'Quite easily.' Darren got up from the chair and came over to sit beside Daniel.

'Doze, please don't make it any harder than it already is.'

'Daniel, don't do this, I beg of you. Please?'

'Darren.' Daniel made to pull him down to him but Darren resisted. 'You hate me don't you?' He asked sadly, throwing back the covers and getting up. 'I'm so sorry that I don't live up to your expectations.'

'Daniel,' Darren clambered off the bed and grabbed Daniel's hands in his. 'I don't hate you. I could never hate you, I just thought...Oh Daniel what am I going to so without you. You mean everything to me.'

'Write?' Daniel suggested, half laughing in an effort to lighten the mood. He had known that Darren wouldn't take too kindly to his decision and truth be told if pressed on the subject he didn't know entirely why he had decided to do but something deep inside him told him that it was the right thing to do. He wasn't like Darren, he couldn't just ignore it and embark on a life of running. He couldn't go to Canada like Josh, he would go to Vietnam and fight and hopefully he would come home again.

Looking deep into Darren's eyes he whispered. 'Hold me, just hold me Darren.'

Willingly Darren obliged and for a long time they just stood there, the morning sun making its way through the drawn curtains, casting its soft glow on the room and the figures embracing, clinging to each other like drowning men to a lifeboat.

Silently Darren snaked a hand down between them, started massaging Daniel through his pyjamas, Daniel groaning quietly when his body responded, moving his head to lay it on Darren's shoulder.

Wordlessly Darren took him by the hand and led him back to the bed.

'Will you let me do something for you my love?'

Daniel nodded and let himself be laid down, let Darren remove his thin cotton clothing, let him part his legs, closed his eyes and let him kiss his way down his chest, lower and lower. It was only when he felt Darren's lips on his cock that he came to his senses, opened his eyes and pushed his head gently aside.

'You don't have to.'

'I want to.' Darren rose up and sweetly kissed him. Daniel drowning in his embrace.

Slowly Darren worked his way back down, tender kisses to every part of his body, his stomach, his inner thighs and finally once more to the sensitive tip of his arousal.

'Please?' He whispered, his body on fire but strangely relaxed by Darren's ministrations.

In reply Darren flicked out his tongue and delicately licked his way up the length of his shaft. Daniel whimpered as he felt Darren's hot mouth on him. No one had ever done this to him before and the sensation blew him away.

Darren was being gentle but pretty soon Daniel was finding himself bucking up, encouraging him to take him deeper, to consume him, to become part of him.

Darren's hands were firm on his hips, holding him down. 'Slowly my love, slowly.'

Daniel nodded, forcing himself to calm down, to remain passive and let Darren work his magic.

And what a magic it was.

Alternating between licking and sucking Darren let Daniel's cock glide in and out of his mouth. His warm, moist, welcoming mouth.

Glancing down Daniel thought that he had never seen anything so erotic in his whole life. At one point Darren took him so deep that his face was pushed into Daniel's pubic area, the feeling of Darren's cheeks against his coarse hair arousing Daniel further than he had believed was possible.

Reaching for the hands that still held his hips Daniel entwined his fingers with Darren's own, squeezing, stroking, playing, gripping harder as he felt his whole body tense and then with a small shudder relax. Smiling he brought their joined hands upwards, Darren coming with them.

'Thank you.' He whispered, his hands releasing Darren's so that he could cradle his face and bring it down for a kiss.

'You're welcome.' Darren smoothed back a stray lock of Daniel's hair.

Daniel was unsure what to say next, unwilling to break the protective spell that Darren had woven around them. Here, in each other's arms, they were safe, nothing could intrude. No bigotry, no hatred and definitely no war.

Eventually it was Darren who spoke first.

'Much as I hate to say it we really should get moving or we are going to be late meeting the others.' There was a big peace march going on today and true to form Darren was determined to be present. He hesitated and looked cautiously up at Dan's eyes. 'Are you still coming with me?'

