Tolerance and Tears

There were no presents that Christmas. Though all their bills were paid off, they barely had enough left to have a decent meal.
But Darren did his best to put together what they had.
Satisfied with their tiny Christmas feast, consisting of cold cuts on week-old bread and water, the two settled in front of the fireplace.
Darren sang Christmas carols for his love, though he had no accompaniment this year- the two were just grateful they were together.
But still, it was saddening. Other families were gathered with their loved ones around a huge feast and presents galore.
"We don't even have a Christmas tree." Darren frowned deeply, "At least last year you chopped up that old bush and we decorated it with gum wrappers."
Daniel nodded somberly, but then his eyes lit up, "Who says we can't have a tree this year?"
He got up and rummaged around in their bedroom, coming back with an old envelope and a pen.
Darren laughed as Daniel produced a haphazard black tree on the paper.
He handed it to Darren, "There- we now have a Christmas tree."
"Oh Jonesy- I love you so much." Darren leapt into Daniel's arms and attacked his face with several kisses.
"Mmmm." Daniel sighed, running his hands around Darren's back.
"Danny." Darren said after a while, the two holding each other in the middle of the mattress.
"What is it love?"
Darren drew in a breath, "I-I know we didn't get presents this year- but- I-I've got an idea that might make up for it a little."
"Oh?" Daniel's face broke out into a grin as Darren whispered his idea. "You know what Dazza?" He kissed his love tenderly on the lips, "If I had to lose everything in the world and still had you." Another kiss, "I'd still be the happiest man alive." Darren's eyes were sparkling as he leaned in to ravish his partner's mouth.
It wasn't snowing out- the land was very still and serene that Christmas night.
Darren and Daniel didn't need fancy presents to be happy, they had each other- and as they made love next to the roaring fire, locked in a tender embrace, both agreed.
This was the best Christmas ever.

~Chapter Twenty-Two~

Their sixth summer together was fast approaching.
Spring was quite warm that year and the whole town was buzzing with gossip, filling in friends with news from the winter's happenings.
Daniel and Darren were grateful that for once, they weren't part of the grapevine-
Keeping to themselves had its advantages.
Unbeknownst to Daniel, Darren had gotten another job.
He'd work the bar in the day, and sing for the customers at night.
The pay wasn't much better- but he was planning something for Daniel's birthday in a few months.
It was an underappreciated job, the people there were too drunk to really revel in his angelic voice- but the manager beamed with pride and gave him a rather large bonus just before the Fourth of July.
When his love's birth date finally came, he snuck out early that morning into town-
Coming back with a big package in the early afternoon.
When Daniel came home from work that evening Darren could hardly wait to show him what he was up to.
Dinner and the cake eaten, Darren sat Daniel down onto the beat-up old chair in the living room.
He scampered excitedly off to the bedroom, coming back with a package wrapped clumsily in brown packing paper.
"Go on- open it love." Darren was grinning from ear to ear as Daniel looked up at him puzzled.
"Dazza- what in the world is this?" he tore through the paper and gasped in total shock.
Tears gathered in his eyes, he could not believe what was in his lap. Flipping open the latches, he lifted it out of its case.
"D-Darren- how did you- you- get this? How did you afford this?!" Daniel was nearly in tears as he ran a hand along his precious instrument.
His guitar.
Darren beamed, "I got another job at the bar- as a singer- boss gave me a bonus because I brought in more customers- I've been saving for months- I asked the man at the pawn shop to hold it for me- till I could pay for it."
"Darren." Tears of gratitude slid down Daniel's cheeks as he set the guitar down and hugged his companion so tightly. "Glad you like it." Darren whispered.
Daniel stood back to look at his angel, "I-I can't believe this- I just can't believe this! Dazza baby- you are just- God- you're so incredible!" He captured his love in a passionate kiss.
Daniel showed Darren his gratitude that night until dawn was nearly approaching.
Their dreams were back in reach now-
The future looking brighter every day.

