Ladies and gentlemen, here it is. The final chapter. Well, maybe not. I'll decide once I've gotten to the end if I want to write an epilogue. I had never really planned to and was always going to finish the story at the end of this chapter in the way that you will see but now…I don't know. Well, you'll see what I mean.

In any case, I want to thank you all so much for reading and being so vocal in your praise. It really has been lovely to hear from all of you lovely people who took the time to review as well as the many more who have favourited and followed. You are a lovely, lovely bunch and I thank you all wholeheartedly.

So, without further ado, let's jackrabbit together one more time!

WARNING: Smex! Gay smex! That is all. (Well, I couldn't finish without giving y'all a quick dollop of queer romping, could I?!)

Play For Me, Jack

Chapter 20

The weeks seemed to fly by after Bunny revealed his lifeline to their relationship. Everyday, though, those words "You get to come with me" echoed in Jack's mind from the moment he woke up to the moment he went to sleep. They were perhaps the most exciting and terrifying words he had ever heard in his life and it had been no easy ride in getting to where he was now.

Sitting alone on a cold, metal bench watching people walk by hurriedly outside his own conflicted world, he asked himself even now if he had made the right decision. Really it had been a simple one: he either went with Bunny or he didn't. He had been avoiding that word 'simple' lately though as it always seemed to annoy him. In fact, it really wasn't that simple a decision at all. He had been asked whether or not he could practically end the life he had in Pittsburgh and follow Bunny into the unknown. Such a prospect gave him a terrific sense of adventure but reality had quickly quelled it with the fact that he would be taking the most monumental risk he was ever likely to take.

As he continued to sit and ponder alone as people continued to walk past him without even noticing him there, he couldn't believe this day had come around so fast. It had been Bunny's last day in the US and as he sat alone he quickly began to doubt the decision he'd made. Going with Bunny would be terrifying but he'd still get to be with him. Staying behind gave him security. What was the choice he was meant to have made?

No further clarity came to his troubled mind as he worried about his decision and as he continued to wonder he began to think back over the previous eight weeks and all the things that had led him to where he was now. He wished he wasn't alone and surrounded by strangers but he figured he should be able to handle such situations when faced with challenges like this. He had certainly been spending plenty of time alone in the previous weeks as he tried to have an epiphany.

Eight weeks ago…

"Go with you?" Jack said breathlessly after a long, drawn out gap in their conversation.

Bunny nodded enthusiastically. "Can you believe it? I said there was only one condition under which I could go back and that was if they agreed to take you on as well. I mean, you'd have to audition but it'll pretty much be predicated on you already having a place. It's more so they know where to put you but since I'll be in charge I'll be fast-tracking you to concertmaster. So after a year or two you'll be running the show!"

Jack just looked at him as if Bunny had told him he'd murdered someone. He was utterly shocked and being naked in the bath with Bunny looming over him didn't help matters. Grabbing a towel and then covering himself as he stood up and stepped out, he wrapped it around himself girly-style – as always – and clutched the edges at his chest worriedly as he tried to come to terms with what Bunny was saying to him.

"I-…I can't believe this" he said as he looked away from Bunny's face in sheer bafflement.

"I know. It's just so great, isn't it?"

"Great?! It's crazy! How can I-…How can you ask me to-…I can't…ugh…"

"Ha! I knew you'd be knocked six ways from Sunday! But Jacky, we don't have to worry anymore. We can still be together this way! Isn't that what we've been trying to guarantee?"

Words failed Jack as he tried to process all of the new information. It was so unbelievable he just couldn't figure out how to place it in his mind and although Bunny seemed so happy and he wanted to be happy with him, sudden flashes of his job, Tooth, his family and all manner of things infiltrated his consciousness and pulled him in every direction. It was true that he desperately wanted to stay with Bunny, but could he really do so at the expense of what was practically his life?

"Come on, Jacky. Believe it! It's all going to be alright now" Bunny said as he placed his arms around him and pulled him close. Jack didn't hug him back, partly to hold up the towel and partly because he just didn't know how to feel. Either way, Bunny noticed how rigid he was but being blinded to his conflict mistook it for shock. "Aw, Jack. Sorry to have scared ya. Still, you don't have to be so shocked. We're gonna be together. Isn't that great?"

Jack gulped as he stared blankly at Bunny's neck as he stood so close and then stiffly looked up at him as they parted. Bunny was clearly waiting for him to say something and after another long moment of silence, he finally managed to open his mouth.

"I…just don't know what to say"

"Well…you could say you're pleased. You could say 'I love you Bunny, I'm so glad we're going to get to stay together, let's have sex right now'"

Jack just huffed through his nose as Bunny continued to make light of the situation.

