Disclaimer: I don't own The Flash characters or comic book series. It is all property of DC and whoever else has legal authority. I am not making any kind of profit from this writing; it is all for fun and freedom of expression.

Warning: Sexual content and Sensuality in this Chapter

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Chapter 12

" So, how silly do you think I am being?" Len asked self-depricatingly as he rubbed at his scratchy, tear-reddened eyes. He and Barry were currently laying side by side in their bed, the room bright with the full glow of morning sunlight. Len lay on his back, staring up at the ceiling, emotionally drained.

True to his word, once the light of the morning had slowly filled the room, and he and Barry had woken up, Len had explained his actions in the dark early hours, why he had gone outside to the balcony in the coldness, and also the vivid dream that had driven him to such.

As Len lay there, the bed shifted beside him, the sheets rustling a little before Barry's quietly smiling, living face came into view above him as his husband braced himself on his hands and loomed over him, looking down at him with those gorgeous hazel-green eyes he loved so much.

" Not silly at all and you know it." Barry said in reply before he lowered his head and pressed his lips to Len's in a gentle kiss, so tender it made Len's heart twinge with both need and gratitude. Len reached up and wrapped his arms around Barry, letting his hands wander over the smooth planes of his husband's back. They both groaned low against each other's lips as Len pulled Barry down flush on top of him. When they drew back several long moments later, it was a grinning Barry who went off to the bathroom to get the special oils and lubricant they loved to use so much, making sure to put on a show for Len by swaying his hips and arched his back a little as he walked. When Barry came back with the necessary items, his laughter echoed through the room as Len was on him in a heartbeat and letting him know just how much he had appreciated the show.

Things quickly devolved into slow, fiery passion as Len and Barry made love to each other with great care and tenderness.

A couple of hours later...

Len smiled as he held out a forkful of his cheese and pepper omelet for Barry to taste, taking great joy in the simple act of feeding his husband. There was no teasing or suggestiveness this time around, only eating and enjoying each other's company. Len's smile widened when Barry humorously accepted the offering, opening his mouth wide and making a show of devouring the piece of omelet.

" You must have been a bear in a past life cause not only do you snore like one, you have the appetite to match." Len snarked, eying the already diminishing mountain of food on Barry's plate, his husband's second helping!

Barry just chuckled brightly as he held out a raspberry scone for Len to take, which the King did eagerly, Barry knowing how much his husband loved raspberries.

" What can I say, when the cooks are as fantastic as they are, you each a lot and then some." Barry grinned before he went about polishing off the rest of the strips of breakfast steak on his plate. As he watched Barry eat and enjoy his breakfast, Len couldn't help but admire the young man sitting across from him at the table. Something about last night, with the horrible nightmare that turned into him finally making peace with Mick and letting him go, shifted something monumentally within Leonard. Even with how far he and Barry had made it so far regarding their relationship, they had always been then moderately sized rock of guilt that settled within the lowest pit of Len's stomach, it had always been there and made its presence known whenever the blissfulness of being newly in love would fade away in the quiet moments. Like he had no right to feel happy with Barry despite loving him so much. Now though, Len could not feel that rock of guilt anywhere, he felt lighter, freer, just totally unburdened.

Barry looked up when he saw that Len was just staring at him instead of eating his breakfast.

" Len what's wrong?" Barry asked in concern, in reply Len just shook his head and smiled.

" Nothing, I love you." He said simply.

Even though they had said these words to each other many, many times, Barry noticed that this time, Len had said it a different way, with a different tone that seemed more reverent than any other time he had heard Len say it. It made something inside Barry turn warm, so resplendently warm that the younger man found himself blushing under his husband's striking blue eyes that were filled with such admiration, a kind of admiration that hadn't been there before.

" I-I love you too Len." Barry said softly, letting out a small chuckle and suddenly feeling a bit shy as he ducked his head.

Len just smiled and continued his admiring for a few more long moments before he finally took mercy on his blushing husband and went back to eating himself. He did laugh though when Barry offered him a forkful of his steak, which he gladly accepted.

Once breakfast was eaten and the table clear, Barry and Len headed upstairs to change into some of the winter attire they had packed. Once they were clothed in heavy jackets, trousers, and boots, they headed downstairs where the servants were waiting with their heavy winter riding cloaks and swords. Once Barry and Len donned these they headed out into the crisp air where Borealis and Speedy stood saddled, cloaked, and ready for the ride along the mountain trails that Len had promised to take Barry on. Two of the six guards that had come up the mountain with them followed on their horses at a distance where they would be close enough to be able to come to aid if need be, but far enough to give Len and Barry their privacy.

They mounted up and headed off down one of the smooth, less treacherous trails that cut through a small thicket of evergreen trees that surrounded one side of the mountain base where the chateau stood but led to a special place. The air was crisp but the winds were low and not biting today, lending a pleasant freshness as Len and Barry rode through the evergreens, a light dusting of snow over the dark green trees and over the dirt trail. As they rode, both Len and Barry were ever vigilant along with the guards, for while it was winter and the bears were most likely hibernating, their were still packs of mountain wolves that roamed over the entire range, following after the elk and moose that lived up here.

They robe in comfortable silence save of the neighs and hoofbeats that came from their stallions. It was Barry who spoke, finally breaking the silence.

" So, where does this trail lead my King?" Barry asked with a smile and curiosity shining in his eyes. Len smiled back and gave Borealis' neck and light pat before he spoke.

" That my dear Prince, is a surprise, so patience. But tell me, did you find that book in the library I told you about over lunch yesterday?" Len asked, smoothly changing the subject.

Barry accepted the deflection, both because he knew that wherever Len was taking them would indeed be something spectacular, as his surprises often were if the gorgeous red stallion he was currently riding atop was anything to go on, and also because he had indeed found that book, a hilarious comedy anthology about the recounts of healers who had traversed the realm and encountered all manner of minor ailments and misfortunes. Barry had been unable to put the book down as he read through tail after tail of people seeking medical attention after indulging in some ideas so awfully bad, they were brilliant.

With a laugh, Barry began to regale Len with a few of the tales he could recall. A few moments later Len and Barry's combined laughter was filling the air, especially after Barry told Len the story of this one unfortunate farmer who had been gluing a sign onto one of his buildings regarding fresh produce for sale. By some act of whoever runs the universe, the man had jumped down from the ladder he had been using but left the bucket of glue he had been using on the ladders top step. A stray cat had jumped out from the bushes and started the farmer, he had backed up into the ladder and naturally, the bucket had tipped over and its sticky contents had fallen right on top of him, dousing him thoroughly. As the farmer had blindly tried to make his way back to his house to get help, the family dog happened to run out, a tiny little terrier dog. Before the farmer could stop the little fellow, the dog had rushed forward and jumped into his owner's arms and summarily got stuck to the farmer's chest because of the glue. On top of the dog getting stuck, a pair of the farmer's prized egg laying hens happened to be loose in the yard, and upon seeing the Farmer in his state had gone on the attack, jumping on him and pecking at him until there taloned feet and sharp beaks had gotten stuck in the glue.