Daniel nodded. 'Yes, if you still want me to, if you don't mind being seen out with a hypocrite.' He cringed as he saw the hurt come flooding back into Darren's face.

'You're not a hypocrite,' Darren told him softly, his fingers tracing over Daniel's lips, 'you just need to do what you feel is right.'

'Your friends aren't going to see it like that and I'm surprised that you do.'

Darren gently lowered his lips to Daniel's murmuring against them, 'All I see is you, and much as I don't want you to go I also know that I can't stop you. The only one who can make that decision is you.'

Daniel shifted his head a little, for the moment more interested in Darren's change of heart than allowing him to kiss him. 'You've changed your tune.'

'I still think you're wrong but if your mind is made up then I don't want to spend what precious time we have left arguing with you,' he tilted his head and smiled, 'Now are you going to let me kiss you or not?'


~Chapter Fourteen - '...riding shotgun in the sky...'~

An eerie silence descended as slowly but with purpose the march made its way down Van Ness Avenue towards City Hall.

To Daniel's mind it was too silent. Although the protest was currently a peaceful one, the atmosphere was charged with an underlying tension that made him uneasy.

It was well known that the Mayor had called out both the Police and the National Guard to meet the protestors when they reached their destination, the peace protests had been getting steadily more militant as they garnered more and more support and as the public had become more aware of what was going on so many miles away.

As they walked their numbers swelled until Daniel couldn't see the head of the march. How many people were there was impossible to tell, five thousand, ten, twenty? All walking along in complete silence.

Many of the protestors carried signs, some inscribed with the names of loved ones either already dead or still overseas.

One of Darren's hands gripped Daniel's firmly, the other clutched tightly onto a bunch of white carnations, his intention, he had informed Daniel, was to place them in the barrels of the guns that the Guardsmen would be holding. Personally Daniel had no intention what-so-ever of letting Darren getting that near to the front of the action. He wanted to be here but he also wanted them both to be in one piece at the end of it.

Darren face was set as determinably as those of his friends that walked with them though Daniel knew that the expression on his face, the grim line of his normally so relaxed mouth owed as much to his impending departure as to the gravity of the day.

When they had all met up earlier that afternoon Matt, Lisa and the others had still been trying to come up with ways of getting Dan out of his draft notice. A committed pacifist, Sarah had continued with her gentle persuasion that he should register as a Consciousness Objector, Matt was all for out-and-out rebellion, ignoring the call up and risking prison if need be. Daniel knew that Darren's preferred favourite was still that Daniel use his sexuality as a means of refusing to go. There was no way the Army would touch him with a barge pole if he told them that he was gay. But to Daniel his sexual orientation was not something to be manipulated, used simply as a means of convenience.

He squeezed Darren's hand, more to reassure himself than his lover, and was rewarded with a brief smile. Although his friends now knew and accepted his relationship with Daniel, Daniel knew that he had neglected to tell them about his decision. For some reason Daniel had picked up the foreboding envelope on his way out and it now sat in his back pocket, an ever present reminder, as if he needed one, of the cause of all their unhappiness.

Looking around him his eyes fell on a man dressed in a tattered set of battle fatigues being pushed along in a wheelchair, as his gaze travelled downwards Daniel saw that he had both legs of his trousers tucked up under him. Turning away in shock he suddenly felt sick. What was going on with his country? What were they doing to his generation?

After that he kept his eyes firmly fixed in another direction, occasionally glancing at Darren as the imposing edifice of City Hall drew ever nearer.

Gradually people began to fan out, taking up positions in the plaza and grass verges that surrounded it. Daniel, Darren and the others found themselves sitting on the verge, far enough to, Daniel hoped, to be out of harm's way should any violence erupt but still close enough to just about see the small group of figures that were standing as far up the steps of the building as those guarding it would let them.

For the moment the police and guards stood there passively but a general feeling of unease was growing in the air and Daniel knew that they would not hesitate to move in and break up the proceedings if they felt at all threatened.

