My love for you, always forever
Just you and me, all else is nothing
Not going back, not going back there
They don't understand,
They don't understand us…

(present day)

The Hawkins' doorbell clanged through the hall, and Robert answered to find the very familiar form of Richie Foley standing on the doorstep, silhouetted slightly against the white snowy background.

"Well, hello there Richie." Robert smiled graciously and stepped aside to allow Richie in to escape the cold.

"Hi Mr. Hawkins. Having a good holiday so far?" Richie rubbed his gloved hands together to warm them as he took his coat off.

"Indeed I am, thank you." He chuckled. "I suppose you're here to see Virgil. He's in the attic at the moment sifting through what junk I've got up there."

"Heh – thanks, Mr. H." Richie started for the stairs, before he stopped and turned a little sheepishly to Robert. "Um…Mr. H?"

"Yes, Richie?"

"My…my folks are heading off to visit relatives in Florida for Christmas this year, but I'm…I'm not allowed to go. D'you think maybe I could…you know…come here for Christmas?" Robert laughed as he walked up to Richie and put an arm on said boy's shoulder. "Of course you can! You're like family to us – though I think maybe a bit more than that to Virgil?"

Richie's eyes widened, and he shot a slightly scared and alarmed look at Robert. "How did…?"

"I work with kids, Richie. I learn to read them very well. I can see the looks he gives you and the way he acts around you sometimes, and I can surmise from that. Don't worry – I'm perfectly fine with it. All I want is for Virgil to be happy, and if he's happy with you then so am I."

Richie grinned as he started up the stairs again. "Thanks, Mr. Hawkins."

Robert sighed, shook his head and smiled as he watched Richie disappear upstairs. 'My son chose well,' he thought, going back into the kitchen.

"Yo, V!"

"Rich! Sup, bro?" Virgil put down the box he was just about to lift up and ran over to Richie, hugging the blond and planting a brief kiss on his lips. Richie laughed as Virgil let go. "Happy Christmas to you too." He glanced around the attic room, where boxes lay opened and their contents stacked neatly nearby. "What are you doing, exactly?"

"I'm just having a look through these. There are old photo albums, scrapbooks, some of my childhood art…the list is endless! It's really cool. Wanna help?" Virgil took Richie's hand and pulled him over to the box he had just been about to take down. Richie rolled his eyes, but helped his boyfriend take the box down and open it. They lifted out several books and folders, and a couple of framed photos. Richie picked one of the photos up and blew to dust off it.

In it, a strikingly beautiful young woman was holding a bundle of blankets very lovingly, peeking out of which was the face of a little baby with the same gentle look on his face that his mother had. A taller man with a very understanding face had a hand affectionately laid on the woman's shoulder. Standing in front of her mother stood a very pretty young girl with long black hair framing her face, which was full of childish charm and naivety. All the people occupying the photo were black, and Richie smiled.

"Hey, bro! I think you might wanna see this!" Virgil came over to Richie and kneeled down next to him, taking the photo as he did so. The dark teen's eyes widened a bit, then softened and began to glisten as tears started to form in his eyes. He began to laugh softly as a tear rolled down his cheek. "Damn Sharon looks young. And Pops was still slim."

Richie was silent, but wrapped his arms around Virgil's waist, resting his head on his shoulder. They stayed like that for a minute or so, before Virgil turned around and buried his face in Richie's chest. Richie felt no tears on Virgil's cheeks now, but knew that all the dark-skinned teen wanted was the warmth of someone he loved, and Richie was happy to oblige.

Christmas Day

Richie fingered the necklace that Virgil had given him for Christmas. It was a cross in a sort of tribal, gothic style(3). He loved it – he had a couple of other necklaces that he liked to wear sometimes, but this was way more his style than the others. He had given Virgil the latest in the 'Ghost in the Shell'(4) box sets and, of course, a 'Happy Christmas' kiss. Now he was sat on a bench at the Community Center (in the middle of its annual Christmas party, no less) waiting for Virgil to come back with their drinks.

He looked around him at the people dancing, talking or playing with the younger ones and smiled – Christmas was truly a magical time. Everyone acted the Good Samaritan, everyone was in high spirits. 9 years ago, when both he and Virgil were 8 years old, was the first time he'd spent Christmas knowing he had a true friend. Before that, he had been bullied, pushed around and betrayed by those he had thought friends. Yet somehow, even though he had been extremely wary of starting anew fearing that it would just end up the same as last time, something between him and Virgil just…clicked. It had felt right.

"You're not supposed to be spacing out, bro. You're supposed to be going mad with the rest of us."

Virgil's voice broke Richie's train of thought, and he turned to see a grinning Virgil and two mugs of hot chocolate. He gratefully accepted the steaming mug that was being proffered. "I know. I was just thinking."

"About what?" Virgil sat himself down beside his boyfriend.

"Us. How we met, how we've changed…You know that day we first met?"

"Heh – how could I forget? You were sat in my favorite eating spot under that oak tree!"

"Well, I didn't know that! You know…where I lived before I came here to Dakota, I was bullied and beaten up by those classmates I called friends. I was glad to get away from there, but then I became afraid that this new school would be just the same. But, something about you in particular made me feel…relaxed. Unafraid. I don't know what it was, but I felt that you and I were going to be tight from even before I knew your name." Richie laughed as he stood up. "I never realized how tight we'd become, though."

Virgil smiled and stretched, glancing up at the ceiling as he did. Something caught his eye, and his smile widened. He stood up and brushed a light kiss across Richie's lips, earning a slightly puzzled but happy expression from the blond. Virgil leaned across and whispered in Richie's ear "You're standing under mistletoe."

Richie took a few seconds to realize what Virgil had said, and blushed slightly when it sunk in. Virgil leaned down for another, longer kiss, to which Richie responded affectionately.

Some of the guests at the party had seen the two talking. They knew the boys – Virgil Hawkins, the son of Robert Hawkins who ran the Center, and Richie Foley, Virgil's closest and most trusted friend. The two were rarely seen apart. However, some had suspected a closeness more than friendship, and the sight that greeted some by one of the benches confirmed it. The darker teen had his arms around the slightly flushed blond's waist while the blond had his around Virgil's shoulders, both sharing a kiss that was passionate, and simply said ' love you' far louder or more meaningfully than words could ever say.

Two entities, two souls, and one shared bond that runs deeper than anyone can ever know, or understand, and that can never be destroyed by the enigmatic element of time.

(1) Only a made-up name…

(2) Again, I made the name of the restaurant up.

(3) Describing a necklace that I have

(4) Somehow, it just strikes me that Virgil might watch Ghost in the Shell…

Rae: Okay, so there you have it, folks! I hope Virgil and Richie weren't too OOC… Anyway, please review! Flames are okay, as long as they're not too harsh, but constructive criticism is very much welcomed!

Virgil: …

Rae: What?

Virgil: What is with the last sentence?

Rae: Huh? Oh, I have no idea…it seemed to fit at the time. I can't be bothered to take it out, though.

Richie: And what time was this?

Rae: About 2am this morning…

Both: (Groan)