Erik had texted Charles the night before to ask him at what time he would come, but had never gotten an answer. Then, he had sent a string of messages where he had been worried sick about the other man. Did he have another attack? Did Erik make him worse or something?

He had barely slept during the night and had tried calling several times but didn't hear from Charles. He was getting desperate and had even decided to go to the mansion ask about him.

After lunch, there was someone ringing his doorbell and he yelled "Coming!", from his bathroom where he had been taking a shower. Erik quickly maneuvered into a jeans pant and had a towel on his hand to dry his hair. He opened the door shirtless and barefoot, water dripping on his torso.

When he saw Charles at the door, his heart started beating faster and it suddenly seemed like the world was right again. "Charles!", he exclaimed, completely missing out the people next to him. He threw himself at the other man and hugged him tight, talking in a single breath "You weren't answering your phone! I was so worried, are you alright?".

Charles was tense on his arms which was weird and he only silently said "Erik?", which made him open his eyes immediately, knowing something was wrong.

It was only then that he saw two people there. One, was Mr. Xavier and the blonde woman, Erik assumed was Charles' mother since they were quite similar. He pulled away as if he had been shocked and tried looking more presentable. Well, as much as he could being half dressed and with a towel on his hand.

"Mr. Xavi- I mean, Brian, is nice to see you again", he said as smoothly as possible and then stretched a hand which Charles' father shook. Then, he stretched it to the mother and said "Are you Mrs. Xavier or Charles' sister?", he asked cheekily, but the woman didn't crack a smile and he gulped visibly. Fuck. It felt like he was against a wall at gun point.


With each second that passed, Charles felt more uncomfortable. Not only was he mad with his mother that Erik had been worried, because she had taken Charles' phone, but he could also feel her not being pleased behind him. She had obviously forgotten her manners, because there came no answer from her to Erik's question.

"Erik, so sorry we come here unannounced. My.. my parents wanted to meet you", he broke the silence and looked apologetic at Erik. His eyes wandered downwards, though, over Erik's naked chest. He forced himself not to lick his lips, but couldn't deny Erik was good looking.

"Very well, there is no problem with that. Please, come inside", Erik answered in a tone that showed, that it was a problem. Fuck, he felt completely uncomfortable.

All three of them stepped inside and pulled off their shoes, while Erik excused himself to put on some clothes. When they stepped into the living room of the small flat, Charles was astonished by all the small details in the room. Pictures, mugs, rugs, pillows in different colors, plants, cables, lights, candles, fruits and other food and loads of records. It looked so very homey. "Sorry, I.. haven't expected any guests", Erik said while rushing into the living room in a shirt now. He quickly removed a shirt from the couch and gestured them to sit.

Charles smiled thankfully at him and took a seat, just to see his mum eyeing the window, as if she considered opening it to prevent Charles from choking. He rolled his eyes and pulled her down. "Erik, this is my mum, Sharon, and my dad, Brian who you know. Mum, dad, this is Erik, my .. my boyfriend", he introduced them officially with his heartbeat picking up its pace at the last words.


Erik couldn't help smiling at the introduction. He had been restraining himself from calling the other man his boyfriend because he wasn't sure if Charles was comfortable with it, but Charles had said it himself and it sounded so freaking perfect that Erik felt giddy. Boyfriends!

He did put himself together though and sat on the chair close to the couch so he wouldn't be hovering over the in-laws and directed his smile at Sharon "It truly is nice to meet you, Mrs. Xavier", he said politely, remembering the small tidbits Charles had told him about her. She seemed strict and not very motherly so he knew he had to be on his best behaviour if he didn't want things to go down the drain with his boyfriend before they had even started.

"I can't say the same about you, Mr..?" - "Lehnsherr, but you can call me Erik", he said proudly even if she had just insulted him inside of his own home. "Mother!", Charles protested and she shook her head "You must forgive me, Mr. Lehnsherr but I didn't know you existed until yesterday, so you must understand I am quite surprised", she continued and he nodded.