A sharp burst of feedback drew the crowd's attention forward as a middle-aged man stepped up and began to address those assembled.

'Brothers and sisters,' he started, 'you all know why we are here this afternoon,' the up until now silent crowd cheered at his words, the man he held up his hands for quiet, 'and I ask that you all remain peaceful.'

'Yeah right,' Daniel heard somebody nearby mutter, 'if you want peaceful then what are those fuckers doing here?'

'But you have all heard my words many times before so allow me to introduce someone who can speak of the horrors of the war far better than I can. John McLeery was a Sergeant in the 54^th infantry, he completed two tours and was awarded a purple heart for bravery and he is here today to tell you first hand of the atrocities he has witnessed.

To wild applause a slight figure moved forward, dressed like the man in the wheelchair in battle fatigues, he had hair that just brushed his collar, in complete opposition to the way he must have worn it whilst he was serving in the Army.

He seemed slightly overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of people he faced but quickly got into his stride.

Darren inched his way imperceptibly closer to Daniel as McLeery continued with his speech.

'Be in no doubt my friends that what this government is asking of their young men is wrong. I have seen whole villages wiped out in a single airstrike, I have held the dying bodies of the men under my command, written letters back to their folks telling them how their husbands, sons, brothers dies bravely and I am here to tell you that it is all bullshit. Those men died through the stupidity of their superiors, forced to take ground that the very next day would be re-taken by the enemy. Good men every one, killed by their government, the country that they loved, by men like those who sit in this very building...' And he gestured expansively behind him.

Several people booed and down the front a scuffle broke out, someone managed to break through the protective cordon and ran up the steps trailing an American flag behind them. Moments later the flag was ablaze, police rushing to haul the protestor away and stamp out the remnants of the burning fabric.

A gentle touch on his arm brought Daniel round to face Lisa. 'I think you and the guys should get out of here. None of you can afford to get arrested if this turns ugly.'

'What do you mean if?' Daniel growled.

Lisa nodded sadly. 'I know. But there is talk of taking away deferments from repeated offenders and they are all well on their way to accumulating quite a rap sheet. At least get Darren to leave yeah?'

This was news to Daniel he didn't know that Darren had been arrested more than once. He nodded back. 'Good idea.'

Tugging on Darren he rose to his feet. 'Come on, we're leaving. You too,' he motioned to Brad and Matt.

'Hell no!' Darren said trying to pull Daniel's arm away.

'Hell yes.' Daniel replied firmly, practically dragging Darren to standing.

'Please?' Sarah pleaded.

Brad looked towards the steps of City Hall where several more protestors were now jostling with police. 'Darren we can't risk staying, you know that.'

Matt just sneered at them. 'Go if you want you pansies but I'm staying.' And so saying he began to push his way through the crowd, determined to get closer forward.

The others watched him go.

'Ladies and gentlemen,' A new figure, one wearing a police uniform had snatched the microphone from McLeery's hands. 'This is an unlawful gathering and you are hereby requested to disperse. There will be no more speeches here today.'

Angry voices arose, chants and cat calls began to ring out.

'Go. Now.' Lisa hissed as the crowd started surging forward and warning shots were fired over their heads.

'You're coming with us.' Daniel said, still holding onto a struggling Darren. The flowers he once held getting trampled underfoot.

'No, I'm going to find Matt, I must make sure he is ok. We'll find you later.' She stroked Daniel's arm in empathy and then she too was gone, lost in the now decidedly hostile crowd.

'Will you let GO of me?'

'No. We're leaving.' Glancing around to make sure that Brad and Sarah were following Daniel scrambled up the side of the grassy bank, hauling Darren after him, never once loosening his grip until they were safely a few blocks away.

'What the FUCK was that in aid of?' Darren demanded angrily the minute Daniel let go of him.

'That was me saving your scrawny arse.' Daniel replied trying to keep his voice even.

'Well it didn't need saving thank you very much.' Darren shook free the hand that Daniel placed on his shoulder in an effort to placate him.