By the time the healer had arrive the farmer was sitting in dismay with the family dog stuck to his chest, a white hen stuck to his back and flapping her wings so much that feathers were flying everywhere and getting stuck to his head, while a tan hen was stuck over his shoulder doing the same thing, and worse still the glue had started to harden. Needless to say the healer had had his work cut out for him, but thankfully the dog, hens, and the farmer were all disconnected thanks to several gallons of caster oil and good old-fashioned elbow grease.

This and other stories followed as Len and Barry laughed the rest of the way down the trail to the point where Barry's cheeks were bright red and there were actually tears streaming from Len's eyes, both of their guts aching to the point where the muscles had gone numb, but they loved it.

Still chuckling, Len felt his smiling widen when he saw the clearing up ahead.

" Hey Barry, there's the spot up ahead, race you!" Len said, quickly pointing before he urged Borealis into a full gallop.

" Hey no fair!" Barry yelled with a laugh as he urged Speedy to a full run as well.

The two stallions went at it with the best, both animals powerful and fast. It was Speedy that took the lead about halfway down the trail, but then with a powerful neigh, Borealis and Len pulled up ahead at the last minute. Barry watched in awe as Len rode past him, Borealis' ebony black mane and tail flying along with Len's cloak. As the reached the end of the trail that led into the clearing, Borealis reared onto his powerful hind-legs and trumpeted in triumph while Len held on and laughed brightly.

" Yeah!" Barry yelled as he and Speedy galloped the rest of the way down the trail and pulled up beside Len and Borealis. They both gazed at each other, the exhilaration still palpable while Speedy and Borealis nuzzled at each other, talking as only horses could talk to each other.

" That was awesome." Len grinned, while Barry laughed loud and nodded. There was a moment of charged silence between them before Len gestured for them to head for the clearing. They urged their horses into a slow walk as they entered the clearing that stood at the side of an imposing rock face, the side of the largest mountain in the range. It was a stunning sight, with the grass in the clearing still green enough despite the light frost. The horses would be perfectly safe and the two guards would be there waiting at the mouth of the trail, ever vigilant.

Len and Barry dismounted and let their stallions go off to graze and relax, while Barry followed Len as his husband led them towards the rock face.

" Is this the place?" Barry asked as he and Len took a moment to gaze up at the seemingly unending wall of rock.

" In a way, it's actually inside the mountain." Len said simply while Barry's jaw dropped and he stared at Len in disbelief.

" Follow me Kid" Len said lightly as he started walking towards a place where the rock curved inward. Barry followed eagerly, wondering just where Len was taking him.

" Wow." Barry whispered when he followed Len around the bend in the rock and saw that hidden behind it was a staircase of crude steps that were cut into the rock and led up to a pair of circular wooden doors with a Nevarian Snowflake emblem carved into them. Len just smiled at the awe that was already spread across his husband's face, looking forward to see the expression grow ten-fold one he showed Barry what was behind this pair of hidden doors.

Len led the way up the steps, fishing out a large brass key from his jacket pocket. Barry was doing his best not to bounce on the balls of his feet, he was so excited. Len made quick work of using the key to get the matching heavy brass lock on the doors open. The heavy wooden doors groaned as Barry and Len each too a door and pushed them open together, the Nevarian Snowflake emblem falling away to reveal a large, darkened tunnel.

" You got any matches Darling?" Barry deadpanned. Len just smirked as strode into the darkened tunnel, looking at Barry over his shoulder as he spoke.

" Don't need them, got something way better." Barry stepped forward himself into the darkened cave tunnel and watched as Len reached for something that was affixed high up on the tunnel wall.

A closer look showed him that it was a rotatable mirror. Barry watched as Len carefully angled the mirror so that it caught the full light of the early afternoon light outside. The mirror seemed even more reflective than a normal mirror, so when it caught the light and reflected it back string enough for a visible beam of light, Barry gasped in astonishment and watched as Len directed the beam of reflected light towards another mirror that was mounted a few feet away on the opposite wall of the tunnel. This caused a chain reaction that was breathtaking as Barry watched the beam of light get gently reflected in a crude zig zag across multiple mounted mirror, lighting up the entire tunnel in a soft light, making it clearly visible.

Barry was grinning ear to ear, which in turn had Len smiling warmly as he ushered Barry forward. The pair began making their way down the now illuminated tunnel. Len was feeling giddy inside, but also very nervous as well, for the place he was taking Barry was a special place, a very special and private place that very few people knew about. He really hoped that Barry would like it, and Len also hoped that his own nerves wouldn't fizzle out on him.

As they walked, Barry looked ahead and could see the end of the tunnel. There was a faint orange light emanating from it. When they were just about to reach the end of the tunnel, Barry suddenly found himself gently seized into a slow, passionate kiss. Barry let out a muffled laugh, letting his eyes fall shut as he kissed his husband back and wrapped his arms around Len. It was almost like they were doing a little dance as Len kept kissing Barry and maneuvering him through the opening at the end of the tunnel.

When they finally drew apart, Barry only had eyes for Len, which made Len smile wide before he spoke.

" Have a look husband." He said as he pulled back and stepped out of the way, finally revealing what he wanted to show Barry.

Len watched with quiet pleasure as Barry's entire face grew slack with awe, his mouth hanging slightly open and his eyes wide at the wondrous sight before him. There surrounding them, was a cave filled to the brim with crystal. It was like something straight out of a dream.

Crystals large and small were everywhere, jutting from the ceilings and the floors, glowing in more hues than Barry could count.

" Oh wow." Barry whispered as he took a few stepped further into the gave, his eyes wide and riveted to everything they could see as his slack jawed slowly turned into bright, awestruck grin.

The crystals were gorgeous with their natural geometric shapes and their many, many colors. There were the warm crystals of reds, oranges, yellows, whites and bright greens, and the cooler shaded crystals of blues, purples, and indigos. Some were iridescent and shifted between colors with every angle Barry looked at them.

To Barry's further wonder, there was a deep pool of iridescent looking water, more crystals jutting out from it and glowing beneath the surface. It was all just magnificent to behold. But while Barry was transfixed by the crystal cave in sheer awe at having ever seen anything like it, Len only had eyes for his husband.

Len watch, in awe himself as the soft glow from the crystals seemed to gently caress Barry's skin, making almost glow along with them. The light brought out the green in Barry's eyes, making them even more striking and warm than usual. Barry looked absolutely exquisite, and Len could not hold back a sigh as he spoke the one word that could come to his mind in that moment.

" Beautiful." He said softly.

