Title: Following Your Heart 1/?
Authors: Anorien and Sairalinde
Type: RPS
Pairing: Craig/David
Rating: Explicit Sex
Beta: Ourselves
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: This never happened...this is total fiction.
Feedback: Yes please send to sairalinde @ hornofgondor.com or thechroniclesofosgiliath@ yahoo.com
Archiving: OEAM, our own sites, others please ask
Summary: David and Craig have a misunderstanding and David chases Craig from Los Angeles to New York to explain.

NOTE: Words in // are thoughts //

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[Chapter 1] [Chapter 2] [Chapter 3] [Chapter 4]

Craig found himself in a small conference room in the lower floor of the hotel. It was thankfully deserted, and he didn't think anyone had seem him disappear inside. Locking the door behind him, he rested his back against the wall and sank to the floor, berating himself for being stupid enough to actually believe that David could love him. And Marton…if Marton had wanted David, why the hell hadn't he just said so? Why had he encouraged Craig to tell David how he really felt?

Hearing a tiny beeping sound, Craig reached into his pocket for the source of the noise - his cell phone. And the caller ID said "Marton Csokas". Well, fuck that. He couldn't talk to *him* of all people now. Snapping the cover of the phone off, Craig flung the entire unit across the room, watching as it shattered against the wall. "I don't need this," he growled at the broken phone. "Call your precious David and leave me the hell alone!" Brushing the tears from his face with the sleeve of his shirt, he curled up in the floor, crying quietly, wishing he'd never agreed to do the fucking convention, never told anyone where he was going to be…and trying to wish that last night had never happened…but he couldn't quiet make himself wish that. Nothing could take last night away from him. It was all he had left.

A few minutes later, Craig gathered himself together, found a restroom, and splashed cold water on his face, trying to prepare himself to meet the fans that lined the halls in the large conference rooms. Looking into the mirror, his shirt pulled to the side and his eyes fell to the dark red mark on his neck. Letting his finger trail gently over the angry bruise, he wished he had some way of keeping it there forever, as a gentle reminder of the most perfect night of his life. //David's lips, his tongue, his mark on my skin. The only thing I have left of him, and even it will fade away in just a few days.// Leaning over to rest his forehead on the mirror, he felt his heart break for the second time that morning, wondering just how much more he could take in one day. After a few moments, he gathered himself, put on his trademark grin with a greater than normal effort, and opened the door, ready to do the job he was getting paid for.

David washed up and changed clothes as the little woman named Tori spoke to him from the other room about a few shifts in scheduling. Running a brush through his hair he pulled open the door still trying to figure out why Craig had left. Just as he was ushering Tori out of his room and trying to think his cell phone rang again. "Maybe it's Craig?" he prayed aloud to himself. "Hello?" David asked into the phone only to be met with Marton's greeting again. "Oh hi, Marton," David said softly.

"Just checking to see if you were ok," Marton said from across the ocean. "You left kind of abruptly, and I got a little worried." He liked David, and really was worried, especially after all the messages David had left on his machine. "Is something wrong, mate?"

"There wasn't, now there is," David said flopping down on his bed. "I don't know what I did wrong," he murmured not so much for Marton to hear but for himself. He explained everything to Marton and briefly skimming over the fact that he'd slept with Craig last night...but then while he was on the phone with the older man Craig had taken off.

"You….wait, David," Marton said, collapsing back onto his couch. "You….you slept with Craig? And he took off on you? Why on earth would he do that? He's in lo…he's not the type to just run out. I've been trying to call him, but I keep getting an error message. Did he say anything before he left?" He knew something terrible must have happened to make Craig run out on David, the one person in the entire world he loved with all his heart. And now he wasn't answering his phone. //God, Craig. What happened? Why haven't you called me?</I>

"He just said he remembered something he needed to do, to let myself out when I was finished talking to you, and said we don't need to have that talk after all...we had both agreed that we needed to talk. I wanted to tell him how I feel. God Marton I don't know what I did wrong, everything was fine, and then while I was talking to you on the phone everything seemed to just go to hell in a handbasket," David said rubbing his fingers against his temples.

"You wanted to tell him how you feel?" Marton asked, running a hand over his eyes. "Damn, David, I think you two definitely need to talk. He has a lot to tell you too, of that I'm certain. You need to find him. Something obviously happened, because it would take a hell of a lot to get him to run out on *you*. He….//adores you.//wouldn't do that without a good reason. He can be hard to draw out when he's hurt or upset, but you have to try. I don't want to butt in, but if you want him, as a friend, or as *anything*, please tell him. He needs to know, David. And he needs to hear it from you."

"That's why I'm here Marton, I flew halfway around the world to be here with *him*, and I didn't get the chance to explain," David said still replaying the events of the morning. "I...wait...oh God," David murmured. "Marton...do you think that maybe..." David trailed off as Marton's voice joined his.

"…he heard you talking to me about dinner, and thought that you and I were…..oh shit, David." Marton leaned against the back of the couch. He'd *sworn* to Craig that he wouldn't tell David how he felt, sworn not to interfere, but this….this changed things. "David," he began, trying to figure out the best way to say what needed to be said without betraying his friend. "I…listen, I think that if Craig thought you and I were….were….dating, or whatever, it would break his heart. He'd be devastated. And not because he has feelings for me. Do you see what I'm saying?"

"Oh God," David murmured as suddenly Sean's words coupled with what Marton had just said clicked in his mind. "I've got to find him. I'll...I'll call you later Marton...if he calls you will you please tell him NOTHING is going on between us?" David asked as he stood up and shoved his wallet and keycard into his pockets.

"Count on it," Marton said with a smile, worried and happy for Craig and David, and hoping they'd finally get their act together. "And call to let me know what happens…either way, ok?"

"I will, thanks Marton," David said rushing out of his room and hoping to catch Craig before things picked up with the convention. Unfortunately David had no such luck, he was cornered by Tori almost as soon as he stepped out of the elevator and ushered off to a conference room filled with fans. He plastered on a fake smile and did his job. Throughout the morning David tried to talk to Craig, to get his attention in some way, but the other man obviously didn't want to talk to him. He'd hurt Craig he could see it in his eyes the few times their eyes met that he wasn't going to get a chance to explain. To tell him it wasn't what he thought, to tell him that he loved him, that he would never hurt him. That it was all a big misunderstanding.

Craig tried not to look at David, but it was difficult. Several times when he'd looked up, David had been looking at him, and that only made it hurt worse. //Wonder if I was a good one night stand? Or if he wants another, at least until Marton gets here? Hell, maybe I can have a whole week if Marton's busy! // He tried not to blame either of them, but he was so hurt. He knew he needed time to think, to forgot about those startling blue eyes, those soft lips that drew back in an easy smile whenever David talked to anyone, the feel of his hands on Craig's body. No, he decided, he could never forget that. But he had to move on. And he couldn't do that while David kept looking across the room at him. As soon as humanly possible, Craig made a hasty exit, leaving the hotel and catching the first cab he saw, telling the cabbie to just drive somewhere, anywhere. He didn't give a damn anymore.

David hadn't been able to catch Craig all day, he went to his room but he wasn't there. He checked with the front desk to make sure Craig hadn't checked out yet, and they said he hadn't. He left several messages with them and then wrote a note and slipped it under Craig's door, praying he'd read it. David sighed and collapsed into a chair. He was exhausted, and wanted to get things straightened out with Craig. Pulling the hotel phone into his lap with his cell phone he propped his feet on the bed and tried to relax. David hoped Craig would call so he could explain...and he was hurt that Craig would even think he was the type person to sleep with him trying to get his best friend like that. "Please, Craig...please call me," he whispered softly in the darkening room.