"Ah, come on, Jack. Don't worry. It might be unexpected but really you must be happy. And don't worry about the sex right now…unless you wanna"

"No. I don't wanna" Jack said grumpily as he pushed past Bunny and went into his bedroom to dry off. Bunny simply ambled along happily behind him and began to take off his jacket as he prepared to settle in for the night.

"So, I guess we'll have to start making plans to move you out too. I guess we'll have to get a visa sorted and move all your stuff. And you'll have to quit pretty much tomorrow. I don't really know how long you're meant to-"

"Are you serious?!" Jack said all of a sudden as he was fishing through his dresser for pyjamas. Bunny looked up at him as he stood their rigidly but motionless. Suddenly things didn't seem quite so peachy as they had a moment ago and he didn't really understand why.

"Jack? Honey, what's wrong?" he said as he got up and went to place a hand on him. He shook it off as soon it was placed down on his bare shoulder and then turned to the taller man with a simmering look about him that threatened to escalate into something far more fiery.

"What's wrong is I can't even think of just packing up and going off to live on the other side of the world in just eight weeks! How can you think this is so easy?!"

Bunny was confused. He thought Jack had been okay with this new reality. It suddenly seemed as if everything was okay for them but apparently he had been wrong.

"I'm sorry…I thought you'd be happy"

"Happy? Happy that I have to leave everything I've ever had behind and try to make a go of it thousands of miles away in a place I've never been before? Come on! How can I be happy about that?!"

"Because it's how we get to stay together" Bunny said dejectedly as his good feeling was ripped away. Usually when Jack got snappy he just dealt with it by acting high and mighty and piling on the banter. Now though he just couldn't help feeling any other way but sad that Jack wasn't onboard with what he assumed was their saving grace and to think that they might be without an answer again just made him feel terrible and deflated.

Jack, on the other hand, was getting mad. He couldn't believe Bunny would think this was just going to be all done and dusted without even talking to him beforehand. It was typical of him to think he was in charge all the time and he was angry with him for thinking he could just up and leave without having to think. Moving to Australia in just eight weeks seemed impossible and on top of that, as his mind kept revisiting the implications, he couldn't even begin to think of how he was going to handle leaving his family and perhaps even more importantly, Tooth. There was just so much to consider and were it not for his growing anger he most probably would have wanted to cry.

With a deep, slow breath, he turned his eyes down and then turned away again.

"I think maybe you should sleep at your place tonight"

"What? Jack…Jacky…"

"Please just…just leave me alone…"

"Jacky. Can we please just talk about this? I'm sorry I didn't think to talk to you"

"I just need to be alone. Please…?"

In those few short sentences Bunny suddenly felt even worse. He hated to think he'd upset the man he loved and he desperately wanted to fix it then and there. What could he do though apart from abide by his wishes for now? So, avoiding risking upsetting him even more, he turned around, grabbed his jacket and made for the door. Just before he left he stopped and quietly said "I love you" before receiving no reply and then sorrowfully leaving him alone as per his wishes.

When he heard the front door close Jack sighed and placed his face in his hands as the realization of upsetting his man sank in. He could have dealt with that better but right now he just couldn't think of anything but what a huge decision he now had to make.

Turning, he flopped onto the bed still wet from the bathtub and just lay there silently as he tried to calm himself down. He didn't have any success before falling into a restless sleep.

Presently…

With a huff, Jack closed his eyes and shook his head clear of the memory of his first encounter with the big question. Looking up, he looked around as he wondered if he should go and grab some coffee to try and divert his attention or at least have something warm to make him feel better. The bench he was still firmly planted on was making his butt cold and he smiled to himself as he marvelled that a winter in Pittsburgh could make things even inside a building as he was now cold. That would certainly be something he'd miss if I were indeed to go to Australia. He had come to enjoy the heat more than he used to after spending the summer with Bunny but to think that it would be warm nearly all year there did put him off. Still, even though he was pretty good at handling the cold he had to admit even he felt the chill become too great from time to time so perhaps it would be nice to experience a change for a few years – if not permanently. Plus barbecues, beaches and lovely long summers with Bunny – that was a real draw.

There was no use thinking about that now though. His choice was made and he was going to have to stand by it. Temperature really wasn't his main worry though as he began to consider what life after this day was going to be like and he really wasn't sure even now if he was going to be able to deal with it.

Sitting back against the metal backrest again, he looked up at the ceiling high above him with the florescent light shining back on him just as cold as the winter outside. He wished Bunny were there with him to keep him warm. He was like a big, hunky hot water bottle that was always welcome on a winter's day and he supposed that is what it would be like from then on if he were to be left alone in Pittsburgh. Sure, snuggling with Tooth was nice but she wasn't the same as Bunny.