"Yes, I can see how it would be upsetting to you but we were going to tell you at some point", he said "Were you?", the mother asked, narrowing her eyes at him as if she could see right through his lie. "Mrs Xavier, I assure you… I only want what's best for Charles. I like him and I would never cause him any harm", he said, wanting her to understand they were all on the same side.

"Is that so? Well, do you know about Charles' condition?", she asked briskly and Erik nodded curtly, glancing at his boyfriend to see how uncomfortable he felt. Erik wished he could hold his hand from where he was, but he also kinda wished this wasn't happening at all and that it was only the two of them, making out on his couch and learning how to cook. "If you know that, how come did you take him out of home where he's safe? How come did he came back home with blood on his sleeve?", she asked angrily, but still composed.

"I didn't- I only took him out. He said it was okay", he tried defending himself but Sharon shook her head "You wouldn't have taken him out at all if you cared!" - "Is he a prince that is locked on his tower?", Erik asked feeling almost offended that she wanted to keep Charles away from the world, or maybe only away from Erik.

"We should calm down", Brian said then, voice smooth. Calm down? Calm the fuck down? They were invading his home! A place he barely took anyone because it was his fortress, and she was making small case of him, was telling him he was hurting her son! How was Erik supposed to calm? He got up from the chair, fuming but still try to maintain a pose. "Can I get you anything?", he asked, knowing he probably didn't have anything to get them.

"Just a glass of water", Brian said and Erik nodded shortly before going to the kitchen. He needed to breathe, he didn't want to screw this up. If he did that, then he would lose Charles and that was not acceptable.


The moment Erik left to the kitchen, Charles turned around to meet his mother's stare with the same angry glare. "Mother, I swear, if I'm going to lose him because of you, I'll take my own life before you even get to apologise", he hissed and saw his mother paling in two seconds.

That was probably the most cruel thing he had ever said to her, but Erik had given him so much in those past weeks, he couldn't just go back to reading for hours, locked up in his room. There was also this tiny spot in him, that could already not live without Erik and so his words weren't just an empty threat.

"Charles, don't say such thing", he heard Brian saying, but didn't break the eye contact with his mother. Of course, threatening her wouldn't be any solution, so he tried to explain once again. "Erik has done so much for me. He makes me happy. Please just… give him a chance."

Sharon resisted for another couple of seconds, before she sighed and nodded. "Alright, I can't deny that you have been happier these past weeks. But, you will have to tell me or your father about your dates before you go. I don't want you doing something dangerous."

Charles nodded and just then Erik came back with a glass of water, looking calmer now. Both his parents stood up and Sharon said "that won't be needed anymore. We'll come pick Charles up at eight. You stay in the apartment, no excursions. It was nice meeting you, mr Lehnsherr."

Erik looked confused but said "yeah, thanks", while watching Charles' parents leave. As soon as they were out of the house, Charles moved forwards and said "I'm so sorry I couldn't warn you. My mum took my phone yesterday and- god, I'm so sorry Erik!".


Erik let Charles blurt it out, while calmly putting the glass of water down on the center table. Then, he stepped even closer and put both his hands on his boyfriend's shoulders. Charles shut up and looked up at him as if frightened.

"Calm down", Erik said softly, the fact it was just the both of them already enough to make him feel ten thousand times less angry "Don't apologise, there wasn't anything you could do about it, was there?", he asked and Charles shook his head no. "There you go… Now, I won't say it was pleasant or even lie that I liked meeting her, but… They left you here. Does that mean they approve?".

Charles looked down for a second and then up again "Not approve per say… They just don't want to make me unhappy. But Erik, are you sure? You didn't seem very glad about it and I truly am sorry, I don't want you to be mad", he tried again and Erik just shook his head. "It was… It felt like I was being put against a wall. I'm not good with parents Charles and at the same time I wanted her to like me, I was angry at her for accusing me of not caring and for wanting to keep you on a leash so.. Yeah, I am a little mad, but not at you, hm? Never at you", he said squeezing the other man's shoulders.

"Thank God", Charles breathed out and then he pressed his body against Erik's, hugging him tight "I thought you'd be mad at me" - "How can I be mad at you when you say we're boyfriends? It made me want to kiss the life out of you", he said running his hand up and down Charles' back, trying to calm both of them down completely and push this awful meeting out of his mind. He'd have to deal with the parents again later, but right now he just wanted to enjoy Charles' presence.