Craig sat in the back of the cab, staring blindly out the window at the nameless, faceless people lining the sidewalk. He couldn't blame David for being attracted to Marton, but, God, it hurt. And there could be no other explanation - David had never really seemed interested in anything more than friendship while they were filming, then he positively *glowed* when he found out Craig and Marton weren't together and now….now this. David left not one, but 'several' messages for Marton, and they'd even made a dinner date. He just couldn't deal with either of them right now. Remembering that David said he'd signed up for a few conventions, Craig knew he couldn't face the man he'd been ready to confess his love to that very morning. He reached automatically for his cell phone, remembering that it was a shattered mess in some blank room back at the hotel. Offering the cab driver $50 to use his phone, Craig quickly called his manager, asked her to cancel his present bookings, rearrange his schedule and under *NO* circumstances was she to tell anyone where he was……anyone at all. Before he hung up, he asked her to order him a new cell phone, complete with a new phone number, which, likewise, was not to be given out to a soul, and have it delivered to him at the hotel's front desk first thing in the morning. After he hung up, he leaned back against the seat, heaving a deep sigh. At least *that* was taken care of.

David startled awake, he must have fallen asleep in the chair, he honestly hadn't had much sleep the last few days and it was catching up to him. He set the phone aside and checked his cell to make sure the battery wasn't dead. It wasn't. "Damn it Craig, why haven't you called me?" he whispered knowing the answer, he thought David had used him. He wasn't exactly the stalker type but he was *not* going to walk away now. Replaying the events of the night before and early morning he knew he had seen something in Craig's eyes. He *knew* that at least some of the feelings he had for the younger man were returned...well keyword there, Daisy...were. //What if he really does hate me now? Even if he finds out the truth...will it change his mind then?</i>

Hours after it had pulled away, Craig's cab parked back in front of the same hotel where it had picked him up. A generous tip assured that the driver would stay and wait, and Craig steeled himself to go back to his room, praying that he could avoid David. //Damn. Never thought I'd want to avoid *him* of all people, but…things are different now. Different then there were when I first work up this morning, and believed it all might work out.// He took the elevator up to his room and hurried down the hall. He wasn't even sure *why* he was hurrying. It wasn't like David would be trying to talk to him. Craig was the one who'd mentioned 'one night stand', not David. Granted, Craig had veritably stormed out of the room, but one night stands were allowed to be unpredictable, weren't they? Looking down, he saw the note folded up on the floor, his name written in David's clear handwriting. //There's nothing he can say that can take this pain away. Nothing. Let him be happy with Marton, and let them both leave me alone to get over this. // Without opening the note, he closed his eyes and pressed it to his lips, then lay it carefully on the nightstand, before turning to pack. //Goodbye David. No matter what, I will never forget last night. Never. </I>

David paced around his room wondering if Craig had returned yet. He picked up the phone and dialed his room praying the other man would answer. He didn't get an answer so he picked up his cell phone from the bed and slipped out into the hall to go toward Craig's room. He stopped in front of his door and waited for a moment before knocking. //Please, please be back...please TALK to me.//David waited and wondered if the other man would answer or not. After a few minutes he decided Craig must not be back yet, he wrote his cell number on a small slip of paper and slid it under the door with the words, "Please call me" written on it. He figured with all the messages he was leaving there was no need to put his name on it. Craig would know. Sighing deeply and running his fingers through his hair he returned to his own room. Sitting down on the edge of the bed David stared at the floor dejectedly. If he kept calling...if he kept trying to see him maybe...maybe Craig will see that he doesn't want Marton. David prayed that at the next convention he could get Craig to talk to him. He got up and started packing what few things he'd unpacked. He had a flight in the morning, and prayed he would meet up with Craig.

Craig closed his eyes as he heard the knock on the door, wondering who would be there at this time of night. With his luck, Marton had flown in to spend the rest of the week with David, and they probably wanted to break the news to him gently. He walked quietly over to the door and looked out the peephole, dragging in a deep breath when he saw the man he loved standing on the other side, looking distinctly uncomfortable. // God, David. You don't have to spell it out for me. Just go…be with the man you love, and let me work this out by myself. // His hand reached up to caress the door, his fingertips remembering the soft, warm skin that had responded to his touch earlier that same day. Would that same skin have responded even more ardently to Marton's fingertips? Even as he watched, David scribbled a note and slid it under the door, just between Craig's feet, then turned and walked away. This note joined the first on the nightstand, unread. Giving David enough time to get back to his room, wherever that may be, Craig grabbed his suitcase and quickly went downstairs to check out, stuffing the handful of messages the clerk handed him into his pockets without bothering to look at them. They didn't matter. Nothing mattered now that he didn't have David.

The next morning David called downstairs hoping to leave Craig a message but the desk clerk told him that the man in room 415 had already left. David slammed down the phone and collapsed on the bed. "Fuck!" he shouted into the empty room not caring how early it was and that the people next door might have heard him. Slowly he gathered his things and called for a cab to take him to the airport. He didn't want to do anymore damn conventions but if Craig was doing them, then so was he. He *needed* to talk to him, to set things right. David didn't know what to do, couldn't reach Craig...so he called Marton. The older man had sighed and said that he too had tried Craig on his cell but that he too got a message saying the number was invalid. He had told David to give him time. After hanging up David felt his heart sink, and then remembered New Zealand. Going to the airport he prayed that he might run into Craig like he had then.

Craig stared up at the ceiling of another strange room, in another strange city. He'd called Karen, his manager, and gotten his new schedule, which couldn't have been more different from his previous one, faxed to his room, and again made her promise not to give his whereabouts to anyone, even his usual friends. Having actors or writers or anyone associated with a movie like LOTR was always a welcome addition to any convention, so she'd had no trouble booking him and sending his sincere apologies to the ones he had to cancel out on. After he'd dressed and went downstairs, he'd found that Karen had his new phone there waiting for him, and, as per her usual M.O., didn't ask any unnecessary questions, simply sending a note that she was the only one with the new number. He spent the rest of the day surprising fans who hadn't known he would be there, and trying his damnedest to think about anything other than David.

When David arrived in Seattle and gotten settled into his hotel he discovered that Craig was not going to be there after all, that he had cancelled. Immediately he called Melissa and asked her how he could find out Craig's schedule, she said it hadn't been sent to her yet but that his manager had called and said she'd made changes to it. David thanked her and hung up just before he threw the phone on the floor in disgust. Staring at the phone for long moments he scooped it up again and dug out his wallet. He had several numbers of cast members there, mutual friends, and he called them all, asking them to get a message to Craig for him if he called them. Elijah was the one who suggested he use the internet to try and track down where Craig would be. He asked why David needed to talk to him so badly, and David avoided as much as he could. Finally the boy gave up. That afternoon after countless photos ops, and autographs he went to the nearest electronics store and bought a laptop with wireless internet access.

Craig smiled at each fan, listening to everything thing had to say, and using all his skills as an actor to appear carefree and unworried. Maybe in a few months, he could call Marton or David, and act like it hadn't been the worst pain he'd ever suffered. Each time he'd called Karen, she said she had several messages for him, but he refused them all unless they were directly related to his family or his work. He could tell she was getting frustrated with his insistence when she only half-jokingly mentioned that she was his manager, not his secretary. "Just a little time, Karen," he told her softly. "I….I'll try to explain one day. I just can't right now." Then he went back to the fans, sitting at the table he'd been assigned long after the other actors had left, unable to go back to his lonely room, and not feeling up to going out with the few people who offered.

David had spent several days trying to figure out Craig's schedule, which cities he would be in on what days. Information off the internet was 'iffy' at best, but it was all he had to go on. He read that Craig *might* be scheduled to be in Chicago, so David called Melissa and changed his booking to the same. He prayed he would be able to catch up to him there. This was getting ridiculous really. His brain was telling him to just give up and go home, but his heart wouldn't let him. Arriving at O'Hare he pushed through the crowds to get a cab and went to the hotel where the convention was being held. He was late because of bad weather in Denver, and only arrived in time to grab a quick shower and go down to the convention. Craig was there, but he couldn't get a moment to talk to him. Every time he tried he got interrupted by fans. He smiled and did his job, but inside he was dying to speak with Craig alone. Just seeing him again had made it a little easier, the ache in his heart just a little less, but not enough. He saw Craig make his way for the doors and tried to follow him but was unable to catch up. David ran into one of the organizers and asked what room Craig was staying in. He thanked her and made his way up to Craig's room praying he could get him to talk to him this time.