Barry turned his gaze away from the crystal, ready to voice his agreement with Len that it all really was beautiful, but then he noticed they way Len was looking right at him and not at the crystals, making Barry realize that Len was not talking about the crystals at all when he said what he said.

" L-Len." Barry said a little breathlessly, feeling his face heat up at the open admiration he saw in Len's steely blue eyes.

With a soft chuckle Barry rushed forward, pulling Len into a tight embrace, the older man chuckling too as he returned the hug whole-heartedly and spoke.

" Well, what do you think of my surprise?" He asked.

" It's amazing Len, I've never seen anything like it in all my life." Barry replied in all honesty as he took another look around.

" Come on then, I gotta show you some of my favorites." Len said as he grabbed Barry by the hand and led his husband further into the cave.

Len spent the next hour showing Barry his favorite crystals and parts of the cave, like the gorgeous formation of clear crystals that jutted out of one part of the ceiling, swirling out and looking almost like a chandelier, and the smaller pool that was filled with glowing red and purple crystals just a few feet away from the clear structure. There was the patch of cerulean blue rectangular crystals, and the magenta colored cluster by a far wall that looked almost flower-like with sharp, pointed crystals that looked like petals. Barry absolutely loved how animated and enthusiastic Len was being as he showed him this absolutely wondrous place.

" Hey check it out, this is my absolute favorite spot." Len said as he lead Barry through an archway lined with little blue tear-drop shaped crystals on along the ceiling.

When Barry's eyes fell on the chamber on the other side of the archway he gasped at the sight that greeted him.

There in the middle of the chamber stood a massive cluster of pure white crystals that swirled and jutted up and outward to looked almost like a pair of wings amidst and rounded back of small white prism like crystals. It was by the far the most spectacular part of the entire crystal cave.

" Holy..." Barry trailed off as he stepped closer to the massive structure.

Len smiled and let go of Barry's hand, watching as his husband made his way towards the massive crystal structure. They were both over six feet tall, and yet against the structure they looked comically small. The light of the white crystals bathed them both in soft white light as Barry reached out and ran a reverent hand over one of the swirling crystals that made up the wing-like parts of the overall structure.

For a while they both just gazed at the crystalline structure that glowed almost angelic before them. It was Barry who finally broke the peaceful silence.

" Len, tell me everything you know about this place, please, I wanna know everything you know." He said softly, loving how Len looked with the soft light from the crystal illuminating his handsome features.

Len smiled warmly and nodded before he held out his hand for Barry. Barry grasped it firmly and allowed Len to pulled him away from the crystals to a nearby boulder with a flat surface. They both sat down side by side, taking of the swords that hung from their backs and setting them down before they took a moment to stare at the crystal structure from a distance. Then with a sigh Len spoke.

" I had just turned fourteen, Lewis had sent me and Lisa up here to the chateau for a couple of weeks to and I quote "give us a taste of fresh air", I know he just wanted to not have to look at us for a while and make sure we weren't around to disturb him while he binged on wine and turned the palace into his own personal playground of debauchery." Len began with a humorless smirk.

Barry reached up and gripped his husband's shoulder tightly, conveying his support without saying a word as Len continued.

" Me and Lisa were happy up here, away from him for a while, a respite from his constant hate. Lisa liked to stay inside, enjoy the fire and play with her dolls, the governess was there to look after us both. I preferred going outside and exploring the mountains and riding. It was while I was riding along the trail we took that the clearing caught my eye. It was around this time of year, winter just starting, so I left my horse to graze and decided to just have a look around on foot. That was when I saw the mouth of the cave. Back then there were no steps, just a rocky ramp. Me being me, I took it as a challenge, I was fifteen and I had my sword with me so I thought that I'd be able to take on whatever was in here, if there was something. " Len said with one of his cocky smirks that had Barry grinning and leaning in to pressed a lingering peck to his husband's lips before Len continued.

" The tunnel was pitch black, with only that orange light at the end. I followed it, using my sword like a blind-man would a cane and then I reached the cave." Len said with a nostalgic smile as he remembered his open mouthed astonishment at discovering this place for the first time. Barry found himself chuckling as he rested his cheek over his hand on Len's shoulder and spoke.

" Did you lose your fourteen year old mind?" He asked, to which Len let out a rumbling chuckle and nodded.

" Spectacularly."

Barry and Len's mingled chuckles filled the air and echoed through the crystal chamber as Len regaled Barry with the tale of his first time here in the cave. How he had spent hours playing amidst the crystals, even breaking a couple when he wanted to see which one's he could dump off of. Needless to say he had caused a complete panic at the chateau when no one could find him, scared Lisa to death, and been grounded by the governess for the rest of their stay at the chateau.

" I may have been cooped up, but I never forgot this place." Len said with a sigh as he looked around and then took a deep breath before he turned back to Barry and spoke.

" Over the years, I fixed the place up myself, installed the mirrors for the light trick you saw and asked a foreign company to make the doors and install them, swearing them to utmost secrecy. It started out that this was me being selfish and not wanting to share anything with anyone for once in my life, and then as I grew older it became this place of solitude where I could just come and enjoy the crystals and the silence, a place where I could just think." Len explained.

" Did you bring Lisa and Mick here to see it?" Barry asked, feeling his heart starting to pound for some reason as he waited for Len to answer him.

Len just looked at Barry for a long moment before he shook his head.

" For all these years since I discovered it, I haven't told a soul, not my sister, not even Mick. I've never brought anyone in here, until today." Len said quietly as he met Barry's stunned gaze.

" L-Len, what do you mean?" Barry asked uncomprehending. Len smiled before he reached up and took Barry's cheek into his palm as he spoke.

" I mean exactly what I said, no one else has ever been here with me except for you, not my sister, or the husband I shared my life with for thirteen years, just you." Len said softly, smiling at Barry's flabbergasted countenance.

Barry needed a moment to process this quite but no less monumental revelation. This place, this wonderful place, Len kept hidden from everyone since he was fourteen years old. He didn't reveal it to Lisa and more surprisingly, not to Mick Rory. Out of everyone on this earth, Len chose to share this place, this place straight out of a dream, with him, and him alone. It was understandable that Barry was finding it hard to come up with a proper response. Instead, he spoke the first words that came to his stunned mind.

" W-Why me Len?" He asked softly, his green eyes searching Len's steely blue.

Len nodded, expecting the question. With another steadying breath, Len began to explain.

" I told you this morning about my dream, how I envisioned you and Lisa dying and burning in front of me, and how Mick was suddenly there and it was the Winter Solstice Ball where we met." Barry nodded, feeling his heart ache that the fresh memory of what Len had recounted to him through his tears. Len felt his own eyes burn, but he held back the tears for he had had enough of them as he gazed warmly at Barry and spoke.

" Well Mick's message was loud and clear, that I needed to let go of my guilt over what happened to him. After I woke up and went outside to the balcony, I just spoke to him, told him goodbye, and that the part of me that loved him would see him again under those solstice stars someday but, something else happened, something I didn't expect." Len said.