Charles started smiling against Erik at the mention of them being officially boyfriends now. He looked up at Erik and his smile formed into a smirk.

"Especially if that boyfriend of yours had brought guitar hero with him", he said teasingly and watched Erik's eyes light up with joy. A kiss was placed on Charles' forehead and when Charles practically purred at the touch, Erik moved downwards with his lips. He kissed the bridge of his nose, then his eyebrows and cheeks, the tip of his nose and each corner of his mouth with a grin.

Their lips met in a warm, wet kiss, both smiling like fools. Charles' heart hammered against his chest once again, almost permanently while being with Erik actually. He pulled away happily and Erik leaned in again to brush their noses together in an Eskimo kiss.

"Well then, we should definitely get that console connected to my TV", Erik said and they kissed once again, before actually starting to work.

Erik knew exactly how to connect the cables and the console was built up in no time, while Charles watch him from the couch. He wondered when he had given in and allowed Erik into his life, but couldn't recall the exact moment.

"Erik?", he asked and heard a soft humming from his boyfriend, "would you ever be mad at me for making you go through all this?"

"What do you mean?" Erik asked back, still concentrated on the task before him. The muscles on his back shifted, as he stretched for another cable.

"I mean, if this with us… actually holds on.. when.. I'm gone, would you hate me for making you like me?"


Erik almost dropped the cable he was holding when he heard the question, but he carefully connected it on the television and then turned around. He was sitting on the floor and rested his arms on top of his knees, hands meeting in the front while he looked at his boyfriend who sat on the couch.

That topic wasn't one he wanted to approach and Erik almost felt heartless for the fact he hadn't been crying over it but he just couldn't believe it was the truth. Still, he knew in his head it was.

Charles' expression wasn't easy to read and Erik would guess something in between sad and guarded at the same time. He thought about his answer for a moment and then "I… don't think so, no. It isn't your fault you're so irresistible", he said with a grin. Charles smiled softly and then his expression closed off again "I'm serious, Erik".

Erik sighed, wishing this could be avoided, but got up from the floor and sat next to his boyfriend, holding one of his hands and intertwining their fingers "I couldn't be mad at you, Charles. You told me I'm the best thing that happened to you, and I'm telling you right now you're the best that happened to me too. I would be mad if I had let this escape, if I had missed this with you. I will… be devastated. Angry at the world, at me for not being able to save you. But not you, how could I when I feel so much for you? I will.. I-I.. God, I won't survive losing you", he said and his eyes were filled with the tears that hadn't come up until this moment.

Why were they talking about this? Erik wanted to go back to his bubble and pretend this wasn't real, believe Charles could be cured. Not talk about losing him and how he would feel. It already felt despairing right now, he didn't know how he would deal if it actually happened.


He immediately felt sorry for approaching the subject, seeing Erik's eyes filling with tears now. Fuck. He hadn't want to upset him or make him think about the inevitable.

Charles quickly framed Erik's face with his hands and kissed him in an attempt of calming him down. But when he pulled away, he saw a tear running down Erik's cheek and felt his heart breaking.

"I'm so sorry for starting this", he said, because honestly, what was he thinking? Erik had already been upset after meeting his parents and now Charles couldn't shut up and upset him even more. "We can play, okay? We.. we play", he tried desperately to change the topic, as Erik inhaled soundly.

When Erik was about to open his mouth and probably say something in protest, or talk even more about it, Charles just pressed their lips together. It took him a moment of moving his tongue along Erik's thin lips, but then Erik opened up for him and Charles entered his mouth. He used all his focus on copying all of Erik's tricks, he had picked up over the time, to make this one of their most passionate kisses. It didn't take long for Erik to slide his own tongue against Charles' and his hands to grab his waist.

Apart from their first kiss, they haven't made out while lying down, but Charles wanted to feel close to Erik now and he sensed that his boyfriend needed it too. He firmly pressed against Erik's chest to make him move backwards, until he was lying down on the couch and Charles was awkwardly positioned half on top of him and half sliding down his body. Still, he didn't break the kiss and moved his hand along Erik's upper body to let him feel Charles everywhere.


