Title: To Change The Past

Chapter: 1/?

Pairing: Scipio/Prosper

Rating: PG-15, possibly higher in later chapters

Genre: Angst, Romance

Words: 2320

Summary: What if the bullet had hit Prosper? What if Scipio begins to regret his decision to become an adult? Scip/Prop Slash.

Author's Note: I own nothing. It all belongs to Cornelia Funke.

I started writing this story about 4 years ago. Rediscovered the movie and how much I loved it, currently reading the book and wanting to finally finish this story. Of course my writing has improved much over the years, so I am revising the previous chapters a bit.

Please enjoy and leave a review!

Chapter One

"Prop. Prop, wake up". Prosper jerks awake at the sound of his name being whispered in the silence of the night. He quickly looks around the dark room to see who had woken him. He relaxes when he sees the familiar face of his friend kneeling next to him. He sighs heavily, dreading what he knows is coming. He and Scipio had talked for days about this. "Is it time?" he whispers, nervousness already digging into the pit of his stomach.

Scipio nods. "Come on, everyone else is asleep. We better go before they wake up". Feeling quite the opposite of his close friend, Scipio is very excited about their journey to the magical Merry Go Round.

Prosper sighs again and reaches for his shirt, slowly getting dressed, wishing he could somehow stop time and convince Scipio to reconsider his decision. He might have tried but he already knew it would be of no use. Scipio had his mind set on it. Prosper had hoped that Scipio would change his mind about going on the Merry Go Round. He just couldn't understand why Scipio felt this great need to become an adult, just to stand up to his father. Couldn't he see that there are more important things in life? Why would he want to rush something that's just going to happen naturally anyway? This just wasn't right. The only thing Prosper fears more than losing his friend would be Scipio regretting his decision and not being able to go back on it.

Slowly becoming aware that Scipio's eyes had been glued to his shirtless chest as soon as he had gotten up, Prosper shifts uncomfortably. There is something between them. Something Prosper wants to explore and develop. Feelings were creeping up on him that he had never before experienced. There had been a few almosts and Prosper is sure that they terrified Scip as much as they do himself. He supposed that this was just a part of growing from boy to man. But now Scipio is about to skip this whole step. Where does that leave him?

Crossing his arms awkwardly in front of himself, he asks softly, "Are you really going to go through with this?"

Scipio's eyes rise to meet his. "This is a chance that I might never get again. I have to do this. I can finally stand up to my father and all the other adults". He pauses and takes Prop's hands in his own, looking carefully into his eyes. "Just think, we can finally do what we want, never having to listen to others, never being told what to do. We could get jobs; support ourselves, instead of relying on others. Prop, this is a great opportunity. We can both do this". He murmurs. Scip leans forward and gently kisses the other boy on the lips. He slowly deepens the kiss, wrapping his arms around Prosper. Scipio smiles, as they break apart.

Prosper drops his eyes to the ground, not wanting to look his friend in the face. He still doesn't see it. Why can't I make him see it? Scipio grasps his hand and quickly leads him outside. As they make their way to the small boat, Prop tries to bring up the subject again. "Have you thought about what you're going to be missing? What you'll be giving up? Once you lose your childhood it's something that you'll never be able to get back. Can you really live with that, Scip?"

"Prosper, we've gone through this time and time again! I need to do this. Can't you see that as… as children, we have no freedom? The adults can do whatever they want; they can take everything from us. This is our chance. Instead of waiting for years, we can finally tell the adults to sod off, and live our own lives. We can finally be happy"

They both look up as they approach the island. "Come on, we're here." Scipio quickly gets out of the boat, while Prosper follows him dejectedly.

I am happy you fool.

xxxxx

"Prosper. Prosper!"

The young man doesn't turn around. But he feels another person slowly sit down next to him on his small make-shift bed that really consists only of a dusty mattress with a sheet thrown over it. It was all Hornet had to give him.

