Phases

Copyright and Disclaimer: 1. This is a fictional story with fictional characters. 2. No one is to steal this story under any circumstances. 3. This story deals with relationships and not sex, so if you're looking for a story with a lot of sex in it, this isn't the story for you.

Hope you are all still enjoying the story and the new direction that it took. Here's part 35 entitled "The Long Night"

'THE LONG NIGHT'

6:15 PM

"Leo hurry up! We're going to be late!" Kurt shouted as he waited for Leo to finish getting ready.

"I'll be right out," Leo called back.

"So where are you guys going?" Joey asked as him and Kurt sat in the living room together.

"Leo and I are meeting Ryan and Jesse to see a movie and then get a late dinner after," Kurt replied. "You sure you don't want to come?"

"No, I'd just feel like the fifth wheel," Joey replied. "Besides I have plans."

"Oh? What are you doing?" Kurt asked.

"I'm having a friend over tonight to just hang out," Joey answered.

"A friend?" Kurt asked. "Not a friend like the last one who trashed Nick's room, right?"

"How long do you plan on holding that over my head?" Joey asked.

"Your whole life," Kurt joked.

"Well, to answer your question, no, this friend isn't like that," Joey replied. "He's a good guy. I think anyway."

"What's his name?" Kurt asked.

"Hank," Joey said right as Leo came out of his room.

"Hank? What about Hank?" Leo asked.

"Joey is hanging out with him tonight," Kurt answered.

"You're seeing Hank?" Leo asked.

"Yeah," Joey replied. "Is that a problem?"

"No," Leo replied. "Just surprised is all, considering you said you hate the guy."

"Well, we've been hanging out a lot this past week and he really isn't that bad of a guy," Joey said.

"Oh yeah?" Kurt asked. "You like him?"

"I don't know what it is," Joey replied. "But there is definitely something there I think."

"Well you two be good," Leo said putting his jacket on.

"We will," Joey replied.

"Come on Leo, we have to go," Kurt said as he got up from the couch.

"Call us tomorrow okay Joey?" Leo asked as the three headed out the door.

"Will do," Joey replied. "I was actually going to stop by and see you at the center if you weren't too busy."

"No, not at all," Leo replied. "I'll see you then."

"Okay, good night guys," Joey said as he walked off.

"Night Joey," Kurt and Leo replied.

8:30 PM

Later that night after Kurt, Ryan, Leo and Jesse got out of the movie they started to walk over to a nearby cafe for some dinner.

"So what did you think of the movie?" Ryan asked holding Kurt's hand.

"I like it," Leo said.

"Me too," Jesse added.

"It was a little mushy for me," Kurt said. "But I guess it had it's moments."

"Who are you kidding?" Leo jabbed. "I saw you crying when the girl died."

"I had something in my eye," Kurt replied with a smile.

"Sure you did," Leo said.

"There goes Kurt and his wall against romance," Jesse said.

"I resent that," Kurt said. "I'm sorta romantic."

"No you're not," Ryan said.

"Just the other day I cooked dinner for the two of us.

Isn't that on the romantic side?" Kurt asked.

"Kurt, you made us some pasta and then we sat down in front of the tv and watched Footloose," Ryan said.

"Jump back!" Leo said with a laugh quoting the famous line from the movie.

"I like that movie," Kurt defended himself. "I'm better now then I used to be."

"Not much," Leo said.

"When did we declare this pick on Kurt night?" Kurt asked.

"You really think you're better then you used to be?" Ryan asked.

"Yes," Kurt replied.

"How about last week when I asked you about the idea of marriage and having a family?" Ryan asked.

"That doesn't mean I don't have a romantic side," Kurt said. "It's just a preference for me."

"Why? What did he say?" Jesse asked.

"He said that he didn't like the idea of marriage or having a family," Ryan said.

"For me," Kurt corrected him. "I said, 'I don't like the idea for me.'"

"Why not?" Jesse asked.

"It's just not something I ever pictured for myself or wanted," Kurt replied.

"You do realize that if you stay with me then you are going to be part of a family," Ryan said. "I have Sydney."

"Okay, as much as I love being roasted by you three, can we please change the subject?" Kurt asked.

"He brings up a point though Kurt," Leo said.

"I got it Leo," Kurt said giving him a glare.

"I'm just saying," Leo defended himself.

"Zip it," Kurt whispered.