Craig's heart sped up when he looked across the room and saw the man he still loved with all his heart. //David, please. Don't make this worse. I'm trying to forget you. You said you were bored…can't you be bored somewhere else? Can't you just go and have your dinner and your love affair with Marton and leave me alone? // He turned and left the room, hoping David hadn't seen him. He started to head to his suite, but was afraid that if David had seen him, he'd simply follow him and try to explain. There was nothing to explain, really. David loved Marton. And how could Marton *not* love David? How could anyone not love David? But he was a good man, and probably wanted to explain that when he'd come to Craig's room to ask him about Marton, he'd just let things get carried away when Craig had practically begged to kiss him. End of story. No explanation needed. Avoiding his room, he headed down the street, finding a small bookstore that served coffee and pastries, and settled down in a dark corner for a few hours.

David didn't get an answer at Craig's door, and just like the last time wrote down his cell number and slipped it under his door. Defeated he made his way for his own room. Throwing himself on the bed he finally let the tears come, he'd been fighting his emotions for over a week now...and he couldn't anymore. Craig wouldn't even speak to him, barely even *looked* at him today. His chest ached as he sobbed. Maybe he should just go home? Go home and be lonely for the rest of his days. He had one more convention he'd promised to do, and he'd fulfill that promise and nothing more. Staring at the phone beside his bed he sat up wiping his eyes. He'd try again in New York to talk to Craig...if he turned him away this time then he would go home. Gathering his things he called and arranged an earlier flight. He suspected Craig would stay away here in Chicago just as he had in Los Angeles so he figured it would just be best to get an early flight. At least he had a friend in New York, Viggo was staying there and he knew he would be lonely without Sean who was away filming. He could at least talk to a friend about all of this besides constantly pestering poor Marton on the phone.

Late that night, Craig returned to his room, having fended off the attentions of a very handsome young man who seemed to have no clue what Craig did for a living. He seemed genuinely interested, but Craig couldn't have cared less. With a soft smile, he told the young man the he was taken….and he was. Too bad the feeling wasn't mutual. With a heavy heart, he returned to his room, only to find another note under his door. //This has to stop. He deserves to be happy, and he doesn't have to follow me around to make sure I'm ok with this. I'll never be ok with it, but I *will* move on. Somehow. I have to.// Craig knew he couldn't face David yet. But he knew someone who could. Sitting on the edge of his bed, he dialed Sean's London number, remembering that he was there filming now, and poor Viggo must be back here in the states feeling as lonely as Craig was. //At least the man Vig loves loves him back. I'd give anything to know what that feels like.// Telling himself to stop feeling this pathetic self-pity, he smiled when Sean answered. "Bean!" he said in his best imitation of a happy voice, "how ya doin' mate?"

"Craig? I'm doing well...I...I was sort of hoping you'd call, I don't have your new number...or numbers. How many bloody times are you going to change your number? Don't tell me you are like Vig and lose your mobile all the time?" Sean teased as he leaned back in his chair setting aside the script he'd been going over.

Craig swallowed the lump that suddenly rose in his throat and made the effort to smile, knowing that Sean could hear the pain in voice if he wasn't careful. "Yeah," he laughed a bit hollowly, even to his own ears, "I lost the last one in California, I believe. I'll call you in a few days and give you this number, but I'm in a bit of a rush just now, and I don't remember it myself without looking at the little card-thingie that came with it. But, I wanted to ask you a quick favor, if you don't mind?"

"Favor? Sure you know I'd do anything...but I am glad you called. There's something I need to talk to you about," Sean said remembering the dozen or more phone calls from David.

"Seems I'm quite the popular man these days," Craig sighed, trying to keep his voice light as he remembered the handful of messages Karen and various hotel clerks tried to give him every time they had the chance. "So you want to hear my favor first, or get whatever you've got to say off your chest?"

Sean glanced at the answering machine that still held several desperate sounding messages from David, and remembered talking to him the day before, David was nearly in tears on the phone. It wasn't his place to tell Craig how David felt about him but it was killing him. "Favor then I'll have a go," Sean suggested.

"Deal," Craig said in relief. "It's….it's about David. I need you to tell him to stop calling me. And that….." he paused for a moment, tears filling his eyes and his heart hurting so badly he could hardly breathe. It was several seconds before he could finally take a deep breath and continue, wiping the tears away with one hand as he closed his eyes and fought against fresh ones. "…that he doesn't need to explain anything to me, honestly. He should just go on and be happy with….he should just be happy. Can you tell him that for me, please, Sean?"

Sean frowned at the phone and sighed, "Craig...it's not my place to say certain things, so I won't. You *need* to talk to David, please. He's been driving EVERYONE and I do mean everyone crazy trying to get in touch with you. I have over a dozen messages, and I spoke with him for nearly an hour yesterday. He is desperately in love with someone, and I think you know who that is...and yes he told me, and it is NOT Marton. That's all I can say without betraying my friend, but you NEED to talk to him Craig. Get this straightened out. The poor man has been chasing you all over the states. Give him five minutes, Craig. Please," Sean said softly hoping that Craig could see through his pain what he was trying to tell him without actually *telling* him.

Lying back against the headboard, Craig shook his head. "Sean, please," he said softly. "Don't make this worse. There's nothing for me to talk to David about, and you don't know what happened, or you'd understand. He's been chasing me to try and explain that he didn't *mean* to hurt me, but….." his voice caught in his throat and the tears streamed from his eyes unheeded. "Dammit, Sean….I can't do this. I'll….I've got to go. I'll call you back when I can talk. I know you're only trying to help, but…..I just can't right now.." With that, he hit the off button and lay the phone back on the nightstand, sliding down in the bed and curling up to the pillow beside him, no longer even trying to keep the tears at bay. //God, David, *why why why* can't you love me? Or, at least just leave me alone? // Pulling the blanket over him, he lay there and cried for over an hour, his tears only stopping when he fell into an exhausted sleep.