'I beg to differ.' Daniel retorted as two army trucks came hurtling round the corner and speed off in the direction from which they had just come.

'He's right man.' Brad told Darren, 'We can't get arrested again.'

Darren stormed off a little way then stopped and lashed out madly at a nearby brick wall. 'FUCK, FUCK, FUCK!' His feet and fists repeatedly made contact with the unyielding concrete.

Daniel rushed over to him and wrapped both arms tightly round him, not caring that they were in a semi-public place. 'It's ok Doze, you've done what you could.'

Gradually Darren calmed down, turning a tear stained face to look at Daniel who tentatively loosened his hold.

'It's ok.' He murmured, stroking Darren's hair, 'It's ok.'

'It's never going to be ok ever again.' Darren replied before burying his head in Daniel's neck and letting all his pent up anger release itself as tears.


~Chapter Fifteen - '...caught in the Devil's bargain...'~

Hypnotically Daniel sat by the water's edge, watching the waves crash into the shore. Feeling around in the pebbles that lay under his hand he selected a flat, smooth one and pulling his arm back hurled it as far out to sea as he could, watching as it skipped and skimmed over tumultuous dark surface.

This was his last day of freedom, this time tomorrow he would be on his way to Utah, to some faceless Army camp ready to begin his military training. He had left work the day before, Michael sympathetic but not entirely surprised, perhaps he had known all along that this day might come.

The sound of footsteps quickly followed by two strong arms snaking round his neck broke Daniel out of his reverie.

'Thought I might find you down here.'

'Just making the most of it, I don't suppose I'll get many opportunities to surf in 'Nam.' He leant back into the embrace and tilted his head. 'Any word from the hospital?'

'No, she's still the same and no one has seen or heard from Matt.'

Daniel sighed. Lisa had been right, the protest had turned ugly, resulting in Lisa ending up in hospital in a coma and Matt disappearing off to who knows where.

'I'm sorry.'

'What for?' Darren asked, coming round to sit facing Dan. 'It wasn't your fault that those bastards opened fire.'

'I know, but...'

'Ssh,' Darren silenced him with a finger to his lips, 'there's nothing we can do to change what has happened so let's just forget about it for a while, it's our last night together and I want it to be special.'

'It is special,' Daniel smiled, 'you're here.' He paused and looked back out over the grey ocean, 'Darren will you do something for me tonight?' Slowly he brought his gaze down to meet Darren's eyes.

'Anything, just name it.'

'Darren will you to make love to me?'

Nervously Daniel sat on the edge of the bed his fingers playing with the hem of the brightly coloured Indian cheesecloth bedspread, another Darren influence, breathed in the evocative scent of the joss sticks that had been lit, patchouli, musk and vanilla.

The grin and quiet 'yes' that had followed his request was confirmation enough that this was the right thing for them to do. Daniel loved Darren with all his heart and knew without having to be told that Darren felt the same way. Now they were about to take that final step to seal their love forever.

Darren was sat at the table a tobacco tin and its various contents in front of him. Meticulously he was rolling himself a joint. Although Daniel had never participated watching Darren do so had become routine and there was something oddly comforting about it. Watching as he carefully spread out the papers, sprinkled in the tobacco and added some of the resin from the small block he seemed to always carry. Finally he rolled it all up and fashioned a roach to insert in the top. Familiar movements, a strangely normal occurrence.

Putting the completed joint to his lips Darren lit it from one of the many candles that were dotted around the room and exhaling came to sit beside Dan, taking one of his hands in his and rubbing the back of it with his thumb. Comforting. Reassuring.

'Here.' Darren offered the smoke across and as usual Daniel shook his head and declined.

'I know,' Darren said, 'but it'll help relax you.'

Cautiously Daniel took it and attempted a drag. He inhaled too deeply and started coughing violently.

'It's ok.' Darren patted his back sympathetically. 'You just took too much at once.'