"So Ryan, when did Sydney leave?" Jesse asked changing the subject for Kurt.

"This morning," Ryan replied.

"You okay?" Jesse asked.

"Yeah," Ryan replied. "I had a good time with her."

"Good," Jesse said.

The guys then went and sat down inside the cafe and ordered their food before continuing their conversation some more.

"Kurt, why did you never tell me you were against the idea of marriage and family?" Leo asked.

"Leo, would you please just drop it?" Kurt asked starting to get a little pissed at Leo for going on about it.

"Well it just seems like something you would tell your best friend," Leo replied.

"I'm going to go to the bathroom to wash my hands, when I get back I don't want to hear about this anymore, okay?" Kurt asked getting up and going to the bathroom.

"Ryan, I am so sorry," Leo said after Kurt left, "Had I known he was against the idea of marriage I wouldn't have told you to go and get him a promise ring."

"It's okay Leo," Ryan said.

"No, I feel really bad," Leo said.

"You got him a ring?" Jesse asked.

"Yeah," Ryan replied taking the little ring box out of his pocket. He got used to carrying it around, just in case he found Kurt giving into the idea. He handed it to Jesse who looked at the ring. It was a little white gold band.

"I don't understand the inscription," Jesse said after examining the ring.

"'You had me at 'hello.''" Ryan replied.

"I don't get it," Leo said.

"Quote from 'Jerry Maguire,'" Ryan answered.

"You lost us," Jesse said.

"It's the first movie him and I ever watched together," Ryan said, "And that quote really sums up our feelings towards each other. Right from the beginning there was something that we saw in one another."

"Aww," Leo and Jesse both said at the same time, touched by how personal Ryan made it. They gave the ring back to Jesse who put it in his pocket.

"What are we 'aw'-ing over?" Kurt asked coming back up to the table.

"Oh...um," Ryan said trying to think of something to say.

"When Ryan said bye to Sydney at the airport today," Jesse covered. Ryan shot Jesse a grateful look for thinking so quickly.

9:10 PM

Meanwhile, Joey and Hank were sitting on the couch of Joey's living room watching a movie. They both kept a comfortable distance from one another and sat in an uncomfortable silence. At different times through out the movie Joey would glance over at Hank, but once Hank turned to look at Joey he would quickly avert his eyes back to the tv screen.

"So, do you like the movie so far?" Joey asked trying to break the silence.

"Yeah," Hank replied. The two then became silent again.

"I like this part," Joey said, although he really didn't, he just wanted something to say.

"Yeah, me too," Hank said.

"Do we hate each other still?" Joey asked not being able to resist wondering anymore.

"I don't know. Do we?" Hank asked, not sure himself.

"Well, I don't know," Joey said. "We made out in Leo's office last week after fighting most of the day. It sends mixed signals."

"It does," Hank agreed.

"So what should we do?" Joey asked.

"I don't know. Make out some more?" Hank asked.

"Sounds good to me," Joey said then the two quickly jumped on each other and began kissing.

11:35 PM

Later that night Leo and Jesse went back to Jesse's apartment to stay the night with each other.

"I feel bad for Ryan," Jesse said as they got into bed together.

"Yeah, me too," Leo replied. "He went and bought a ring and everything."

"I think Kurt will have a change of heart," Jesse said.

"I don't know," Leo replied. "Once Kurt makes his mind up about something, he usually sticks to that."

"I think he'll change his mind," Jesse replied.

"What makes you think that?" Leo asked.

"Because I know the feeling of being with someone you love so much," Jesse replied wrapping his arms around Leo, "It makes you do things that you never thought you would do and want things you never thought you wanted."

"That's true," Leo said giving Jesse a kiss. Jesse gazed lovingly at Leo and suddenly was very sure of what he wanted.

"Leo, what do you think about moving in here with me?" Jesse asked.

"Huh?" Leo asked in disbelief, "Are you serious?"

"Dead serious," Jesse replied.

"Did you actually think this through or did you ask on impulse?" Leo asked.

"To be honest, it was on impulse," Jesse replied.

"I knew it," Leo said.

"But it doesn't mean that I'm any less serious," Jesse said. "I want you to move in with me."

"Jesse, with everything that has happened lately do you think this is the best time?" Leo asked.