Sean stared at the phone for a moment before hanging it up. He and David needed to work this out. He knew exactly why David wanted to talk to Craig, but he hadn't the chance to say anything else when Craig had hung up. He could hear his voice breaking, and it broke his heart. Instead of putting the phone down he called Viggo. He needed to hear his voice and thanked God that he didn't have to go through the hell the two of them were.

~~~

David pushed the off button on the remote and stood up stretching. He looked over at the phone for what seemed the millionth time and willed it to ring, which of course it didn't. He sighed heavily. David had arrived at the hotel early and had showered and sat down in front of the TV in just a towel. He barely had the will power to even call for roomservice the last few days. He looked up at the door when someone knocked trying to remember if he had in fact called something to be delivered or not. Crossing to the door he swung it open without checking to see who it was. His knees felt weak and he found himself gaping at the man standing in his doorway.

Without a word, Craig stepped inside the room and closed the door behind him. One arm wrapped around the man he loved and pulled him close and his other hand lifted to allow his fingers to feather through soft strawberry hair. "I've been thinking about this…..about us….and I can't live without you David," he said softly. "I talked with Sean, and he made me realize that I've been a complete fool. I need you, I want you, and I am completely in love with you." Before David could argue, Craig urged him back against the wall, pressing his lips against the soft lips of the man he loved, letting his tongue slide inside to tenderly lick and savor the delicious flavor that was uniquely David's own.

//He loves me!//David melted into Craig's embrace his lips parting under his lover's assault and his arms winding around his waist to pull him closer. He felt so many emotions at once, relief, love, happiness, and he realized his hands were trembling as they caressed down his lover's back. Craig was here, was in his room, kissing him, and he loved him! As they kissed David felt his arousal stirring and pressed his hips forward slightly to move against Craig's body pressing against his own.

Craig pulled away only long enough to pull his shirt over his head, throwing it to the floor, completely forgotten the second it left his fingertips. He hadn't been able to wait….after he'd thought about what Sean had said, it all made sense. Of course David wouldn't be into one night stands, and there's no way Marton would go after the one man in the world Craig really cared for. He'd been stupid, and stubborn, and he wanted nothing more than to make up for every second he'd avoided David, every moment he'd wasted, every heartbeat he'd missed. His hands hurriedly pushed his sweats down and he kicked them aside, even as his hands unwrapped the damp towel from his lover's waist. Craig was hard and aching, and he needed David like he'd never needed anyone before in his life. As their naked bodies danced and slid against each other's, Craig's arousal pressed against David's and he let out a low moan. "God, David, I love you so much," he breathed against his lover's lips. "I can't live another second without you in my arms."

"Oh God, Craig. I love you so much too...it's been killing me the last few weeks. I never meant to hurt you. I'm so sorry," David said softly his breath hitching in his chest as Craig's body moved against his own. He couldn't remember a time when he'd felt this happy. Everything he ever wanted was right here in his arms. "Please Craig...please make love to me. I need you so much," he pleaded against his lover's lips before kissing him deeply his hands pulling Craig's body even closer.

"Don't be sorry, love," Craig whispered. "It was my fault, and I can't even *think*, I need you so badly." His lips descended again as his hand fumbled on the dresser and found the small bottle of hand lotion that sat in exactly the same spot in his room. Trusting that everything in their rooms were identical, he turned them both around and felt the back of his knees hit the edge of a soft chair that sat against the wall. Sliding backward to sit on the chair, he pulled his lover down to straddle his thighs, twisting the lid off the lotion behind David's back, moaning and feeling as if he were finally home. Spreading the lotion liberally over his fingers, he slid one hand down David's cleft and pressed one finger forward into the tight heat of the beautiful body he held in his arms, his cock leaking and hard as it pressed against David's. Twisting carefully, he quickly added a second finger, and bent them both, rubbing gently against his lover's prostate as he deepened the kiss.

David gasped as Craig pulled him down into his lap. Placing his hands on Craig's shoulder's David leaned forward kissing Craig and moaning into his lover's mouth as his slick finger slipped inside him followed quickly by a second rubbing against David's prostate. His hips moved forward and back rocking forward to feel their cock rub against each other and back onto the fingers stretching him and preparing him for more. Drawing back from the deep kiss David moaned softly, "I love you."

Craig slowly slid his fingers from his lover's body and used the remaining lotion to slick up his cock as he stared into his lover's eyes. "I love you, David," he whispered softly, never meaning anything in his life as much as he meant those three little words. "I've loved you since the first second I laid eyes on and you and I was too much of a coward to tell you." Sliding his hands down David's sides to rest at his hips, he gently urged him to lean forward as he positioned the head of his arousal against David's entrance. "You are the only one for me, David. There'll never be anyone else, ever."

"Never anyone else for me either," David said brokenly as he felt Craig's thick cock press against him, and then slowly breach the tight muscle. Moaning as he lowered himself onto the hard shaft, David leaned forward and sealed his lips to Craig's. Kissing Craig deeply he began to rock his hips feeling his muscles clench and release around his lover. He had never felt this way about anyone in his life, Craig was perfect, beautiful, sexy, and the look in his eyes as David drew away to breathe was almost his undoing.

Craig's cock got even harder and thicker as David lowered himself, taking every last inch into his body. He wanted to kiss those perfect lips before him, but found he was unable to look away from the sparkling blue eyes that he so dearly loved. One arm held David close as the other reached between them to wrap his fingers around the warm column of flesh that lay trapped between them. Finally breaking their gaze, Craig rested his head against David's shoulder, his lips fiercely marking the smooth skin of his lover's neck. Letting his tongue soothe the mark for a moment, he began sucking on the same spot again, trying to stifle the cries that threatened to spill forth with each deep thrust into tight heat. //God, how could I ever have doubted there was something between us? //

David moaned as Craig marked him the feeling of being claimed made his mind reel and his body move faster. Being filled over and over again by his lover David tipped his head back exposing more of his neck to Craig as one hand gripped the chair back the other his lover's shoulder feeling the muscles flexing under the smooth sweat slick skin. His release was fast approaching as Craig stroked him in time with their movements. "I'm coming, love," David moaned grinding his hips down feeling his muscles clench tight around the thick shaft as he spilled warm and slick over Craig's fingers.

The feel of David's seed spilling over his fingers, combined with his soft moans were all Craig needed to let go and thrust up one final time, burying his cock deeply inside his lover's body as it pulsed and released the thick fluid that had been building up since the last time he'd made love to David. "Oh, God, David," he cried out softly, "I love you so much." He let his thumb trail over the tip of his lover's cock before sliding his hand from between them, his arms wrapping around his lover and pulling him close as their bodies trembled together. Resting his head against David's chest, Craig closed his eyes and could have cried in relief at being here, with David, like this, and knowing that this was where he was going to stay for the rest of his life. "I'm so sorry, love," he said softly. "I never want to be apart from you again. I can't stand it."

David shuddered as he felt his lover spill his release inside him. He melted into Craig's embrace as his arms wrapped around him and sighed happily. "Oh, love...don't be sorry...we are here together now. That's all that matters...I never want to be apart from you again. I thought I was going to go crazy these last few weeks," David said softly planting soft kisses all over Craig's face.

Craig held David closer and gave himself over to the warm, soft kisses as his hands moved over the damp skin of his lover's back. A soft smiled graced his lips and he felt his David's body relaxing against his own. "Yes…" he said softly, "we are here together now. Finally. That *is* all that matters."

Tilting his head back, he thought that each press of David's lips to his skin felt like warm tears sliding down his face. He wasn't at all surprised to find that he was crying - he'd never felt happier in his life than he did at this moment, but as he licked his lips, he tasted tears that seemed to be coming from everywhere. Opening his eyes to see if David was crying from the sheer joy of the moment as Craig himself was, he saw nothing but the dark sheets of the pillow he'd been clutching to him, stained with countless tears. As his arms reached across the bed for his lover, he realized there was a sticky warmth on his stomach. Not David's….his own. It had to be his own, he realized as he sat up with a cry, looking frantically around the bed, because he was alone. David wasn't here, hadn't *been* here. It was a dream….a beautiful, heartbreaking, devastating dream. Crying out in misery, Craig flung himself back against the pillow and sobbed as he'd never done before, his arms and heart aching for what he'd never have again.