Thinking about Tooth made him sad. This decision had been just as hard on her as it had on him although he loved her for being helpful. That was the way she had always been and he felt so lucky that she had put her own interests aside as she'd helped him come to his decision. Not that it had taken her long to make him choose but the way she had made it so easy for him to deal with her made everything so much better in the end.

The morning after Jack sent Bunny away…

Jack woke up feeling cold before realizing he had fallen asleep naked on top of his sheets. Pushing himself up, he grimaced as he felt just a little remaining damp on the blanket beneath him after not having dried off properly from his bath and then traipsed into the bathroom to let out the now stone-cold bathwater. Sitting on the edge of the tub, he sighed as he watched it quickly drain away and instantly eluded it to the time he potentially had left in Pittsburgh. Now that he was calm he was able to start thinking about what he was going to do and even though he was sleepy he still recognized the magnitude of his decision.

Getting up and putting on his robe which hung on the back of the door, he wrapped it around and hugged himself briefly as he wished he hadn't sent Bunny away last night. He really wanted to snuggle with him on that Sunday morning and he knew he had behaved rather meanly towards what Bunny had clearly considered equivalent to finding the Holy Grail.

He'd make it up to him later. Right now though all he wanted to do was talk to Tooth and as he went out to his living room and fell down on the couch, he grabbed his phone and flicked through to her number.

It rang for quite a while before a sleepy voice on the other end picked up and crackled into the line making him smile gently.

"Do you have any idea what time it is?"

"About seven?"

"On a Sunday"

"Yeah"

"So you should at least wait 'til ten before bugging me"

"But then it wouldn't be bugging"

"What do you want, Jack?" she said strangely grouchily.

"I need to talk"

"Can't it wait a couple hours?"

"Bunny wants me to go to Australia with him"

There was a pause before she replied.

"For like…ever?"

"Yeah"

Another pause.

"Okay, I'm getting up. Come on over"

"Thanks" he said before hanging up and going to get dressed. Throwing on the first things which came out of the closet, he found it pretty strange once he'd walked a few blocks that he was wearing red pants with a blue jacket but brushed it off as he remembered there were more important things to care about right now.

Before long he was at Tooth's apartment and soon found himself at her door after being buzzed in. She was still in her pyjamas when she opened it although it was hard to tell since everything she owned was brighter than the sun. After quickly filling her in on the previous evening's events she pulled him into her arms sympathetically and then held his face in her hands when they parted. Jack smiled at the gesture putting it down to just another one of those quirky things she did and then frowned again when he realized that it was just one of the things he would miss if he were to go with Bunny.

So, straight away, they dived into the decision making process and after only a few minutes Jack found himself in her kitchen making pancakes as she sat at the table nursing some juice. It was strange for him to be the one doing all the work for a change but he figured her brain was far better at sorting out a mess like this than his was and as such should be spared any distraction.

"So you just threw him out?" Tooth asked tentatively hoping Jack wasn't sore about the situation.

"No. I just asked him to go and he did. He seemed pretty let down by it though"

"Did you say anything you shouldn't have done?"

"I don't think so. I guess I might have been kinda snappy though"

"Hmm. I wonder how he's doing"

"Probably not great. I was gonna call him but I put it off. I don't really know why"

"You wanna call him now?"

"No. I kinda wanna figure things out before I do"

"You think you can do it that fast?"

"I dunno. I can try"

"It's a big decision though"

"Yeah. I just don't know what I'm gonna do"

"Do you wanna go to Australia?"

"I don't know. I haven't really had a chance to think about it"

"Well, think about it now"

Jack paused for a second in the middle of whipping the pancake mixture together and then sighed.

"If it means getting to stay with him then yes. If it means I have to leave here then…I'm not sure"

"What's most important here?"

"What do you mean?"

"Him or everything else?"

"Hard to say. I don't even know what 'everything else' really is. Sure, there's you and family and work and all my stuff is here. Hell, my whole life is here. I don't know if I can give all that up but then again I kinda want to so I can be with him"

"So you've become that kind of girl, huh?" Tooth taunted. "You'd give everything up for a guy?"

"Come on. Like you wouldn't?"

"Hey, we're talking about you"

"So you think I shouldn't go?"

"I didn't say that"

"So what then?"

"I'm not putting answers into your head, Jack. You've gotta get this one on your own"

"Oh, come on. Can't you do it for me?"

"This isn't like some test. It's your life"

"But you pretty much run it most of the time anyway. Can't you just tell me what to do?"

"No. What do you want to do?"