"I actually think that this is the perfect time," Jesse said. "With everything that has happened over the past year with the car accident, me being in a coma, waking up with amnesia and then Nick dying, it just shows how precious life is. I want to go to bed every night with you and wake up every morning with you."

"This is big," Leo said. "I want to make sure you know how big of a decision this is for us."

"Leo, I really want this," Jesse said, "The only question is, do you?"

"Yes," Leo replied. "Yes!"

"Yeah?" Jesse asked getting excited.

"Yeah," Leo replied giving Jesse a kiss.

11:45 PM

Over at Kurt's place, Ryan and Kurt were in bed together. Kurt was watching tv and Ryan was reading a magazine.

"You okay?" Kurt asked.

"Yeah," Ryan replied. "Why do you ask?"

"You've just been really quiet since dinner," Kurt answered.

"I've just been thinking about some things," Ryan said.

"What sort of things?" Kurt asked.

"You," Ryan replied.

"Could you be more specific?" Kurt asked.

"I was just wondering what it's going to take to get you to open up to the idea of family and marriage," Ryan replied.

"Ryan," Kurt sighed, "Can't you just accept that I'm just not the marrying type?"

"But I think you are," Ryan said.

"What makes you think that?" Kurt asked.

"Because I can tell you want to believe in romance and that happily ever after," Ryan said. "But just too many things in your life have tainted that idea."

"Can you blame me?" Kurt asked. "Look at everything that has happened? Did Nick get his happily ever after?"

"You know, I think he did," Ryan said.

"What are you talking about?" Kurt asked, "Nick was killed, how is that a happily ever after?"

"But look at what he had when he died," Ryan replied. "He had you and Leo who were the best friends he could ever ask for and he had Luke."

"I guess," Kurt said not looking at Nick's life from that perspective before. "He did finally seem to be in a place of complete happiness."

"Yeah," Ryan said. "So I really do think that 'happily ever' after is possible."

"You're such a romantic," Kurt laughed, but at the same time he couldn't help but be touched by how sincere Ryan was being. "Ryan, I really do appreciate how much you are trying here. But honestly, I'm just not like that. I'm not the romantic type that I think you want me to be. All I know is that I love you and want to be with you. Isn't that good enough?"

"I guess so," Ryan said even though he really hoped that one day Kurt would change his mind.

"Let's go to the bedroom." Kurt began kissing Ryan and slowly took off his shirt as they made their way into his room.

12:05 AM

Over at Joey's place he was lying in bed with Hank. They just had sex. The two were silent as they looked up at the ceiling not knowing what to do or say to one another. Joey didn't expect to fall for Hank like this. A part of him still disliked Hank, but another part of him wanted to jump on top of him and have sex again. Hank too didn't know of his feelings, with all the baggage he has from his past he doesn't know how to act over a situation like this. Finally, they decided to talk.

"That was interesting," Joey said.

"Yeah," Hank replied. "You could say that."

"Sure didn't plan on it," Joey continued.

"Nope, not at all," Hank said. "Do you think we should...talk or something?"

"About what?" Joey asked.

"Well, we just had sex," Hank replied. "I think maybe we should actually get to know one another a bit maybe."

"Why?" Joey asked.

"Well, don't people usually have sex when they like one another?" Hank asked.

"But we don't," Joey said. "We hate each other."

"Then why did you invite me over?" Hank asked.

"Honestly," Joey began, "It was fun making out with you. Doesn't mean we have to like each other. You don't like me right?"

"No," Hank said.

"Yeah, and I don't like you," Joey answered. They both lied though, they did have feelings for each other, but both were so new at this neither one knew how to proceed.

"Do you want me to leave?" Hank asked.

"Do you want to leave?" Joey asked.

"I don't know," Hank replied.

"Well, I don't know either," Joey said.

The two grew silent again. They both knew that it would be a long night.

12:50 AM

Over at Jesse's place, him and Leo were laying in bed and talking about moving in with one another.

"It's going to be great," Jesse said. "Finally living together."

"I think we should redecorate too," Leo said as he looked around the bedroom and the light blue walls. "You know something I've wanted to do to this room for so long?"

"What's that?" Jesse asked kissing Leo on the forehead.

"I want to paint these walls," Leo replied.

"Paint them?" Jesse asked nervously. "Paint them what color?"

"I think that this room would be so much better if it were maroon," Leo replied. "And I also think that we should look into getting some new furniture in here."