"Prosper." Scipio says again, more gentle this time.

He finally turns to face the older boy. Scipio swears his feels his heart break slightly when he sees the tear tracks lining the other boy's face.

"Oh Prop…"

"I shouldn't have left him alone," Prosper murmurs. "I can't believe I left him alone. I let him get taken by them." His voice cracks and he throws his face into his hands, angrily wiping away the tears. "How could I let him down like this? I promised him. I promised—"

Scipio grabs his shoulders and forces him to face him properly. "Don't you dare beat yourself up about this, Prop. You know as well as I do that this was not your fault. Bo is fine. They would never hurt him. He just misses his brother that's all. And we'll get him back soon. Don't you worry about that. We'll get him back, as soon as we take that ride."

Prosper's eyes widen. "You're serious about this?"

"I've never been so serious in my life. I want to do this, Prop. We need to do this."

"I—I don't know… it's…"he stutters, not even able to wrap his head around the idea. He had no idea that Scipio would really consider this.

Scip leans closer, pressing their foreheads together. "I want to do this with you." He whispers. His hand comes up and he wipes away the tear tracks on the younger man's face.

Prosper stares into the other man's eyes. He's suddenly very aware of their close distance. He feels his heart begin to beat faster, pounding in his chest.

Scip closes the distance between them, capturing his lips with his own. His hands caress the other boy's face and Prosper's eyes flutter close. The kiss deepens as Scipio's tongue begs entrance into Prosper's mouth. Prosper eagerly complies and the two boys get even closer, wanting more contact.

Prosper moans softly as he feels Scipio's hand explore his naked chest. Having been used to sleeping shirtless, he never got the chills before. But now goose bumps were littering his back and he feels a chill run through him.

But then Scipio pushes him back, both men landing on the mattress in a heap and the cold is gone, replaced by heat coursing through his body and the warmth of another man on top of him.

The kiss ends and both boys are panting quickly. Prosper stares into the dark eyes of the man above him.

"That… that was…"

"Amazing?" Scip whispers.

Prosper can only nod.

Scipio shifts his hips and Prosper is suddenly very aware of the other man's arousal pressing against his own. The stirring underneath his own thin pajama pants causes his face to flush and he averts his eyes away from Scipio.

But Scipio gently grabs his chin, forcing him to look up. He places a soft kiss on his lips, light and gentle unlike the one before. His other hand traces down his body, leaving fingertip light touches on his skin. Prosper's breath hitches slightly when Scip's fingers hook underneath the band of his pajama pants. Scipio blinks, his own uncertainty hinders him. He settles for resting his hand on the younger man's hip.

Scipio gazes deep into the eyes on the boy underneath him, silently questioning whether or not he should continue. This was foreign territory for both of them. He grinds their hips together again. Prosper gasps and bites his bottom lip to stifle a moan. Scipio can't help himself. He crushes their lips together again. His hand buries itself in Prosper's hair. Prosper's hands hesitantly come up to grasp the thin material of Scipio's t-shirt.

Prosper moans again as Scipio's lips trail down to his neck, gently kissing and sucking at the sensitive skin. His head is swimming as their groins rub against each other, only two thin layers of clothing between them.

"Wait… wait, I think we're… " Prosper pauses, not even sure what he's trying to say. "Aren't we moving too fast?"

"We'll go at any pace you want," Scipio murmurs into his skin.

Prosper's eyes close and he moans again feeling Scipio's hand rub his lower abdomen, kneading the soft skin. Scipio is still pressing their groins together. Faster and harder. His hand is grasping Prosper's hair, pulling gently. He feels his climax approaching. His lips find Prosper's again and he moans into the other boy's mouth.

Prosper can feel Scipio's heart beating through his t-shirt. Its pace matches his own.

Scipio lets out another moan and Prosper can only hope that the others can't hear them through the thin walls. Scipio's hand clenches the flesh of Prosper's abdomen none too gently as his orgasm hits him.

