Epilogue: Paris

One year later:

Jonathan couldn't believe this day had finally arrived. He couldn't remember a time when he'd been happier. The smile that plastered itself to his face wasn't leaving anytime soon. He looked to his right and his smile widened. Mayson was sleeping, leaned up against his chest, face peaceful, his lips upturned in sleep. He kissed the top of his shaggy hair before looking back out the window.

The plane they were riding soared through the sky, its wings cutting through the cloud-like a warmed knife slicing through butter. He glanced to his left hand, to the finger that adorned the new, gold band. His smile widened.

Six months after Mayson had moved in, Jonathan decided to take the risk. He was nervous all day, jittery. He waited impatiently for Mayson to return home.

He picked up his acoustic Les Paul guitar and he played soft notes, the music filling the air.

Mayson walked in the front door less than an hour later, smiling. His smile widened upon seeing Jonathan, his guitar under his arm, propped up against his knee.

"Hey, baby," Mayson said shutting the door and sitting beside him, gave him a slow kiss.

"Hey, duck." He smiled at Mayson brightly. Over the last several months Mayson gained weight, his skin becoming a glowing gold from their time spent in the sun.

"Working on a new song?" He asked sitting down next to his lover.

Jonathan smiled and nodded, his ears turning bright pink. "Yeah. It's about ready. Wanna hear?"

Mayson smiled. "Of course. I love listening to you play."

He began plucking the strings in a slow rhythmic tune of original standing. Once the fourth bar arrived he began to sing. Mayson loved Jonathan's voice when he sang to him. All his troubles and all his worries always melted away.

Since I met you I've had a reason to smile

Down this familiar road, we've walked our fair mile

Throughout all the confessions of a shattered soul

You were the one who's kept me whole

My sun doesn't rise until I see you smile

That's when I begin to breathe

And if you'll let me my love

This I promise thee

I'll try the rest of my life to make you as happy as you've always made me

Marry me, Mayson, be my groom

Be my Sun and I'll be your Moon

Jonathan waited a moment before shyly smiling. His heart was pounding so hard his chest was beginning to ache. He could feel himself shaking, muscles and nerve endings quivering with anticipation and nervousness.

Throughout the whole song, Jonathan watched Mayson's face, his reactions. He smiled lightly throughout the sweetly written lyrics, knowing they were for him. His face filled with shock at the last few lines, his eyes filling with tears.

It took Mayson several heartbeats to be able to move from the shock. He shot forward, capturing Jonathan's lips against his in a deep kiss. When they pulled back Mayson was smiling through the tears.

"Is that a yes?" But Jonathan was smiling. His vision becoming a bit blurry as his heart exploded with happiness.

Mayson nodded, swallowed the lump in his throat, and croaked out, "Yes, Jonny. Yes, yes." And he kissed him again.

Jonathan smiled to himself as he watched the wing cut the clouds, the moonlight bouncing off the water molecules of each cloud.

"What are you so dreamily pondering over there?"

Jonathan turned to the sleepy voice. "Just thinking about how lucky I am." He grasped Mayson's left hand and toyed with the band he'd placed there only the week before and smiled.

"I have everything I've ever wanted since I was seventeen years old."

Mayson smiled, shyly hiding his face in his new husband's shoulder. "I don't know what I did to be so lucky, Jonny."

Jonathan smiled and kissed his temple. "You loved me, little duck. You love me."

"I do love you, Jonathan. So very much."

When they arrived at their hotel Mayson was stunned. The hotel was extravagant, lights shined up the side of the old building like royalty announced their presence. Bold and Nobel.

The room they were showed to took his breath away.  The walls were a creme-sand color, ambient lighting of purple shown up the walls. Off to the right was a cove that held the bed, red lighting shining up like the purple.

There was a full living room with a mounted television that sat atop a great vanity. There was a kitchenette next to the living room, and the bathroom held a full hot tub.

"Come look at the best part," Jonathan called gently taking his hand. He led him to the window where the blinds had been drawn. With a yank of the rope, the curtain parted. Mayson gasped.

Jonathan opened the door to a spacious, fully furnished patio, that looked right out to a lit-up Eiffel Tower. The lights were brighter than the moon and much closer; lighting up the city around it.