" What do you mean Len? What happened out there?" Barry asked curiously.

" Barry, I felt something lighten inside me, like something that I had been clinging onto finally left me in that moment, disappearing with my breath." Len said, frowning for a moment, trying to find the right words. He then continued.

" It was like that part of me that I was talking about, the part that belonged to Mick actually went to go be with him, like I finally let it go. I will miss Mick always, he was my first love, but my heart's not yearning for him every second of every day anymore like it was for those five years I mourned him." Len said before he pulled a stunned Barry into his arms, holding him tightly as he spoke into Barry's hair.

" I feel free Barry, I feel so free." He said softly with a tiny, breathless laugh as he went on.

" After we were married, I really did want to get close to you, to get to know you, you did intrigue me, but I would feel so guilty for even thinking about it because I felt like I was betraying Mick's memory if I even showed the barest interest in you. I ended up feeling like an ass anyway because I knew I was hurting you by staying away, and Lisa was the one to tell me to my face."

Barry began to protest, to say that he was okay, that there weren't any hard feeling but Len just gave him a firm squeeze, silencing him.

" I know I hurt you whenever I would make an excuse not to spend time with you, I know. But then I found you in the rooms I shared with Mick, you told me about how you lost your parents, and we finally got to talking to each other, we became friends. I found that you were someone I could spend hours with and not notice the time slipping away. It wasn't because you were this new person living here in Nevar with us, it was because you are who you are, this kind, amazing man who could put up with me and the kind of baggage I came with." Len said, pausing here to compose himself, while he felt Barry exhale shakily against him. Once he felt that he could speak steadily enough, Len drew back so that he could look Barry in the eye, those hazel green eyes he loved so much already over bright with emotion.

Len smiled, feeling his own eyes fill, but stubbornly keeping the tears back as he spoke.

" I brought you here to this place that was before known only to me for a reason, so that I could tell you something that I can say to you now free of any guilt, that I can mean with every fiber of my being, and that I truly believe with every fiber of my being."

Barry felt his heart pounding in his chest hard as he took in a deep breath and spoke.

" Tell me husband, please tell me what you have to say." He said softly, almost whispering it.

Len leaned in and pressed his forehead to Barry's, holding the other man's face in his hands as he spoke.

" I brought you here to tell you that you are the true love of my life, that you have become the one who holds all of my heart, who occupies all of my thoughts and dreams, and who's soul fits as the perfect mate to mine. I know that you have been devoted to me ever since you got here to Nevar, but now I am telling you that as your husband, I devote myself unto you, and you alone for as long as I live, and even beyond it, unto whatever afterlife awaits us. My place will always be by your side because that is where I want to be, and it's all I will ever need. I thought that Mick was it for me but I was wrong, it's you, there can never be anyone else. You are it for me Bartholomew Henry Allen."

There was a beat of charged silence, and then Barry let out a strangled noise. The next thing Len knew he was being full on tackled by his overjoyed husband who then proceeded to squeeze the oxygen out if his lungs quite efficient. With a shuddering breath and a watery little chuckle Barry spoke.

" Y-You're it for me too Leonard Lewis Richard Snart, you were it for me from the moment I saw you. I love you, God I love you with all my heart." Barry said spoftly.

Len let his eyes flutter shut, a few tears leaking through the seam of his eyelids as he pressed soft kisses to Barry's temple and neck before he spoke against his husband's ear.

" I love you too Barry, and now I can say that I do with all my heart too. It's yours Barry, its all yours." Len said softly. Barry nodded, but then he drew back a little so that he could press his forehead to Len's as he spoke.

" I can't have all your heart, Lisa gets a piece of it too." Barry said with a tearful smile. Len just chuckled softly as he stared into this hazel eyes, so vibrant and warm in the crystal light.

" You're always so considerate Kid, she gets the love she's entitled to as my baby sis, but you, you get my passion, my devotion, my commitment, my friendship... my need." Len said huskily before he took Barry's smiling lips in a slow, deep kiss. Barry's whole body seemed to sigh as he melted into the kiss, wrapping his arms tightly around his husband's shoulders, one of his hands running over the downey softness of that close-cropped, salt and pepper hair he loved so much.

One would think that things would devolve after that, that Barry and Len would partake in the carnal pleasures the way they were kissing would normally lead to. But instead, they drew apart and simply held each other close. It was as if they had thought the same thing in that moment, that the cave was not the kind of place to indulge in such pleasures. Instead the sat on the boulder with their sides pressed together, bathed in the crystal light, and holding each other's hands as they gazed on the angelic crystal structure in the center of the chamber.

This was their place, and they didn't need to partake in such things to make it so. Instead they sat side by side in perfect silence in the most beautiful part of the cave.

They could have sat there for hours in that peaceful silence, but said silence was broken about half and hour later by the loud rumbling of a stomach.

Len threw his head back and laughed before he pulled Barry a chuckling into a bear hug.

" Guess our time's up, the bottomless pit has spoken." Len snarked about Barry's stomach, but then he was falling silence as his own stomach let out a groan that rivaled his husbands.

" Mine's isn't the only one it seems." Barry grinned before he leaned in and took Len's mouth in a less than chaste kiss.

They broke apart with a laugh a few moments later, their chuckles echoing through the crystal cave as they helped each other strap their swords back onto their backs. Once that was done, Len and Barry slowly made their way towards the cave entrance, taking some time to have a last look around at the many different kinds of crystals before they reached the opening of the tunnel that would lead them outside.

As they took one final look at the crystal cave, Barry turned to Len and spoke.

" Thank you for showing me this place." He said softly as he smiled at his husband. Len nodded and smiled back softly as he spoke.

" You're the only someone I wanted to share it with." He said softly.

Barry ducked his head shyly to hide his wide grin, and Len was about to lean in for another kiss when his husband's stomach let out another loud groan. Barry chuckled while Len full out laughed as they finally took their leave of the crystal cave, now newly christened as their secret place, no longer just Len's alone.

They walked back up the tunnel in comfortable silence, chuckling whenever Barry or Len's stomach let out the calls of hunger. When they finally reached the doors, Len made his way over to the first mirror and turned it away from the early afternoon sun, thus plunging the tunnel back into darkness. They then stepped back out into the crisp air and Len when about shutting the carved wooden doors to the entrance of the tunnel. Once he had closed them, he fished out the large key from his pocket and locked the doors with an audible clank of the metal. Then in an unexpected move, Len turned to Barry and held out the key to his husband.

Barry was stunned for a moment, but then he smiled quietly and nodded as he took the key from his husband, understanding what Len was doing. Len was trusting him with the key to this place, both secret and scared, and now shared by only them. It could also have been symbolic in that Len was giving him the key to his heart but Barry wasn't going to get all sugary and sappy like that, he was way too hungry. Barry brought the key up to his lips and pressed the kiss to it, his hazel eyes never leaving Len's steely blue, a silent promise passing between them before he tucked the key away inside one of the pockets of his jacket.