Maybe they had finally accepted them.
Daniel mulled over it one night in bed.
He'd been wondering for a while- people were beginning to be more friendly towards the two-
And with Darren singing in the local bar- talk of his incredible talent ran around town.
Perhaps soon, they could move out of this old house and into a decent apartment-
save up enough money, then move to the city- where their dreams could really take off.
Daniel decided to relay his plans to Darren over dinner.
He waited patiently for his love to come back from the market that evening- flipping through a very outdated magazine.
Daniel was beginning to worry when seven o'clock rolled around.
And by the time the sun had set he was nearly frantic.
Stepping out into the warm night air, Daniel made the short walk downtown-
Almost everything had closed- Darren should have been home several hours ago.
Few people walked the streets, he thought about asking some if they had seen his partner- but they hurriedly walked by him, heads down, avoiding his eyes.
A half an hour of searching everywhere turned up nothing.
Daniel leaned up against a lamppost, wringing his hands, wondering what to do next when he thought he heard his name.
"Who's there?" He walked cautiously towards the back of the old post office- peeking into the alleyway.
"Jonesy?"
"Darren!!" Daniel raced to his side, nearly crying out at the sight of his love.
Darren lay on his side, a pool of blood gathering around his head, the bag of groceries he had been carrying scattered all along the alley.
"What happened baby!" Daniel touched Darren's arm carefully, not sure what other injuries he had sustained.
Darren was crying- too upset and hurt to speak.
Daniel nodded, understanding and carefully sat his companion up.
"Can you make it back home love?" He whispered, taking him into his arms.
"It hurts Jonesy." Was Darren's only reply.
Pushing his own tears and anger aside, Daniel lifted his partner up and quickly carried him home.
No one stopped to help, no one even looked their way.
When they arrived home, Daniel quickly undressed his friend and set him into the tub-
Darren nearly screamed as the cold water came in contact with his scrapes and cuts.
"Oh God." Daniel whispered, tenderly touching Darren's arm, which was covered with bruises just like the rest of his body. The light hanging by a thread flickered above them, "What happened baby?"
Darren sniffled, "I-I didn't even see them, they just came out of nowhere and grabbed me- told me that me and my faggot friend had to get out of town- or next time I wouldn't be so lucky." He burst into tears, "They hit me so hard- so many times-."
"Shh- shh-." Daniel kissed his love's bruised cheek, "it's all over- you're safe now- no one's going to hurt you- it's okay."
Daniel let Darren sit in the tub for a while- hoping it would ease the pain a bit. Drying him off, he carefully wrapped Darren's wounds with towels and toilet paper- hoping that would keep infection away.
The lamp was burned out in their bedroom, Daniel lit a few candles after tucking his love into bed.
Small tears still slid down Darren's ravaged cheeks, "Jonesy- why do they hate us so much? Why can't they just accept us for who we are? What have we done wrong?"
Daniel sat down at his side, trying to quiet him, "Nothing baby- we haven't done anything." He sighed, "Don't worry about those assholes who are stuck in their stupid prejudice boxes- they'll get theirs someday." He felt a tear fall from his eyes, "I- I'm so sorry this had to happen Dazza- I'm so sorry."
Daniel slid under the covers and gathered Darren against him, his companion still whimpered for a while- finally quieting down as he fell into a troubled sleep.
Daniel didn't sleep much that night.
He was too upset and angry-
Though he wasn't planning on leaving Summerdale yet- this troubled him deeply.
They weren't safe anymore- and it would only get worse-
It didn't matter if they could afford it or not- they had to leave-
Soon.

~Chapter Twenty-Four~

It was all around town the next day.
That some people had beaten up the faggot boy.
None of Daniel's fellow co-workers brought it up- knowing the young man would punch anyone who said a word about it.
Customers came and went- Daniel wished he could be with Darren, but he needed to work as much as possible.
Darren did manage to cook them dinner, Daniel hardly ate anything, he was too engrossed with the paper.
"What are you looking at Danny?" Darren limped over to his friend, "Apartments?"
Daniel nodded, "I'm not going to take anymore chances Dazza- as soon as I rake up enough money- we're getting out of here."
Darren sighed as he sat gingerly down next to his love, "Daniel- you know we hardly have enough to afford an apartment in Summerdale. It's much more expensive in the city."
Daniel shook his head, "We'll find something cheap- don't worry." He looked up to see Darren's worried eyes.
Tenderly cupping his companion's chin with his hand, Daniel kissed his cheek, "It's time Dazza- I don't want to even think about what could happen if we stay here."
"But the city has ten times more crime then Summerdale does."
Daniel sighed, "It does- but the city also doesn't give a damn who you are and where you're from. We'll be free there. No one will look at us strangely- make fun of us- we can make our dreams happen Dazza! No one will care that you're my partner- if I kiss you on the street- no one will even give a damn."
Darren frowned, "Easy for you to say- I've never been to a big city- I'm just a farm boy- I wouldn't fit in there at all-."
Daniel shook his head, "You forget- I grew up in a city- maybe not as big, but it's still a city all the same." Darren's lips turned up slightly, "You really think we can pull this off?"
Daniel nodded, "Dazza- we've been through so much already- I think we can handle anything life throws at us."
Darren smiled, Daniel setting a kiss on his nose, then turned his attention back to the paper- looking for any place that would take them in.

It was a warm fall day as Darren and Daniel waited patiently for the bus to come by to pick them up and take them to the city.
They stood alone, not expecting anyone except Darren's parents to see them off.
The bus finally came, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes showered their son and his partner with kisses and hugs.
As they stepped onto the bus, Daniel saw someone running across the fields.
"Wait up!" It was the Ashton's grandson Tommy, holding an envelope in his hands. "Here ya go Mr. Jones." He smiled cheekily
Daniel took the envelope puzzled, watching the boy take off back into town.
He sat down next to his love who was waving goodbye to his parents.
"What is it Jonesy?" Darren asked as Daniel's eyes gathered with tears.
He handed Darren the envelope containing a card-
"Good luck and best wishes." Darren gasped as he opened it up.
Inside was almost everyone in town's signature.
All of them had some sort of message- wishing them the best of luck in the city.
Darren and Daniel looked up at each other in shocked silence as the bus pulled away.

* * * * *

Together they watched the last house pass by- they were on their way to the city- to make their dreams come true-