Daniel got up and ran himself a glass of water still spluttering slightly.

'Come here,' Darren patted the bed beside him, 'I've got an idea.'

As Daniel sat back down Darren balanced the joint on top of the glass and gently eased him down.

Daniel smiled as Darren moved to lie alongside him. Picking the joint up again Darren took a long toke and then turned to Daniel. Cupping his face in his hands he drew him in for a deep kiss, gently releasing the smoke into his mouth as he did so.

Daniel gasped and then exhaled in a soft sigh.

'Better?'

'Mmmm...'

'Wanna give it another go?'

'Uh-huh.'

Again Darren inhaled and then exhaled as he kissed Dan.

Several tokes and long kisses later Daniel felt suitably blissed out and yes, he did feel more relaxed.

Looking up at Darren dreamily he murmured in protest when he lay the joint down. 'I want you relaxed, not stoned.' Darren offered in explanation to Daniel's unspoken question.

Any further objections he might have felt inclined to raise were swiftly silenced as Darren's lips found his once more and this time the kiss didn't end until breathing was definitely becoming a necessity.

Darren's lips moved to Daniel's jaw then his collarbone as Daniel sighed contentedly and slipped his hands under the lilac fabric of Darren's tee-shirt.

Darren moaned quietly and his lips left Daniel's body as he sat back on his heels so that he could remove the offending piece of clothing.

Daniel's hands roamed over the plain of Darren's chest as Darren's fingers proceeded to undo the buttons of Daniel's shirt.

'Here, allow me.' Sitting up also Daniel finished unbuttoning his shirt and took it off, throwing it with a flourish to land he cared not where.

They grinned at each other as hands went to flies, fingers making quick work of buttons and zippers. When they were both naked they paused and just let their gazes roam over their lover's body. Both noting that the other was not surprisingly already aroused.

Drawing Darren back down to him Daniel raised his hips and began grinding up against Darren delighting in the feel of his hardness upon his own and the moans that his movements elicited.

'Oh hang on,' a sudden thought, a trace of memory, a promise to himself, came to Daniel and ignoring Darren's groan of protest he got up and wandered across to his record player. Crouching down, and ignoring yet more calls from Darren, he selected a couple of singles and placing them on the turntable made sure that they would all drop down one after the other, 'I've always wanted to make love to music.' He offered shyly by way of explanation as he returned to the bed and the first haunting notes of 'A Whiter Shade of Pale' filled the room.

'...we skipped the light fandango, turned cartwheels 'cross the floor...'

'You're a nutter, you know that?' Darren told him affectionately as he placed a gentle kiss on Daniel's forehead.

'...and the room was humming harder as the ceiling flew away...'

'But you love me.'

'Yes, I do and I'm about to prove to you just how much.' Darren's voice was low and husky.

Daniel's response was to draw Darren back to him and kiss him deeply, pouring every ounce of the love in his heart into their embrace.

When they broke apart, Darren kept his lips ghosting over Daniel's face before leaning back slightly and regarding him seriously.

'You know that I have only done this once before, don't you.' His fingers lovingly smoothed back Daniel's hair as he looked in his eyes.

'Yeah.' Daniel whispered.

'And when I did I was...ermm...'

'On the receiving end?'

Darren smiled. 'Yeah. So this is a first for me too.'

'Darren, I love you, I trust you and I want us to do this. I am yours, heart...' Daniel placed one of Darren's hands under his on his chest, 'mind...' Darren's hand stroked his head, 'and body.' And to emphasize his words Daniel led Darren's hand from his chest down to his cock. 'Take me Darren, I'm all yours.'

'...he said there is no reason and the truth is plain to see...'

This was it. Their last night together for who knew how long, maybe, though neither man would voice it they both knew that the other was thinking it, forever.

Taking a couple of spare cushions from the head of the bed Darren got Daniel to lift his body and carefully positioned them under the small of his back so that his hips were elevated.

'This'll make things easier.' He whispered, blushing slightly.

