A/N This story is a sequel to However Long and My Heart's Still Sore…it is set a little over two months after that one ends.
"How were your classes?" Edmund looked at Jack, smiling slightly as they walked through the courtyard. It was windy and they were both wearing jackets, scarves and caps.
"You know…they were classes." Jack shrugged. "The only ones I really like are the ones that you're in with me." Jack offered Edmund a quick wink. "You know what? It's cold, what are we doing inside?" He turned and started heading towards the dorms.
"That is one good question." Once Caspian had decided to stay, he had enrolled in the school and some room mate switching had gone down. Jack's random selection room mate, Alex Parsons, had been giving his own room, Edmund moved in with Jack and Peter moved in with Caspian; that way everyone was much happier than the administration knew.
"I want to be able to hold your hand in public," Jack whispered to Edmund as they entered the building. Edmund didn't answer Jack, he just took out his key and unlocked the door. He grabbed Jack's hand and pulled him inside, slammed the door and pushed Jack up against the wall.
"If people like us are ever going to be accepted, believe me, I'll be the one grabbing your hand in front of everybody the first chance I get." Edmund whispered the words softly in Jack's ear. "Until then, we'll have to stick to what we can do," he reached down and took Jack's hand, squeezing it gently.
"Ok, that's good enough for me." Jack smiled and pressed his lips against Edmund's. "How long have you been in love with me?" Jack asked, pulling Edmund onto one of the twin beds.
"Three months, one week, five days, thirteen hours and maybe about twenty minutes?" Edmund smiled and snuggled next to Jack. Jack's arm wound around Edmund's shoulder and he smiled.
"I love you too." The boys lay as they were for several minutes before speaking let alone moving.
"We should do our homework…" Edmund sighed, eyeing his bag on the floor.
"I don't want to."
"Why does it seem like we go through this every day?" Edmund laughed.
"Mmm…" Jack buried his face in Edmund's neck. "Probably because we do…It's only because I love you, really…I promise!"
"I know." Edmund grinned. "Come on…homework…it can't be that hard. We'll get it done, we'll go to dinner, we'll fool around, we'll go to sleep, I'll have a nightmare, you'll wake me up, crawl into my bed and hold me while I fall back asleep."
"Wow…we really do have a routine, don't we?" Jack smiled.
"Yes, we do, and I'm very fond of it." Edmund moved so that his head rested on Jack's stomach.
"Ok…but let's do our homework and get to dinner so that we can get around to all of that fooling around stuff that you mentioned." Jack smirked rolled over so that Edmund's head rolled on to the mattress. "Homework…let's see…math, math, math…oh how I hate thee." Jack muttered the words to himself, causing Edmund to chuckle slightly as he set up. "Oh and what exactly do you think you're laughing at?"
"You're just funny, that's all…you and your hate of math." Edmund kissed Jack on the cheek before pulling his own homework from his bag. The boys sat on the floor, facing each other, Edmund's back against his bed, Jack's back against his. Both boys had their knees pulled up and bent so that they could rest their books on their legs, but Edmund's left leg slowly stretched until his foot was gently pressing against Jack's. Jack looked up and smiled at Edmund.
"What, need help?"
"No," Edmund shook his head. "I just wanted to remind you that I love you."
o.o.o.o.o.o.o
"Do you think that maybe we could skip the nightmare tonight?" Jack asked as he pushed Edmund's white button down off of his shoulders.
"I dunno." Edmund shrugged, sitting back on his bed, looking at Jack slightly serious. "I mean…I'm sorry, but I can't really help it…if you want to sleep through the night I can crash on the floor of Peter's room." Edmund looked away, slightly dejected.
"No…Ed…" Jack took Edmund's hand. "That's not what I meant at all." Jack smiled and gave Edmund a soft kiss on the lips. "I was thinking why don't you let me just start off the night in your bed, that way I'll be there with you, nothing's going to hurt you, I'll protect you."
"Oh god Jack, I'm sorry," Edmund sighed. "I just assumed that you didn't want me-"
"Shh," Jack put his arms around Edmund and kissed him. "I would never want you out of this room for even a second." Jack rested his hands on Edmund's bare sides, just in the slight curve of his waist. "If you go sleep in Peter's room I'm coming with you…after all, do you really want your brother and his boyfriend holding you when you can't sleep?"
"I hate that I rely so heavily on you…" Edmund sighed.
"It's ok." Jack pulled Edmund on to his lap.
"See?" Edmund sighed. "I've just ruined a good time…"
"No, no, Edmund." Jack placed a quick kiss on Edmund's forehead. "You didn't ruin anything…the only thing that might make all of this easier is…um…if you could tell me just what it is that you're not…but I understand if the time isn't right." Jack said the last part fairly quickly.
"I'm so sorry, Jack…I promise, the second the time is right I'll tell you everything…I just want to know that you'll believe me."
"I'll believe everything that you tell me, but I'm not rushing you, so just let me hold you…come on, one night in the same bed all night might be good for you."
"Look, Jack…I thought we'd decided not to have sex for a long, long time."
"I don't want sex from you, Edmund!" Jack pulled away slightly. "I mean not now…Look, I'm just trying to be here for you! Is that so wrong?"
"No, no, it's not." Edmund pressed his forehead against Jack's. "So…my bed, your arms, my waist?" Edmund's lips gently grazed the tip of Jack's nose.
"I like that plan." Jack nodded and pulled Edmund down with him so that they were lying on the bed. "Covers or no covers?"
"Mmm…" Edmund shrugged. "Up to you."
"Sheets." Jack smiled. "Other than that, I love you and goodnight." Jack reached over and switched the light off before wrapping both arms around Edmund's waist. He pulled the boy tight and kissed his hair softly. Edmund snuggled into Jack, yawning slightly before entering his first full night's sleep since his kidnapping.