"I don't know"

"Well, you better start thinking"

Jack sighed. "Yeah" he said before beginning to tip the mixture he had created into the pan on the stove. "I don't know where to start though"

"Well, it's a simple question really"

Jack gave her a stern look. "Don't use that word"

"I didn't say it was easy. I just said it was simple"

"Don't be philosophizing with me. Just lay it for me plain and-…"

"Simple?"

"Shut up"

"Fine. Well, look, you either go with Bunny or you stay here. And that's it"

"But what about all the other stuff?"

"Forget about that. It's either you go with Bunny and stay with him or you stay here without Bunny and resume life were you left off in January"

"As if we'd never met…"

"Well…if you must say it like that…Thing is, do you really think you can stop being in love with him?"

The question made Jack sad. He knew the answer no; there was simply no way he could stop being in love with Bunny and he didn't think he ever could. He had become a part of his life that was surely irreplaceable and the thought of going on without him threatened to make him upset again.

Diverting his attention, he began to think of what life would be like with him where he'd know that he had left so much behind. Was being with Bunny enough to counter the fact that his life up until now would be on the other side of the world and he'd have to start afresh in a strange place with unfamiliar people, food, customs and all manner of other things. That was pretty terrifying in itself but at least he wouldn't be going it alone. He was also pretty sure it wouldn't take long to find his niche since he figured he got along with just about anyone. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to go despite leaving everything behind. Maybe it was good to periodically start anew in life and maybe this was just the way things were meant to be. After all, Bunny had done it almost a year ago so maybe it was his turn to do the same.

Realizing he'd left Tooth hanging, he blathered a little as he was snatched back to reality and then found the mental capacity to speak.

"No. No, I can't stop loving him. Not at all. Ever. He's…he's everything now and I can't bear to think that I might be without him… Stupid Bunny…"

Tooth smiled as he turned around to look at her, "I think you have your answer"

Jack sighed again and shook his head as frustration began to creep in. "It can't be as simple as that though, can it?"

Tooth got up and came up behind him as he returned to looking after the pancakes. Placing her hands on his shoulders, she rubbed gently as she spoke softly.

"It's love, Jack. It's stupid and irrational and not worth getting hooked up over. You can't resist it though. You just have to go with it"

"I don't know if I can" he said timidly as he paused and turned to her.

"Then how will you feel in two months when you're looking for him and he's not there?"

Jack gently shook his head, "I don't wanna think about it"

"If you go you don't have to"

"But what about…everything. What about you?"

"Me? I'll be fine. And hell, if you go I'll probably go too in a year or so"

"Really?"

"I don't know. Not sure how long I can last without you. Then again, maybe it'll be a nice break from having you around the whole time"

Jack chuckled in his throat, "But really. I don't know if I can leave you. You've been around longer than Bunny"

"But Bunny has full access inside your underwear. I don't"

"Well, there are more important things than sex"

"But you love him. And despite what we might think, you and I can't have that some kind of love"

"Gimme a few months and I can try"

"I don't think so. Besides, you're gross"

"No, you're gross!"

"See? We can't be involved like that"

Jack smiled weakly. "But as you said, is being with Bunny and in love with him more important than being here with you?" Tooth just gave him a look of derision and straight away he had his answer. "Okay, fine. But still, I'd miss you"

"Don't you mean I'll miss you?"

"What?"

"Haven't you already made your decision? Really?"

"I don't know"

"I think you have" she said before pulling him close and hugging him again. Jack hugged her tightly back and together they simply held each other in silence as they let their mutual understanding of the situation sink in. Leaving Tooth would probably be the hardest step but she had pretty much said it would be worth it. What a fantastic friend she was.

After a little while, Jack heard her mumble.

"Jack?"

"Hm?"

"The pancakes are burning"

Presently…

Fiddling with his hands, Jack felt himself becoming rather shaky as he continued to wait alone. He didn't really know what he was waiting for and wondered if he should get up and take care of himself. On that same train of though and still wondering if he had made the right decision, he started to think of calling Tooth to pick him up. It can't have been too late to go the other way and he was sure that if she were quick he could get to where he should be.

That wasn't practical though really. Tooth knew what she had to do now and so did Bunny. They had both had an answer from him and it seemed they had both made their peace with it. If he was going to flip-flop then that really wasn't fair on them and he figured that even though he was conflicted he should stand by his decision. Maybe in the end it was best he was on his own, at least for the moment. This way he could try to throw out all the mess in his head before unleashing it on another person and short of grabbing one of the people who continued to walk by in front of him he was pretty sure he could manage it.