And Daniel knew that he was doing everything in his power to make this as painless and comfortable for him as possible. Then very slowly and deliberately Darren began to kiss a trail downwards, starting at the nape of Daniel's neck, over his collarbone, pausing to suckle briefly on each of his peaked nipples before laving around his navel, his tongue leaving glistening threads on Daniel's heated skin.

When he reached his lower abdomen Darren stopped and rested his head there, Daniel gently rotating his hips to rub Darren's soft cheek against his coarse curls. The sensations that were now racing through Daniel's body made him think that he would come there and then. Just to be here with Darren, to be sharing with him in this most intimate of ways. Whatever happened in the days that were to come nobody could take this night away from them.

'Ready?' Darren whispered, his hands gently parting Daniel's legs.

In reply Daniel momentarily pulled Darren's head back up for a tender kiss of confirmation, his own hands joining with his lover's, guiding them down to rest on Darren's cock, giving his reassurance and guidance.

Darren removed his hands and licking the palms, generously coated them with his saliva before beginning to rub them up and down his length.

Daniel gritted his teeth as he felt Darren start to push his way in.

'Ssh, it's ok,' a gentle voice told him, 'we'll take it slowly.'

Darren paused, his hands stroking Daniel's legs. 'Can you part them just a little further?' He asked hesitantly.

Cautiously Daniel complied and felt Darren place a gentle kiss on his inner thigh.

'Okay, deep breath.'

Daniel breathed in and as he slowly let it out Darren pushed in a little further, then a little further still until Daniel felt him fill him completely, his whole centre of being now focused on the sensation of having Darren inside him.

'Hey what's this?' Darren's face hovered above him, a finger gently wiping away a tear that Daniel was unaware that he had even shed.

Smiling weakly, Daniel whispered. 'It feels so amazing, I feel you so deep, like you are a part of me.'

'I am part of you,' Darren replied, 'now and for always.'

And for a few minutes they just lay there like that, lovingly caressing each other's shoulders, placing soft kisses on their faces and necks.

Then Darren began to move, to draw himself out a little before thrusting back in and Daniel found that he had a whole new set of sensations racing through his body.

'Uh...mmmm...ahhhhhh...'

'Feel good?'

'Uh-huh...you?'

'Wonderful,' Darren said huskily, 'just wonderful.'


~Chapter Sixteen - '...turning into butterflies above our nation...'~

For some the morning can never come quick enough, for others its dawning is met with reluctance, something to put off for as long as possible.

For Daniel it came to spirit away all that he held dear.

The first rays crept over the horizon, stealing through the curtains and falling upon the still sleeping form of Darren, bathing his skin in a soft orange glow, his golden hair glimmering, making him look like quite the fallen angel.

Carefully Daniel pressed his lips to Darren's bare shoulder, tasting the salt that lingered there, catching the scent of their lovemaking, taking it all in and locking it away in a secret place deep within his heart. Remembering everything and wanting to hold close the memory forever.

At his touch Darren stirred under him and turned his head to face him, his blue eyes betraying the emotion that he would never give voice to.

'Morning,' Darren said, in what sounded like a desperately feeble attempt to be cheery, 'how you feeling?

Daniel just shrugged, 'Good, bad, nervous, sick...sore.'

Darren laughed, 'Well it was hell of a leaving party.'

Not once but twice did Darren make love to him last night, neither man wanting the night to end, wanting to constantly revel in their intimacy, to keep bringing each other the ultimate pleasure and not for one second did Daniel regret any of it.

For a moment they just lay there regarding each other, drinking in the sight of their lover before Darren proved the stronger of the two and, prodding Daniel gently, suggested that perhaps he should get up.

Daniel got as far as pushing back the covers before Darren's resolve broke and he caught Daniel round the waist, pulling him back for a long, lingering kiss. 'I love you, never forget that.' He said, when he eventually released Dan and allowed him to get up.

