Not taking any credit this is one of my favorite stories I give credit to the writer

Brothers from the Start

Lovers until the End

He'd always been able to count on his brother. For anything. Missing homework, forgotten lunch, parent teacher day, protection. But Vince started realizing just how fragile-and human-his brother really was. In a sense, he knew it all along, but because of that first day they'd shared a kiss, he'd never been able to look back on the older, stronger brother that raised him the same. Raised them. Those antecedent childhood feelings were gone.

They'd grown so much since that then, in all ways. Vince's shocking blonde hair was no longer baby soft, long since tangled with the coming of lively activity in teen aging; his clothes steadily grew baggier and hung around his lengthening torso like old sheets, and they were always dirty; even his body was shifting in ways he never could have predicted as an eleven year old. His attitude towards people shifted the likes of certain foods and discomforts with others. His hormones especially-vastly different from when he believed kisses had cooties and babies were brought by giant birds. The only things that hadn't changed about him in those years until he was finally seventeen were his startling hazel eyes and the ruddy hat he'd worn since childhood. It was his father's and he'd never go without it. Those two and the love for his brother.

Though however obvious his own morphing was, the transformation in his brother Sam were far more subtle. Like the stressed circles under his deep blue eyes, his smile natural but tired. Not all were so sad, though, and things like his laughter took a turn for the better. So many sweet things like the way his hands took more action in conversations or how he'd started another job, one he could actually enjoy. And his sex. Of course, between the two siblings, things evolved as they would for any other couple of the same preference. However, Sam restricted himself and his brother until he was of proper age, which didn't come until the boy was fifteen. They debated whom would run the entire bedroom operation, Sam finally getting to conquer Vince based mostly off the fact he was the eldest. And in the end, he found himself not minding. They kissed casually, sexily, goofily, angrily, passionately (though in light of their current situation, it was forbade in public; unanimous decision). They argued and comforted, made choices and ignored the rest world because they were living in their own entirely.

Things had officially sailed from port for the two-man family when Vincent was in his eighth grade year of middle school. The last day before spring break brought stress to the young students while teachers pressed them to pay attention for more than five minutes so things could be explained before they were off. Vince, filled with hormonal angst, mischief and impatience found himself in the principal's office after a quick snap at his English teacher. Sam was called from work to discover his little brother in tears of shame, afraid of the coming ridicule. However, Sam negotiated with the school and had a kind, firm word with him at the park by their house, Vince's favorite place.

"You understand that when you get into this trouble, it goes on your record."

That part was hardly a memory in Vince's mind and didn't come back up until high school.

"And that when I leave work like this to come get you out of trouble, I suffer more of a chance in losing my job."

A guilt that still haunted the youngest.

"I hate to see you cry, VIN. It breaks my heart."

Vincent never forgot that, not for a second in his life.

A wet apology followed, Vince crying into his brother's arm and hoping for God's pity that he would forgive him, though the prayer was well wasted as Sam wasn't even angry. He gave his brother a small kiss on the cheek. Vince asked for another, his feelings hardly comforted. They did this all the time, Sam twenty one and surely seeing it as wrong but wisely not showing it and Vince too accustomed to it to understand. It was not unusual for them to share a small brotherly peck, not unusual that Vince had never slept in his own bed, nor any other bed for that matter, other than one with Sam's welcoming arms. But this time it became different. This time it had cultivated to a long, sensual embrace of interlocking lips, one pair tear stained and salty, the other smooth with the taste of peppermint gum. Both shook with excitement and fear. Vince, in eighth grade. Sam, raising the only family he had left. They found likeness with each other, comfort ability and sanctuary. Something, even as wrong as it was, was nothing more than innocent to the brothers who needed each other to rely on. Needed someone to love.

After that moment, no further kisses of the same intensity were shared for almost an entire year. Though they continued to sleep together, cuddle to watch a movie, sometimes even share a shower, such things were devoid of either mind. Or so it was thought. Vince actually thought about his brother all the time, especially during the dull buzz of class when a test left the room silent and he had moments to imagine all the kisses he wanted. On quiet nights when Sam wasn't home, Vince even dreamt of greater things, caressing his body under hot sheets when the scent of the other filled his nostrils. And through it all, he never found it strange or wrong.

