Only The Brave

Dear John

A little over a year had passed since that night, and Jace's heart had yet to heal. He'd never thought it would come to that, or that things were so bad... More than anything, he wished he would have noticed, but he'd kept true to his word all that time afterward: Darren was the only one for him. The only one he loved, and would ever love. On his finger, he now wore a ring as a reminder to that, thinking of him every day, and working hard to make him proud.

Even though his family hated the Casey family, either they thought Darren was crazy enough to finally accept, or they realized the tremendous love he and Jace held for one another. It didn't matter which, just that they finally stopped talking about it. Now that Summer had hit, he left the classroom for the last time that year, and headed home. His mother was cleaning, and his father was at work, when he came inside, and after his mom informed him of family get-togethers he made his way to his room. Their house was so large, but he'd lived in it since he could remember, and barely had to look up when he walked the halls.

Through the heavy wooden door, he walked, popping off his shoes, and setting down his bag. Jace kept the light off, though, and slowly climbed up on top of his bed, smiling down at the ring to match his own, “How are you feeling, Darren?”

There was a groan, and his skin was hot against his lips as he kissed his cheek to greet him, “You know I could get you sick, knock it off.”

“You're laying in my bed, though.” He smiled, curling his arms around him as he fitted himself against his back under the blankets, “I'm glad you're still here.”

“I was gonna leave earlier...I just felt so... Bleh. I'm sorry.”

Darren wiggled around on the bed until he was facing the blond. It was summertime. Who cared if Jace got sick now, since there was no school to miss? But then there's be no one to take care of him while he was sick... Cuddles were worth it. Dare kisses him briefly, then leaned their foreheads together, “I was thinking about you all day today. I kept talking about you at school, and Emily says to get well quickly. Apparently we've got some sort of date with her..”

Those soft hands came up to touch Jace's face, and he could help glancing to look at the scars. They were just part of his skin now, but not just scars... Reminders of that night, and what might have been. He couldn't bear the thought of losing him. If they hadn't found him when they did... The night, Jace had thought Darren had died, and that he was too late, when luckily he was only unconscious. Apparently he said he was afraid of dying, and didn't know how to stop the bleeding once it was too late. He could remember that night in the hospital so clearly, when Darren finally woke up, and wouldn't let him go.

He had been so scared... And finally, he'd been there for him.

Jace had been there like he knew he was supposed to be, and not things were finally on the track they should have been so long before. They were promised to each other now...

Darren kissed him again, “I can see it in your eyes... I know what you're thinking about. Even if that wasn't why I was on your mind, I know that day's there now, and I'm sorry... I didn't expect you to find me, I mean... I wanted you to find me, Jace, but I had no idea...” He felt Jace lean on his side of the bed, kissing both of Darren's eyelids and then his lips, “I never wanted to be the lunatic, home schooled freak you're afraid to be seen with in public.”

“You aren't. Home schooled, yes, but you're not a freak and I've only hidden you away in my room for a day. You're sick, and I don't think it's unreasonable.” After making him laugh, Jace's face because serious, and he stroked Darren's waist with his thumb, “But I would never be ashamed to have you with me in public. That's what I've always wanted. Isn't that what we're saving for, baby? Moving out, and getting out own place, because I want to be with you all day, all night, all the time. I want to wake up next to you, and take you out, and I want to sleep next to you every night for the rest of our lives. If I were ashamed, we wouldn't be wearing these rings..” He smiled then, kissing his boyfriend's lips, “It makes me smile just seeing it.”

“Once we turn eighteen, I want to run away with you and get married before we do anything else. I don't care where we have to go, but I want you to be all mine.”

They kissed, and they hugged, and Jace crawled out of the bed after a few moments, noticing that his boyfriend was still so high in temperature, “I'm going to run down stairs and get you a cool rag, and something to eat, and drink.” He said from the doorway, “I'll be right back, okay?”

Darren smiled at him from the bed, then burrowed underneath the blankets as Jace disappeared. His mother was still in the kitchen, as he gathered up a little plate of food for his lover, and poured him some orange juice, “I wouldn't take that up just yet.”

“Why?” He asked, his eyebrows knitting together, “Something the matter?”

“Your father would like to talk to you in the living room. He knew his father, and the one thing most everyone knew was that he and his father didn't talk. At least not unless it was bad, or involved money. This time, it was neither.

“Yes, dad?”

“Son, you got a letter in the mail today. Care to open it up for me?” Jace followed his dad with his eyes as he walked toward him with the unopened envelope. It looked official, and his heart sank. For a moment, he only held it in his hands, shaking his head. Finally, though, he opened it, crossing his fingers tightly. Inside, there was a paper, which he unfolded. He'd been accepted. Accepted, and his face turned to horror, “What is it son?”

“...I got in.” While his father yelled loudly to alert his parents, he was afraid he was going to puke, “Good job, boy!”

“I'm so proud of you, son!”

Jace ran between them, grabbed the platter and ran to his room once again, shutting the door behind him and locking it as he made his way over to Darren with his food and a heavy heart. He looked so happy to see him, all the warmth and trust in his eyes that Jace ever held dear. How was he going to tell him he was accepted into the military? That after he was eighteen, he'd be leaving, and might not come back?

He smiled, as Darren thanked him, and leaned to kissed him after he took a bite, “I love you Darren.”