Smiling, Len and Barry made their way down the crude stone steps and into the clearing where Borealis and Speedy were playfully pawing at the grass. Len and Barry both whistled for their respective horses, the stallions neighing and snorting as they gave up play and dutifully trotted over the grass to greet their respective riders. After a few minutes spent showering the stallions with love, Barry and Len mounted up and trotted off back up the trail they had taken, because they really were hungry as hell at this point.

They made quick work of getting down the trail nodding to the guards who sat atop their horses a little ways down the trail, waiting at a distance as they had been ordered. Now that the King and Prince Consort were heading back to the Chateau, the guards followed closer behind by a few paces.

They reached the Chateau a few minutes later and handed off the reigns to Borealis and Speedy to the waiting attendants. Len then dismissed the guards and he and Barry thanked them for their service. Then Len and Barry were doing their best to remain dignified as they entered the Chateau and handed off their cloaks and swords to the awaiting servants. The made a quick trip upstairs to freshen up a bit before coming back down.

They waited until the head housekeeper stepped forward and informed them that the afternoon meal was ready and waiting for them in the dining room. They each could have kissed the man they were so happy and hungry, but instead they said their thanks and walked calmly side by side down the hallway that led to the dining room.

Once they were at the threshold, they took a moment to stare at the veritable personal feast for two that had been laid out on the end of the main table. There was an assortments of their favorite roast meats and buttery grilled vegetables, breads and fruits, all looking a sumptuous as always, the cooks being sure to always serve their royals only their very best. With a smirk, Len spoke without looking away from the food.

" Hey Kid, that roast beef's calling your name, go be an actual bear and bury you face in it." Barry chuckled before he turned to give Len a challenging look.

" You know, maybe I will." He said with a grin before he was shooting off with that incredible speed of his, his jaws open comically wide.

" Hey get back here!" Len said with a laugh as he ran after Barry, loving his husband's playfulness but also wanting to make sure that Barry didn't actually follow through and devour that awesome looking roast. He caught Barry around the waist and pulled him away just as Barry had bowed down to take a bite, the younger man laughing loudly and Len joining in as he pressed a kiss to Barry's cheek before smoothly handing him a plate. Len picked up a plate for himself and the couple went about piling their plates high.

They went about eating, sharing things off of each other's plates, and talking quietly, Len asking Barry about which crystals he liked the best besides the big, show-stopping white one, and Barry enthusiastically responding. As he watched Barry eat and laugh sitting across from him at the small table, Len felt like he was finally free of the lingering wisps of the dark cloud that had been hanging over him for years, and it was a really, really good feeling, this lightness. While he knew that their time up here in the Chateau was drawing to an end, just four more days until they would head down the mountain and get back to their lives as the rulers of Nevar. In all honesty, while the Chateau was nice and private, and he and Barry both got daily reports of the happening of the palace in their absence, they were really missing their home, and family. They were even missing their duties.

Len and Barry ate lunch and then afterwards lounged about in the library on one of the long, plush sofas, this time Len finding one of his favorite books of short stories and reading out loud from it while Barry lay with his head in Len's lap, listening intently with a smile as Len used his voice to act out the different characters, all the while feeling the key he still had in one of the breast pockets of his jacket.

And so the hours were spent, in each other's company, with a new level of closeness achieved after the events of today. After they had spent an ample amount of time in the library, they headed upstairs to share a warm bath together. They didn't take things all the way, just enjoying the simple intimacy of being together in the stone pool. Len smiled into Barry's damp brown hair as he held Barry to him with the younger man's back against his chest, while he himself rested against the side of the stone pool. The water smelled heavenly of the soaps and pure spearmint oil Barry and Len both loved. Barry sighed and closed his eyes as he leaned his head back against Len's shoulder. Len picked up one of the soft bath sponges that was hanging from the nearby railing and wet it.

" Hmm." Barry hummed softly in quiet enjoyment as Len running the sponge over his chest, lightly scrubbing and also spreading that lovely scent. They said not a word, they didn't need to.

About an hour later the water had grown cold and they had dragged themselves out, Len and Barry both loose and relaxed. As they set about getting dressed in simple clothing, Len looked up from his chest when Barry made an "aha" and saw his husband stand with a simple leather cord in his hand. He was about to ask Barry what he was up to when Barry held up the key to the crystal cave and threaded the cord through key's bow. Len found himself smiling as he watched Barry loop the cord around his neck and tie it at the back, the key hanging from it like a pendant.

Len couldn't help but also feel a small wave of possessiveness as he eye the key resting over his husband's bare chest. Barry looked up when he noticed Len staring and smiled warmly.

" Better than keeping it in my pocket, I'll be sure to put it somewhere safe when we get back home." Barry assured. Len nodded before he and Barry went back to getting dressed.

By the time they came back down to the first floor of the Chateau the sun had fully set and dinner would be in about ten minutes. Barry and Len simply lounged about the living room area, sharing a few kisses and the Len laughing loudly as Barry regaled him with another story of medical misfortune, this time about this poor young woman who had thought to straighten her unruly curls with the iron one used on clothing and had ended up burning her hair, thankfully though, it had been at the ends of her locks, so when the healer was summoned, he had been spared having to use burn treatments and prescribed a trip to the haircutters instead.

Then at long last the head servant came into the living room area and informed them that dinner was ready and waiting for them. Instead of the normal assortment like they had enjoyed for lunch, tonight was more low-key, the table was set, and the two plates held an elegant array of brazed and grilled meats and vegetable. It was a hearty dinner, but less a feast and more a romantic table for two. Barry was mildly surprised but not disappointed at the lack of the usual spread of many different items. It was refreshing to simply be able to sit down and enjoy what had been graciously prepared.

As he and Len took their seats at the small table by the window, one of the servants came forward and spoke, holding out an elegant bottle of wine.

" My King, the Harys wine you asked for this evening." Len nodded and smiled while Barry watched on, his curiosity evident as he realized that Len was the one who arranged for dinner to be this way for the evening.

The servant was all formality and grace as he filled Len's goblet and then Barry's before he set the bottle down on the table and stepped away with a boy. The other servants in the room all bowed and took their leave.

Once they found themselves alone, Barry caught on quick that this was meant to be a date night, and not the regular dinners they were used to. It called for a toast, so barry picked up his goblet and held it out to Len as he spoke.

" To a wonderful day gone by?" He asked, to which Len nodded and raised his own goblet.

" And to a wonderful night just beginning." He said as he lightly clinked his goblet with Barry's, a suggestion in his deep voice that was not lost on Barry as the young man did his best not to shiver in anticipation for what the night could indeed hold.