Reaching down, he pulled his violin case closer and patted it gently as he began to think of his career. Would it be weird to go to another rehearsal now? If he went with Bunny then would it be weird to be the new guy in the orchestra? If he stayed at home would it be weird to go to rehearsal without Bunny being there to take control?

It was then the word 'home' began to circulate in his mind. Where was that now? Pittsburgh or Melbourne? It wasn't simply a matter of which city he was in though, it was where he felt right and he didn't know if that meant staying in Pittsburgh or even Burgess or if it meant being with Bunny wherever he was. He couldn't deny he felt most drawn to just being somewhere with Bunny but he didn't know if that would last if the place he'd spent so long was in another country. It was quite a stretch on his already tortured mind and he wished he could just forget all of this worry and just stand by his choice.

Easier said than done, it seemed.

Later that Sunday…

Jack took a deep breath before buzzing up to Bunny's apartment. It was about 9:30AM by that point and he was sure his boyfriend would be awake by that point. He hadn't received any messages which was strange but he figured Bunny was just giving him space. He was always considerate when Jack himself was wound up and he always knew when not to tease him when he was mad.

The thing was he wasn't really mad though and was now even less so after seeing Tooth. Okay, maybe he had been a little angry but it was more to do with the shock and frustration of everything happening so quickly rather than being enraged by the reality. He was glad Tooth had been able to put things into perspective for him and he wished he could have stayed longer. It was she that had sent him to Bunny's though and he wondered if he did leave who was going to take her place and rein him in when he got too uppity.

There was quite a long pause before Bunny answered the callbox and he sounded pretty sleepy as he made his reply.

"Hello?"

"Hey. It's me" Jack said solemnly and hoping Bunny wasn't too upset with him.

"Oh, hey. Did you message me?"

"No. I thought I'd better come over"

"Yeah, sure" Bunny said before opening the door for him.

As Jack climbed the stairs he wondered what he was going to say to Bunny when he got to the door and began to feel his frustration resurface when he came up with nothing. No sooner than he became distracted though did he reach the door and arrive just in time to see Bunny open it for him. Standing there wearing nothing more than a tight pair of black hipster shorts, Jack felt himself swoon as he took in the sight of his sexy, muscular man and found the sight all the more pleasing as he suppressed a giggle when he rubbed his eyes tiredly.

"Did I wake you up?" he asked as he stepped forward into the apartment.

"Kinda. I didn't sleep that well" Bunny replied as he shut the door behind him.

"Look, Bunny. I'm sorry for throwing you out. I was just-"

"Naw, mate, it's fine. I'm sorry I wasn't more compassionate"

"No, really, it's not you. I didn't mean to react so…angrily to what you said"

"You had every right to. I should've been less excited"

"Why wouldn't you be though? You figured everything out and I threw it all back in your face"

"Well, maybe we were both a little to blame. Either way, I'm sorry"

"Me too" Jack said as he stepped forward and put his arms around Bunny and rubbed his hands over his firm but smooth skin. Bunny held him in kind and together they just stood there for a moment before turning their faces to one another and pressing their lips together.

Even though everything was definitely not fine, just being together again made everything seem okay – at least for now. Being in each other's embrace was more than enough to give them the illusion that everything was going to get better and as their kiss deepened so too did Bunny's hands begin to reach under Jack's mismatched clothes as his own single item of clothing was pulled off and dropped to the floor.

It wasn't long before Jack found himself just as naked and was pressed up against the front door as Bunny assaulted his neck with his lips. Slowly he moved down across his body, over his milky skin and past his nipples, down to pause briefly and tease his navel before finally dropping low enough to take Jack's swelling manhood into his mouth. He gasped and wove his fingers into Bunny's hair as he manipulated his dick with his tongue and he began to pant heavily as the man below worked his magic and made him so incredibly hard. He yipped playfully when Bunny finally pulled back and then turned him around to put his tongue to better use in Jack's butt and in what must have been milliseconds Jack began to moan loudly into the wood of the door as his face was pressed hard against it. As he was loosened up, Jack began to claw at the wood as pleasure filled his entire body and when he failed to stifle an "Oh, Bunny!" which escaped from his lips, the man pulled away, stood up and picked him up before carrying him off to bed.

Pretty soon, Jack found himself face down clutching a pillow which he moaned into earthily as Bunny rutted against him from behind. As he tilted his rear upwards letting Bunny reach around to his penis, he quickly found himself reaching his peak. Making sure to let Bunny know with a guttural "God! I'm gonna cum!" he found himself being ploughed harder than ever as Bunny raced him to the finish. Seconds later, the pair cried out as they climaxed together and, after that one brief moment of shared ecstasy, collapsed in pile with Bunny on top of Jack as they panted away their pleasure in a dreamy, exhausted haze.