"What?" Jesse asked. He didn't like maroon and he definitely wasn't liking the idea of getting new furniture for the bedroom.

"Well you just said we could redecorate," Leo said as he got up from bed and began walking around the bedroom coming up with ideas.

"But I love the way this room looks," Jesse said. "I love the blue of the walls. I picked the color out myself."

"Yeah, but maybe we should look into picking out a color we both like," Leo said. "It is going to be our place after all, right?"

"But maroon?" Jesse asked. "I think it will look awful."

"What's wrong with it?" Leo asked.

"It completely goes against the color of the bed sheets," Jesse said pointing to the deep blue bed sheets and the light blue color. Leo looked around and for the first time noticed that almost everything in the room was some shade of blue.

"Wow, you have blue everywhere," Leo said.

"I love blue," Jesse replied.

"I know, but I didn't realize how much," Leo said. "Damn, why have I not noticed this before?"

"So we can't paint the walls maroon," Jesse said. "It just won't go with the rest of my stuff."

"Well what about my stuff?" Leo asked. "You asked me to move in with you, so obviously a lot of my stuff will be taking up some space here as well."

"How much space?" Jesse asked nervously.

Leo gave Jesse a little glare, "Exactly how much redecorating were you actually planning on letting me do? And exactly how much of my stuff were you planning to let come into this place?"

"Haven't really thought about it," Jesse said.

Then it dawned on Leo, "You weren't really planning on letting me have any of my stuff around here did you?"

"Of course I did," Jesse said. "Your clothes obviously would have to come over here."

"What about the big poster of the ocean I have in my bedroom?" Leo asked. "Where did you plan on that going?"

"Um..." Jesse said, "Storage?"

"What?!" Leo asked.

"I just really don't like that poster that much," Jesse replied.

"So, let me get this straight," Leo said. "Pretty much it's going to be your apartment. Your stuff everywhere. I'm just going to be a guest in it."

"Leo, you're overreacting," Jesse said. "I just think we need to come up with a nice compromise. You're talking about changing my entire bedroom."

"YOUR entire bedroom?" Leo asked.

"OUR entire bedroom," Jesse tried correcting himself, but it was too late, he knew that him and Leo would be arguing the rest of the night. It was going to be a long night.

1:20 AM

Over at Kurt's place after Ryan and him had sex Ryan went to take a shower while Kurt laid in bed and put his boxers on. He picked up Ryan's pants off the floor and was surprised to see a little ring box fall out. Curious, Kurt picked it up and opened it to find the white gold band, he looked at it and saw the inscription, 'You had me at hello.'

"Oh crap," Kurt said to himself.

"Should we put in a DVD?" Ryan asked walking into the bedroom. His face turned white when he saw Kurt holding the ring.

"This fell out of your pant pocket," Kurt said.

"Oh crap," Ryan said.

'Yeah, that's what I said," Kurt said. "Is this why you've been asking me about romance and 'happily ever afters'?"

"Kinda," Ryan admitted.

"Is this an engagement ring?" Kurt asked.

"Yeah," Ryan replied.

"You were going to ask me to marry you?" Kurt asked.

"Yeah," Ryan said again.

"I need to sit down," Kurt said collapsing on the bed.

"You weren't supposed to find out this way," Ryan said.

"Obviously," Kurt replied. "Ryan, why did you get this ring?"

"Because I wanted to maybe marry you," Ryan said coyly.

"Ryan, it's not even legal," Kurt pointed out.

"It is in some states," Ryan said. "I thought we could go to one of those places and get married there."

"Have a gay marriage?" Kurt asked. Kurt never told Ryan this, but he hated the idea of gay marriage. He supported it, but he didn't like the idea of him doing it himself. It was just way too much for him.

"Don't you think it might be nice?" Ryan asked.

"No," Kurt answered. "Well, maybe. I don't know!"

"Kurt, this isn't how I wanted to ask you, but I want you to marry me," Ryan said. "This is the most un-romantic way of asking you, which actually is perfect because you don't like romance."

"Ryan, please take it back," Kurt said. "I am not ready to deal with this."

"What?" Ryan asked. "You want me to un-propose?"

"Yes," Kurt replied. "Let me absorb the fact that you want to get married first before I think about getting married myself."

"I can't just un-propose,' Ryan said. "Once it's out there it's too late. The question has been asked."

"But if you un-propose then I don't have to give you an answer," Kurt said.