After that they went about finally digging into the sumptuous meal that had been prepared for them. There were sliced of roast duck with an almost crispy caramel glaze, braised beef that was so tender it feel apart with the barest poke of the fork, a grilled pheasant breast cut into strips with that light garlic butter sauce that Barry loved, and finally a trio of perfectly boiled quails eggs. It was all exquisite to look at, even better to taste.

" Oh man, this duck is amazing!" Barry said with a blessed out look on his face, Len nodding in agreement before he spoke.

" Try the beef with the wine, it is beyond this world." Len said as he held out forkful of said beef for Barry. Sure enough, Barry was nearly moaning at the combination.

" This wine, it's not like the one we usually have." Barry said as he sniffed at the rich, almost spicy aroma the wine gave off, Len nodding as he raised his own goblet.

" Yeah, they make it from the riper grapes and add in some earthy spices to give it a bit of a kick." Len explained before he took a deep swig and set the goblet down, mischief and something far more heated swirling behind his striking blue eyes as he smirked at Barry.

" It's also known for its... aphrodisiac qualities." He said, his voice going several octaves lower as he said the last two words. He watched as Barry's eyes widened before he was letting out this deep exhale, a light flush slowly spreading across his cheeks as Len's implications dawned on him.

Barry suddenly felt very hot under his sweater, heat pooling in his stomach that had nothing to do with the hot meal of the temperature in the room. A knowing smile slowly spread across his face as he chuckled.

" Leonard Snart are you trying to wine and dine me into that kind of mood?" He asked huskily, to which Len's smirk turned into a genuine smile as well.

" Well, is it working Bartholomew Allen?" He rumbled.

Barry stayed tellingly silent, his smile turning into a hungry look as he went back to eating, deliberately making a show of licking the sauce off of the piece of pheasant he had speared with his fork before devouring the bite. Len did his best not to just shove the table out of the way and get to Barry right then and there. Instead he reigned in his slowly boiling desire and focused on the show Barry was putting on for him. And if Len decided that it was only fair that Barry get a show in turn and started eating a few strips of duck with his fingers, being sure to lightly suck on his finger tips, well he was nothing if not a considerate husband.

By the time the last morsel of food was consumed and the last drop of wine was sipped, the charged air between the couple seemed to almost boil with the tension, the burning desire. With dinner done, Len and Barry rose from the table in silence, not uttering a single word as they walked out of the dining room. As they walked down the hallway into the living room area, Barry reached for Len's hands and intertwined their fingers, the both of them enjoying the heat radiating off of each other's skin as they made their way upstairs.

Once they had reached the door and stepped through, Len pulled the door shut behind him. The moment he turned, he let out a small gasp as he was lightly shoved against the door, a searing hot mouth sealing itself over his own. Within seconds Len was melted against Barry and kissing his husband back, pouring all of his pent up want into the kiss. As Barry groaned against Len's lips, he pulled Len away from the door, the couple doing an almost waltz as they made their way towards their bed.

They broke apart with a laugh as the backs of Barry's knees hit the foot of the bed, and their momentum going forward sent them lightly toppling onto the bed. Len let out a breathless huff as Barry mouthed at his jaw before he drew back, an took a moment to simply admire how gorgeous his husband looked in the amber firelight that illuminated the room for the fireplace that was going.

" Some days I still can't believe you're mine." Len said quietly. Barry grinned warmly as he wrapped his arms around Len's neck and pulled him in close so that their faces were mere inches from each other as he spoke.

" I wonder how I got so lucky sometimes too. But here we are, going on almost nine months of marriage, consummated and everything." Barry said with one of his signature grins.

They shared a moments of warmth, before the air grew heated again. Their mouths met in another fiery kiss while their hands sought out each other's bodies, Len's hands reaching under Barry's light sweater, taking a moment to touch the heated skin beneath it before slowly divesting his husband of it. Len groaned as Barry kissed at his neck while his fingers worked open the buttons of the simple dark navy tunic he was wearing. Both the sweater and the tunic ended up on the floor forgotten. They lay in the center of the bed, taking a moment to taste and caress the skin that was exposed. As Len gazed down at Barry, he felt a wave of possessiveness wash over him as he ran his fingers over the key that was resting over Barry's heart. In that moment as he gazed at his beautiful husband, Len decided that things were going to be a little bit different tonight.

Barry and Len went about undressing each other further till they were both gloriously nude and the air around them had grown searingly hot. They drew apart from a shared kiss with a gasp, and then Len forced himself away with a light groan. Barry watched him with understanding and excitement as Len padded into the bathroom. As he went to the special cabinet, Len found himself smiling in anticipation as he picked out the usual crystal bottle with the white lubricant, but instead of the usual vial of that sensuous clear oil, Len picked up a vial of oil that was situated at the back of the cabinet. Instead of being clear, the oil was a soft, golden amber color.

This was the really, really powerful stuff, and as Len eyes the vial with a glint in his eyes, he knew that it would be the right addition for what he had planned for tonight with Barry.

Stomping down on his own nervousness, Len quickly made his way back to Barry, who lay reclined with his back propped up against the headboard, looking down right sinful as he smiled hungrily at Len. Len found himself smirking back as he joined Barry on the bed, setting the two bottles down on the mattress before he leaned in between Barry's leg and gazed back just as hungrily at his husband. With a cheeky smirk, Len leaned in and promptly ran his tongue over the sensitive scar just under Barry's right pec, causing Barry to cry out and arch magnificently like there was a live current going through his whole body.

" O-Oh God Len!" Barry breathed, loving the feeling Len caused in him. Len went about kissing trails over his chest and stomach, across his scar, driving him almost mad from these acts alone.

But then Len abruptly pulled away and sat on his knees beside Barry. Barry sat up, confusion coming off of him in waves as he gazed at Len.

" Len, what is it? Why'd you stop?" Barry asked. To this Len smiled in reassurance as he leaned in and kissed Barry soundly. When they drew back, Len spoke, his voice a low, husky rumble.

" We're doing things a little different tonight Husband mine." He said before he gently pushed Barry down so that he was reclining once more.

" What do you mean different?" Barry asked, eying Len curiously. Len grinned as he picked up the crystal bottle of lubricant and pulled out the stopper. Barry watched on as Len went about liberally coating the fingers of his other hand, the very sight of it making Barry's mouth go dry, for many times before this was a precursor to Len thoroughly preparing him for their joining. But Len had said that tonight would be different, so Barry did his best to stay still and watch as Len spoke.

" Different as in this." Len rumbled before he reclined and spread his thighs, giving Barry the full view of his body as he began to use his lubricated fingers on his own body's opening.

Barry felt the breath rush out of his lungs as he watched Len do this, his strong and often stoic husband being so open and vulnerable in front of him. Barry couldn't hold back a groan as he watched Len. Len hissed against the initial pain, having not done this since Mick.