Erik felt… heartbroken. But with every flick of Charles' tongue he felt like he was getting mended, the pieces glued back together and healed as if he had never felt hurt before. The distraction from his boyfriend was more than efficient and soon he forgot all about why he had been crying and was solely focused on the warm hand touching his chest up and down.

It made him shiver to be kissed so thoroughly and passionately by the other man, to be pressed down and touched like he was the only thing that mattered in the world. His hands started to respond soon and he circled Charles' hips with them, one slipping underneath the soft shirt and feeling the warm skin.

They made out for what felt like forever and when they pulled away, Erik pushed Charles' hair back, looking from one ocean blue eye to the other, trying to memorize the different shades "You are so beautiful, did you know what?", he asked softly making the man on top of him blush bashfully and shake his head no. "How come? You took my breath ever since I first saw you" - "I guess… I just never heard it like this before", Charles confessed coyly.

"You're gorgeous", Erik said and then lifted his head up to kiss those cherry lips once more on a quick peck. "Thank you" he whispered without moving back and heard Charles hum, acknowledging he had helped with the small panic attack Erik had been on the verge of having.

"Do you wanna play, then?", he asked and then added "Or do you wanna make out a little more", with a teasing smile and letting the hand under Charles' shirt move further underneath it, palm sprawled on the small of his back, right at the curve where back met ass.


Charles shivered, thinking about making out some more with Erik. But with Erik's hand underneath his shirt now, he was soon going to get a problem, that he didn't want to approach just yet.

"How about a few rounds of guitar hero and then we'll just see from there?", he suggested to which Erik agreed and they pulled themselves up again to start playing.

Erik fetched the guitar for himself quickly, wearing a boyish joyful grin, so Charles was left with the drums. They played several rounds and even if Erik won each one of them, Charles was proud to improve his record.

An hour later they got tired of playing and put the instruments aside. "You can keep it", Charles said, pointing at the console with the game.

Erik frowned in confusion, as if he couldn't understand why Charles would possibly give him his favorite game as a present. "That is way too expensive!"

"Erik, as much as I hate showing off my wealth, believe me when I say, that giving you a new Ferrari wouldn't even be too expensive for me", Charles countered and gave Erik a small kiss on his cheek.

Erik grumbled something but didn't protest, so Charles quickly chose that moment to change the topic and suggest going down to the record shop. Erik's face lighted up at that and no fifteen minutes later, they were walking down the street towards the shop, no matter how Sharon's order not to leave the house.

When they entered the shop, all heads turned towards them and Charles recognised some of the customers from last time, remembering that they all knew Erik.


"Erik! You brought lover boy! Does he know about your crush already?", the owner teased them as soon as they stepped inside the store and Erik rolled his eyes.

Charles immediately stopped and looked at Erik with huge, round eyes "What? Erik, do you have a crush on me?", he asked and everyone that was a regular there and knew him, went silent to watch the scene.

"I… Well, yes", Erik said putting his nose up and resisting the urge to laugh. He saw the glee on Charles' eyes and he knew the other man was holding the laughter as well. "Please, Charles, I hope we can still be friends", he said and then the other man broke into a grin.

"I guess it's okay that my boyfriend has a crush on me", he shrugged and stepped closer, intertwining his fingers with Erik's. Erik came closer and pressed a kiss to Charles' temple.

"Any questions?", Erik asked to his so-called friends and they all looked surprised, but were smiling too. One of them whistled and said "I never thought I'd see the day", which caused Erik to flip him.

Then, they walked further into the shop, but Erik's friends wanted to talk and didn't stop speaking.


Charles lodged Erik to talk to his friends, while he walked through the rows of CD's to find some new music. He only half listened to what Erik was talking about, not wanting to eavesdrop, but also not being able to block the voices out entirely.

There were merely just congratulating Erik in their own way anways, so there wasn't much he could overhear. So Charles concentrated on the CD's in from of him and chose some of them for Erik to listen. While Erik was occupied, Charles walked towards the cashier and bought the CDs. The cashier looked at him curiously and Charles remembered that he knew Erik as well.

