CHAPTER 26 - Samstag Abend drei (Saturday evening three)

As the last lost memories of the morning he left Olli and landed up in the river came back to him in High definition and Dolby surround sound he realized that Olli had reached No Limits.

Christian merged back into the shadows.

He watched Olli open the door and slam it shut once he was inside.

He wanted to rush over and bang on the door.

He wanted to be back in Olli's arms.

He wanted Olli to tell him he had missed Christian.

He wanted ... he just wanted Olli to love him again.

But his wants no longer mattered to Olli.

Christian crossed the street.

He sat down on the curb and stared unblinking up at the windows of the flat share.

He saw the lights come on indicating that Olli had entered the flat.

He looked down at the dark windows of No Limits and remembered that No Limits was closed because some one in Olli's family had died.

Who the heck had died?

Olivia?

Or was it Lars?

Or was it...

God Forbid

Had Charley died?

He should have been there for Olli in his time of grief and despair.

But Olli didn't need him any longer.

He had another shoulder to lean on.

A shoulder which led to a hand that would soon be adorned by one of the rings that Olli had just bought.

Christian needed to get his things.

He could go back and stay with the Ehrlichs for the night and then tomorrow he would search for the an apartment near Königsbrunn.

He wandered the street aimlessly, gazed into shop windows to entertain himself.

But even after two hours he couldn't build up enough courage to face Olli.

His stomach growled.

He needed food pronto but he wasn't going to go begging to Olli.

He thought of the five euros Myrna had slipped into his pocket.

But he decided against using it.

He had taken enough advantage of the old couple already.

As he continued walking wondering how to deal with the hunger problem he was facing a name popped into his mind and his mood instantly brightened

DIETERS! That man would definitely feed him.

That man would do anything for him.

He entered the little alcove restaurant and headed straight for the cash counter.

"Hey!" he cheerfully greeted Dieter.

The man's face paled and his eyes bulged in shock when he saw Christian.

Dieter screamed, "CHRISTIAN!"

"Yes!" Christian answered wincing from the intensity of the shriek.

"Yo...You're Alive?" Dieter stammered.

"Of course I'm alive," Christian frowned

"But you committed suicide," Dieter informed him

"What gave you that idea?" Christian asked his frown getting deeper.

"You jumped off the bridge!"

"Of course I didn't" Christian countered in irritation.

"Oh God does Olli know you're alive?" Dieter asked in a concerned voice.

"I haven't been to the flat as yet." Christian answered him sheepishly

"Then you better get home quick Olli is at the end of his tether. Last I saw him he looked more dead than alive. And he even told us to leave him alone for tonight. You better get home quick before he does something stupid." Dieter adviced.

As he had been speaking Dieter had filled two large Styrofoam boxes with food.

He shoved the boxes into Christian's hand.

"For Olli and you. Now get going."

Christian rushed out of the restaurant.

He ran towards No Limits as fast as his feet could carry him.

As he struggled to get the door open he read the notice tacked to the door.

He couldn't believe his eyes. Olli had put his name as proprieter as well.

With his injured hand he somehow managed to unlock and open the door of No Limits. He was finally in.

He took the stairs two at a time and was soon facing the door of the flat share.

He took in a deep breath and slipped the key into the lock.

He turned it and heard the lock flip.

He slowly pushed the door open and found himself facing Olli's back which shook as Olli sobbed.

He heard a soft snap and watched as Olli placed the open ring box beside his empty plate.

Then came the slurred sobbed words:

"I, Oliver Sable, take you Christian Mann, to be my husband.
To share the good times and hard times side by side.
I humbly give you my hand and my heart
as a sanctuary of warmth and peace,
and pledge my faith and love to you.
Just as this circle is without end, my love for you is eternal.
Just as it is made of incorruptible substance, my commitment to you will never fail.

I take thee as mine in this life and every life henceforth. With this ring, I thee wed."

As Christian stood listening to the words that passed Olli's lips his heart gave a twinge and he realized just how much he had misjudged Olli.

As he watched; Olli got up, walked blindly to couch and collapsed onto it.

A few pathetic whimpers passed the thoroughly drunk man's lips before he fell into an exhausted sleep.

Christian quietly crept into the flat and soundlessly shut the door.

Christian looked at the laden table.

His mouth watered.

Olli had cooked for him.

He put away the Styrofoam boxes into the fridge.

Coming back to the dining table he took a seat and dug into the feast that Olli had laid out.

As he ate with gusto he watched Olli sleep peacefully.

Olli's drunken snores seamlessly mingled with Christian's voracious chomping.

With his stomach filled to capacity Christian decided to take a shower and get back into his own clothes before waking up his boyfriend, ... actually the man who had married him without even bothering to propose, and giving him the shock of his life.

He admired the beautiful ring that lay snuggled in the big velvet box.

Out of curiosity he picked it up and slipped it onto his finger

It was a perfect fit!

When the hell had Olli measured his finger!

But then that was Olli.

Olli could be very sneaky.

Olli had casually sneaked into his life, then he had sneakily elicited his friendship before quietly sneaking straight into his heart and capturing it for life.

*What a Sneak!* Christian thought and giggled.

The sudden sound drew a groan from Olli.

Christian bent over the back of the couch and tenderly caressed Olli's hair to sooth him.

He kissed Olli on the forehead before he straightened again and turned around to head towards the bedroom to get a change of clothes.

As he placed the clothes on the shelf inside the bathrrom he noticed that he was still wearing the ring. He quickly scurried back out to the dining room.

He took off his ring and placed it back inside the box.

*East or West home is definitely the best* Christian sighed in contentment as he stood under the warm refreshing shower.

It was good to be back home again.

Lazily he wiped himself and pulled on a pair of ratty but comfortable track pants.

As he picked up his T-shirt he heard Olli's blood curdling scream.

"He must be having a night mare," Christian thought and headed out of the bathroom.

He peeped out the door just as Olli landed a punch on a ginger haired man sending him sprawling to the floor.

Christian quickly ducked back into the bathroom.

He could hear Olli yell, "Get Out!" right before the front door was slammed shut making the whole flat quiver.