" Oh my God." Barry whispered, the way he was looking at Len, like he was the most exquisite thing he had ever seen, had Len almost losing all semblance of control right then and there, but Len held himself together and focused on the task at hand. With a shuddering breath, Len added a second finger and groaned softly before he spoke.

" Watch me Barry, this is how you do it." Barry swallowed and nodded, understanding that this wasn't just a wonderful show, but also a demonstration as Len slowly scissored his fingers. The minutes felt almost like hours, and then Len was letting out a loud, strangled cry and gasping, Barry gasping along with him as he watched Len arc up, no doubt having found his own sweet spot. With a groan, Len withdrew his fingers and let out a shaky breath as his entire body shuddered at the long dormant sensations washing over him.

But then he was gasping sharply as a strong, familiar hand was hooking him around the back of his neck and pulled him up onto his knee.

" Bar-mmph." Len began to say, but the rest came out as a garbled mumble as a hot mouth crashing over his own. Len let out a small, muffled chuckle as Barry proceeded to basically try to devour him. Len kissed Barry back just as fervently, wrapping arms tightly around

When the need for air became too much to ignore, they wrenched apart with a gasp. With a small groan and breathing hard, Barry held Len's flushed face in his hands and pressed his forehead to his husband's as he spoke.

" God Len... You looked so... I can't even... I get it, you want me to take you but husband, I've never done this before with a man, what if I hurt you?" Barry said softly.

Len smiled and ran his hand up and down Barry's graceful spine, making Barry moan softly as he spoke.

" You won't hurt me, I trust you Barry." Len said softly, but when he saw that Barry averted his gaze still looked a little unsure, Len smiled and cupped Barry's cheek, waiting for Barry look back up at him before continued.

" It's okay Barry, it's okay." He whispered before he took Barry's lips in a languid kiss, hoping to ease Barry back into a more relaxed state. It worked as Barry's whole body seemed to sigh against Len's as he kissed his husband back.

It was then that Len remembered the special oil. He drew away from Barry with a smile and reached for the glass vial. Barry, calmer now, but sill feeling nervous and excited, eyed the oil curiously.

" That's different to what we normally use. What's it do?" Barry asked. Len nodded and pushed open the stopper with his thumb before he spoke, his voice low, but no less commanding.

" Lay down on you back, you'll find out soon enough." Swallowing at the way Len's eyes looked almost completely black now, Barry obeyed and lay down.

He was inhaling sharply the next moment as Len promptly straddled him with his powerful thigh. Before Barry could say anything, Len tipped the vial and poured some of the amber oil onto Barry's chest, taking a moment to push the key that hung around Barry's neck out of the way before he proceeded to massage the oil over Barry's chest and stomach.

Barry groaned and writhed beneath those strong yet gentle hands, unlike the clear oil that felt cold when first applied to the skin, this oil was pleasantly warm. Len took particular pleasure in watching Barry as they shared this intimacy, always loving the myriad of looks that flitted across his husband's face along with the noises he could draw out of the younger man.

Barry's eyes, which had fluttered shut under Len's ministrations suddenly shot open, revealing hazel eyes turned almost all the way black, his pupils blown wide and filled with a fiery promise and deep want that Len had not seen before. With a low growl and his entire face growing serious, Barry suddenly pushed himself up into a sitting position, one of his arms wrapping tightly around Len's waisted while his other hand went to the vial Len was holding, seizing it.

With surprising strength, Barry pulled Len sideways, flipping them over so that Len now found himself on his back with Barry looming over him. Without saying a word, Barry poured some of the oil over Len's chest and stomach before he set the vial down on the nearby bedside drawer and got to work massaging Len's chest and stomach, his movements slow and sensuous. Now Len found himself writhing beneath Barry's hands. Once Barry had thoroughly worked the oil in, he then sought out the crystal vial with the white lubricant. Taking in a deep breath and holding the vial, Barry looked down at Len and spoke, his voice quiet and serious.

" Are you sure you want to do this Len?" He asked. Len took his own steadying breath before he nodded.

" Yes Barry, I am sure." He replied.

" Then lay back and watch me now." Barry said with a smirk that had all of Len's blood rushing south as his husband poured some of the lubricant onto himself. Len felt his heart pounding in both nervousness and anticipation. He wanted to feel Barry in this way, and he wanted him now. Len groaned as he watched Barry prepare himself, the younger man's eyes never leaving his as Barry rumbled and groaned. Then Barry was pouring the a liberal amount of the lubricant over the entrance to Len's body. The silence between the couple was charged as Barry finally knelt between Len's parted thighs and slowly moved forward. Barry took a moment to grab a pillow and place it under Len's hips even after his husband insisted that he didn't need it. Barry had silenced Len with a stern look before resuming.

A few moments later Len's strangled cry filled the air as Barry finally joined their bodies with a low groan of his own. They stayed that way, Barry allowing Len's body to adjust.

" B-Barry." Len whispered as he stared up at his husband, this moment more perfect than anything he could have ever imagined.

Barry leaned down and pressed his lips to Len's in a gentle kiss. When they drew away, Barry took in a deep breath and then spoke quietly.

" I'm gonna move now, just tell me if I am hurting you." He said before he drew his hips back slowly, nearly pulling out before he surged forward.

The feeling was so incredible that Len was robbed of his words, his mouth falling open and working with no words coming forth. Barry buried his face into the junction where Len's neck neck his shoulder and because biting and sucking on the skin hard, sure to leave bruises as he set a slow, almost torturous pace.

Len's hands went to Barry's lithe back, his palms splaying over the smooth expanse and reveling in the feel of the taught and coiling muscles.

A few long minutes later Barry was just beginning to feel the pressure building within him as he made love to Len, when his skin started to tingle over his chest.

" L-Len, everything's starting to tingle... what?" Barry began to ask, only to gasp as the intensity of it began to rapidly grow and expand over him. Beneath him Len was breathing hard and groaning as he too felt the sensation. With a breathless laugh Len spoke.

" The oil Barry, t-that amber colored oil is different... M-More intense. That other oil's meant to feel like fire but this one... this one's supposed to feel like- GAH!" Len broke off into a loud cry before he could finish his sentence, his entire body coming alive as it felt like a million little sparks were crackling all over his skin. Above him Barry cried out as well, his spine arcing magnificently while he pressed his forehead to Len's collarbone and breathed through the unexpected, yet highly intoxicating sensation.

" Like lightening... This feels like lightening." Barry said with a breathless little laugh as he pushed himself up and grinned down at Len. Len chuckled and nodded before he leaned up and kissed Barry. Barry returned the kiss and then snapped his hips forward, making Len gasp sharply as Barry finally hit that special spot.

The minutes rolled by, the fire in the fireplace crackling brightly while Barry continued his slow pace and elicited new sounds from his husband. As the oil enhanced their pleasure and the pressure of release began to build between them, Barry began to speed up, Len almost incoherent as his husband rammed that sweet spot within him over and over again.