"Um, do you know if he'll like them?", he asked, pointing at the CDs in front of them. The man looked down and observed them for a moment, before he hummed and started putting them into a bag. Charles took it as a good sign and paid, before walking back towards Erik.

"I got you something", he murmured, putting his hand on Erik's arm and giving the bag to Erik with the other. Erik almost stared dumbfoundedly on the bag in his hands, while his friends whistled again. "You can unpack in your flat, if you want?", Charles offered with a small smile.


"Yeah, let's go", Erik answered barely believing Charles had given him yet another gift. He knew, the other one was rich but that he wanted to spend it with Erik was quite the pleasant surprise.

"Bye, guys", he waved at his friends and then left the store hand in hand with Charles. He chuckled softly thinking of what his friends had said and his boyfriend looked at him with a smile "What is it?", he asked and Erik shook his head.

"My friends said we're a match made in heaven for your small joke there", he commented and Charles practically beamed at him "Really? Oh I'm so glad!", he said as if it was the best news he had ever heard.

"Really", Erik nodded "But I don't care what they think", he shrugged and then let go of Charles' hand to put an arm around his shoulders "Thank you for the gift", he said and when Charles smiled up at him, Erik couldn't help but kiss him.

It was a quick peck and then they were on their way again. When they reached his flat, Erik immediately opened the pack to see which cd's his boyfriend had bought him and felt like a child once again.

He immediately picked the first one up and put it on the player, the song filling up the silence. Erik stepped closer to Charles and stretched his hand "Care to dance with me?", he asked with a charming smile.


"I didn't know you were the dancing type", Charles chuckled, while being pulled towards Erik. They pressed their chests together and swung in the rhythm to the fast beat song. Charles was used to dancing like that, even if only for a few songs, because his parents had taught him for the purpose of dancing at events. Of course, his mother would always collect him after two songs, saying that he should rest, even if it had been the slowest beats.

"Well, there are a lot of things you didn't know about me", Erik grinned charmingly and pushed Charles backwards, just to catch him with his hands and pull him back in. Charles widened his eyes and laughed, but didn't lose the rhythm in his feet.

They danced for a while, smiling at each other through the beat, until Charles felt his chest tightening a little. He let go of Erik then and said "let's take a break. Are you hungry? We could cook."

Erik agreed, so they made their way to the kitchen. It was time for Charles' nap soon, though. He started yawning a little and feeling his energy quickly falling back into exhaustion. "Hey, how about you nap until the food is ready? It'll be around an hour?", Erik suggested and gestured for Charles to go to the bedroom.

Charles wanted to protest, but was cut off with another yawn and then nodded, slowly walking towards Erik's room. As soon as he cuddled himself in the bed with sheets that smelled like Erik, he fell asleep.


Erik had nothing home. Actually, he had ramen but he wasn't about to serve Charles that, which meant he was actually glad for the nap since he could slip out to a grocery store and spend the money for a whole month of eating on a meal. But truth be told, it made him happy to provide something good for Charles, he would be too embarrassed to serve ramen to his boyfriend.

So he went to the grocery shop at the corner and bought all the ingredients he needed to make a nice herb crusted salmon. Yes, it was a little expensive but he wanted to show off his cooking skill and he wouldn't hold off when it came to the people he cared about. He also bought cans of sardine which was the only meat he could afford until his next salary, no matter that he hated them and it often gave him a bad stomach to eat it.

The preparation was quick since he knew his way around a kitchen, but it took a little longer to get ready. He put the mismatching plates and cups on the table and when it was finally ready, they had just about the time for Charles' parents to get there to eat.

Erik went to his room to see his boyfriend curled in his bed. It looked like he belonged there and Erik remembered how it had felt like to wake up next to him, wishing they could do that more times. Stepping closer, he crouched down and carded his fingers on Charles' hair before starting to give him several pecks on the lips.


Being woken up by someone kissing you, Charles had thought it was only reserved for fairy tales only. But yet here he was, being kissed awake by Erik, until he blinked his eyes open and stared right into Erik's. He mumbled something not understandable, before yawning and sitting himself up a little.

