
“Plaza hotel Isak, really?” Even questioned.
“We need to get over that sometime, why not now?” Isak shrugged.
Even just laughed. They checked in, got their room keys and went up to the suite. Isak took a deep breath to steady himself. “Hey.” he said, turning around, facing Even,
“Hey.”
“No running off this time, okay?”
“I promise I won’t leave this room without you and I promise to leave fully clothed.”
“Good.” Isak said, before he pushed Even down on the bed and stared undoing his tie. “But as long as your inside this room I want you naked.”
Even just laughed and kissed him. Isak kissed him right back.
And if you have a minute, why don't we go
Talk about it somewhere only we know?
This could be the end of everything
So why don't we go
Somewhere only we know?
After coming home from their honeymoon on Hawaii, they bought a new apartment closer to Eva and Jonas. Life returned to normal. Well, as normal as it could get when you are waiting for a call to go back to war. Isak went back to work at the hospital, learning that Jonah had died a few months after he had left for Afghanistan.
“No matter what we did his heart kept giving out. After the third transplant they wouldn't even put him on the list.” Luke explained.
“I should have been here.” Isak whispered. He had broken Jonah’s heart. And he hadn't manage to fix it. This was his fault.
“I don’t think it would have made a difference Isak.”
“Why not?”
“I think in the end, what killed him was his lack of will to live. He was so sad, all the time. I think he died of-“
“A broken heart?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s probably my fault.” Isak said.
“No. No, you weren't the only person breaking his heart. As soon as his family learned he was gay the abandoned him, left him alone in here. He just didn't have anything to fight for I guess.”
“Still.”
“There was nothing you could have done Isak. This wasn't your fault. You did your best. And I heard you saved a lot of lives down there?”
“I did.”
“That’s good. Jonah would have been proud of you.”
“I might go back you know. If they ask me to. Or, mainly if they ask Even. Wherever he goes, I will go too.”
“I know. I will be honoured to have you here as long as you’re able to stay.”
“Thank you Luke. I really appreciate this.”
“No problem. I’m lucky to have you work here, if only temporary. Now, how about you come help me with a patient.”
“Sure.”
—
Even, being in the special ops, had a lot of time of now since they didn't have a mission. He was required to work out a lot, but other than that he had a lot of free time. So he took some online classes and tried to figure out something he wanted to become. But Isak knew there wasn't anything else for him than this.
“Even. It’s fine. I support you, as long as you let me go with you.”
“I could transfer back to the kings guard.”
“You would be so bored.”
“It would be safer.”
“As long as you're happy and we’re together, that’s all that matters.”
“We can’t have kids if we’re both going to war-zones all the time.”
“I don’t need kids Even. I just need you.”
“I need you too.”
—-
Some nights they babysat for Eva and Jonas. They really enjoyed having Silje over. But Isak had meant what he said. He didn't need kids. He only needed Even. They were a family. He had Even. His father. Even’s parents. Jonas, Eva and Silje. All their other friends. And it was enough. More than enough.
One weekend when they all had time of, they went to Jonas’ cabin. Eva, Jonas, Silje, Isak and Even. They invited Aleksander, Lukas, Kim, Tobias and Simon as well. Pia and Madeleine couldn't come - they were both in Syria, volunteering.
Isak and Eva sat on the porch, watching the other boys play tag with Silje. They were letting her win, of course. It was so adorable.
“They seem like really nice guys.” Eva said.
“They are.”
“Are you going back down? All of you?”
“If they call and ask for us.”
“Hmm.”
“You don’t like it.” Isak said point blank.
“No. I don’t like my best friend going to war. But I know you have to follow your heart. And if this is where it goes, then follow it.”
Isak watched Even run around with the others and smiled fondly. “It is.”
Eva hugged him tight. “Then go. Just come back in one piece.”
“I’ll try. We’ll both try. We made it the last tour.” Isak laughed.
“I’m proud of you, you know.” Eva smiled.
“I’m proud of you too.” He smiled.
They fell silent for a while, watching the boys play. Lukas tackled Even to the ground and everyone, including Silje, laughed at them. Eva and Isak laughed too. They watched as Jonas helped Even back on his feet, the two boys smiling at each other.
“Who would have guessed we would end up here, huh? If someone would have asked you during first year at Nissen if you could imagine this ever happening to us, would you have believed them?” Isak asked Eva, bumping his shoulder against hers.
“Never!” she laughed, and took a sip of her soda.
Isak laughed and took a sip of his own. “Me neither.”
Oh, simple thing, where have you gone?
I'm getting old, and I need something to rely on
So tell me when you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired, and I need somewhere to begin
And if you have a minute, why don't we go
Talk about it somewhere only we know?
This could be the end of everything
So why don't we go?
So why don't we go?
A week later the call came. And before Even was off the phone, Isak had started packing. Even didn't say anything, he just smiled at Isak fondly and helped him. They were going to be gone for a year, so Eva and Jonas would rent out their apartment for them while they were gone.
The next day, they meet the rest of Even’s team at the airport. They greeted each other, and walked together to the plane that would take them there.
“You still sure about this?” Even questioned.
“As long as I’m with you, I’m fine.”
“You’ve said that a dozen times.”
“Because it’s true.”
“So you're fine with another year in a war-zone?”
They sat down, put on their seatbelt. Isak grabbed Even’s hand, smiling fondly at his husband, and leaned in for a quick kiss.
“Love is a battlefield.”
This could be the end of everything
So why don't we go
Somewhere only we know
Somewhere only we know
Somewhere only we know?