Danny & Steve [Completed]

Part 13

Steve stroked his hair, thoughtful. Then he said, "Didn't you talk to Jeff at Ziva?"

Danny said, "Yeah. He was really nice."

Steve frowned. "Did you tell him anything about yourself?"

Danny nodded slowly. "Yeah, we talked about... oh, shit. I told him where I'm from."

Steve said, "Uh huh, and he knew your name. How hard would it be to find the only Freemans in Borderton and give them a call?"

Danny looked up at Steve. "That little shit! Why would he do such a thing?"

Steve looked like he'd bitten into a lemon. "After you left, he was all over me, asking me out and hanging on me whenever he could. I tried to let him down easy."

Danny's stomach went cold. "He seemed so nice, and he was just playing me til he found a way to get me out of the picture."

Steve hugged Danny closer. "Now I wish I hadn't been so nice about saying no."

Danny's heart rate rose, and an angry flush colored his cheeks. "Next time I see him, I'm going to..."

Steve kissed Danny until he stilled, then murmured, "You're already living the best revenge, babe. You've got me, and he lost what would've been the best possible friend he could have had. Friends, plural, because I'm done with him, too. Not to mention, when Xian finds out, he'll be persona non grata."

Danny returned the kiss and smiled softly. "Yeah, you're right. I almost feel sorry for him."

Steve said, "Me, too. Only not very."

They lazed in bed a little longer. Their bed. Danny decided he could get used to this.

(break)

It wasn't easy, but they made it work. Danny got a job working retail and enrolled at the community college. It wasn't ideal, but he got to come home every night to Steve. They fell into a comfortable routine that ended with nights of bliss and mornings of waking up together.

Not long after midterms, a letter arrived in the mail. It was from home. Danny didn't open it at first. He just held it, a feeling of sinking dread in his gut.

"You don't have to read it," Steve said. "You can throw it in the trash like they did my letters to you."

Danny said, "Yeah but it might be from Amanda." He knew better, though. Amanda's letters always came in frilly envelopes with adorable stationery. This was plain and white. "Besides, I'll just wonder what it says." He tore open the envelope and read the letter inside.

Dear Daniel,

I read the book you left in your room, then I gave it to your father. We still don't approve, but you are our son, and this is who you are. Even though we don't always show it, we do love you.

Please at least call and let us know you're okay. Perhaps you and your friend could come for Easter. Amanda says maybe the three of you can go riding together.

Love,

Mom

Danny read and reread the letter. Steve eventually took it from his hands and murmured, "May I?" When Danny nodded, Steve's gaze skimmed over the page. They were both quiet for some time. Finally, Steve said, "This seems like progress."

"Maybe."

"Or a trap."

Danny shook his head. For all that his parents had their flaws, they were painfully forthright. He wasn't ready to forgive them, but they were still his family. Mom had already made the first move. It was up to him whether there would be a second.

Steve settled at Danny's side and took his hand. "What are you going to do?"

Danny couldn't find his voice at first. When he did, he said, "I'll call her to let her know we're doing okay. If we can build on that, maybe Easter isn't off the table, if you want to go."

Steve said wryly, "I've never ridden a horse in my life."

Danny said, "Trixie is such a pushover, anyone could ride her."

Steve grinned, then kissed Danny tenderly.

Danny smiled. "Thanks for being here. I couldn't handle this stuff alone."

Steve drew Danny into his arms, and Danny hugged him tightly. "Danny, for you, I'd do a lot more than just be here."

Danny closed his eyes and inhaled Steve's scent. It always calmed him. "That's all I need, babe."

Steve kissed his hair and said, "What do you want to do now? Do you want to talk about this whole family thing?"

Danny shook his head. "I just want to be with you."

Steve led him over to the couch, and they curled up there together. "Well, here I am," he said with a soft smile.

Danny gazed at his blue-eyed, blond-haired boy, and he knew that, whatever happened in the future, they'd work it out together.

"There you are," he murmured.

They turned on the TV, but Danny only barely paid attention to it. He focused instead on Steve's warmth, his beating heart, and that ever-intoxicating scent. He loved his folks, but this? This was his home now, and this was his family. Of course he wanted to reconcile, but for now, he had everything he needed right here.