After a little while, when their fervent breathing calmed down, Bunny pushed his face into the nape of Jack's neck and kissed him heavily as he gently pulled out and then turned over onto his back to lie next to his lover. A few seconds later, Jack pulled himself to lie half on top of his man and draped his arm across him before finding the sweet spot against his body. Gently nuzzling against his chin, he spoke quietly against the stubble which tickled his nose.

"We're gonna be okay, right?"

Bunny just pulled him closer. "We'll figure it out. All I know right now is I love you. I really do"

"I love you too" Jack almost whispered with his eyes closed and then remained silent as they both just lay there in each other's arms. To him it was the best place to be in the world and he knew then he never wanted to lose his place there. It just had to be his forever and he wouldn't dream of surrendering it so easily. Whatever happened, they were going to have to be together whether that meant staying in Pittsburgh or going all the way to Australia and if recent events were anything to go by, the latter seemed to be the way they were heading.

What a strange paradox it was for Jack to be both terrified and completely content at the same time.

Presently…

Jack smiled as he remembered that nice little bout of make-up sex. It hadn't been the first time they had used it to reaffirm their affection after a spat but it was certainly the most important. It had been from then on that they actually began to get a proper dialogue going regarding going to Australia together and although it made things easier just to be able to talk about it, Jack soon found he was making no progress in making his decision. An entire week went by without any definitive answers coming up and although he knew he had to be with Bunny he just couldn't see the process by which he could get there being at all possible.

That was until the following Saturday when once again Jack had to go to Burgess to give lessons.

That following Saturday…

This was probably something he wouldn't miss. Having to get up early every Saturday to take the train out of town was certainly a chore and he figured he wouldn't miss it.

Then again, not seeing the kids every week that he had grown so attached to was definitely something that would be hard to leave and he felt pretty guilty to consider that he might have to leave them. They were all so special to him in their own ways and none, of course, were more important that Jamie Bennett. As the train pulled in and he got off to walk to the boy's house, he gradually became glummer as he realized that he might never get to see Jamie again if he were to leave. He had been teaching him for years now and he had loved to watch him grow and come forward in leaps and bounds. It just didn't seem right that he would have to abandon him and it was surprising to see how much affection he had for the kid.

Climbing the steps to the porch of the Bennett household, he tentatively pressed the doorbell and then tried to affirm his stance so as not to look too blue. Putting on a smile, he did his best to look bright when the door opened and his favourite student greeted him from the other side.

"Hey, Jack" the boy said casually

"Hey yourself, squirt. How's it goin'?"

"Not bad"

"Not bad? What the heck do you have to be down about?"

"Hey, I have troubles"

Jack sniggered, "Oh, really?"

"Yeah!"

"Like what?"

"I dunno. Girls"

"Already? You're what, like, fourteen?"

"What?! Why can't I have girl trouble?"

"Man, I feel so old…"

"You are pretty old"

"Hey! I'm twenty-five!"

"So you admit it. You're an old man"

"Ugh! Don't remind me" Jack said as he was shown into the room where they regularly practiced. "Well, don't worry, bud. Girls like the arty type."

"You think?"

"I know"

"You gotten a lot of action then?"

Jack nearly choked. "Hey! Fourteen-year olds should not be concerned with…action. Get your mind out of the gutter!"

"I'll take that as a yes then" Jamie said cockily as he began to get his violin out and Jack smiled as he saw himself in the kid's expression. Perhaps the years of instruction had rubbed off on the kid in more ways than one.

"I'm here to teach. Not to give you dating tips"

"Maybe I can get mom to pay you extra"

"Music! Now!" Jack said as he bit back a chuckle and with that led into the lesson.

As the lesson progressed, Jack watched almost silently as his student of many years played on only breaking to give a note here and there. It was almost like a goodbye concert in his own mind even though nothing regarding his leaving had been set in stone as of yet. Just watching Jamie play though began to tug at his heartstrings and it only added to the multitude of reasons telling him not to leave. He hated the idea of leaving Jamie at this stage and he had never even considered that one day he might stop teaching him.

It became apparent to the young player after a while that his teacher wasn't entirely in the room as he was playing and after making several mistakes which ordinarily Jack would correct him for, he simply stopped playing mid-piece and turned to the Jack who tried to remain stoic.

"What's wrong?"

Jack was jolted out of his haze as Jamie confronted him. "Uh…nothing. You're doing well. Carry on from-"

"No. With you. Something's wrong with you"

"W…What do you mean?"

"You're being all quiet and stuff. And you're not as jumpy"

"Jumpy?"