With a low growl, Barry reached up and hooked a hand around the back of one of Len's knees and pushed it up, draping his husband's leg over his shoulder before he thrust in, causing Len to full on scream in renewed rapture. With his chest heaving Len looked up at Barry and smiled knowingly as he spoke with a groan.

" You've been reading the red book, haven't you?" He asked breathlessly.

" I may have... oh... memorized a few things." Barry replied through gritted teeth before he leaned, mere centimeters separating him from Len as he spoke, his voice quiet and dangerous.

" Now tell me who's husband are you." He said. Len's eyes almost rolled up into the back of his head at the possessiveness he could literally feel just in Barry's voice alone.

Without any guilt or hesitation, Len spoke.

" Yours... I am your husband... B-Barry." Len breathed, crying out at a particularly hard thrust from his husband, one of his hand blindly reaching out and finding the key that hung from barry's neck, using it to ground himself a little amidst the sensory overload.

" You are mine Leonard Lewis Richard Snart... Do you hear me? You are mine from now until existence itself ends." Barry growled before he started moving at a brutal pace, driving Len wild beneath him.

" Yes! I am yours... Bar... Gasp!... Bartholomew H-Henry Allen. I am yours... I am y-yours... I... Oh!... Oh God!... BARRY!" Len screamed as Barry leaned in and sunk his teeth into his neck and sent him toppling over the edge into sheer bliss.

" L-LEN!" Barry screamed as he felt Len's enter body arc beneath him and tense around him like a vice, proving to be the thing to shatter his own control as with a final thrust Barry too tumbled into ecstasy, his vision actually going white from the sheer force of it.

After several long moments of wave after wave of intense pleasure crashing over them both, Barry and Len's bodies both lost tension as they collapsed into a boneless heap. As he gulped in air to catch his breath, Barry used his waning strength to gently disjoin his body from Len's. Then with a light groan he pushed himself so that he could collapse against Len's side. For several long minutes he was too out of it to notice, but as he caught his breath, Barry became aware of just how quiet Len was being. Normally Barry would hear harsh breathing and groaning, sometimes even a few whispered out curse words, but right now there was only silence.

Felling concerned, Barry pushing himself up onto an elbow so that he could get a better look at Len. Len was laying there on his back unmoving, his breath deep and even and with his eyes close, his dark lashes standing out against his lightly flushed face. Barry frowned, wondering how Len could drift off to sleep so fast, but in an instant his healer's instincts were kicking in as he sat up and loomed over his husband.

" Len?" Barry called, his voice slightly wrecked as he reached down and placed his hand over the center of his husband's chest. When Len did not so much as twitch, Barry lightly shook Len and called out to him again.

Barry was about to panic because if Len had been asleep all the shaking and calling his name would have surely woken him up, but then it hit him like a tone of bricks.

Len was unconscious, and it wasn't because of some infinity or mishap, Barry's husband had passed out because the pleasure Barry had caused him had been enough to render him senseless.

" Holy..." Barry whispered before a truly self-satisfied grin slowly spread across his face.

Barry took a few moments to admire his work, Len looking absolutely glorious and gorgeous despite his current state, before Barry got up and hurried into the bathroom to first clean himself up and then get a fresh towel for Len, and to see if the medicine cabinet had any smelling salts he could use.

About twenty minutes later...

" Oh my God are you serious?" Len groaned as he dramatically threw an arm over his eyes where he lay still gloriously nude but now clean and conscious once more.

Barry just giggled as he lay half on top, half beside Len, pulling the sheets and comforter up to cover them from the waist down, feeling sleepy and warm, and also amused at his husband's mortification.

Barry had taken advantage of Len's unconsciousness to clean him of the evidence of their lovemaking, the cold towel always unpleasant. After that Barry had taken his sweet time in actually using the smelling salts he had found in the bathroom, taking a few more minutes to admire his handiwork before he waved the salts under Len's nose and brought his husband back to consciousness.

Len had been a little out of it but once the disorientation had faded, Barry had been downright gleeful as he explained just why the smelling salts had been necessary.

" Damn Kid, you are never going to let me live this down are you?" Len asked with mock despair as Barry just laughed and shook his head, humming happily when Len wrapped his arms around him and held him close.

" Not a chance." Barry said with a low, rumbling chuckle. Len found himself chuckling and not minding this fact at all as he smiled into those sleepy hazel green eyes.

Barry shifted and leaned up, pressing his lips to Len's in a gentle kiss, Len melting beneath him. When they drew away, they just stared at each other for words were not necessary what had happened today between them.

They were now and forever, truly each others.

Four days later...

It was a bright early morning over the mountains. Within their bedroom in the Chateau, Barry let out a muffled laugh as Len kissed his lips from behind, loving his husband's playfulness.

Four days went by in the blink of an eye, and now here Barry and Len were getting dressed and ready to leave the mountain Chateau. They had spent these fours days rarely leaving each others side, now that they had declared their devotion to each other. There was a lightness about Len now that Barry absolutely loved, like the invisible burden that had still been weighing Len down had well and truly been lifted through supernatural intervention in the form of a dream.

Len himself felt like he was on top of the world and could take on anything, he had himself, and more importantly he had Barry by his side. They were now standing in their mountain bedroom putting on their heavy travel jackets of course the progress was a bit slow seeing as to how they could barely keep their hands off of each other. But eventually they were dressed and ready, the chests in which they had kept their clothes having been sent down the mountain ahead of them.

" We'll have to come back here again in summer, then I can show you what the cave looks like then." Len said, smiling against Barry's shoulders.

" That sounds like a plan my husband." Barry agreed with a bright smile.

With tat the royal couple gave each other a final kiss in their bedroom before they walked out of it, Len closing the door behind them. They made their way down the stairs for the final time and took a look around the living room area where they had shared so many quiet and peaceful moments together. As they walked, Len noticed that Barry had something tucked under his arm, so when he sent Barry a questioning look, Barry simply grinned like the cat that caught the canary and showed Len what he was holding.

A certain special red leather bound book.

Len was stunned for a second before he was grinning back at Barry like a loon, a chuckle escaping him as he watched Barry discreetly tuck the book into his jacket.

With a last look around the Len and Barry greeted the servants who awaited them with their cloaks and sword, the pair donning the attire before they took their leave of the Chateau servants and headed outside into the brisk, lightly snow-filled air. It had grown colder up here, signaling that true winter was coming at that it was time to head back home.

Len and Barry walked down the stone steps side by side, nodding and saying their goodbyes to the attendants that had Borealis and Speedy saddles and waiting for them. They mounted up and took their leave of the mountain Chateau, the six royal guards following them dutifully as Leonard and Barry headed down the mountain path, the Nevarain palace standing in the distance waiting for them.

It was time for the King of Nevar and his Prince to return home to the winter kingdom.