I'd rather be me and you

The Happy Beginings

Three years later:

The rain was pouring in the incessant way it did whenever New York got rain, heavy and unrelenting.
Damian had put up his umbrella ages ago and was wishing really hard that he had worn some waterproof boots as his socks and feet in general became increasingly saturated with the murky street water.
The gallery was only a few blocks away from his apartment but he was beginning to wonder why he had decided to walk when the weather was so bad, surely that was something only Janis was able to do without worrying about the consequences.

His phone ringing in his pocket made him stop walking for a moment, pulling it out and answering the incessant noise, "Regina?"
There was a rushed sigh from the over end of the call, "You're late Hubbard, if you don't hurry up you're gonna miss the opening."
"I'm sorry, I got stuck at the theatre again." Damian said, huffing out a distressed breath as he picked up his walking pace.
"Well just get here. The surprise won't be a surprise unless you actually turn up." Regina said in a chiding tone, her voice the same one she had used to use at school, "Anyway I've got to go before Cady has a full blown meltdown. Get here." Then she ended the call abruptly, not giving Damian a chance to reply.
"Nice to talk to you too Regina." Damian muttered, sliding his phone back into his pocket.

The art gallery was warm and smelt the same as Janis's bedroom at the Hubbard residence, of oil paint and coffee, a strangely comforting smell for Damian.
There were familiar paintings hung on the walls, some painted decades ago by famous artists and others fairly new.
Damian recognised the one of him, Cady and Janis from a mile away and was glad that the pure talent his friend had was finally getting the recognition it deserved.

Regina walked up to him briskly, her face red with something close to anger and her sharp nail clad hands grabbing his wrist as soon as she was close enough to touch him, "If that's the fastest you can walk then you should have taken a cab." She ground out, dragging him through the halls of the gallery as if she owned the place and him.
"Nice to see you too Regina." Damian deadpanned, a small smile on his face when the once plastic turned and stuck her toung out at him
"Cadys distracting her untill the award ceremony, which is in like five minutes, so you're lucky you got here on time. I mean you're lucky she hasn't caught on yet actually cause Sonja has almost let it slip like twice at this point, we've had to isolate her on the other side of the room!" Regina babbled, tugging Damian into a small room behind what he assumed was the curtained awards stage, "Stay here and try to dry off, Cady will be in to get you when it's time." Then she vanished out of the room with a quick grin and a kiss on the cheek.

Ten minutes later Damian had dried off as best he could and was sat leaning against one of the pail white walls in his small box like hiding place, there weren't even any paintings for him to look at.
Cady burst in with flying curls and bright eye, her arms around Damians waist in a tight hug before he had time to stand up completely. The pair tumbled to the ground in a rather messy pile of limbs and both laughed as they continued to hug.
"I guess I missed you about the same as you missed me then Cads!" Damian chuckled as the separated and stood up, dusting the dirt from their clothes.
Cady nodded frantically, "It would seem that way. I feel like I haven't seen you in years." She said grinning.
"It's been three months but okay. Did you have a good time in Kenya?" He asked, "Janis spent the entire time you were gone, in my apartment acting like a child."
"Sounds about right." Cady nodded, "I can't bare to imagen what she'd be like if you left for three months."
"It's a good job I'm here then." Damian pointed out, following Cady as they crept out the room, "Are you sure she doesn't know?"
"Positive. If she does know I'm gonna kill Sonja." Cady muttered darkly as they arrived behind the curtain and watched as shadows moved about on the stage in front of it.

A technician came around the back with a glass trophy of sorts and handed it to Damian, "When her name is called wait for her to arrive on the stage and then go out with the trophy." They said with an apprehensive smile, "She'll be thrilled to see you I'm sure."
"You work together?" Damian found himself asking and Cady dissapeared back around the curtain to join the crowd.
"Yeah. She's really talented and always talks about you. And her girlfriend, but mainly you." The tech laughed, winking at Damian, "I'd say you're soulmates but she's taken."
"We're platonic soulmates, at least that's the running joke." Damian grinned as he spoke.
Raising an eyebrow the tech began to walk away, "You sure it's still a joke?"

Damian watched them go and then turned back to the curtains, listening as a announcer spoke.
"And now for our final award this evening we have the Abstract art award. Now the recipient of this award has been with us for a few years and we have watched in awe as she has grown and become much more confident with herself and her talent. So this year's winner is JANIS SARKISIAN!" A round of applause sounded deafeningly in the room and Damian watched as the shadows moved about on stage, "Now Janis we don't actually have the award on stage at the moment. It was requested that it be presented to you by someone very important to you."
Damian took that as his cue, pushing aside the curtain and stepping out onto the stage with a bright smile and shaking hands holding the heavy award. He watched in excitement and slight amusement as Janis's face changed from one of apprehension to one of completely overwhelming surprise and happiness, tears slipping out the corners of her saucer wide eyes.

He quickly put the award down next to him, not wanting for it to be dropped and smash, and opened his arms for a hug. One that was gladly revived by a tearful Janis.
She flung herself at him, legs wrapping around his waist as she flung to him like a Koala bear and sobbed into his shoulder.
"Suprise." Damian whispered into her ear, holding her tightly.
Janis had believed that Damian had a show on the same night as her awards evening and had been distraught when she found out he wouldn't be able to take the time off to come see it. They had both talked about it at length and in the end Damian had been able to get the night off but had only told the others and not Janis, wanting to surprise her.

They pulled appart and Janis punched his shoulder lightly, a half sob half laugh escaping her mouth, "You said you were working tonight!" She cried.
"Yeah well I was, but you're more important to me then some stupid show!" Damian said, picking up the trophy and handing it to his soulmate proudly, "Well done babe, You really are amazing." He kissed her cheek lovingly and hugged her again, laughing at the obnoxiously loud applause they were getting.
"Thank you Damian." Janis murmmered, grinning brightly, "You are the best thing that ever happend to me."
"And you are me love. Nothing will ever change how much I love you." Damian promised, an arm slung over her shoulder as they stepped down from the stage and into the rest of their lives.

They would always be there for one another.

No matter what.

---

That's a folks! That's the end.

Can I just say that it has been a pleasure to write this and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. As I have already said I have a few things in the works that I might possible be publishing later on so look out for them.

It's been good!

Thanks for reading!