"You know, like normal"

"I don't know what you're talking about"

Jamie just lowered his violin and gave Jack a look to show he didn't buy it. Feeling uncomfortable with lying, Jack eventually sighed and gave in.

"Alright. It's nothing to do with you though so don't worry"

"Then what is it?"

Jack didn't really know where to begin. It felt weird to talk about it with this kid and he didn't really know what he was supposed to reveal and what he was supposed to withhold.

"It's…well…I've been asked to go to Australia"

"That's pretty cool"

"Yeah, but…it's not as simple as that"

"You mean like…forever?"

"Kinda"

"Did you get a new job or something?"

"Not yet. And I'm not sure if I will"

"Then where did it all come from?"

"Well…" Jack began before closing his eyes and steadying himself. "You remember that conductor guy you met that time at the concert hall?"

"Oh yeah. He was pretty cool"

"Yeah, him"

"And he was Australian, right? Is it him taking you?"

"Yeah. Well, he's the one who asked me"

"So, are you gonna go?"

"I don't know"

"Well…why not?"

"Because it's more complicated than that"

"How come?"

"It means I have to start fresh in another place and leave everyone I know and everything I have behind. More or less"

"Oh…then don't go"

"But I kinda…need to"

"Why?"

"Because…" Jack said before pausing. He wondered if Jamie knew he was gay and, being fourteen, wondered if the kid was grown up enough to know that being gay wasn't something so terrifyingly awful to be and didn't need to be avoided at all costs. Ah, hell. Screw it. Everyone has to grow up at some point. "Because I'm involved with him" he said matter-of-factly.

"What? With that guy?" Jamie asked perplexedly.

"Yeah"

"Like…how?"

"Like…we're together. We're going out"

"Oh…" Jamie said with a look of bemusement about him. "So…you're a homo?"

"Yeah" Jack said and wondering why he suddenly felt a little nervous instead of laughing at the way Jamie labelled him. He didn't want to liken it to coming out all over again but somehow it just felt so similar. He reminded himself that he was a grownup though and wasn't going to behave stupidly regarding his sexuality. Least of all around a kid. Still, Jamie was like an old friend to him now and he really hoped he wasn't about to become averted to him.

"Do you…have a problem with that?" Jack asked after a moment.

"…No" he replied quietly. "I just never figured you would be…a homo"

"We just say gay" Jack said as a little smile crawled onto his lips. "But really nothing's different. I'm still the same guy"

"Yeah, I know. It's just…funny"

"Funny…weird?"

"No…just funny"

"Okay. Well, I'll take that as a good thing, I guess"

"Hmm…so you and that guy…he's why you're going?"

"Why I might be going, yeah" Jack said solemnly.

"Huh…do you love him?...Wait, do gays still love?"

Jack chuckled. "Yes, we still love. And yes, I love him"

"Are you gonna get married? Wait, do gays still marry?"

"Oh boy…tricky question. Well, I guess so, one day…maybe"

"Huh…well…I guess you should just go then"

"What?!" Jack asked suddenly feeling a little shocked. He didn't remember asking Jamie what he should do so it seemed a little strange that he should have been given such a simple answer straight out of the blue.

"Well, you love this guy, right? And you wanna stay with him. You should just go"

"And how do you figure that?"

"When you love someone you're just meant to do whatever it takes to stay with them. Or something. That's what mom and TV says anyway"

Jack laughed. "Well, life is a little more complicated than moms and TV"

"But you do love him, right?"

"Yeah, I do"

"Then isn't that enough to go on?"

Jack sighed as he considered those simple yet so meaningful words. It really did put it in perspective for him as he stood there looking down at the kid that never ceased to amaze him. Reaching forward and poking him in the chest, he said, "When did you get so smart?" and laughed with him as he recoiled playfully.

"I've always been smart. You're just a dumbass!"

The pair both buttoned up and turned their heads to the door when a voice came sailing through, "Language, Jamie!"

"Sorry mom" he called back before quietly sniggering with Jack out of earshot.

The rest of the lesson went swimmingly for both of them and after Jack perked up he really got down to some serious teaching. His serious teaching though was far more fun than anyone else's and by the end of the lesson the pair of them could barely stand as they laughed together.

It was kind of a shame to have to leave him that day since he really wanted to hang out some more and have some fun but he knew there were important things to deal with back in the city. Saying his goodbyes and giving Jamie a solemn thank you, he left to give his other few lessons and then zoomed back to Pittsburgh to see Bunny again.

When he arrived at the man's apartment, he didn't pause to let him realize what was happening before stating quite clearly "I think I know what I have to do".

