Without Fail
In the wire Alec had sent off to Maurice's house the morning after he had decided that he was going to stay on in England, it said that Maurice was to meet him at the Boathouse, Penge "Without fail." The waiting had been torture, not because he thought Maurice wouldn't come to him, but because the minute and hour hands on the small clock that sat on the fireplace mantel in the boathouse seemed move so painfully slow. He was ready to start on a new journey with the man whose love had given him new strength and courage, but time was making him wait.
Towards mid afternoon, Alec started to grow tired. After days filled with ever changing emotions and hardly any sleep, exhaustion had finally taken its toll on him. He started a fire in the fireplace, and then he took the old and faded cushions that he liked so well and arranged them just the way he always did.
He lay down on the cushions and faced the fire. He felt the warmth surround him as he watched the golden flames glow brightly. Thoughts of Maurice filled his mind, bringing him both peace and happiness, and he let his heavy eyelids shut slowly. With the firm belief that his Maurice would be with him soon, he drifted into a deep and peaceful sleep.
Awoken by the sound of a creaking door, Alec opened his eyes, and noticed that night was starting to fall. His vision was slightly blurry from sleep, and when he heard a familiar voice say "Alec," he thought he was in a dream.
Alec turned his body around and saw his lover walking towards him. Maurice looked worn out, as though he had been on the move all day. He crouched down beside the boy, who began to gently caress his arm with both hands.
"So you got the wire."
Alec knew something was bothering Maurice, whose body was pressed tightly against his, Nothing had been said or done to indicate that something was on his dear friend's mind, but he could sense a slight uneasiness, and hoped to God that wasn't something that he had done.
"Is something wrong, Maurice?" he asked as began to run his fingers through the soft hair of his lover whose head was resting on his chest.
Maurice let out a deep sight.
"Noit's just…." he paused and then lifted his head up so that he looked down into Alec's eyes. "Alec, I need to see Clive one last time before we leave. I want to tell him about us." Alec sat up quickly, his eyes wide with surprise. He was completely floored. He opened his mouth to protest, but as he looked into Maurice's eyes, he realized that this was something that he had to let him do.
With a trunk full of his belongings at his side, Alec waited outside of the boathouse for Maurice to return from his final visit with Mr. Durham. Once again, he found the waiting to be hell.
It was dark out, and Alec could barely see an inch in front of him. So it was startling when he felt a hand grab his arm and pull him close.
Maurice, now visible because he had brought Alec so close to him, leaned forward and kissed him passionately. He had come back to him without fail, as Alec knew he would always.