David sat back to look into Craig's beautiful blue eyes his heart aching after everything he'd went through to try and catch up to the man only to have him come to his door. Staring at his lover it seemed as if Craig were fading away before him and David clutched at him trying to pull him closer. "No...no please don't leave me...please!" he cried tears streaming hotly down his face. Suddenly David sat up and realized he was in his hotel room, alone, in the dark. His sheets were sticking to him, and he realized it had all been a dream...a dream that ended in a nightmare. Whimpering in misery he collapsed back onto the bed dragging his pillow close and wept for what had never been.

***
David walked out of the hotel to meet his cab pulling his jacket up a bit to protect him from the rain that was blowing in under the pavilion. He wondered if his flight might end up delayed after all. Yet again he'd left messages for Craig, had begged him to call him, slipped notes under his door, and *tried* to approach him during the convention but yet again nothing came of it. He got into the cab and told the driver to take him to JFK. Staring out of the window at the rain David thought of the dream he'd had the night before. It had seemed so real...he had wanted it to be true...wanted it too much. He had spent a few hours with Viggo, who had listened to the entire story and told him that he shouldn't give up but it was obvious Craig was not going to talk to him. He wasn't reading any of the messages he'd left or if he was he didn't believe them. David sighed as the taxi stopped and he made his way through the bustling crowd inside the crowded airport. He had considered canceling his flight home a few times, Viggo had offered for him to stay with him until he had to go to London. Vig was lonely without Sean and said it would be nice to have the company. David figured that his friend was just worried about him going back home to brood alone. Vig may have had a point. As he started toward security he spotted Craig up ahead of him in the crowd. "Great. Another opportunity to have him turn me away," David said to himself though try as he might he couldn't take his eyes from the other man. Not even when he turned and saw David staring at him. Craig seemed to pause and stare back at him for a moment and then look down at something in his hands but David couldn't see what it was. Then the crowd shifted and he lost sight of him. "Just as well," David thought to himself. Looking down at his luggage he decided piss on it, he was going to take up Viggo's offer after all. He just didn't want to go home...alone for the next three days to sit around depressed. //Yeah, Like Vig wants me to stay on his couch in this state...but he did invite me, and I don't want to be alone right now.//He picked up his bags and headed back out into the rain. Apparently it was monsoon season in New York. Because of the increased security of late he wasn't able to wait for a cab under the awning so he walked down the sidewalk in the rain and wished he'd remembered to buy an umbrella.

Craig had stood miserably in the middle of the crowd, grateful that no one seemed to recognize him. He'd had almost no sleep after the dream the night before. It'd seemed so real, and he'd have given anything - anything at all - if it'd been true. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and felt all the messages that had seemed to accumulate over the past few weeks, mostly unread. Curling his fingers around the crumpled papers, he thought he could almost feel David close to him. He turned with a sigh and looked around at the crowd, drawing in a ragged breath when he saw the very man he was day dreaming about standing across the busy terminal, staring sadly at him. //God, was David still trying to explain things to him? It's really not necessary. I understand. You want Marton, not me. Don't you?// Drawing his hands out of his pocket, he tore his gaze away from David and looked down at the messages. "Craig - Please call me. - David" "Craig, we need to talk." Most of the messages were like that. David wanted to explain about his feelings for Marton. Tears welled up in his eyes as the crowd pushed him forward. As the young woman behind the counter asked for his boarding pass, he fumbled in his inner jacket pocket for a moment and passed it to her, fighting the urge to look back at the man he loved one more time. //No. Just get on the plane. Let him go. // He moved ahead and made his way toward the plane, stopping at a trash can to throw away the handful of messages he still clutched in one hand. He'd read them all except one. The very last one. He started to throw it in the trash with the rest, but something caught his eye. The word "Marton" was printed in David's neat handwriting. //So, he finally decided to explain in a message and get it over with.// He hesitated for only a moment as the crowd continued to pass him by, wanting to throw it away, yet not quite able to.

The message read:
//<B>"Craig, Please just talk to me, please. It isn't what you think, I don't want Marton, and never have. Please...it has only been a misunderstanding...I need the chance to explain. Yours, David"</b></I>

David waited on the sidewalk in the rain, he saw a cab pull forward but there was a woman with two small children in tow and so he stepped back and let her have it. He stared out at the wet landscape around him glad for the rain because it covered the tears that had started to slip down his face. This was it, he had said that this would be his last attempt to talk to Craig...and now here it was. He was going back to Viggo's and then flying to London to work. It was over. He had tried his absolute best to get Craig to talk to him, and he needed to accept that he would NEVER talk to him again. He'd fucked up...and there apparently was no going back. Hunching his shoulders against the cold rain he shoved his hands in his pockets and ignored the cab that pulled up, a business man ended up getting in it and David just stood there. He didn't care that he was soaked through, he didn't care about anything other than the man he'd left in the airport. His entire heart and soul were there with him and out here in the rain he felt hollow, his chest aching as his tears increased with the rain that was falling even harder now.

Craig felt a cold sweat break out over his entire body as he read David's message. David didn't want Marton? Never had? But…..then why….? Leaning back against the wall, he closed his eyes and tried to make sense of everything. He remembered Orli's poking him in the ribs all those months ago, saying that he wished someone would look at him the way David looked at Craig. Craig had brushed it off as Orlando being Orlando. He thought about all the laughs and inside jokes he and David had shared over the months of filming, the way they seemed to find each other on the days they weren't even scheduled to be on the set. He pictured the look of relief on David's face when he'd found that Craig and Marton weren't a couple. Could that relief have been because……because Craig was free, not Marton? And the dinner date? Maybe just a friendly evening, much like the ones Craig had shared with practically everyone he'd worked with at one time or another? God…..what if David really wanted him? Him and *not* Marton? And he'd never even given David the chance to explain. He deserved that much, at least.

The crowd had thinned dramatically as Craig turned and ran back toward the main terminal, frantically searching for the man he loved and desperately need to talk to. He was nowhere in sight. No soft red hair, sparkling blue eyes, and drop dead gorgeous smile searching for him across the room. He'd avoided David for so long…and now he needed to talk to him, he was nowhere to be found. //David, please? Where are you?// He ran outside in the pouring rain, searching each face, his heart breaking. I've pushed him away. He *did* care and I pushed him away. Running through the crowd, he saw a familiar figure standing on the sidewalk. God……could it be him?

David stared down at the water pooling at his feet, and raised his hand to hail a cab, that is if they let him in completely soaked like that. He sighed as one pulled up and started gathering his bags to move toward it. He just wanted to get to Viggo's take a warm shower and sleep. His friend would understand if he didn't feel like talking about it...because he didn't. Not now...he'd just given up on the one thing he'd wanted more than anything in the world. He did NOT want to talk about that not yet, it hurt too much. He stepped toward the cab but thought he heard someone call his name. Sighing he figured it might be a fan or something and started to turn around, hoping if it was that the rain covered his tears.

Craig called out David's name again and again, but knew he probably couldn't be heard over the pouring rain. Threading his way through the crowd, he saw the figure he was sure was David step toward the cab, then pause as Craig called out his name again. Before David could turn around, Craig was there beside him, suddenly at a loss as to what to say. Reaching out a trembling hand, he rested it on David's shoulder, praying that he'd gotten it right - that everything he'd put together in his mind just a few minutes ago was real….that David did love him, and maybe *could* forgive him. Teardrops mixed with raindrops and ran down his face unnoticed. "David?" he asked softly, his heart in his throat and his stomach suddenly churning with nervousness.

Turning as David felt someone touch his shoulder he stared in shock as he saw Craig standing there. He thought he was dreaming again but pulled Craig into his arms clinging to him. "Craig?" he asked weakly his voice still choked with tears. Why was he here? Was he finally telling David to leave him alone? If he was then David's reaction to hug him was probably not the smartest move of all time. Stepping back and breaking contact David kept his eyes downcast. "I'm sorry...sorry I know you asked Sean to tell me to leave you alone...and...and I will. You are gona miss your flight. I'm...I'm not going to bother you anymore," David began sadly. He didn't want Craig to think he was some lunatic stalker, he'd just wanted to talk to him, but after talking to Sean he knew he'd come across that way. So he'd tried today, and failed. Now he just wanted to go.

Craig's breath hitched as David took him into his arms. 'Everything's going to be ok,' he thought just as David pulled away and stepped back. "My plane's already left," he said as quietly as he could and still be heard over the downpour. Reaching out take David's hands, he pulled him back from curb, wanting nothing more than to take him in his arms and hold him until they could both barely breathe, but forcing himself to slow down, to make sure he was right before he flung himself into David's arms. He looked down for a moment, before taking a deep breath and squeezing David's hands. "I didn't get on the plane because I had to talk to you. I….I couldn't leave things between us the way they are now. I'm not sure I should be doing this, and I'm not sure how you feel about me, but I had to tell you…tell you that I'm in love with you, and have been for a very, very long time, even before we spent the night together in LA."