"Actually, by not giving me an answer you're giving me a pretty big answer," Ryan said.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kurt asked.

"It means that if you don't want to marry me now, you never will," Ryan replied.

"That's not true," Kurt said. "I just don't know yet if I want to get married."

Kurt and Ryan both knew that they were in for a long night.

2:00 AM

Meanwhile, over at Joey's place him and Hank were still laying in silence. After another two minutes of silence Joey got out of bed and began to put his clothes on.

"What are you doing?" Hank asked.

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm getting dressed."

"Do you want me to go?"

"Do you want to go?"

"Let's not go through this again," Hank said.

"Well what do you want to do?" Joey asked frustrated.

"I want to know what you want," Hank said.

"What are you looking for?" Joey asked. "Are you looking for a definition of what it is we're doing?"

"I guess," Hank said.

"Well I don't know," Joey replied. "I don't have any idea. The whole 'liking a boy' thing is new to me."

"You like me?" Hank asked surprised.

"No," Joey lied.

"You just said you liked me," Hank pointed out.

"You must be mistaken," Joey said trying to cover it up.

"No, you said you like me," Hank said.

"Well, you like me," Joey shot back.

"Who said that?" Hank asked. "I never said anything like that."

"Oh come on, you wouldn't have come over to my place tonight if you didn't like me," Joey said.

"And you wouldn't have invited me over if you didn't like me," Hank replied.

"So are we admitting we like each other?" Joey asked.

"I don't know," Hank said. "Are we?"

"Do you want to admit it?" Joey asked.

"Do you?" Hank asked.

"Here we go again," Joey said throwing his arms up in the air in frustration.

2:20 AM

Over at Jesse's place, the argument between him and Leo was just heating up.

"I didn't say you couldn't have your stuff around the place," Jesse said. "I just said that I don't want to completely re-decorate everything."

"No, you want everything to be how you like it," Leo said. "You don't want me to have any input."

"You're putting words in my mouth," Jesse said. "I never said that."

"You didn't have to," Leo said. "It was obvious by the way you reacted to my ideas."

"You said you wanted to paint my walls maroon," Jesse said.

"Your walls?" Leo asked.

"I mean OUR walls," Jesse corrected himself again. "Sorry. It's still new to me."

"You are unbelievable," Leo said throwing a pillow at Jesse. "Listen up pal, when I move in here things aren't going to always be the way you want it."

"I know that," Jesse said.

"It's a partnership here," Leo said.

"I know that," Jesse said again. "Just as long as we don't have to put up your ocean poster."

"I love that poster!" Leo said.

"I hate it!" Jesse replied. "God, keep this up and I'm going to wish I was in a coma again."

"You keep this up and I just might help put you in a coma again!" Leo shot back.

2:45 AM

At Kurt's place, him and Ryan were sitting quietly on the bed together, both not knowing what to say to each other.

"You really are the marrying type huh?" Kurt asked.

"Yes," Ryan replied. "I want that."

"I don't know if I am or not," Kurt said. "A part of me would like to be, but I just don't know if I can."

"Why not?" Ryan asked.

"Gay marriage is so...cheesy," Kurt replied.

"Cheesy? How is it cheesy?" Ryan asked.

"Marriage in general is so cheesy," Kurt replied. "And which one of us is going to be wearing the white dress?" Kurt couldn't help but throw in a joke to try and lighten the mood.

"Marriage isn't cheesy," Ryan said. "It's about two people who love each other and who want to make a promise with one another to be together forever."

"Yeah and then fifty percent of the people who do make that promise break it and get divorced," Kurt pointed out.

"But that wouldn't be us," Ryan said.

"The whole thing of marriage is a big deal," Kurt pointed out.

"I know," Ryan said. "Don't you think I thought about this? You're the one for me, the one I want to be with."

"I want to be with you two," Kurt said. "But aren't we fine with the way things are? Why mess with a good thing?"

"Why deny something that can make our relationship even better?" Ryan asked.

Kurt thought about it. Ryan did have a point.

3:15 AM

"So we're admitting we like each other," Hank said as him and Joey went and sat in the living room on the couch.

"I guess so," Joey replied.

"Should we kiss or something?" Hank asked.

"No," Joey replied.

"Good idea," Hank said. They both sat with a comfortable distance a part from each other and with their hands folded across their chests. Neither one knew the next step to take.

