"I love you," Nick whispered.
Jeff blinked several times in shock, staring at his boyfriend.
"How can you love me?" the blond questioned slowly, looking up from the floor after a long silence. "How can you love me? I-I'm... You're... Beautiful, and amazing, Nick... You're too perfect for me."
Nick lowered himself in front of Jeff. "I love you", he said again, this time more sure of the words. "I wasn't just thinking I'd give you a try that night when I asked you to dinner. I wanted more than for you to just be my boyfriend, I wanted you to be mine forever, just like you promised me. You promised you'd always be there for me, Jeffie, and now I'm promising you I'll always be there for you. I love you."
And then he kissed him.
He just closed his eyes and did what he had wanted to do for so long. This was what he'd been waiting for; this was everything he'd hoped it would be and so much more. Nick had waited years for this moment, for his first kiss, and he couldn't have asked for it to be with someone more special to him. All those years he spent doodling "Jeffery Sterling + Nicholas Duval" all over his notebooks, dreaming of Jeff, imagining what it would be like to call Jeff his own; all for this moment. All of that to feel the most amazing thing he has ever experienced.
Jeff closed his eyes and shifted so he was facing Nick more comfortably, shakily moving his hands up to Nick's face.
Nick loves me,he thought, he loves me. I don't have to wonder anymore, I don't have to be afraid that he'll leave me.Jeff had been terrified that Nick didn't love him in the same way. He couldn't bear the thought that one day Nick would realize how stupid he was and dump him. He always wondered about what he would do without Nick, in the event that Nick realized that he was too good for him. He didn't know whathe would do. He didn't want to imagine his life without Nick. That would just be horrifying.
And now here, in Nick's arms, he couldn't feel any safer. He knew now that Nick loved him. All he had to do was give him a reason to love him, so he would never leave.
Nick pulled back slightly, so they were looking at each other eye-to-eye, merely an inch apart, Jeff almost in tears with such great happiness.
"I love you, too."
"I know, I can tell, by the way you look at me, how you get when I'm around. The way you love me made me realize that that's exactly how I feel around you. I just never thought of it before the way I do now," Nick wiped a tear from under Jeff's eye. "But I love you, babe. You are perfect."
"No I'm not, Nick. I appreciate the attempt, though. It's sweet."
"Don't doubt yourself, love. You're beautiful, please believe me."