But high school turned Vince into a teenager, and all those childish fantasies looked a little darker. He learned that his wants for Sam were not normal, things like showering and sleeping with family weren't okay. Upon finding this, Vince retorted angrily, feeling betrayed. He left school, went home and prepared himself for when Sam came back from work.

"What is the matter?" Sam asked, knowing already that his brother was upset over something the second they came into view of each other, and immediately went to hug him. Vince tore away, glaring. Sam did not try to touch him again. However mad the younger was at his brother, he could not bring himself to yell at Sam then. The comforting solace swimming in those blue eyes now painted with fear. Or guilt. But it was for him, something so sweet. Finally Sam was able to coax it out of him and Vince confessed his growing worry that they were socially wrong, that everything had been a lie. Like being raised to believe Santa was real only to have the chair pulled out from under you so that you could land on the legos he got you for Christmas.

When all was said and done, Sam did not look a bit surprised though he had a regretful air about him and deep lines of concern ran across his face. Vince had never noticed them before now. "I knew this day was coming." he said, voice calm. "Vincent, there is much we do that others don't. I understand why you are mad. I should not have done what I did. When I kissed you all that time ago, in the park. I should have never let it get that far, and now... I am sorry."

But Vince did not want to hear that. He wanted to hear about how his brother loved him dearly and how they would live this way for years to come, in secret like Romeo and Juliet. That there was a solution somewhere, that Santa could possibly be real under it all. He'd been fooled, he felt betrayed, but the one thing he did not want his brother to tell him that he'd stop loving him.

"I wish you'd kiss me again."

Since then, this phrase was used often, sometimes to persuade but most the time to express love. It worked the first time, why not all the others? And then, before the words had hung in the air for more than a minute, Sam grabbed Vincent's arms and reined him into a kiss filled with so much love, so much passion and long held desire that Vince felt tears falling onto his cheeks from above. This time, he was able to return the love.

For the rest of the year, they knew each other as not only brothers, but also as lovers. Vince, no longer naive, never spoke of the intimate moments he shared with Sam, and somehow never found a need to. To him, Sam was his life, his only comfort, everything that he needed. A question? Sam could answer. A hurt? Sam was there to comfort. He was Vince's Band-Aid for every wound. Though heading into his junior year, things were changing again. They'd gotten passed the awkward beginning a year back, and sex was a commonplace thing in their home ever since he'd turned sixteen. However, things worsened when they were caught in Sam's office at his work and he was fired. They had been close to getting off on it partially, but Sam's boss recognized Vince's face and called Social Services. Things... got hard.

When Vince found he could not see his brother anymore, he broke down. The strong, brave, outward boy threw himself on the floor at the station, screaming that he be let back to Sam. No, they would not let him, not unless he was a registered adult. The next year was a painful one, filled with medications, hospital visits, therapy, and finally institutionalization. He never saw Sam; he couldn't bare to stand it. Vince simply could not control his anger, would not control his anger. Without the only family he had left, he was nothing but an empty shell.

Month after painstaking month, the day came when he was taken from his Mercy School and brought back to the very room they had separated he and Sam in. He practically threw himself into the metal chair, its smooth surface chilling him through to his bones. "Wait here." he was commanded and he snapped back carelessly. They left. When they returned, something he never thought would happen again happened. Sam walked towards him.

There were such changes in each. A year is a long time to be apart. Sam had aged, looking years ahead of himself when he'd always been commented on for how he looked younger. His shirt was big around him; he'd lost weight. The elder found his brother looking pale and utmost unhappy. Bandages covered his wrists. For what felt like forever, in reality only seconds, they took each other in, examined the damages done.

Vince had already abandoned the lifeless chair before Sam was half way across the room and they embraced tightly, tears appearing like bloody droplets on their shoulders. Then they kissed. My God, how it felt like a millennium! "Sam!" was exclaimed between passionate kisses. "Vincent!" Came the reply. Everything was merry and finally free, that was, until they were pulled apart and sat at the metal table by anxious officers. Somewhere along the line, things were explained to Vincent, though he hardly heard and forgot them as they passed through his ears. He was home at last, sitting in Sam's lap while a man in a grey pinstripe suit talked and talked and talked...

"I love you." Vince said, interrupting and not having a single problem with it.

"I love you too." Came the reply.

And they went home.

To be continued...