"Should we talk?" Joey asked.

"About what?" Hank asked.

"I guess about each other," Joey replied. "The only way we can make sure we like each other is if we know about each other."

"You have a point," Hank said.

"Well, start talking," Joey said.

"You go first," Hank said.

"No, you," Joey replied.

"You," Hank insisted.

"I came up with the idea, therefore you should go first," Joey said.

"You came up with the idea,therefore you should be the one who goes first," Hank shot back.

3:30 AM

"And you know something else?" Leo asked as he stormed around the apartment, "I think I'm also going to redecorate the living room."

"Over my dead body," Jesse said.

"Don't tempt me," Leo said. He then proceeded to talk about his redecorating ideas, he didn't actually mean any of it, he just wanted to piss off Jesse some more. "I think that I'm going to throw out your stupid leather couch and get a lazy boy."

"Hell no!" Jesse replied. "No way."

"And I think on the wall above the TV I'll put my ocean poster," Leo smiled.

"You put that poster there and I'll tear it up," Jesse said.

"You tear it up and I'll paint the entire apartment maroon," Leo said.

"You paint the entire apartment maroon and I'll pack up all your stuff and send you back to live with Kurt," Jesse said.

"Too late because I decided that I'm not going to move in with you!" Leo replied and stormed back into Jesse's bedroom to put the rest of his clothes on (he was only wearing his undershirt and boxers) and go back to his place.

"What?!" Jesse asked. "You can't just say you'll move in with me and then change your mind."

"I can and I am," Leo said. "Enjoy the rest of your night by yourself!" After Leo put his clothes on he stormed out of the apartment. Jesse quickly put his clothes on and ran after him.

4:00 AM

"You've been awfully quiet," Ryan said holding Kurt's hand.

"Just thinking still," Kurt replied.

"Thinking about?" Ryan asked.

"Thinking about your proposal," Kurt replied.

"I thought you wanted me to take it back," Ryan said.

"Well, maybe not just yet," Kurt said.

"Really?" Ryan asked hopeful.

"You do bring up some good points," Kurt replied. "I mean, we love each other. We're already set on spending the rest of our lives with each other."

"Exactly," Ryan said. "Marriage can only improve that."

"Do you think I'm the marrying type?" Kurt asked.

"I'm hoping for it," Ryan said. "But if you're not then I won't pressure you. Either way, I just want to be with you."

4:15 AM

"Well, I guess you should know that I have no one in my life," Joey said as he began telling Hank about himself. "Only people I have who give me the time of day are Leo and Kurt. My mom couldn't handle me being gay and I never knew my dad. I don't know where I'd be if Leo and Kurt didn't help me out."

"I don't have family either," Hank said. "I did, but it ended badly."

"What do you mean?" Joey asked.

"I don't want to go into it too much," Hank replied. "It's a lot. I've been through a lot."

"I understand," Joey nodded. "If you ever feel like you can talk to me about it, I'm here."

"Thanks," Hank said giving a little smile. "I appreciate it. You're the only person I've really had much interaction with besides Leo."

"How did you meet Leo?" Joey asked.

"It was about a month ago," Hank replied. He then went on to explain how he had been homeless for about a month before that. He had nothing. He couldn't take anymore of what he went through at his home so he ran away one night and never looked back. Then after a month of digging through garbage cans for food and sleeping on park benches he came across the Gay and Lesbian Center where he met Leo. He was resistant at first to let anyone in, but he needed a place to stay so Leo offered him a place at the shelter they had for homeless youth and was now in the process of trying to get him a job.

"Sounds like you had a tough life," Joey said.

"It wasn't easy," Hank sighed.

"I know how it feels to have nothing," Joey said.

"Looks like you lead a pretty good life here," Hank said.

"This place? It's not really mine," Joey said. "It belonged to this great guy. His name was Nick. He was best friends with Kurt and Leo, but he was killed.

The reason why Leo and Kurt wanted to help me was because Nick originally had tried to lead me to the right path, but I was too afraid then. I probably would have run away again if I didn't feel like I owed it to Nick to try and start over."

"Sounds like you got lucky and found a good group of friends," Hank said. "It's tough having no one to lean on."