"What time's it?", he mumbled right after another yawn and searched for his phone to check. "Quarter past seven", Erik answered and held out a hand to help Charles up.

Charles still felt a bit drowsy, but soon managed to get on his feet and they walked into the kitchen, where Erik had set the table already. It smelled like salmon and different seasons, making Charles hum.

"I'm pretty sure I left you here with only noodles in the kitchen", he commented while sitting down with a small smirk. Erik sat down across from him and shrugged. "Well, can't just give you noodles for dinner, can I?"

It made Charles feel bad that Erik had bought their whole food, remembering their first meeting, when Erik had nothing more but a butter sandwich. "I'm gonna pay half of this and don't you dare complaining. You already paid enough for me", he said and took a look at the delicious food. "The food smells amazing, by the way."


Erik wanted to protest about the paying, but be planned on distracting his boyfriend with a lot of kissing after dinner and with a little luck, Charles would forget all about that, he wanted to be able to pay for things too, after all.

"I'm glad", he grinned and gestured for him to sit down, already serving food for Charles. He knew his boyfriend didn't eat much because of the nausea but he had also seen online that one of the symptoms for him would also be losing weight and that would not happen under his watch.

"That's enough", Charles said softly and put a gentle hand on Erik's wrist to stop him. Erik smiled and moved on to his own plate. The smell was indeed incredible and his mouth watered with the desire to eat something that looked so good. He did like eating ramen to be honest, but after a while it just lost it's appeal and eating something so elaborate was a pleasure he missed more than often.

As soon as Charles took the first bite, he moaned around the fork and it made shivers run down Erik's spine to hear such beautiful sound. He reached out and held his boyfriend's free hand which was how they spent the whole time during dinner. They talked about everything and nothing and then soon found themselves doing the dishes side by side. "Did you think of what you'd like to do next weekend? Or would you like to meet up earlier?", he asked, not really knowing how his boyfriend's schedule worked.


"Oh, hmm, I haven't thought about anything yet. I was quite upset yesterday, so yeah. But I'll plan something for Saturday. I'm free any day, Erik, so I'll just go by you. I just thought you work a lot during the week", Charles said in one go and turned off the sink when they were ready. He dried his hand and walked towards the living room, followed by Erik who still hadn't said anything.

"Well, that's true, but I do have work on the weekend as well, so it's much of the same to me. And… I do wanna see you as much as possible", Erik finally answered, when Charles grabbed his purse to give Erik some money.

He gave him 50 quid, but Erik refused to take it, his face set on refusal. Charles sighed put it on the table nearby. "Erik, just take it, okay? See it as … me caring that you don't eat another butter sandwich. I do have the money, but what good does that to me, if I can't spend it? In the next two years I'll be dead with the same amount of money that will go to some stranger who claim to be my third cousin's uncle."

He walked closer and wrapped his arms around Erik's neck, hoping to convince him with several kisses and closeness.


Erik knew his own strategy plan was used against him but he was powerless to stop when he had Charles kissing him so sweetly and all over. His arms immediately wrapped around the other man's waist and he hummed happily, bringing him closer.

He let Charles do as he wished, peppering kisses on his lips and cheeks but started moving them backwards until he could sit on the couch and pull his boyfriend down on his lap.

Charles sat on his legs sideways, not straddling Erik like he would have preferred but he found the position was actually quite perfect and hugged him like that, kissing some more, slowly and gently.

His boyfriend kissed as if he wanted to ruin Erik and then mend him back together, his tongue moving sinfully and hands enveloping Erik everywhere, overwhelming with the oh-so-gentle touches and caresses. Erik was falling steadily for that man, his heart already given away.

At some point they stopped kissing and only held each other cheek to cheek. It was a few minutes later that the doorbell rang and Erik sighed sadly, holding Charles tighter for a moment as if not wanting to let him go. "Another kiss", he murmured nuzzling the skin and Charles whispered "My parents-" - "Just one more".


