Hearts & Stars (A Paul Stanley X Tommy Thayer Rock & Roll Love Story)

Chapter 13- You Love me Part 2 (Tommy Thayer POV)

A/N: Things may be-hinted at or foreshadowed in regards to the future!

Finally, after 7 years Paul & I have finally admitted our love to each other. And we are still on our first official date. Our food has arrived, though despite us both eating...Paul and I are FAR more absorbed in each other to really taste it or notice anything else and his gaze makes me blush.

"What? please tell me I don't have ketchup on my face. Unlike Eric I'm not such a messy eater.", I blush...take a bite of burger and Paul laughs but his eyes are soft.

"Oh Tommy, I'm staring because I love what I see...YOU. And no baby you don't have ketchup on your face, and oh your table manners are way better than Eric's and Gene's too if I am to be honest."

"Geez Paul, making me blush while eating this delicious burger, fries & let's not forget the shake! I know its weird, maybe gross to dip my fries in my shake.... but ya know, salty & sweet is a great combo!", I enthuse as I proceed to dip my fries in my shake and to my surprise Paul steals a few of my fries and does the same. "Hey! You've got your own!" I protest but smile none the less.

"Sharing is caring Tommy! But seriously I really enjoy being with you. I'm having such an amazing time and I am sorry for so long that...well you know and here recently.... I-," Tommy cuts me off with a finger to my lips and looks so serious but with that soft-eyed gaze.

"Paul, I'm not going to lie.... I danced around things too and yes here recently it hasn't been easy and all, but let's just be in the now & I forgive you, ok? I love you!"

I do forgive him and yes here lately for a while things have hurt & been awkward, but here we are together. We've finally admitted our feelings to one another, and this is only the beginning.... but why do I feel as if at some point in the future Ace will pop up & cause trouble? I feel as if I can never truly escape his shadow....

"Tommy, you, ok? You zoned out on me there.", Paul looks and sounds so concerned. Maybe I should tell him what I'm thinking?

"Um, sorry. It's just um...thinking about things." I sighed. I am starting to clam up I can tell, not good...god please don't let this devolve into a panic attack!

"Tommy, something is bothering you I can tell...I want you to feel you can come to me for anything, but I won't push you love.", Paul reaches across the table to hold my hands and squeezes them gently.

"I-I well this is just the beginnings of our romantic relationship....I really do forgive you, I know you feel guilty about making me have panic attacks, but um well I'm afraid that at some point Ace will come back and cause trouble in the future, I can't escape his shadow....I mean I know your history with him...but I can't help but fear...Please, don't hate me!", I start to cry, I can't help it...I'm ruining our date & now he's going to hate me!

I feel Paul come over to my side of the booth and take me in his arms, rocking me gently.

"Tommy, Tommy, I could never hate you!! I love you! And I know how you feel you don't measure up to the history even though you know it's toxic and I have been in love with him since the 70s, and even then, it wasn't really love...I thought I could change him...I couldn't & then when we tried again years later.... which was a huge mistake, it was even worse. Your fears are legitimate, Ace can't stand to be told 'no'. I promise you Tommy I would never EVER go back to Ace; I Love you! Absolutely love you, I always have since I met you. I can no longer deny, and I don't want to how I feel about you."

Oh Paul! I believe you, but I can't shake this feeling....it won't go away! I want it too! This isn't fair to you, but now I think you know!

"Paul, I believe you, we will work on this together...I just can't shake this feeling...but I know now I can come to you with how I'm feeling, and it feels so good to finally & freely be able to say, 'I love you'. Now we should finish our food just in case the bloodhounds that are Gene & Eric show up!"

Paul chokes out a laugh at the last line & pulls me into a kiss.... He's insanely talented in anything he does, especially kissing! And if it's like this just kissing.... I wonder what making love with him will be like.

We kiss or make-out for a few minutes not caring in the slightest who sees. Really, I don't care, this is perfect, just being here with him. Finally, we part for air, a blush gracing both of our faces as I can feel my face heat up a little & at long last finish our food & head out into the night.

"This was a perfect date, and especially because it was with you Tommy!", Paul smiles at me from the driver's seat, making me melt.

"It really was a perfect date!", I agreed. "Oh, I hate to go home right now!" I really do, isn't it funny how the night moves?

"I know how you feel! I'm still not sleepy yet. Do you want to come back to my place? And stay the night? I mean if it's too soon...", I cut him off....

"S-sure if you want me too! I'd love that! Would this be like a sleep over?", I grin.

"We won't do anything you'd feel uncomfortable with, I just don't want to let you go...I want when we do get ready to go to bed, I want to hold you in my arms as you fall asleep. And plus, we can cuddle & stuff...I just want to be with you." Paul takes one on my hands in his.

"That sounds perfect to me!! I love you! So, we're boyfriends now, right?", I ask grinning.

"Of course, we are, boy-friends, partners and someday soon a whole lot more. You rock my world, Tommy Thayer!", Paul squeezes my hand.

Someday I hope that we can maybe even get married, I want to spend the rest of my life with Paul...I want to build a life with him, I love him.

A/N: Can't wait to hear your thoughts on this!! Much love!