"Hank, I know we really don't know each other that well yet and we're still not sure of what it is we feel about each other, but you can lean on me," Joey offered. "I'm not the greatest guy in the world, I'm selfish at times and I can be a smart ass and am messy and have a tendency to say and do the wrong things, but I think that I am a nice guy and would like to be there for you. Hopefully you can be there for me too because I'm just as lost as you are."

Hank didn't say anything, he just leaned in and kissed Joey tenderly. This kiss was different from the other times they've kissed, the other times were just about lust, this was about something more. It was soft and gentle and comforting. It let both of them know that they would be okay.

4:45 AM

Leo stormed into his apartment and slammed the door on Jesse who was still chasing after him.

"Leo, I'm sorry," Jesse said, "I didn't want tonight to be like that."

"Obviously," Leo replied. "Jesse, why did you even ask me to move in with you if you don't really want that?"

"I do want that," Jesse said. "But we have to learn to compromise here."

"How?" Leo asked.

"We just have to find a way to make the apartment a happy place for both of us," Jesse replied. "You're taste in furniture and paint is a little different from mine. I like very classic and modern stuff, clean and simple."

"And what's mine? Dirty and complex?" Leo asked still steamed.

"What's going on out here?" Kurt asked as him and Ryan opened the door to Kurt's room.

"Nothing," Leo said. "I was going to move into Jesse's place, but I don't think I am anymore."

"What? Move?" Kurt asked surprised.

"Leo, I do want you to move in with me," Jesse said. "Believe me, I want nothing more than for us to live together. How about you and I just redecorate the place together. Everything we decide to put into our place will be something we both agree upon."

"Really?" Leo asked skeptical.

"Yes," Jesse said. "Let me start over. Leo, will you move in with me and make a home with me?"

The anger instantly left both of them and Leo smiled, "Yes. I'd love that."

"What?" Kurt asked still in shock.

"Jesse and I are going to move in together!" Leo said excitedly.

"That's great!" Ryan said giving both of them a hug. "Congratulations."

"You're moving?" Kurt asked Leo.

"Would you guys mind if I talked to Kurt privately real quick?" Leo asked as he took Kurt into his room and closed the door.

"I can't believe you're moving," Kurt said sadly.

"I'm sorry, it took me by surprise too," Leo said. "I should have sat you down and talked to you about this one on one instead of springing it on you."

"Leo, they say that after suffering a big loss that you shouldn't have any major change," Kurt said. "Moving is a major change, for both of us."

"Kurt, there's already been a lot of change lately," Leo said holding Kurt's hand. "This is something that I feel I need. Can you understand that?"

"I guess," Kurt said, "You're right. I'm sorry...I'm very happy for you."

"Really?" Leo asked not believing him.

"Yeah," Kurt lied. "You and Jesse have lived under separate rooms for long enough."

"Thank you," Leo said giving Kurt a hug.

"Now go out there to your man and I'll go out to mine," Kurt said trying to act happy, but inside he was so upset. He already lost Nick and with Leo moving it seems like he's losing him too in a way.

Leo went with Jesse back to his place while Kurt and Ryan went back into Kurt's room.

"So, you okay?" Ryan asked. "I saw your face when Leo told you he was moving. You looked really upset."

"I'll be fine," Kurt said as he laid down next to Ryan in bed. "Ryan?"

"Yeah?" Ryan asked.

"Would yo do me a favor?" Kurt asked.

"Of course," Ryan replied.

"About the whole proposal thing," Kurt said. "Would you mind asking me at a time when I don't feel so sad?"

"Of course babe," Ryan smiled as he gave Kurt a comforting kiss. "Of course."

Kurt laid in Ryan's arms, thinking about Leo moving out.

5:30 AM

"Hey babe," Jesse said as he laid in bed with Leo.

"Yeah?" Leo asked.

"I think your ocean poster will look great right above the bed," Jesse replied. "What do you think?"

"Sounds perfect," Leo smiled giving Jesse a kiss. "It will look great against the blue walls in here." They both felt reassured that they would indeed have a perfect compromise and partnership in living together.

6:00 AM

Over at Joey's place, Hank and Joey both fell asleep on the couch holding onto one another.

Over at Kurt's place, Kurt and Ryan finally fell asleep holding onto one another.

Over at Jesse (and Leo's) place, Jesse and Leo finally fell asleep holding onto one another.

The sun rose...

To Be Continued....

With any comments, questions, or feedback please e-mail me at ilj4ever44@yahoo.com. Thanks so much! Hope you enjoyed it!