Charles smiled down to Erik and pressed a closed-mouthed kiss to his lips, before climbing out of Erik's lap and collecting the few things he had left scattered around Erik's flat. Erik walked to the door in the meantime, opening the door and greeting Charles' parents as formal as he could. Charles really hoped his parents wouldn't make it hard on Erik once again.

He quickly gathered all the things and grabbed his bag, leaving the console be, because he had no time to untangle the cables and Erik would have more fun with it anyways. Then he quickly rushed to the door and smiled at both his parents. "Hi, I'm ready to go", he said and his mother eyed his hair for a moment, making him blush and try to comb it down.

It must have tangled when they were making out a few moments ago. Brian had been talking to Erik with a welcoming, warm smile, so Charles hoped that at least they would get along soon.

"Okay, I'll see you on Saturday, Erik", he said and turned to his boyfriend who nodded and leaned in to give him a small peck on the cheek. Charles flushed red again, but held it together in front of his parents, saying goodbye to Erik. They walked to the car and Charles immediately started babbling about his day when Brian asked him. His parents should see how happy Erik made him.

On Saturday, Charles still had no plan of what they should be doing, since he had no clue what the world offered them. He had googled all week, part to write his bucket list and part to research on date ideas. The internet had provided him with interesting options for the first matter, but only the clichés for the second one. Going out on a candle light dinner or into the movies sounded boring compared to the things he had done with Erik.

That's why, when he let Erik into his room on Saturday, he had a bucket list full of things, but no ideas in his head of what to do. In the end, he had booked a restaurant and movies, since it was the only thing, he could come up with.

"Hey", he smiled and started babbling, "I haven't much idea for the date, but I've written the bucket list you have requested and-" and then he was cut off by Erik kissing him.


Erik's eyes fluttered shut and he hummed into the kiss, his hands framing Charles' beautiful face. "Hello to you too", he said warmly, thumbs caressing the smooth cheek.

"Hi", Charles said sounding as if he had melted after the kiss. "Now tell me what you have planned for today", he chuckled gently and his boyfriend smiled, hands touching Erik's hips ever so lightly.

"Movies and dinner?", he said making Erik break into a huge grin "That sounds perfect. Are your parent here?" - "No… They already left but I told them you'd come over", he answered.

"Okay. Do you wanna go already?", Erik asked and his boyfriend nodded, already walking outside and then towards the bike and grabbing his helmet "Did you always have an extra helmet?", he inquired with a smile and Erik shook his head no "I got that one for you", he said with a proud grin.

"So you always thought I was going to he your boyfriend? Cocky", Charles said cheekily which made Erik laugh. "I hoped", he answered and they both mounted the bike, riding away to where Charles was giving the directions for the restaurant by shouting and pointing.

It was a nice change that someone was taking Erik out and seeming to take care of him, making reservations and all.


They arrived at the restaurant and were guided towards their table by a young waiter. Charles remembered when Erik was the waiter at the party and imagined his boyfriend in those clothes. He couldn't help the smile appearing on his lips.

"It looks nice", Erik commented when they were properly seated, looking around the restaurant. Charles looked at the menu, even if he already knew what he would order. His parents used to take him there and he always had the ratatouille with red wine. Erik seemed to consider his options, though, so Charles politely kept looking at the menu.

"I think I'll go with uh.. wow that's expensive." Erik raised an eyebrow at the prices and Charles chuckled. "Don't worry. My date. I'll pay."

Erik pressed his lips together but didn't fight Charles. "Alright then I take the cordon bleu with a water." - "Why no wine?" - "I have no clue of wine."

Charles giggled and ordered wine for both of them when the waiter came back. When the waiter left again, Charles suddenly was very aware of the increasing pain in his chest. It had been there all night, but only now got to the point of being uncomfortable.

"If you excuse me for a moment", Charles cleared his throat and pushed himself out of the chair. The walk to the bathroom was making him dizzy and when he finally arrived, he could only steady himself on the sink to prevent from falling down.

The pain got stronger then, throbbing in his chest. No matter how tight Charles pressed his eyes shut, the dizziness didn't leave and he found himself gasping for air. No, this couldn't happen right now! He was just on a date with Erik, god!

With shaky hands he tried opening his medicine, but then he blacked out and fell with a loud noise on the floor.