Vincent and leo gazed into each other's eyes before slowly parting.
"Vincent, I... I..."
Leo didn't know what to say.
He wanted to say that he was sorry, that he hadn't meant for this to happen and that he would somehow find a way to get home, but nothing came out.
All that came out was a sob.
"I'm s - sorry... I..."
"It's okay, Leo," Vincent said, with a bit of a chuckle.
"You did everything you could.
You made me remember everything and make me happy.
Now, just relax."
He took Leo's hand in his and sat down on the couch.
Leo nodded and tried to calm himself down.
Vincent softly stroked Leo's cheek and then held him in his arms, as if he were a little boy.
Leo cried some more and rested his head on the boy's shoulder.
Vincent, having already become used to Leo's tears, simply cradled his body.
His head fell back to rest on his shoulder and he let his body relax.
Vincent realized what he was doing and looked up to see a serious and mature Leo gazing into his eyes.
"I've loved you since the first moment I saw you," Leo said.
"I always knew I wanted you, but I was afraid.
I told myself that it would never happen and yet, here we are... I love you so much... I want to be with you for the rest of my life.
Can I, Vincent?
Will you marry me?"
Leo looked down, slightly embarrassed at the fact that his words had all come out so quickly.
"It's the least I can do," he said.
"After everything you've done for me, I want to do something for you."
"Let me get back to the shop," said Vincent.
"I'll be back in a little bit.
Now, why don't you get some sleep.
You've had a long night."
"I have a question for you," Leo said.
"Why was all of this happening?
When I was in the alley, I wanted to die, Vincent.
I thought I was never going to see you again."
"That's a long story," said Vincent.
"But there's no time to explain right now.
Now that I've got you back, I have to go.
I need to get back to the shop and get things back to normal."
Vincent headed outside with Leo in his arms.
He turned to the door of the alley and stepped inside.
Looking around, he saw that the door was now locked.
He could still hear Leo crying and whimpering, however.
Vincent silently entered the stairwell and ascended to the second floor.
Before walking down the hallway to his apartment, he stopped in the shower and washed himself with a washcloth and fresh, clean water.
Vincent exited the shower, toweled off, and walked into his bedroom.
He sat down on his bed and reached into his pocket for his pajamas.
He pulled out a pair of red and black pajama pants, a white undershirt and a purple v - neck t - shirt, and quickly put them on.
After drying his hair, Vincent turned on the lamp on his bedside table and noticed that his bed was now made.
He stepped over and brushed a few of the specks of dust off of his sheets and started to get ready for bed.
Vincent turned on his small stereo in his bedroom and turned the volume up.
He hit play and the sound of his album Startle the Rabbit filled the room.
He stepped over and turned off the light and then lay down, with his back towards the door.
He stared up at the ceiling and began to sing softly,
The next morning, Vincent woke up with a start.
He bolted upright and looked around.
Everything was just as it had been the previous night: quiet and peaceful.
Vincent sat up and say Leo laying next to him.
As he watched, Leo moved and extended a leg.
Vincent immediately remembered the events of the previous evening.
"Oh, no, Leo," he said.
"I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to wake you up."
"It's fine," said Leo.
"It's been a long night.
But you shouldn't have to worry about me.
I can handle it all by myself."
"That's why I'm here," Leo said.
"You're the only one who can protect me.
My father can't help me with anything, so I have to take care of myself.
My mother passed away the year I was born, and I was left to my father's care.
I've known this since I was a baby, but even so, I was never prepared for it.
I haven't been strong enough or good enough for that kind of burden.
But I will be, now.
I need someone to be strong for me, so I can be strong for myself."
Vincent let go of Leo's hand and stared at him.
"I can't believe you're still here," he said.
"I thought you were dead last night."
"You thought wrong," Leo said.
"I don't know what happened after I was carried off by the stray dogs, but one moment I was in that alley and the next, I woke up in my own bed, with the lights on.
But that's not the scary part.
What's scary is what happened the rest of the day.
I had the same dream over and over and over."
Vincent put his arms around Leo and hugged him.
"I'm so glad you're back, Leo.
Now we can both go back to the way things were."
Leo looked up at him with a glazed, distant look in his eyes.
"I can't even remember how things were," he said.
"I've been trying to think about it, but all I can think of is that there was a man.
He said his name was Charles, but I don't know him.
I just see his face.
He said he was looking for his daughter, but I don't know who he was talking about.
And he told me he would hurt me if I talked to anyone, so I was afraid to talk to anyone.
Then he said he had something for me, so I followed him to this manhole.
I thought it was a pipe that would lead to a basement, but when I got down there, he put something on my wrist and told me to keep it hidden from everyone else.
But he didn't know about you, so he's not the reason I'm alive."
"I guess I should let the others know, then," said Vincent.
"I can't go back until they're all gone.
I have to get Leo to safety."
"Yes, Vincent.
You should do whatever it takes to protect him, "said Henry.
"I agree with Henry," said Joe.
"This isn't just any dog.
He's a part of this family.
I would go to the ends of the earth to protect him."
"I should let you know," said Vincent.
"I'll contact Henry.
He and Henry will go and get Leo."
"You don't have to do that," said Joe.
"We can take care of this on our own.
Don't worry about Leo, Vincent."
"Thank you," said Vincent.
He left the chamber and went to the wall that blocked off his sleeping chamber.
He put a hand against the wall and held it still.
A red glow appeared in the wall behind him, and then it abruptly opened.
Leo rushed into the room and stared at Vincent.
"Oh, my god, I'm so glad to see you."
He ran up to Vincent and hugged him.
"You got away," he said.
"You're okay."
"Yes, I'm okay," said Vincent.
"We have to get out of here.
If they find out you were involved, they won't allow you to leave.
This is a dangerous place, Leo."
"I'm not, I know," said Leo.
"But now's not the time to get my hopes up.
I know they're looking for me, so we should get out of here, now."
"Okay, let's go," said Vincent.
"I can't believe I almost lost you," Leo said.
"That's not funny, Vincent," said Charles.
"And before you say anything, stop giggling about my name.
It's not as cute as you think."
"I'm not going to fight you, you little trickster," said Charles.
"I just came to say hello.
Did you miss me?"
"Of course not," said Charles.
"I couldn't find you, and I thought I might have a talk with you.
I'm sure my men are watching you now, and I'll be back if you get lonely."
Charles chuckled and walked over to the couch.
He sat down and pulled out a book from behind it.
"What are you doing?" said Leo.
"Why don't you come over here and talk to me," said Charles.
"I'm sure you'll like it."
Charles turned the book around and handed it to Leo.
"It's a very interesting book," he said.