Mute Songbird (boyxboy) -Complete-

Ending Two

*** I know there are a few of you who wish I had never posted the sad ending of Mute Songbird. Sorry but it was in my head and demanded to be written. I hope this one makes up for it. I think the grand majority of you will like this ending better.

Honestly, ending one would have been the only ending if you guys hadn't loved the story so much.  What follows is done purely out of love for all of you.  Enjoy!

Asher saw the car reflecting in the street light and jumped back quickly, then waited a few minutes before running across the street.  Idiots.  Or drunk maybe?  How could you drive around at night without lights and not notice?  Maybe they were trying to be cool or it was a dare?  He didn't care, it was Sunday and he was on his way to Dan's.

He and his dad had spent two hours this afternoon cleaning up the house.  The magic spray they had used worked really well and they were both happy with the results.  Even better, things had seemed normal between them.  They'd talked about things other than the whole 'gay' thing which pleased him to no end.

There were only a few days of school left and then summer stretched out before him brighter and bigger than the summer sky.  This was probably the last summer he'd have without a job and was the first where he'd been old enough to have some freedom and was able to communicate easily.  He wanted to do everything, but first he wanted to kiss his boyfriend.  "Hi" he said as Connie answered the door.

"Hi Asher.  He's upstairs.  Can you take the chips up with you?"  She grabbed the bag from the table and handed them over, smiling.  "Are you two really watching Jurassic Park again?"

"Yeah, he love it."

"You're sweet to put up with him.  Have fun."

I hopped up the stairs and peeked my head in.  "Hi"

"Get in here" he said, pushing 'play'.  "Snacks!  You're the best."

"From mom."

"Yeah, I know, but you carried them."  He turned towards me then and took my hand.  "I know I said it about fourteen times over text but I am so absolutely ridiculously happy for you.  I'm glad it worked out and he came around."

"Same.  Thanks."

He lifted my hand and kissed the back of it, then patted the bed next to him.  "Get comfy."

I did and then glanced towards the door before getting a real kiss.  "You watch maybe I just kiss."

"That is a damn nice way to watch a movie Ash.  I like your plan."  He sank down a bit lower on the pillow so my head could rest more easily on his shoulder.  "I can't believe school is almost over.  One year to go.  I hope you're here for it."

So did I.  Dad had told me that we'd find out any day now, the decision and paperwork had been sent all the way to the Japanese headquarters and his local boss was just waiting on approval.

"But if you're not maybe I can go to college near you.  You'll have your license by then and I'll have a car and we'll make something work, okay?"

He would do it, too.  I knew without a sliver of doubt that he would do everything in his power to make his way to me.  "Cahnn... Cah"  Why could I say 'can' but not 'Dan'?  "Slim?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

"You said it!  I love you too Ash.  It'll work out, just like in the movies."

"Not this one.  Hope" I joked.

"No, no, not at all like this one.  Want to watch something mushy and happy instead?"

"No it's okay.  What you want is fine.  I like... laying... with you."  My phone chirped and I opened it, glancing at the message.

Mom:  Dad just heard straight from Tokyo.  How do you feel about going back to Martin in the fall?

I jumped up and literally put my phone down for a second before picking it back up and rereading the message.

Asher:  Yes!  How long is the extension?

Mom:  Permanent.  You know how that goes but it looks really good.

Asher:  I'm so happy!  Thanks.  Tell him congrats from me.

Mom:  I will.  Home by 10, you have school even if it is the end of the year.

I rolled over and wrapped up every inch of Dan that I could.

"What is it?  Good?  Bad?"  He even paused the movie, he was worried.

"Good" I mumbled. "He got job."  And then I was being crushed to death because he was hugging me even tighter than I'd been hugging him.  "Ow"

"Sorry.  I was so scared."

"Me too."

"I don't know what I would have done if I'd lost you, even for a year."

"Glad I can... stay. Dan?" And my entire brain froze as I tried to figure out if I had actually just said what I thought I did.

"Yeah Asher?" he asked, smiling brightly.

I could do this, maybe.  I could say it right, the way it should be said.  "I love you Dan."

He didn't answer right away, just managed to somehow pull me closer.  "I love you too Ash.  I... I don't know what to say.   There are words I never thought I'd hear from you and .... I mean in the beginning I never thought I'd hear any but... it's just amazing.  You amaze me.  You're the strongest, bravest, most amazing boy I've ever met and I love you too.  We're going to make some amazing music next year; the world won't know what hit it."

"Will be nice.  I'll get... better.  You help me a lot."

"You help me too my little songbird.  So much."

"How?"

"You make me happy.  What more is there?"

He was right.  Through everything we'd been through, the ups and the downs, my muteness and reclaimed speech, Dan had made me happy too.  "Nothing.  Nothing more."