David couldn't believe what Craig was telling him, he was in love with him, had been in love with him but had run from him all this time. "Why...why did you leave that morning then? Why...I mean I know you overheard me talking to Marton but why would you assume I wanted him? It was you I was with, it was you I'd flown across an entire ocean to be with...granted you didn't know that but if I wanted him why wouldn't I have just stayed in New Zealand?" David asked softly. He couldn't understand why Craig had assumed he'd use him like that. "How...how could you think I'd use you like that, Craig?" David said looking down.

Craig closed his eyes. //It *was* too late. He'd screwed up his one and only chance for happiness, all because he was being a stubborn bastard and had refused to let David talk..// He gently dropped David's hands and forced himself to stand here and listen to David say it was too late, that Craig had finally managed to push him away. Standing here and letting David talk was the least he deserved. "I'm so sorry, David," he said, looking down and wrapping his arms around himself in an unconscious gesture of self-preservation. "I don't know what I was thinking…I just put it together - but I put it together all wrong. You never seemed interested in anything more than friendship while we were filming, and you seemed so relieved when I told you Marton and I weren't together…I just thought you were relieved that Marton was free. Then…..damn, I don't know. That night in LA, when I asked you what you were doing there, you said you were bored….not that you came to see anyone in particular, just that you were bored. But that night, God, that night…it just felt so right, and I finally managed to convince myself that maybe it was me you cared for, not Marton. That was when I heard you say you'd called Marton 'several' times, and you arranged to have dinner and….and so ….I just fucked up. You'll never know how sorry I am about all this - especially about not giving you the chance to explain. I know it's too late, but I just had to try."

David moved closer to Craig and tentatively rested his hand on his arm. "Craig...it's not too late. I mean, well today was the last time I was going to contact you because I had promised myself a last chance. I was supposed to get on a plane headed for home, but...I couldn't get on it. I decided to stay here in New York with Viggo...he's lonely without Sean, and..and I didn't relish going home to mope around until I had to start filming in London. You...but you came to *me* this time. I still love you Craig, I've loved you since the moment I first laid eyes on you. I didn't tell you during filming because...because I thought you were with Marton. Funny we both had that impression of each other. Sean was the one who kept telling me to talk to you, but I thought you were with Marton you two were so close. Then you told me at the airport that you weren't with him...I was thrilled. Then I decided to book myself at the conventions. To...to see you...to tell you how I felt. I just...I didn't get the chance. I said I was bored because I wasn't able to build up the courage to say the words yet. But I'm saying them now. I love you, Craig. I will always love you, and the last few weeks have been killing me."

Craig placed his hand over David's and slowly looked up into his eyes, noticing for the first time that there were tears streaming from his eyes, mixing with the rain as they flowed down his cheeks. "You…..you love me." he repeated softly, his heartbeat picking up speed and pounding in his chest as he raised one hand to rest on David's face, gently brushing the warm tears away one by one. "I was such a stupid ass, and I can't tell you how sorry I am for everything. I've been so miserable without you, David. Can you ever forgive me for being so blind and stubborn?"

Leaning into Craig's touch David closed his eyes for a moment feeling his love brush his tears away. "Yes, I forgive you...it was just a huge misunderstanding. I should have told you months ago, but like an idiot I was afraid to. I...I've never felt like this about anyone before, and I was scared. I can't believe you are standing here, I keep wondering when you will fade away and I'll wake up realizing this was only a dream," David said softly turning his hand over underneath Craig's to grasp his fingers with his own. "We've both made mistakes, and I think we've both been miserable."

Craig wrapped his fingers around David's and let his other arm slip behind his lover's back. He moved in slowly, not sure whether this was real, or too much, or not enough, until his head rested on David's shoulder, his lips mere centimeters away from David's ear. "I love you," he whispered softly, closing his eyes and squeezing his lover's hand, tears and raindrops falling from his face to David's already saturated jacket. "I was too afraid to tell you before, but now I want to say it over and over for as long as I live. I. Love. You."

Feeling Craig's breath ghost against his ear David shivered slightly and wrapped his arms around him. "I love you...I...I kind of worried you thought I was some kind of lunatic chasing you all around the country. You know I even have become pretty internet savvy in the last weeks because of you. That's how I managed to track you down all those times," David whispered. "Do...do you want to go somewhere...you are getting soaked," David said softly as he felt how wet Craig's shirt was becoming.

Craig relaxed for the first time in weeks as David's arms slipped around him. "I didn't think you were a lunatic," he smiled, pulling David closer. "I thought you wanted to explain that you didn't mean to hurt me, but that you loved someone else and ….wait. How about we take a cab somewhere….anywhere, and have that talk I screwed up when I ran out the door in LA?"

David smiled and pulled back to look into Craig's eyes, "That sounds good to me," David said reluctant to release Craig but finally he did and turned to hail a taxi. Once they had gotten in he told the driver to go back to the hotel they had both checked out of that morning. The ride back they held hands and sat close, their thighs touching. Neither man seemed to want to speak in the cab with their captive audience in the front seat. Once at the hotel they checked in and went upstairs. Once in the room David dropped his wet luggage by the door and pulled Craig into his arms kissing him, and losing himself in the kiss. He had been wanting to do that since Los Angeles.

Unmindful of the water dripping from their clothes and hair, Craig closed his eyes and gave himself over to his lover's kiss. His lips parted, and he felt butterflies take flight in his stomach as David's tongue slid forward. One hand rested on the small of David's back as the other splayed on the back of his head, drawing him ever closer and deepening the kiss. Just like that night in LA - it was perfect, and right, and made Craig feel complete in a way he'd never felt before or since…until now. David tasted just like he remembered - sweet and delicious and warm and amazing.

Drawing back breathlessly from their kiss David smiled, "You and I have a few things to talk about, but if we keep kissing we are never going to get to it I think," David said softly. Pulling back he grinned, "And I don't know about you but I'm soaked to the skin." He released Craig and walked into the bathroom grabbing towels and came back smiling as he watched Craig toe off his wet shoes. "Here lemme help," David said softly laying the towels on the bed beside them, his hands moving to the buttons of Craig's shirt. He knew helping Craig undress was probably not going to help them get to that talk they wanted, but they couldn't stay in wet clothes. He thought it was a reasonable excuse to undress him anyway. David nearly grinned at the thought.

Craig bit his bottom lip and studied David's face as he slowly unbuttoned his dark shirt and pushed it to the floor. Unable to suppress a smile, he reached out before David could turn and get the towels, repaying the favor as his fingers made quick work of the button's on David's shirt. As his lover's chest was exposed, Craig's trembling fingers worked faster, and the garment soon fell to the floor to join Craig's. "I never thought I'd be seeing you again like this," he said softly as his fingertips ran lightly over David's muscled chest and arms. "I thought that one night was all I'd ever have."

David frowned sadly at Craig's words. "I thought that too after you left the next day...but I had hope," David whispered picking up one of the towels and wrapping it around Craig rubbing gently across his back, shoulders, and arms. "I hope that from this point forward we will have many nights together...from now until...well always if you want that," David said softly. He was still unsure if Craig wanted the same things he did. He didn't just want a relationship he wanted long term...he wanted forever.

Craig looked up and saw the sincerity and love that shone from David's blue eyes and couldn't keep the smile from his face. "Always sounds perfect," he whispered. "I *do* want that….I want that more than anything, David." Gently taking the towel from his lover's hands, Craig proceeded to dry David's shivering body, then pulled him close. Pressing his lips against his lover's skin, he rained soft kisses over his neck and shoulder. He knew they needed to talk, but he was, quite simply, unable to keep his hands off this gorgeous man who had followed him from coast to coast and was here in his arms, half naked, in a warm hotel room. Before anything else, though, he needed to know what he wanted. "What do you want, David? Do you want *always* with me?" he whispered softly.

Trembling more from the soft kisses that moved over his skin than from having been soaked David nodded. "Yes. I do want that, I want forever with you," he whispered. "I've wanted that for so long I can't remember what it feels like not to," he admitted softly. He had never wanted that with anyone else before, only Craig. He regretted having wasted so much time already. "You are all I think about you know...dream about even," David murmured pressing his lips to Craig's in a tender kiss as his hands trailed down to the waist of his jeans. "Let's get out of all these wet clothes," he said tugging at the button. It seemed like a reasonable suggestion after all, but they both knew where this was headed. Once they were in each other's arms they didn't seem able to not touch each other, to not want.