Presently…

How had he possibly thought he had the answer to his problems back then? How could he have allowed himself to be deluded into thinking everything was that simple? Okay, yes, Jamie had been right in saying love was the most important thing but why couldn't he have stopped to think of everything else? What about love for his family? Love for Tooth? Love for his job? Love for his life? Yes, he loved Bunny, but going with him was stupid. It was uprooting everything he had ever known and no matter how much you love someone you should never give up everything you have and everything you believe in to be with them, right?

Or are you? This was the question Jack still had no answer to even after all this time and he was sick of debating it anymore. It was too late now anyway regardless of whether he thought he'd made the right decision or not and as he sat alone he forced out all of the worry in his mind and concentrated on what was going to happen now. To hell with all the heartache that had preceded this moment, he was going to stand by his choice and live with it. Sure, there was always going to be someone he was hurting but he figured either way he was hurting himself the most and so why care anymore? He just had to deal with what he had given himself to deal with even if it did hurt. He was a big boy, and big boys shouldn't cry.

"Ready to go?"

He startled as the soft voice that suddenly appeared next to him wrenched him from his little world of torment. Looking up into the eyes of its owner he was instantly plunged back into the realms of indecision once again and he figured he would never really be able to tell if doing what he was about to do was right.

Just looking up at that bright yet sympathetic smile made him feel okay though and as his hand was taken from his lap and he was helped to his feet, he felt himself clenching his teeth as he tried to quell the butterflies that had exploded out of nowhere in his stomach.

"Jack, what's wrong?" he was asked as he tried not to look like a nervous baby deer. It was clear that he was failing miserably "You said you were fine before we left"

Jack gently shook his head. "I don't know if this is right"

Feeling himself being pulled into the arms he had known for such a long time now, he found the comfort and strength he needed at that moment and soon began to feel as if everything was going to be alright.

"If you want to change your mind, now's the time. It's not too late"

"Isn't it?" he said as he leaned back and looked derisively at his best friend.

"No. Although, I'm pretty happy you chose to do this"

"Why? Because it means you get to keep me? Pretty selfish, wouldn't you say?"

"The hell with everyone else. You're all mine now"

"Wasn't I always yours though?"

"I can certainly think of someone who might disagree"

"But our love is quite different…I hope. Give it a chance and I guess anything is possible"

"Haha. Well, whatever anyone else says, there's no one that loves you more than me, Jacky"

"I love you too, Bun Bun" Jack said as he leaned back into the man he had chosen above all other things and kissed him gently. They lingered together for a long while as the other people in the airport continued to hurry by, not noticing them in their animated bustle.

It was a scary moment for Jack as he stood there on the cusp of beginning a completely new chapter in his life and he was frightened to move at the risk of taking his first step into oblivion. He had no idea what was waiting for him on the next page and he didn't want to think that it could be some horrible twist.

Being with Bunny though somehow made it seem safer and while he remained scared he also felt strangely supported in his nervousness and he knew that he was going to be looked after. Even if things were to come crashing down as soon as he stepped forward, Bunny was going to be there to catch him and somehow that was all he needed.

With a steadying breath, he stepped back from Bunny and stood up tall with the confidence he'd drawn from his lover firmly instilled within.

"Okay, I'm ready" he said convincingly as he picked up his violin and his bag and then took Bunny's hand before pulling him into the stream of human traffic as they walked towards their gate within the busy airport.

With that, he was gone. Jack Frost, the guy who not one year earlier had figured nobody would ever believe in him enough to give him a chance as a player, going off into the unknown with the person who had seen that shining potential within and raised him up into glory. He was taking a leap of faith with the one he loved and although he had no idea what would happen now, he felt safe and as if he were doing the right thing. He wasn't totally sure, he could never be, but being with Bunny just seemed like the path he was supposed to take and in the end he knew that the love he felt for this wonderful man was enough to show him that the future was bright regardless of what it brought – and there really was no knowing.

He was where he was meant to be. He was with the person he was meant to be with. He was believed in. He was loved. He was terrified but, without question, he was happy.

So very, very happy.

THE END

And there it is. Done. Finito. El fin.

Or is it?

To epilogue…or not to epilogue? Hmm…

…

…

…

Okay, why not?

Now, here's an idea: I'm sure you all have ideas of what you'd like to see happen to Jack from here on out. If you review and want to let me know what you think would happen then I'd be glad to hear. I can't say I'll definitely send it that way but…who knows? Maybe Bunny and Jack will work out, maybe they won't. I haven't decided yet. Either way, I'm glad I'll be able to give them closure. I've grown pretty attached to them in my own little AU.

Once again, thank you all so much for reading. You're a fantastic bunch and I love you all.

See you in the epilogue, and don't forget: tell me what you want to happen! x