"Jonathan...how...this is beautiful." Jonathan smiled and wrapped his arms around him from behind. Mayson leaned against his chest, his head resting against his shoulder, and they looked together at the site of Paris at night.

Jonathan set the guitar beside him and pulled Mayson into his lap. He has happy to feel the weight he put on. He was getting healthier every day. Weight, color, spirit.

"When?" Mayson's eyes beamed with happiness, his smile reflecting so.

"Now."

Mayson laughed. "Right now? How?"

Jonathan glanced at the clock. "Well, tomorrow then. We can go to the courthouse early." Jonathan kissed him again and reached for a small velvet box hidden from his sight.

Mayson opened it and gasped."Oh, Jonny."

"This ring has been in my family for centuries. My mother left it to me in a trust fund my father didn't know of. And a few other family heirlooms. But I wanted you to have this."

The ring was made out of pewter. A wedding ring made for a forbidden bride, dating back to the 16th century.

"I have a matching one." Jonathan pulled its twin from his pocket and showed it to Mayson.

"They're beautiful."

They went to bed curled in each other's embrace, jet-lagged but at peace.

On their third day,y they were eating a delicious room service meal, cooked from the gourmet restaurant located on the first floor.

Stacks of blueberry and strawberry crepes with a fruit salad. French toast with cinnamon apples and whipped topping and the finest wine in ice.

"Jonathan, can I um, ask you something?"

Jonathan swallowed his food and nodded. He'd been waiting for this question. Over the last year, Mayson had come far in his confidence, his self-respect, and self-worth. At times he was very assertive of what he wanted. Other times, like now, when he wasn't sure, Jonathan still saw the scared boy from back then. The broken man from the year before.

"How did...I mean...how..." Mayson bit his lower lip. He still had a hard time asking things.

"How did I afford all this?" Jonathan offered.

Mayson nodded looking relieved. "Yeah...I mean...this place..."

"There's something you don't know. That I didn't know until a couple of years ago.

"When I turned twenty-five I got a call from a lawyer. Long and short of it my mom left me a trust fund, included were these rings and...money. She left Max money, too, but since he...well...as the surviving sibling I got his share, too."

Mayson frowned as he looked around, "How much? I mean...for all this..."

"Upwards of ten million. Her father was a self-made million heir and he left her his business after he died. She more than doubled what he made.

"She left it to us, and well out of our father's hands. He hated us for that.

So much of what he said made sense after I found this out."

Jonathan shook his head. "Anyway...we'll never have to worry about money. She left the business to me, too. I made a nice arrangement with the people who had been running it until I came of age, and everything is running smoothly. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner."

"Why didn't you? I'm not mad...just...curious."

"I wanted to. Money changes things. And maybe I...was a little scared that it would."

His worries were melted away when Mayson gently kissed him. "I don't care about the money, Jonny. I loved you long before I knew there was money, I'll love you just the same if it's taken away right now."

"I just want to take care of you, duck. I want to love you and my hope is that we can heal each other. You've already healed me so much." Jonathan pulled Mayson into his lap and wrapped his arms loosely around his waist.

Mayson kissed him with fervor before gently pulling back. "You've healed me, too, Jonny." Mayson kissed him hard, pushing his robe off his shoulders. Mayson knew just what to do to get him hard quickly, and before Jonathan knew it, was impaling into Mayson, Mayson in full control. He rode him hard and fast, bringing him to the brink before stopping suddenly.

"Jonny?"

Jonathan's eyes were glazed over, but he focused. "Mayson?"

Mayson began to move slowly and stopped again when he felt Jonathan's body tighten. "Don't keep secrets from me." He moved slowly, them both moaning at the pleasure. "Partners, remember? No secrets."

He moved faster, rocking himself just the way Jonathan loved it. "No, secrets. God, Mayson."

"No secrets."

They came down together, holding one another as they caught their breaths.

"Forgive me?" Jonathan whispered and kissed him.

"Always, my husband."

Jonathan smiled and pulled him close again, kissing him. He picked him up and lay him down gently on the bed, pinning Mayson beneath his weight. He began moving slowly, feeling himself begin to harden. Mayson moaned, his head rolling backward as his eyes slipped closed.

They moved together, slow and calm. They made love slowly, kissing and biting and feeling and learning. Learning more of each other with every moan and touch.

"I love you, Mayson. God, I love you so much."