'Forever and ever.' Daniel replied not daring to look at Darren, at the beautiful, bewitching man who lay amongst the crumpled bed sheets and covers, physical reminders of what had occurred between them.

Mechanically Daniel went through his daily ritual of piss, wash, shave and dress. He had lain out his clothes the day before, a new pair of smart slacks and a button down shirt. Smiling to himself ironically, he ran his comb through his hair, hair that was now just brushing the tops of his shoulders. He hadn't bothered getting it cut knowing full well that it would be gone within hours of him arriving at boot camp anyway.

As Darren took his turn in the bathroom Daniel made them some breakfast, glancing 'round what was once his apartment as he waited for the kettle to boil. Although most of his meagre possessions remained in place, this was Darren's apartment now, they had sweet-talked his landlord into taking on Darren as a tenant and Daniel was pleased to think that at least one good thing had come out of all this.

Silently Darren returned and silently he dressed.

Daniel wasn't sure but he could have sworn that he saw a redness and puffiness to Darren's eyes that hadn't been there when he awoke. A redness that couldn't be attributed to the dope because Darren's tin still sat there, in plain view, on the table.

Breakfast was an equally subdued affair. What could they say, what could they talk about that had not already been said a thousand times over before?

Daniel chose instead to gaze out of the window. It really was a beautiful day, the sky was blue, the wind had dropped and the sea was a tantalising shade of grey mixed with green. But none of that mattered anymore. Where he was most likely going the sky was relentless, the jungle inhospitable and the chances of seeing the sea remote to say the least.

All to soon it was time to leave. They could put it off no longer.

'Here Darren, catch...'

'Huh?' Darren turned his head just in time to catch the keys to Daniel's VW.

'It's yours man,' Daniel said in answer to Darren's puzzled expression, 'look after her for me whilst I'm away ok?'

'Here,' Darren reached under his collar and brought out his string of love beads. Lifting them over his head he placed them round Daniel's neck, ghosting a kiss on his lips as he did so, 'I know you probably won't be able to wear them much further than the airport but look after them and I'll do you a swap, your van for my beads, when you get back.'

'Oh Darren.' Daniel fingered the beads and then pulled his lover tightly to him, never wanting to let go.

They had agreed to say their goodbyes at the apartment. As Darren had pragmatically pointed out they would be unable to say them at the airport. Kissing your boyfriend in an openly public place would not have been the most prudent of moves especially when one of them was now enlisted in the United States Army.

They kissed and held each other like time had stood still and all that existed was that moment. And for them, for that moment, that was all that existed. The feeling of the other's body pressing in tight to their own, the private dance that their tongues were playing out in Daniel's mouth, the feel of warm, wet lips caressing their own. It was as if it was a frozen frame in history, time in a capsule.

Picking up Daniel's sparsely packed bag, Darren hoisted it onto his shoulder and opened the door.

'Come on, you have a plane to catch and I believe I have a van to test-drive.'

One last look around at the two humble rooms that he had called home for the last three years and Daniel followed him out, carefully closing the door behind him.

Parking up near the perimeter fence, Daniel and Darren embraced for one final time, both of them desperately trying to hold back their tears and both of them failing.

'How's it go?' Darren asked, brushing away Daniel's tears with his thumb, 'Not goodbye but au revoir?'

'Not goodbye but see you around?'

Nodding slowly Darren pressed his lips to Daniel's and kissed him gently. 'See you around Daniel.'

Opening the door Daniel got out and retrieved his bag from the back of the van. 'See you around Darren.'

Darren watched as Daniel made his way back to the road and began walking in the direction of the main airport entrance. He watched until Daniel turned a corner and he could see him no more.

Getting out himself he grabbed his guitar and climbed up to sit on the hood of the van.

Tears flowed freely down his face, blurring his vision, as half an hour later he saw the TWA plane taxi to the runway then with a fierce rumble take to the skies.

Picking up his guitar he closed his eyes and started strumming a song, softly singing along.

'Daniel is travelling tonight on a plane...'