All the pain and heartache of the past few weeks were forgotten as David unfastened his jeans. Craig knew he had been ridiculously stubborn and foolish, and thanked God he'd been given a second chance. He should have known David wouldn't use him like that…it just wasn't in him. Reaching out to unfasten his lover's wet jeans, Craig felt the muscles in his stomach clench in anticipation as he slid the denim down long legs and let his hand lightly tease his lover's arousal. "You, my love, are all I ever think about too," he said softly, gently fondling his lover's arousal as he stared in shining blue eyes. "All I dream about, and all I'll ever want for as long as I live."

David moaned softly as Craig's hand moved over him. After a few moments of just enjoying Craig's hand David resumed his task of removing his lover's jeans. Slowly he pushed Craig's wet jeans down lowering his own body with them. As he moved David kissed his way down his lover's chest and stomach until he was on his knees before Craig. Looking up into his lover's eyes he leaned forward licking a wet trail up his lover's cock and allowing his tongue to lap at the already leaking head. "I want you so much," David whispered before his lips were around his lover's cock, slipping forward and taking the hard flesh fully into his mouth.

"Oh, God, David," Craig breathed as his cock was engulfed in the moist heat of his lover's mouth. His fingers curled into David's hair, and he leaned back, thankful the wall was close behind to offer support. Feeling his knees begin to shake, he struggled not to thrust forward, simply drowning in sensation as the man he loved lavished attention on his swollen cock. "Please make love to me," he whispered brokenly as he felt himself unconsciously moving his hips in rhythm with David's mouth, drawing closer and closer to the point of no return with each slow glide of lips and tongue.

David closed his eyes as Craig's fingers tangled in his hair and felt his own cock twitch from the low sounds he heard fall from those perfect lips. Rocking back on his heels from Craig's softly spoken plea he gave one last lick to the hard length and stood up pulling Craig with him to the bed. Laying his lover down gently David started to crawl onto the bed and paused. "Are we always going to be so unprepared?" he asked grinning and backing away to rifle through his luggage to get a small bottle of shower gel. Crawling back on the bed he settled between his lover's legs and leaned down licking at his thick cock while he slicked his fingers and himself. "I love you," he whispered softly as his finger began to circle the small opening and then gently press inside.

Craig's smile at David's words was quickly lost as he felt himself being breached. His legs fell apart in silent offering as he gazed at his lover's face as it watched him intently. "I love you so much, David," he said softly, feeling his cock already beginning to drip clear fluid onto his stomach. Pressing shamelessly down on the finger inside him, he reached over for the discarded bottle of gel and poured a generous amount in his palm. He leaned forward slightly and began stroking David's arousal, anxious for more than a finger to be inside him. "I've been waiting my entire life for you, David," he whispered, "I'm ready for you. Please, love me."

David shuddered as Craig's hand gripped his cock slicking the gel over him. "Yes," David whispered in answer to Craig, slowly withdrawing his finger and positioning his arousal at his lover's entrance. Pressing forward slowly he didn't stop until he was fully buried within his lover. David paused for only a short time before starting to move slowly drawing back until just the tip remained inside his lover then sinking forward into the tight heat. Leaning forward he pressed his lips to Craig's moaning into the kiss as he felt Craig move with him.

Craig cried out softly as David slid deep into his body, being filled completely, and made whole once again as only David could make him feel. His arms slid around his lover, holding him as close as possible, and praying that this wasn't just another dream. His hips shifted to meet each thrust and his mouth opened up to the kiss, offering his lover everything that was in him. His head lifted up from the pillow to deepen the kiss and his legs wrapped around David's waist to allow him to thrust in even deeper, impaling Craig's willing body again and again.

Title: Following Your Heart 4/4
Authors: Anorien and Sairalinde
Type: RPS
Pairing: Craig/David
Rating: Explicit Sex
Beta: Ourselves
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: This never happened...this is total fiction.
Feedback: Yes please send to sairalinde @ hornofgondor.com or thechroniclesofosgiliath@ yahoo.com
Archiving: OEAM, our own sites, others please ask
Summary: David and Craig have a misunderstanding and David chases Craig from Los Angeles to New York to explain.

NOTE: Words in // are thoughts //

Craig's kisses were addictive, David decided as he continued to kiss his lover, their bodies moving as one. As the slow pace increased David's arms slipped under Craig's shoulders and he sat back on his heels, pulling his lover's body upright until they were pressed chest to chest. Finally drawing his lips away from Craig's he found the juncture of his lover's neck and shoulder marking him and soothing the mark with gentle laps of his tongue before nipping and licking there again as he thrust up into the hot tight channel surrounding him.

Craig's body rose and fell in time with David's thrusts, arms wrapped around his neck and clinging to his lover as they made love in slow, sweet, perfect rhythm. Each gentle nibble and kiss to his skin made Craig shiver, and he closed his eyes and simply let himself feel what it was like to be loved so completely. He hadn't thought anything could be more perfect then their night in Los Angeles, but being here like this, in David's arms, and being able to show and say how he really felt was like nothing he'd ever felt before. Unable to resist a smile, he realized David was marking him at exactly the same spot he'd marked while they were in LA…and this time, he was going to make sure it never faded, renewed again and again every time it started to lighten. Resting his cheek against David's temple, he moaned loudly as the tip of his lover's cock made contact with the small bundle of nerves buried inside him, his body moving of it's own accord with his lover's. "Yes, love," he moaned as stars danced behind his eyelids. "Oh, God, David, yes."

David slipped his hand between their bodies and wrapped his fingers around Craig's cock that was hard and thick between them. "I love you, Craig," he whispered breathlessly as their bodies moved. Each of Craig's moans seemed to make his blood thrum in his veins and he moved faster, thrusting more erratically into his lover's body. "So close...oh Craig, come with me, love," he moaned feeling the tension building up in his body.

"I love you so much," Craig whispered softly, his arms tightening around David's shoulders as his body slammed down onto his lover's cock, then up into the tight grip that surrounded his own. At David's words, he let go of any self control he'd had up to that point and forced himself down onto the thick column of flesh buried inside him, feeling his release hit him hard. As thick, pearly fluid spilled forth to cover David's hand and both their stomachs, his body clenched around his lover's cock, even as he spilled again and again, his orgasm seeming to go on forever.

"I love you too," David moaned as Craig's muscles clenched around him before feeling his lover's release spill over his hand. The muscles clenching around him and Craig's moans brought him over the edge he had been hovering on. Crying out as he thrust up into his lover's body David felt his release hit him hard spilling within the tight channel. Shuddering his hand slipped from between their bodies and he cradled Craig in his arms kissing him over and over again even as he struggled to breathe normally again. "I love you," he whispered over and over between kisses. This was so different than in Los Angeles...because he knew that Craig loved him...and Craig knew that David loved him. Being free to tell his lover how he felt made every moment of the last few weeks more than worth it. He would travel to the ends of the earth and back for Craig.

Burying his face in David's neck, Craig felt himself relax, feeling warm and safe, and so very loved as David whispered to him. His hands trailed over his lover's back, still damp with sweat and his legs moved to wrap around his waist. After a moment, Craig leaned back to look into sparkling blue eyes. "I will never doubt you again, David," he said softly. "*This* is what it feels like to be loved, and I was just too blind to see it the first time." Letting his fingers brush gently through David's hair, Craig pressed his lips against his lover's eyes and cheeks, leaving soft kisses behind before moving on, determined to kiss every inch of the splendid body wrapped in his arms. "I'm so sorry I hurt you," he murmured between kisses.

"I'm sorry I hurt you too, we both made mistakes, Craig. No blame, love, please? We are together now," David whispered in return. Shifting he slipped from his lover's body and lay Craig back onto the bed settling on his side beside his lover. "You are so beautiful, Craig. You know your eyes are what I noticed the first time I saw you. They sparkle so beautifully...and even more so when you smile," David said softly caressing his lover tenderly. He kept wondering when he was going to wake up, this had to be a dream. After all the pain they had both felt, it just didn't seem it could be real.

Craig reached up to cup David's face gently in one hand. "I noticed your smile," he whispered with a soft smile. You were talking to Sean on the Gondor set. I walked by and looked toward you - you didn't see me, but you were laughing at something Sean said, and I felt my heart drop down to my toes. I fell in love with you right then and there. And I never fell out of love with you, even when I thought you wanted someone else…I still loved you with all my heart, and nothing will ever change that." He leaned up to place a kiss on the beloved lips. "Tell me this isn't a dream," he whispered. "I couldn't bear to wake up alone again after this."

As David listened to Craig's words he had smiled, but then he looked at Craig oddly. "Dream? I was thinking the same thing...I had dreamt my first night here in New York that you had come to my room, said that what Sean had said made sense and then we made love only to have you disappear. I...I woke up crying," David said softly.