Moments pass and Scipio halts his movements, his hands loosen their grip, and Prosper can only lie still as the man on top of him catches his breath.

Scipio finally lifts his head to look at the younger boy. Prosper looks back with wide eyes. A small smile spreads on Scipio's face and he leans down for another kiss. His hand makes its way down to the front of Prosper's pajama pants. Prosper lets out a squeak as Scipio begins to rub him through the thin material. Scipio takes his bottom lip between his teeth and bites gently. It takes nearly all his willpower to stay silent as Scip continues his ministrations.

Prosper's eyes squeeze shut as his orgasm takes over him, making a mess in his pants. His head is swimming and he's pretty sure that if his heart were to beat any faster it would stop. That definitely felt better than any time he had done it on his own.

Scipio rolls off of him and lies down on his back next to the other man, making him move over to make more room.

Prosper turns his head and can only stare at the older boy. Their chests are still heaving as they lie there, slowly cooling off. He has the sudden urge to change his pants, or at least attempt to clean himself up a bit, but then Scipio rolls over to his side and wraps an arm around Prosper's waist and he realizes he has to throw that idea away.

"I really like you," Scipio murmurs, sleep slowly overtaking him.

"I really like you too," Prosper says softly.

xxxxx

Scipio's face lights up as he finally lays his eyes on the glorious Merry Go Round. At the moment, he feels as if nothing could have made him happier. After seeing the magic it had done on the once elderly Conte and Contessa, he is certain that he too must experience a ride on this magical contraption. The Conte had offered them both a chance to become adults as payment instead of the fifty thousand. Scipio turns and faces his friend. "Prop? Well?"

Prosper looks from Scipio to the Merry Go Round and then back again. Slowly, he shakes his head. "Scip, I—I can't. I just can't"

Scipio sighs. "Why not, Prop? Think about Bo. You would be able to support him, on your own. You could make a better life for the two of you,"

"No. No, Bo wants me as a brother, not a father. He wouldn't want me to do this, so my decision's final." He whispers. "I'm sorry, Scip".

"Don't be sorry. I understand you're doing this for your brother. But it doesn't change the fact that I'm still going to go on the ride of a lifetime." He smiles as he turns towards the massive, wooden Merry Go Round.

As he starts heading towards the stairs, Prop runs forward and catches his arm. "Scip, please don't do this. I don't want you to regret anything. Please, just think about—"

"Don't worry so much about me, Prop, I'm not going to regret anything done tonight".

Prop leans forward and presses his lips to that of his partners. "Please. Please, don't do this." He leans his forehead on Scipio's and whispers softly, "Please, I don't want to lose you. I just don't want to lose you".

Scipio wraps his arms protectively around Prop, desperately wanting to stop the tears that he can see in his eyes. "Prop, don't be silly. You're not going to lose me. This is what I want. I want to do this. This is going to be wonderful".

But that means that you don't want me.

Prosper nods. "Ok. If you're sure," He lets his arms drop from the other boy, and stands back as he watches Scipio climb up the stairs and mount the water creature of his choice.

As the creatures start to go round and around, Scipio waves as he goes by, laughing and whooping.

Prosper watches him as he goes around again and again. He tries to be happy for him, but he just can't ignore the tears slowly flowing down his cheeks.

Next to him, the Conte shouts. "Tell him to get off or he'll be an old man!"

As the ride slowly comes to a stop, Prosper slowly steps forward, looking to catch sight of Scipio, wanting to see if he is still the same person he fell in love with, or someone entirely different, no different than a stranger.

Prosper gazes wide-eyed at the man who steps off the stairs. Damn near unrecognizable, Scipio smiles, "Well, Prop, what do you think? Am I taller than my father?"

Completely speechless, Prop tries to smile back. How can you expect me to be happy for you? God, Scip, what have you done?

TBC