Challenge... Accepted!

You? Want Me...

A/N: I don't usually write these, preferring the story to stand on it's own, but I feel I need too, this time. I almost felt I could have written a pick an ending... If you want a) go to chapter 8, if you want b) go to chapter 9 and so on... It was very difficult to settle on JUST one plot. EVERY DARN one of them worked so well that I had to figure out how to combine them or at least have something I was proud of. I'm not sure how well I did, but THIS way, at least it's not 20 chapters long and confusing!

For the first two weeks after the public kiss, Beam alternated between crying in Pha's arms and blaming the world in Kit's. The following week he blamed the SOTUS system and the Head Hazer, Pym. The last week, it was both Forth and his fault. Beam knew he was in love with the idiot.

All he could do was wonder "why?" He had slept with hundreds of women, but only Forth made him feel anything. Forth was the only one he could not forget. Forth was the only one who made him cry, and he had cried a river of tears.

Pha and Kit were sorely tired of him by now, telling him to grow up, get over it. Now that they knew who he had sex with, they told him repeatedly that Forth wasn't worth a broken heart. But they didn't understand... no one did.

By the start of the fifth week, Beam was ready. Ready to take on the world, and Forth. He told his overprotective, absentee mother about the change in his sexuality and asked for his family ring. His mother gave it to him. Not easily, not happily either, but she did give in. 

Mothers were like that, hoping for the best for their children. Beam had convinced her that Forth WAS the best for him, because after hundreds of girls (after all, his demon mother knew about them all) she didn't find it all that hard to believe that a man captured his interest. Next, was planning out carefully how to capture the biggest chicken in the world - Forth.

There would be no more running away for either of them.  They needed to face this hot mess they'd made. Beam knew what he wanted but he also loved being the one courted, for a change. How it made him feel special. He missed being called "Princess".

So by the time Beam thew the family gold ring at Forth's head and ran for his life, laughing all the way home, Forth had been really trying hard to forget everything. He truly was an idiot, who believed that he screwed up in some unknown way without even trying to begin with.

He isolated himself completely, refusing to talk even with Lam, so they sat in silence, which suited Lam as he didn't like talking much anyways.

Lam, however, noticed the size of the small box Forth was holding first and for the first time in weeks, spoke to Forth.

"Forth, man, open that box right now!" his voice was climbing excitedly. Forth was watching Beam run away, when Lam punched his arm hard, "Forth, open that damn box NOW!"

Forth looked at the small black box and his eyes widened. He dropped back to his seat and slowly removed the tape holding it closed and tipped it over to release the inner box. He closed his fist around the dark green ring box and looked at Lam. "Do you really think it's a ring?"

"Open it, you idiot!" Lam was practically bouncing on the concrete seat. "Or I'll do it!"

Forth took a deep breath and snapped open the lid to see a beautiful gold signet ring. He closed his eyes and fought for control. "Lam, I'm sorry for the past few weeks. I'm truly an idiot."

He slipped the box in his pocket and ran for his bike.

Beam went home. He knew if Forth accepted, he would be looking, if rejected he would stay in Engineering. Forth did not know where Beam lived so... he would have a heads up if he asked about him.

HE WAS WRONG! Forth stood at the front of Beam's dorm when Beam arrived. Beam turned to run when Forth grabbed him and hugged him from behind. "You call that a greeting, Princess?"

Damn it, once again Forth was screwing up the script! He was supposed to grovel and beg for breaking Beam's heart for the past month. Why did Forth have the power to turn him to jelly, make him into the biggest coward around? Beam stood like a stone, not knowing what to say.

Forth ran his hands down Beam's flanks, coming to rest on his hips, leaned in and nuzzled his neck gently. "Oh, I missed my princess."

Beam punched Forth, hard, right in the solar plexus with his elbow and moved to lean against his door. "How do you know where I live?"

Forth groaned, "I used to follow you home. Princess why'd you elbow me? That hurts!"

"Well", said Beam, "So did what you did." He turned and unlocked his door. "And I never have had to make the first move before!" He muttered angrily.

"Is  that what you're mad about?" Forth looked interested, "That you came to me?" He watched Beam with hungry eyes as he entered the dorm. "Invite me in, Princess, we have to talk."

"No." Beam said, trying to shut the door against Forth's superior strength. "Forth, this is not the time. Go away."

"No," mimicked Forth, "We will talk. Finally. I should have hunted you down after you ran the first time. Why'd you run, Princess?" Beam's scent was so delicious to Forth, he was having trouble concentrating. The desire to hold him, to mark him, to make him HIS all over again was becoming overwhelming, causing his eyes to darken. 

Beam ran his eyes over Forth, noticing the signs and backed up, trying once again to shut the door. But then he remembered his promise to himself that there would be no more running. Yes, he was afraid, but not OF Forth, but of himself, of the way Forth made him feel. These feelings inside that made his tummy curl and his head spin. The way he got lost in those eyes... 

Forth reached his hand out and gently ran his fingertips along Beam's jawline, brushing his thumb across his lips. Beam stood still, feeling quivers to the depths of his stomach, desire pooling in his groin. HOW could a simple touch do that? "Princess, let me come inside? Please..."