Craig's fingers paused in their exploration of his lover's face. "I…had a dream like that my first night here too," he said as he looked into his lover's eyes. "I came to your room, you were wearing nothing but a towel, and I took you into my arms. I kissed you and told you that I loved you, and we made love on a chair that sat just inside the door, because I couldn't wait long enough to get you to the bed. Then…then you were kissing me, and I cried because I was so happy. After that I woke up, and cried because it hadn't been real. It had all been a dream, and my arms and heart were aching for you. It seemed so very real."

David blinked and stared at Craig shocked by his words, "I...I had the exact *same* dream, Craig," he whispered feeling slightly uneasy. He'd read of that happening and of course it's happened in movies, but he never really believed it was possible for two people to have the same dream.

Craig looked at David in astonishment for a moment before giving him a soft smile, drawing him down into his embrace and placing a soft kiss on his temple. "You know what I think?" he asked softly. "I think our souls connected that night in Los Angeles, and we were meant to be together. Our hearts knew something was wrong when we were so far apart, and they were trying to tell our brains to get it in gear and find a way to be with the one we were supposed to be with. That's the explanation I like, anyway. I felt it that night, David - when we made love, I knew I was home, and nothing had ever felt as right for me as it felt being in your arms."

David smiled and trailed his fingers down Craig's cheek. "I think you might be right, I've never felt the way I do about you, and that night in Los Angeles, I should have told you BEFORE we made love and planned to, but...but when you asked me to kiss you I was gone. I had wanted you for so long there was no way for me to hold back," he said smiling. "You know...I have three more days before I have to be in London...do you have anything planned?" David asked curiously as his leg slid over Craig's possessively.

Craig snuggled against his lover and gave a contented sigh. "As a matter of fact," he grinned, "I do. I plan on making love with you at least a dozen times in the next three days." His smile faded and his eyes clouded over as he wondered what would happen when the three days were over. The thought of David being an entire ocean away made him sick to his stomach. "I…London is awfully far away," he said softly, praying that he didn't sound too desperate. But he'd just found David, almost lost him, and now that they were in each other's arms again, he couldn't bear to let him go.

"Well I love the way your mind works as far as what we do with the next three days...but I was thinking of something a little more...umm longer term?" he asked somewhat unsure of himself. They'd only shared that one amazing night in Los Angeles and now today, he still wasn't sure where Craig saw their relationship heading. "I have to go there to film...but...well I don't know what your plans are...but would you come visit me there?" David asked carefully watching his lover's eyes.

//Longer term? As in….permanent? Oh, God, David. Please tell me that you do really mean forever.// "I…I have a house in London," he said, forcing himself to at least attempt to breathe normally. "I was going to do several more cons over the next few weeks, but, nothing is confirmed yet. I could….I could cancel them and go back with you or…well, you're more than welcome to use the house for as long as you like if you'd rather be alone. I can visit as often as you like, and leave whenever you need some privacy, or….or whatever. I really would love for you to stay there, either way."

"Use the house?" David sat up a bit propping his head on his hand and stared at Craig. "I didn't mean it that way...I...I don't want to pressure you for something you aren't ready to give, but...when I say longer term I mean it. I...I'd like you to be a part of my life...permanently...you know like Viggo and Sean," he said searching for an example that he knew would tell Craig immediately what he meant.

Craig felt a tear slide from the corner of each eye as he looked up at his lover. "This really is a dream, I think," he said softly, "because I'm having a hard time believing it's real. But before I wake up, I want to say that I'd love to be in your life permanently. There's no pressure. I want this…I want *you* forever. We can work out schedules and films and…..everything that couples have to work out. So……I…I'm asking you to move in with me, whether this is a dream or not. I love you David, and I want this to work. I can't stand being apart from you again."

David leaned down and kissed the tears from his lover's face. "No more tears for either of us, love," he whispered softly. "I would love to move in with you. I love you...and I don't think I could ever go back to the way I was before. I only want to know what life feels like with you," he said kissing Craig gently. By some people's standards they were moving too quickly, but he'd been in love with Craig for nearly a year. They had been friends all that time...so it wasn't as if they were rushing into the unknown.

Craig looked around the room, surprised that nothing had changed. He hadn't woken up, the sky hadn't fallen, and best of all, David, the man he was utterly in love with, was still in his arms. Giving his lover a soft smile, he breathed a sigh of relief. "I think you'll like the house in London," he whispered against David's soft lips. "And I'm thinking that you'll love the next three days here in New York. Not that you'll be seeing much of the city. We have a lot of time to make up for. And….oh, shit, I think I owe a few people apologies. Marton, and Sean - I kind of hung up on Sean, and all the people who have called and left messages that I ignored. Do you think they can wait a few more days though? Maybe I can call from the plane or something….unless you have any aspirations of joining the Mile High Club?" He grinned mischievously and nipped playfully at his lover's neck, unable to keep the happiness from his voice.

"You hung up on Sean? Oh that poor man first I drove him crazy will phone calls and you hang up on him? You know all those calls you got? Umm...they were our friends trying to pass along messages to you from me! I thought they'd have better luck since I wasn't having any," David laughed. "I'm sure they will want to kill us both...as well as be happy for us." He already knew at least three of their friends who would be thrilled they had finally talked.

"Every one of our friends must feel like killing us both," Craig laughed as his arm trailed over every part of David's body he could reach. "Sean, and Marton especially, and….did you mention something about the internet earlier? Let me guess….Dom or Lija? My God, we've got everyone into our love lives, it seems. We should just invite them all to London next week and tell everyone at once. And I can make one huge apology to everyone in the room. I've…well, I must say I've waxed poetic about you to practically everyone I know, and they'll probably be happy I can just funnel it all into your beautiful ears and leave them alone." Leaning up to nibble on David's ear to emphasize the point, he grinned. "And wax poetic, I shall, too. Every day and every night."

David grinned, "Yeah the internet was Elijah's idea...I can't believe it worked. You might want to give your manager a raise, I certainly couldn't get ANY information from the woman." David shook his head, "Yeah...poor Sean bore the brunt of that from me. He was only supposed to play big brother he didn't realize he'd signed up to actually BE my big brother," David laughed. "If you do want to invite everyone and tell them that sounds good to me...I know the hobbits at least need less excuse than that to have a party."

"We can call it the 'Thank God David & Craig *FINALLY* Got It Right Party'," Craig laughed, liking the idea more and more. Then maybe we can work on getting Marton and Hugo together, or maybe Orli and Lij, or…..oh, hell, let them work it out like we did. I think we'll have plenty of ways to keep ourselves occupied. I have all *kinds* of ideas of what I'm going to do to you over the next several decades Mr. Wenham. I hope you're prepared for that.."

"Oh yes, I think I am quite prepared, Mr. Parker," David grinned, "More than in fact," he added snuggling close to his lover. "Right now though I just want to feel your body next to mine," he whispered pressing a soft kiss to Craig's lips. He hadn't woke up yet...and Craig hadn't faded away, so this wasn't a dream. It was real and everything he had dreamed of and wanted. Everything he needed was here in his arms. David was unable to hide a yawn and laughed, "Sorry, I haven't slept much lately," he admitted softly.

"Neither have I," Craig agreed. "I missed the feel of your arms around me too much after that first night." Pressing a kiss against David's forehead, Craig tightened his embrace and yawned himself. "We can both sleep now that we've got each other again. No more waking up crying or alone ever again. Rest, sweetheart. I love you."

"I love you too," David whispered pulling the covers over them and resting his head against Craig's chest listening to the steady beat of his heart. Finally his dreams had come true. Craig was here, and they were together. Everything he wanted was right there in his arms, and nothing would ever change that.

As Craig's eyes fell shut, he held his lover close, determined to never let him go again. Slowly, he let sleep overtake him, the soft sounds of David's breathing lulling him into the first peaceful sleep he'd had in weeks. Just before he fell asleep, he thanked God that he'd finally read the message that made him realize what a fool he'd been. Otherwise he'd have gotten on that plane and most likely never seen this beautiful man in his arms again, except in his dreams. 'No,' he thought. 'I think that we'd both still be having dreams and getting our wires crossed until we found each other. When two people are meant to be together, they always find a way. And I have no doubt in my mind that he's the one I'm meant to be with. Forever.'

David closed his eyes and listened to his lover's steady heartbeat under his ear. This was his forever...*Craig* was his forever and nothing would ever change that. Soon sleep washed over him and he slept more peacefully than he had in what seemed like years, because he was home...truly home.